Log Cabin Blog

Summer season is winding down with kids returning to school. Thus far this year has been strong on the rental side and the sales market is starting to recover.

Cabin and land prices have adjusted to reflect the slower sales environment and appear to be as low as they are likely to go. The opportunities for buyers are as advantageous as I’ve seen them in about seven years.

It appears that people of each political persuasion as satisfied with their candidate and are optimistic about the upcoming election. Inquiries to my website over the last 2 months have significantly increased from the last 18 months and sales are following suit.

If an investment/second home purchase in the Smokies is on your wish list, the next 6 to 9 months should offer the best opportunities you will see with price increases appearing by next summer.

You make your money in real estate when you buy it. If you are planning a visit to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area this fall, it would be an ideal time to spend some of that trip investigating cabin opportunities.

A little over a year ago, there was a major buzz over the movie “The Secret”. Oprah had a show about it and virtually every talk show had a segment featuring it. “The Secret” was an explanation of the metaphysical “Law of Attraction” and how to use it to achieve what you want out of life.

I am a pretty metaphysical guy, but I’m not going to wade into those waters here. I am, however, going to relate to you the secret of how to attract the largest possible number of guests to your investment cabin. You can sum this secret up in six words: Give the people what they want!

Sounds like a no brainer but I have experienced potential buyers who are incensed at the idea of providing luxury furnishings, multiple games, large screen TVs and internet access in a mountain cabin. One gentleman informed me in no uncertain terms, “Anyone

who comes to the mountains to play pool and watch TV is nuts! They should be coming here to enjoy nature and hike in the park like I do!”

The long and the short of it is that people come to the Smokies for fun. So, give them all the toys they want and they will stay with you.