The Derosia Team

Tourist destinations are packed full of restaurants; most of them being the well known chain restaurants that can be dined in all over the country.  However, every city has the smaller restaurants that are usually out of the hustle and bustle of the city life.  These restaurants are  local favorites and mom and pop establishments that don't make it into the guidebooks and vacation brochures.  Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and the other surrounding areas of the Smoky Mountains have several well-kept secrets that the locals love.   These establishments in the Smoky Mountains are often a great place to go and learn about the local culture, as well as eat some of the best local food.  Most of the establishments have more reasonable prices than the chain restaurants in town.  The service is above and beyond in these family owned establishments and the food is worth coming back for over and over again. Because there are so many loca...

Are you looking for a home in the Smoky Mountains?  Have you talked to your real estate agent?  If so we are sure you have been asked "Are your pre-approved?"  Ever wonder what's the big deal about pre-approval? We will give you an in depth walk through on what it means, how to begin, and why we believe it is such an important element to beginning your search for your perfect home in the Smoky Mountains. What is Pre-approval? Loan officers will calculate a your financial ability to make monthly payments.  The loan officer does this by reviewing the your financial status including, income, assets, cash flow, and credit score, to help determine the maximum monthly payment the you may qualify for.  If you qualify the lender will pre-approve a mortgage before the you have found a home. Where to Start? There are several options to finding a lender.  We suggest shopping around in looking for the best rates and a lender you feel comfortable with. ...

The Smoky Mountain Real Estate Market is once again showing positive trends for the August 2012 in some key areas over the last year.  We have put together some statistics and visual aids for August 2012 compared to August 2009 - 2011. The first category we compared was residential units sold in the month of August. As you can see there were 45 more units sold in August 2012 than in August 2009.  There were 36 more units sold in August 2012 than in August 2010. Then August 2012 is up 43 units from August 2011. The total units sold are up 33% from 2009, 25% from 2010 and 31% from 2011. Total volume sold in August 2012 compared to the previous years is also showing a positive trend.  August 2012 is up 19.2% from August 2009, 6% from August 2010, and 13.1% from August last year. The last category differs from our comparisons the last 2 months.  This time we have not only compared August 2012 to the previous years in August, we have compa...

Based in the picturesque Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood is a 150-acre family adventure park which operates nine months a year (late March through December) and offers more than 40 rides and attractions; award-winning live entertainment featuring country, bluegrass, gospel and mountain music; a dozen crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region, and Wild Eagle, the country’s first wing coaster. A family-friendly vacation destination, Dollywood also includes the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country, voted America’s “Must-See Waterpark.”   Dollywood hosted the 2012 Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards on September 7th and 8th.  This awards ceremony is consider the Academy Awards of Theme Parks.  In the end Tennessee's number one attraction collected five of the coveted awards voted on by theme park enthusiasts around the world.   The new addition to the only wing rider roller coaster in the country, Wild Eagle, has the individuals at Dollywood flying high. ...

Sometimes sellers put their home on the market, but don't know that there are a few things that they can do to help sale their property. To prepare your home for sale, view it from the "eyes of a buyer." If you were to walk into your home, is there anything that might turn you away? Clutter? Spider webs in the corners? Dirty windows? Any time and money spent on cleaning, repairs, and removing clutter will maximize the home's appearance! Here are some ideas to improve CURB APPEAL: Repaint the front door and trim. If needed, repaint the rest of the house. Move all garbage cans, extra building materials, gardening supplies, etc. into the garage or shed. Check gutters and your roof for dry rot and leaks. Prune bushes and trees. Remove and dead shrubs and trees. Weed and maintain all planted areas. Sweep all walkways and steps. Clean the swimming pool, jacuzzi, or hot tub. Use driveway cleaner to remove oil stains from the driveway or garage floor. Clean or...

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is best known for the home of the most visited theme park in Tennessee Dollywood and Dolly's Splash Country.  However, during the month of September it is better known for Car Shows.  This weekend September 7-9 and next weekend September 14-16 are the years biggest and best for Sevier County. Friday, September 7, 2012 will mark the 29th annual Shades of the Past Rod Run in Pigeon Forge. This annual rod run showcases classics, rods, and customs through 1972. Most of the cars are held at Dolly's Splash Country on Friday and Saturday for judging and the opportunity for owners to showoff and/or sell their vehicles.  There is a general admission to enter Dolly's Splash Country to view these vehicles.  If you are unable to attend the show during the day, fear not because the main stripe in Pigeon Forge is a free way to view these cars at night.  The quickest and easiest way to see all these amazing cars is to find a place to park and walk t...