As we step into 2025, I’m honored and excited to serve as your president of Greater Chattanooga Realtors. Having been part of this vibrant real estate community for 24 years, I’ve come to appreciate the unique role Realtors play as trusted advisers in real estate transactions and ambassadors for our Scenic City.
My goal is to continue building on the strong foundation of leadership that my predecessors established and to help our members navigate what promises to be an interesting and evolving market.
The past year presented its challenges but also set the stage for new opportunities in 2025. According to the National Association of Realtors, there are several key homebuyer trends we should be prepared for in the year ahead. For example, with rising equity gains, a significant portion of buyers might opt for all-cash transactions, expanding the trend of all-cash purchases that accounted for 26% of home sales last year.
Additionally, first-time buyers are getting older, with the median age reaching 38 in 2024. This delay is often due to rising home prices and the need to save longer for a down payment, sometimes with assistance from family or personal investments. Also, many first-time buyers need increased wages to balance student debt payments.
Another trend shaping the market is the increase in multigenerational households, which reached an all-time high of 17% last year. Buyers are pooling resources for cost savings and supporting aging parents or accommodating young adults returning home.
And we’re seeing more single women entering the housing market, representing 24% of home purchases in 2024 – double the share of single men. These shifts reflect the ever-changing dynamics of the real estate landscape and the need for Realtors to adapt and provide exceptional service to meet diverse client needs.
Greater Chattanooga Realtors is committed to helping our members stay ahead and respond to these trends. Whether through continuing education, leadership development opportunities, or advocating for policies that benefit property owners, our association provides the tools and resources needed to thrive in this industry.
From designations like the Accredited Buyer Representative and Commitment to Excellence to community initiatives like Snack Packs and Habitat for Humanity, we’re here to support both our Realtors and our community.
I’m deeply grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me to lead our association this year. Together, we can navigate the evolving real estate market and ensure that Greater Chattanooga Realtors continues to shine as a beacon of professionalism, advocacy and community service.
Let’s make 2025 a year to remember. #ThatsWhoWeR
Founded in 1912, Greater Chattanooga Realtors is the voice for real estate in Greater Chattanooga. A regional organization with more than 2,700 members, Greater Chattanooga Realtors serves Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in southeast Tennessee and Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties in northwest Georgia. The association is one of approximately 1,100 local associations and boards of Realtors nationwide that comprise the National Association of Realtors. Greater Chattanooga Realtors owns and operates a multiple listing service that is one of approximately 600 MLSs in the country and services more than 3,000 users. Local association membership is comprised of Realtors servicing the Greater Chattanooga area and specializing in a variety of disciplines, including appraisal, commercial, industrial, land, multi-family, property management and residential. Working alongside Realtors are our Affiliate members, who represent related industries in sympathy with the objectives of the association. Our Affiliate members include mortgage lenders, home inspectors, title and closing services, pest inspection and control and insurance.