Preferred Properties Brokerages in Tennessee
Tennessee has one “Preferred Properties” firm in this directory — a RE/MAX franchise based in Sevierville serving the Great Smoky Mountains corridor, one of the most active short-term rental investment real estate markets in the Southeast.
Tennessee Real Estate Market Overview
The Sevierville–Gatlinburg–Pigeon Forge corridor of Sevier County is one of the most distinctive real estate markets in the United States — a tourism economy anchored by Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the country, that has generated a massive and active short-term rental cabin investment market alongside its year-round residential community.
Tennessee’s lack of a state income tax makes it a persistent attraction for both retirees and investors evaluating STR income properties. Sevier County has been one of the most frequently cited short-term rental investment markets in the Southeast for the past decade, with cabin properties ranging from small studio units to large group lodges generating significant gross rental revenue annually. The market matured considerably during the 2020–2022 STR boom, with increased listing competition requiring more sophisticated underwriting of realistic net income before acquisition.
Wildfire risk is a genuine consideration in the Smoky Mountains — the 2016 Chimney Tops 2 fire destroyed over 2,400 structures in Gatlinburg and remains a reminder that mountain cabin properties carry real exposure. Insurance costs for mountain cabins reflect this risk, and buyers should verify insurability and current premiums as part of standard due diligence.
Tennessee Brokerages in This Directory
What to Know Before Buying in the Smoky Mountains
The Sevier County cabin market operates by different rules than conventional residential real estate. A large segment of the inventory sits within gated resort communities with HOAs that govern rental management requirements, maintenance obligations, and capital assessments. STR income projections marketed with properties are frequently gross revenue figures that don’t account for management fees (typically 20–30%), cleaning costs, maintenance, or increasing competition from new supply. Independent underwriting of realistic net income is essential before acquisition.
Tennessee has no state income tax, which benefits both primary residents and investors reporting STR income. For buyers financing a cabin purchase, lenders categorize short-term rental properties differently than primary residences or traditional long-term rentals — expect investment property loan terms and down payment requirements.