Episode 57

Tariffs, Stock Market, Interest Rates and Inventory: How Buying a Home in Chattanooga Just Got a Little Easier

In this episode of Let's Talk Chattanooga Real Estate, host and

Realtor Blake Watson welcomes Don Oakes, Branch Manager at Highlands

Residential Mortgage in Chattanooga. 

Don and Blake discuss the current stock market volatility caused by tariffs and how that is impacting 30-year mortgage rates They also discuss the increasing inventory of Chattanooga homes for sale.


They discuss how economic conditions, particularly recessionary fears, can drive mortgage interest rates lower, and what that means for someone wanting to buy a home in the Chattanooga area.  They discussed the higher inventory levels in Chattanooga creating more buying opportunities for homebuyers.

Don Oakes can be contacted at Highlands Residential Mortgage, 423-524-0448, or visit their website at highlandsmortgage.com. 

Connect with Blake Watson, agent with Epique Realty in Tennessee and Georgia, by phone or text at 423-315-1815 or visit www.athomechattanooga.com. 888-893-3537.  Follow Blake on Facebook and LinkedIn as Blake Watson, and on Instagram @rocknrollblake. Be sure to

follow the podcast to stay updated on future episodes.

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Let's Talk Chattanooga Real Estate
Real Estate in Chattanooga Tennessee and Northwest Georgia

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About your host

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Blake Watson

When you choose to partner with me as your Realtor, I bring knowledge, expertise, and real estate experience to our partnership. You can count on my negotiation skills and marketing know-how to help sell your property or help you secure the home of your dreams. I am Blake Watson, real estate agent brokered by Epique Realty, and serving Chattanooga and Northwest Georgia. In addition to being an agent, I host the “Let’s Talk Chattanooga Real Estate” podcast.
Honesty, transparency and trust are qualities you can expect from me. Above all, you can be confident that I will serve you with your best interest at heart.
Chattanooga is my hometown. I'm a proud graduate of Hamilton County Public Schools with years at East Brainerd Elementary, Westview Elementary, Brown Middle and Central High. I went on to graduate from the Honors Program at the University of Georgia, where I met my amazing wife. After several years away in other southern cities, we returned to the Chattanooga area. Now, we live in Ringgold, GA with our two adopted kids, and we raise goats on our small farm.
I've worked in Chattanooga and Northwest Georgia for decades and know and love the towns and neighborhoods throughout the area. I love the community we have in Chattanooga, and the incredible transformation our city has enjoyed over the past 20 plus years. If you live here, you know what I mean. If you are considering a move to Chattanooga, be prepared to fall in love with this beautiful area that is so full of life and fun!