Newsroom

To kick off spring, Naterra Land is offering up to 30% OFF select properties at The Homestead! In conjunction with this offer, a local credit union realizes the value and is offering up to 100% FINANCING as well!

This is your opportunity to buy the property of your dreams and gain instant equity! We have already reduced prices to reflect the current market. However, to kick off spring, we are offering up to an additional 30% OFF market prices for a limited time! Because the Smokies is a destination area where people love to visit, property continues to be in demand here. Recent research has shown that property values in The Homestead remain strong, so the instant equity you get puts you in an even greater position! Call us today to learn which homesites fall under this incredible price reduction!

100% Financing Available ... Does this offer sound too good to be true? Our lender doesn't think so! In conjuction with our special pricing offer, we have worked closely with a local credit union to arrange special financing on our property. Because they understand the value of The Homestead and the instant equity involved, they are eager to offer up to 100% financing for qualifying customers. It's a no-brainer for them. What you would normally have to put down as a down payment, you are getting as instant equity in your property!

Call us today at 1.800.597.0116 to learn more! View Homesites >

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Naterra Land Announces the Grand Opening of The Overlook, the Homestead's newest phase!

Naterra Land announces the Grand Opening of The Overlook, a beautiful new phase at The Homestead in the Great Smoky Mountains. Here you'll find a variety of beautiful level build sites and gorgeous views of the mountain landscape. Special grand opening pricing is now in place, so don't delay! Prices start at $79,000 in this new phase! View The Overlook Homesites >

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Naterra Land Announces Special Closeout Pricing on Smoky Mountain Homesites at Homestead East

Grand Opening of Sunrise Ridge Neighborhood at The Homestead

During the month of October we will be celebrating the introduction of our newest neighborhood, Sunrise Ridge and the fall colors with spectacular savings of $15,000 or more during our Autumn Land Rush.

Sunrise Ridge features 18 beautiful Smoky Mountain homesites where you can select your very own sunrise view over the distant Smoky Mountain ridgelines. Located adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park you'll find large homesites ranging in size from 2 to 12 acres and a dense mixture of hardwoods covering the terrain and providing peace and quiet for your family. With homesites starting as low as $59,900, you're sure to find the perfect piece of land to fulfill your Smoky Mountain dream. View Sunrise Ridge Homesites >

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Tennessee Ranks as one of the tax-friendliest states in the Nation

Considering relocating to the Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains? In Tennessee you will enjoy more than just beautiful mountain views, endless recreational activities and four distinct seasons; you'll also enjoy a low cost of living.

According to an annual study by the Tax Federation, a nonprofit fiscal policy research group, Tennessee is ranked as the third tax friendliest state in the nation. Tennesseans enjoy no personal income tax and their annual tax burden is only 8.5% on their annual income. With these great benefits it is no wonder why many choose Tennessee as the perfect location to build the home of their dreams. To read more about these rankings, visit CNNmoney.com.

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Naterra Land Announces Grand Opening of The Peaks at The Homestead, A Collection of Unique Mountaintop Homesites

Wears Valley, Tennessee March 21, 2007 - Ever dream of owning your own mountain peak in the Smoky Mountains? On March 30th, we invite you to take a peak at The Homestead's newest neighborhood, The Peaks.

In one of the most extraordinary releases at The Homestead, we are offering 14 five-acre Smoky Mountain estate homesites situated on the mountain's ridgeline. Here you'll enjoy watching the morning mist rise from the valley below along with sunrise and sunset views as most sites offer 360 degree views of the mountain landscape.

To celebrate this much anticipated release we are offering limited-time special pricing during our Grand Opening March 30th through April 1st. Come for a guided tour, explore miles of hiking trails, parks, and enjoy the best of Smoky Mountain hospitality.

Hurry, these sites won't last long; schedule a tour today by calling 1-800-597-0116 and be one of the lucky few to take advantage of this once-in-a lifetime opportunity.

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Naterra Land Supports Smokies Preservation

Wears Valley, Tennessee January 26, 2007 - Naterra Land, the company in the process of developing a 2,000-acre tract of land straddling Blount and Sevier Counties, has donated a total of more than $2,500 to four organizations with missions to preserve the Smokies.

The recipients are the Foothills Land Conservancy, Friends of the Smokies, Little River Watershed Association and the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

Naterra owns The Homestead residential development off Wears Valley Road near Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Mel Lager, Tennessee general manager for Naterra Land, recently presented the donations to each environmental group.

Naterra Land's founder, Phil Taylor, said the Smokies are a local, national and international treasure.

"Each of the organizations we have aligned ourselves with is located in East Tennessee, but the job they do extends beyond those borders - preserving the integrity of the region and the Smokies is something that is important to us, our customers, the community and the millions of visitors who come to East Tennessee from across the country and around the world."

Taylor said the mountains are the reason Naterra's customers come to East Tennessee.

"All four of these organizations are doing their part to preserve the Smokies, and we want to provide our support for the work they do."

Receiving the money
The Foothills Land Conservancy, an independent, nonprofit land trust that works to preserve the ecological, agricultural and scenic resources of East Tennessee, was one of the organizations Naterra chose to work with in the Smokies.

"I want to thank Mel and Phil for their donation, and I look forward to working with them to preserve and protect portions of their property in Blount and Sevier Counties," said Bill Clabough, executive director of the Foothills Land Conservancy.

Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains is a nonprofit organization that works to preserve and protect the Park through fund raising, volunteer work and public awareness.

"We are deeply gratified to have been selected by The Homestead to receive this outstanding contribution," said Jim Hart, president of the Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains. "We appreciate the opportunity to learn about Naterra and its corporate commitment to supporting organizations that promote environmental responsibility, like Friends of the Smokies."

Also receiving donations were the Little River Watershed Association, an organization focused on protecting, preserving and enhancing Little River; and the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, which arranges programs to create public awareness and appreciation of the Park through residential programs for school and summer camp groups for children to study nature.

"We were surprised by the call from Naterra that they wanted to give us a check, but so appreciative that they see supporting local environmental organizations as a part of their mission," said Ken Voorhis, executive director of Tremont.

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Vacationers Purchasing Their Own "Piece of the Park" near The Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Knoxville, Tennesse November 9, 2006 - What would it be like to live your dream vacation? Not just for a week or two, but to actually purchase a piece of one of the most gorgeous settings in the world? Thanks to developers who work to preserve the natural features of the land as they develop it, this dream is becoming a reality for many of the more than 10 million visitors that visit East Tennessee each year to experience the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Whether visitors are returning for another family vacation and searching for a permanent vacation home, or looking toward retirement and would like a quiet setting with amenities nearby, more and more people are buying their own "piece of the mountains."

"Many East Tennesseans take for granted the changing seasons, mountain views, wildlife and the other spectacular and interesting pieces of history and nature that we have in our backyards. But for the people that visit this area year after year, it's something they cherish and want to be a part of today and for generations," said Herb Handly, executive vice president of tourism for the Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Not only do they enjoy our mountain heritage that we strive to preserve, but there are a variety of developments in the area that offer something for everyone, and it's all conveniently located with nearby attractions, shopping, a major metropolitan city and airport-yet it feels like it's an escape-it's the best of both worlds."

The trend is two-fold: first, there are the "half-backs," people from the Northern United States who initially decided to retire to the sandy beaches of Florida, only to later discover a strong desire to track back halfway to the Great Smoky Mountains where there are distinct seasons, a unique heritage and less risk of severe weather.

The second trend in Smoky Mountain home buying is people looking for an investment property or a place to retire. The trend has become so pervasive that in 2004, second homes represented 35 percent of all existing single-family, condo, and new-home sales - that's an increase of 16 percent from the prior year according to the 2005 National Association of Realtors.

"We have seen both types of buyers purchase property within our developments," said Mel Lager, Tennessee's General Manager for Naterra Land, a land development company specializing in mountain and lakeshore property. "As is the case with the primary home market, the majority of second-home purchasers are baby boomers. Boomers are still in their peak earning years, allowing them the ability to afford second homes for vacation purposes or as investment vehicles to diversify their portfolios. Although traditionally these soon-to-be retirees move to Florida or other coastal communities, the high expense and unstable weather has caused the trend to move "half way" back, often to the mountains of Tennessee, Georgia or the Carolinas."

In addition to the setting, the cost of living in Tennessee is a large part of the attraction. Homes and cabins are much more affordable than in bustling metropolitan areas or on beachfront property. According to Tennessee's official Web site, 11 cities rank below the national average of 100 when it comes to the cost of living. Knoxville's cost-of-living index is 87.5, which is 12.5 below the national average.

But vacationers, investors and retirees aren't simply looking for any home in the mountains-they are turning to developments that can offer them the feeling of "living in the national park."

Naterra Land, owner of The Homestead and The Settlement, both Smoky Mountain developments in East Tennessee, understands this trend, and for more than 27 years, the company has been using its unique philosophy about development to accomplish its mission of connecting people to nature.

"Our buyers aren't looking for rental cabins that are located right on top of each other. They want to purchase their very own 'piece of the park,' which is only possibly if a developer carefully plans the land and community amenities," said Phil Taylor, owner of Naterra Land. "In developments like The Homestead and The Settlement, we have found ways to work with the natural amenities that the land has to offer, creating neighborhoods intermingled within natural boundaries, wildlife habitats, preserved greenspace and using historical features that are unique to the area."

Additional amenities such as hiking trails are included in the property so that buyers don't even have to leave their neighborhood to go on a good hike if they don't want to, said Taylor.

"We are proud and often amazed that we have buyers from 28 states and 3 countries in the Homestead," said Lager. "It's gratifying that such a variety of people find what they are looking for in our property, but we know why people come here-it's the most visited national park in the country, and we do our best to make our developments reflect that park-like atmosphere."

Naterra's Homestead customers are passionate about both their community and the surrounding East Tennessee Smokies. "I grew up going to Tennessee with my grandparents as a kid, and then my wife and I honeymooned here," said Kirk Carter, a Homestead buyer from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "The location of The Homestead is perfect. When I saw the view of the Smoky Mountains National Park, it was a no brainer."

Naterra does not cut corners to keep up with demand. They often go beyond the minimum environmental regulations when they develop a property. For any Naterra Land community, great attention is spent to preserve natural boundaries, protect environmentally sensitive areas and respect wildlife habitats and historical features. Protective covenants ensure that the natural beauty of the land will be retained for future generations, which is also attractive to many buyers.

"People like to know that what they see today is what their children and grandchildren will see for years to come," said Lager. "They are making an investment, and our covenants secure this investment."

Naterra is currently developing three communities in the Southeast. The Homestead, 2,000 acres, and the Settlement, 300 acres, are both located in the Smoky Mountains. The Preserve at Sharp Mountain is a 1600 acre gated community in the foothills of the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains, 45 minutes north of Georgia.

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At The Homestead, dreams of living near the Smokies turn into reality for nature lovers

Kirk Carter was visiting the Smokies two years ago with just one thought on his mind - planning a permanent vacation. After spotting The Homestead online, Naterra Land's 2,000-acre development, Carter and wife Kimberly went to check it out. They took one look at the property and "fell in love with it."

"We didn't do what you're supposed to do, which is look at a bunch of different places," Carter quips. "We ended up buying it right then and there."

Carter, who now lives in Florida, has been visiting the Smoky Mountains with his grandparents since he was a kid. He and his wife honeymooned there, as did his parents and hers too. And they often slip in a visit at Christmas and during the summer.

Located near Wears Valley, a mere stone's throw from the national park, The Homestead inspires early retirement dreams. Steve Webb, Naterra's vice president of marketing, notes that many families spend year after year visiting the Smokies and want to purchase land there to create new memories.

Aside from breathtaking Smoky Mountain views and lush surrounding woods, The Homestead boasts a 140-acre nature preserve. A network of hiking trails is continually maintained and provides exclusive access to this spectacular "backyard."

"This is as close as you can get to living in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park," points out Mel Lager, the company's general manager for Tennessee. "It's their private little park."

Hike to a 50-foot waterfall, enjoy your lunch at a thoughtfully placed picnic table and listen to the water cascading. Or gather with friends in one of the pavilions constructed using reclaimed timber from old barns.

Rebecca Greene and her husband, Sherrell, a 10th-generation Tennessean, purchased their future haven four years ago.

"It was very important to us to have quick access to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park," Greene explains. "You can be from our lot to the entrance and Metcalf Bottoms in less than 15 minutes." Her husband, a keen fly-fisherman, catches trout in the stream there

While other developers are just now discovering the importance of preserving the natural elements, Naterra has been at it for more than 27 years in five different states.

Most of the hard work has been done already, from putting in high-grade roads to installing the utilities underground so as not to obstruct the view. They even guarantee you'll be able to build on each site.

Neighborhoods have been created in the property's various pockets according to their unique characteristics. Two new neighborhoods, aptly named Whispering Oaks and Sunset Ridge, are made up of 22 and 17 lots, respectively, and are celebrating their grand opening with a Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Saturday at the Naterra office on Wears Valley Road. During this time, as extra incentive, Naterra will cover up to 1 percent of the loan fee and waive closing costs.

Lots vary from one and a half to nine acres and range in price from the mid-$60s to mid-$200s. No two sites are alike. Enjoy an awe inspiring 360-degree view or the tranquility of being tucked away in the woods below. The low density development contains cul-de-sacs for just two or three homes and in some cases private driveways that lead to just one property.

"The lot sizes are large enough that you have tremendous privacy," says Greene. "And if you need to go shopping, you can go to Pigeon Forge in 20 minutes. It's ideally located as far as accessibility to the things that you want to do, whether it is shopping or outdoor recreation."

Current homes run the gamut from cozy cabin to luxury timber or stone. Some have added decks or gazebos to take in the view. Others have splurged on hot tubs, yet everything blends in. Covenants are in place to preserve and protect the homesites' natural features.

"The changes of season, the weather, the mountains, I just love all of that," Carter says. "I would move up there tomorrow if I could."

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Naterra Land Launches New Neighborhoods in The Smoky Mountains at The Homestead

Townsend, Tenn. October 20, 2006 - Naterra Land is officially launching its newest neighborhoods at The Homestead in Blount County: Sunset Ridge and Whispering Oaks. The Homestead is a 2,000-acre mountain property located seven miles from Townsend and eight miles from Pigeon Forge off Wears Valley Road. Naterra will host a special grand opening kickoff event October 26 through October 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at their office on Wears Valley Road. The Fall Festival will be a celebration of Appalachian culture and will include crafts, music and a barbeque.

Three-hundred-nine homesites in earlier Homestead neighborhoods are sold out. "It has been a long time since we've had new property available at The Homestead, so we're expecting our Blount county lots to go very quickly," said Mel Lager, General Manager of Naterra Land in Tennessee. "With the incredible views of the Smoky Mountains, waterfalls, trails, and a private 140 acre nature preserve, many of our customers compare living in The Homestead to actually 'living in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.'"

The Blount county side of The Homestead has 1,200 acres with 36 lots in the first phase. The home sites range from 1.5 to 9.5 acres in size. The community has wide, paved roads for easy access and underground utilities for unobstructed views. Sunset Ridge has homesites with western exposure and spectacular sunset views. Whispering Oaks is heavily wooded, peaceful, quiet and is characterized by the breeze whispering through the trees.

"The location of The Homestead is perfect, because I'm not caught in the hustle and bustle of Gatlinburg," said Homestead property owner Kirk Carter of Florida. "But the restaurants and attractions are close enough that I can still take relatives there when they come to visit. I'm very happy with my purchase and make many trips to Tennessee just to look at my property."

The Fall Festival to celebrate the Grand Opening is both for interested buyers and current residents. The festival will include lye soap-making demonstrations, wood carving, chair caning, bluegrass music and other activities unique to the Appalachian area.

"We planned this event for our current property owners to say thank you to everyone who has purchased property, as well as for new customers who may be interested in learning more about this very special community." said Steve Webb, Vice President of Marketing for Naterra. "Having an event that fits with the Appalachian culture is very fitting since we are in the Smoky Mountains."

Along with the music, food and demonstrations, Homestead representatives will be available to take interested guests on individual tours of the property. Land specialists will give an in-depth overview of the land and show customers which homesites are still available for purchase.

The Homestead is not Naterra's only property in this area of Tennessee. The Settlement, a 300-acre property with rushing creeks, spectacular meadows and ridge line views, is also being launched this month. The Settlement is located just three miles from the main road between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Private tours of The Settlement can be scheduled now.

For more than 27 years, Naterra Land, owner of The Settlement and The Homestead, has specialized in helping people find and buy beautiful land where they can create lasting connections to nature and build a lifetime of memories with family and friends. Taking extraordinary care to preserve the environment and natural beauty of the land it buys, Naterra makes low-impact improvements (roads and power), creates generous-sized home sites and adds amenities that enable owners to maximize their enjoyment of the land. Naterra works to understand the needs of its customers and gains an intimate knowledge of the property it sells

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The Homestead: Reconnect with Nature in Two New Mountainside Neighborhoods

Knoxville News Sentinel, October 15, 2006 -The wait is nearly over. On Oct. 26, Naterra Land will celebrate the grand opening of The Homestead development's two new neighborhoods - Whispering Oaks and Sunset Ridge. Located minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the development is set in 2,000 acres of lush, tranquil land identical to the park. Almost like living in the Smokies itself, but without the traffic jams caused by tourists slowing their vehicles to enjoy the scenery.

Naterra's phone lines are already ringing hot with inquiries, says Steve Webb, the company's vice president of marketing. "This is a highly anticipated launch because it's been a long time since we've had any new property available," he adds, noting the last properties, released in 2005, sold out long ago. At the grand opening, visitors will have a chance to tour the home sites and enjoy a fall festival showcasing the best of life in the Smokies: barbecue, live music and an arts and- crafts fair.

Naterra Land has gently developed the property while painstakingly preserving its natural beauty. It's all about low-density living. High-grade roads have been built to suit the natural flow of the land. Minimal trees have been removed and natural vistas maintained by running utilities underground.

"We want our community to blend into the mountain environment," Webb explains. "So many other communities scar the mountains and stack them high and close together. We're trying to disturb it as little as possible."

Existing hiking trails have been improved and new ones created so homeowners can traverse over 140 acres of nature preserve in their own "backyard." Enjoy the crunch of fall leaves underfoot or see waterfalls and hillsides ablaze with wildflowers in spring. Hikers can catch a glimpse of wild turkeys, birds and even the occasional turtle.

"When we name a neighborhood," explains Webb, "we spend a lot of time on the property, walking every bit of it, stopping and listening. Whispering Oaks is full of oak trees, and you can hear the whispering of the breeze through the trees, hear the crickets and birds. In Sunset Ridge, almost all homesites have western exposure and super sunset views."

Several dream homes have already been built, while others have purchased land to secure their patch of paradise for the future. Although not restricted to log homes, builders have taken their inspiration from nature with stacked stone, log and timber homes.

The choice of lot comes down to personal preference, according to Mel Lager, Naterra's general manager of Tennessee. "Some people want land with great views, 270- and 360-degree views," he says. "But some people want privacy, surrounded by woods or to live on the side of the mountain."

Naterra will offer special incentives for anyone purchasing a lot during the three-day grand opening or shortly afterwards. In addition to special pricing, they will waive their closing costs and pay up to 1 percent of loan origination fees for buyers who close within a specified time.

Instead of regular sales reps, Naterra has land specialists. They know the characteristics of every lot and ask the right questions to define where and how potential landowners want to live in the mountains. "We help them have the vision for it," says Webb. "If you're not a visual person, it is hard to walk onto a piece of raw land and know what you're going to do with it."

"Everyone that comes onto the property has that same dream of living in the Smoky Mountains, going back to a simpler time, a slower pace," explains Lager. "And that's what we're trying to perpetuate - a simpler time."

THE HOMESTEAD

• Location: Smoky Mountains
• Developer: Naterra Land
• Number of lots available: 17 in Sunset Ridge, 22 in Whispering Oaks
• Lots: Range from 11/2 to 9 acres
• Price: Mid-$60,000 to $250,000
• Amenities: 145-acre nature preserve, picnic pavilions and hiking trails
• For more information: Contact Naterra Land at 800-597-0116 or go to www.HomesteadTN.com.
• Directions: Pass through Townsend. Instead of taking a right to Cades Cove, continue to the left on Highway 321. Travel seven miles exactly to the Naterra Land office, which is on the left (there's a small green sign out front).

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