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Welcome to the September 2025 edition of THE BRUCE BEAT, my monthly real estate newsletter.
Each month I like to kick things off with a quick look at the market—and this month, there’s some real news to share: we are officially in a buyer’s market.
Over the past few months, I’ve mentioned the shift in negotiating power, but now we’re seeing even more signs that buyers have the upper hand. Interest rates recently dropped, and many experts predict they’ll dip a little more this month. Are they back to the 2–3% range we saw a few years ago? No—and honestly, we may never see those numbers again anytime soon. But here’s the good news: if rates fall later, you can always refinance.
Beyond rates, buyers are testing the waters with stronger offers—asking for appliances, seller-covered closing costs, or other concessions. Sellers may not always say yes, but the simple fact that buyers can ask (and often get something) is a big change from just a couple of years ago. Remember: if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
New construction is also showing signs of competition. Many builders are offering incentives like rate buy-downs—paying lenders to get your interest rate lower—or even free upgrades for homes still under construction.
All of this points to one clear truth: buyers have more leverage right now. And that’s where I come in. It’s not your job to track every incentive or strategy—that’s mine. My goal is to help you find the right property at the best possible price, while keeping the process smooth and stress-free.
Buying real estate can feel like a game, but you don’t have to play it alone. I’ll handle the strategy so you can enjoy the win.
Chattanooga has produced its share of famous names, but one chart-topping country act is often left out of the conversation.
When the topic of Chattanooga musicians comes up, the conversation usually starts with the big names—Bessie Smith, The Impressions or Usher. Others will bring up Norman Blake, Roger Alan Wade, Clyde Stubblefield or Confederate Railroad. More recently, stars like Lauren Alaina and Kane Brown have carried the torch. And for the deeper cuts, music lovers might mention Glass Hammer or Isaiah Rashad.
But there’s one hugely successful act from our area that I rarely hear anyone mention, and I think they deserve the spotlight just as much as the rest: The Forester Sisters.
Made up of real-life sisters Christy, June, Kathy and Kim, the group rose to fame in the late ’80s and early ’90s with their signature four-part harmonies. They racked up hit after hit, including “I Fell in Love Again Last Night,” “Mama’s Never Seen Those Eyes,” and “You Again.” Along the way, they earned three Grammy nominations and were named Group of the Year in 1986 by the Academy of Country Music.
Hailing from the Georgia side of Lookout Mountain, the sisters went on to release 11 studio albums before stepping away from the industry in 1996 to focus on family life. They reunited in 2013 when they were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, but otherwise have lived outside the spotlight. Who knows—you may have crossed paths with one of them in everyday life in the Chattanooga area without even realizing you were standing next to a country music star.
September in Chattanooga is about to be filled with the sweet sounds of bluegrass.
While our city hasn’t necessarily been known for producing a long list of bluegrass acts, the admiration and fandom for this genre have always been very strong in the Chattanooga area. The 3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival, coming up the first weekend of October, is consistently ranked among the top bluegrass festivals in the country. Cindy Pinion continues to carry the torch for the Boxcar Pinion Memorial Bluegrass crowd by hosting regular concerts in various venues around town and multiple festivals each year at Mountain Cove Farms in Chickamauga, GA. Just up I-24, The Caverns in Pelham, TN has held its share of bluegrass concerts and festivals, with the 4th annual Cavefest scheduled for mid-October. And even more recently, my good buddy and local bluegrass musician Randy Steele has been hosting a bluegrass night each Tuesday at Barrelhouse Ballroom, which has proven to be very successful.
But let’s focus on September, because downtown Chattanooga is about to overflow with bluegrass. The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)—founded in 1985 to promote the genre—launched the World of Bluegrass in 1987, a week-long celebration featuring workshops, jam sessions, a two-day festival, and an awards show. For the past decade, Raleigh, NC, has hosted the event—but this year, IBMA is bringing it right here to Chattanooga.
From September 16th through the 20th, expect to hear banjos, fiddles, and plenty of that high, lonesome sound drifting through downtown. Don’t shy away—lean in, embrace it, and enjoy a little taste of bluegrass magic in our city.
September 2025:
Wednesday 9/3 – That Mexican OT @ The Signal
Friday 9/5 – Goldpine @ The Woodshop
Saturday 9/6 – Max Gomez & Shannon McNally @ The Woodshop
Saturday 9/6 – Cedar & Sage Pumpkin Festival in Dunlap, TN
Sunday 9/7 – The Del McCoury Band @ The Caverns
Sunday 9/7 – Tanner Usrey w/ Jonas Conner @ Barrelhouse Ballroom
Thursday 9/11 – Ryan Adams @ The Walker Theatre
Friday 9/12 – Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms & Spin Doctors @ Sand Mountain Amphitheater
Saturday 9/13 – Americana Showcase: Matt Bohannon Band, Magic Birds, Blake Worthington Band & Falling Water @ The Woodshop
Tuesday 9/16 – Billy Strings & Bryan Sutton w/ Royal Masat @ The Signal
Wednesday 9/17 – Billy Strings @ The Signal
Thursday 9/18 – 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards @ Memorial Auditorium
Friday 9/19 – Clem Snide @ Songbirds
Friday 9/19 & Saturday 9/20 – IBMA Bluegrass Live! Festival featuring Sierra Hull, The Wood Brothers, The Infamous Stringdusters, Sierra Ferrell, Mason Via, East Nash Grass and many more in Downtown Chattanooga
Saturday 9/20 – Brother & The Hayes @ The Woodshop
Sunday 9/21 – Todd Day Wait @ Songbirds
Sunday 9/21 – St. Paul & The Broken Bones w/ Lamont Landers @ The Caverns
Tuesday 9/23 – Chaka Khan @ Memorial Auditorium
Wednesday 9/24 – Goth Babe @ The Caverns
Thursday 9/25 – Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue w/ Abraham Alexander @ The Caverns
Thursday 9/25 – Channing Wilson and friends @ Barrelhouse Ballroom
Friday 9/26 – Lilac Line @ Songbirds
Friday 9/26 – Bacon & Barrel Food & Whiskey Festival @ First Horizon Pavilion
Saturday 9/27 – Lyle Lovett and his Acoustic Group @ The Walker Theatre
Sunday 9/28 – IRONMAN Chattanooga
Tuesday 9/30 – Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters @ Sand Mountain Amphitheater
And in case you may not be familiar with any of these artists I’ve highlighted above, I created a Spotify playlist of some of my favorite songs from most of them for you to enjoy:
