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Closing Out the Year.
Welcome to the December issue of THE BRUCE BEAT, my monthly real estate newsletter. As the final edition of 2025, I hope you’ve enjoyed everything I’ve shared throughout the year. I’m grateful you’re here, and I’m looking forward to continuing this journey together in 2026.
Let’s talk real estate!
With the year quickly coming to a close, many of us are already thinking about our goals and plans for 2026. If a move or relocation is on your New Year’s resolution list, there’s a bit of encouraging news: the National Association of Realtors (NAR) is projecting a 14% increase in home sales in 2026.
Of course, that’s a national forecast, and our local market may not see that exact number—but it’s still a positive shift we’re likely to feel here in the Chattanooga area. This past year brought its fair share of challenges: higher interest rates, longer days on market, and fewer people moving into the region. But a new year brings new opportunities, and I’m choosing to head into 2026 with optimism.
If you think 2026 might be your year to make a real estate move, I’d love the opportunity to help you navigate the process. Until then, enjoy the rest of the year and all the celebrations December has to offer!
The Magic of MAINx24
It still amazes me how many people in the Chattanooga area haven’t heard of one of my favorite holiday traditions—MAINx24. This 24-hour celebration takes over Main Street every year on the first Saturday in December, filling the Southside with energy, music, and more quirky events than you can imagine.
Launched in 2007, MAINx24 started as a Southside-focused block of festivities, but as the neighborhood has grown, so has the event. With new businesses and residents continuing to shape Main Street, the celebration now stretches east of Central Avenue toward Dodds Avenue and now includes over 120 events. The classics like the official parade and chili cook-off still anchor everything between Central and Broad, but you’ll find micro-events all up and down Main. Honestly, almost every business gets involved in some way, whether it’s hosting live music, a pizza-eating contest, or something totally off-the-wall. That’s part of the charm—you truly never know what you’ll see, especially as the day rolls on and the crowd gets more….festive!
Whether you’re an early bird that gets out for breakfast stops and the parade, or you prefer to jump in later for concerts and pop-up happenings, there’s something for everyone. Local merchants and residents organize the full lineup each year, and they keep the schedule updated so you can follow along as the fun unfolds—because there is always something happening.
MAINx24 falls on Saturday, December 6 this year, and you can already start browsing events at mainx24.com to plan your route. If you’ve never been, you should consider giving it a try. Who knows—maybe it’ll become one of your favorite Chattanooga holiday traditions too.
Celebrate the Season around Chattanooga
With holiday celebrations kicking off Saturday, December 6th with MAINx24, to Christmas concerts throughout the month with JOHNNYSWIM, Robert Earl Keen, Eric Benet and Channing Wilson, there’s a little bit of everything going on in the Chattanooga area during the month of December. And don’t forget about those New Year’s Eve shows. Finish the year off on a strong note and go out and have some fun this December—the concerts and events will be there, they just need you!
December 2025:
Wednesday 12/3 – Airshow @ Songbirds
Thursday 12/4 – Jake Xerxes Fussell @ Songbirds
Thursday 12/4 – TopHouse w/ Crowe Boys @ Barrelhouse Ballroom
Friday 12/5 – Magic Birds @ Cherry Street Tavern
Friday 12/5 – Lon Eldridge @ Gate 11 Distillery
Friday 12/5 – Jerry Seinfield @ Memorial Auditorium
Friday 12/5 – Ben Stephens @ Yellow Racket Records
Saturday 12/6 – MAINx24
Saturday 12/6 – Futurebirds w/ Deloyd Elze @ The Signal
Saturday 12/6 – Red Necklace, Behold the Brave, James Leg, Lillian and many more @ The Boneyard
Sunday 12/7 – Alex Williams @ The Dunlap Yard
Sunday 12/7 – Portugal. The Man @ The Caverns
Friday 12/12 – JOHNNYSWIM @ The Walker Theatre
Saturday 12/13 – John Cowan w/ Allen Shadd & Richard Smith @ Songbirds
Saturday 12/13 – Lew Card @ Cherry Street Tavern
Saturday 12/13 – Robert Earl Keen @ The Walker Theatre
Saturday 12/13 – The Afternooners w/ Le Gato & Sloppy Street Tacos @ Barrelhouse Ballroom
Friday 12/19 – Eric Benet @ The Walker Theatre
Friday 12/19 – Strung Like a Horse w/ Randy Steele & Jhett Black @ Barrelhouse Ballroom
Friday 12/19 – Winyah @ Songbirds
Friday 12/19 – Kimi Carter @ The Woodshop
Friday 12/19 – Super Suckers, Scott H. Biram, King Sickabilly & Huskey Burnette @ Cherry Street Tavern
Saturday 12/20 – Channing Wilson @ Barrelhouse Ballroom
Saturday 12/20 – Cuatro Cinco @ Songbirds
Saturday 12/20 – Kip Moore @ The Signal
Saturday 12/20 – Et Cetera @ The Woodshop
Saturday 12/20 – Bobby Stone Film Series: Christmas Vacation @ The Walker Theatre
Sunday 12/21 – Shadowgrass @ Barrelhouse Ballroom
Saturday 12/27 – Jason Lyles @ The Woodshop
Wednesday 12/31 – Fresh Mind @ Hi-Fi Clyde’s
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:
