Tom Johnston, Realtor

08/06/2026

Some buyers are tapping retirement savings to purchase their first home—but it's a decision that comes with important financial considerations.

Comparing two scenarios, we examine what happens when a household reallocates some of its retirement savings to purchase a first home.

07/29/2026

Why do the Smoky Mountains continue to attract short-term rental buyers year after year?

It’s not just the scenery.

The region offers tourism demand, year-round guest appeal, established vacation-rental activity, and long-term ownership potential.

But buying a cabin is not simply buying a view. It is also evaluating an operating business.

Before writing an offer, buyers should understand the numbers behind the property — revenue assumptions, occupancy, management fees, cleaning costs, insurance, utilities, reserves, financing, and break-even risk.

Start with the Cabin ROI Estimator at smrec.com.

Thomas Johnston, REALTOR®, AHWD, C2EX
Affiliate Broker | Smoky Mountain Real Estate Corp.
Email: [email protected]
Cell: 865-803-0749
Brokerage Phone: 865-277-8115

07/24/2026

04/13/2026

The Summit, Sevierville, TN. 1.65 acre building site.

Lot 100 Laurel Cove Trail is the lot to make your Smoky Mountain dream come true. Located within the luxurious Summit on Bluff Mountain, the lot features a sweeping panoramic view deep into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It offers a terrific view of mountain peak after mountain peak while being situated on 1.65 acres near the very end of a lightly traveled, quiet road with incredible homes. The lot lays well with a very gentle slope once off the road creating an ideal building site. Additional qualities include utility water, underground electric, and high speed internet at the lot. The backyard area of the home continues to gently slope allowing for easy implementation of outdoor amenities such as a pool, pickleball court, mini golf, etc.

Property owner is a licensed Tennessee Affiliate Broker.

Land For Sale: View 5 photos for Laurel Cove Trl Lot 100, this 1.65 acre lot in Sevierville, TN listed at $399,000. MLS #311145

02/04/2026

Clermont County Ohio Land Feature

Southwestern Ohio continues to see steady interest in commercial real estate and land—especially in counties positioned for long-term growth, not short-term speculation.
This month, I wanted to share a few local market observations and highlight a Clermont County parcel that reflects what many buyers are prioritizing right now.

Market Observations Across Southwestern Ohio

Land buyers are approaching deals more strategically. The question I hear less is “What is this today?” and more often “What could this support over time?”
A few trends I’m seeing:
- Increased focus on counties just outside core population centers, including Brown, Adams, and Highland
- Strong preference for parcels with clear access and fewer entitlement challenges
- Greater emphasis on flexibility—land that can adapt as market conditions evolve
This mindset favors properties with solid fundamentals over purely speculative upside.

Why Clermont County Remains One to Watch

Clermont County continues to benefit from its location, infrastructure access, and proximity to major employment and population hubs. As growth gradually pushes outward, land in these transitional areas is increasingly part of longer-term planning conversations.

Buyers are also spending more time upfront evaluating zoning, frontage, and development constraints—a healthy shift that leads to better, more sustainable deals.

Featured Land Parcel | Clermont County

This month’s featured parcel is located at 2188 Winemiller Lane, Batavia Twp, OH 45103 and stands out for its positioning and long-term potential:

- Located within a growing county with consistent buyer interest
- Layout and access that support multiple future use scenarios
- Well-suited for buyers thinking beyond immediate use and toward long-term value

- property doesn’t need to be rushed—it needs to be right.

If you’d like more details or want to talk through this parcel, I’m happy to connect.

Land Insight of the Month

Acreage alone doesn’t determine value. Access, zoning, topography, utilities, and surrounding uses often matter far more than price per acre. The strongest land acquisitions are driven by use potential, not just size.

Looking Ahead

I’ll continue sharing monthly insights on commercial real estate and land across Southwestern Ohio. As I expand my work into Tennessee, I’ll also highlight similarities and differences between the two markets.
If you’re evaluating land for investment, development, or future planning, I’m always open to a conversation.

https://www.koogler-eyre.com/listings/detail.php?lid=131599020&

—
Tom Johnston, Realtor
Koogler-Eyre Realty
Batavia, OH
📞 513-378-1678

[email protected]

2188 Winemiller Lane, Batavia Twp, OH, USA 45103 See 4 Photos, description and maps; Price: 1800000; MLS ID: 1614347

02/03/2026

Hey everyone — a quick check-in.

You may have noticed I’ve been a little quieter on social media over the past year. Behind the scenes, I’ve been focused on strategic planning work with a custom home builder in Central Ohio, including involvement with Ali’s renovation project.

I’ve also been splitting time between Ohio and my home outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, as I intentionally expand my real estate focus and deepen my market knowledge.

Over the past year, a lot of my energy has gone into education, research, and groundwork — especially around land and broader real estate opportunities in the markets I serve.

Things haven’t slowed down — they’ve just shifted into preparation mode. I’m looking forward to sharing more about local market insights and real estate opportunities moving forward.

Thanks for being here — more to come soon.