Privy Launches Direct-to-MLS Access with East Tennessee REALTORS®

Privy has expanded its direct-to-MLS coverage by integrating with East Tennessee REALTORS® MLS (ETR MLS), formerly the Knoxville Area Association of REALTORS®, bringing comprehensive, real-time property data to 12 counties and over a dozen high-growth markets across the region.

From Knoxville and Maryville to Oak Ridge and Lenoir City, investors and agents now have faster, more reliable access to active listings, comps, investor activity, and detailed property records, enabling them to make smarter, faster investment decisions.

This expansion opens up strategic opportunities across East Tennessee’s fastest-growing real estate markets, where affordability, population growth, and economic development converge to create fertile ground for buy-and-hold investors, fix-and-flippers, and short-term rental operators alike.

Why This Integration Matters

Privy’s direct MLS integration provides unmatched access to up-to-the-minute property data in:

• Blount
• Campbell
• Cumberland
• Fentress
• Knox
• Loudon
• Monroe
• Morgan
• Roane
• Scott
• Union

This includes full access to major cities and investment hotspots like:

• Knoxville
• Maryville
• Oak Ridge
• Clinton
• Lenoir City
• Alcoa
• Farragut
• Harriman
• LaFollette
• Crossville
• Oneida

Whether you’re looking to build a rental portfolio, wholesale, or flip properties, real-time market insight is key. With this new access, Privy users can instantly identify potential deals, analyze comparable sales, track investor activity, and stay competitive in a fast-paced market.

Knoxville: A Premier Investment Destination

Knoxville, the largest city in East Tennessee, has rapidly emerged as a magnet for real estate investors. As home to the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and several major employers, it offers a stable economic base, consistent rental demand, and ongoing infrastructure growth.

The area is also attracting young professionals, retirees, and remote workers drawn to Knoxville’s mix of affordability, outdoor recreation, and cultural appeal. With home prices still below the national average, Knoxville provides an ideal market for cash-flowing rental properties and long-term appreciation.

Downtown Knoxville and the surrounding urban core have experienced a wave of redevelopment, with historic buildings converted into condos and mixed-use spaces, contributing to growing demand for rentals and walkable living. Neighborhoods like North Knoxville, South Waterfront, and Bearden are gaining popularity among investors and renters alike.

Housing Market Conditions: Knoxville and Beyond

According to the latest Market Pulse (May 2025), East Tennessee’s housing market is stabilizing. Although April home sales dropped 8% year-over-year and 0.5% from the previous month, housing inventory is growing. The median sale price in April was $375,000, up 6% from the same month in 2024. Inventory rose 25.6% year-over-year, with homes under contract in a median of 24 days.

46.1% of homes sold at or above asking price, and the average sale-to-list price ratio is now 99.2%, indicating strong buyer competition. However, new construction made up only 14.4% of total home sales, signaling a lag in new supply despite strong demand.

This means that for many investors, targeting underutilized, value-add properties remains one of the best plays in the market. Privy makes it easy to identify those hidden gems, especially in mid-priced neighborhoods where returns remain solid.

The East Tennessee Inventory Gap

The region is experiencing an inventory mismatch. While total listings are increasing, the types of homes available are not aligned with what the average buyer or renter can afford.

In the 9-county Knoxville metro area, median income hovers around $67,000. This supports a purchase price of roughly $275,000, yet only 17% of listings fall under that threshold. Starter homes—defined as homes under 2,000 square feet—make up just 12% of the market. For families needing three bedrooms, only 9% of listings match those criteria within budget.

Developers and city planners face pressure to limit density, driving up home sizes and prices. Meanwhile, renters and first-time buyers are competing for a shrinking share of affordable properties.

Privy’s tools help investors find properties that can be turned into attractive rental housing or fix-and-flip opportunities to meet this demand. By tracking investor activity, evaluating comps, and filtering by criteria like price per square foot or beds and baths, investors can quickly spot profitable opportunities in a tight market.

Builder Response and Zoning Challenges

Builders are responding to the demand for smaller, more affordable housing—but not fast enough. Zoning restrictions, rising material costs, and community resistance to high-density housing have made it harder to build enough starter homes.

Counties like Blount and Loudon have enacted multifamily moratoriums and increased lot size requirements, which further restricts the kind of housing needed to close the affordability gap.

Still, there’s optimism. The National Association of REALTORS® and Realtor.com estimate Knoxville needs 10,500 more homes to meet current demand, not even accounting for future population growth. The good news is that East Tennessee ranks as “misaligned but not at crisis levels,” suggesting an opportunity for investors willing to fill the gap.

Knoxville Housing Market Trends

Redfin reports Knoxville’s housing market has seen a 17.7% increase in median home prices year-over-year. Despite this appreciation, the city remains affordable relative to national averages, with home prices about 25% below national levels and a cost of living 14% below the U.S. average.

Homes are moving fast: as of December 2024, average time on market was 40 days, with competitive listings selling within 24 days and up to 2% above asking price. These conditions make speed and insight critical, exactly where Privy’s real-time MLS data gives users a major edge.

Knoxville’s Economic Drivers

The region’s economy is anchored by major employers like the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Discovery Networks, DENSO Manufacturing, and Clayton Homes. The healthcare, education, and tech sectors continue to expand, drawing a steady flow of new residents.

Tourism also plays a big role. Proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains, the Tennessee River, and downtown revitalization efforts make Knoxville a popular destination for vacation rentals and long-term relocation. This fuels demand across both short- and long-term rental markets.

Rental Market Dynamics

The University of Tennessee ensures a constant pool of renters. Young professionals and downsizing retirees round out the mix, with rental demand strong in both urban and suburban neighborhoods.

Knoxville’s rental prices remain attractive. According to RentCafe, the average monthly rent is just over $1,400. This allows investors to find cash-flowing properties even amid rising home prices. With Privy’s rental and mortgage data overlays, users can analyze gross yield, compare cap rates, and filter by investment criteria to maximize their return on investment (ROI).

Real Estate Investment Strategies That Work in East Tennessee

Whether you’re executing a BRRRR strategy, fix-and-flip, or looking to build passive income through long-term rentals, East Tennessee provides a flexible and scalable environment for investors.

• Buy-and-Hold: Stable job growth, consistent rental demand, and relatively low taxes create the perfect backdrop for building a sustainable portfolio.
• Fix-and-Flip: Rapid appreciation, aging housing stock, and a growing population make distressed properties an attractive target, especially with Privy’s rehab estimator and investor comp tracking.
• Short-Term Rentals: With tourism booming, especially near the Smoky Mountains, downtown Knoxville, and lakeside communities, short-term rentals can generate high yield with the right property.

Closing the Gap Between Inventory and Opportunity

The bottom line is clear: East Tennessee faces a housing shortage, and investors are well-positioned to meet this demand. The key is aligning property acquisition with what residents actually need—smaller, more affordable homes in desirable locations.

Privy’s MLS access makes that possible. Use Comparative Search to locate similar deals, draw custom areas to target high-opportunity zones, and analyze what successful investors are doing in real time. This is how savvy investors scale smart.