Real Estate is More Than Just a Transaction

If you think real estate agents are just chasing the next commission check, you haven't met the team at Hutch & Howard. In this latest episode of A Knoxville Podcast, Rob Howard sits down with team member Chad Chappelow to peel back the curtain on what it really looks like to help families find their way home in East Tennessee.

From Chad’s transition from restaurant management to real estate  to the philosophy that guides their practice, this conversation is a must-watch for anyone looking to buy or sell in the Scruffy City.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The "One Conversation at a Time" Philosophy Chad shares his favorite approach to the business: "Finding the dream home, one conversation at a time.". Learn why your first conversation with an agent might look completely different than the home you actually buy, and why patience wins over pressure every time.
  
  
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• The Shocking Truth About Knoxville Home Prices Remember when you could buy a house in South Knoxville for $32,000? Rob Howard does—because he lived in one. Rob and Chad break down the incredible appreciation of the Knoxville market, comparing the "late 1900s" prices to today's market where starter homes are harder to find.
  
  
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• The South Knoxville Transformation Rob recounts a nostalgic visit to his old neighborhood off Sevier Avenue. What used to be a quiet street across from a laundromat is now the bustling home of Alliance Brewing, illustrating exactly how rapid development raises property values and changes communities.
  
  
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• Work-Life Balance in a 24/7 Industry How do successful agents juggle family life with client needs? Chad opens up about being a dad to his daughters (and soon-to-be soccer player) while maintaining a high-level real estate career. Spoiler: It’s about boundaries and mutual respect.
  
  
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Why This Matters for Knoxville Buyers & Sellers

As Rob mentions, the internet might tell you to be scared of the economy, but it also lists Knoxville as a #1 destination for relocation. Whether you are looking for a luxury estate or a starter home, you need an agent who is focused on the relationship, not just the transaction.

In this episode of A Knoxville Podcast, host Rob Howard (@KnoxvilleRob) sits down with Justin "Doc" Brown—factory worker, podcaster, author, and fellow East Tennessee native—to explore one of the most fascinating theories you've never heard in Sunday school: that Esau, the "hairy man" from Genesis, might be the biblical archetype for Bigfoot and the ancient feral giants found in cultures worldwide.

Justin, host of Prometheus Lens and author of "The Epic of Esau: The Birthright and Seed War," wasn't a Bigfoot enthusiast until he started connecting dots between Scripture, the Book of Jasher, the Epic of Gilgamesh, and Appalachian folklore. What he discovered turned his understanding of both the Bible and cryptozoology upside down.

This isn't your typical "monster hunter" conversation. It's about faith, evidence, apologetics, and why the Bible's supernatural elements matter more than ever in a skeptical age. It's also about East Tennessee—our storytelling traditions, our dialect, our mountains, and why this region is ground zero for both Bigfoot sightings and honest, accessible conversations about deep theological truths.

If you've ever wondered why your grandparents told stories about "boogers" in the woods, or if you're tired of blind faith with no backbone—this episode is for you.

ABOUT JUSTIN "DOC" BROWN:

Justin Brown is the host of Prometheus Lens, a podcast exploring biblical giants, Nephilim, apologetics, and the supernatural dimensions of Scripture. A lifelong East Tennessee resident and factory worker, Justin's journey from "never reading a book he wasn't forced to" to published author began in 2012 when he discovered Dr. Michael Heiser's The Unseen Realm. His work bridges scholarly research and Appalachian "good old boy" storytelling, making complex theological topics accessible to everyday listeners.

His debut book, "The Epic of Esau: The Birthright and Seed War," examines the biblical and extra-biblical evidence linking Esau to global Bigfoot legends and ancient feral giants.

Find Justin: 🎙️ Prometheus Lens Podcast (Apple, Spotify, YouTube, all platforms) 📚 "The Epic of Esau" – Available in hardcover ($20), Kindle ($10), and audiobook (narrated by Justin) 🛒 Order signed copies with sticker packs & bookmarks: PrometheusLensPodcast.com 📦 Or grab it on Amazon Follow on all social media: Search "Prometheus Lens"


ABOUT A KNOXVILLE PODCAST:

Hosted by Rob Howard, a 22+ year Knoxville real estate broker, author, and UT grad, A Knoxville Podcast has been exploring East Tennessee life since 2007. From real estate market insights to conversations about Horses, Hiking, Bigfoot, and everything in between—this show proves Knoxville is more than just a "well-kept secret." It's home.

Connect with Rob:
🏡 Relocating to East Tennessee? RobHowardKW@gmail.com
📱 865.385.9070 Keller Williams: 865-966-5005
🌐 KnoxvilleRob.com | RealKnoxville.com | HowardsPond.com | RealEstateMurderMystery.com
📚 Author: "Principles of Real Estate and Murder" (Frank Merchant series) & "Seller Secrets"
🏞️ Howard's Pond STR properties: The Cottage & The Loft (Ocoee, TN)

Tune in for lively conversation, a few laughs, and a front-row seat to one of our area’s soon-to-be most anticipated events. Whether you’re a horse enthusiast or just love a good local story, this episode captures the heart, history and energy of our region.

Don’t forget to subscribe for more East Tennessee stories every week!
RealKnoxville.com
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/a-knoxville-podcast-with-hutch-howard/id271483635
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41XtHybV1X8EeG51g6dsxf?si=abf9bbe6e6094771

Rob Howard is a Knoxville-based real estate agent, author, and community connector with Keller Williams West Knoxville. With over 20 years of experience helping clients buy and sell homes throughout East Tennessee, Rob is known for his market expertise, personalized service, and caring approach.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee and an East Tennessee native, Rob brings local insight to every transaction. He’s also the author of the cozy mystery novel "Principles of Real Estate & Murder" and the host of "A Knoxville Podcast", sharing stories and insights from the region.

Rob is passionate about local living, short-term rentals (find his pondside Airbnb at @ocoeetinyhouse), and even features his real estate sidekick, Dickens the Havanese (@havadickens), in his adventures around Knoxville.

Whether you’re buying, selling, investing, or just want to connect with Knoxville’s vibrant community, Rob Howard is your go-to guide.

Contact:
📱 Cell: 865-385-9070
🌐 KnoxvilleRob.com | RobSellsKnoxville.com
✉️ robhowardkw@gmail.com
📲 Social: @knoxvillerob on all platforms

Key topics covered:

• His transition from WWE entertainment to Knox County governance
• How East Tennessee has changed since the 1990s
• Why population growth is actually a compliment to our region
• Nuclear energy and Oak Ridge's role in America's future
• Housing challenges facing young East Tennesseans
• His travels around the world and favorite destinations
• The teamwork skills that translate from wrestling to politics

For more information on Glenn Jacobs: https://x.com/GlennJacobsTN or https://jacobsformayor.com/

Unlike most of the country – where real estate values have given back most of what was gained during the pandemic – Knoxville and most of East Tennessee have continued to either maintain or increase a bit as memories of lockdowns are fresh, the cost of living and tax rates in “marquee areas” continue to skyrocket and the threat of economic crash looms with each meeting of the Federal Reserve. The rate of relocations to the area has decreased but it still persists. Sure, we’ve had reductions in some of the higher price points – but buyers I’ve worked with are still finding it a real challenge to actually find housing in our “bread and butter” price point – between $300,000-$425,000. It’s really not that there’s a lack of homes in that range – it’s that the homes that are selling there now were on the market two years ago for 30% less and the mortgage interest rate was half what it is now. 

While all this is true – this dismal industry snapshot is a cloud with a silver lining! In the past few years with the growth of the Minimalist movement coming from the west and the growth in interest for Millennial generation buyers – people are getting smarter and more ambitious! Only recently the concerns about the price point has shifted to more and more interest in “House Hacking” as popularized by the Bigger Pockets podcast and other outlets that teach their listeners how to monetize their lifestyles. 

You’ve probably noticed the booming “Influencer” culture where people are paid in the high six-figures or even much more for attractive young people to film videos of themselves applying make-up or even less attractive dad-types fixing your dishwasher on YouTube. I’ve noticed that the House Hacking trend has spawned a new attitude from the more savvy, young homebuyer. Many of them want the most house they can purchase (finding work-arounds for the limits of credit, down-payments by finding what help might be available from other sources) with the caveat that the place they purchase HAS to be hackable. 

What does this have to do with being an Influencer? The common way to monetize one’s Influencing potential has been in the Macro-Influencer efforts to get as many eyes on your productions as possible. The new buyers are looking for a more realistic, yet still very lucrative Micro-Influencer plans involving getting someone else to pay for their “Super Nice house.”

“I don’t care what it costs,” one extremely smart young buyer told me this week. “I just have to figure out how to live there for free.” I was a little taken aback from the comment – then he explained. 

The Micro-Influencer home has to have hackable spaces: A garage (ideally with a loft) that can be converted to an apartment, an outbuilding or space that can be turned into living space, an old tool shed that can be turned over in the same way or even an attic with a floor and exterior access. There are many other ways that someone can add living space without changing the current footprint of your home. In the past few months – Knoxville and other local municipalities have changed the laws to allow one ADU (Additional Dwelling Unit) inside the current home footprint. 

If you do this right, choose the correct home or find an area where the rules are even more flexible this can allow for 2 or more ADUs and while you still get to enjoy the better living spaces – while having friends, folks you know or others that are looking for a space to live – paying rent to you – as Knoxville area rents are outstripping the costs of homeownership by large amounts. 

If you are hankering to get the income from the internet – a great way is to feature your space on Airbnb, VRBO or other short-term rental sites where (for a small portion of your nightly rental rate) you can double or triple the return on your lifestyle home choice!