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Property Value
Percent Owner Occupied
Housing Prices
Median Rent
Population
Ridgedale, a neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has experienced significant changes in its housing market over the past decade. This area has seen a general trend of decreasing homeownership rates, coupled with substantial increases in both average home prices and average rent prices. These shifts reflect broader economic and demographic changes affecting the neighborhood.
The homeownership rate in Ridgedale has shown a gradual decline from 2013 to 2022. In 2013, 42% of residents owned their homes, but by 2022, this figure had decreased to 39%. During this same period, average home prices in the neighborhood saw a dramatic increase. In 2013, the average home price was $46,293, but by 2022, it had skyrocketed to $188,759, representing a staggering 308% increase over nine years. This inverse relationship between homeownership rates and average home prices suggests that rising property values may be pricing some residents out of the homeownership market.
Federal interest rates have played a role in shaping homeownership trends in Ridgedale. From 2013 to 2016, interest rates remained very low, hovering around 0.1-0.4%. During this period, homeownership rates in Ridgedale fluctuated between 36% and 42%. As interest rates began to rise more significantly from 2017 onwards, reaching 1.68% in 2022, homeownership rates stabilized around 38-39%. This suggests that while low interest rates may have initially supported homeownership, other factors such as rapidly increasing home prices likely offset this advantage in later years.
The renter population in Ridgedale has grown from 58% in 2013 to 61% in 2022. Concurrently, average rent prices have shown considerable volatility. In 2013, the average rent was $656, which increased to a peak of $966 in 2021 before slightly decreasing to $1,032 in 2022. This represents a 57% increase in average rent over nine years. The growing renter population, combined with rising rent prices, indicates a strong demand for rental properties in the area, possibly driven by those unable to enter the increasingly expensive homeownership market.
In 2023 and 2024, the housing market in Ridgedale continued its upward trajectory. The average home price reached $197,526 in 2023 and further increased to $206,782 in 2024. This represents a 4.7% and 9.5% increase from 2022, respectively. Notably, federal interest rates also saw a significant rise, reaching 5.02% in 2023 and 5.33% in 2024, potentially impacting homebuying decisions in the neighborhood.
Looking ahead, predictive models suggest that both average home prices and rent prices in Ridgedale are likely to continue their upward trend over the next five years. Home prices are projected to increase by approximately 5-7% annually, potentially reaching around $275,000 by 2029. Average rent prices are expected to rise at a similar rate, potentially exceeding $1,300 per month within the same timeframe.
In summary, Ridgedale has experienced a significant shift in its housing landscape over the past decade. The neighborhood has seen a decrease in homeownership rates coupled with substantial increases in both average home prices and rent prices. These trends, influenced by factors such as federal interest rates and local market dynamics, have reshaped the accessibility of housing in the area. As the neighborhood continues to evolve, it's likely that these patterns will persist, potentially further altering the demographic makeup and economic landscape of Ridgedale.