Giving real estate a Chance

Ralph Chance, best known as the Mayor of Pigeon Forge, has become quite the Renaissance man. Besides his membership with a variety of organizations, plus his position as mayor, he has decided to try his hand in real estate last February.
After 10 years as owner of Middle Creek Market and six with Chance’s Market, Chance sold the businesses in August of last year and now works for Kimble and Chance Real Estate.
The mayor has been in office since 1997 and continues to work towards not only bettering Pigeon Forge but bettering all of Sevier County. When Chance began his service in office, among many of his goals was community development. He’s put himself in a position to reach that goal. He’s giving back to the area that he loves by showing more people how beneficial it is to live here.
“We wanted to get out of the store business,” said Chance. “I looked at different options and I always had an interest in growth, which guided me in this direction.”
Chance inquired about real estate classes and was immediately attracted to the profession. “It became more and more interesting,” said Chance. “The more I got into it, it made me hungry for more.”
“It is a very interesting profession being in this community,” said Chance. “There’s a big market.”
“It is such a good profession to be in because everyone helps everyone else,” he said.
Chance likes meeting people and talking to them about what they want in a home. After discussing different areas of the county with customers, Chance finds that they’ll rethink their decisions. “They’ll come in with their minds set on one thing and then wind up buying something else,” he said.
“I think it speaks loud in volume for the whole county,” he said. “A lot of times they don’t realize the amount of areas in the county. They don’t realize how wide open the county is and how beautiful it is.”
Owning a retail business worked well for Chance and his family. “It was absolutely great for us,” he said. “We made so many friends.”
But, he decided to move on at the age of 50 when he realized that he didn’t want to be confined to a store all day.
“Real estate is wide-open,” said Chance. “I have the ability and opportunity to get out and go, whether it’s showing property, going to the courthouse, or whatever it may be. It’s always a different scene every day.”
Chance doesn’t let being mayor affect his job and if anyone knows that he is mayor, it’s because someone else told them. “I never let it conflict,” he said. “I’m just who I am. I’m doing what I’ve been trained to do and I like it. I don’t try to sell myself. I’m just Ralph Chance.”
Kimble and Chance Real Estate not only covers Sevier County but it branches out to Jefferson County as well. Douglas Lake helps to bridge the two counties together according to Chance.
“I really enjoy working with people and letting them know about the county, background of the county…show them different thing this county has brought together.”
“Tourism is only one part of the county,” said Chance. “I like to tell people that Sevier County is not only a great place to visit but a greater place to live.”