Looking in Tenn

[Gregg Alexander]

I am thinking about pulling up stakes and heading to Tenn. What areas in East Tenn would be a place to settle down. We really would like something near the Mts if cost is not through the roof. Need around 20 acs with good water and excessable through out the yr.
Any thoughts or ideas
Gregg

[TechGuy]

Originally Posted by Gregg Alexander

I am thinking about pulling up stakes and heading to Tenn. What areas in East Tenn would be a place to settle down. We really would like something near the Mts if cost is not through the roof. Need around 20 acs with good water and excessable through out the yr.
Any thoughts or ideas
Gregg

I am by no mean an expert on Tennesse, but I hear there is a significant Meth problem.

[country_wife]

I used to live in Upper East Tn. Beautiful place...but Tech Guy is right about the meth. From what I understand (from friends and relatives that still live there), meth labs are in the city, the small towns, the trailer parks, the 'burbs, and even out in the sticks.

Also, land is not cheap there. At least not anywhere close to where I used to live. I know because we've looked into moving back there. I miss the southern hospitality..but not the accent. East Tn has an accent all it's own. More of a twang than a drawl.

East TN doesn't get a lot of snow, so wherever you end up should be accessible year round.

[Gregg Alexander]

That is the same problem here as well. I was born and raised here and have seen the problem spread and spread. That kind of stuff is what I am trying to get away from. My have to find another area.

[turtlehead]

Check out WV. Mountains and affordable.
We've been here two years (central WV) and if there's a meth problem I've not heard of it or read about it in the papers. Ritchie, Gilmer, Calhoun, Doddridge counties might suit.

[MB]

pretty sure that the meth problem you speak of can be found just about anywhere now.

[Delinda]

Well I live in East Tn. and I do not believe the Meth problem is any worse here than any other place. Our state has worked very hard to combat this problem and it is making a differance. East Tn. is a beautiful place, we have the mountains, lakes and rivers, all close by. Where I live I am in walking distance to the Hiwassee river, one of the best trout rivers around. I am 30 min. from the Tn. river, 3 big lakes, and the Ocoee river (where the Whitewater olympics were held is a 15 min drive down the road.) The foothills of the Smokey Mountains are across the road in the Cherokee National Forest. But land prices have skyrocked around here lately. There is no cheap mountain land anymore, and farm land is being turned into subdivisions everywhere around here now. It seems like alot of Fla. people are moving up here now. We have had so many move in around us now and I am not very happy with most of them. They move into farming areas and complain about the livestock around them! I had a lady stop just yesterday and complain to me about my neighbors dairy cows, she could see their hip bones and was going to turn him in. I tried to explain to her that is the way dairy cows are built. She has no clue. It happens all the time now. Oh well I could go on and on but I guess I am getting off topic.

[FiddleKat]

Originally Posted by Gregg Alexander

I am thinking about pulling up stakes and heading to Tenn. What areas in East Tenn would be a place to settle down. We really would like something near the Mts if cost is not through the roof. Need around 20 acs with good water and excessable through out the yr.
Any thoughts or ideas
Gregg

Hi Gregg.....we are in Blount County. It's one of the best counties around. AVOID Claiborne and up near tri-cities. Alot of crime, etc.

Blount County is booming and its a very nice area. We have lived here for a year and a half and love it!! I can't imagine living anywhere else.
We do have a prison here, but majority of people don't know it exists. Crime rate is low. We are in the county jurisdiction, and county schools are better than city schools. Of course Im partial to county anyway. And I believe we rated #2 in the state.
You can google Blount County Tennessee, Maryville to be exact and get alot of info on the area.
We are only 45-50 min. from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. We are at the foothills of the Smoky Mountians.
I hope this is of help!

The only thing is I don't know if you would find a place with 20 acres, but of course I could be wrong. We still do have alot of rural area, and in fact we are in a rural area. Were in a little subdivision of six houses, five of which are mobiles and have alot of cows and pasture around us.

[Delinda]

Thank You Rose, we love it here. I hope you enjoyed your visit!

[FiddleKat]

Originally Posted by Delinda

Well I live in East Tn. and I do not believe the Meth problem is any worse here than any other place. Our state has worked very hard to combat this problem and it is making a differance. East Tn. is a beautiful place, we have the mountains, lakes and rivers, all close by. Where I live I am in walking distance to the Hiwassee river, one of the best trout rivers around. I am 30 min. from the Tn. river, 3 big lakes, and the Ocoee river (where the Whitewater olympics were held is a 15 min drive down the road.) The foothills of the Smokey Mountains are across the road in the Cherokee National Forest. But land prices have skyrocked around here lately. There is no cheap mountain land anymore, and farm land is being turned into subdivisions everywhere around here now. It seems like alot of Fla. people are moving up here now. We have had so many move in around us now and I am not very happy with most of them. They move into farming areas and complain about the livestock around them! I had a lady stop just yesterday and complain to me about my neighbors dairy cows, she could see their hip bones and was going to turn him in. I tried to explain to her that is the way dairy cows are built. She has no clue. It happens all the time now. Oh well I could go on and on but I guess I am getting off topic.

Also, some of the nearby counties I think like Loudon and Monroe have a bit of a meth problem. But Blount County is very very low. Like others said, you'll find drugs no matter where you go.
But I also can tell you that our local Sheriff's Dept. is very effeciant and have a zero tolerance for drugs. We have a very good Drug Task Force that is very determined to wipe drugs out.

[Rita]

We live on the Plateau and love it here. My grankids are high school age and say yes there are drugs in the area but easy to avoid. Drugs are everywhere in my opinion.

[TnTnTn]

I live in middle TN and like it here a lot. I was born on the plateau, went to school at UT in Knoxville, lived in the Miami, FL, area for 17 years and moved back to TN about 9 years ago. I can't imagine a better place as far as privacy, freedom of land use, affordability, and accessibility. I have two young sons and this environment is ideal for growing up.

Meth and/or other drugs(fill in the blank) is a problem everywhere I reckon. TN has done a pretty good job at combating meth as busts are down by 1/2 over the last year or so. There are good and bad people everywhere.

Like others have mentioned, land prices have tripled or more in the 9 years that we have been here. We have about 118ac or so and bought it at a good price. I could not afford it at current prices. I prefer the plateau or middle TN areas to E. TN. We have enough hills and smaller mtns here to satisfy my urge without the tourists and congestion of E. TN. Around here you could probably find 20ac or so for 60-80K depending on location, timber, water, and lay etc. Good luck. TnTnTn

PS-If you want to visit my area send me a PM and we can arrange a visit.

[snettrecker]

My wife and I are planning on moving to North central TN sometime in the next year. We are probably going to be in Fentress County. Land there is a little more expensive than middle TN from what I found out. I'd rather move to southern KY as you can get land for two-three thousand an acre, where it's usually 10,000+ in Tn. But I am going to be taking a youth director position at a church there so we want to be close. I think there is somewhat of a meth problem in the bad areas, but from what I've gathered, most of the area is alright.

Josh

[Jim S.]

I'm in south-central TN in the foothills of the Appalachians and I live in the county yet work in the #1 or #2 city in the SE for wages, Huntsville AL (trading with Atlanta year to year). Yet taxes are low, as is regulation. We have every kind of land in my county...near-mountainous, hilly, flat, whatever you want. My county is 580 square miles, with 34,000 population. Most of the population is in the south county, near Huntsville. Land values are good and climbing due to tremendous high-pay job growth in Huntsville, so you are pretty much assured that if you buy today you will increase your equity tomorrow.

Check out some prices here:

http://www.vanmassey.com/land.html

http://www.benporter.com/search_all_properties.cfm

http://www.bollesrealty.com/land.html

[Beeman]

I live in E Tn, about an hour or so north east of Knoxville. You better get here quick cause everyone else is coming too. We have a pretty bad meth problem and unfortunately poor air and water quality. Our schools are ranked 47th in the nation. It is pretty and there are jobs but land prices are going crazy and our gov't agencies are 50 yrs. behind. This is one of the false indicators drawing people here, they think the property taxes are cheap. They will be for a little while but to catch up they will accellerate rapidly. Our sales tax is 9.75% which hurts when you purchase anything.
There are great things about this area, but that's what most will fill your fantasies with. It's a lot different when you live somewhere and experience the day to day life in the area.