Getting to know the area (Memphis, Chattanooga: real estate, homes, best school)

[Mrsdean4]

Hello everyone. I am looking for some local advice. My family of 4 is considering a move to the Chattanooga area from the metro DC suburbs. I am negotiating for a position that would have me travelling between several locations from Jasper to Cleveland. My husband can work from home. My daughters are teenagers, one about to enter high school. We are coming from one of the most expensive and congested areas of the country and Tennessee has been high on our list of possibilities.

I am originally from northern Mississippi and am familiar with Memphis. Memphis is NOT on the list of places we would like to end up. My husband is a New Englander and although he survived living in MS for a few years, he would prefer to be in a climate with more varied seasons and some visible elevation. My experience with Chattanooga is limited to driving around it on my way to the Memphis area. I will be coming down for my last interview in the next 3 weeks, then a trip with the family to explore, assuming all goes well.

I would love some input on the feel of different areas around Chattanooga, and I know that's quite subjective. A few of the things that are important to us:

1. A minimum of slightly above average high school. This is my primary concern at the moment. We anticipate having a relocation package and experiencing time in a temporary housing situation but will want to find something in the best school district we can manage. The goal is to find something that, after we transition to permanent housing, we are still in the same school zone. It's my understanding, after checking out the local school district registration policies, that there are no allowances made for knowing your child will be moving into a permanent residence in the school zone after the start of school. If the address is not in the desired school zone by the final date of registration, even if we commit to provide transportation, our children cannot attend the anticipated school. Certainly, this is a wrinkle as we deal with selling our home in VA and finding a new place in TN.

2. We have promised my oldest that if she suffers the horror of moving (again) we will find a place where she can raise a few chickens. We are tired of the subdivision life, so no HOAs would be important.

3. The more acreage the better, but my husband needs reliable internet for his work, so we can't go too far out into the wilderness.

4. Within a 30-45 minute commute of downtown Chattanooga.

5. Our budget is under 600,000.

Thanks for reading this far, I'd appreciate any help!

[keithps]

So with a budget of $600k, you could easily get 50+ acres with a decent home in the northwestern end of the county. You would have access to EPB's fiber internet and still be <45mins to downtown.

[Mrsdean4]

Thanks for the reply! You are referring to Hamilton county, correct? Do you know anything about the general reputation of the high schools in the NE part of the county?

[Umbeerfg]

Signal Mountain is THE best school in Hamilton County and in the top 10 of Tennessee. So you can look for homes in Walden and Signal Mountain. Otherwise you can try to get into the Magnet schools, they are also good. Your budget should allow you to get at least a couple of acres and have goats and chickens. You will have to stay out of HOA's. And if you build new, most builders here do not build energy efficient homes, unless you request it.

[Mrsdean4]

Thank you!

[SPLIT]

The wish list of animals and need to commute around I-75 is not much to be offered..... $ wise you can go any town you wish .... I would suggest looking WEST of Cleveland , along the Rt # 58, and SNOW HILL rd.
This region is just EAST of the lake / river ,, N.E. of Harrison Bay state park... Slighly south of Birchwood.
Land is flatter & in the past had quite a few 5 acre tracts or more for Horse owners...
A real estate agent will have all your input on schools....Really concerned parents go the tuition / private,,, just have to get correct answers. .. Again WELCOME.

[Mrsdean4]

Thank you! We are very excited about the opportunity.

[mSooner]

You should check out the "backside" of Signal Mountain (Walden, Fairmount). It's gorgeous up there and much cheaper than the "front" of the mountain, but still zoned to Signal Mountain HS. We are looking for schools too and after looking at stats, it really stands out as a great school with most of the other publics far behind.

[shinestx]

I also recommend Signal Mountain. There are some bigger lots outside the county (Sequatchie Co.) just past Walden. Plus, you could also take a back scenic route to Jasper, although that's always weather dependent. From Signal, you can also take TN153 to I-75 to Cleveland. So while you're somewhat 'out of the way' on a mountain, you'd be between the places you need to go. Now one thing to be aware of, if you do have to go across the county line, be sure EPB fiber optic Internet is available, as your husband would need that to work from home. I understand it's available across Hamilton County and in other adjacent areas in TN.

[Mrsdean4]

Thank you, that is very helpful! I am coming for my final interview and spending a few days to look around beginning next weekend.