Northern Ga or South TN

[palswithpawz]

We live in the Jasper/Kimball/South Pittsburg Area. It is beautiful here, and just close enough 25 minutes to go to Chattanooga. We moved here from California 2 years ago and have never looked back.

[PunkGuy]

Originally Posted by u4icmusic

Other than Windstone, there is nothing good about Ringgold. It's depressed and run down, sorry to say.

Completely agree!

so, if you're coming out of Windstone, turn left on Ooltehwah/Ringgold Rd, not right...

It's actually quite a stark difference.

On one side, you have Hamilton Place Mall, new communities, restaurants, etc...then the other side (Ringgold) you have old houses, tiny town, and basically country.

[romeo kilo]

Ringgold is a small and historical southern town... and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My mailing address is Ringgold,Ga although it takes me about 15 minutes to get to "downtown" Ringgold. I use the Ringgold Post office on a regular basis...I am treated with a smile and a "how are you today?" everytime I walk in. I get the same freindly smile and greeting at the Bank that I use regularly in Ringgold. Same thing right up the road with the Auto Repair Shop in Ft Oglethorpe, when I walk in they greet me by name. My subdivision, which is 4 or 5 years old is quiet, peaceful, picturesque with mountain views, and convenient to anywhere that we wish to go in the area.. We are 30 minutes to Downtown Chattanooga, 2o minutes to Hamilton Place Mall, 7 minutes to I-75 and a world away from the crime, grafitti, traffic, and noise that you find in almost all moderate to large U.S. cities). The homes in my Ringgold neighborhood sell for between $160K and $260K. It is country living without some of the In -Town problems (like more traffic or more noise) that you might find in the Chattanooga city limits..It is a place where you sit on your porch and watch the sunrise or catch a beautiful North Georgia Sunset. We looked in Chattanooga, Hamilton, and Bradley County, Tn for a home similar to the one that we eventually purchased here in Ringgold. The property tax in Chattanooga was over $2,000 annually for a home that replicates the one that we purchased here in Ringgold that has annual property tax of $1,000. Also, I believe that the Sales TAx Rate in Chattanooga and Hamilton county is 9.25% while at 7% in Catoosa County. So, with me being from Tampa, Florida (a metro area of 2.5 million people), I appreciate all of the qualities of life that we discovered in this area, the whole area. Less Crime, Less Noise, Lower Housing Prices, Less Property Tax, More Conservative Values, Less Traffic and on and on. And nothing against Chattanooga and the smaller communites that surround it; the people in this ENTIRE REGION have impressed us with their patience and friendliness. People here move at a slower pace than where I am from..they take time to smell the roses, and they take time to say Hello, Thank You, and You're Welcome. The whole region is great to me, but I am just one set of eyes that sees the beauty in this particular area with a Ringgold address.., ask 20 people about Ringgold and you'll problably get 20 different responses...after all, it is all about the wants and needs of the individual and their Perspective. We love the whole area...if you are from the Chattanooga Metro area (Hamilton,Bradley, Sequatchie, counties in Tn and Dade, Walker, and Catoosa county in Georgia), be thankful and stand proud. I am an outsider, and I am telling you, you are blessed.There is no perfection in any city in the world, but the Chattanooga area comes closer to Utopia than any area that I have ever personally lived in. We love it here!!

[Looking4Chg]

I really appreciate the insight on your area Romeo. Our only concern with GA is the state taxes. My DH will be retired and receiving a pension. I know it will not be taxed in TN but will be in GA. There are many pros and cons for both. I really like the area of north GA and will be spending a little time there in July. We now live in the Tampa Bay area and have been here for more than 35 years. Change is what we would want. We will also be looking at the schools in both areas. That is the most important thing for us at this time. Thank you again for your input.

[romeo kilo]

By all means...let me know if I can be of any assistance. I lived in Westshore in West Tampa, Bloomingdale (Brandon, Fl) in East Tampa, Valrico, in Hudson, Fl (Pasco co) and finally to Spring Hill in Hernando county...(my favorite.)

All in all, 18 years in Tampa Bay...From Vinny Testaverde to Jeff Garcia, from Ray Perkins and Sam Wyche to Jon Gruden, always a Bucs fan.

And As always, a place can mean many things to many people...but the Tampa Bay crime, the congestion, the high homeowners insurance, the heavy traffic, the high property tax, the tropical storms, the hurricanes, we finally got tired of all of the negatives...I mean, Clearwater Beach is beautiful, but driving to it and finding a place to park became a real headache..and even though we realized that all communities like all individuals have their problems...

We decided to relocate to the Chattanooga Metro area. Not once have my wife or myself regretted the move...

Let me know if I can answer any questions about the area for you...best of luck.

[Looking4Chg]

We will always be a Bucs fan no matter where we go. We only live about 5 miles from Clearwater Beach, but I have to admit, I have not gone there in about 2 years! For the exact things you mentioned, especially the traffic and roundabout thing that they have there.

I have lived in this area for over 30 something years AND let me not forget to say... In the same house!

I purchased it from my folks about 15 years ago. So, to say the least, I am ready for a change. Hoping the economy will get better when we are ready to go. We have really re-modeled this house from kitchen to baths to everything else. I don't want to give the house away.
We have been very lucky not to get hit by any hurricane, but our time is coming, I'm sure of it.

Again, thank you for all your info. It's been a great help!

[WorldTraveler76]

I've lived in Chattanooga my entire life.

We are so close to the Georgia line, that if you need something in Georgia you can get there in probably less than 20 mins. No biggie.

I would suggest the East Brainerd area of Chattanooga, also Harrison or Hixson you can get good buys on housing in those.

East Brainerd is the biggest part of chatt. you will find a huge shopping mall, all kinds of eating places, major stores like Target and Walmart. Tons of shopping around the mall, easy access to the interstate and other major things in the area.

Harrison is a small community, but you can get a good deal on a house out there, it will put you a little further away from the East Brainerd stuff, but its still not far, and they have grocery stores and everything you really need all on one main highway.

Hixson is across the Chickamauga Dam, but offers another shopping mall, Walmart and Target, lots of eating places, and tons of shopping, yet it isn't as busy as East Brainerd, yet all you have to do is hit 153 and you are to the other mall and shopping areas.

If you are looking for a country setting but still close in to town, I would definately suggest the Soddy-Daisy area, you still have access to a Walmart and food stores, and you are just mins. from Hixson and the city of Chattanooga, so its not too bad.

For North Georgia, I would suggest the Fort Oglethorpe area. You have a mainstreet community there, with everything you could need, yet you are just over the state line to Tennessee and all Chattanooga has to offer.

For Schools, I would suggest the following.


For Prep Schools
Girls Prepatory School (GPS)
McCallie School For Boys
Baylor School

For Christian/ Private Schools
Tennessee Temple Academy
Silverdale Baptist Academy
Hamilton Heights Christian Academy

For Public Schools
Sequoyah High School
Soddy-Daisy High School
Chattanooga School For the Arts and Sciences

If you have any questions feel free to PM me.