Area Info Please?! (Chattanooga, Johnson City, Kingsport: homeowners association, houses, neighborhoods)

[mia_magination]

I am interested in a home I saw listed on the computer but have yet to be up in this area. We are looking to move soon and have made several trips to see various areas from Chattanooga to Oak Ridge but Kingsport sounds the best for us.

We are looking at a home on Chadwell Road in Kingsport...any information on this area good, bad or indifferent would be greatly appreciated. We are planning our next trip up and would like to know more about it before we come back up. Thanks in advance!

[mbmouse]

Well........Chadwell is in the Bloomingdale area of Kingsport. It would be a matter of perspective and what you are looking for in an area. It is not a "bad" area in comparison to big cities such as NY, Chicago or Detroit by any means but it is one of the two "not the greatest of areas" in Kingsport, which are Bloomingdale and Lynn Garden. According to the Kingsport police those are the two areas they frequent more than others. Just a suggestion is to find 2 or so homes in each areas (central, north, south, east, west) on the MLS listing before making the trip and have a Realtor show you all of them then look around the neighborhoods. Go into the grocery store that would be closest, the convenience store, etc. And see if it feels like home.

[mia_magination]

Thanks MB! I am searching the Kingsport area for a nice home that is not too grand but is not a salt-box either that would be under $200,000. I like the Kingsport area but I don't know much about it, in your opinion what would be a good area (safety wise) or desirable area if you will. I have seen in the past you rave about the tri-cities area and would love to come visit it when I come up again. If I had an idea of where to look from someone that lives in the area I would have a better feel for it on a personal level and not of just a realtor trying to sell a home...if that makes sense and not offensive?! I would love to hear from locals about what they like and why, I love to hear happy people gush about why they love their "home".

[williboy]

The whole Tri-Cities area is very nice, but you need to come take a look around because each area is different and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We live in Telford very near Jonesborough and love it. The other areas are equally nice according to you're needs and personal tastes. Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol plus Church Hill, Jonesborough, Gray, Elizabethton, Piney Flatts, Bluff City, Blountsville, Unicoi, Erwin, and maybe some more make up the area. You should definitely come for a tour.

[mbmouse]

I agree with Williboy whole heartedly. Do you have children that need to be in schools? You would need to tell us all a bit more of your criteria than a nice house in a decent area for less than 200k. That covers a huge area and only discounts a few. I personally love Gray not only for it's location but it's beautiful views and convenience. The schools are great and the people very friendly. But what I like and reasons may not be your perception at all. The best bet is always a trip.
To give you an idea of property's got to Realtor.com and use zip codes 37615, 37660, 37664, 37659 and when you put one of those in, choose "add other locations" ad choose all in 10 miles, that will give you a really good idea of what is available in the area. Hope that helps.

[williboy]

Also 37690.

[mbmouse]

Thanks Williboy, sorry, I forgot that one.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by mia_magination

Thanks MB! I am searching the Kingsport area for a nice home that is not too grand but is not a salt-box either that would be under $200,000. I like the Kingsport area but I don't know much about it, in your opinion what would be a good area (safety wise) or desirable area if you will. I have seen in the past you rave about the tri-cities area and would love to come visit it when I come up again. If I had an idea of where to look from someone that lives in the area I would have a better feel for it on a personal level and not of just a realtor trying to sell a home...if that makes sense and not offensive?! I would love to hear from locals about what they like and why, I love to hear happy people gush about why they love their "home".

Check out Watauga Street, just outside of downtown Kingsport. Gorgeous, old houses line the street. I'm not sure if $200k is enough to purchase one, but it's a very good location in Kingsport.

[mia_magination]

Thanks for all the helpful information. I have 3 children oldest is 11, next is 9 and youngest just turned 7 and they LOVE playing outside but the weather here is too hot for them due to heart condition...main draw of Tennessee.
I would like a place that is kid/pet/family friendly that is close to shopping but not "city". I don't mind a drive up to 30 minutes to shopping, I just want to have families around to socialize with and have activities for my children to participate in like sports, ballet, music and such because they had to give a lot of that up here and they miss it so much.
I can't wait to take our next visit, trying to get the area's down before planning the trip so we can make the most of it.
Thanks a bunch

[mbmouse]

Originally Posted by mia_magination

Thanks for all the helpful information. I have 3 children oldest is 11, next is 9 and youngest just turned 7 and they LOVE playing outside but the weather here is too hot for them due to heart condition...main draw of Tennessee.
I would like a place that is kid/pet/family friendly that is close to shopping but not "city". I don't mind a drive up to 30 minutes to shopping, I just want to have families around to socialize with and have activities for my children to participate in like sports, ballet, music and such because they had to give a lot of that up here and they miss it so much.
I can't wait to take our next visit, trying to get the area's down before planning the trip so we can make the most of it.
Thanks a bunch

With that info it sounds like Gray might be better suited to your needs than Kingsport? Just a thought. Gray is more of a housing community but right in between Kingsport and JC. It is 15 minutes to Kingsport and 10 to JC. There are good schools and several subdivision type areas (not gated or homeowners associations and things like that) that usually come with some land and have kids around. I have three boys, 20, 17 and 13 and this area is very convenient for us and safe for the kids to hang out and such. There are a lot of young kids playing too. We have pets. There is limited shopping here but easy for those quick trips to the store when you are in the middle of making chili and realize you ran out of chili powder and need to get to the store and back in 10 minutes (happened to me last week ) Here are a few examples of some houses in Gray that are in those types of communities.

This one is actually in my neighborhood.
Single Family Home - Gray, TN, 37615 - Realtor.com

Single Family Home - Gray, TN, 37615 - Realtor.com

Single Family Home - Gray, TN, 37615 - Realtor.com

This is a brand new construction close to the new school being built.
Single Family Home - Gray, TN, 37615 - Realtor.com

Single Family Home - Gray, TN, 37615 - Realtor.com

Single Family Home - Gray, TN, 37615 - Realtor.com