For Sale By Owner homes? (Johnson City, Kingsport: real estate, houses, established neighborhood)

[mia_magination]

I have been searching realtor.com for a home in the area but I was wondering if there are many homes for sale by owner also. Anyone living in the Tri-Cities area know how I can search them? We are planning a trip up but want to make the most of our time. I know where I live now you can't walk down the street without tripping over a homeowner's sign for sale...was wondering if the same situation is happening up there. I would much rather buy a home that is already built and in an established neighborhood than build new. We need a 4 bedroom 2 bath home with a basement, unfortunately most of the homes listed with realtor.com are "McMansions" and we don't want that.

I have seen everything we would want in an area with the Tri-Cities area and we are just so excited to make the move. It's just hard with the kids in school, we have to take trips around the school schedule.

Also, is there any school/system that is better or worse in anyone's opinion?
From what I have researched the schools seem to be fantastic.

Any help or advise will be a huge help to us! Thanks!

[jchometeam]

forsalebyowner.com has about 55 listings in the area. Some of these are in JC, some in Gray, some in Jonesborough, etc. Other than that, some people trying to sell their home by owner simply puts it in the newspaper. If you go to :: Johnson City Press - Welcome :: and click the classified section you will see some of these. Some of these will probably take you to a realtor (if it is a realtor's ad and doesnt mention this, it is illegal).

I wouldnt say that for sale by owners are as commonplace as other parts of the country, but there are some. If you come out here sometime, some of the local businesses have the for sale by owner magazine that you can browse through.

[mbmouse]

I see lots of homes on Realtor.com that aren't McMansions, what price range are you looking in? Maybe that is the difference? What "type" of house are you looking for?
I personally like the Washington County schools and the Kingsport City.
There are some houses with for sale by owner signs in front of them here and there.
Here are a few houses I found after a quick look. Were these ones you saw and didn't prefer?

Single Family Home - Johnson City, TN, 37615 - Realtor.com

shoot, internet issues, will come back with some more.

[mia_magination]

That's great JC. thanks for the info. I have found a couple homes I like listed on realtor.com in the Gray area and one in Kingsport so far. I was just trying to get everything I could see in one trip. I am leaning toward the Gray area for the fact taxes are mostly only county and not county/city. The whole area seems so great that I don't think I could go wrong no matter where I go

Much thanks!

[mia_magination]

MB. I have seen this one and very much liked it. I want to make sure I have a few to look at in different areas so I can make an informed decission. By the way, I really like the one home you told me about in your neighborhood but it doesn't have a basement. Still keeping my eye on it anyway...it looks just like my mom's old home.

I had put a large price range in when I did my search to see what areas and neighborhoods look like. Sometimes you can find a real gem being offered by owner instead of through a realtor. This is what we did with my home here and I have had so many people interested and I never listed with an agent.

As always you have been such a great help, thanks a bunch.

[mbmouse]

I just remembered! There is tricitiesnow.com also. It is a local classifieds with lots of things available, including real estate.
Sorry, don't know why I didn't think of it the other day when you asked.