Whittington Creek? (Knoxville, Maryville: for sale, condos, appliances)

[FromTheOC]

Thank you, Patricia. I'll check out Anthem. We did not look there so maybe it is too expensive.

Yes, WC's size is a negative for us but we decided the amenities outweighed that. We would love it if it were smaller but there is a wide range of prices so we can get in at the low end and still get so much more than we are used to!

[Beretta]

I asked my co-worker about WC and she wouldn't really say much other than to say that they wanted a different "feel". They built a new home. There are so many great neighborhoods in that area. I don't even know where to start in pointing you in a direction. Are you considering Farragut or want to stay in the West Knoxville/WC area?

[FromTheOC]

Originally Posted by SmokyMtnGal

I asked my co-worker about WC and she wouldn't really say much other than to say that they wanted a different "feel". Are you considering Farragut or want to stay in the West Knoxville/WC area?

People keep telling us WC is great but... We cannot figure out what that "but" is and it is making us very cautious. It is just so much nicer than anything we thought we could have. Farragut is a further commute for us and we just don't see that it is worth it. We like the area across from the lake and is seems equidistance in to town or west to shopping. We will just have to keep looking.

Thanks for all the help!

[goodbyehollywood]

There is nothing wrong with WC, FromTheOC. Personally, I don't think there is a "but." If you can afford it and want amenities, I'd put it at the top of your list. JMO, of course, but of all the country club neighborhoods, I think it's the best value. You're right about Gettysvue being optimistically priced. If you don't golf, most don't find it worth ponying up the premium.

Sounds like you know about all of WC's activities, so you know what you're paying for... and what you're getting. They are strict in there, though. Fading or peeling paint, uncut lawns, oil spots in the driveway, etc., will get you a warning, then a fine. But many OC neighborhoods do that, especially down around Dana Point, Laguna, Newport, etc.

People keep up their homes and expect you to do the same. So maybe that's the issue? What some people perceive as standards, others might perceive as meddling? Otherwise, I dunno. If WC feels right to you, go for it. It's a nice neighborhood and your kids will make lots of friends and have loads of fun.

Good luck!

[Misty Panda]

Yes many OC neighborhoods do the strict regulations but after all it is OC. I didn't think the south was so political and controlling? Why would people in a place like Knoxville want to be told everything to do and not do?

Maybe that's part of the reason why some people say "it's great, but"? I don't know.

[goodbyehollywood]

Originally Posted by Misty Panda

Yes many OC neighborhoods do the strict regulations but after all it is OC. I didn't think the south was so political and controlling? Why would people in a place like Knoxville want to be told everything to do and not do?

Maybe that's part of the reason why some people say "it's great, but"? I don't know.

Why would people in a place like the OC want to live next door to people who let their property run down in a million dollar neighborhood? Why would people anywhere? If you can afford to buy there, it's not like paint or lawn care would break the bank, ya'know? It's a shame you have to prod people to not live like pigs, but sometimes you do.

R&R neighborhoods are all over Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Bel Air, Ventura County and Santa Barbara. It's called "living in a nice neighborhood." I don't have any vested interest in Whittington Creek, but I say, "you, go!" If you're going to pay that kind of money, you deserve to have your investment protected. And if that is of no importance to you, it's easy enough to find a place where no one is going to tell you to pick up your trash or get that disreputable old clunker off those cinder blocks on that weedy front lawn.

So, there's your answer, FromTheOC. If you do not want to live in an R&R neighborhood, you are not going to be happy in ANY of the newer, upscale neighborhoods along Northshore... or in Farragut... or in Fountain City... or along the newly ritzy South waterfront (since you mentioned Pellissippi). You are going to have to go down a serious tier from any of the subdivisions you mentioned. And you are not going to find the level of amenities that you referred to in the next-tier-down neighborhoods. Best of luck to you! I hope you find just what you're looking for.

[FromTheOC]

Thank you, GoodbyeHollywood! We live in a restricted community here so that does not bother us. We like living where people take pride in their homes and coming from Cali we do want the access to outdoor amenities. Those are the factors that drew us to WC and a few other neighborhoods we're considering. We had planned to wait until later in the fall to buy but our house here sold right away. We will be househunting for real next week. I am surprised and disappointed to not hear from any realtors. We are so not impressed with the one we have talked to and have done most of the work ourselves. He will get an easy commission on an expensive home for doing nothing but recommending neighborhoods that did not fit our needs.

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to reply! We will soon be neighbors.

[mbmouse]

Originally Posted by Misty Panda

Yes many OC neighborhoods do the strict regulations but after all it is OC. I didn't think the south was so political and controlling? Why would people in a place like Knoxville want to be told everything to do and not do?

Maybe that's part of the reason why some people say "it's great, but"? I don't know.

Those kind of communities are the exception, not the norm in TN over all. Yes there seem to be more of those kind of communities popping up around Knoxville, Brentwood, Franklin and a few other areas, but again, not the norm because you are right, locals do not like being told what they can or can not do with there own property.

[knoxgarden]

You might want to look in the West Hills area, around Sheffield Drive and Wesley Road between Kingston Pike and Middlebrook Pike. It's a nice older neighborhood with big houses on big lots. Lots of big trees. There are several big parks within walking distance, a grammar school and a huge YMCA.
When I first came to Knoxville I had a part-time job delivering Wall Street Journals. I delivered a lot in that area. Lots of cul-de-sacs. It had a nice family feel to it. It's the 37909 zip code.

[goodbyehollywood]

It's not the exception-- it's the rule (pardon the pun!) -- in the kinds of subdivisions the OP was interested in. You're going to be hard-pressed to find a neighborhood of newer $600K+ homes in Knoxville-- or Brentwood, etc.-- that does not have restrictions. Buyers who're looking for something less expensive, less elite and less regulated can-- and do-- look elsewhere. So everybody gets what they want!