home prices in farragut zone vs bearden zone (Knoxville: houses, neighborhoods)

[Sharkstra99]

Hello All,

Our family is moving out to the Knoxville area after the school year is out and are still debating btwn being zoned for Farragut HS or Bearden (with West Valley Middle). They both seem like great schools, and pretty equal academically and athletically. Can someone please tell me why it seems like you can get more for your money in the Bearden zone? Still newcomers and mostly house-hunting from afar. The areas we are focusing on are in and around Village Green and nearby neighborhoods. The less expensive homes that seem really nice online are off of Turnbridge and also in Echo Valley. All I can assume is that these areas are closer to the "city" which makes it less expensive? Thanks for any tips!

[oldmanbob]

Congrats Sharkstra99, once you visit and get a feel for the area, you can best decide what feels best for you. Housing and prices will help you decide, but each area you mentioned has a wide selection and your will find your dream home of choice. We supported both Farragut and Bearden, as our daughter went to Farragut and after rezoning, our son, went to Bearden. As you stated, all the schools are fairly equal and sports will vary a little. Are you children involved in sports, then that can help as all the schools are very competitive and Farragut has won the Baseball Championships for last 5 years , quite an accomplishment, and Bearden may have the edge in basketball. Both are always good in soccer and we were involved in both basketball and baseball and swimming.
I would suggest a visit and once you get a good look, will help you in deciding. Farragut and Hardin, may offer a little more of the country setting, but you can find any type of home, price, age and size, in all of the locations. Hardin Valley is doing great, for a new school, only I think 4 years now. Good luck, and post more with questions.

[hiknapster]

Farragut is strictly a suburb whereas Bearden is more of a city neighborhood, if that helps. In Farragut, folks tend to be fairly well-off. The same is true of Bearden but there are a lot of blue-collar folks and others in some parts of Bearden. However, up the hill is Sequoyah Hills, which is close to the city as well. Closer, actually. That's our old money section of the city and property values are sky-high.

You really have to visit to see what you like. They all have very lovely areas.

[EastTNSuthernBelle]

I would just like to say when looking for a house in the Bearden area, it would GREATLY behoove you to request a school district map from Knox County. There was some convoluted rezoning done a few years ago and much of "Bearden proper" is now zoned for West High school. There are several very popular neighborhoods down Northshore Drive, that are West Valley Middle, that are now zoned for West High School which is on Sutherland Ave (take a look at a map the distance b/w West Valley Middle & West High) instead of Bearden. I have no clue how/why that happened but it really makes no sense at all. So, before you fall in love with a house, double check the school zones!

Good luck!

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by EastTNSuthernBelle

I would just like to say when looking for a house in the Bearden area, it would GREATLY behoove you to request a school district map from Knox County. There was some convoluted rezoning done a few years ago and much of "Bearden proper" is now zoned for West High school. There are several very popular neighborhoods down Northshore Drive, that are West Valley Middle, that are now zoned for West High School which is on Sutherland Ave (take a look at a map the distance b/w West Valley Middle & West High) instead of Bearden. I have no clue how/why that happened but it really makes no sense at all. So, before you fall in love with a house, double check the school zones!

Good luck!

I was wondering if that makes an enormous difference? Isn't West highly regarded and constantly listed on US World Report? It also is an IB school, I believe? Would it matter which schools?

Just curious.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I was wondering if that makes an enormous difference? Isn't West highly regarded and constantly listed on US World Report? It also is an IB school, I believe? Would it matter which schools?

Just curious.

I was thinking the same thing. West is an excellent school and is not a bad alternative to Bearden HS at all. In addition to what you said, some of Knoxville's most affluent and most beautiful neighborhoods are zoned for West.

[creeksitter]

But if the kids are involved in sports the family will want to live close to the school to minimize the driving.

I alsways liked Village green because it is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Knox county in that you have schools, stores and a lot of services in easy walking distance. Sidewalks, too.

While we think of bearden as a semi-urban shopping district close to town the OP is thinking of very suburban neighborhoods like Echo valley that are zoned for Bearden HS, which is much further out west.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by creeksitter

But if the kids are involved in sports the family will want to live close to the school to minimize the driving.

I alsways liked Village green because it is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Knox county in that you have schools, stores and a lot of services in easy walking distance. Sidewalks, too.

While we think of bearden as a semi-urban shopping district close to town the OP is thinking of very suburban neighborhoods like Echo valley that are zoned for Bearden HS, which is much further out west.

I think of Bearden as being one of the first suburban areas, with some shopping centers, close to downtown. I've never considered to be very "urban" but that is just me.

Village Green in Farragut is a nice area, yes.

[EastTNSuthernBelle]

I'm not knocking West High by any means. It is an excellent school. My only point in posting is b/c the OP specifically mentioned being interested in Bearden & Farragut. One would think when looking at houses located less than a mile from Bearden High that they would be zoned for Bearden. With the new rezoning, that is not necessarily the case.