Pre-retire looking for a mountain to stare at (Knoxville, Chattanooga: transplants, rentals)

[Pre-RetireTN1959]

I recently moved outside of Nashville from DC area, good decision to get away from the hustle-bustle of the city. I bought a gorgeous house in one of those cookie cutter subdivision that has a view of a slight mountain for the half the money but...it certainly not where I want to live the rest of my life. On my drive down to my new home I drove through Knoxville and was mesmerized by the view and all the little towns and realized I picked the wrong big city to move close to.

In a couple of years I want to buy some land with a good view of a mountain in or near a smaller town in TN, and build my dream retirement house...chill until I retire in 15 years, some where I can't see my neighbors and they can't see me. But I need to be close (10 minutes) a grocery store, Walmart, pharmacy...restaurant or two. The airport within 40 miles and I must have high speed internet...I telecommute for my company so it is a must...cable TV would be nice.

Here's the question, what small towns close to Knoxville or Chattanooga, TN where i can feel safe and at peace? I am divorced Black professional who just wants to be in a nice small town with good people. I don't care if you are purple with green dots as long as you are good people and I'm looking for a community of people with the same attitude.

Can anyone tell me what towns in Eastern TN that fits this description?

[tsimmu]

Kimberlin Heights in south Knox County seems to fit your description...

[tnlover]

We enjoy the same type of privacy that you do. You may want to check out the drive on Dolly Parton Pkwy from Servierville to English Mountain. There is alot of open space there with fantastic mountain views. We find the Chestnut Hill area especially appealing since is very quait and breath taking. One thing to remember is that the property taxes are cheaper in Seveir County than the surrounding counties so keep that in mind when looking at properties.

Happy prospecting!

[Pre-RetireTN1959]

Originally Posted by tnlover

We enjoy the same type of privacy that you do. You may want to check out the drive on Dolly Parton Pkwy from Servierville to English Mountain. There is alot of open space there with fantastic mountain views. We find the Chestnut Hill area especially appealing since is very quait and breath taking. One thing to remember is that the property taxes are cheaper in Seveir County than the surrounding counties so keep that in mind when looking at properties.

Happy prospecting!

Chestnut Hill is actually on my short list. Do you know where I can find some pictures? What's the town like? What kind of stores and businesses are there?

When the weather warms up I going to drive over and see the area. Thanks for the tax info, the taxes here was surprisingly higher than expected, I guess the closer you get to Nashville the more you pay.

I have no privacy, I love my house I wish I can pick it up and move to some mountain. I currently on 3/4 acre corner lot and if I sit outside for 30 minutes I'll see 30 cars drive by and they see me..LOL My neighbors are cordially but it's not much different from where I left I guess they are mostly transplants from other cities like me...and all caught up in the day-to day.. I'm looking for a small town people who are friendly and care about their community.

[Pre-RetireTN1959]

Originally Posted by tsimmu

Kimberlin Heights in south Knox County seems to fit your description...

Is Kimberlin Heights a town, I couldn't find it on city-data?

[piedmont]

An aside: You might want to check out the Knox airport before getting too far with your plots. It has far fewer flights (and destinations) than Nashville.

Good luck with your search! I can relate to the desire for privacy. We have that now and it is a treasure to come home to.

[Pre-RetireTN1959]

That is a good suggestion, since I do travel for work, certainly don't want to spend more time traveling to the airport than I do on the actual flight.

I did a quick check of couple of the Knox airlines. Surprisingly I found a couple of airlines that fly direct to a couple of the destination I frequently travel. I think I'm still good on that aspect. Thanks again.

Originally Posted by piedmont

An aside: You might want to check out the Knox airport before getting too far with your plots. It has far fewer flights (and destinations) than Nashville.

Good luck with your search! I can relate to the desire for privacy. We have that now and it is a treasure to come home to.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Pre-RetireTN1959

That is a good suggestion, since I do travel for work, certainly don't want to spend more time traveling to the airport than I do on the actual flight.

I did a quick check of couple of the Knox airlines. Surprisingly I found a couple of airlines that fly direct to a couple of the destination I frequently travel. I think I'm still good on that aspect. Thanks again.

The Knoxville airport does have quite a few flights. However, you'll most likely end up paying double what you currently pay out of Nashville. On a recent trip to Utah, I paid just over $250 r/t from Nashville, but it was $500 out of Knoxville and $600 out of Chattanooga.

Anyway, if you really do like this area (and I don't blame you), maybe check out Newport. It's right smack at the foot of the Smoky Mountains, it's right off I-40, it's not touristy, and it's much cheaper than other towns in the area. Many consider Newport to be rather backward and redneck, however those white rednecks voted in a black mayor, something very few East Tennessee towns can claim.

[Pre-RetireTN1959]

Originally Posted by JMT

The Knoxville airport does have quite a few flights. However, you'll most likely end up paying double what you currently pay out of Nashville. On a recent trip to Utah, I paid just over $250 r/t from Nashville, but it was $500 out of Knoxville and $600 out of Chattanooga.

Anyway, if you really do like this area (and I don't blame you), maybe check out Newport. It's right smack at the foot of the Smoky Mountains, it's right off I-40, it's not touristy, and it's much cheaper than other towns in the area. Many consider Newport to be rather backward and redneck, however those white rednecks voted in a black mayor, something very few East Tennessee towns can claim.

Thanks for the good information.

Interesting subject, What exactly is a redneck? My best friend of 20 years considers herself to be a redneck and I never understood what she meant. She just a good person who happens to be white and living in Mississippi, she's a little backwards at times because she hasn't been exposed to alot in life but she's the salt of the earth. THe kind that will go out of her way to help someone in trouble...a good soul that wouldn't hurt a fly.

Next time she says that to me, I going to really try get an understanding of the definition. But I will check out Newport, the views of the mountain sounds attractive and the lower costs is definitely a plus. One of the things I don't like about the Nashville and/or the DC area is the tourism, strange people wandering around, clogging up the streets and roadways....LOL

[Pre-RetireTN1959]

This Newport is promising. For a little town of 6000 residents, it sure has all the essential convenience: grocery, auto repair, restaurant, several motels, hair and nail salon, video rentals....sounds like the size town I won't have drive far to get fast food when I want it. But I am a little concerned about the crime in the area. I was reading some of the posts C-D page on Newport, people were talking about ATF and DEA bust for meth, pots and stills...some 150 including some city officials were arrested? Is it really that bad? Is it save there?

I found this VT of that helped: East Great Smoky Mountains Parkway Virtual Tour