Looking for Small Towns East Tennessee with Low Crime (Unicoi: best neighborhood, real estate)

[Matt169]

Looking to find a place in East Tennessee that is a Small Town,Low Crime,and Good-Safe Schooling. Also needing to find a Town that is low cost of living there. Where you can find a nice home,3bedroom for around 65 to 75k. Can anyone help me?

[Max4Speed]

I think it will be hard to find something in that price range while still looking for low crime rate. I would think you should stay close to the north. Have you searched on Realtor.com? There are some great real estate agents on this board that can help.

[jabogitlu]

3 bedroom for 65-75? Tall order, but good thing you're into small towns as that's where you're gonna be headed. The only bad thing about living rurally is that the schooling generally sucks.

I would say look around in Greene County, Unicoi County, Hancock County, and Johnson County...

[Matt169]

65-75k I know would be hard but that's really a guess I could see 80 or 85k but no higher and depends on how much I'm paying a month. I would like to go 25 or 30yrs and stay under $550month if at all possible.The schooling thing is I don't want my kids to be around violance and gangs in school.Of course I want a good education but I'd rather not learn as much and not be into drugs. Greene County, I like that one because I know where it is but never been into the town. I will look at these Counties. Are any of these counties hard to get a job right now because of the economy?Thanks for these reponses

[mbmouse]

Honestly, it is hard to get a job just about anywhere right now. If you are willing to get a job, any job no matter what field and not above retail and/or fast food, you could find something I'd think. Personally I think you best bet is to plan to rent for a while.....but even then, I think you might be hard pressed to rent for $550 a month for anything other than a 2 bed apartment...look around a bit, secure jobs, have savings with you, then worry about buying something, but that is just my 2 cents.

[Matt169]

Right,I plan to rent for awhile maybe a 1 or 2 and secure a job and then buying a house. I've looked at some towns just wanted to know what yall thought. Big War Creek,Kyles Ford,Powell Valley,and Flag Pond. Can anyone tell me about some things in these towns?

[DubbleT]

So Matt, have you considered a little further east?

Jobs might be a little tougher to come by here, but I think we meet all your other criteria. 80 -85K in the county with a decent credit rate ought to keep you pretty close to the $550 mark.

Quick idea of what's available now~
Moderator cut: deleted You know what they say about the worst house in the best neighborhood! Are you a handy kind of guy?

Moderator cut: deleted This one looks nice and is conveniently located.

Moderator cut: deleted

[mbmouse]

The only one I can comment on is Flag Pond....NO work and long commutes through mountains (although a nice highway) to even the possibility of work in The Tri-Cities area.


add" Oh, and the majority of locals don't take kindly to "out siders" in and around Flag Pond.

[Matt169]

Interesting,what do they do just don't talk to them? Is there jobs avaliable in Greene County,Hancock County,and Johnson County? Also which of those 3 would have the most work?

[mbmouse]

Originally Posted by Matt169

Interesting,what do they do just don't talk to them? Is there jobs avaliable in Greene County,Hancock County,and Johnson County? Also which of those 3 would have the most work?

Not only just not talk to new comers, you might also find it difficult to get things done, like contractors, services and such and if you stop at a house to ask for directions, you might see the wrong end of a shot gun if they can't identify you at 50 paces.

As for the jobs, I know Greene County had some plant closings and/or cut backs so the unemployment numbers are up there right now. I know I could not find a job there 6 or 7 years ago when I lived there because I had a "long funny last name". (I am not kidding, I was told twice that was the reason I wasn't hired) Locals will almost always get the job first.
You can always check the newspapers on line for the areas you are looking at, that would give you an idea about jobs that maybe available in those towns.