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Advice Please: Relocating to Middle TN..Picking towns
Hi everyone,
My family and I are looking at relocating to middle TN and have been researching a few towns. I came upon this forum and thought I would pick your brains to make sure we are on the right path.
We are currently in Los Angeles and have just started our family. We are looking to move to a place that is much more family oriented and has a strong community feel. We are conservatives, so it would be nice to be around some like minded folks, although we do love a good political debate . We would love to be in a town that is low on crime (that is a big selling point for us), close enough to the city to drive in for some events...but far enough away to be truly in the suburbs. We would like for good restaurants, grocery stores, shopping and so forth to be a quick drive away for convenience sake. Also, our daughter is still an infant so it would be great to have places to be able to walk her in a stroller and have family days out and about and get some fresh air (as LA is not known for that).
Commute time is not an issue as both my husband and I work from home. We are currently looking at Brentwood, Franklin, Cool Springs and someone suggested Spring Hill. Are we on the right track? Are there any other towns we should look at? What are your thoughts on these locations (or any others).
Also...ok, many of you will laugh. Not ever being around tornadoes or floods, that is something that is on my mind. My husband is from Oklahoma so it doesn't phase him at all...but me...well... I have read the boards about middle TN (but they have been mostly old ones) and was just wondering....how many tornadoes pass through those towns? Do you get them every season. If so, what do people do most homes have basements? Also, it seems the big flood that just occurred is not common, so is it true that I wouldn't have to worry about that yearly?
tornadoes do happen, but it's during a much shorter period of the year (usually late April to early June) in Middle TN than what happens in so-called Tornado Alley. Also, many houses (old and new) in the area have basements with sections that are intended to be safe areas in the event of a tornado. The hilly terrain of the area also allows for more areas to take refuge than the flat areas of Oklahoma, Kansas, etc.
Hi everyone,
My family and I are looking at relocating to middle TN and have been researching a few towns. I came upon this forum and thought I would pick your brains to make sure we are on the right path.
We are currently in Los Angeles and have just started our family. We are looking to move to a place that is much more family oriented and has a strong community feel. We are conservatives, so it would be nice to be around some like minded folks, although we do love a good political debate . We would love to be in a town that is low on crime (that is a big selling point for us), close enough to the city to drive in for some events...but far enough away to be truly in the suburbs. We would like for good restaurants, grocery stores, shopping and so forth to be a quick drive away for convenience sake. Also, our daughter is still an infant so it would be great to have places to be able to walk her in a stroller and have family days out and about and get some fresh air (as LA is not known for that).
Commute time is not an issue as both my husband and I work from home. We are currently looking at Brentwood, Franklin, Cool Springs and someone suggested Spring Hill. Are we on the right track? Are there any other towns we should look at? What are your thoughts on these locations (or any others).
Also...ok, many of you will laugh. Not ever being around tornadoes or floods, that is something that is on my mind. My husband is from Oklahoma so it doesn't phase him at all...but me...well... I have read the boards about middle TN (but they have been mostly old ones) and was just wondering....how many tornadoes pass through those towns? Do you get them every season. If so, what do people do most homes have basements? Also, it seems the big flood that just occurred is not common, so is it true that I wouldn't have to worry about that yearly?
Thanks in advance everyone!
Hendersonville would be my first recommendation muchaloha, and then there's also Mt. Juliet and Fairview.
Last edited by goodman2; 03-25-2011 at 11:08 PM..
Reason: Needed To Change Something
Yes, you are on the right track. All of those communities meet your wish list, though Spring Hill is farther from Nashville.
What is your housing budget? That will make a big difference. Do you want to buy or rent?
Ah yes! I forgot to add that in...thank you We are going to be renting I am guessing for the first year to two at least, till we can get acquainted with the area and make sure we are exactly in the right town for us
I would say from $1800 - $2200 for a 4 bedroom with at least 2 baths if possible. Does that sound like it is a reasonable?
If you don't want to hear "get in your safe place" several times a month during tornado season--you won't like it very much because that is the reality in Middle Tennessee.
I've learned to live with it. The risk of a real tornado touching down where I live is slim but I've learned to respect its brute force and heed the warnings. You might want to Google "tornadoes in Middle Tennessee" for information on their frequency and the damage they do here. It's eye-opening.
You might also want to check out the Murfreesboro area. Only 35 miles from Nashville. Plenty of shopping and restaurants. Plus Middle Tennessee State University is here.
I would definitely add Mt Juliet and Hendersonville to the list. Both are growing and family-friendly communities with good schools. Hendersonville is located on the lake and has a great park system.
If you don't want to hear "get in your safe place" several times a month during tornado season--you won't like it very much because that is the reality in Middle Tennessee.
I've learned to live with it. The risk of a real tornado touching down where I live is slim but I've learned to respect its brute force and heed the warnings. You might want to Google "tornadoes in Middle Tennessee" for information on their frequency and the damage they do here. It's eye-opening.
Good call to google it. There was a ton of info on Tornadoes in Middle TN and I totally agree...very important to understand them and have the respect for what mother nature is capable of. Earthquakes...gotten used to them...but this is a whole new ball game. Thanks!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by muchaloha
Hi everyone,
My family and I are looking at relocating to middle TN and have been researching a few towns. I came upon this forum and thought I would pick your brains to make sure we are on the right path.
We are currently in Los Angeles and have just started our family. We are looking to move to a place that is much more family oriented and has a strong community feel. We are conservatives, so it would be nice to be around some like minded folks, although we do love a good political debate . We would love to be in a town that is low on crime (that is a big selling point for us), close enough to the city to drive in for some events...but far enough away to be truly in the suburbs. We would like for good restaurants, grocery stores, shopping and so forth to be a quick drive away for convenience sake. Also, our daughter is still an infant so it would be great to have places to be able to walk her in a stroller and have family days out and about and get some fresh air (as LA is not known for that).
Commute time is not an issue as both my husband and I work from home. We are currently looking at Brentwood, Franklin, Cool Springs and someone suggested Spring Hill. Are we on the right track? Are there any other towns we should look at? What are your thoughts on these locations (or any others).
Also...ok, many of you will laugh. Not ever being around tornadoes or floods, that is something that is on my mind. My husband is from Oklahoma so it doesn't phase him at all...but me...well... I have read the boards about middle TN (but they have been mostly old ones) and was just wondering....how many tornadoes pass through those towns? Do you get them every season. If so, what do people do most homes have basements? Also, it seems the big flood that just occurred is not common, so is it true that I wouldn't have to worry about that yearly?
Thanks in advance everyone!
1) I think you are probably on the right track with the communities you are looking at. Williamson County is definitely a conservative county, so you would feel at home there. I think where exactly you choose to live depends on your price range. Brentwood, of course, is the most expensive of the ones you have listed...it is one of the more "posh" suburbs in the Nashville area. You're looking at a lot of large houses on lots of 1 acre+. Franklin has more of a range of options, from the large houses/large lots to more dense development, town homes, and apartments. Spring Hill is the more affordable option of the 3, but like Wmsn4life said, farther away.
Also, coming from California, you might find several other families in your situation in Williamson County. I know of a lot of California transplants that have located there, and they seem to really like it.
2) Tornadoes happen every year, mainly in the spring, but they can occur during any month. The activity increases with the changing of the seasons. Most of the tornadoes are not the very strong, deadly kind. Still, it is a risk to keep in mind. Tornado shelters are an option, but not common. You can look for houses with an underground (or partially underground) basement as a "safe place" for storms. As for flooding...look at flood maps, and try to avoid areas that are in or close to flood plains, or lie on low ground near larger creeks and streams. Flooding happens somewhat frequently, but not nearly on the same scale as the recent flood (supposedly a 1,000 year flood). Most of the time, it's flash flooding that poses little risk to most houses...it's more of a danger to be driving through areas with standing water.
As others have mentioned, you should also check out Hendersonville and Mount Juliet.
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Advice Please: Relocating to Middle TN..Picking towns
. We would love to be in a town that is low on crime (that is a big selling point for us), close enough to the city to drive in for some events...but far enough away to be truly in the suburbs. We would like for good restaurants, grocery stores, shopping and so forth to be a quick drive away for convenience sake. Also, our daughter is still an infant so it would be great to have places to be able to walk her in a stroller and have family days out and about and get some fresh air (as LA is not known for that).
