backyard pools? (Memphis, Smyrna, White House: real estate, lease, new home)

[csmichigan]

We are starting our relocation to the Nashville area, hoping to move in June sometime. I have been looking on the net for housing, finding a lot of possibilities. Coming from MI, with water everywhere, it is that unusual to have a pool in TN?

Looking on the MLS, not a lot comes up. I have found a lot of houses we are interested in seeing when we visit in 2 weeks. Most do not have garages and or basements? Some have large enough lots to put up a garage and also put in a pool, both needed for us.

Any ideas on why garages and pools are not common? I understand basements are hard because of rock blasting needed, same with a pool?

[alleycat]

I think at least part of the reason why pools are not so common here (besides the fact that we don't have the weather of southern California) is that many people would rather go to the lakes or one of the outdoor recreational areas with pools. Pools are a considerable expense, a bit of trouble to maintain, and you have to keep a lookout with them if if they're gated and locked. Just speaking for myself, I don't really even want a pool because of those reasons.

Garages are a different story. There are houses with garages and houses without. Basements are somewhat similiar but there probably are fewer homes with basements in the Nashville area than in some of the surrounding counties. Now, whether someone here can actually get their car in a garage is an entirely different matter; I know some people whose garage is so full of junk and lawn equipment that they haven't put a car in theirs in years.

[csmichigan]

Pools in MI are fairly common. Law states that they must be fenced in though. There is actually less time in MI to enjoy the pools than in TN I would imagine. Seems silly that we only enjoy them 3 months a year here, then have to close them up for 9 months.
While we currently do NOT have a pool, all 4 neighbors do, hence why we do not.

Hubby was having a fit when I was showing him houses on the MLS around M'boro, Smyrna and outside Nashville. Here we have 6 acres, 2 car attached garage, and a large pole barn. Not to mention a huge walkout basement. Question is when we move, and we WILL be moving out of MI, where will we put all our stuff?

Is putting up a detached pole barn (or at least 24x24 garage) doable? Assuming the lot is large enough, at leasr .5 acres? Cost and labor not so much a problem, hubby will do it all himself. He does need a place to put all his tools though. I personally could leave MI with just the neccessities, and sell everything else for a fresh start but not going to happen for him.

[alleycat]

I don't think it's as true as it once was, but it used to be that public pools here opened around Memorial Day and closed around Labor Day. Just as an example. Now I think they open them when it gets warms enough. I think pools here must be fenced and locked, or have a cover.

Well, people here have detached garages, and workshops, and barns, and other out buildings. It sort of depends on how far outside the city you are as to whether it's "doable" to built that sort of thing. The areas closer in to Nashville itself are becoming fully developed subdivisions. Lots are getting smaller too as the price of homes and land go up.

Is there some reason you're looking in the Rutherford County area? Rutherford County is being rapidly being built up. There are other areas where having something like a large pole barn would be more feasible (I'm not saying it's impossible in northern Rutherford County, just easier elsewhere).

[csmichigan]

No specific reason for Rutherford County. Just wanting to be somewhat near Nashville. We are looking for 3 bed / 2 bath, 1200 sq foot, .5 acres or more, with at least a 2 car garage, or able to build one on the lot, family area, not in a downtown area. All this for around $100 to $125K. It seems like this is available in M'boro, Smyrna or that area.

Not sure about employment yet, still looking, but seems most possibilities for hubby lie between Nashville and M'boro. Commuting more than 40 minutes not desireable to us. Unless our new job is in Nashville, it is not that important that we be within commuting distance to the city.

Alleycat - thanks so much for your help on here. Not just for us, but the advice you give everyone. We are so looking forward to moving to TN!!!!! Unless you are from MI, you can not imagine the economy here. We are in a single state recession, with no hope of getting out anytime soon. Home values around us have dropped about 40%. No jobs to be found and more employers leaving this state everyday. Just to be able to move, find affordable housing, and employment is heaven for us. Our family deserves better, especially our son.

[scottv]

Well, I'm not sure how you're searching on the MLS, but when I was looking for a house and adding the criteria for pools and garages a lot of the houses that actually had these items did not come up...i think there are some inaccuracies with those data points in particular. just my experience.

[bran_smith]

their was a house in portland tn...which is like 40 mins or soo from dt nashville..
but i was a 3br 2b bonus room, and aroom that was a garage but they made it a room...deat garage 2 CAR for sure......above ground pool and a shed....we looked at it very nice one bad thing about it was they back yard held water...
many places wont allow pools or sheds, bc of the restrictions on the subdivison...such as new homes at creek side in hendersonville..You can have a shed but you can add it onto your home, but it has to be brick adn meet their requiremnets...no poolm but they had a community pool for that subdivision...

[MontanaGuy]

When I first moved to Phoenix I bought a house with a good sized diving pool in the backyard. I was surprised to discover that even in that hot climate the water in the pool is just too cold to swim in for probably two thirds of the year. It's also alot of work. It would cost a fortune to heat a pool and very few people do that. Now that I'm living in Nashville the only pools I've seen were above ground small pools that I saw on real estate websites. I don't think an inground pool would be practical here but that's just my opinion. I bought a house that has a hot tub in a closed in sunroom that can be used all year round. I think if I wanted to swim I would just find a public indoor pool.

[umograd83]

Well, we're not in Nashville, but when we moved from Maine to Memphis, we bought a 3-bedroom, 2-bath, 2-car garage home with an in-ground pool for $120,000. Unfortunately, the neighborhood went downhill really fast, but we were lucky enough to sell it. It was on the market for six months.

The best advice I can give you is to find some place to live for a year. If things don't work out for you in the Nashville area, it will be a lot easier to get out of a lease than it would be to sell a house, given today's economic ties. Also, there's so many places to live in that area and you don't yet know where you will be working. I say rent for a year and then do your looking around before buying the house. It takes a while to really get to know a new area.

[raidergirl]

CsMichigan,
Hello,
We are also considering a move to Nashville. We were just down there about 2 weeks ago and drove alot to check out many areas. I would love to talk to you and find out where your from here in Michigan and where you might move to. We are considering the White House, Cross Plains area. It sounds like we are looking for the same kind of house! (We have to have a pole barn!) Email me so we can talk...klm1224@hotmail.com