Housing questions about murfreesboro area (Central: sales, homeowners insurance, mortgage)

[scootiepie]

We are a family with 2 small kids thinking about moving to the Murfreesboro area for a job at the VA medical center. Currently we are in Virginia Beach (which is a great place to live) but housing costs are killing us. I am a SAHM by choice so with one income we are looking to relocate to a more affordable area, and TN in particular since it is halfway between both sides of the family (TX and VA). My husbands income will be the same.

Looking at housing, my questions are -
Are there safe family friendly neighborhoods near the VA, say a 10-15 minute commute? We are looking at max housing of 150-160K. Is
there much growth in this area or is it mostly the other side of town?
And, how are other housing related costs in this area -- i.e. taxes and
utilities? I just don't want to see any potential savings in mortgage payments be eaten up elsewhere.

We will have to do much of our research long distance. Thanks!

[Kim918]

Originally Posted by scootiepie

We are a family with 2 small kids thinking about moving to the Murfreesboro area for a job at the VA medical center. Currently we are in Virginia Beach (which is a great place to live) but housing costs are killing us. I am a SAHM by choice so with one income we are looking to relocate to a more affordable area, and TN in particular since it is halfway between both sides of the family (TX and VA). My husbands income will be the same.

Looking at housing, my questions are -
Are there safe family friendly neighborhoods near the VA, say a 10-15 minute commute? We are looking at max housing of 150-160K. Is
there much growth in this area or is it mostly the other side of town?
And, how are other housing related costs in this area -- i.e. taxes and
utilities? I just don't want to see any potential savings in mortgage payments be eaten up elsewhere.

We will have to do much of our research long distance. Thanks!

Hi scootiepie,

There are lots of housing options in Murfreesboro so I wouldn't worry about finding a home in your price range. There are a ton of neighborhoods here that are all family friendly and safe. I know where the VA is but, I am not sure about the neighborhoods out that way. I know others will chime in with help though so hang on!

I don't know what your costs are in Virginia, but I came from FL and everything for me went down. My home is over 2000 sq ft. my electric runs me about 150-160 in the summer. My gas has been about $19 to $24. I just use gas right now to heat my water. In the winter my gas is about $68- $78. Never more than that and I heat with gas.

Car insurance, two newer cars 100/300 coverage runs me $1000 for both cars a year. Property insurance runs me $469 yearly and my taxes run $1175.

We do have a higher sales tax which is 9.75 and I think a little less tax on food.

Anything else I can help you with let me know. I love Murfreesboro, been here a year this month. It is clean, safe and the people are all really friendly and nice. I would think the COL would be cheaper here for you.

[Steve_TN]

Originally Posted by Kim918

Hi scootiepie,

There are lots of housing options in Murfreesboro so I wouldn't worry about finding a home in your price range. There are a ton of neighborhoods here that are all family friendly and safe. I know where the VA is but, I am not sure about the neighborhoods out that way. I know others will chime in with help though so hang on!

I don't know what your costs are in Virginia, but I came from FL and everything for me went down. My home is over 2000 sq ft. my electric runs me about 150-160 in the summer. My gas has been about $19 to $24. I just use gas right now to heat my water. In the winter my gas is about $68- $78. Never more than that and I heat with gas.

Car insurance, two newer cars 100/300 coverage runs me $1000 for both cars a year. Property insurance runs me $469 yearly and my taxes run $1175.

We do have a higher sales tax which is 9.75 and I think a little less tax on food.

Anything else I can help you with let me know. I love Murfreesboro, been here a year this month. It is clean, safe and the people are all really friendly and nice. I would think the COL would be cheaper here for you.

CHIME CHIME!

I agree with Kim. There are safe, family-friendly neighborhoods all over Murfreesboro and certain ones located near the VA hospital. My costs are similar to those of Kim. My house is 1800 sq. ft., all electric and my bill still comes in at about 150-160/mo. The schools in Murfreesboro are EXCELLENT! You will have no problem finding a home in Murfreesboro in that price range. I moved to TN from NJ 14 years ago and have been in Murfreesboro since 2000. We absolutely love it here!!!

[Mike in TN]

Most of the subdivision homes very close to the VA will be out of your price range, but you should be able to find plenty in a 10-15 minute radius.

I don't know what they sell for, but I'd look into some of the homes near Wilson Central Elementary School.

[scootiepie]

Where is that (Wilson Central Elem)?

Kim918, it is interesting your costs came down from FL, another no state income tax state. I thought people flocked there to reduce their cost of living! I found in looking at my home state of TX they have some of the highest electricity,property tax and homeowners insurance costs. I was hoping TN wouldn't be high like that as well.

Do you pay property taxes on your vehicles in TN? (we do here in VA).

Thanks again everyone.

[Mike in TN]

Originally Posted by scootiepie

Where is that (Wilson Central Elem)?

My mistake - it's Wilson Elementary, not Wilson Central Elementary.

The actual address is 1545 Cutoff Rd, Murfreesboro, TN. It's probably about 6 miles from the VA. There is a lot of fairly new construction out there, but they're not mcmansions, if that's what you're looking for.

Look at some of those subdivision just off W. Jefferson Pike, which is near that school. I haven't looked in a while, but IIRC, the prices were a little higher than what you want to spend. Then again, new construction prices are falling so it wouldn't hurt to at least look at homes in the area online. Stay away from homes on the east side of Jefferson Pike though. There is a big landfill on that side and they want to expand.

I found in looking at my home state of TX they have some of the highest electricity,property tax and homeowners insurance costs.

They sure do! I did a study not long ago and I found that while homes in Houston were cheaper that Murfreesboro, it would balance out after a while due to the increase in the aforementioned costs.

I was hoping TN wouldn't be high like that as well.

No, you'll pay less on those here. They word it all funny, but I think property tax breaks down to about less than 1% of your property value. At least mine is. Electricity is (IIRC) $0.08 kwh. HOI is relatively inexpensive as well. I pay like $350/yr.

Do you pay property taxes on your vehicles in TN? (we do here in VA).

No. By the time you register it and gets your emissions testing you'll probably spend somewhere around $115/yr.

[Kim918]

Originally Posted by scootiepie

Where is that (Wilson Central Elem)?

Kim918, it is interesting your costs came down from FL, another no state income tax state. I thought people flocked there to reduce their cost of living! I found in looking at my home state of TX they have some of the highest electricity,property tax and homeowners insurance costs. I was hoping TN wouldn't be high like that as well.

Do you pay property taxes on your vehicles in TN? (we do here in VA).

Thanks again everyone.

Florida is high now. No more cheap state to live in. That is long in the past. Housing is coming down there but everything else has gone way up.

I am told there is a wheel tax in TN, but my car renewal is only $24 I am looking at it now as it is due. There is a $10 Emissions test too every year.

[Steve_TN]

Originally Posted by Kim918

Florida is high now. No more cheap state to live in. That is long in the past. Housing is coming down there but everything else has gone way up.

I am told there is a wheel tax in TN, but my car renewal is only $24 I am looking at it now as it is due. There is a $10 Emissions test too every year.

Kim - Your renewal will cost sixty something dollars, not including the $10 for emissions. The wheel tax gets added on. You would never tell by the way it looks on the renewal that it would cost sixty something.

[Kim918]

Originally Posted by Steve_TN

Kim - Your renewal will cost sixty something dollars, not including the $10 for emissions. The wheel tax gets added on. You would never tell by the way it looks on the renewal that it would cost sixty something.

When do they add it on? When I pay? All it says is $24 those sneaky bastidges! LOL!

[Steve_TN]

Originally Posted by Kim918

When do they add it on? When I pay? All it says is $24 those sneaky bastidges! LOL!

It's in there, but hard to find. I don't remember on what paper it is stated in the renewal stuff. You honestly didn't think you would get away that cheaply did you??