Antioch? (Murfreesboro, Franklin, Hendersonville: middle-class, for sale, apartments)

[jaddison8]

What are you guys' thoughts about home buy in Antioch. The homes seem very reasonable but don't know too much about the area? crime, schools, community as a whole? Any insight?

[kdrex]

Originally Posted by jaddison8

What are you guys' thoughts about home buy in Antioch. The homes seem very reasonable but don't know too much about the area? crime, schools, community as a whole? Any insight?

Crime is a huge problem in Antioch now. It used to be nice. Do yourself a favor and think Brentwood or Franklin! Their schools get very good marks on their TN State Report Cards

[sarah1976]

Antioch is a pretty big area so not all of it is bad. I live there right now abut we don't live in the best part. There is a lot of crime which is why we are moving. Brentwood or Franklin is fairly expensive. We are actually moving up to White House, which is north of Nashville. I would be leary of Antioch, even though the house prices are good. Like I said, not all of it is bad, but a good chunk of it is. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

[alleycat]

I'll just add that traffic in, around, and through Antioch can be horrendous at times these days. Still, I'm sure there are still some nice areas left out there; at least I hope there is.

[CowboyTim]

In December 2003, I bought a single-family house in Piccadilly Square subdivision in Antioch (Una-Antioch Pike just west of Murfreesboro Road). The neighborhood looked decent during numerous pre-closing "drive-throughs", but within a month of taking possession and moving in, I realized I'd made a horrible mistake. I've absolutely despised living in this area, and am learning the hard way. Sadly, I'm stuck here until I'm back on my feet financially.

Crime and traffic are ridiculous in this area. Within my own neighborhood, we have rap "music" blaring from cars being driven by thugs, constant noise, constant barking dogs (including pit bulls), carless parents allowing toddlers wearing nothing but diapers to run loose and unsupervised in the streets (I'm not making this up -- I've actually reported 2 sets of parents to the Tennessee Department of Childrens' Services), possible drug sales going on at a house around the corner (which Metro Police undercover unit is currently investigating), littering, broken glass in the streets, graffiti, and countless other nuisances. A lot of people are fleeing this area (25+ houses for sale last summer in this subdivision) because they're simply tired of the bull-crap. I moved here from Chicago, and to me, it's been like living in some kind of "twilight zone"... behaviors tolerated here wouldn't last a week in the Chicago neighborhoods I lived in!

I'm fleeing either to Bellevue, Hermitage/Old Hickory or Mount Juliet sometime this year, God willing. By the way, I'm 40, a single male and have a large Doberman/Husky mix dog... and I still don't like this area. If I were a single woman or married with children, I would dislike the Antioch area even more than I already do (as though such degree of dislike were possible!). Please avoid Antioch. If you value a home with normal, middle-class neighbors in a quiet neighborhood, avoid this area completely. Even if you spend $225,000+ in one of Antioch's newer subdivisions, you'll have to share the roads with all the uneducated, careless creeps who live around here. Not only are traffic volumes here ridiculous due to overpopulation (there are simply way too many apartments in Antioch), but the style of driving in this part of town is downright reckless and rude. Notice how much "politer" the driving is in, say, Bellevue, Hermitage or Brentwood (or any decent, middle-class part of town) versus in Antioch.

Please feel free to private message me if you'd like to discuss any of this.

[Pimpy]

Originally Posted by jaddison8

What are you guys' thoughts about home buy in Antioch. The homes seem very reasonable but don't know too much about the area? crime, schools, community as a whole? Any insight?

Don't do it! Antioch is one of the few pockets in middle Tennessee where home values are going down rather than up. This is due to the area being taken over by thugs and illegals.

If price is an issue, drive a little further southeast on I-24 and check out La Vergne and Smyrna. Very reasonable home prices, and your neighbors will actually speak English.

I just escaped from the hell-hole that is Antioch yesterday and moved into my new home in Hendersonville and couldn't be happier. Generally, you can't go wrong buying a home right now anywhere in the Nashville area, but Antioch is one major exception to that rule.

[jaddison8]

Thanks so much for the information. The home prices in Antioch seem so appealing especially to a young married couple-first time home buyer like my wife and I, but obviously there are reasons for that. I am starting think about biting the bullet and looking for a house in Franklin or go North in the Mt. Juliet area. The reason for my concern is that I am starting a chiropractic practice and for a few years need a lower house payment. I might just get an interest only loan for a few years and live somewhere like Franklin or Mt. Juliet until my business grows. You guys have been EXTREMELY helpful.

[MomsTn]

I would really think twice before getting an interest only loan.
It's like throwing your money down the drain....
nothing goes to the house unless you pay above your payment.
Been there/Done that, will never do it again.

Originally Posted by jaddison8

Thanks so much for the information. The home prices in Antioch seem so appealing especially to a young married couple-first time home buyer like my wife and I, but obviously there are reasons for that. I am starting think about biting the bullet and looking for a house in Franklin or go North in the Mt. Juliet area. The reason for my concern is that I am starting a chiropractic practice and for a few years need a lower house payment. I might just get an interest only loan for a few years and live somewhere like Franklin or Mt. Juliet until my business grows. You guys have been EXTREMELY helpful.

[jaddison8]

I appreciate your thoughts on this matter. I was concerned about this too, and have done a little research that makes feel better. The positive about doing this in Nashville is that in most areas homes are appreciating 5-12% per year which in 5 years if I had to get out from under could potentially make money on the house or break even. Tax interest on mortgages are deductible so that would be better than renting, and I am starting a clinic so I need all the cash flow I can get for a few years. Hopefully, in 3-5 years, my income will be to the point where I can afford a bigger payment. Last, I plan on living in that 1st home 6-10 years. I can understand your point and it is good, but I am either going to have to buy a home in an area that is considered "going down hill", rent, or possibly investigate 5/1 interest only options on a home in a great area.

[jrona33]

LOL! I'm moving to Nashville soon from a city of about 55k in northeast TN. I WAS attracted to Antioch because of the newer homes, the location, and of course the very attractive price of housing. I kept wondering as I was searching online why this area was so cheap and I couldn't understand why there were so many houses up for sale in the area. Well, I went to Antioch last week, drove through, and now I know why. No way would I live there. Most of the signs are in spanish, we spoke to a local police officer and apparently there are terrible problems in the area with gangs, violence, drugs, and of course illegal immigration. Even though the homes look good in pictures, a quick drive through of these "new" housing developments show loud neighbors, overgrown yards, and unmaintained exteriors. The "park" we drove by had goal posts that were overturned and no landscaping. The whole area was a mess. Just visit the area and do a drive through. You'll see what I'm talking about. Also, everything in the area was geared to the hispanic population. In the middle of a ton of signs written in spanish was a sign for "American Day Care". I thought we were in America! I totally felt like I was on vacation in Mexico again. I loved Mexico, but I felt like I was driving through a bad part of Mexico, lol. As an aside, I was also attracted to Murfreesboro pk because it too seemed to have affordable housing (its a road from Antioch that goes through downtown Nashville). It was nothing but public housing projects. Not a good area either. We are now looking at west nashville, and mostly williamson county. We've spoken to many locals and have found that Fairview (a very small town, 10k population in williamson cnty west of brentwood) has affordable houses with large land plots and seems to be a good investment with the best schools in the state, in the most wealthy county, and in an area that hasn't yet been affected by sprawl. We are taking a gamble but we are thinking the area may be growing (=house appreciation) in the next few years. We also like the big city but would like our own land and a quiet area away from the hustle and bustle of the city also. If you prefer a larger population and more businesses in the area I'd suggest to check out Franklin or Brentwood in williamson county or Belle Meade, Bellvue in west nashville/davidson county. To give you price points (which I assume you are interested in since you were looking at antioch) fairview has nice houses comparable to the type you'd see in Antioch for about the same price (150k or so), Franklin (population of about 50k) homes start at about 200k (which would get you 1200-1500 sf, 3br/2ba in a new home < 5 yrs old in a neighborhood with a community pool etc) and Brentwood is out of most people's price range with homes starting at about half a million. I don't know much about the other two b/c we realized we could get more home, with an area with better schools in williamson county because the property taxes are a bit cheaper in williamson than in davidson. Happy house hunting!