Jamestown and vicinity (Cookeville, Crossville, Livingston: real estate, for rent, home)

[3chihuahuas]

Was curious if anyone can offer some feedback on Jamestown and a development that was advertised in our local newspaper called RockCastle Farms that's offering five-acre tracts for about $30,000. My impression is that this area offers a lot of natural beauty and recreational opportunities, but you don't hear that much about it. Having read some of the responses about developers taking advantage of out-of-town buyers, we're a bit cautious. What's the area like? We don't need to be within five minutes of a Wal-Mart or gourmet restaurants, but is medical care relatively close in case of emergency? Everything about the area looks good; on the other hand, there doesn't seem to be a groundswell of happy people who live there, as there is with the Hawks Bluff development and a few other places.

[hiknapster]

Jamestown has less than 2,000 people and is the county seat. That means it out in the middle of nowhere. I wouldn't buy from anyone advertising to out-of-staters.

Don't go by the people on the Hawk's Bluff thread. They manage to keep that thread on the front page and have done it for almost a year. I mean, 201 posts? C'mon now. I think they're full of beans.

You've asked yourself good questions. Close medical care is important, something that Hawk's Bluff does not have.

Anyway, there isn't a groundswell of comments because not many people live there. By the way, not many people live at Hawk's Bluff, either.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by 3chihuahuas

Was curious if anyone can offer some feedback on Jamestown and a development that was advertised in our local newspaper called RockCastle Farms that's offering five-acre tracts for about $30,000. My impression is that this area offers a lot of natural beauty and recreational opportunities, but you don't hear that much about it. Having read some of the responses about developers taking advantage of out-of-town buyers, we're a bit cautious. What's the area like? We don't need to be within five minutes of a Wal-Mart or gourmet restaurants, but is medical care relatively close in case of emergency? Everything about the area looks good; on the other hand, there doesn't seem to be a groundswell of happy people who live there, as there is with the Hawks Bluff development and a few other places.

I agree with hiknapster. I would be extremely leary of developers who advertise to out-of-staters. It's as if the developers realize that people who actually live in the area can't be conned into buying in such a development.

Jamestown is a tiny little town, but as far as tiny little towns go, it's nice. There is a little hospital in Jamestown. The closest "big city" hospital is Cookeville, about 45 miles away. Crossville is closer and has a decent hospital.

There is a Wal-Mart SuperCenter in Jamestown, for what it's worth. There's also a winery in Jamestown. But Fentress County as a whole is very rural and very poor.

[gary1958]

Jamestown is a nice quiet little town. Not much to do unless your into horses.If your into horses then the big south fork just east of Jamestown is for you.Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area - Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service) As already said Fentress county is a poor county and very little job oppurtunities. State rt 127 runs through Jamestown and is a very scenic drive.

[3chihuahuas]

Thanks for some informative responses. We're scouting around for a retirement area down the road and our gut feeling was that this would be a good area for a vacation/summer home, perhaps not so good for a full-time residence. Maybe some of the bigger towns not far away, like Crossville, are better?

[Homesick4Home]

Am new to the forum and was wondering what the median rents are going for in and around the Jamestown Area? We are finally coming home to Tn this summer for good. We want to live in a rural area..as my husband and I are not big city folks. Jobs are not an issue as my hubby is a trucker.
thank you in advance for any helpful info that you can toss my way.
Happy New Year to all.

[TnHilltopper]

30k for a five acre tract in the Jamestown area is very much on the steep side. As mentioned above, Jamestown is a rural town and it is a fair drive in any direction to get to the next town.

The prices for housing and land in this general area are pretty low and it isn't uncommon to find small tracts in the range of 2500-3000 per acre if you are willing to spend the time looking through various local sources. On that note, there are not a great many local sources so I would suggest looking in the Crossville Chronicle, (can't remember the name of the Jamestown paper) Cookeville and Livingston papers. You can check out various online real estate sites in this area to get a better idea of the median prices.

As to rent in Jamestown, well there was a 4/1 farmhouse/w barn on 4+ acres for rent not too long ago that was renting for 550 a month. Again, because of the rural nature of the area, prices are quite reasonable, but if you need to find employment, it will likely be a fair drive to get anywhere.

[Homesick4Home]

Thank you for the reply.. oh boy if I had known about the property I and my hubby would have snapped that one up in a heart beat. Jobs won't be an issue for us, since hubby is a truck driver. am excited about possibly living in the Jamestown area.. quiet and laid back is the way to go for our family.

[Snubby]

Ah, I have mixed feelings on whether I want to encourage development here, but for the record, Rockcastle Farms is bee-yoo-tiful. If we weren't already in our dream home, I would move there in a heartbeat.

I agree that their brochure is overblowing some of the "convenient amenities" of the area... But, some of us don't need amenities...

I can't vouch for whether or not the developer is a good company, but I haven't EVER seen more beatiful land for the taking at only $6kish an acre. (That is slightly higher than a lot of land in the area, but people are starting to get a little carried away with their asking prices these days...)

Where I'm from, plain 1 acre lots start at $30k... So, for me, I think this is an unbelievable value...

[2mares]

Snubby, I agree they are definately overblowing the"convenient amenities". All those are actually in other towns. Jamestown has grown much since I use to get up that way, but it is still very small and "country". The price is actually pretty comparable for the developments going up in the surrounding areas especially since it is near big south fork. And it is a beautiful area.