possible relocation? (Knoxville, Chattanooga, Johnson City: transplants, house insurance, mortgage)

[MishaMommy]

My family and I are interested in moving from NJ, where we have lived our entire lives (DH and I are both in our thirties) - Tennessee has come up often in our discussions.
I am wondering where a one income family with three young children can live safely and happily. We would like to buy land, and just live quietly and peacefully. Safety is of paramount importance to us, given our children.

Any suggestion greatly welcomed and appreciated!

[JMT]

Originally Posted by MishaMommy

My family and I are interested in moving from NJ, where we have lived our entire lives (DH and I are both in our thirties) - Tennessee has come up often in our discussions.
I am wondering where a one income family with three young children can live safely and happily. We would like to buy land, and just live quietly and peacefully. Safety is of paramount importance to us, given our children.

Any suggestion greatly welcomed and appreciated!

There are a lot of places in Tennessee that you might enjoy. However, help us with a bit more information. Do you need jobs? Do you want mountains? Lakes? How much are you willing to spend on land? How about schools, shopping, cultural opportunities, things like that?

[MishaMommy]

Originally Posted by JMT

There are a lot of places in Tennessee that you might enjoy. However, help us with a bit more information. Do you need jobs? Do you want mountains? Lakes? How much are you willing to spend on land? How about schools, shopping, cultural opportunities, things like that?

I'm sorry! My husband would be able to transfer. He works for Blockbuster, so we would need to be near one of those. Good schools are a plus, although we are still discussing homeschooling. Shopping for food is important, other stuff we can take or leave; I do most of my clothes shopping online (I hate to shop).
We would like to be be near cities, but not live there.
Houses where we are in NJ are about $389,900. for a 3 bedroom, 1-2 baths. We cannot afford that. We do not want a big house, land is more important to us.

[bbkaren]

Roane County, my friend! In a few years we can start a New Jersey transplants club and talk about all the stuff we don't miss from NJ!

In a nutshell:
Kingston is my favorite, Harriman is pretty nice, Rockwood and Oliver Springs are a little run down. Oak Ridge is expensive.

1/2 hour or so from the western part of Knoxville.

Tons of places that are minutes from Watts Bar Lake, with 950 linear miles of shoreline. Our land is 300 feet (always-vacant TVA land) off the shore and we can't wait to get down there and get fishin'.

Homes and land are reasonable--far less than anything you'd find in NJ. We have a $390K mortgage here too and can't wait to unload this shack, even if we have to put a mobile up on the land for the time being! It just ain't worth it to stay here.

Blockbuster in Lenoir City (southeast) and Oak Ridge (northeast).

Good luck--

[jkmewright]

Maybe the outskirts of Chattanooga? We have tons of Blockbusters so we're good there. No income tax here either but some complain that local taxes on goods make up the difference but personally, I am not seeing it but we don't buy THAT much food lol I think we are paying just under 10%. On large purchases we skip over the border to GA. Housing taxes (both city and county) as well as car and house insurance is affordable as well.

[MishaMommy]

Thanks for the replies!
I know I have a lot of homework to do (which is the last thing I want to do, since I'm a full time student again!), and while we are planning on coming down for a week or so in the early Spring, I figured I would ask those who live in the state we may come to call home.

Another question - how do those native to the state treat newcomers?

[bbkaren]

this forum has an excellent search engine. As for your question, suffice it to say that this state (TN) treats newcomers directly in proportion to the way the newcomer acts. We, as New Jerseyans, have to lose the NJ mentality (which for me will be a welcome change!)

[JMT]

Originally Posted by MishaMommy

I'm sorry! My husband would be able to transfer. He works for Blockbuster, so we would need to be near one of those. Good schools are a plus, although we are still discussing homeschooling. Shopping for food is important, other stuff we can take or leave; I do most of my clothes shopping online (I hate to shop).
We would like to be be near cities, but not live there.
Houses where we are in NJ are about $389,900. for a 3 bedroom, 1-2 baths. We cannot afford that. We do not want a big house, land is more important to us.

As others have mentioned, there are Blockbusters everywhere. I can see why you weren't specific about needing jobs in your original post.

You might also consider the Tri Cities area (Kingsport, Bristol, Johnson City) of NE TN. It's beautiful, very mountainous. There are nearly a dozen Blockbusters in that area. The Tri Cities area has a population of over 500,000 but the largest town, Johnson City, has only about 60,000. So you can get the benefits of living in a small town or even out in the country but with the benefits of big city things like lots of shopping, restaurants, movie theaters, etc.

Also, the cost of living in the Tri Cities is very nominal. You can get a veritable mansion for $389k.

And for those times when you just have to drive back to Jersey, the Tri Cities is a couple of hours closer than anywhere else in TN.

[phyll]

Originally Posted by JMT

As others have mentioned, there are Blockbusters everywhere. I can see why you weren't specific about needing jobs in your original post.

You might also consider the Tri Cities area (Kingsport, Bristol, Johnson City) of NE TN. It's beautiful, very mountainous. There are nearly a dozen Blockbusters in that area. The Tri Cities area has a population of over 500,000 but the largest town, Johnson City, has only about 60,000. So you can get the benefits of living in a small town or even out in the country but with the benefits of big city things like lots of shopping, restaurants, movie theaters, etc.

Also, the cost of living in the Tri Cities is very nominal. You can get a veritable mansion for $389k.

And for those times when you just have to drive back to Jersey, the Tri Cities is a couple of hours closer than anywhere else in TN.

I know there is a Blockbuster in Morristown, right in the same complex as Walmart, Dollar store, Pier one,and Hobby Lobby. Morristown is alittle bit city, but there are nice towns near by. Morristown has everything , but I like living a little more rural.

[mbmouse]

Originally Posted by JMT

As others have mentioned, there are Blockbusters everywhere. I can see why you weren't specific about needing jobs in your original post.

You might also consider the Tri Cities area (Kingsport, Bristol, Johnson City) of NE TN. It's beautiful, very mountainous. There are nearly a dozen Blockbusters in that area. The Tri Cities area has a population of over 500,000 but the largest town, Johnson City, has only about 60,000. So you can get the benefits of living in a small town or even out in the country but with the benefits of big city things like lots of shopping, restaurants, movie theaters, etc.

Also, the cost of living in the Tri Cities is very nominal. You can get a veritable mansion for $389k.

And for those times when you just have to drive back to Jersey, the Tri Cities is a couple of hours closer than anywhere else in TN.

I agree with JMT on this one too. I live in the Tri-Cities area, have children, love the schools and we all feel very safe. Not sure if you can get a McMansion for 389K (might need a tad more even here in the Tri-Cities )
But if you are looking for a 3-2 with some land in a nice school, safe area here is some examples. I would suggest to you the Sulpher Springs (you might find that on some maps), Telford, Chucky, Limestone areas. Those you could still be in the Jonesborough schools district and close enough for a commute to several Blockbusters.

Single Family Home - Limestone, TN, 37681 - Realtor.com

Single Family Home - Limestone, TN, 37681 - Realtor.com

Single Family Home - Limestone, TN, 37681 - Realtor.com

Single Family Home - Jonesborough, TN, 37659 - Realtor.com

Single Family Home - Chuckey, TN, 37641 - Realtor.com

Single Family Home - Jonesborough, TN, 37659 - Realtor.com

OK, JMT, I lied, you CAN get the McMansion for less than the 389k LOL!!!
Single Family Home - Telford, TN, 37690 - Realtor.com


Hope that helps some.