Another Floridian (Memphis, Nashville-Davidson, Knoxville: real estate, vacation, wages)

[stardust]

I have lived in Florida all my life, born in south moved to central 22 years ago and ready for a change. I love Florida but it's getting a little to crowded for me. I have vacationed all over the mountains and always loved it and my friends are urging me to move to the Cookeville area which I like alot. I am looking at property in the Livingston/Allons/Dale Hollow Lake area and everything I've seen so far sounds good. I'm trying to weigh all the pros and cons and see what Im getting myself into. I'm really interested in the job market in the surrounding area and any major new businesses or housing developments. I know this is pretty broad but does anyone have any input on this area? Thanks!

[JMT]

The Dale Hollow area is beautiful! It's my favorite lake. But it's pretty isolated up there, so there's very little industry. The unemployment rate in the surrounding counties (Clay, Overton, Fentress) is pretty high. Cookeville is the nearest big town in Tennessee, Somerset is the nearest big town in Kentucky. The economy in Cookeville is good, tons of housing developments and new shopping centers.

[stardust]

Thanks for the info. I checked the unemployment rates and believe it or not it's higher where I am now but the stats are old (2000) so I'll keep checking. One thing I can say about Livingston which is where I'll be closest to is how NICE! the people are. I have talked to the Mayor, Chamber of Commerce and Business Owners in town and they are all so friendly and helpful.

[JMT]

You're right, the people of Livingston are sooo nice!! And contrary to what some people say about "rednecks" the people of Livinston are very open of outsiders. That little town of 3,000 people in the hills of Tennessee has elected a black mayor, and he's probably the most popular mayor ever in the history of the area.

There are a lot of new housing developments south of Livingston, near Cookeville. Fortunately, Dale Hollow hasn't been "discovered" yet by the big money bags in Nashville and Knoxville, so it hasn't been ruined yet like Center Hill or Tellico.

[hiknapster]

That's sounds like the kind of place i'm looking for! Friendly, non-prejudiced rednecks!

How are the jobs?

My husband is an auto mechanic and I do tech support.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

That's sounds like the kind of place i'm looking for! Friendly, non-prejudiced rednecks!

How are the jobs?

My husband is an auto mechanic and I do tech support.

If you're referring to jobs in the Livingston area, they are few and far between. I mean there are only 3,000 people in the entire town. But it's near Cookeville which has a lot more jobs and a gazillion car dealers. Averitt Express is expanding its HQ in Cookeville adding around 400 jobs. Oreck just opened a vacuum cleaner plant in Cookeville with its R&D office. There's also a university in Cookeville.

Wages tend to be on the low side. The influx of retirees has pushed up the price of real estate around Cookeville but it's still not too bad. And being a university town, it tends to be a little more open to "outsiders" than most other small towns in Tennessee.

[hiknapster]

Well, my husband doesn't work for dealerships. No pay. But that is not a big concern. As long as there are a few privately-owned shops, he is fine.

However, retirees jacking up housing prices are a concern. I went through that in Fort Myers, Florida.

Also, we live in Knoxville now; home of the Vols. They spit out graduates that end up tripping over each other to get a job. All things equal, that leaves out the outsiders.

Doesn't sound like what we are looking for. I guess we'll take our chances here, since we are finally both gainfully employed. Still, the locals sound like nice folks.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by stardust

Thanks for the info. I checked the unemployment rates and believe it or not it's higher where I am now but the stats are old (2000) so I'll keep checking. One thing I can say about Livingston which is where I'll be closest to is how NICE! the people are. I have talked to the Mayor, Chamber of Commerce and Business Owners in town and they are all so friendly and helpful.

Unemployment rates for 2006 (September) are here for Cookeville Micropolitan Statistical Area (MSA):

http://www.economagic.com/em-cgi/dat.../lauMC47182603

You can find the same 2006 (some September 2006, Some October 2006) employment/unemployment info for these Tennessee Micropolitan Statistical Areas(MSA):

Athens
Brownsville
Columbia
Crossville
Dyersburg
Greeneville
Harriman
Humbolt
La Follette
Lawrenceburg
Lewisburg
Martin
McMinnville
Newport
Paris
Sevierville
Shelbyville
Tullahoma
Union City

And for these Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Areas:

Chattanooga
Clarksville
Cleveland
Jackson
Johnson City
Kingsport-Bristol
Knoxville
Memphis
Morristown
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro

Here:

http://www.economagic.com/blsmsa200500.htm

[JMT]

Those unemployment rates don't have county break-downs. You can check with the state's department of labor to find individual county unemployment rates:
http://www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd/news/UIRATE.htm