So Many Moving to Tennessee WHATS THE EFFECT? (Memphis, Kingsport: rent, crimes)

[hiknapster]

Maybe Memphis. NO ONE wants to move there!

[sliverbox]

It's funny that people seem to avoid Memphis like crazy. My aunt has lived there for over 30 years and every time I went to visit, I always had the best time there. It was sort of eccentric, artsy, and different from the rest of the state. To me it almost felt like a city on the West coast or something.

Don't get me wrong- it has a crime problem. But when we're talking crime, it refers to certain areas within the inner city where we seldom went.... because thats where the crime was. Otherwise, my aunt has a really cool old house in an old neighborhood full of historic homes. I think she paid less than 30k for that house in the 80's and even now it is still valued at around 140k.

In a way, I'm almost glad Memphis has this veil of negativity mainly from crime. Perhaps if more people actually visited there, they might actually see what a neat place it is.

[hiknapster]

Believe me. I'm not kidding.

I looked into moving to Memphis before we ever moved to Tennessee, due to its cost of living/job ratio. I just never got a chance to go check it out.

At my job I deal with Memphis residents and they are my absolute favorites. What great people! I could job transfer there in a heartbeat. There are also always auto mechanics positions.

Granted. The crime is really high. Anyone that's seen me whine about Knoxville's crime will really question my sanity. But I am balking at areas of Knoxville that are seeing a spike in housing prices, when they aren't really "all that."

And, like I said, there is the added bonus of avoiding the stampede.

I just don't know what parts of Memphis are nice, and where to look.

[lakeprop]

[
I am still in the process of looking for my piece of heaven......[/quote]


Come to Tennessee-God's country! It's heaven up here!!

[Shenandoah]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Believe me. I'm not kidding.

I looked into moving to Memphis before we ever moved to Tennessee, due to its cost of living/job ratio. I just never got a chance to go check it out.

My sister is going to Tennessee before I am!!! WAHHHHHH!!! She's travelling to Memphis for one week in August. She's going there for 'Elvis Week'! She says it'll be a yearly thing for her now. She also wishes Lou and I would move to the Memphis area so that she wouldn't have to spend $$ on a hotel room for her yearly visit to worship at the Elvis shrine....

I had looked at Memphis, real estate is super reasonable in that area, but then I heard about the crime. Also, you can pretty much figure, it's right on the Mississippi, so anytime a hurricane comes into the gulf and hits the Mississippi Delta, it'll come right up to Memphis. Then, there's the humidity. And it's flat. And most likely, the city got alot of Katrina escapees from NO, which may have just added to the crime problem.

I could transfer to Memphis, too, in 6 months, as the company I work for has offices there, also. And those offices hold the counterpart to the experience that I have, workwise, but, too bad, they're in Memphis. There's also medical ins offices in Alpharetta Ga - but the cost of living and real estate is higher there, and even in a commutable range. Heck, I'll do filing and data entry in any old office - I don't care, and I'll take the wage reduction, just to live in a lower cost of living area. To make the higher wages that I do, my job has higher stress. I was honestly happier when I was working temp jobs doing filing and data entry. Lower pay, but lower stress. Worth it IMHO. Lou is happy doing his job, which he can do anywhere. We're just waiting for a call back from the union rep in the Cookeville area to call back with info on union wages, and work in the area. And if there's not enough union work, then he'll go non union - which is one great bonus of having a right to work state. Union and non union workers make comparable wages. Without the hassle of dealing with the 'pro-union' attitude that I and Lou both despise.

I saw some BEAUTIFUL super nice homes and properties listed in the outskirts, but too many negative factors for me to be drawn there. I'm a mountain gal. I was born and raised at the base of the Laurel Mountains here in PA, and if I'm too long in the flatlands, I get all jittery. I just need them hills and mountains.


blessings, Shen

[hiknapster]

A hurricane that far inland wouldn't faze me. I'm use to living on the coast of Florida. BUT there are a lot more tornadoes there than there are here.

I really need to take a trip there and see for myself.

[umograd83]

LOL. You really don't have to worry about hurricanes in Memphis. Now the tornadoes, that's another story. I moved to the Memphis area from Maine and whenever we get really bad thunderstorms with a chance of tornadoes, I get really nervous. And it always seems they come at night.
But I do hear you on the crime issue.

I do love the low cost of living, though.

[hiknapster]

What's a good area to look in? Affordable? Safe? Maybe older homes?

[Shenandoah]

Originally Posted by umograd83

LOL. You really don't have to worry about hurricanes in Memphis.

It's not the hurricanes themselves that worry me. I live all the way in Pennsylvania - and the gulf hurricanes affect us here.

Flooding is the issue. Well, along with the high winds. But of course, anytime, it's tornadoes. And in that area, being flat lands, you'll get the tornadoes.

Hiknapster - if you move there - PROMISE me you'll have a basement!!! I'll worry about you!!!

blessings, Shen

[hiknapster]

Oh, I will. Thanks, Shen. You're wonderful.

For right now, I'm not going anywhere. I'm just a planner and I want to explore all options.