NYers retiring to TN (Jackson, Paris: real estate, insurance, attorney)

[hiknapster]

I'm from the northeast, too. My dad's from the Bronx.

I have never been so blunt with anyone on the forum but good god you are making a massive mistake. Take the time and go look for a place. At least an area. The Tri-Cities is NOTHING like that part of Tennessee.

NOTHING. It doesn't even look like the same state.

And have you considered the amount of tornadoes that you are going to deal with there?

You're worried about money, but then you say that if you make a mistake you will deal with it. How? By trying to sell an undesirable house?

I'm just so worried about this.

[NY Annie]

Hiknapster, you are so sweet to worry about us. We aren't worried about money, we just don't want to have to worry and my husband can always work a couple more years if we need to - he's in his early 50s. We really are pretty adaptable - I even moved to "the big city" 12 years ago from Rhode Island. Besides, I trust those I've hired to look after our interests. As for tornadoes, it's just a land-based hurricane - and I LOVE hurricanes - yes, I've been in several and even in 2 tornadoes. One of the first things we plan on doing is building a storm shelter on our property - already have plans in hand.

My husband and I are pretty sure we've found the property we want - Google maps, google earth, mapquest all show it to be real pretty, outside of a tiny town but about 10 minutes away from a slightly larger one with a small hospital and all less than an hour from Jackson. I'm waiting for more info from my realtor and expect to have our inspector take a look in a day or two.

[2mares]

It has well-water, a negative for us - time to read up about that - we really were wanting "city" water - but the property is private and in the middle of mostly farms yet not too far from a small town - that looks bigger than Saltillo did. I'm waiting for more info from the realtor. At least this house doesn't have a catfish pond! Those are the ugliest things and we are not fish eaters! And the little I read about ponds is they are a lot of work and you can't swim in them!

City slickers! Honey, what makes you think you cant swim in a pond. My gkids, below, love it (picture was las April). I get in there from time to time. I can swim in it, my problem is getting out! LOL. And theres cat fish in there too. I also have a well. Much better than city water. Good luck with your search, I hope you find what you are looking for.

[hiknapster]

Last words of advice:

Just because someone has a sweet Southern accent doesn't mean they won't rip you off.

Caveat Emptor.

[NY Annie]

Update:

I chuckled when I read your comment, napster. I'm deaf, so an accent isn't sweet or sour. It's just a different way that the tongue and lips move. Not only have we househunted online, but we haven't even spoken to the realtor (Buyer's agent) or house inspector ... or mortgage person. Everything is by e-mail and fax.

So we have had our house inspected, e-mailed the mortgage company (there's a complication with the property - it has 2 houses!) and we've got it all sorted out and we put in our bid yesterday.

[NY Annie]

And the seller is a noodlehead and we've moved on. Found a house much further south. Inspection shows a few minor problems. Biggest thing is the neighbors - there aren't any! Map shows it's a main route from one town to another but the pic of this "highway" made me chuckle. One lane! Woods on the other side, woods behind the house, woods to the left of the house, woods to the right of the house.

So keep your fingers crossed, we put in our bid today!

[NY Annie]

AND IT's a SIGNED contract! Yippee - here we come! Well, slow boat - 2 years.

Finally, 2 years of looking, inspections, maps, aerial views, town hall searches - over!

The house is just a little north of Selmer - nothing around, just more trees and some crop land - couple of houses. We are already looking at the outdoor kitchen and the pool and decking we are going to install when we move.

So it's really going to happen - we are retiring to TN!

[hiknapster]

Congratulations.

This is going to be a very different life for you.

Here's the info for the local hospital. It looks like it has 32 beds. There is a larger one in Savannah but it has 58 beds.

McNairy Regional Hospital - Selmer, TN, (Tennessee), free ratings & reports.

Hardin Medical Center - Savannah, TN, (Tennessee), free ratings & reports.

[NY Annie]

That was helpful. Hubby goes to the VA and doesn't have any pressing issues. I have a heart condition and it's good to know the hospital can handle that.

We are really excited. Still don't have the word back from the mtg co; but it took us about a week to get the inspection done, then to have the HVAC inspected.

We are trying to find a time when he can take a few days off work so we can get there for the closing.

Now all we need is a handyman and a rental agent and we're set.

2mares, guess you're gonna be dealing with more city slickers soon! LOL
We are reading up on everything; gonna put in a rain-catching roof when we move and gotta build a barn/shed/workshop. We have the tools for hubby but no room for him to use most of them.

He plans on building our deck and outdoor kitchen himself, a good friend taught drafting so we'll work with him on the plans. Hubby knows drafting just a little.

Now, to clean out this house - it will take me 2 years. We have 4 bedrooms, 3 garages, a basement, and I'm a pack rat

[hiknapster]

Let us know how the closing goes.