MOnterey TN ? (Knoxville, Hendersonville, Cookeville: real estate, insurance, houses)

[JayW]

Hello out there. I am living in South Florida (for many years) and I am looking to build a small house in the mountains of TN within the next 3 years. At this point in time., I am looking for land. I am looking at a city called Monterey (as was reccommended to me by a friend of a friend). However, I do not have much info on this area. Their seems to be alot written on Crossvile & Cookeville. Does anyone know of this area (Monterey) & what it's potential growth is? I am looking for a quiet small town, but I do not want to be too remote. That is; activities / shopping/ Theater etc.. Any help here folks?
(I am planning a trip there in 2 weeks to look around) Thank You.

[mrradio]

between Cookeville and Monterey. We moved here 3 years ago from Long Island after putting up with decades of increasing traffic, taxes, utility rates, etc. We LOVE it here! Our friends who come down think so too and my wife's sister is moving here.
We actually live closer to Cookeville than Monterey and prefer Cookeville. Why? Cookeville is a university town (Tennessee Technological University-8,00 students), has fantastic shopping and dining, friendly people (we made lots of new friens quickly), hardly any traffic, easy access to Nashville's great airport which is on the east (our) side of Nashville (no need to go through Nashville), low taxes and utility rates that don't make you afraid to open the envelope when the bill comes. I could go on and on. Is it perfect? No. No place is. I can't get real New York cold cuts, hard rolls, and when a traffic light turns green, drivers ahead don't move out into the intersection to get ready to make a left turn. Big deal.
Monterey is a small town that frankly doesn't have as much going for it-few stores, a shopworn look and much of the town is beholden to Perdue which has a large chicken processing plant there. Now several retirement communities are on the north side of Monterey but they have never really taken off. We looked at a parcel there and realized that due to its proximity to a lake, the septic system for our proposed house would never work-it would be flooded. Monterey just doesn't offer much in terms of shopping and services. The nearest hospital is in Cookeville-just enlarged with every specialist in the area. You need these things as you get older. I'm 61.
Crossville is also a great town about 30 miles east of Cookeville although slightly smaller. If we had found our "dream" house there, I would not have hesitated to move to Crossville. Pretty much the same as Cookeville but scaled down a bit.
Tell me what your wants/concerns are and I'll try to answer them. By the way, I am NOT a real estate agent, etc. just happily semi-retired here!
Good luck in your search.

[JayW]

Thank You SO MUCH for that info. I am 50 & originally from NY as well (five towns area). After living in Ft Lauderdale the past 20 years, I am planning ahead - the next 5 years & therefore looking at the Monterey area. I too, would like SOME shopping, Hospitals, etc not Too Far.... A friend of a friend is building in Cumberland Cove & Just today I met someone else here in FL. that is also building (next year) in the same area. That is why I was thinking about Monterey. I have searched & realised that both Cookeville & Crossvile seem to be a little more 'equiped' with amenities & convienences. But we are thinking about 5 years or so down the line. I am being told that Monterey will be a little more accesible by them ???? who knows. Your info was Very Helpfull. I am actually flying there Tomorrow (via nasheville) untill tuesday & meeting with an agent. I already told her that we want to look at Cookville & crossville as well. Again, I am thinking about 5 yrs down the road. Thank You Jay

[JayW]

I am now in Crossville.... Looked around all day yesterday. All the postings were correct; It is beautifull here & the people are very friendly There are many nice areas - Homestead, Lake Tansi, etc... Looking today at Holiday something & Fairfield Glade. Also going to Cumberland Cove - which was my first curiosity. Will do Cookeville tomorrow.. Thank you again for the info... Have a great day

[mrradio]

Monterey and Cumberland Cove are fairly remote from decent shopping, services, hospital, etc, in my opinion. Make sure you actually drive through Monterey itself, down Commercial Avenue (I think that's the name) and those streets to get a feel for the place.

Cookeville is also excellent with great shopping, services and a good supply of housing in all forms and prices. Lots of new stores here including Kohl's, Sears, etc.
Good luck in your search!

[heathersmom]

we are moving too from NY. NY we have more cows than people and I leave stuff out in my yard, my car keys in the car, doors unlocked and my kids can go as they please around town- I read alot about the drugs down South and alot of burglary charges- I assume people steal to get $$ for their drugs...what do you all have to say about this? How can I best protect myself in Tenn? We have guns, we have a dog (Rott)- but really-tell me what you all think and KNOW! Thanks!

[mrradio]

that you're considering leaving New York. My wife and I left after fifty plus years of putting up with ever-increasing taxes, utility costs, insurance and never-ending promises from Cuomo, Pataki and others about a better State, a "New New York" and other nonsense.

My business required me to travel extensively throughout the USA and as I approached retirement age we decided to zero in on the non-Florida South. We were impressed by the new stores, inexpensive housing, better roads and overall friendliness of the Southerners we encountered. The South was getting a bad rap in the NY media, we felt, to make conditions in the North look better despite our view that NY had gone the other way. As I said in a previous posting, we were paying $11,000 a year in taxes on a nice, but not great, home. It was time to do something.

To make a very, very long story short we decided on Tennessee because of the climate, housing costs, transportation, etc. My electric bills are one third of what I paid on Long Island. There I always had a "fuel surcharge" to pay for the expensive imported oil. Here, with TVA hydroelectricity we don't import water. I shop in bright, new, clean stores that were built with great parking. On Long Island I shopped in cramped, old, stores, stores that couldn't be expanded because land was at such a premium. Lots of potholes in NY; not here. The winters are milder and people expect and get good roads.

I got a speeding ticket a few weeks ago-47 in a 30 zone. Since I hadn't gotten a ticket in over a year (actually close to 20) I was able to attend a one hour driver's school and the ticket disappeared. Try that on Long Island.

My neighbors are a retired TN banker, a retired Air Force pilot from Pennsylvania, a builder and an accountant. My house is twice the size of mine in NY and it's newer, nicer and has central air conditioning. I overlook a pretty valley. We care for each others' houses while we're away, watering plants, feeding cats, etc. We have barbeques and go out to dinner periodically.

Crime? Our subdivision (lots of 5-8 acres each) has been here since 1996. I asked about crime. No one has had anything happen. Is there crime? Sure. There is everywhere. Some guy held up the bank awhile back and you have the usual minor stuff. I don't worry about it. Anything can happen in this world and I certainly wouldn't live in a truly dangerous area but the South isn't what the Northern media wants you to believe it is, either. Salaries certainly aren't what they are in NY but neither are taxes. What IS more expensive? Oddly, water. They have to run such long lines that each mile of piping has fewer customers, thus higher cost per client.

My sister in law is moving here and the other day we were in a real estate office to get some information for her. Some people from Florida were ahead of us and during the time we were there they took a call from someone in California. I've seen a lot of that here in a place that really isn't on the national radar. Perhaps Californians are escaping congestion and societal problems, the Floridians hurricanes and difficult to get and expensive homeowners' insurance. My insurance for both the cars and the house is about 35% of what I paid in NY. A haircut is $6.

You would do well to travel a bit throughout the South as well as other areas. The thing that struck us is that there are thousands of great places to live in the USA. We are so lucky. Life doesn't have to be as stressful. You can have a better life if you're willing to change a bit. After awhile we all think that we must stay where we are; the known is preferable to the unknown. I never had thought of Tennessee but I've lived here for over three years and I would never go back to New York except to visit.

Look around. What you want is within you and out there. Good luck.

[Tek_Freek]

from a two week road trip. A large part of it was spent searching Fairfield Glade (outside Crossville) for land/house for retirement. The rest was in the Tri City area and Asheville/Hendersonville. Depending on what you're after FFG is an amazing place. Mountainous (well, real hilly) 11 lakes, 6 golf courses, quiet, friendly, wooded (densely in some areas), affordable compared to N.C. Yeah, we liked it.

Cons: Rural, too rural for us, at least for now. The rate of growth and influx of outsiders should fix some of the problems like the liquor laws (30 miles to buy anything but beer), a library that is so small that the books are divided into Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Children. If you like mysteries you need to know the authors name, there is no mystery section. Shopping is borderline, but acceptable, restaurants are few, some are excellent, but dirty. What is it about the south and cleanliness? I really, really don't like having to pick old food off my plate or God knows what out of the inside of a glass. Rant over.

Had a filet at Vegas that was amazing. A mexican restaurant next to the new movie theater had a burrito (steak and bacon with a white sauce) that I wish I could get here!

Pros: In addition to what I said above; the people are friendly. Drive through FFG and you will see consant smiles and waves. Nice. Has fairly good facilities with more coming: a clinic from the Cumberland Medical Center, a recreaion center, another fire deparment. Most areas have sewer, water, electricity, with the exception of the "edge of town". 35 mph max speed limit and the hilly terrain make for interesting driving.

1 hour to Knoxville, 2 hours to Nashville. 3, I think to Chatanooga or Atlanta.

In general we liked the area a lot. It just needs to grow up a bit.

We did find a bit of a "hidden gem" in FFG on Valarian Terrace. It is just beginning to be devoped and there is a 3 acre pond behind all the trees that doesn't show up on maps! The realtor we were working with didn't know it was there until we mentioned it! I have the feeling that once the word gets out this street will fill up quickly. Nice slope down to the pond so a walk out basement is easy. Sigh...

[JayW]

Hello all & MRRADIO. Thank you so much for the info last week. Long story short. I bought some acreage in Cumberland Cove.... I am going to build there ove the next 2 years. As I am still not ready for all the activities, as in FFG, I really loved the Cove & the quiet country. It was beautifull. Met many people there from FL & from NY & they all love it. It took a short 15 minute country ride to get into Crossvile & a just a bit longer to Cookeville. For now, this is the right place for me. Also, It is much cheaper than a few of the other properties I looked at, although prices are rising quickly there as well. Ayway, thnaks again for all your help. I did see the town of Monterey, but the truth is, I would go into Crossville or Cookville - The Cove is right in the middle. I do also believe that in years to come Monterey will be cleaned up, as all the Floridians & NY'ers move in. TIme will tell. take Care & thanks again. Jay

[mrradio]

I 'm sure that you'll be as happy as we are. We found a whole new life without the hassles of NY. Good luck!