possibly relocating from FL to Fayetteville TN area :) (Huntsville: sales, real estate)

[ImzadiMoon]

...and hopefully sooner rather than later

My husband works out on site at Kennedy Space Center, and will hopefully be transferred to Huntsville, AL in the future (crosses fingers..and toes..). We both want to live in TN and to that end found several nice properties in southern Lincoln county to look at. When I google Fayetteville, TN, I really don't come with much...I'd love to see a lot of pictures or video I could look through.

I grew up in a very rural small town in northern Ontario, and I miss the small town atmosphere. Neither my husband or I need city life, we just want a nice small acreage we can keep a few horses on...we're pretty easy to please

Any insight into the area surrounding Fayetteville would be appreciated!

[jsherman9901]

Originally Posted by ImzadiMoon

...and hopefully sooner rather than later

My husband works out on site at Kennedy Space Center, and will hopefully be transferred to Huntsville, AL in the future (crosses fingers..and toes..). We both want to live in TN and to that end found several nice properties in southern Lincoln county to look at. When I google Fayetteville, TN, I really don't come with much...I'd love to see a lot of pictures or video I could look through.

I grew up in a very rural small town in northern Ontario, and I miss the small town atmosphere. Neither my husband or I need city life, we just want a nice small acreage we can keep a few horses on...we're pretty easy to please

Any insight into the area surrounding Fayetteville would be appreciated!

I used to work in Huntsville and lived in rural Lincoln County. It is a very pretty place, make no mistake. Much better living there than in the Huntsville metro (unless you have kids; some of the public schools in HSV are much better than in Lincoln Co.). Fayetteville has one of the most, if not THE most, picturesque town square in Tennessee.

On the down side, I think that rural properties in Lincoln Co are way overpriced. Most land parcels in the southern part of the county are $6000/acre and up, and houses are overpriced as well. People seem to be holding out for the anticipated great influx of Defense Department relocatees.

Overall, though, it is a very laid back, nice place to live and I hope you find what you are looking for there.

[energysaving]

The comment that Huntsville, AL schools are better than Lincoln County, TN schools is a bit broad and unvalidated. I am sure there are good and bad schools in Huntsville just are there are in Lincoln County. With having sent 2 girls to school in 5 different TN schools I can tell you that each school must be rated individually. Two schools teaching the same grades in Lincoln County are totally different. I think the basic education is similar and good in both - but the attitude and teachers (which make a big difference) are totally different.

JUst saying -- its cool to brag on your own - just don't put us down.

[jsherman9901]

Originally Posted by energysaving

The comment that Huntsville, AL schools are better than Lincoln County, TN schools is a bit broad and unvalidated. I am sure there are good and bad schools in Huntsville just are there are in Lincoln County. With having sent 2 girls to school in 5 different TN schools I can tell you that each school must be rated individually. Two schools teaching the same grades in Lincoln County are totally different. I think the basic education is similar and good in both - but the attitude and teachers (which make a big difference) are totally different.

JUst saying -- its cool to brag on your own - just don't put us down.

Next time you criticize someone's post, try actually READING it first before you get your britches all in a wad. Did you even get the part that said I LIVED in Lincoln County? I was in no way *bragging* on Huntsville/Madison County schools, I have no vested interest in them. I was just stating a fact, that SOME of the schools in the Huntsville area are better than the ones in Lincoln County. In fact, Newsweek recently listed Bob Jones HS in Madison and Grissom HS in Huntsville among the top 5% of high schools nationwide. I don't think Lincoln County HS made the cut.

[mbmouse]

Take it easy please. No reason to get personal here.

[energysaving]

First of all let me say this I neither wrote what I did to make anyone mad - nor was I mad then nor am I now.

No I did not miss the part where you lived in Lincoln County. Your phrasing made it sound as if 'lived' was being used in a past reference (as in used to) anyway, where you live is not the issue, this is - Your statement that "SOME of the schools in the Huntsville area are better than the ones in Lincoln County" is still not factual. IF you meant that some of the schools in the Huntsville area are better than some of the schools in Lincoln County that is just as true as is the opposite. There are several lower grade schools in Huntsville which have a very low rating--twice as low a rating than the lowest in Lincoln County, (i.e. a 1 star vs. 2).

Actually, I had not heard about the 2 High Schools in AL having a high ranking-That is wonderful for them. Still say though that each school must be judged by itself and what the students have to overcome and what they take into the world from where they spent so many formative hours. The minority ratios in the school make a difference in many ways. Consider this: Grissom High has black minority of 4.5% vs. Lincoln County High's 10.8%. Grissom and Lincoln have similar Hispanic percentages but Grissom has almost 6% more Asians than Lincoln.

So, did not mean to offend - but fact is there are highly ranked schools in both systems and low ranked schools in both as well.

Oh and by the way I don't have my "britches all in a wad" and I have no "vested interest" in any school system. I home-school my last child now and will for the remaining two years of high school.

Have a pleasant day.

[skinem]

...and now, back to our show.

Lincoln Co. has been a historically rural, agricultural county. As time has gone on, the southern part of the county has become more and more an area of smaller acreages and subdivisions...the county is slowly becoming more of a bedroom community with more people working in Huntsville. As such, property is higher priced in the southern (Huntsville) side of the county. Property is more reasonable and it's less crowded on the northern side of the county.

Fayetteville is a picturesque little town with an active square, one of the prettiest around. Shopping is limited as are restaurants. Don't get me wrong, it has all the basics, just not a lot of choice. For serious shopping, most people go into Huntsville or Nashville, about and hour and a half away.

In general, jobs are relatively hard to come by, particularly one that pays enough to support a family well. I've lived in the area for 18 of the last 30 years and have only worked 18 months in Fayetteville, the rest in Huntsville. The same job pays considerably more in Huntsville than Fayetteville.

People are very nice. The town can be somewhat insular and many people's social life revolves around church. As discussed above, the schools aren't bad. Kids from here can read and write and everything! Actually, most are perfectly capable of going on to bigger and better things, and most do.

There are two school systems in the county--Lincoln County and Fayetteville (commonly called "City schools"). City and county schools go to through grade 9 separately, but then all kids go to the county system run high school.

County taxes are low, well, property taxes are low, very low. I think the only state with lower property taxes are Alabama. Sales tax runs at 9.5%, it is lower by a percentage point in Huntsville, I believe. Alabama has a state income tax, so if you work in Alabama and live in Tennessee you'll still have to file non-resident income tax in Alabama. Tennessee does not have a state income tax.

If you're looking for a rural (can be very rural) small town way of life that, in my opinion, approaches Mayberry (my keys are in the car and nothing's ever locked...never been locked...of course, the dog and "beware of owner" gun sign may have something to do with that!) this is a good choice. Friendly, helpful people.

For real estate searches, check out http://www.valleymls.com/(hgsmfhf1eu1l4zee1icnpzf5)/Default.aspx (Huntsville based realtor listing in which you can search Lincoln County listings) or RealTracs Real Estate Middle Tennessee Property Finder, for a middle Tennessee based search.

By the way, I made the Lincoln County-Marshall Space Flight Center drive for years...it's do-able, but gets old, and is getting worse daily as population increases. I've made the drive from the southern part of the county in 35 minutes (rarely) and it's taken as long as an hour and a half due to wrecks. Rarely would a week pass without seeing or passing a wreck. Usually, it's take 45-50 minutes. I'd be looking for someone you can carpool with.