relocating from Florida to Tennessee (Chattanooga, Clarksville: best towns, real estate, house)

[theqbaby]

Hi everyone,
We (myself,husband and son) are relocating to Tennessee. We are truly seeking out the down home feeling of southern hospitality. We are very down to earth people who are a dying breed here in south Florida. We have been here all our lives and are looking to experience something more than what Florida has to offer.

So, l am looking for some info. from all you wonderful people in Tennessee. My husband is in construction. He has been doing Heavy Timber Construction for the past 16 years with the same company. And has many certificates and awards in his field. He is also OSHA trained and has completed a 13 hour course. Also certified in fork lifts and other construction machinery. He currently runs a crew of 5-8 men. They build mostly churches, shopping malls, barns and exclusive homes. He also has experience in truss homes as well. He is very handy. Also builds privacy fences. How hard is it to find work in Tennessee? And where would be the best towns to live close to.
Myself, I had been a realtor here in Florida until my parents got ill, and I had to give up my career in order to care for them. Unfortunately, they have both passed in 2004. I had been a waitress for 17 years prior to my real estate career.
My son, Gage, is 16. His heart desires are to fish and dirt bike riding. He also is a nature freak. (Like his parents).
Our desire is to find a home with 2-10 acres, within an hours drive to work for my husband. (in construction)
We will be visiting this weekend. And are excited to learn about the area. I have no knowledge of Tennessee , so it would be greatly appreciated to get info. of what to expect from Tennessee.

So please, all, respond with any helpful info. you may have for us. Good and Bad. I know we are in for somewhat ofa culture shock, but we believe we belong in a smaller, more down home type of atmosphere.

Thanks in advanced,
theqbaby

[mhogan10010]

We'll I am no big fan of Tennessee (lived there 5 years), but it will be a darn site better than Florida.
I would look around the Nashville Area. Maybe out toward Clarksville. Nashville is still in a growth mode and will have construction jobs a plenty. My best friend still lives there. He said that Nashville was listed as a top city in America to do business.

[theqbaby]

Hi mhogan10010,
Thank You for your reply. We definately want to be at least an hour away from "CITY" life. I kind of thought that there was some kind of construction going on in Tennessee because we see alot of commercials for new developments on T.V.
I see that you are in Brooklyn now, what made you leave Tennessee?
theqbaby

[lexiesmemere]

I'm now in Pelham, and there are lots of logging companies around here, though not much else in the shopping area (we have to drive 25 miles to Lowes!). However, after living in 2 large cities, I'll gladly take the drive in exchange for the mountains and the friendly people. The people around here are some of the friendliest I've ever met. I'm not up much on the schools (although I'm a former teacher), because my youngest is 24. Maybe someone else could give you some suggestions on that aspect.

If you end up taking I-24 on your trip up, the area between Chattanooga and Monteagle is gorgeous!

Good luck with your move. I hope you find a great place.

[mhogan10010]

Originally Posted by theqbaby

Hi mhogan10010,
Thank You for your reply. We definitely want to be at least an hour away from "CITY" life. I kind of thought that there was some kind of construction going on in Tennessee because we see alot of commercials for new developments on T.V.
I see that you are in Brooklyn now, what made you leave Tennessee?
theqbaby

I went to College in Nashville, and studied for the ministry. I had a bad experience in my first part time church out toward Columbia Tenn. The church told us that after i finished school they would take me on full time. We bought a house in the town and then waited for them to negotiate for full time. It eventually became clear they they were not serious about it. When I asked them their intentions, the head deacon simply said, "it would put a strain on some of of." Really lied to me and left me hanging. So, as soon as I could find another parish, I moved. Did another 12 years in full time ministry in NC. Finally realized that I was just a big city kind of person and was a fish out of water in the South. Moved up here, work in a college and finished a masters in Urban Affairs. Hope to get into some kind of faith-based and community based consulting eventually.
Anyway, it just wasn't a good fit for me. Being from Detroit originally and in small rural towns, I was always a Yankee and never going to be one of them. So, made sense for me to leave.
My best friend moved from MO and has been in Nashville for about 20 years now, and seems to love it.
Just a word of warning. At times Floridians are looked at kind of like Yankees. When I was in NC, they really resented all the Floridians moving to the Mountains and driving up the cost of real-estate. So, if you really hated Florida, then let the locals know that. Believe me, it will help.

Good luck

[Happy Trails]

It may be premature, but welc ome to Tennessee. Both my wife and I are originally from here and just returned from Tampa to call it home again In many ways this is still the gentle south with all the modern conveniences (or instrusions). Some call it progress or growth. Those of us who have lived in Florida KNOW it is instrusion and sprawl and has ruined the natural charm of that state -as well as the ecology and environment.

There is lots of room and nature to enjoy in the Chattanooga area and you don't have to live 40 miles out to be in the country. We moved to Walden on Signal Mountain. The town of Signal has anything you need plus a tight-knit community of people who have, until now, kept growth in check. It doesnt mean that there aren't politicans who can be bought or developers who keep trying but there is a core of money here that wields power and reason. I highly recommend the area. It is steeped in history, cooler in summer and full of hiking trails and near great parks. If you like horses, there are places all over the area you can buy on small tracts of land zoned for them. The best part is..(we) are 15 miles from DOWNTOWN CHATTANOOGA but out in the peace and quiet of the forest.

As for jobs - the area is plentiful for construction -a lot of it is not as good as it could be so even though there is lots of competition, a superior tradesman can do very well. I do have a few reputable and honest friends in the field I can introduce to you. Myself, I am in media and my wife in healthcare administration. It is great to out of Florida - and I spent the better part of 22 years in Tampa and in between California, Colorado, Arizona, and Washington DC, I lived in Miami, Daytona and Jacksonville... I loved Florida in the 60s - but it has turned into a big concrete freak show-soon to hang it's Christmas lights on oil rigs in the gulf. Happy Trails!

[Tek_Freek]

Hasn't anyone at removed figured out that black text on wood grain is nearly impossible to read? I have bever understood the "blindness" of some web designers. A lighter color would be more legible.

[theqbaby]

Tek_Freek ,
I agree with you totally ! I know the web site hasn't changed much since it has been put on the internet. Other than adding aditonal info. It is a smaller company, and I have no idea who is in charge of the web site, but I will definately mention it (if I remember) next time I see the President of the comany.
Thanks for the input !
theqbaby

[Mommylove]

Hello 'the q baby',
I look forward to hearing about your experience in TN. My husband, children and I will be visiting in the next week as well from Florida. We feel the same about finding a friendly community and down to earth community!

Have a safe and happy trip.

[Tek_Freek]

Appreciate the kind response. Not everyone aqppreciates criticism, even positive.

I should mention that my wife and I spent two weeks looking in TN an NC in June. We liked the people we met and the area in general. Didn't find anything yet, but we're not done looking. Good luck in your search.