Possible move to Sevierville or Pigeon Forge (Memphis, Knoxville: house, buying)

[MB2]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Sunny and I take credit cards, also, and since it is East Tennessee and we are a trusting bunch, we will accept personal checks.

Why, bless your little heart....LOL!!!!!!!!
You are so funny.......keep it up, missy, keep it up.......LOL

[Patty J]

Okay, I'm a little nervous here, cause I've never been on a "forum" or in a "chat room" or anything, so I hope I'm doing this right.

I'm looking--begging, actually--for some really honest info from any folks who can help me [and not laugh at me...at least not out loud] to figure out East TN. Before I ask for the help, here's a little bit about me. It's not exciting or anything--just some facts.

I'm born and bred a "city chick" I guess, and figured I'd always stay that way. The kind that insisted the "concrete" be under her feet at all times, sort of, and would never venture out of the city, except for a vacation or two. Stayed that way for the first few decades of my life, just rockin' & rollin' & workin' and not paying much attention to what was happening here in the "Steamed Crabs" capitol of the whole world. This last decade, however, some kind of metamorphosis--or maybe something like a wake-up call attached to a deeply rooted survival instinct--has taken over me ... and I don't like it here in the "Peoples Republic of Baltimore, MD" anymore, and I really don't want to be here anymore. I for sure don't want to end of retiring and/or dying here, so I believe I need to get outta Dodge sooner rather than later, I'm thinkin'. I'm even willing to give up my steamed crabs for this! I've definitely developed into a conservative-thinking, -acting person, but certainly no deadhead. But I'm a registered "Independent" in my current state, which, if you know anything about MD, that pretty much makes me a "non-entity" if not a total "persona non grata" in this town. That fact isn't breakin' my heart or anything, but it HAS gotten my attention.

Anyway, what I don't know about the geography of my own country is shameful, but I'm trying to fast-track my education here. Ex: I had no idea TN was divided into 3 actual distinct sections! But I'm a quick learner, so I'll figure something out--but I know I need some local help. Cause I don't know where to look in TN, I just think it should be somewhere in East TN, for sure. I'd like to find a small-to-middlin' size city or town, with decent, hard-working people in it, where I can see the Smokies, but not right on top of them, where I can maybe get a little bit of land--maybe an acre or 2--where I can have a little house put on it...or even buy an existing home with a little "breathing room" around it--that would be fine. Maybe in one of the East TN towns where they don't historically have a lot of tornado action--that scares me--and one other thing I'm thinking--a place that's hooked up to municipal utilities, like gas & electric and water maybe (?).

Well that's pretty much it ... the first part is my short story and East TN is what I hope will be my next chapter. Might anyone in the East TN area be able to help me out? I'd be happy to reciprocate by advising pretty much anybody why they should NOT move to Baltimore ... []

Thanks in advance...

Patty J.

[jimj]

Patty,
You're doing fine for your first time in a forum and you came to the right place! There are a lot of real nice people here like Hiknapster and Smokymtngal and Mbmouse as well as many others. I was born and raised 45 minutes south of San Francisco and spent all of my life in a city until I was transfered to Atlanta and fell in love with the south, understand though, nowdays some places are more southern than others and TN is definately southern in most places. Most people that are thinking people are independant moderate when really questioned and I don't know many that strictly follow the party line anymore since they are both full of hoohah most of the time so your political leanings shouldn't be an issue. You should be fine in TN, it is central to so many places that you could spend every weekend taking driving trips and seeing new stuff which is one of the reasons we are moving back there as soon as possible. Listen to what these people tell you, don't be afraid to ask questions and keep an open mind you will be fine!
Good luck future TN person

[CG&D93]

Patty J -

Too funny, I have a sister-in-law named Patty that lived in Baltimore for years and defected. I enjoyed visited Baltimore but wouldn't want to live there.

Jimj said it correctly, you've come to the right place. These forums are extremely helpful. I currently live in Sevierville and have shared some of my thought on the area. Not all good, mind you but 'to each his own'. What works for some doesn't work for others. There is a LOT of wonderful here.

I've sent you a PM.

[hiknapster]

I just woke up, so bear with me, but I think you did NOT mention what kind of job you will be looking for. That will be important. The chance of you taking a salary cut is high.

Coming from a large city and going to a very small city of town might be a huge mistake. Downsizing slightly might be better.

For the least chance of tornadoes, I would look into Johnson City.

I would definitely stay away from Sevierville. Way too touristy.

[mbmouse]

Welcome to the forum.
Ok, so you want to get out of MD, good start LOL! But Hiknapster is right, what kind of work do you do? So far from your description of what you are looking for, just about anywhere from Knoxville East will fit your bill as far as little to no tornado activity and views of the Smokies. Able to buy a house with a bit to quite a bit of land, public utilities. We have all that. But please tell us a bit more, such as job, price ranges for house, activities and interest you want in your new home town, how far are you willing to commute, things like that. That way we all can better identify a place that might be of interest to you to come and check out. I, as will just about everyone else on this forum, will suggest to you that you narrow down your choices by statistics and local info, then come a visit for a while before you decide for sure.
Looking forward to answering anything I can for you,
MBMouse.

[Jerseyshoregal]

I agree with CG&D93. I'm from NJ and thought I was moving to a naturally beautiful place when I moved to Wears Valley in 2000. Needless to say I soon found out that the air quality was worst then where I came from....imagine that New Jersey being cleaner the the mountains! Also you must watch out for the developers and realtors who just want to sell you anything to make a commision. I had to move out of Wears Valley due to a realtor at the main real estate office in Wears Valley. She lied to us about alot of things just to sell us the house. Finding out later out "water" was being hooked up to 12 other houses. Water scarce in the mountain. The developer don't require to much to make sure your home is built soundly. Everyone loves having their cabins built on a side of a mountain...beware. The are more law suit with developer's and real estate companies in the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. Try going south. I moved to a wonderful little town called Tellico Plains and am very happy here. Not so crowded and begining to "fine tune" itself. Still always look out for realtor/developer here too. Always have an out of county lawyer!!

[adanVdo]

Welcome Patty J! back in the early 70's I lived in Baltimore near Catonsville. Then I moved north near Towson (not IN - couldn't afford it) . From what I've read & heard I understand your dissatisfaction with the region "we" call NorthEast. I especially can relate to the discomfort of living near DC, because I have family there who aren't happy.

Now I live in Sevierville. All I can say is - if you don't have a whole lot of patience already, you will develop it if you move here. Do or die - gotta be patient........with traffic, relationships, shopping, services, waiting for return phone calls, waiting for service industries to fulfill their "appointment" times, with government & bureaucracies. Things are much, much slower here (not always a bad thing). Most of the time I find myself waiting in-line for something - and the line moves at a snail's pace, while the goal seems oblivious to time.

As far as the "political" aspect - I have to echo Jim J's outlook about thinking people. I am registered Independent also but lean Conservative (what was formerly Republican) but am surrounded in my neighborhood by Libs. I live in in a lower-income-bracket neighborhood, so it's not surprising - but I still prefer the loyalty, dependability, & protectiveness of these folks. I've lived in other other areas, have family in the more affluent neighborhoods of Knoxville - but for safety and 'lookin-out-for-each-other' my neighbors can't be beat. I just don't discuss politics with them.

Oh yes, speaking of "income brackets"! I'd guess the average range of my neighbors is in the $40 to $60K bracket.....and these cheap little concrete-foundation houses have soared in selling price to the $120 to $150K price range. The four houses nearest me are owned by at least one adult on SSI or SSD. We're a relatively poor community, but the Troublemakers & Ne'er-do-wells don't stay long. We don't threaten them, or treat them poorly - quite the opposite - exquisitely friendly. But they know to behave themselves or leave. I don't know when Sevierville ever experienced a tornado - My neighborhood is very hill-y. One house is in a "valley", completely sheltered by all strong winds (but her front yard is a swimming pool when it rains). You can certainly find variety here.

So, there is a mix of attributes to living in this area. If moving here, I hope you have healthy lungs.....the pollution and allergens can become a significant detractor to quality of life. And there are, sadly, a lot of free-roaming critters.....dogs, cats, bears, birds, raccoons, bugs....etc. There are a lot of factors to consider.....but good luck in your search!

[Patty J]

Balto to Sevierville? --maybe not ....

Thanks to you all--MBMouse; CG&D93 (thanks for the PM); jimj; hiknapster; AND adanVdo! The candid remarks and advice by all of you are really appreciated . Since I last wrote, I've now heard about Maryville, Rogersville, Greeneville, and that Tri-cities area folks have mentioned, all of which I guess I need to investigate.

I'm really not looking for a place that's got real traffic congestion, poor air quality, and too many liberals--honestly (as I'm sure adanVdo would attest to), we've got all THAT right here in Baltimore. Would make no sense to move FROM it TO it. I expect, though, that your crime rate down there couldn't hold a candle (hopefully) to ole' Ballmer--we just hit Homicide No. 175 as of this morning...that may even put us ahead of Detroit as the most dangerous city in the U.S. [*sigh*] And, too, I thought all the conservatives in the country, or at least most of them, were in East TN -- a big drawing card for me.

Well, I will continue to read, listen, and ask questions, if you all don't mind ... cause I AM comin' South, kids, even if, for the time being, it's just to look around. So fair warining, I'm coming your way!
[Hey, I'm south of the Mason-Dixon line already here in Balto, so I'm halfway there, right?]

[hiknapster]

Only Memphis can keep up with those statistics.

Just be careful. Not many people can go from a huge city to a very small town and not be dissatisfied. My grandfather did it. He came from NY, NY and moved to the middle of nowhere in Canada. He was a rare exception.