Commute from Grainger County (Knoxville, Morristown: house, buying, construction)

[misspastor2]

We are looking at beautiful property outside Washburn....we want rural and country setting, peace and quiet. However, we still have to work and would need to commute to Knoxville every day. Any comments on the distance and if it's worth it? The roads are rural, are they impassable or decent during the winter.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by misspastor2

We are looking at beautiful property outside Washburn....we want rural and country setting, peace and quiet. However, we still have to work and would need to commute to Knoxville every day. Any comments on the distance and if it's worth it? The roads are rural, are they impassable or decent during the winter.

Depending on where in Knoxville you'll be working, it can be quite a commute. Beautiful, but long. The main roads (meaning state highways) are almost never impassable except in one of those freak one-in-a-decade snow storms we get every 10 years or so. On the other hand, some of the side roads in rural Grainger County might not get cleared or salted right away when we do get our typical winter snowfall which is usually just an inch or two, a couple of times a year.

[jabogitlu]

That is a very long commute. Many people live that far out but most are clustered on the interstate for easier drive times. Have you looked east on 40 toward the Morristown area or north on 75 toward Clinton?

It's do-able especially if you're working in the east city, but... make sure you come and drive it before you buy. If you're working west of downtown I would say it's a no go.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

That is a very long commute. Many people live that far out but most are clustered on the interstate for easier drive times. Have you looked east on 40 toward the Morristown area or north on 75 toward Clinton?

It's do-able especially if you're working in the east city, but... make sure you come and drive it before you buy. If you're working west of downtown I would say it's a no go.

Even then, according to mapquest.com, it is going to be almost a one hour commute. That's one way.

[oldmanbob]

Great places and beautiful farm lands, but from Washburn, could even be a little over an hour, and as JMT says, our winters are very mild, with little to no snow. So the roads not a problem, and if your looking for land, plenty of choices from Jefferson county, Sevier, and again going north, you have Halls area, and good country sites even off Emory. I would even check Seymour, as you have th country look, great view of the Smokies and only 30 minute drive into knox.

[Beretta]

My son works as an EMT in Grainger County (and a couple of other places). The only way he will take shifts for them is because they are 24 hours in length. Anything else he says is not worth the long drive.

[misspastor2]

Thank you all for the input....we did end up buying 5 1/2 acres there....about 1/2 mile from the center of washburn.....yes, it's going to be a drive, but it's worth it to us to be out in the country on our own little piece of heaven. Coming from FL I can't wait to get up there....everything is rush rush and hot sandy humidity here. No one is friendly. The people we have met in and around Grainger county are very friendly and down to earth.

Still job hunting and will do the drive as needed....God willing it will work out for the best.

I have heard the nuilding restrictions are fairly mild up that way too compared to here in Fl.

[hiknapster]

Well congratulations, but the sad part is you can be in rural country in less than fifteen minutes from Knoxville. Right outside of the city, depending on the direction you are going, it changes to rural rather quickly. I really wish I had explained that.

[Barking Spider]

"I have heard the nuilding restrictions are fairly mild up that way too compared to here in Fl.". I did actually laugh out load when i read this.

You need to understand there is really NO building code enforcement there. The electrical is a State regulated thing, so the electrical has to be inspected. And the septic must be inspected just about everywhere.

But as far as buildings go, not much is checked at all. The term "buyer beware" is very appropriate there. I'm not saying that every house is built wrong, or unsafe. I'm just saying that I have seen a lot of construction in the those areas (outside of code enforcement) that had structural issues and plumbing issues (doesn't anyone know what an S trap is????).

[oldmanbob]

Well , congats Miss pastor, and enjoy your new minifarm. Good luck, as I take it, your in the ministry, or hubby, still preaching?