Blount County/Maryville Recommendations Requested (Seymour, Townsend: for sale, real estate, home builders)

[linnemj]

My wife and I are looking to retire in Blount County sometime in early 2011. We are considering building a new home or buying a existing home in the high 200's range.

I would appreciate any responses on the following questions:

1. Taxes seem to be much higher in the city of Maryville vs. Blount County. With no school age children - what do we get for the extra taxes?

2. Is there natural gas service available in much of the county? We like natural gas heat and are not a fan of heat pumps. Are most of the new homes built in the area, all electric?

4. Any recommendations for new home builders?

5. Any recommendation for areas to look for building lots? We would love a mountain view lot. We are not sure if we want a development or more rural area.

Thanks for all of your assistance!

[Beretta]

See answers below.

Originally Posted by linnemj

My wife and I are looking to retire in Blount County sometime in early 2011. We are considering building a new home or buying a existing home in the high 200's range.

I would appreciate any responses on the following questions:

1. Taxes seem to be much higher in the city of Maryville vs. Blount County. With no school age children - what do we get for the extra taxes? Besides schools you get better road maintenance, better fire protection, better police protection, better water and sewer quality (you do have to pay for that outside of taxes), better trash pick up and trash service, parks, etc.

2. Is there natural gas service available in much of the county? We like natural gas heat and are not a fan of heat pumps. Are most of the new homes built in the area, all electric? Yes, natural gas is available in the city. It is sporadically available in the county. Propane tanks are available in the county where natural gas is not available. Some homes are all electric, some are not.

4. Any recommendations for new home builders? Leland Gamble or Lamon & McDaniel are very, very good.

5. Any recommendation for areas to look for building lots? We would love a mountain view lot. We are not sure if we want a development or more rural area. There is so much available that you need to get with a realtor to help narrow your search.

Thanks for all of your assistance!

[piedmont]

With your budget, I would expect that you would get a lot more for your money buying an existing property rather than buying a lot and building a new home---especially in today's market.

If you have not done some browsing on Find Homes By Area you should. A local real estate agent will also be helpful.

Since you do not have children, there is not an advantage to being within city limits (unless proximity to shops is of importance). In general, I find that areas on the east/southeast side of Maryville have some of the nicest views.

Good luck!

[BarbG]

We live in the county, and we have to pay separately for the garbage pickup, contracting with someone ourselves. We also have a septic system instead of being on a sewer system. AND we don't have our leaves picked up (vacuumed right at the street!!) several times a year. Also, we have to pay extra for fire protection, so we aren't walloped (is that a word?) when we have a fire. Those are the main things I've noticed, having lived here almost 4 years now.

Since garbage pickup is $220.00 per year (by itself), and we pay $120 for fire district protection, I think you get what you pay for in the city. The tax difference is fair for the services involved.

[TedTLPN]

Originally Posted by linnemj

My wife and I are looking to retire in Blount County sometime in early 2011. We are considering building a new home or buying a existing home in the high 200's range.

I would appreciate any responses on the following questions:

1. Taxes seem to be much higher in the city of Maryville vs. Blount County. With no school age children - what do we get for the extra taxes?

As others said, better city services including parks, but that's a VERY understated answer. Maryville's Greenway is EXCELLENT!! I live over 8 miles away, could enjoy any number of other venues between here and there, yet I repeatedly go to the Maryville Greenway. The shops and downtown area is quaint, and all the big box stores are not too far away. Granted I'm a touch biased about the school aged kids thing, but even if that weren't the case I'd live in the city just to 'feel in touch' with people.

[linnemj]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. My wife and I will back in Maryville for four days late next week. We will be spending time working with a realtor and meet a builders to get a better sense of the market.

Do you have any suggestions of any other places to vist or things to do to get a better sense of the area? This will be our second visit and last time we visited the Foothills Festival.

Thanks

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by linnemj

Thanks for all of the suggestions. My wife and I will back in Maryville for four days late next week. We will be spending time working with a realtor and meet a builders to get a better sense of the market.

Do you have any suggestions of any other places to vist or things to do to get a better sense of the area? This will be our second visit and last time we visited the Foothills Festival.

Thanks

Visit Blount County Library
Eat at Hot Rod's
Walk the Greenbelt
Drive the Foothills Parkway (321 toward Townsend)
Go to Foothills Mall (no, it isn't exciting but you will get an idea of the area)
Observe that there is tax on everything including groceries

If I can help please let me know.

[lochmoigh]

Originally Posted by Beretta

Visit Blount County Library
Eat at Hot Rod's
Walk the Greenbelt
Drive the Foothills Parkway (321 toward Townsend)
Go to Foothills Mall (no, it isn't exciting but you will get an idea of the area)
Observe that there is tax on everything including groceries

If I can help please let me know.

Hot Rod's for breakfast is amazing.
Our parks are the best around.
Follow the Pkwy all the way to the lake, worth the drive.

[cookiep2k]

My family lives about 15 minutes away from the city, almost to Townsend. There are some very beautiful properties for sale here and subdivisions in our area with river side property and GREAT mountain views (my mom was insistant on this condition when buying our house, and she got it lol). The builder actually lives in our subdivision and builds beautiful 100-200k houses all the time. I will ask my parents what his name is and will get back to you.

If you would like a high-end area closer to the city, you need to look at areas around Sandy Springs park--there are absolutely beautiful houses there. And I agree following 321 all the way through Townsend--that is my favorite part of living here and being so close to the mountains: it's almost a sin not to bask in their beauty every once in a while =) Oh, and go up to Cades Cove and do the driving tour through the Smokey Mountains National Park!

[linnemj]

Thanks to all who provided information! Our four day visit to the Maryville area was a great success. We spent time meeting with some of the builders that were recommended as well as looked at existing homes on the market with a realtor. My wife and I now have a better sense of what areas we like. We met a lot of friendly people and are even more excited about our relocation to the area.

I would welcome any information on any of these developments in Eastern Blount county:

Majestic Mountain (Walland)
Davis Acres (Walland)
Smoky View (Seymour)
Whittenburg Estates (Walland)
Sweet Gum Plantation (Walland)

We are still undecided if we want to build a new home or buy existing. The better bargin seems to be an existing home. Are building lot prices staying stable or have they come down over the last 2 years?

We are also considering homes in Maryville that may be within walking distance of the greenbelt. I guess it is either mountain view or greenbelt! We have time since we are not planning on retiring and moving until early 2011.

We appreciate your feedback!