Area Recommendations, Homes with Large Lots, Safe, Easy Commute to Murfreesboro

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Why_Am_I_Here

Try south of Murfreesboro...(Kittrell, Woodbury). and not sure where you got your info, but most of the areas off I-24 are fine....

The OP specifically wants to be closer to Nashville, not farther away.

[TVofM]

Originally Posted by Why_Am_I_Here

Try south of Murfreesboro...(Kittrell, Woodbury). and not sure where you got your info, but most of the areas off I-24 are fine....

Stay away from Kittrell. Seriously. Don't even consider it.

[mtsuprof]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions! I took some time this week and drove around. First impressions: Donelson - some good streets but I do think the commute would be tough; Crieve Hall - nice lots, houses have potential with exterior changes to update the ranch look, easier commute. What about the area around Granbery Elementary? Is that still Crieve Hall? And the neighborhoods on the other side of Old Hickory on that end - are those Brentwood or Nashville? I wish the budget was a little larger - loved Oak Hills and Forest Hills. This is tough! Nashville is so diverse - so many hidden gems but takes time to explore. The feedback here is invaluable!

[BirdieBelle]

Originally Posted by mtsuprof

Is that still Crieve Hall? And the neighborhoods on the other side of Old Hickory on that end - are those Brentwood or Nashville?

Most people I know just call the area immediately around the school "the Granbery area" or "Hill Road area." Sometimes I've heard it called "Brentwood Hall."

All of Old Hickory Blvd. and the streets just south of it are in Nashville, even if it has a Brentwood address. The city of Brentwood doesn't start until you cross into Williamson County, south of Cloverland Dr. This thread covers that question pretty well:

//www.city-data.com/forum/nashv...brentwood.html

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by mtsuprof

Thanks so much for all the suggestions! I took some time this week and drove around. First impressions: Donelson - some good streets but I do think the commute would be tough; Crieve Hall - nice lots, houses have potential with exterior changes to update the ranch look, easier commute. What about the area around Granbery Elementary? Is that still Crieve Hall? And the neighborhoods on the other side of Old Hickory on that end - are those Brentwood or Nashville? I wish the budget was a little larger - loved Oak Hills and Forest Hills. This is tough! Nashville is so diverse - so many hidden gems but takes time to explore. The feedback here is invaluable!

Ah, Granbery Elementary...my old stomping grounds!

Yeah, as Wmsn said, Granbery is sort of its own thing. A lot of it was developed slightly later than Crieve Hall. But it's more like Crieve Hall than Brentwood.

It's a pretty desirable area, very safe, fairly quiet, and there's a nice little park in the back of the school with a good sized walking track. But yeah...finding something for under $200k right around there would be extremely difficult. If I found something there in that range, I think I might be paranoid that there's something wrong with the house. But hey...you never know.

I think the Crieve Hall/Granberry/Cloverland area is one of the best picks in Nashville if you can find a house in the price range. It's a bit closer to downtown than most people seem to think (7-10 miles, and depending where you are only about 15-20 minutes driving, outside of rush hour). It's close to the more expensive and desirable areas of Brentwood and Oak Hill, so the prospect of your house retaining or gaining in value is good. Like I said, you can be downtown in about 15-20 minutes, Cool Springs in 10-15 minutes, Green Hills in 15-20 minutes, the airport in 20-25 minutes, Bellevue in 20-25 minutes, Smyrna in 25-30 minutes, Radnor Lake in 5-10 minutes, etc. etc. Murfreesboro/MTSU...I'm not going to lie...you would be lucky to make it to campus in under 45 minutes. And that's if you're doing 75-80 on I-24.

[Spikett]

Originally Posted by nashvols

Ah, Granbery Elementary...my old stomping grounds!

Yeah, as Wmsn said, Granbery is sort of its own thing. A lot of it was developed slightly later than Crieve Hall. But it's more like Crieve Hall than Brentwood.

It's a pretty desirable area, very safe, fairly quiet, and there's a nice little park in the back of the school with a good sized walking track. But yeah...finding something for under $200k right around there would be extremely difficult. If I found something there in that range, I think I might be paranoid that there's something wrong with the house. But hey...you never know.

I think the Crieve Hall/Granberry/Cloverland area is one of the best picks in Nashville if you can find a house in the price range. It's a bit closer to downtown than most people seem to think (7-10 miles, and depending where you are only about 15-20 minutes driving, outside of rush hour). It's close to the more expensive and desirable areas of Brentwood and Oak Hill, so the prospect of your house retaining or gaining in value is good. Like I said, you can be downtown in about 15-20 minutes, Cool Springs in 10-15 minutes, Green Hills in 15-20 minutes, the airport in 20-25 minutes, Bellevue in 20-25 minutes, Smyrna in 25-30 minutes, Radnor Lake in 5-10 minutes, etc. etc. Murfreesboro/MTSU...I'm not going to lie...you would be lucky to make it to campus in under 45 minutes. And that's if you're doing 75-80 on I-24.

Agree about the time to MTSU. I lived in that area when I was an undergrad at MTSU and it was no fun drive - especially in winter when you have to factor in that "scraping the windshield" thing. Ugh.

[12buttons]

Originally Posted by mtsuprof

I'm a new professor at MTSU and have been renting in Murfreesboro this year. I'd like to be closer to Nashville and don't mind a 30-45 minute commute. I'd like to find an area where the homes are on large lots, at least 1/2 acre with privacy from neighbors. (Not a cookie cutter neighborhood with postage stamp sized yards.) An older home that needs some renovation would be okay. From reading through some of the threads, many of the areas between Nashville and Murfreesboro which are off 24 seem not to be safe. As a single female, safety is important to me but I would like to find something for $200k or less. Can you suggest specific zip codes or areas that I should look at, and tell me which ones I should avoid? Thanks!

good grief - you've been here a year and you haven't found an area you like?

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by 12buttons

good grief - you've been here a year and you haven't found an area you like?

I can see how someone who lives and works in Murfreesboro might not have had a good chance to explore all areas of the metro area.

[vivelafrance]

Originally Posted by nashvols

I can see how someone who lives and works in Murfreesboro might not have had a good chance to explore all areas of the metro area.

Agreed, as someone who has also just lived in a new city for about 1 year I know there's so much going on with moving, getting settled, the new job, etc that you don't have a lot of time for neighborhood exploring. Regardless, that's what why we have this board!