Moving from Los Angeles to Nashville area (Murfreesboro, Franklin: apartment, motel)

[mxj1614]

vlv723, I would avoid Highway 255/Harding Pl. as well. You might want to consider Murfreesboro. It used to be a primarily college town but has grown quite a bit over the years. Now it just all seems to be commercialized with strip malls and no zoning. I lived there for 2 years while in school before I transferred. Seems to be more to do there now than when I was there between 97 and 99.

I will advise you that the Smyrna / La Vergne is very family 2.5 kids, etc. Not much of a scene for anyone single and in their 20's. If you are looking for some night life and wanting to meet other people your age, I would recommend the West End / 21st Avenue / Hillsboro Village / Mid-town / Belmont area. Lots to do and lots that you can walk to. If you lived in that area and worked in Smyrna, you would be going against traffic so your commute wouldn't be bad at all even though it would probably be 20 miles. Best of luck.

[UNT_Eagle]

Originally Posted by vlv723

Hey UNT, the only thing I don't like is traffic...I used to work in Los Angeles/Orange County, and it took me 2 hours to get to the office even though it's about 20-30 miles away. Now, it's 8 miles and about a 15-20 minute drive.

Murfreesboro is one place I'll consider.

Any other places other than Craigslist or Roommates.com that I can find a room? Thanks for the help again in advance!

You could try the classified ads in the Tennessean local newspaper for roomates/rooms.
Also try rent.com

Let me know how it works out

[Mike in TN]

That would be a ridiculous daily drive from the West End area to Smyrna every day; especially for a guy that isn't fond of long commutes.

[Diane Giam]

Originally Posted by Mike in TN

That would be a ridiculous daily drive from the West End area to Smyrna every day; especially for a guy that isn't fond of long commutes.

I agree. I think since he's single and Murfreesboro being the college town it is that I would consider Murfreesboro.
There is a lot to do there , nightlife , shopping , restaurants. It is not far from Smyrna at all.

Diane G

[scottv]

You don't want to live anywhere off i24/south nashville...sketchy area. you're mid 20s, i would want to be closer to nashville than murfreesboro-that's way out. coming from hillsboro village area should be a reverse commute, BUT maybe a good alternative would be Crieve Hall (around Harding Place and I65)...you could find a roommate situation in a house, have a place for your dog, cut over Harding Place to 24 then south to smyrna for work AND crieve hall is accessible to everything worth going to in nashville-greenhills, downtown, hillsboro village...that's what I would do in your shoes.

but here's a place for cheap in smyrna though...you wont find anything that cheap closer to nashville (in the hood maybe)
http://nashville.craigslist.org/roo/514818096.html (broken link)

good luck in the search

[hml1976]

Agree. I would spend the money and deal with the commute and live in West End or Hillsboro.

When my husband and I moved from NYC to Nashville in 2003 I worked in La Vergne and it was like a bizarre new world to me, serious culture shock. Do yourself a favor and live near the city and enjoy the nightlife, it will make the transition easier.

I should mention that I love Nashville now...but I still avoid La Vergne like the plague

[vlv723]

Hi All,

I really appreciate all the advice you've given.

So now, my goal is to find a roommate in Green Hills/Hillsboro area and hopefully it will accept my dog...it's a small dog.

I've seen that place in Smyrna...I am a quiet guy, but since I'll be new to the area, it'll be better off to explore the city and nightlife.

[vlv723]

Bump...

So, after talking with family, they recommend living independently, even if it's a studio.

I did see 2 studio apartments: one nearby the airport and another in Madison, TN. The one in the airport (on Thompson Lane) is less than $400 while the Madison one is probably between the $450 range.

I don't have much to bring besides my personal belongings (clothes, computer, car, etc.) and my dog. I can just buy furniture off of Craigslist or Wal-Mart =P

I still want to live with roommates but two things concern me besides having a dog, which I know most won't accept:

-Race factor: I'm Asian/Pacific Islander...or should I say, Filipino. I wonder if that will be a problem finding roommates.
-Should I start finding now or when I get there? If I choose to get there, what is a cheap place where I can temporarily live while I look to find a place. My co-worker would let me but since he has cats and I have a dog...wouldn't be a good idea.

Please advise...thanks again in advance.

[scottv]

I don't think your race will be an issue with finding a roommate, especially if it's in the city-there are some Asians around Nashville...I hate to say it, but unless you get a cheap apartment around a college area in a place like Madison or near the airport you might be living next to a crackhead...it will be tough finding a place long distance, so if I were you I would crash at your coworkers place and throw them a little cash while you look...try to figure out a way to have your dog get along with the cat

then look around craigslist for a good housing situation-good luck

[vlv723]

Hey all,

So I might finally close the deal with a person who is renting a room in Brentwood. So hopefully, once I finally hit the city limits, I can go straight moving in.

Now, from what the person told me, there's no internet available (which I really need), I'm willing to get the service myself. What internet services are available in the Brentwood area. I need to find something that is fast and not too expensive.

Also, what is a good gym to go to and how much is the monthly membership? Thanks in advance.