Need Major Advice/Help with Southern States Please! (Memphis, Knoxville: for sale, apartment complex)

[sqessvd]

Hi,
I really could use some major feedback please!

We have been dreaming of moving south, from PA, for a couple of years now. We have been thinking of East TN but are now exploring east SC.

Been looking at the south for several reasons - call me naive with some of them :-)
Dreaming of "nice" people. Yes, we have nice people up north. I'm talking about the whole "feel" of niceness on more of a daily basis. Everywhere I've ever been in the south there is "niceness". Even the McDonald employees are nicer down South.

It's still the "Bible Belt". Very hard, in my area, to find a good bible-based Christian church.

We homeschool. I believe more people homeschool and that there is more of a homeschooling community down south.

WARM/HOT SUNSHINE-Y WEATHER!!!

TN country is beautiful - rolling hills... But I'm nervous that the weather might be a little too cool though. I want 90+ deg. July and Augusts not 70's most of the time. And it seems like they get a lot of rain??

Knoxville area seems great for homeschool activities but due to prices and what we want, we might have to live too far away (2 hours??) to consider that a viable resource.

I know it's weird, but I feel if I go too west in TN I'll be too "far away" LOL! From what I don't know, maybe because I've always lived in PA and NJ.

Reasons for SC:
*Just by looking at internet, SC looks like the weather is hotter. I'm moving south - I want hot. No, of course I don't want humidity all the time, but I love a 90+ deg. summer day.

*Thinking we want to be close to the ocean. Doesn't have to be right on the coast - just within an hours drive or less would be ideal. Really don't want to do the summer traffic living any closer. We vacation in Sept. in Myrtle Beach - LOVE IT!

We do want some acreage for a horse or two.

Want to have a small town, but close enough to civilization (shopping, grocery - doesn't have to be huge malls, but I don't want to have to drive 30 minutes for a gallon of milk).

Want to be around others with horses, stables, etc.

ALSO - new problems for us have arrived. I'm sorry, wasn't going to get this detailed, but I'm feeling burdened and need advice :-0
We have to make the move sooner than we are ready. We were going to wait until we reached a litigation settlement (maybe within the year??) but we can't now. Several reasons (at the same time too ): My husbands business is folding (major sales loss from an area fire), and the owner of our home and business (both on the same property) is putting the place up for sale. We don't have the credit or funds to purchase right now until the settlement so I guess we will have to rent. Since hubby has to find a job, we figured it might as well be where we want to move instead of him having to find another job when we do make the big move. I don't know why I feel compelled to share this, I really just need information on at least which state to choose

Thank you in advance for any and all advice!!

[alleycat]

From all the things you mentioned, South Carolina may suit you better.

[sqessvd]

Thank you!

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, Sqessvd. What kind of work does your husband do?

[sliverbox]

wow. Lotsa' questions there. I'll try to answer a few. As with many people from up North, you've probably wondered about the weather here. Unlike Florida, TN actually gets quite a variety of weather. Summers can get HOT. That and they are on average humid. From around late April to Sometimes October, it can vary from the upper 60's to upper 90's. Starting in the late October, nights can be cool to cold ( 30's-40's) The mornings will typically be cold from Oct-Dec but usually burn off and be in the 40's and 50'
s. From January-March, it is usually cold even though the last few years were unusually warm. So yes- there is a winter here. It also rains... a lot.

regarding the people, well it really depends on where you live. Many parts of Knoxville/nashville/Memphis look like anywhere USA and have been suburbed to death. Lots of new postage stamp houses.Many of the people in them are not natives so you might not experience sweet suthern' charm. These communities also have quaint little towns and areas around them. Many of the rural areas are pretty much the way they've always been and have the same people that have lived there for generations. So be prepared to be the " new people" for decades. People in these more rural areas seem to be more of the type you seem to seek.

Regarding SC, well I have to say that I'm not exactly a huge fan.The weather there in the summer can be insanely hot and humid. My best friend lives there and if you don't have AC.... it can be a bad thing. Coastal Southern areas are also prone to hurricanes. As a result, home insurance has gone up more than 300% in the last year. Homes on the coast area already expensive, so on top of the high prices, property taxes, and insurance, these areas can be prohibitive.

[ladygentleheart1025]

We own a Towing/transport company and have traveled extensively throughout the South. Living in Florida I can tell you this much. if you choose to move down this far...stay north of I-4 for the best chance of survival. Florida is HOT,humid and the chance of a future for retirement is none, unless you own your own business. Our homeowners insurance went from $667 in 1999 to $2778 this year, taxes went from $1051 in 1999 to $2400 this year. Truck insurance is outrageous and the cost of living has grown alot, but the wages for a typical worker hasn't. that's the biggest reason why we're moving other than being forced to learn another language.

We looked at SC one time and found people there to be very standoffish unless you go out toward the beaches. The Greenville area of SC is the best choice for a family who wants to grow though. Lots of very active church groups and you see signs with scriptures out alot.That area has grown alot and the industry there supports small families.

Knowing what we know about the South...we still seem to keep gravitating toward The tri-cities area of Tennessee. Everything you mentioned is there but the exceptionally hot weather. People are genuine there and will tell you what they think in honesty...

[tenn.redneck]

Hi. I own property in extreme NE TN.--out too rural for you. I urge you to look at Johnson City TN., nice size, all the shopping. When I am at my property, I go down to Johnson City a lot. The people I found to be very friendly -- conservative also.. It is the home of East Tennessee State College. Great public radio station from there. If you home-school, I rather think you will find a lot to like in Johnson City. It is not near the sea, however! Look at Johnson City on the internet. You can find out a lot statistically and about the surrounding area,etc. Someone suggested a site that is www.movetonortheasttn (broken link). I haven't visited it, but it may be worth your while. Others will possibly know more re: Johnson City -- maybe someone living there. I have not lived there. Good luck!

Tenn.redneck(about to become)

[jabogitlu]

The Greenville area of SC is the best choice for a family who wants to grow though. Lots of very active church groups and you see signs with scriptures out alot.That area has grown alot and the industry there supports small families.

I agree. From what you say, good areas in SC are Spartanburg and Greenville. They're not all that close to the beach, though. You can get to the Charleston area fairly quickly via I-26, though, and they're near enough to both Charlotte and Asheville.


I spent my first 19 years in the Tri-Cities area, and there are tons of other posters here that live in northeast TN, so if you have any more questions, just ask!

In NE TN, it will be easy to find a Bible-based church of any flavour. That's one of the reasons why I moved west a wee bit... just toooo conservative for me.

Most of the South collective is quite rural and you should have no problems finding both enough land for your horses and stables in the area. I personally know there are lots of equine folk in the Greeneville (Tennessee) area.

After living a few years in 90+, 85% humidity weather you might be yearning for the cool mountains of east TN! No, in seriousness, the above poster described it spot on, I'd say. We get our share of 90-100 degree days, mostly in late July and August. Late May and June tend to be 70-85. September and April are real wild cards; yesterday morning I was cold and dressed appropriately and by yesterday afternoon I was about to die!

It can get cold enough here in Jan-Feb, but the lows hardly ever get below 15-20.

[sqessvd]

Sorry for the delayed response. I didn't know how this forum worked. I thought I would be notified immediately when someone responded to my post. I'm surprised so many people read it and responded! LOL!

Thank you so much for all the advice. All of it was very helpful!!

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by sqessvd

Hi,
I really could use some major feedback please!

We have been dreaming of moving south, from PA, for a couple of years now. We have been thinking of East TN but are now exploring east SC.

Been looking at the south for several reasons - call me naive with some of them :-)
Dreaming of "nice" people. Yes, we have nice people up north. I'm talking about the whole "feel" of niceness on more of a daily basis. Everywhere I've ever been in the south there is "niceness". Even the McDonald employees are nicer down South.

It's still the "Bible Belt". Very hard, in my area, to find a good bible-based Christian church.

We homeschool. I believe more people homeschool and that there is more of a homeschooling community down south.

WARM/HOT SUNSHINE-Y WEATHER!!!

TN country is beautiful - rolling hills... But I'm nervous that the weather might be a little too cool though. I want 90+ deg. July and Augusts not 70's most of the time. And it seems like they get a lot of rain??

Knoxville area seems great for homeschool activities but due to prices and what we want, we might have to live too far away (2 hours??) to consider that a viable resource.

I know it's weird, but I feel if I go too west in TN I'll be too "far away" LOL! From what I don't know, maybe because I've always lived in PA and NJ.

Reasons for SC:
*Just by looking at internet, SC looks like the weather is hotter. I'm moving south - I want hot. No, of course I don't want humidity all the time, but I love a 90+ deg. summer day.

*Thinking we want to be close to the ocean. Doesn't have to be right on the coast - just within an hours drive or less would be ideal. Really don't want to do the summer traffic living any closer. We vacation in Sept. in Myrtle Beach - LOVE IT!

We do want some acreage for a horse or two.

Want to have a small town, but close enough to civilization (shopping, grocery - doesn't have to be huge malls, but I don't want to have to drive 30 minutes for a gallon of milk).

Want to be around others with horses, stables, etc.

ALSO - new problems for us have arrived. I'm sorry, wasn't going to get this detailed, but I'm feeling burdened and need advice :-0
We have to make the move sooner than we are ready. We were going to wait until we reached a litigation settlement (maybe within the year??) but we can't now. Several reasons (at the same time too ): My husbands business is folding (major sales loss from an area fire), and the owner of our home and business (both on the same property) is putting the place up for sale. We don't have the credit or funds to purchase right now until the settlement so I guess we will have to rent. Since hubby has to find a job, we figured it might as well be where we want to move instead of him having to find another job when we do make the big move. I don't know why I feel compelled to share this, I really just need information on at least which state to choose

Thank you in advance for any and all advice!!

You might have a problem renting at a decent apartment complex without one of the two of you having a job first. One of the first things they check is your income. I don't know if this is true with a private rental. He may want to try to find a job and then you move. The good thing is while you are renting, you'll be able to scour the area for a permanent home within an acceptable radius of his job. Because your child is homeschooled, you should be able to do this without too much disruption for your child. If you want to be close to the ocean, pick SC.