Looking into far East Tenn for mid age couple (Knoxville: real estate, rentals)

[ReaperG1rl]

Hello everyone!

I am originally from Pittsburgh Pa, now living in St. Marys Ohio. I have used this site looking into St. Marys Ohio. Now we are looking into far East Tennessee near future. I hope sooner than later depending on what my husband says. I have been dropping hints. I just want to get out of Ohio especially now, too many rigs going on etc, more warehouses going up. I am currently no working at the moment which is a perfect opportunity for us. My husband works from home, I myself will be doing that as well.

This is what we are looking for. We do not want to be too close to neighbors where we can nearly touch each other's house or deal with too many dogs if they don't care about them. I live in a small town but our neighbor has 8 non stop barking dogs they have unlimited access to doggy doors. I cannot even let my 2 dogs out period without dealing with issues. I don't mind sharing yard even if it is fenced in with decent property. We probably will have to do a rental or land contract since we don't think we can buy a home right away unless there is someone that works with people who don't have best credit or a ton of money to put down right away. We have 2 medium sized dogs but very well behaved. One is 6 and other is 7 we will NOT abandon or leave behind.

We want at least 3 bedroom home type that is in the outskirts, we don't mind neighbors that is not touching each other. We would love to have decent property for our dogs to play.

I am going to say this once it is sad but true we have NEVER been to Tennessee. But since I was growing up I have always wanted to go there and live there because I love rolling hills and mountains. Living in Pittsburgh for 34 years and being from the Appalachians and living in Weirton Wv for 2 years too I love it.

We we are looking for is nice towns that is in far East Tennessee, don't mind driving to nice places to enjoy such as Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge. I did see towns like Johnson city, Elizabethton, etc that is really decent. WE don't mind snow at all, we want semi mild winter but not brutal like Ohio or Pittsburgh but can deal with it at times. We LOVE fall, it is our favorite season. I have been reading up a lot of different section parts on weathers etc. My cousin lives in Nashville and he loves it, he said it is very hot in the summer because it is in the western part. I told him he can have that.

I will work on a weekend time where we can pick a place to rent for a weekend and visit 2 towns to see drive around etc. Could you give me some towns we can look into. We love small towns a lot, old fashion towns too. We don't mind driving to tourist places etc at all.

[Beretta]

Come visit first. It is a must. I am from East TN but lived in Da Burgh (kids born at Magee). Visit the Knoxville and Kingsport-Bristol-Johnson City sub forums on here for ideas on towns in which to visit.

[jjbradleynyc]

East Tennessee is a beautiful region, geographically.

I was born and raised in the Kingsport, TN region, part of the Tri-Cities metropolitan area, which includes Kingsport-Johnson City-Bristol, TN and VA.

In the recent decade or so, east Tennessee has become more and more popular of a destination for folks to retire to. Part of it is the beauty of the region, part of it is the lower cost of the region, part of it is the rural/semi-suburban region in some parts, and part of it is the no state income tax for Tennessee.

In terms of weather, the summer is hot and muggy. The mountains are not high enough to be "much cooler" than the surrounding valleys, on the whole. The winters are decently milder in East TN than Ohio though, with any snowfall in East Tennessee occurring over 2 or 3 inches to be a "major snowfall."

The Johnson City region is by far the most fast-growing part of northeast Tennessee. With a city population of about 71,000 people, it has some upscale suburbs. Also the city has East Tennessee State University, which has a medical school, and Johnson City also has a large Veterans Hospital with a beautiful campus. Johnson City itself will be the most diverse and progressive city and area in the region.

Bristol is a city in both Tennessee (Bristol, TN population 27,000), as well as Bristol, Virginia, (Bristol, VA population 17,000) and has seen some great downtown growth over the past few years, as it has positioned itself well for more tourism with it being "the country music birthplace." Also, there is a huge NASCAR speedway nearby, in Bristol.

Kingsport (population 55,000) is home to the Fortune 500 company, Eastman Chemical Company, which employs around 7000 or so people, approximately. Kingsport has a few nice neighborhoods and some beautiful geography, but the area has declined over the past decade and new bars/restaurants/retail avoid it mostly, these days.

I think we would need to know your budget as well, to be able to guide you to a good town or region in the area.

Like most areas in the US that are popular, real estate prices have gone way up over the course of the past 2 years or so in East Tennessee. So keep that in mind if you are looking to move this year.

I'd plan a visit to tour the whole area before deciding to move there, for at least 2 or 3 days (or more), if you can.

[suzytx]

FYI, Tennessee has a state leash law that tends to get ignored in the more rural areas.

[ReaperG1rl]

Originally Posted by suzytx

FYI, Tennessee has a state leash law that tends to get ignored in the more rural areas.

If we have a fenced in yard do they have to be leashed.

[ReaperG1rl]

We are planing on quite a few mini trips before deciding where we want to live. And then we can decide on homes.

As far as how much we will know more in few years. We are banking money.

[Kristinas_Cap]

many rural areas have lots of unleashed dogs that bark all night long. it’s just how it is here. Also, real estate prices are so high we decided NOT to buy a house in the area because it would be just as expensive as where we had fled from originally.

[ReaperG1rl]

Originally Posted by Kristinas_Cap

many rural areas have lots of unleashed dogs that bark all night long. it’s just how it is here. Also, real estate prices are so high we decided NOT to buy a house in the area because it would be just as expensive as where we had fled from originally.

We don't want to live in the city.

[Dd714]

Avoid Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge - overpopulated tourist towns. Yuck. Yeah look in that triangle known as the tri-cities - Johnson City, Bristol, Kingsport... maybe extend it out to Erwin. Between those 3 points are plenty of rural land, but it is no longer cheap, even when considering the inflated cost of housing going on nationwide. Lots of rural land have double-wides plopped on them. Might seem red neck but some (not all) are actually quite nice.

Dog issues are just something you have to consider when choosing a location, it can happen anywhere. But don't let your dogs run wild, even if you have acreage. Where I live I fence in part of the land I have for my dog boy. The rest are open for the deer and turkeys.

On the topic of acreage, I don't see many places to long term rentals rent that are rural. Rental houses are in the urban centers listed above.

Don't fear the heat or the cold. It's no more humid or hot than an Ohio summer in July, coming from Florida I laugh when people say TN is hot and humid. As you indicated the winter is milder and shorter than Ohio.

[suzytx]

Originally Posted by ReaperG1rl

If we have a fenced in yard do they have to be leashed.

No leash required if they are confined on your property.