Eastern TN Mountains (Knoxville, Johnson City, Kingsport: transplants, apartments, rental)

[GoodOldDays68]

Planning a move to Eastern TN in Jan/Feb 2024. Leaving Georgia coast for multiple reasons - biggest is the heat/humidity of the coastal climate here impacting health, but also to be a shorter drive to friends/family in Midwest (without leaving the South), better soil for growing vegetables (as opposed to sand), GA is leaning more left with every passing day, etc. I've visited the mountain region many times in all four seasons, and I love it!

Yes, I know, I won't be allowed to be a Dogs fan anymore.

I'm self-employed so job isn't an issue, but I do need some guidance on a few things. I'm still working at narrowing down which eastern county, but am leaning towards Unicoi, Carter, Johnson or Sullivan. Maybe Washington. Rural - I do NOT want to live in town. More southern counties are fine, I just don't want to be in a tourist area. The only traffic I want to deal with is a tractor.

I'll be looking for a property to rent for the first year while I scout out a place to buy. I have chickens and really don't want to give them up, so would prefer a house on an acre (or five) where I can build a coop and run, and ideally put in a garden. I know that's asking a lot! Is there a website, community forum, or other place to look for property like this? Bulletin board at the local feed & seed? Down here we use Zillow and Trulia, but neither of those have many listings in the mountain areas. It's also been my experience that driving down back roads looking for "For Rent" signs is usually the best way to go for what I'm looking for, but short of that?

I'm a bit of a hermit - I work (home office), tend the animals, grow vegetables, fish, and pretty much keep to myself. Not unfriendly, just live a quiet life. I do a little volunteer work. Keep an eye out for neighbors when needed but don't get in their business and appreciate the same. Don't care about being near other transplants, kids are grown so don't need to be near schools, and don't mind driving for whatever I need - I'm 35 miles from town now and don't care to be much closer.

Mostly (for now) I'd just like local knowledge - areas to avoid or look at, where to look for rental listings and eventually land purchase listings. I know it's still 10 months out, but I'm a planner and I'm taking my time to get everything in line.
Thanks!

[Serious Conversation]

There really isn't a good option for what you are trying to do.

Finding a place to rent, especially when not from the area, is difficult. I've had friends and acquaintances have difficulties in finding simple apartments recently. Finding a rental where chickens would be allowed short of driving around is going to be basically impossible. The best thing you could do is to try and find a realtor who might be able to point you in the right direction.

Washington and Sullivan counties have plenty of rural areas, but they are not what I'd call rural counties. In Washington County, look toward Greene County. In Sullivan, look east of Bristol going toward South Holston.

Johnson really uses Boone, NC as more of a service city than TN, but it's incredibly rural. Unicoi is also rural, and so is Carter, to a less extent.

Personally, if I was looking to go to the Midwest with any regularity, I'd look at counties north of Knoxville along I-75. I'm from here, but used to live in Indiana. When I would come back to see family in Kingsport, the easiest way to get into KY was along the Wilderness Road going through Lee County, VA. You'd get on 75 in Corbin at mile marker 29. From Kingsport, that was 2.5 hours.

[grampaTom]

Look around the Cherokee Reservoir area.

[JoeJunior]

If you're a Georgia person, look in the far northeast corner of Georgia--around Hiawassee and/or Clayton.

Hiawassee is located on islands in the middle of Lake Chatuge, and it's knock dead beautiful there and around Blairsville.

They're Bulldog fans there.

For East Tennessee, you really need to put the shoes on the ground. I like Jonesborough and the general area south of Johnson City. Many also like the Morristown area. For Upper East Tennessee, most town are winners.

[GoodOldDays68]

Thanks everyone!