Chattanooga City Limits vs Suburbs (Soddy-Daisy, Harrison: real estate, insurance, condos)

[orlandoyankee]

I was wondering if there was a preference for newcomers (especially retirees) to buy homes in one of the suburbs of Chattanooga (Soddy-Daisy, Ooltewah, etc.) vs living within the city limits of Chattanooga. From what I've seen on real estate sites, it appears that there are plenty of very nice looking houses within the city limits. Is it mostly lower taxes outside of the city? Or is it less crime? If there are retirees that care to answer, what made you choose suburbs over city or vice versa?

[RiverView]

Originally Posted by orlandoyankee

I was wondering if there was a preference for newcomers (especially retirees) to buy homes in one of the suburbs of Chattanooga (Soddy-Daisy, Ooltewah, etc.) vs living within the city limits of Chattanooga. From what I've seen on real estate sites, it appears that there are plenty of very nice looking houses within the city limits. Is it mostly lower taxes outside of the city? Or is it less crime? If there are retirees that care to answer, what made you choose suburbs over city or vice versa?

The decision to live in a particular area really depends on your lifestyle (and your budget to some degree). I've met retirees living in condos on the N Shore and Downtown as well as the burbs and 55+ communities like Greenbriar Cove.

There are plenty of homes and condos available in the Metro area. If you haven't already come spend some time touring around, get out of the car and meet folks. You'll start to get a feel of what area suites you.

Chattanooga City taxes are double what the county residents pay. Most of the small cities around Chattanooga have lower taxes as well (not always though). Since TN doesn't have a true income tax (we do have the Hall Tax which is a tax on dividends) they get you on the property tax but still not as bad a FL and many other states.

Hope this helps.

[peppermint]

We are not retirees, but I'll tell you our answer anyway. We moved to Harrison because we wanted a very small farm. We were able to purchase 4+ acres with a pond, a barn, and multiple gardens & fruit trees for under $200K. The taxes are around $1200, and it's extraordinarily safe. We have, on occasion, forgotten to lock windows or doors, but we've never had any trouble. (We don't make a habit of this.) We're still very close to town. We can be at the airport in 25 minutes, and my husband gets to work in less than 20 minutes during the morning commute. It's perfect for us.

Like RiverView said, it's just about preferences.

[orlandoyankee]

I didn't know the taxes in Chattanooga were twice what they are outside the city limits. Guess that makes the choice easier. I wasn't interested in anything more than a house with maybe a 1/2 acre lot at most. A lot of the homes within Chatt looked nice and I like living closer to things as I am a big city boy at heart. But yes, I would certainly need to go up there and look around. We're planning on that next weekend.

[RiverView]

Originally Posted by orlandoyankee

I didn't know the taxes in Chattanooga were twice what they are outside the city limits. Guess that makes the choice easier. I wasn't interested in anything more than a house with maybe a 1/2 acre lot at most. A lot of the homes within Chatt looked nice and I like living closer to things as I am a big city boy at heart. But yes, I would certainly need to go up there and look around. We're planning on that next weekend.

Yes sir, Hamilton County has their own property tax and the City of Chattanooga has their own as well. Some of the smaller towns have lower taxes than Chattanooga but not all of them. Of course our property taxes may be less than what you are paying right now so this may be much about nothing. Come on up, have a look see. Chattanooga is a nice place.

[u4icmusic]

Your taxes are almost double in the city, but you are also getting more and better services than you would get in the county. In the county you have to pay for trash pickup, fire service and you are far away from the vibrant downtown Chattanooga. More and more areas are going to be annexed in the future, so it may not matter where you buy now, because the entire metro area may soon be all "city."

[keithps]

Originally Posted by u4icmusic

Your taxes are almost double in the city, but you are also getting more and better services than you would get in the county. In the county you have to pay for trash pickup, fire service and you are far away from the vibrant downtown Chattanooga. More and more areas are going to be annexed in the future, so it may not matter where you buy now, because the entire metro area may soon be all "city."

That may be true for the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County, but for the cities its different. Soddy Daisy has an extremely low property tax, but no additional taxes for fire service or trash pickup. In fact, the Soddy Daisy property tax is effectively cheaper than those things would cost you in the county. The average home pays around $200/yr in SD property tax, but the fire depts ISO rating (3, chatt city is a 2) makes the home insurance half what it generally is in the county, and the trash pickup is free.

[u4icmusic]

Yes, but you also pay Hamilton County taxes along with Soddy Daisy taxes and that is how you get your other services paid for.

[keithps]

Originally Posted by u4icmusic

Yes, but you also pay Hamilton County taxes along with Soddy Daisy taxes and that is how you get your other services paid for.

We do pay Hamilton county taxes, but even with both taxes, it is still far cheaper to live in one of the small cities or unincorporated county areas than it is to live in Chattanooga city.

[RiverView]

Originally Posted by keithps

We do pay Hamilton county taxes, but even with both taxes, it is still far cheaper to live in one of the small cities or unincorporated county areas than it is to live in Chattanooga city.

I think the only exceptions here would be Signal and Lookout Cities. The rest are much less expensive.