Vanderbilt Grad student looking for future housing (rent, house)

[KingMeander]

Hi,

There is the possibility that I will be attending Vanderbilt University for graduate school. I will be coming with my fiance, and we are looking for good areas to live where we could either rent or buy a home. I've gone through many of the threads (just found the website today), and am interested in several areas, but we would need to look somewhere affordable, safe and within 1/2 hour of the university in any direction; we do not really need to be in downtown Nashville.

Also, what is a low to mid range priced home in TN? All I know is that it has to be more affordable to live than CA.

Thank you in advance for any help,
Steven

[gtf1]

"Also, what is a low to mid range priced home in TN? All I know is that it has to be more affordable to live than CA."

That's a trick question. It all depends on what you consider low and mid range and what level of amenities, etc., you are used to. You can get a house in Nashville for $120k. There are probably lower prices than that that are reasonably safe but I doubt it. Mid range could be anywhere from 250k to 400k but that might be high for you or low for you.

Probably a better thing to do to get the best help here is to state what your range realistically is. Let people know what your ideal price would be too. Let people know what you need nearby in terms of services, and whether or not you want it to be your house after you graduate or if you are most likely going to move again. Do you want new or old? Do you want to be in a neighborhood or the country.

I'll give you everything I have if you narrow down your needs just a little more.

[KingMeander]

I suppose I should have thought of putting some of that information in prior. In any case, I will put it here.

I would like to keep the house under 150K. I know that may seem like a tight operating budget, however; I do not mind HUD homes or other sorts of fixer upers...well, so long as they have four walls and a roof. So that should open up that part of the market. The only thing about location is that I would like it to be within 1/2 hour of Vanderbilt university and in a safe location where I would feel comfortable raising a family should I choose to stay in that house after grad school.

I know it's not a lot of information, but I was more curious about location more than the house at the moment.

If you want me to try to be more specific, I suppose I could. Details are 6 months away still.

Thanks for your help
Steven