Help! Nashville stupid!

[Marquarl]

We're moving to Nashville. I heard about breathing problems - is this true??? Also we're looking to just rent for a year (just to get a feel for the place) - but in a family friendly town - I've heard about LaVergne, Smyrna, Pegram, Murfreesboro (is this too much of a college town??)- but I seem to favor Watertown for some reason (never been there) - how far is that from Nashville??? Also Lebanon?? I've heard Mt. Juliet is a little too Bible Belt for my family - is that also true???

After a year, the plan is to buy, but the thing is......we have an 8 yr old......so we can't be renting all over the place and dragging her all over TN.........we really need to settle in the town we're looking to buy in.

OK - basic needs, country setting, (yea, we want horses) good morals - but not total bible belt - (beer can be acceptable on Friday night?!?), all within 40 minutes of Nashville - Am I asking the impossible????????


I would REALLY appreciate it if someone could give some light here!

Thank you and God bless!!!!

By the way - I am already in touch with Audra from ReMax - (although real nice!) not a whole lot of help!!!!!

[Jojo]

Middle Tennessee is situated in the Cumberland Basin (it's like a bowl) where pollutants can become trapped. As a result, it can be very uncomfortable for allergy sufferers.

Rutherford County (where Murfreesboro is located) is one of the fastest growing counties in Tennessee. It's one of the most up & coming counties, yet maintains its small town feel. Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is located in Murfreesboro, however, unless you're living on campus or right next to campus and you never leave this area, you won't feel as though Murfreesboro - a very family oriented community - is just another college town. MTSU -which has the largest undergraduate enrollment in TN - offers many benefits to the community. There are sporting events (basketball, football) and they have festivals at the university all the time. Also, here's an interesting note - Al Gore has taught courses at MTSU!

Have you talked to Nashville.com Exclusive Realtor - Gary Ashton? He'll be more than happy to hear from you! Here's his info: http://nashville.com/realestate/index.html

Best of luck and keep us posted on how you're coming along!

[Haunted]

We take road trips every week end to discover different neighborhoods leading to purchasing a house. We want an older house with some acreage on a somewhat level lot in an older development and want to walk to the lake.

We liked many areas of Gallatin, Old Hickory and parts of Lebanon. Hendersonville is WAY OVERPRICED and the houses are literally on top of one another. The schools are very good however and the neighborhood is very clean, warm and friendly. We found White House and Millersville to be a very depressed area. Also, this time of year the landscape looks bare and dreary.

Keep us posted, we will do the same. We are living in an aprtment downtown and with all the construction going on the air quality is horrid! We have nose bleeds, swollen eyes and sneezing all the time. We bought high particulate air filters which help a little, we also filter the tap water prior to drinking it and it helps.

[Marquarl]

Thank you both (Jojo and Haunted) for the information! This is a pretty big move for us - so we don't want to "screw it up!" Can I ask you both a question? How is the crime down there - would you consider it average as to the rest of the country - I don't know about TN, but here in Jersey, we have "bad towns", which basically is.... towns that are known for high crime, gangs, bad violence, drugs, etc - just not the town to live in. I'm sure every state has them (although we all wish we didn't!), could you possibly let me know your "bad towns"? I would appreciate that soooo much!!!!

And thank you both so much for your input!!!

[Marquarl]

I've heard that Murfreesboro is being built up pretty quick - leading to overcrowded schools, etc. - which is a major concern (not to mention all the college kids), although I do like the location and have heard many positive things about it.

Does Lebanon have the same problem? Can anyone tell me what Lebanon is like?

Also, Haunted - can I ask you what town you're presently located in? (is that Nashville) - I've actually heard about some smog and breathing problems there.

Oh, and I realize that I'm being a "total" pain but I think Mt. Juliet really looks like the "family friendly" town I've been searching for - only I've heard it's a REAL Bible Belt town (20 times above average - even for TN) filled with big time Bible Belt thinking. Basically, will they tell you that you're going to hell if you have a glass of wine on a Friday night? Would if you can't make it to chuch one Sunday? Will you be disbarred - (ha) - basically, I'm just wondering if it's an extremely judgemental type of mentality......is this true - or is it just some angry people writing this?

I'm sorry to burden you with so many questions!

[Charliy]

Our "bad town" is called Memphis

[Marquarl]

Thanks for the info!

[Marquarl]

Hello again!

We're going down there ourselves next month........sorry to hear about your alergies.......Lord, I hope we don't have the same problem! I'll let you know!

[Marquarl]

Hey Jojo,

Please don't get me wrong....Audra seems real nice....I wouldn't want to step on her toes by going over her head!

Thanks again, but I'll call her!

[Marquarl]

Thanks!!!!!

[Marquarl]

Audra actually turned out to be the best of the best! If you ever need a great realtor, Audra Thomas from Re-Max in Nashville is definately the one (615=661-4400)

[Jojo]

Marquarl -

EXCELLENT to hear!! Thank you for taking the time to let us know!

[Marquarl]

Jojo,

Thanks for your reply, I'm so glad we stuck with Audra! I just tend to get impatient......and want answers to everything, like now! And back then, it wasn't happening fast enough for me!

I would definately recommend her to anyone! We actually plan to call her again in a year or two for another property (I already warned the poor girl that we'll be pestering her again soon . My sister brags about her too! (Audra found an apartment for her)

Once we actually went down there and met her, she was the best of the best(definately recommend her 100%, like I said, she spent so much time with us and was so patient and understanding and really listened and responed to our needs and wants in a house...... We close at the end of this month! Which, even over and above the "call of duty", she's helped us so much with all of the paperwork (basically made buying a house as easy as possible), even found a us a fantastic lender (that has basically worked miracles, and a great inspector.....Basically, one stop shopping (especially being from out of state!)......and I'm sure..you being a realtor..must know the all of the headaches involved!

I forget if your from ReMax too, but if you are.........you hired a real keeper here! If your not from ReMax, try to get her

[Jojo]

We are delighted to hear of your wonderful experience with Audra and RE/MAX (from Nashville.com's Exclusive Realtor Gary Ashton's team) and we thank you for sharing with us!