Living in Tennessee

A collection of 42 posts

Living in Tennessee

Nashville vs Knoxville: The Real Numbers Before You Move to Tennessee

Nashville or Knoxville? Compare home prices, property tax bills, jobs, airports and weekends, plus the third option most movers forget.

Living in Tennessee

Near the Mountains? Near What, Exactly? Buying for Mountain Access in Johnson City and Knoxville

"Near the mountains" sounds great on a listing. Before you buy in Johnson City or Knoxville, ask near what, exactly, and from which address.

Living in Tennessee

The Relocation Test I Use With Every Client: Compare Ordinary Tuesdays

Pin the five places you actually use and test every home against them. A simple relocation test for Knoxville and Johnson City buyers.

Living in Tennessee

Tennessee Is Really 3 Different States: East, Middle and West Explained

East, Middle and West Tennessee feel like different states. Here is how they differ and why it is the first question to answer before moving.

Living in Tennessee

Is Johnson City Really Cheaper Than Knoxville? How to Compare Homes Fairly

Johnson City or Knoxville? Compare equivalent homes, not a renovated house vs a project, and look past the asking price.

Living in Tennessee

The Most Expensive Tennessee Moving Mistake: Buying the Wrong Location

The costliest mistake people make moving to Tennessee isn't overpaying. It's buying the wrong location because the house looked like a bargain.

Living in Tennessee

Tennessee Weather Has Commitment Issues: What to Expect When You Move

Warm in February, snow two days later, then shorts again. Here is what Tennessee weather means for people moving here.

Living in Tennessee

Chattanooga: Adventure Inside City Limits for People Moving to Tennessee

Hiking, climbing, kayaking, the Riverwalk and the Walnut Street Bridge: why outdoor people moving to Tennessee look hard at Chattanooga.

Living in Tennessee

Knoxville TYS vs Tri-Cities Airport: What Frequent Flyers Should Check Before Buying

Fly often for work? Compare Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport and Tri-Cities Airport, then test the drive from the actual address.

Living in Tennessee

10 Miles Isn't 10 Minutes in Tennessee: Test the Road Before You Buy

In East Tennessee, a short distance on the map can be a long drive. Test the road, especially steep or private mountain roads.

Living in Tennessee

The Tennessee City With Crazy-Fast Internet: Working From Home in Chattanooga

Chattanooga's EPB fiber network made it famous for fast home internet. Here is what remote workers moving to Tennessee should check.

Living in Tennessee

Mountain View? Check the Driveway First: Buying a Hillside Home Near Sevierville and the Smokies

That Smoky Mountain view comes with a road. Before you buy a hillside home near Sevierville, find out who maintains and plows it.

Tri-Cities

Living in Rogersville, TN: Hawkins County's Timeless Small Town (2026 Guide)

Rogersville, Tennessee — the Hawkins County seat — has a legitimate claim to being one of the most beautifully preserved historic small cities in all of Tennessee. With a main street that looks like it stepped out of a 19th-century photograph, some of the oldest architecture in the state, and the

Tri-Cities

Living in Blountville, TN: Sullivan County's Airport Community (2026 Guide)

Blountville, Tennessee is Sullivan County's seat of government and one of Northeast Tennessee's most convenient communities — a small town that sits at the geographic crossroads of the entire Tri-Cities region. In 2026, Blountville is earning more attention from buyers who want Tri-Cities access without

Living in Tennessee

Living in Sweetwater, TN: Monroe County's Lakeside Value (2026 Guide)

Sweetwater, Tennessee sits in Monroe County along I-75 at the geographic heart of East Tennessee — equally accessible from Knoxville, Chattanooga, and the Tri-Cities, with Watts Bar Lake to the north and Tellico Lake to the south. Known for its uncommonly large cavern system (Lost Sea Adventure), Sweetwater has

Tri-Cities

Living in Greeneville, TN: Greene County's Hidden Value (2026 Guide)

Greeneville, Tennessee is the Greene County seat and one of Northeast Tennessee's most historically significant communities — home to Andrew Johnson's presidency and Tusculum University, one of the oldest colleges in the South. Beyond its history, Greeneville offers affordable real estate, the Nolichucky River and Cherokee National

Tri-Cities

Living in Jonesborough, TN: Tennessee's Oldest Town (2026 Living Guide)

Jonesborough holds a distinction that no other Tennessee town can claim: it's the oldest incorporated town in the state, chartered in 1779. But Jonesborough in 2026 is far more than a historical footnote. It's a genuinely thriving small community with a walkable historic district, a nationally

Living in Tennessee

Living in Athens, TN: McMinn County's Underrated Value (2026 Guide)

Athens, Tennessee sits at the midpoint of I-75 between Knoxville and Chattanooga — a geographic position that makes it one of the most strategically located small cities in East Tennessee. The McMinn County seat has a historic downtown, affordable real estate, Tennessee Wesleyan University as a cultural anchor, and access

Living in Tennessee

Best Places to Live in East Tennessee in 2026 (Ranked by Category)

East Tennessee is one of the most diverse real estate landscapes in the Southeast — a region that stretches from the rolling hills of the Tri-Cities to the Smoky Mountains to the urban core of Knoxville and the banks of Chickamauga Lake near Chattanooga. Choosing where to live in this

Tri-Cities

Living in Elizabethton, TN: Carter County's River Town (2026 Guide)

Elizabethton sits in the northeastern corner of Tennessee where the Appalachian Mountains are real and ever-present — not scenic backdrop but daily environment. The Watauga River runs through town. Roan Mountain rises to the southeast. The Iron Mountains frame the western horizon. For people who've spent years living

Knoxville

Living in Clinton, TN: Anderson County's Affordable Gem (2026 Guide)

Clinton, Tennessee — the seat of Anderson County — is a small city with outsized character. Situated about 20 miles north of Knoxville on the Clinch River, Clinton offers a genuine small-town experience with easy access to Oak Ridge's scientific community, Norris Lake's outdoor recreation, and the

Knoxville

Living in Alcoa, TN: Airport Adjacent, Smokies Close (2026 Guide)

Alcoa is one of those communities that earns consistent appreciation from the residents who live there — often cited as one of Blount County's best-kept secrets by people who discovered it only after looking at Maryville first. The city has real infrastructure, its own school system, lower housing

Chattanooga

Living in Hixson, TN: North Chattanooga's Most Livable Suburb (2026 Guide)

Hixson has been one of Chattanooga's preferred residential addresses for decades, and it continues to earn that status in 2026. But the community has evolved — there's new investment along the commercial corridor, the demographic mix has broadened, and the housing market reflects growing demand from buyers

Living in Tennessee

Living in Gatlinburg, TN: Mountain Town Life Beyond the Tourism (2026 Guide)

Living in Gatlinburg, Tennessee is an experience unlike any other small city in America. Nestled at the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — the most visited national park in the country — Gatlinburg is simultaneously a world-class tourist destination and a genuine residential community. If you are considering

Tri-Cities

Living in Morristown, TN: Cherokee Lake and Small-City Value (2026 Guide)

Morristown, Tennessee doesn't get the media attention of Knoxville or the tourist traffic of Gatlinburg — and for the people who live here, that's part of the appeal. Nestled in Hamblen County about 45 minutes northeast of Knoxville, Morristown offers a genuine small-city experience with strong