Sullivan, Carter, Unicoi and Greene Counties Picked for State-Funded Housing Market Studies

Four Northeast Tennessee counties will get a closer look at their housing needs from the state. On Oct. 27, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) named 14 counties that will receive a Housing Market Analysis, working with Points Consulting. Sullivan, Carter, Unicoi and Greene counties are on the list.

The studies are meant to show each county how many homes it needs and what steps it can take to add more. If you own a home in Kingsport, Bristol, Elizabethton, Erwin or Greeneville, or you are thinking about buying or building, here is what the studies cover and why they matter.

Which counties were chosen

TNECD listed the 14 counties as Carter, Clay, Cocke, Cumberland, Dickson, Greene, Marshall, Overton, Putnam, Sequatchie, Scott, Sullivan, Sumner and Unicoi. Four of them sit in the Tri-Cities region of Northeast Tennessee. Cocke County, next door to Sevier County, is also on the list, as is Sumner County north of Nashville.

What each county gets

According to TNECD, each county will get a site visit from Points Consulting, which works on economic development, housing and land use strategy. Each will also get a customized review of its housing needs. The state says that review covers:

• How many housing units are needed to keep up with population growth.
• Ownership and rental housing.
• Single-family and multifamily housing.
• Practical steps the county can take to support continued community development.

TNECD says the plans will help counties understand their housing needs and give them steps they can take to increase the number of homes available.

What state leaders said

Deputy Gov. and Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter said every county in Tennessee, from cities to rural areas, needs housing, and that growth from economic development means communities need the housing to keep pace. He said the 14 counties will now have the data they need to better match supply with demand and attract the developers they need.

Brooxie Carlton, TNECD’s assistant commissioner of Community and Rural Development, pointed to West Tennessee. She said the state saw how useful county-level housing data was while preparing that region for BlueOval City, and that the new studies build on that work.

Built on the West Tennessee studies

TNECD says housing market analyses were already completed for every county in West Tennessee over the past several years, as part of getting ready for growth tied to BlueOval City. This round takes the same approach to 14 more counties across Middle and East Tennessee.

Why this matters in the Tri-Cities

The Tri-Cities housing market has been shifting this fall. Regional figures from the Northeast Tennessee Association of REALTORS show more homes for sale and a slight dip in the median price; see Northeast Tennessee Closed 717 Home Sales in September as Listings Rose 7% and Prices Slipped. A county-level study adds a different kind of number: not what sold last month, but how many homes a county will need in the years ahead.

For homeowners

A study by itself does not change your home’s value. But housing studies often shape what comes next: zoning updates, water and sewer plans, and which kinds of homes counties try to attract. If a study finds a county is short on starter homes or rentals, local leaders may look at rules that make those easier to build. That can mean more new homes near you over time, and more competition for some sellers, but also better roads and services as areas grow.

For buyers and renters

The studies look at both owning and renting. Buyers hoping for more choices, especially smaller or lower-priced homes, will want to see what each county’s report finds and whether local governments act on it. Rezoning requests, like the Highway 11W cases in Sullivan County, are where those decisions show up first; see Sullivan County Weighs Two Highway 11W Rezonings Oct. 8: B-3 Warehouses and an A-5 Farm.

For landowners and builders

McWhorter said the data should help counties attract the developers they need. Landowners in Sullivan, Carter, Unicoi and Greene counties may see more interest in sites that fit what the studies call for. If you own land you might sell, it is worth following the results.

Each county starts from a different place

The four Tri-Cities counties on the list are not alike. Sullivan County includes Kingsport and Bristol, with older in-town neighborhoods and growing edges. Carter County centers on Elizabethton and reaches into the mountains toward Roan Mountain. Unicoi County, around Erwin, has steep terrain and limited flat land to build on. Greene County, around Greeneville, has more farmland and room to grow. That is why a county-by-county review matters: the answer to how many homes are needed, and what kind, will not be the same in each place.

Questions worth asking when the reports come out

• How many new homes does the study say the county needs, and over what period?
• Is the gap mostly in homes to buy, homes to rent, or both?
• Does it call for more single-family homes, more townhomes and apartments, or a mix?
• What steps does it suggest, and which ones need a vote by the county commission or a city council?

What to watch next

• Points Consulting site visits — Each selected county will get one. TNECD did not list dates in its Oct. 27 announcement.
• Finished reports — Each county will get a customized review with unit counts and practical steps.
• Local follow-up — Watch county commission and planning agendas in Sullivan, Carter, Unicoi and Greene for zoning or utility changes that cite the study.
• Property taxes — Tax relief is also in the news nearby; see Washington County Tables a Senior Property Tax Freeze for About a Year and Looks at Expanding Tax Relief.

Thinking about selling in the Tri-Cities?

More listings mean buyers have more choices, so pricing and presentation matter. Start with a number based on recent sales near your home. New to the area? Read Is Kingsport TN a Good Place to Live in 2026? An Honest Look.

Get a free home valuation, or request a cash offer if you want a quick, certain sale.

Which Tri-Cities counties were chosen for a state housing market analysis?

Sullivan, Carter, Unicoi and Greene counties are among the 14 counties TNECD named on Oct. 27, 2026.

Who will do the housing market analyses?

TNECD is partnering with Points Consulting, a consultancy focused on economic development, housing and land use. Each county gets a site visit and a customized review.

What will the housing studies cover?

TNECD says they cover housing units needed to meet population growth, ownership and rental housing, single-family and multifamily housing, and practical steps to support community development.

Why is Tennessee doing county housing studies?

TNECD says the work builds on housing analyses done for every West Tennessee county to prepare for BlueOval City, and will help counties match housing supply with demand.

Will the housing study change my home’s value?

Not directly. A study is a planning tool. Any effect on home values would come later, through local decisions on zoning, utilities and new construction.

Source links

• Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development — “TNECD Announces 14 Counties Selected for Housing Market Analyses,” Oct. 27, 2026
• TNECD Community and Rural Development programs

More from Kings of Real Estate

Related local news:

• Northeast Tennessee Closed 717 Home Sales in September as Listings Rose 7% and Prices Slipped
• Sullivan County Weighs Two Highway 11W Rezonings Oct. 8: B-3 Warehouses and an A-5 Farm
• Washington County Tables a Senior Property Tax Freeze for About a Year and Looks at Expanding Tax Relief
• Is Kingsport TN a Good Place to Live in 2026? An Honest Look

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