My wife and I may be making the jump down to Nashville in the coming months. What do I need to know about living in Nashville? What are the best locations to live, best places to play, etc. Any help is greatly appreciated since I've only visited a few times.

Right now we think we will try to live on the Southeast side of town or close to Antioch. Any advice?

Thanks again.



edit: for SE side of town

I have lived in Nashville for 3 years (moved here from Ft. Lauderdale.) I wouldn't go back to Florida no matter how much somebody paid me. Nashville is one of the best kept secrets in the USA.

Best locations to live in Davidson (Nashville) County are Bellevue, Belle Meade (if you can afford them), and Donelson. In the surrounding counties, Mt. Juliet, Smyrna, Brentwood, and Franklin are nice cities that are within 30 minutes of Nashville.

Nashville is a great place to live, but like all towns, there are places you want to avoid.

Antioch has the highest crime rate in all of the metro Nashville area so I don't recommend it; I work there and would never live there. Depending on what you mean by the "southwest side" of town, it can be a little rundown and crime-ridden, too.

Give us some more ideas on what you are looking for and we can provide some more helpful info.

I grew up in Nashville actually I lived in Antioch all my life until I joined the military, but anyways I love Nashville and plan on moving back there some day. I dont think I would live in Antioch though, it is starting to get pretty bad there. It really depends on where and what you like to do; I used to work at Nashborough golf course when I was in high school and it is still one of my favorite courses of all time, it is great price, and it is right on the edge of Antioch just outside of Lavergne and Symrna. If I had my choice on where I would want to live though it would probably be Murfreesboro since it is really starting to grow up and has some nice courses around there, but Brentwood and Bellevue are nice if you can afford it. When you move there get a Pass Key for all the courses in Tennessee trust me you will love it.

http://www.golfhousetennessee.com/passkey/

I live just outside of Murfreesboro, and it is nice. Traffic getting around the 'Boro is getting more difficult, but if there are not any kids involved, I would live downtown, Brentwood, or Belle Meade if you have the money. The city courses are very good, plus some good high $$$ daily-fee courses in and around the metro area.

Thanks for the insight on the area. Since this is a few months off an we just found out officially today it's all pretty new to us. Good info on the Antioch area. How is Smyrna? I think Brentwood may be too high $$$ for us. We are looking to spend in the mid $200s to $300k. My wifes job will be in Murfreesboro and possibly mine too. But I may be looking at other offers in the Nashville area. So we were trying to find a central location if possible.

Now all I need to know is where I can go and watch my Buckeye's and Steelers!

Murfreesboro and Smyrna are both really booming and you should be able to find several good places to live at that price point. Smyrna and the 'Boro are not too far away that you couldn't drive into Nashville (15 - 25 miles).

You need to come down and drive around a little to find the place that makes you the most comfortable. The Belle Meade, Brentwood, Franklin, South Nashville (Green Hills, Hillsboro) areas are top-$$$$$. Some other options are Hermitage and Mt. Juliet on the east side, both adjoining the Percy Priest Lake reservoir. Good golf courses, too!

Now, as for the Buckeyes, you will have lots of native Vols and transplanted Wolverine fans to give you plenty of grief. Since Nashville did not have an NFL football team until the Titans arrived, you will find there are lots of Steeler fans here. Football time in the "mid-state" is a real good time!

The only drawback for you will be the unfortunate opportunity to golf year round... yeah, it's terrible!

I can't tell you where to live but I can tell you where to eat. Eat at Arnold's every chance you get. Your stomach will thank you. When Arnold's is closed at night go to Rotiers. Don't go to Loveless cafe it is an amusement park.

Thanks guys for all the info. I think the wife and I will have to make a trip down to get the lay of the land here soon. But it always helps to hear what the locals think is important.

Nashville seems very affordable on the surface. Especially with zero state taxes. The sales tax is on the high side so I guess i'll have to use the BST a little more.

BTW What's the deal with almost no houses having basements?

I lived in Memphis for awhile - don't get too excited about the no state income tax - the State of TN. get's theirs through higher sales tax and higher property taxes. Most no income tax states do the same though, it's not just a TN. thing. They get you one way or the other. It's nice to get your first check though without state income tax as it feels like you just got a big raise lol.....until property tax time.

The no basement thing is because the soils in the mid and deep south have more clay in them and don't drain particularly well even though in some parts it's pretty hilly.

Moved to the Boro 13 years ago from Nashville (where I grew up) and have loved every minute of it. You'll get alot more house for $$ here too. Great schools and neighborhoods!

Billy

Sumner County is nice affordable alternative to the more publicized south and west sides of Nashville.

I live in between Murfreesboro and Smyrna and wouldnt move for anything. My address is a Murfreesboro address (37129 zip) off of Almaville Rd, so I dont have to fight alot of traffic in the mornings. I work for ADT in Nashville and it takes me about 35-45 mins in the morning to get to work and 25 mins to get home. Plus, Old Fort Golf Course is one of the best public courses in middle TN and they have a great Men's golf association. There tournaments always have 80- 140 players and normal play is about $40 w/tax. Send me a PM if you want to play some golf. For the money, Murfreesboro is the place to live.

Derek

I just played there about two weeks ago when I was home for the first time very nice course.

Everyone who moves down here from "up north" has the same question, "Why no basements?"

Simple answer... in middle TN ("The Mid-State" btw) the ground is all rock and the cost to excavate for a basement is prohibitive. You actually have to use explosives to remove the rock. Therefore, you will find the square footage of the homes to be a little bigger because you will end up with a "bonus room" above the garage and a large attic for storage. These rooms are perfect for storing all your golf gear!!!

There are a lot of good public access courses to play here; Old Fort and Indian Hills in Murfreesboro are two of them. Many good ones in Nashville and Crossville, TN. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail courses in Huntsville and Muscle Shoals, AL are only 1-2 hours away, too. Until you've played the tips at 8,100 yards you haven't experienced golf!!!

General, your property taxes aren't very much different then what I'm paying right now. Then add on top of that Ohio State Income Tax and our new local income tax! TN is looking much better to the wallet.

I want to thank everyone for their input. We have shifted our focus to the 'boro. That's where my wife's office will be anyway. As for my job who knows? That's why I was more interested in staying close to Nashville to keep my options open.

Now if I could just convince my employer to pay for my MBA at Vandy!

Once you get down here, shoot me a PM if you want to get out and play some golf. Good luck with the move!

I sure will. Thanks.

It may be 60-90 days or more.

you need to look at hendersonville. grew up here. it has everything you need except a golf shop. sorry its a little late.

whoa, i live off Almaville Rd exit, up by Nissan...well, between there and Smyrna HS...small world