Best Bedroom Community for Knoxville--Farragut

Knoxville is still not a big town. But it's getting some big town headaches--the higher taxes, the contention about city improvements and funding for public services, a slowly growing crime rate. Knoxville at present is a good city to live in, but it is a city and it has the setbacks of any growing city in addition to crime and taxes--sprawl, the indifference of public servants, and the dissolution of a strong sense of community. People are desperately hungry for these things. The state is still a conservative one as far as values are concerned, which means there are places near Knoxville that offer great value, community support, and access to Knoxville's jobs. Most people who move to the bedroom communities already have city jobs or are relocating near one in retirement. Farragut is one of those areas. The fact that Tennesseans don't have to pay income taxes from work is also a real drawing card for the state.

In the national scheme of things, Farragut is affordable. Just incorporated in 1980, it has homes ranging from the lower $100,000 range to over a million dollars. It has a very good school system, once rated by Redbook as one of the 50 best in the country, and it also received the award for "Tennessee's Most Business-Friendly City" by a Tennessee public policy group. There are lots of parks and the setting is great with lots of scenic areas near the lake and around the surrounding hills. There are two excellent golf courses and a Baptist Hospital rated in the top 100 in the nation. Located just west of Knoxville, the drive to the city involves a short commute. Southern Living even has built a showcase house for 2007 in this community.

The housing styles range from traditional, to Tudor, Classical, and even semi-modern. But most of the neighborhoods have beautiful trees and are supported by neighborhood groups and organizations. This is, like many bedroom communities, a very family-welcoming place that should be a necessary consideration for anyone who's considering relocating to the area or from Knoxville. This town has very tight zoning and restrictive rules regarding signage and greenspaces, which contribute to making Farragut a comfortable place to buy. Residents know that the planners and the town itself are all concerned about the preservation of their values and the beauty of this community.

The many neighborhoods in this town have different characteristics that vary with the builders and pricing. In Andover Place homes can be bought from $300,000-$600,000 with amenities of a private community clubhouse, tennis courts, walking [paths a pool and basketball court. It's gated and security is high. Concord Hills has properties from $175,000-$500,000 and similar amenities. The room sizes may be smaller, but that will be the case with any homes in gated communities. The Kingsgate community has homes starting at just over $100,000, and there are many more communities within a wide range of prices and amenities.