| What is our source for
water? |
There are community wells for the
development. The water line runs along the road, ready to hook
on. |
| What about septic
systems? |
Each lot has been approved for a three
bedroom septic system. The owner will install it when a home is
built. |
| What about
utilities? |
Electricity and telephone wires are
underground, and ready to hook on. |
| Are there building
restrictions? |
There are reasonable building restrictions to
help protect the value of your home and the development. |
| What building codes are in force
in this area? |
The only inspections on a home in Johnson
county are the septic and electrical. The lack of inspections can
lower the cost of your home, but get a builder you can trust. We can
help with the names of reputable builders in the area. |
| What are the
financial advantages of living here? |
That will depend on where you are moving
from. I moved here from Wisconsin in 2005. Real Estate taxes
are about one third of what I paid in Wisconsin. We also had a
fairly high state income tax. Tennessee does not have a state income
tax. We do have a higher sales tax here then in Wisconsin. If
you move here from hurricane prone areas, such as Florida, you will
probably save quite a bit on home owners insurance.
Other than taxes, I have found the cost of living is
similar to what I had in a rural area of Wisconsin. If you are
in a metropolitan area, you would probably save money in several
ways.
Land or a home in this area is an excellent
investment. Prices have been rising steadily. The area of
North Carolina around Boone is known as the high country. The
mountains are much cooler than the rest of the state. The mountain
scenery is beautiful. This has been a popular area for vacation
homes for many years. It has become expensive and congested.
We are 20 miles from there, but not nearly as built up. Land and
home prices are a little lower. If you like water sports, Watauga
Lake is the closest lake to that area. |
| How is the
weather? |
Compared to where I lived in Wisconsin,
January averages 20 degrees warmer. July is about the same.
The mountains help lower the summer heat. We have a few days that
will be above 90, but it usually cools off more in the evening. Many
of the people in this area do not have an air conditioner. |
| What can I do in my
spare time? |
Most big city people would consider this a
nice vacation area. There are a number of cabins and homes in the
area offered as vacation rentals. If you enjoy the things you can do
in a rural setting, you will love it. The lake is excellent for
boating and fishing. The forest has great trails for hiking or
off-road vehicles. The roads are good for biking. There are
five down hill ski areas within an hours drive. The closest is Beech
Mountain. For more information, see www.skibeech.com.
If you are looking for big city things you will have to
drive a little. Boone, NC is 20 miles. Boone is a college town
and tourist area. Johnson City, TN is 50 miles. Bristol, TN,
about 50 miles away, is on the border of Virginia. It is famous for
the Bristol Motor Speedway. |
