So, you're thinking about moving to Tennessee.

Maybe you're looking for more space. Maybe you're ready to leave a bigger city behind. Maybe Tennessee's lower tax burden caught your attention. Or maybe you visited once and thought, “I could actually see myself living here.”

Whatever brought Tennessee onto your radar, relocating to a new state is a big decision - and choosing the right part of Tennessee is just as important as choosing the right house.

As a Tennessee and Kentucky REALTOR® who works with relocation buyers, I've found that the most successful moves start long before we walk through the first house.

Here's what I recommend knowing before you relocate to Tennessee.

First: Which Part of Tennessee Fits You?

Tennessee is a long state, and the lifestyle can change quite a bit depending on the region.

Middle Tennessee

Middle Tennessee is home to Nashville and many of the communities surrounding it.

If you want access to Nashville without necessarily living in Nashville, you might explore areas such as:

• Hendersonville

• Gallatin

• Mount Juliet

• Lebanon

• White House

• Springfield

• Portland

• Franklin

• Columbia

You'll find everything from established suburbs and new construction communities to historic downtowns, farmland and acreage.

East Tennessee

If mountains and outdoor recreation are high on your list, East Tennessee deserves a look.

Knoxville, Chattanooga, Johnson City and communities surrounding the Great Smoky Mountains offer a completely different Tennessee experience.

West Tennessee

West Tennessee includes Memphis, Jackson and numerous smaller communities.

Housing, geography and lifestyle can look very different here compared with the Nashville and East Tennessee markets.

The important part?

Don't pick a Tennessee town simply because someone online called it the “best place to live.”

Pick the area that fits your life.

How Much Does It Cost to Live in Tennessee?

This is probably one of the most common questions people have when considering Tennessee.

And the answer is: it depends heavily on where you live.

Living near Nashville is different from living in a smaller Middle Tennessee community. Franklin is different from Portland. Hendersonville is different from Springfield.

Your housing budget may stretch significantly further simply by changing your search radius.

Taxes are another consideration. Tennessee's tax structure relies heavily on sales taxes; the general state sales-tax rate is 7%, with local sales taxes varying by jurisdiction. Property-tax rates are also determined locally, so your actual costs depend on the county and municipality where you purchase.

That's why I encourage relocating buyers to look at the whole financial picture, not just the home's purchase price.

How Close Do You Really Need to Be to Nashville?

Here's something I see all the time:

Someone contacts me and says,

“We're moving to Nashville.”

Then I ask what they actually want.

A larger yard.

Three or four bedrooms.

A quieter neighborhood.

Maybe some acreage.

A small downtown nearby.

Restaurants and shopping within 15–20 minutes.

And suddenly we're not necessarily looking in Nashville anymore.

There are communities surrounding Nashville where you can enjoy access to the city without making downtown Nashville part of your everyday life.

The farther you're willing to expand your search, the more options you may discover.

Do You Want Suburban, Small-Town or Rural Living?

This is one of the biggest questions I ask relocation buyers.

There's a huge difference between:

“I don't want to live in the city.”

and

“I want to live in the country.”

You might love the idea of five acres until you realize the grocery store is 30 minutes away.

Or you might think you want a subdivision until you visit Tennessee and realize you'd rather have more privacy.

Before deciding, think about your ideal Saturday.

Do you want to walk around a downtown area?

Spend the afternoon working on your property?

Drive five minutes to Target?

Sit on your back porch without seeing another house?

Your everyday lifestyle tells us a lot about where we should be looking.

What Should You Know About Rural Tennessee?

Acreage is one of the biggest reasons some buyers start looking outside Tennessee's larger cities.

But buying rural property involves considerations that you may not encounter in a typical subdivision.

You'll want to investigate things such as:

• Septic systems

• Wells or public water availability

• Internet providers

• Cell reception

• Driveway access

• Easements

• Flood zones

• Restrictions

• Road maintenance

• Distance to healthcare

• Commute times

• Outbuildings and land maintenance

That gorgeous house on five acres may be perfect for you.

Or you may discover that you'd rather have one acre ten minutes outside town.

Both are completely okay.

What Is Tennessee Weather Really Like?

You'll experience all four seasons in Tennessee.

Summers can be hot and humid, while winters are generally milder than what many buyers relocating from northern states are accustomed to—but cold temperatures, ice and occasional snow still happen.

Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are also realities to understand when moving here.

Weather also isn't identical across the state. East Tennessee's elevation and geography can create a different experience from Middle or West Tennessee.

It's another reason to research the specific area, not just Tennessee in general.

Can You Buy a Tennessee Home While Living in Another State?

Absolutely.

Relocation buyers don't always have the luxury of flying into Tennessee every time an interesting house hits the market.

A lot can be coordinated remotely, including property research, virtual showings, inspections, paperwork and communication throughout the transaction.

One of the most valuable things we can do before you arrive is narrow down your search.

Instead of flying into Tennessee with a list of 25 towns, we can work toward identifying the handful that make the most sense for you.

Then your house-hunting trip becomes much more productive.

How Early Should You Start Planning?

Earlier than most people think.

If you're considering moving to Tennessee within the next 6–12 months, you don't have to wait until you're ready to buy before starting the conversation.

The early stages can simply be research.

We can talk about:

• Budget

• Timeline

• Preferred Tennessee region

• Distance from Nashville or another major city

• Acreage

• New construction vs. existing homes

• Small-town vs. suburban living

• Healthcare access

• Commute requirements

• Must-haves

• Deal breakers

By the time you're ready to seriously house hunt, you'll already understand the areas that fit you.

Plan a Tennessee Scouting Trip

If possible, I highly recommend visiting before your move.

But don't make it entirely about houses.

Spend time experiencing the communities you're considering.

Drive around without your GPS constantly telling you where to go.

Visit the grocery store.

Find the nearest hospital.

Check out the local downtown.

Grab coffee.

Drive to Nashville during the time you'd normally commute.

Look at neighborhoods during the day and evening.

You can learn more from a couple of hours actually experiencing a community than you can from weeks of scrolling through listings.

Don't Pick the House Before You Pick the Lifestyle

This might be the most important piece of advice in this entire guide.

It's easy to fall in love with a beautiful house online.

But I want you to love where that house is located, too.

Before we start looking at properties, tell me what you want your Tennessee life to look like.

Maybe it's:

“I want land, but I still want Target nearby.”

“I want to be within an hour of Nashville.”

“I want a small town with community events.”

“Healthcare access is extremely important to us.”

“We want more house for our budget.”

“We don't care about Nashville - we want peace and quiet.”

Those answers help narrow Tennessee down much faster than any generic list of the “Top 10 Places to Live.”

Ready to Start Your Tennessee Relocation?

You don't need to know exactly where you want to live before reaching out.

That's part of the process.

Whether you're planning to move next month, six months from now, or you're still in the “Maybe Tennessee?” stage, I can help you start narrowing down your options.

We'll look at your budget, lifestyle, timeline and priorities and figure out which Tennessee communities deserve a spot on your list.

Taylor Brianne Smith, REALTOR®

615-423-8915 (cell)

615-422-8585 (office)
Licensed in Tennessee & Kentucky
Keller Williams Premier Partners – Tennessee
Keller Williams First Choice Realty – Kentucky

TayBriSellsTN.org