| |
|
Varied and Affordable Housing,
Nearby Lake Recreation and a Leisurely Pace Await Retirees in Rural
Middle Tennessee
Cost of Living: Below the National Average
| Those retirees seeking a pleasant
town with affordable housing will want to take a
look at Smyrna, Tennessee (population 34,000), a
growing spot in the central section of the
state. This is a quiet, rural area and for
people seeking a small town, slowly-paced mid-Southern lifestyle, it can be found here.
Yet big city hustle and bustle, not to mention
shopping venues and nightlife, are just 20 miles
down the road in Nashville, and ample water
recreation opportunities are found 10 miles north of town
on 42-mile-long J. Percy Priest Lake, giving
retirees the best of several worlds at a
reasonable price. Of the population,
20% is age 45 to 64, and 7% is age 65 or better,
making this a fairly youthful place. |
|
|
|
|
|
The median home
price in Smyrna is $155,000, significantly below the
national average. Real estate dollars go a
long way, and a good selection of architectural
styles make finding a home here an enjoyable
experience. This median price will purchase a
comfortable, newer (from this decade) single family,
ranch-style home with roughly 1,400 square feet, 2
to 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a 2-car garage and a nice
sized lot. Slightly more ($185,000) will
fetch a lovely 1,500 to 1,800 square foot home with
3 to 4 bedrooms, 2 to 3 baths and up to an acre of
land in a semi-rural, attractive neighborhood.
$215,000 will purchase an all-brick, 2,000 square
foot, semi-custom home with 2 to 3 bedrooms, 2.5
baths and designer upgrades in a new
subdivision. $250,000 will buy an all-brick,
near mini-mansion with 4 or more bedrooms, 3 baths,
hardwood floors, 9 foot ceilings, a side-entrance
garage and an acre lot.
|
|
|
Older, more modest, ranch-style single family homes
with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and between 1,200 to 1,700 square feet
can be found in the low to mid $100,000s. These are
comfortable homes, often on large lots, in well-kept
neighborhoods. There are some town homes and
condominiums, most in the low to mid $100,000s, but we were not
able to find a wide selection of these. Apartments for lease
are not in great supply, either, but regarding the ones available,
the average one bedroom rent is between $600 and $650; the average
two bedroom rent is between $650 and $750 per month.
This is an
interactive map. Click on the arrows in the upper left
hand corner to navigate the map and click on the +/- signs to
zoom in and out.
A plus to retirement in Tennessee is that there is
no personal state income tax (except on dividends and interest
income), but the state does have a high sales tax (9.75% in
Smyrna, but prescription drugs are exempt). On average,
property taxes are one half of one percent of the fair market
value of the home (the annual taxes on a $165,000 home would be
roughly $825). Tennessee does not have a homestead exemption, but
there is a property tax relief program for the elderly, disabled
and veterans. Overall, Tennessee has the fourth lowest
overall tax burden of all 50 states. Auto insurance rates
are also below the national average.
Smyrna,
Tennessee, Continued...
Great Retirement Spots Newsletter is
published weekly by Webwerxx, Inc., 2770 S. Elmira St.,
#152, Denver, CO 80231. (303) 358-0512. Copyright ©
2007-2008.
All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be
reproduced without the express written consent of Webwerxx, Inc. All
attempts were made to verify the accuracy of the information contained
in this bulletin, but some information may have changed since
publication. Webwerxx, Inc. cannot be held responsible for information
that has changed since this publication appeared online. Please contact us at staff@greatretirementspots.com
if you have questions or comments. To
unsubscribe or change your subscription information, click
here.
|
|
