Tennessee is nicknamed The Volunteer State for very good reason. A huge number of volunteer soldiers fought in the significant Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812, thereby earning the nickname. Today, the volunteer spirit is alive and well. In the spring of 2010, a stalled weather pattern sat over the state dumping dozens of inches of rain throughout a week-long period. The result was massive flooding the deluged residents from Memphis to outside of Nashville. Thousands of homes were underwater and many families and businesses lost everything.
One family of ten located in a 1200 square foot home had water to within a foot of the ceiling. All their electronics, clothes, furniture, photos, and other belongings were ruined. Another family had water that only came in and rose a foot. That family lost furniture, shoes, electronics, and kitchen and bathroom cabinets. In addition, 24 inches (half a 4x8 ft. piece of drywall) of wall from the floor up were removed due to water damage, and all the flooring throughout the entire home was ruined.
Not only did FEMA step into help these and all the other families, but community volunteers rallied around these people in need. The famous celebrities of the state put on a show to raise millions for flood relief, but on a local level emergency shelters were set up, homes were opened neighbor to neighbor, and local businesses collected drinking water, gift cards, and other emergency items. When the work began, Facebook was filled with messages asking for volunteers to help. One laid off construction worker - a stranger - arrived at a home to pull up the difficult Pergo flooring, then he kept returning to lay new tile and hardwood. Another volunteer arrived with a mop and rubber gloves and proceeded to scrub the entire house to remove dangerous bacteria. A classically trained designer volunteered to decorate. A Realtor painted room after room. Tennesseans care about each other and they show it by helping get people in their homes. As a result of the flooding, real estate values in specific houses will sink where repairs are not adequately or professionally made. In addition, monthly payments will increase for homeowners as they pay flood insurance for protection in the event of future flooding.
On the positive side, most of the homeowners who have repaired their real estate are finding their homes now in better condition than they were before the flooding. With new cabinets, fresh paint, new flooring, new appliances, new vents, new trim, and new furniture, if they choose to sell buyers will appreciate getting a "like new" home for the price of an existing residence.
Most importantly, however, people who buy homes will find their communities are filled with compassionate, caring people.
Tennessee Mortgage Rates
Compare mortgage rates for Tennessee to stay on top of the average home value, market value changes, mortgage rates and more in Tennessee at Banks.com.
Compare mortgage rates for Tennessee to stay on top of the average home value, market value changes, mortgage rates and more in Tennessee at Banks.com.
Tennessee mortgage rates, home buying tools, average home value, real estate market trends
Having lived in numerous states and visiting all but three, it is easy to say that Tennessee encompasses one of the most beautiful areas of the country. From the tall Smoky Mountains in the Eastern part of the state, the rolling hills and river communities of central state, and Memphis, the gateway of the Mississippi Delta, all but ocean geography are represented. 
Reading into some of Idaho's history, you'll discover people like Polly Bemis a Chinese woman who was sold into slavery as a child, moved to San Francisco, and eventually bought her freedom from an Idaho bartender. She established a boarding house and was one of the first pioneers to settle Idaho. You'll also read about Sacagawea, the famous American Indian who guided Captains Lewis and Clark as the traveled west. Then there’s Gutzon Borglum, the famous sculptor who the Mount Rushmore Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota. 
Wearing a 10-gallon hat, snakeskin boots, and a handlebar mustache, the cowboy strums his guitar and says the warm words, 
Luxury condominiums are also available in Coeur d’Alene – especially with views of the lake and mountains. While many of the condos are priced quite high (for the exclusive properties like Coeur d’Alene Terraces), others are more moderately priced in the low $200,000’s. While panoramic scenery is spectacular outside the windows and decks of the condos, the amenities inside are found in any modern home, including stainless appliances in the kitchen, tile in the wet areas, and neutral carpet and paint colors throughout the rest of the home. 
Sometimes reinventing yourself is imperative for the sake of survival. In 1989, Gadsden, Alabama was named as one of the seven worst places to live in the United States. The river town had previously been the site of heavy industry whose closures caused its near demise.
The Colorado River snakes through the lovely town where adventure will cost you, but so will real estate. Currently the lowest price existing home in Moab is going for about $225,000. The three bedroom, one bath, thousand square foot house was built in 1961, but the owners have maintained it nicely so there are tile floors and newer kitchen cabinets. 
As I've followed her new life, she has shared photos of her new hometown of Charlotte – a whimsical, fun city located halfway between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. One photo shows a street magician playing with the crowd; another picture shows a statue of a railroad worker with the gleaming windows of a commercial building behind it. 
In the $150,000 price range, Charlotte homes include condos, new construction, existing homes, houses with more than 2,000 square feet, and one of my favorites: a house with mature trees and a private, shady back yard. The hardwood floors and fireplace add to the appeal, along with the walking path to a nearby park. There is some interior work needed – for example, the light fixtures should be updated and the windows should be replaced with some that are more energy efficient, but overall it’s a beautiful home located on a quiet cul de sac. 
As you head from the Atlantic Ocean toward the great Pacific, you may drive along Interstate 44 through Missouri. Why so notable? The interstate begins in St. Louis, the gateway to the West. In St. Louis, the unmistakable Arch dominates the landscape as if to beckon travelers toward a new life. But life in Missouri remains rural and uncomplicated. 
In a small town named Anamosa, Iowa, new parents in 1891 named their baby Grant Wood. As the baby matured into adulthood, his love of both art and the people of the region grew, too. The nation was fortunate that Wood was able to combine his passions into paintings representing the farm region of the Midwest. One painting in particular – American Gothic – defined for generations the perception people would have of those from the farming region of the country. 
Bump the price up by $100,000 and a beautiful Victorian style home could be where you hang your hat at night. The gorgeous home in Anamosa is listed for $190,000 and boasts of four bedrooms and one and a half baths. All the outdated wallpaper was painstakingly removed as the house was updated (say "modern kitchen" and smile), however the charm of the Victorian remains. The home has hardwood floors, a blend of old and new light fixtures, stained and beveled glass throughout, and new paint on the outside.