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Relocation guide

Moving to East Tennessee? Welcome home.

I was born and raised here, and families and first-time buyers relocating to the Knoxville area are the clients I serve best. Here's the lay of the land — and how a long-distance move works with me.

Why here

What people fall for

The mountains are right there

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is about an hour from Knoxville. The lakes, trails and ridges are closer than that.

No state income tax on wages

Tennessee doesn't tax wages or salaries. Property and sales taxes still apply — check your own situation with a tax professional.

A real downtown, a college town's energy

Market Square, Gay Street, the Tennessee River, and the University of Tennessee — with Neyland Stadium on a fall Saturday if you want the full experience.

Room to breathe

Farmland, acreage and lake shoreline a short drive from the city. You can have a downtown Friday and a front-porch Saturday.

Where I serve

The places I know

Knoxville and the country north of it. Ask me about anything just outside this list too.

The city

Knoxville

Downtown's Market Square and Gay Street, the University of Tennessee and Neyland Stadium, the Tennessee River running through it, and neighborhoods in every style from historic to brand-new.

Northeast Knox County · my home base

Corryton

Farmland, church suppers, and House Mountain — the highest point in Knox County — with Knoxville still an easy drive down the road.

Northeast Knox County

Gibbs

Rolling farm country along Tazewell Pike: larger lots, quiet roads, and a quick run toward Fountain City and downtown.

Grainger County

Blaine

Just over the county line along Highway 11W. Acreage, long views, and land for the home you envision — this is land-and-farm country.

Lake life

Norris Lake

TVA's first reservoir, with roughly 800 miles of shoreline across five counties and famously clear water. Lake homes from weekend cabins to showpieces.

Union County · north shore

Sharps Chapel

On the northern shore of Norris Lake, next to the 24,000-acre Chuck Swan State Forest. Marinas, lake communities, and the quiet you moved for.

I don't rank neighborhoods — that's a personal decision, and I'll help you find the facts to make it yourself.

How it works from far away

A long-distance move, handled

  1. A video call to start

    Tell me about your life, your work, your must-haves. I'll tell you honestly which areas fit and which don't.

  2. A shortlist and a plan for your visit

    Virtual showings first, then one or two focused trips where we see the right homes — not all the homes.

  3. Local knowledge on tap

    Commute times, where to eat, who to call — the things a website can't tell you.

  4. Offer to closing, remotely if needed

    Electronic signatures and a lender, inspector and title company I trust. You don't have to be here for every step.

  5. After you get here

    I'm still your person. Contractors, church, ball fields, the best barbecue — ask.

Good questions

Relocation FAQ

How far is Knoxville from the Smoky Mountains?

Roughly an hour's drive from downtown Knoxville to the park entrance at Gatlinburg, depending on traffic. Closer lakes and trails are minutes away from most of the areas I serve.

Does Tennessee have a state income tax?

No. Tennessee does not tax wages or salaries. Property and sales taxes still apply, so check your own situation with a tax professional.

Do I need to visit before I buy?

I recommend at least one trip. Most relocating buyers do the early looking virtually and save the visit for the finalists — I'll set that up so the trip counts.

What's the weather like?

Four real seasons, none of them extreme: warm, humid summers, colorful falls, mild winters with a little snow, and a long, green spring.

Can you help me sell my current home out of state?

I can't list a home outside Tennessee, but I can connect you with a trusted agent where you are and coordinate the timing on both ends so the move lines up.

Which areas do you cover?

Knoxville, Corryton, Gibbs, Blaine, Norris Lake and Sharps Chapel. If you're looking just outside that, ask — I'll tell you honestly whether I'm the right fit.

Start here

Tell me about your move.

A video call, a text, or an email — whatever's fastest for you.

865-292-8162 · sara@hilarykilgore.com