Growth in Seymour… Is it worth it?

Growth in the Seymour area becomes more evident each week. New commercial construction, houses, and small business’s are building here, moving the big city ever closer to our small town atmosphere. This growth causes a lot of thought as to whether that growth is a positive effect or negative impact. The debate may rage until the city has swallowed Seymour and moves it into the oblivion of “it used to be nice out here.” If you venture out and talk to the experts, the people that sell the real estate, you get many answers to the popular growth of the area. One of the most popular is the tax situation that the Seymour area, especially in Sevier County, affords those that are buying or building. “You have only county taxes here, and in Knoxville, you have the city to contend with, says Don Huskey of Don Huskey Realty in Seymour. With cheaper taxes it’s a benefit to build your house or move your business here.” In the past five years we have seen an unbelievable amount of growth in this area. According to Vicki Marsh of Heath Shuler Real Estate, the only part of the Knoxville area that is growing faster is in West Knoxville. “We see about a 4% growth in the price of housing in Knoxville, and right now Seymour is getting about a 3% growth, but I see Seymour catching up with that.” Another reason for that growth in population is the school system. Everyone seems to agree that the school system invites those that are tired of the “big city.” The crime is lower in this area and there seems to be a common bond of the people that grew up here. People are looking for that bond with the country atmosphere, and the people of this area will open their arms and let you into the fold. They will also open the real estate market for sale, giving up the land to spread the population. A spokesman for Walgreen’s says that is the reason you see them coming into the market. They believe that the growth will come this way and keep coming, that the growth is good for the area and thus good for business’ to come here. There’s one thing for sure, if you’re selling real estate, the growth will be good for you; if you’re buying, well it’s a matter of timing isn’t it? The next five years should be interesting for all those in the area. “It will be an explosion,” adds Huskey. Hopefully the fallout from the explosion will continue to be a positive effect.