Exclusive | Blue Exodus: California, Illinois, NY-NJ residents buy homes in Tennessee development
They’re hopping on the Chattanooga Choo Choo!Blue state residents fleeing their high-tax homes for greener pastures have gobbled up about a third of the homes in a stunning new development just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee — where there’s no state income tax.Buyers from California, Illinois, New York and New Jersey have bought a huge chunk of the 2,200 homes that have already been made available in River Gorge Ranch, according to developers.“When I saw the property, the views, and the sunsets at River Gorge Ranch, I expected to get inundated with buyers and potential buyers interested in the development,” said John “Thunder” Thornton, CEO of Thunder Enterprises and Developer of River Gorge Ranch.“What surprised me is where those buyers and thousands of inquiries from potential buyers are coming from: high tax states especially California, New York, and Illinois.“Buyers are telling us that they are attracted to the environment, the beautiful scenery, the development, the restaurant – and they are saying that they have had enough of the sky-high taxes.
Affordability seems to be a key issue.Tennessee has no state income tax.
It wants people to keep the money that they earn.”Of the 715 homes sold thus far in River Gorge Ranch, 136 of the buyers were from the home state of Tennessee.No surprise there.But 183 buyers combined were from California (104), Illinois (54) and NY-North Jersey (25).Illinois is the blue state closest state to Tennessee, while California is the farthest away.“As of this moment, we have had thousands of inquiries and almost 185 buyers who have closed on homes sites from those three high tax states – more than the number of folks who bought sites from Tennessee,” Thornton told The Post.
“We look forward to hosting anyone who would like to enjoy the beauty and the affordability of River Gorge Ranch.” River Gorge Ranch sits in the mountains overlooking the Tennessee River and is less than 20 minutes from downtown...