Porch notes
- Antioch is covered by the Antioch/Priest Lake Community Plan, which includes policies for the Murfreesboro Pike/Bell Road area and Couchville Pike.
- In May 2010 Mill Creek at the Antioch gauge crested at a record 26.10 feet, above the 23.78 feet set in 1979.
- Homeowners association rules can be stricter than Metro’s rules on short-term rentals, Metro Codes notes.
Antioch covers a large area in the southeast of Davidson County, toward Percy Priest Lake. Much of it has been built up as subdivisions of newer single-family homes and townhouses. For buyers, it often offers more house and a newer build for the money than the neighborhoods closer to downtown, at the cost of a longer commute and more driving.
The community plan
Antioch falls under the Antioch/Priest Lake Community Plan, part of NashvilleNext. Metro lists several pieces of guidance:
- Murfreesboro Pike and Bell Road: in 2020 and 2021 planners worked with the community and council members on prioritizing infrastructure improvements and produced fact sheets for the area. A supplemental policy calls for rezonings of key properties around the intersection to be Specific Plan zoning, to provide infrastructure and quality design.
- Couchville Pike: in 2023 planners worked on changes to land use policies for the Couchville Pike area, with a supplemental policy for part of it.
- Several Urban Design Overlays, including the Moss Spring Drive/Edge-O-Lake Estates residential overlay adopted July 18, 2017.
Specific Plan districts
Some parts of Antioch are zoned under Specific Plans, which set rules for a particular site. Metro lists examples:
| Specific Plan | Adopted | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Hill Road | July 18, 2006 | Affects all or part of 21 parcels between Rural Hill Road and Rice Road |
| Hickory Woods | December 5, 2006 | Property on Murfreesboro Pike near the county line |
| Bakertown/Antioch Pike | November 18, 2008 | Limits traffic and controls industrial development in the Bakertown community |
If a home is in a Specific Plan or Planned Unit Development, its rules can affect what you may build or how you may use the property, including short-term rentals. Ask for the plan’s conditions.
Mill Creek and flooding
Mill Creek runs through Antioch, and in May 2010 it showed what it can do. The National Weather Service reports that the Antioch gauge crested at a record 26.10 feet, above the previous record of 23.78 feet set in 1979. Since then, the Corps of Engineers has built models for Mill Creek and other quick-responding basins around the city to map flooding in real time.
- Check FEMA’s flood maps and Metro’s Parcel Viewer for the exact parcel.
- In a subdivision, ask where stormwater goes and who maintains detention ponds and drainage channels.
- Price flood insurance even outside mapped flood zones; Metro warns that such areas are not guaranteed to be safe, and homeowners policies exclude flood.
More detail is in Flood Risk When Buying in Nashville: Lessons From May 2010.
Homeowners associations
Many Antioch subdivisions have homeowners associations. Before you buy, read the covenants and the budget. They may cover fences, parking, exterior colors, rentals and pets. On short-term rentals, Metro Codes is clear: an association’s rules can be more restrictive than Metro’s. Ask how much the dues are, what they cover and whether any special assessments are planned.
Tip: Ask the association for its most recent minutes. They show what neighbors are arguing about, from drainage problems to parking, better than any brochure.
Short-term rentals and investors
Antioch’s lower prices draw investors, but Metro’s rules limit short-term rentals in residential zoning. New not-owner-occupied permits are not allowed in AR2a, R, RS or RM zones, and existing permits do not transfer to a buyer. Owner-occupied permits are possible if you live in the home. Long-term rentals are a separate matter; check the association’s rules on those too.
Taxes
Residential property is assessed at 25 percent of appraised value. A home appraised at $400,000 would be assessed at $100,000; at the General Services District rate of $2.782 per $100 in the Trustee’s example, the tax would be about $2,782 a year. Check the parcel’s district and the current rate, and remember that new construction is assessed once it is substantially complete. See Davidson County Property Taxes: How Your Nashville Tax Bill Is Figured.
Weather on a suburban lot
Newer houses handle the climate better than old ones, but the yard still has to cope. Nashville’s wettest month on average is May, at about 5 inches, and spring and early summer storms can drop heavy rain quickly. July highs average around 91 degrees. In January, normals show about 2 inches of snow and many freezing nights, so a steep driveway can be a problem on icy mornings.
Practical checks
- Drive the commute at rush hour.
- For new construction, confirm that permits were closed and ask about the builder’s warranty.
- Read the Tennessee seller disclosure statement for a resale home.
- Look at the lot’s slope and drainage after a heavy rain if you can.
Who it suits
Antioch suits buyers who want a newer home and more space for the price and do not mind driving. If you prefer an older, established suburb with a big park nearby, compare it with Buying a Home in Donelson: Two Rivers Park and a Suburb Near the Airport.