The short answer
Start with the Tennessee National properties page, where finished homes are listed. Then visit, make a written offer, inspect the home, line up financing and insurance, and close through a title company or closing attorney. Tennessee National is a private gated lake and golf community on Watts Bar Lake in Loudon, Tennessee, about 30 minutes from Knoxville.
Key facts
- Finished homes at Tennessee National are listed on the properties page.
- Townhomes and Land & Home packages are two of the five ways to own.
- Homes at Tennessee National are custom built, so each one should be inspected on its own.
- Tennessee National is a golf cart community about 30 minutes from Knoxville.
- A title company or closing attorney handles the closing.
You buy a move-in-ready home at Tennessee National the way you buy most homes in Tennessee: find it, visit, make an offer, inspect, finance and close. The list of finished homes is on the properties page.
Most of what gets written about Tennessee National is about buying a homesite and building. Plenty of buyers do not want a building project. They want a finished house, keys in hand, and a boat in the water by summer. Here is how that path works.
Can you buy a finished home at Tennessee National?
Yes. Finished homes are listed on the properties page, and that is the place to start.
What is for sale changes over time. If nothing fits today, tell your land consultant what you are looking for and ask what they expect to see.
Two of the five ways to own at Tennessee National also involve a home: townhomes and Land & Home packages. Ask your land consultant what each includes and whether the home is finished or still to be built. Pricing is in the info pack.
What are the steps to buy a finished home?
There are six, and they are the same steps as most home purchases in Tennessee.
- See what is available. Start with the properties page. Decide what you will not bend on: the view, the size, the distance to the marina or the clubhouse.
- Visit in person. Photos flatten a place. Schedule a visit and walk the home, the street and the route to the things you will use. Tennessee National is a golf cart community, so trace the route you would drive by cart.
- Make a written offer. An offer sets the price, the closing date, what stays with the house, and the conditions that let you back out, such as inspection and financing. Earnest money usually goes with it.
- Inspect. Hire your own licensed home inspector, even if the home is nearly new.
- Line up the loan and the insurance. Your lender will usually order an appraisal. Your insurance agent quotes the home. See insuring a lake home on Watts Bar Lake.
- Close. A title company or closing attorney runs the title search, collects the funds and records the deed in Loudon County.
If you want your own agent, ask before your first visit how Tennessee National works with outside agents. See do you need a real estate agent.
What should you check on a home near the lake?
Check water first, then everything a normal inspection covers. East Tennessee is humid in summer, and a house near a lake rewards a careful look.
- Drainage. Where does rain go when it leaves the roof and the driveway?
- Under the house. Look for moisture in a crawlspace or lower level.
- Exterior wood and decks. Sun and humidity are hard on both.
- Heating and cooling. Ask the age and the service history.
- Flood zone. Ask an insurance agent to check the flood map for the address.
- Cart and boat storage. Is there room to park and charge a golf cart? Where would a boat or trailer go, and what do the community documents say about it?
Homes here are custom built, so they differ from one to the next. Do not assume one house tells you anything about another.
What documents should you read before you close?
Read the community documents before your inspection period ends, not at the closing table.
| Document | What to look for | Who can explain it |
|---|---|---|
| Covenants and restrictions | What owners can and cannot do | A real estate attorney |
| Design guidelines | Whether outside changes need design review | Your land consultant |
| Association budget and dues | What you pay and what it covers | Your land consultant |
| Seller's disclosure | Known problems with the home | Your agent or attorney |
| Club information | Membership options | The club |
We do not print dues or membership costs here. Ask for the current figures in writing.
How is this different from buying a lot?
It is faster, and you give up some control. With a finished home you move in after closing and live with choices someone else made. With a homesite you wait for design, review and construction, and the choices are yours.
There is no deadline to build on a homesite, so the two paths can even be combined: live in a finished home now and build later. Should you buy a lot or a house compares them line by line.
The honest trade-off
You are choosing from what is for sale, not from everything you can imagine. The kitchen may face the wrong way. The homesite may not be the one you would have picked. You may wait a while for the right listing.
What you get back is time. You skip the build and start living on Watts Bar Lake as soon as you close. The Greg Norman Signature golf course, the marina with 140+ boat slips, the clubhouse and the 22 social clubs are already running when you arrive.
Frequently asked questions
Are there move-in-ready homes for sale at Tennessee National?
Finished homes at Tennessee National are listed on the properties page. Availability changes, so check the page and ask a land consultant what is coming. Townhomes and Land & Home packages are also among the five ways to own.
Do you need a home inspection on a newer home at Tennessee National?
Yes. Homes at Tennessee National are custom built, so one home tells you little about another, and a newer home can still have problems. Hire your own licensed home inspector and pay close attention to drainage and moisture before the inspection period ends.
Can you get a regular mortgage on a home at Tennessee National?
A finished home at Tennessee National is generally financed like any other house, with a mortgage from a bank, credit union or mortgage lender. Terms depend on the buyer and the lender, so talk to a lender and get preapproved before making an offer.
Is Tennessee National a golf cart community?
Yes. Tennessee National in Loudon, Tennessee is a golf cart community. When touring a finished home, check for a place to park and charge a cart, and trace the route from the home to the clubhouse, the marina and the golf course.
Facts about Tennessee National come from the community. Lake facts come from TVA. Rules, taxes, loans and insurance change, so confirm anything that affects a purchase with the right office or professional before you buy.