Frequently Asked Questions
WHY SHOULD I MOVE TO AN ACTIVE ADULT LIVING COMMUNITY?
Repose, re-create, re-connect, re-invent, re-invigorate! Take control of your own choices. Be independent. Be in community. Have less clutter and less maintenance. Make room for other priorities. Plan for the future!
WHERE IS BROW WOOD?
Twenty minutes from downtown Chattanooga, one mile south of Covenant College on Scenic Highway (Georgia Highway 157), on the western Brow of beautiful Lookout Mountain with spectacular western mountain views on one side and a wooded forest with trails on the other side.
WHY RELOCATE TO THE LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN AREA?
Lookout Mountain has a wonderful neighborly feel, known to be safe and family-friendly. It is centrally located to much of the East Cost of America with four distinct but still temperate seasons.
It is one mile from Covenant College. Covenant College welcomes Brow Wood residents. Concerts, lecture series, athletic events, a library, classes, and enterprising students, as well as an outdoor pool, tennis courts, and a fitness center are available to nearby residents.
The Lookout Mountain Golf Club, a great mountain course, and the Fairyland Club are ten minutes away from Brow Wood and have reasonable membership rates.
A doctor’s office, dentist, veterinarian, post office, spa, gas station, the Mountain Market, Café on the Corner, Talus, Starbucks, and strong churches, as well as thousands of acres of outdoor parks and trails, are all near Brow Wood.
WHAT TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL HOMES ARE AVAILABLE TO OWN?
On the brow side (the West side of Scenic Highway), there will be individually-owned homes and townhomes on both sides of Brow Wood Lane. You can build a custom home on one of the Brow lots, which average 100’ wide and are directly on the brow. There are pre-designed homes for the Brow-view lots, which average about 70’ wide. The developer will make building a pre- designed house as easy as buying a car, or you can be very involved and select colors, fixtures, etc. There are also townhomes that have already been designed for Brow or Brow-view lots. These are two two-bedroom, one story homes that share a zero lot line.
WHAT IS THE LAYOUT OF THE OVERALL SITE?
The site plan may be seen HERE.
IS THIS COMMUNITY A “CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY”?
No, that is a different model. All homes on the Brow side will be owned fee simple. At this time, everything on the Woodlands side is monthly rental. We believe most people prefer to live independently as long as possible, make their own health choices, and pay a fee for services rendered.
WHAT HEALTH CARE OPTIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE?
Thrive Senior Living owns and operates Thrive Assisted Living with Memory Care. Thrive offers a physical therapy room, home health care, physical therapy, lab work and other medical services that may be brought to the facility when ordered by a doctor.
WHAT COMMUNITY AMENITIES ARE CURRENTLY PLANNED?
Because of the proximity to so many public amenities and the get-up-and-go concept, Brow Wood does not saddle residents with paying for duplicate amenities that are available nearby. There is an outdoor pavilion with a grill and fire place, a Bocce ball court, a community garden with raised beds and a potting shed for tools, and a gazebo and fishing pond. Brow Wood Lane is a one mile, low traffic walking loop. Most residents get out a walk and have neighborly visits. There is also the Chattanooga Connector Trail, which links Brow Wood to Thrive, Covenant College and beyond.
As the community develops, the design calls for a commercial area on the east side of Scenic Highway. Actual services will depend on commercial interest but could include the following: market and bistro (which will provide dine-in, take-out and catering service, with accompanying specialty foods available for purchase), hair salon, and a general store. In addition, the commercial area is designed for office space, light retail, and health, fitness, arts and crafts areas.
is THERE BE A DECLARATION COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS (DCR'S)?
Yes. The Declaration of Covenants & Restrictions (DCRs) define and regulate the Brow Wood Community.
There are also Architectural Guidelines to assure high-quality construction and a consistent aesthetic throughout the entire community. Both the guidelines and DCR’s are available for your review on the Brow Wood website.
is THERE BE A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION?
Yes. A monthly maintenance fee will be charged that will provide for lawn care, care of common areas, community utilities, etc. The 2017 fees are $160 per month for Brow Lots and $112 per month for Brow View lots. Lawn care for homes is in addition, and the standard fee is $190 per month. Rates have not changed over the previous three years.
WHAT UTILITIES WILL SERVICE THE COMMUNITY?
Dade County Water, Chattanooga EPB power and Fiber Optic, Georgia Natural Gas, and Lookout Mountain Sewer. A private contractor will provide garbage service.
WILL THERE BE A REALTOR?
Brow Wood is using Scout Realty Group, LLC, Inc. as the listing agent.
WHAT ARE THE TOTAL ESTIMATED monthly COSTS FOR TAXES, HOA, AND UTILITIES?
Estimated monthly costs associated for a 3,000 square foot home at Brow Wood are estimated to be as follows (download the worksheet):
Gas, electricity and water: $330
EPB Gold Package (phone, 85 channels cable and Internet): $160
Sewer: $55
HOA (Brow View lots; for Brow lots it is $160 per month): $112
Lawn maintenance: $190
Property Taxes (for a $500,000 home): $134*
Georgia Income Tax**
please note
*Dade County Taxes are based on 40% of assessed value, a state millage of .000200, a county millage of .008094 and an over-age-65 exemption from the school M & O millage of .0013920. You can estimate your own taxes as follows: for each $100,000 of fair market value of your house and lot:
•Taxes will be approximately $321/$100,000 for those over 65.
•Taxes will be approximately $560 per $100,000 for all others.
** Georgia’s income tax starts lower than 6% but quickly gets up to 6%, so the most conservative estimate is 6%. In 20134 Georgia has a $65,000 retirement income exemption for those over 65. The exemption includes interest, dividends, net capital gains and losses, income from rentals, and other passive sources. And the exemption is figured separately for the husband and wife on their separate incomes or share of joint income. Georgia also allows you to exempt federal social security income from your Adjusted Gross Income. You can deduct Georgia state income tax from your federal tax return. In Georgia, there is no state inheritance tax. If you live in Tennessee, you may pay a 6% Hall tax on dividend and interest income. You should talk to your personal financial advisor for an accurate estimate of your personal Georgia income taxes.