“Lightly Restricted” — Straight Talk from The Don

Alright, Family — let’s clear this up before more folks get their feelings hurt. Everybody wants “unrestricted land in Tennessee.” I hear it every week. You show up with a list, big dreams, and bigger expectations.

But let me be real with you: “unrestricted” means you can do whatever you want — and so can your neighbor. You might picture peace and mountain views… but ol’ boy next door might picture rusted fridges, a tied-up hound, and a burn barrel that never quits. Welcome to “freedom.” 

The Reality

After three stops and half a tank of gas driving the Plateau, most people start realizing what that word really looks like. Tennessee’s wide open, sure — but if you want clean, stable, appreciating land, you’re not chasing unrestricted, you’re looking for lightly restricted.

That’s where the smart money moves.

Here’s the Breakdown

Light restrictions aren’t control — they’re protection. They keep your property from turning into a landfill investment.

  • Use: Single-family homes and small biz? Fine. You just can’t turn it into a flea market or pig farm.
  • Home Size: 1,200 sq ft or better. Keeps things respectable.
  • Noise: Target practice? Go for it. Raves and megaphones? Not so much.
  • Animals: Chickens, cows, horses? Cool. 300-head goat operation? Nope.
  • Looks: No junkyards, no trash heaps, no dead cars “for parts.”
  • Build Rules: No mobile homes. Barndos and modulars? Allowed if done right — solid foundation, not duct tape and prayers.
  • Finish Fast: Got a year to build. Don’t half-step it.

The Don’s Advice

Stop running from rules — run toward the right ones. These light restrictions are guardrails that keep your investment worth more tomorrow than it is today.

When I’m walking a piece of land, I’m not looking for what I can’t do… I’m checking what keeps my neighbor from tanking my resale value.

Bottom line?
You can still hunt off your back porch, raise some chickens, and live how you please — you just won’t have a washing-machine graveyard next door.

That’s what lightly restricted means, Family.
It ain’t limitation. It’s preservation.

— The Real Estate Don™
“Protect the value. Control the chaos. Make the offer they can’t refuse.”