Nashville isn't quite the city most people expect it to be, which we always find a little amusing. In Nashville, we know that we're world-famous for our country and western music and the Grand Ole Opry, and that's something we're proud of too. So to give you a flavor for the types and quality of real estate you'll find available in Nashville, we wanted to pause and give you a quick guide to some of the more popular neighbors and suburbs in Nashville - so that you know exactly what you're missing.

Belle Meade

If you want to see those large Victorian and Georgian homes that are part of the history of the old South, then Belle Meade is a suburb you'd love living in. The area itself was named after a large farm, and homes in this area tend to be large and spacious and have price tags to match - starting in the mid $400,000's for a home in this area with a ceiling well over $1,000,000. There are many excellent restaurants and boutiques in the area for you to enjoy too.

12 South

This suburb will be far more suitable for a younger family because there's a lot of musicians and other freelancers living here. Sevier Park nearby provides a welcome break from the day, as do all the fantastic eateries in the area. This is one of Nashville's more "hip" suburbs but a very vibrant one at that, with a median property price of around $325,000.

Brentwood

If you want to live far enough from Nashville to enjoy some exclusivity but close enough that you can take advantage of all its amenities, then Brentwood is an ideal place for you and your family to relocate to. There are two massive shopping malls here and any other kind of store a modern family might need, and you can expect to pay over $400,000 for the average home in this area.

The above is not a complete list by any means, but it does give you some idea of the real estate diversity available in Nashville.

Southern Living released their list of the top ten "Best Small Towns" in the United States, and Franklin, Tennessee, made it on the list. This is a suburb of Nashville full of southern charm. Whether you're searching for upscale housing or a community full of history, this is a great choice. Those relocating to the Nashville area will certainly want to put Franklin at the top of their list.

The community includes a quaint downtown area with historic Main Street and a blend of locally owned shops and chain restaurants. Whether you enjoy searching for antiques or shopping at small boutiques, this downtown provides a little bit of everything. It's found just 20 miles to the south of Nashville's International Airport and provides some of the most desirable neighborhoods in the area.

Families will love the small-town feel with the big city just down the road. Whether you plan to commute to Nashville for work or you prefer a smaller community, you can get exactly what you need from Franklin. Some have even called the downtown America's Favorite Main Street.

Along with the small-town feel, children receive a great education in Franklin. Many of the elementary, middle, and high schools are rated as a 10/10 on greatschools.org. The school's test scores in the area are far better than the state's average, and parents can even choose one of the 41 private schools if they prefer.

Residents of this suburb of Nashville enjoy plenty of fun, free events throughout the year. Whether you love art or you want to be a part of the community festivals, there's something for everybody.

As one of the best cities for historic preservation, Franklin provides more than just a great place to live. Visitors flock to the area for the history, beautiful scenery, and the overall American feel of the town. Franklin might be the perfect mix of charm, location, and history for your family if you're relocating.

If you're new to the area, you may be familiar with the Hip Donelson suburb, but it's one of the most desirable places to live in Nashville. It's home to many young families who wanted a great place to raise a family and a quiet suburb.

Oddly, it remains so quiet as it's just a few miles from the hip downtown Nashville scene along the I-40 and Lebanon Road. The neighborhood is being called the "Hip Donelson" because of how popular it is to home buyers and the competition taking place in bidding wars.

Many buyers have found that they put an offer on a home that they saw that day, and there were already a few offers before theirs. Why is this neighborhood so popular? Here is a look at the "Hip" Donelson suburb of Nashville.

The newly discovered neighborhood

This neighborhood has just been discovered by many in the area and has quickly grown from another beautiful suburb in Nashville to everyone's most wanted area to live. Almost every home in the neighborhood listed for sale in the past few years has had multiple offers, which makes real estate agents know that pretty much anything in the neighborhood is a guaranteed sale.

Amenities

The neighborhood features great amenities like many family-ready ranch-style homes, access to the commuter rail service of Music City Star, and the largest community farmers' market in the region seeing 60,000 visitors annually. It's also an area with gorgeous recreational opportunities from Percy Priest Lake to Stones River and the city greenways.

While it was once a neighborhood considered old and outdated, many realized that it was the perfect location. The quality of life here is excellent, with affordable homes by individuals and families that felt many other neighborhoods lie East Nashville are out of their price range.

Hip Donelson is actually the name of a nonprofit organization that promotes community activity and support for local business, which is why this nickname for the suburb stuck. The organization helps find lost pets too.

Advice to those interested in living in the area is to be persistent. You may have to go through seven houses before you get an offer accepted because of the competition, but it's worth it when you live in this prime neighborhood.

Smyrna used to be the home for a military base but now has the feeling of an older town with the old-style Main Street. This suburb has been growing like crazy over the past few years, which has led to the development of many new restaurants, chain stores, and residential areas. Even a new movie theater has been added.

The city is found about 20 minutes from Nashville and close to Murfreesboro. The local Nissan manufacturing plant provides many jobs to the area and is the top reason why families move to Smyrna.

Recreation

Smyrna, TN, provides plenty of recreation fun. Whether you enjoy golf, going to the park, or another activity, you can find it near Smyrna.

The Smyrna Golf Course is within the city with an 18-hole regulation course and a 9-hole executive course. This facility also provides an 8,000 square foot putting green, practice bunker, pitching green, and driving range.

Many events are also found throughout the area, including the upcoming campfire cookout and gingerbread workshop. The parks found throughout the area provide plenty of great events throughout the year.

If you prefer a little time in the gym playing basketball, Smyrna High school provides an open gym every Wednesday night. This is the perfect opportunity to play games and enjoy the walking track.

Along with all of these options, residents of Smyrna can enjoy the fitness center at the town center. This facility provides plenty of cardio equipment, free weights, saunas, whirlpools, steam rooms, a swimming pool, and more.

Smyrna's real estate is very affordable, with housing ranging from the low $100s to over $350k. Many older and newer properties are found throughout the area; if you plan to relocate to the Nashville area and prefer a suburb outside the city, Smyrna, TN, maybe a perfect choice.