[sjnative]

I understand you can get that $220K loan b/c now that you're making $65K in the northeast but if you move to AL, will you have a drop in income and still be able to get or pay off the loan in as timely a manner?

Pardon my naivete, but this seems like a factor to me.

As others have implied, maybe you should move to where ever you're interested in and live/rent there before committing yourself to property there.

Regarding a Southern drawl, you may actually get used to it but there may be only one way to find out if you do. Cross-refer this consideration with paragraph #3.

[PortCity]

I’m sorry but I have to comment on the southern drawl. I’ve lived in the south majority of my life and I don’t hear the drawl on a daily basis here in Mobile, but when I do it makes me cringe ! The drawl definitely stands out to me and I’m not use to it, and when someone speak with a drawl you may find others repeating what they say are mocking them .I’m not saying that it is right but I’m addressing the fact that the drawl may not be something that you can get use to in my opinion.

[Mawoods]

Another way of looking at it - enjoy and appreciate every area of country's unique accent. The upper midwest is definitely unique and the northeast is also to name a few. Even southern accents are different depending on the state. That is what makes it interesting. If we all sounded alike, we would be boring. Personally i would rather have a southern accent than say the word party like potty as some do in Boston. Can't we just appreciate the differences?

[writerwife]

The guy said that the accent annoyed him..that's just a fact. If he's seriously considering moving here, that really does need to be taken into consideration no matter how anyone feels about it or whether its right or wrong.
I moved here from Ct many yrs ago. When I was first told we were moving here, all I knew was a tv commercial that was out at the time with some little southern twin girls ... "it's shayke and bayke and weeee hayelped". Southern drawl, really drawn out. and I thought.. oh my god.. no.
Anyway.. when I first moved here back in the 70's.. I couldn't understand anyone for a while. (there were much fewer yankees here back then) Now, I sound like a southerner. If I call someone up north on the phone, they tell me I sound very southern.
However, due to the fella's other inclinations in addition to this, I would presume there were areas of the country better suited. That certainly doesn't mean that you're doomed to the NE. There's a whole, big, wide, world out there.
If you do come to Alabama, I would recommend one of the cities and probably more like Bham or the coast. You are much more likely to run into more Christian conservatives in the country.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by PortCity

I’m sorry but I have to comment on the southern drawl. I’ve lived in the south majority of my life and I don’t hear the drawl on a daily basis here in Mobile, but when I do it makes me cringe ! The drawl definitely stands out to me and I’m not use to it, and when someone speak with a drawl you may find others repeating what they say are mocking them .I’m not saying that it is right but I’m addressing the fact that the drawl may not be something that you can get use to in my opinion.

You hear the drawl in Mobile when us country bumpkins venture into town. LOL

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by nep321

Well, according to the Cost of Living Wizard on Salary.com, my $65K income would be reduced to $55K in Birmingham. This means that the maximum home price I can afford would have to be under $190K. Is that still good enough?

Yes.

[midtownruth]

I would recommend the coast (Mobile or Baldwin county) over the Bible Belt in your situation. Our accents are generally not as thick as they are out in the country (although we will likely sound a little funny to you). We are pretty laid back and diverse, and we do indeed have a gay community. We're also close to the beach and New Orleans.

[stewarthaas]

Hey NEP I didn't mean to sound like too much of a _____ (you fill the blank lol)

It's just basically what you told amber.....don't act about like a girl, I, along with many others could care less what you do as long as you don't act it out in public. Reguardless what anyones views are if you don't where high heels and a skirt in public I don't see a problem in any state lol.....

[Keeper]

I agree the accents are different in Mobile than in N. AL. I was born and raised in Mobile and when we moved to H'ville, I had a hard time understanding some of the ppl here. I find my accent gets thicker if I talk to someone who has a real drawn out accent

[jennk1425]

I'll be no help to you, but the deep accent annoys me too. "It done broke!" "Where you at?" And down here, it doesn't even come from uneducated people! They can have a college education and still speak like that! *shudder*