[TuttiTuti]

I am an older single Italian/Latin US Army Veteran woman looking to retire in Alabama and wondering which county would be best.

I am looking to purchase a home and wanting to stay under $60k if possible and still be in a decent part of town. I can go up in my budget if I have to but would like to live beneath my means, but willing to spend more to be in a better part of town. I need a VA health clinic or hospital in the general area. Descent transportation as I don't want to drive anymore and plan a taking buses and Ubers.

I spent some time in southern Alabama in my youth and never had an issue with anybody. Everyone was always friendly. I'm hoping it's still the same.

I do enjoy warmer weather and miss humidity. I don't mind a sleepier town, but do enjoy having some things to do. I really don't like city noise and prefer the suburbs or country outskirts.

Which county and city do you recommend and which side of town?

Any input is helpful, especially stay away from these areas.

Thank you in advance

[Reactionary]

Here is a list of VA locations:

https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/f...=All&isflash=0

Taking buses is a bad plan in most of Alabama. Finding buses and living in country outskirts is probably unrealistic.

[brownbagg]

be honest, biloxi ms, small sleepy town, big va hosp, a great bus system

[southernnaturelover]

Anything you find under $60k will likely be in a small town, where public transportation is nonexistent.

[TuttiTuti]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

Here is a list of VA locations:

https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/f...=All&isflash=0

Taking buses is a bad plan in most of Alabama. Finding buses and living in country outskirts is probably unrealistic.

Thanks for the 411 on the country outskirts and no buses. I guess it's the suburbs for me. Also thanks for the VA list

[TuttiTuti]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

Anything you find under $60k will likely be in a small town, where public transportation is nonexistent.

Thanks, I may be driving longer than I thought.

[TuttiTuti]

Originally Posted by brownbagg

be honest, biloxi ms, small sleepy town, big va hosp, a great bus system

I'll check it out but doesn't look like a good property tax exemption for seniors like Alabama.

[southernnaturelover]

The problem will be that the VA clinics in south Alabama are all down near the coast, the one in Pensacola is down near NAS now (there used to be one on the north side of Pensacola but they closed it). With your budget you are going to need to be well inland, everything gets expensive the closer you get to the coast, including insurance.

[TuttiTuti]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

The problem will be that the VA clinics in south Alabama are all down near the coast, the one in Pensacola is down near NAS now (there used to be one on the north side of Pensacola but they closed it). With your budget you are going to need to be well inland, everything gets expensive the closer you get to the coast, including insurance.

Good to know. I actually prefer inland to the coast. Thanks, knowing this helps.

[southernnaturelover]

I’ll suggest looking into Bay Minette, it’s about an hour to NAS Pensacola, but it’s a pretty easy drive. If you make a monthly trip to Pensacola, you can stock up on tax free groceries, all while enjoying the lower property taxes of Alabama.

And if it gets to that point, there is a VA retirement home there as well (William F Green).
http://hmrveteranservices.com/locations/