[7spider]

You might want to look at towns like Robertsdale or Loxley. These would give you a smaller town feel to it, but closer to shopping and the interstate. It would be less touristy- snowbirdy and I think better for a family. Your home owners insurance will be much cheaper and you'll only be about 30-45 minutes from gulf shores/orange beach. Just a thought, good luck.

[JessicaK]

good god, don't offer up Foley, its entirely full of crime.

I lived in Orange Beach for ten years, and Gulf Shores for two. My parents and sister still live there. Its definately "home" for me. I live on Oahu now, and honestly? Except for the hills, and the fact that we have had actual seasons in Alabama, I don't see much difference.
Wonderful towns, don't let anyone tell you different. When we lived there, we'd avoid Foley like the plague, because of the crime and just the ugliness of it. We'd prefer to stay on "Pleasure Island".
If you really want small town, check out Elberta. Charming, quaint little german town down the road (further from the beach) that holds the bi-annual Sausage Festival.

[KCSS]

I am considering moving to the "beach" area from Baton Rouge. Since Katrina, this place is nuts. And I am ready for a change.

I wouldn't want to buy right away and the rental real estate seems to be reasonable. How about utilities, cable, high speed internet, etc??

I am a CPA and would like to work partime. I really don't care what I do as long as it's away from here.

[shihtzumom]

Originally Posted by KCSS

I am considering moving to the "beach" area from Baton Rouge. Since Katrina, this place is nuts. And I am ready for a change.

I wouldn't want to buy right away and the rental real estate seems to be reasonable. How about utilities, cable, high speed internet, etc??

I am a CPA and would like to work partime. I really don't care what I do as long as it's away from here.

There is a good chance you will be working about 45 minutes away from the beach as there are not many professional jobs to be had. It is mostly the service industry.

[oscottscotto]

Foley? Crime-ridden? lol

It's a small, ugly podunk town ... but hardly crime ridden.

As for Gulf Shores, beach area residers using marijuana is not a "drug problem". That is just typical beach culture. A "drug problem" is more hardcore and dangerous and I would reserve that for many inner-city and/or country-town meth ordeals.

Yes, Gulf Shores is a mecca in the summer when it comes to tourism and activities ... and it does die off majorly in the fall/winter. But if you are looking for a small-town feel, then that probably is not a problem.

I would personally suggest to live in Daphne/Malbis (away from the highway) and make the 45 minute drive to Gulf Shores. That way, you are in a "small town" but a growing town ... and are directly (well, sort of directly) in between Mobile (300k+ area) and Gulf Shores.

Oh, and Gulf shores has a decent public school. Really, almost any school on the eastern shore is ok.

[shihtzumom]

Originally Posted by oscottscotto

Foley? Crime-ridden? lol

It's a small, ugly podunk town ... but hardly crime ridden.

As for Gulf Shores, beach area residers using marijuana is not a "drug problem". That is just typical beach culture. A "drug problem" is more hardcore and dangerous and I would reserve that for many inner-city and/or country-town meth ordeals.

Yes, Gulf Shores is a mecca in the summer when it comes to tourism and activities ... and it does die off majorly in the fall/winter. But if you are looking for a small-town feel, then that probably is not a problem.

I would personally suggest to live in Daphne/Malbis (away from the highway) and make the 45 minute drive to Gulf Shores. That way, you are in a "small town" but a growing town ... and are directly (well, sort of directly) in between Mobile (300k+ area) and Gulf Shores.

Oh, and Gulf shores has a decent public school. Really, almost any school on the eastern shore is ok.

You are very wrong about Gulf Shores having a "decent" public school. They are at the top of the list for drug problems as well as dropout rates. Those kids are far from future Standford grads... Maybe a local waitor/waitress or retail associate.

[Tama]

Fairhope a possibility? I have heard good things but don't live there myself.

[oscottscotto]

Originally Posted by shihtzumom

You are very wrong about Gulf Shores having a "decent" public school. They are at the top of the list for drug problems as well as dropout rates. Those kids are far from future Standford grads... Maybe a local waitor/waitress or retail associate.

Can you refer me to some statistics?

[Millie McHugh]

Hi -- I live in Pensacola, the next city/state over but am in Gulf Shores often. I agree in that this is a resort town but it is also a very wonderful town in which to make your home. Keep in mind that it is an island so tax rates, insurance, etc. may be higher. We do have a "season" as so many mention here. Yes, everything is amped up and there is traffic and headaches but not so much a season as other areas like Panama City. In Gulf Shores/Orange Beach areas, the schools are good and the people are very, very nice. We have a large "snowbird" population in the winter -- making another kind of season. A lot of northerners "migrate" to our area and you will find clubs for each state to get together (just read the local papers -- one is The Mullet Wrapper, a freebie (www.mulletwrapper.com) -- a good resource for the area in general. So far as home prices, it is a buyer's market, for sure! Depending on what you want, you can live on the beach or in the country (Foley, Robertsdale, Elberta, Lillian) -- As a transplant myself (from Montgomery area), I can tell you this is a beautiful place and I was really surprised to read the disappointment from some of the entries in this thread. I moved here years ago because I loved to visit and I have never regretted it. The school systems are good -- yes, there are drugs but, no, they are nothing like Birmingham or Montgomery! I have never found it difficult to live in this resort town. It gets aggravating with tourist traffic in the season but still beats Birmingham's rush hour every day! I think it's all the attitude you bring with you. I welcome our tourists as they put bread on my table and I get to see and/or meet great people each year. You take a chance with hurricanes but to me, it is worth it. We laugh in that time tends to be grouped as pre-Ivan, post-Ivan but it is a fact of life. It is very, very difficult to "get around" as mentioned in another post, after a hurricane but what do you expect -- this IS an island. I hope you find that you love this place, too and we welcome you here.

[Keeper]

I have to say, I go to Foley frequently to visit and while Hwy 59 has strip malls and restaurants, I think it looks pretty much every busy Hwy going through a town. There are a few stores, restaurants off of 59 in Foley especially the drug store with the soda fountain that are nice.

You need to go for a visit, talk to the locals and drive around the area.