[DRvortec]

Where would you guys/girls think? We have a family. Schools are important. We would want either land or lot. If land 1-3 acres. Near a lake. Easy commute. Not sure if we would go there to retire or live. So, jobs might be important. We are in the medical field.

Shoot me what your thinking and lead me in the right direction.

Also, what about taxes? City and state?

Thanks,
DRvortec

[Charles]

Originally Posted by DRvortec

Where would you guys/girls think? We have a family. Schools are important. We would want either land or lot. If land 1-3 acres. Near a lake. Easy commute. Not sure if we would go there to retire or live. So, jobs might be important. We are in the medical field.

Shoot me what your thinking and lead me in the right direction.

Also, what about taxes? City and state?

Thanks,
DRvortec

Where are you going to work?
What is your price range?
Ages of kids?


I think if you have kids, then living on one to three acres will not be a good idea. You may love it but your kids will hate it. Neighborhoods with huge lots like that lack the "kid density" for your kids. It is difficult for them to spontaneously go outside and play with other kids in the neighborhood. Also, big lot neighborhoods like that are often full of retired or childless people, or couples with teenagers. The demographic of parents with young kids isn't too common in large lot neighborhoods. Finally, those homes are a little more difficult to sell. One reason people buy huge lot homes is because they like their privacy. If you want a real community feel, you might find large lot neighborhoods lacking. It is possible you won't know more than a couple of your neighbors by name.

Do your kids a favor, buy in a normal neighborhood with normal density, like 1/3 to 1/2 acre max.

[Threestep]

Unfortunately the information you are giving is too vague to even speculate on answers.

[Keeper]

Check out Guntersville in N. AL. Check out valleymls.com for Marshal county. Guntersville Lake is a 65000 acre lake. Marshall county North is the small hospital near Guntersville. What is your price range?
Property tax is low, however there is a state income tax. Sales tax is around 8%.

There is also Double Springs and Weiss Lake where you might still be able to get some good deals. There are also lakes around the middle of the state. Then you have Mobile Bay or the Gulf of Mexico in S. AL. Many homes on rivers that empty into the bay that are great for fishing or water sking

[Alatex]

My suggestion is to check into jobs first, because really just about anywhere in Alabama is going to be near a lake and have low taxes, and though Birmingham in particular is known for medical research,
there are plenty of medical jobs across the state.

Basically, the advantage of the lakes in the northern part of the state (Guntersville, Weiss, Smith, Tennessee Valley, etc) is that you also have the hills, which provide a really scenic backdrop.
The advantage to south Alabama is that you're close to the Gulf, which is heavenly.

If you want somewhere quiet and really "under the radar," check out Lake Tuscaloosa. There aren't any "tourists" on the lake (not even one condo, to my knowledge), but plenty of really nice homes and acre-plus lots, including new developments like Black Warrior Bay. Since I don't have kids myself, I can't speak first-hand on the schools, but Tuscaloosa County High is the largest school in the county school system and it looks really nice (much of Lake Tuscaloosa area is zoned for that), and the southern part of Lake Tuscaloosa that's within Tuscaloosa city limits is zoned for Northridge High School, which is the best of the three city high schools. The local economy is quite solid, but you'll find that in most Alabama cities right now, which surprises a lot of people who are accustomed to thinking of the state in a negative light.

[DRvortec]

Great advice! We went from a 1/2 acre to a 1/3 acre. Wife is happy, I am not so much. Sales tax at 8% pretty common in most cities? We are at 7.75% here. What happen to where you could check crime rates, population, etc on here? Can someone supply a link?

Thanks.

[DRvortec]

Originally Posted by Threestep

Unfortunately the information you are giving is too vague to even speculate on answers.

lol. One in every forum. No one else had any issues with giving ideas.

You took the time to type this (14 words), take the same time to shoot some cities or towns

[Alatex]

We went from a 1/2 acre to a 1/3 acre. Wife is happy, I am not so much. Sales tax at 8% pretty common in most cities?

Yeah, I love land, too. However, Alabama's strong suit is low property tax. I know a good many people who live in the city, but who own 10 or more acres out in the country for weekend recreation. I used to own 12 acres of undeveloped land in rural Tuscaloosa County, and the annual tax bill was under $50 .

Sales tax is high in Alabama. It's 9% in Tuscaloosa. I don't know what it is in Mobile now, but years ago, it was as high as 10%. Plus, groceries are not exempt from sales tax like in some other states. I don't think you'll find much under 8% in Alabama.

[DRvortec]

Found Sperlings. Smiths has low crime. But the others so far are high compared to my area. My area is a 5.

[DRvortec]

Originally Posted by Alatex

Yeah, I love land, too. However, Alabama's strong suit is low property tax. I know a good many people who live in the city, but who own 10 or more acres out in the country for weekend recreation. I used to own 12 acres of undeveloped land in rural Tuscaloosa County, and the annual tax bill was under $50 .

Sales tax is high in Alabama. It's 9% in Tuscaloosa. I don't know what it is in Mobile now, but years ago, it was as high as 10%. Plus, groceries are not exempt from sales tax like in some other states. I don't think you'll find much under 8% in Alabama.

Great information. Thanks. Groceries are exempt here as well. Still looking for low crime. If lake are near, I would skip the lake front property for low crime and drive 10-15min to the lake then. Recommendations?

Thanks