[diggermom]

I recently drove around Alabama looking for homes. What a beautiful place! I brought home options of houses I viewed for the hubby. He liked one in Opp. Anyone have any knowledge of this area. It is slighly north of Opp and very rural which we like. How about home taxes and insurance? Is Opp far enough north to be hurricane safe (mostly insurance concern). I was told by a local person from north AL (north of Birmingham, south of Huntsville)it was "et up with rattlesnakes and democrats(not sure what that meant) ". Are there really less snakes in North Alabam as we have dogs, and do they really care how someone votes? Anyone lived in or have knowledge of this area? What about Clay county? It seemed very beautiful and rural too. I saw a doe and her fawn near Mt. Cheaha. We are just tired of FL taxes and insurance and being right up the neighbors noses. My hubby wants an acre garden, a few chickens, and a view of the woods. We are very quiet, homebodies, and just like to putter around the house, and are about to retire. Any comments or suggestions?

[Keeper]

I can't tell you a lot about Opp but I have a friend who has a house in a rural area in S. AL and he has told me in the summer they have a lot rattlesnakes and he wasn't talking about democrats..

You will be surprised by the cost of PT after living in Tampa. Hopefully some one can tell you about HOI in that area. Where I live my HOI is not quite 10 % of my home value. PT was less than $200.00 a year for a house value of less than $100K. If you are retired, you might have to pay state income tax if you have a pension, but there are many pensions that are exempt from State income tax. Be sure you check before paying state income tax. There is no tax on SS.

OK.. those folks who know this bear with me..

I moved up to N. AL from Tampa in 05. I know exactly what you mean about living so close to your neighbors. Democrats do better around Mobile so maybe that is what your friend was referring to.

[jsherman9901]

There is a rattlesnake roundup in Opp every March, if that tells you anything.

[southernnaturelover]

I live in south Alabama (50 miles north of Pensacola) and I have never found a rattlesnake in my yard. I'm sure if I were to go wandering deep through the woods I would come across one, but it's not likely in a developed area.

[diggermom]

Thanks, we had rattlers here in Tampa when I was growing up, most are gone today. I guess anywhere out in the woods you will find them so I guess I'll just have to keep my yard well mowed if we move.
My property taxes were $3500 last year and my HOI was about the same, plus Nationwide cancelled me after 20 years of NO claims. No telling how good the new HO company is going to be, but I am tired of it here.
Alabama was beautiful and all the people seemed friendly and polite. I was very impressed with all the areas I visited. Thanks for the reassurance. My dog is a schipperke and they tend to chase after things. Guess I'll need good fencing!

[southernnaturelover]

50 miles inland my insurance costs me about $650 per year (100k worth of insurance). My property taxes are about $350 after homestead exemption. The best insurance in Alabama IMO is ALFA Insurance.

[MullinsCurve]

Opp is just your average little Southern town, off the beaten path. It is on one of the roads to the beach (US 331) that Google and Mapquest send unsuspecting vacationers down. (This is not a comment on the town, but the road, which is a horrible, narrow 2-lane death trap. Your best bet is US 231, which a 4 lane.)

Anyway, you could change names with any of the little towns in the area and not know the difference. The people are good folks, there is a lot of farming in the area and the children can still play outside safely. There is a hospital there, but you're better off going to Dothan, to the east down US 84.

Property taxes are low; don't know about sales tax, as I don't live in the area. Insurance should be low, as long as you are within 5 road miles of a good fire department and have a hydrant within 1000 feet of your home.

You'll probably have deer coming out the wazoo, especially if you make the mistake of putting cracked corn out for them.

Rattlesnake, well they are around but a little powdered sulfur and dogs usually keep them at bay. Copperheads, they aren't as fearful of dogs as Rattlers. If you live near water, the moccasins are a concern. They are territorial and are afraid of nothing. Plus, you are less like to be alerted to their presence as they have no rattle, copperheads too.