[changes]

Hi, I'm trying to get opinions on moving to the huntsville or surrounding areas of Alabama. I'm a single mom with preschool aged children and I am currently working in the law enforcement field. I am ready to make the move to start a new life in Alabama. When I was in the military I was stationed at Ft. Rucker Alabama for about two years and always thought Alabama was a warm and family friendly place to live. My family thinks I'm crazy (except for my Mom) to be trying to move to a place where I have no relatives. I want to raise my kids in a family orientated enviroment and I just don't feel like they would get it over here in California.

I'm ready to make the move soon in order to get my kids set up in preschool and would be resigning from my law enforcement job of 11 years. My Mom who is retired is already thinking that she may just tag along in order to help me get set up. It is a big step but I'm willing to give it a try. I welcome any ideas or suggestions.

Thanks a lot,
Changes

[Southlander]

Welcome, Changes, but you might want to line up a job first. Jobs are still not as plentiful here as in other parts of the country. Also, you might want to visit and get an idea of the general area. North Alabama is WAY different from LA (lower Alabama, I'm sure you knew that LOL!). Way different in a good way...except we are farther from the beach!

[marysally]

I agree with Southlander that you should line up a job before you move. However, Alabama as a whole has a lower unemployment rate than the nation as a whole and Huntsville is probably the lowest in the state. I believe the u/e rate in Huntsville is around 2.7%, AL is around 3.4%, and the nation is over 4%. Of course it depends on your background and qualifications, but Huntsville definitely has plenty of jobs.

[changes]

Thanks for your advice my Mom said the same thing (Mother knows best) I am presently trying to check out some possible jobs in the area. Could anyone tell me about a decent hotel in the area or someplace like a guesthouse or something where I can stay short term (maybe about two weeks) for a reasonable price.

Thanks again,
Changes

[SsgKen]

I was looking at a house in Huntsville last year. $45,000 and near a school.

Don't pay too much. They think all Yankees are used to paying $250,000 for a starter house and some ask more than they are worth. Look around online to find out what the prices really are. Can't help on a motel but plenty of chains with vacancies at apartments too.

[chickadee_red]

Boy $45k for a house sure peeked my interest. My husband and I are currently living east of San Francisco CA. We've only been able to get into a 600 sq ft condo here. My husband will start drawing a small military pension in a couple of years, and we are already thinking of retirement. Though I have a few more years to work (clerical/secretary/assistant). Hubby has fond memories of when he was stationed in Sierra Vista AZ, but I have no desire to be a raisin. I think that climate will be too dry for the skin problems that I have. I grew up in dinky town in northern Calif near Oregon border and loved that area. But that has changed a lot over the years. Lots more people, high unemployment, and NOT cheap. We don't have kids, or much family. I would love to move to an area where normal down-home people live. I've put up with the San Francisco area, only because jobs are plentiful here. I don't think I could cope with snow, tornados (I saw the Wizard of OZ!), or hurricanes, or dry desert.. so kind of limited. I know what to do in earthquakes, winters that cause flooding.. that sort of thing. The only south that I've seen is during vacations in Arizona and Louisianna (before Katrina). I didn't care for the tornado warnings in Louisanna, and a lot of the areas seemed..umm.. seedy, dirty?... What is Huntsville Alabama like? Are they accepting of non-pretensious Californians? Is the city Senior Citizen friendly?

[marysally]

I'm not sure what you could find for $45,000 in Huntsville. I would be a little leary of something that cheap. About the cheapest I have seen is $100,000 and really that would be hard to find in an acceptable neighborhood. If you could push it closer to $150K you would have no trouble finding something nice. Huntsville is very suited for military retirees with the Redstone Arsenal located here. There are many military retirees because of the commissary and Alabama does not tax military retirement, so many retirees feel that it is a good place to live. Also if the retiree wants to work, the military experience will give them a leg up on the plentiful jobs at the arsenal. Many of the contractors give preferential treatment to veterans.

[changes]

WOW!!!!!! Talk about taking my breath away, was it in good condition probably a fixer upper? The cheapest I have seen here so far when I went house hunting was a two bedroom one bathroom for $350,000 and this was a condo that was about 700 sq ft (no back yard or front yard or balcony or anything) You may or may not find something cheaper but it would be a fixer upper and not move in ready. It's just to expensive to live over here in Ca.

Anyway, thanks SsgKen for the warning sometimes people will take advantage of you when you don't know any better.

Unlike chickadee I have experiencied a really bad hurricane before where people have even lost their lives (not florida but in the islands) I guess no matter where you go there will be something that you will have to worry about be it earthquake, hurricanes etc... I just want a better quality of life for me and my kids. Checked out couple of apartment complexs online and the prices are unbelivable (three bedroom apts for no more than $850 a month). You would pay at least $850 or more a month for a studio or one bedroom over here.

[marysally]

I don't know where the poster is coming from who says that you can get a house for $45K AND that Alabamians are looking to overcharge "yankees". As everywhere else, the three most important factors are LOCATION, LOCATION, and LOCATION. Anyone with any sense is going to look at a number of houses before purchasing to be sure that the asking price is correct. Now to get down to reality -- the minimum asking price for a 3/2 in an acceptable neighborhood would probably be $125K and that might need some TLC. Granted prices have increased lately as they have everywhere. It is particularly true here because of the healthy economy as well as the anticipated BRAC relocations. But to think that Alabamians are laying in wait of "yankees" to fleece them is simply not true.

[AnotherBravesFan]

Changes, we're taking the plunge and leaving here for the Athens/Huntsville area in 07/08. Husband retiring; I will probably work, but due to the large disparity in housing prices, I won't have to. Yes, it will be an adjustment in many ways to leave a big city and our "paradise climate", but there are so many pluses that I am confident we'll be happy with the move. Check out the numerous websites for the Huntsville area (huntsvillealabamausa.com is great), as well as the forums here. Lots of good advice. Madison county sent us a WONDERFUL booklet with just about everything a newcomer could want (from a phone/address/website directory of all local schools to blurbs on tax rates and water rates, info on how to get a driver's license, plus govt. office hours and phone #s for every dept. imaginable). Very impressive and makes me think that the local govt. may be more responsible and responsive than what we've got here. (You have heard of San Diego's woes, no? ) As far as housing goes, you can find a new full brick rancher on over 1/4 acre for well under $200,000 in many places in Madison or Limestone counties. From what I've read, Grissom High (SE Huntsville) and Bob Jones High (Madison) have the highest test scores, and Hartselle schools score well, too.

Good luck to you in your quest,
a kindred soul