[HOme Seeker]

HI,

I'm a retired senior female living N of Houston TX, currently looking to buy an inexpensive small - retirement size - house in a state with low property taxes, which will have to disinclude Texas.
My preferences for living areas? I like the mountains - need to do some hiking - and the coastline and care for little in between. I've about narrowed the search down to several states - Alabama is one - and am busy researching information of demographics, etc.

I'd like to find a reasonobly priced house in a mountainous or semi mountainous town that will hopefully be a straight shoot down to the Florida coastline. I've been targeting info on MLS listings online in Piedmont, Anniston, and surrounding towns and would like to have suggestions and info on those towns and others in Alabama with regard to mountainous regions, reasonable priced RE, low property tax, number of Hispanics and other foreign residents, etc.

Thanks Much,
HOme Seeker

[Clarkx3]

Anniston is very near Mt.Cheaha which is the highest point in Alabama. I live near the area and can attest to it's beauty. Very scenic, lots of hiking and mountain biking as well as cycling etc. Oxford is also very nearby and I would pick not to live in Anniston city limits if you choose this area. We are in the "county" and love it. Mountain views and less than 10 minute drive into Anniston/Oxford for anything you would need. We have been here about 4 months and love it. Drive due south to Destin Florida or Panama city beach etc. about 4 hours. I would suggest for home ideas, AnnistonStar newspaper online check out the classifieds or I could let you know a good real estate agent if you like to point you in the right direction. Also property taxes are amazingly low but sales tax is around 8% hope this helps... Good luck.

[Braves_fan]

Safe, Clean, affordable living in Ranburne Ala, in Cleburne County

[harry chickpea]

Clarkx3 has the right idea. Ashland, Lineville, and the area immediately to the west would be about the best places to start.

[steveklein]

east and northeast alabama probably fit the bill... though you will be over 4 hours away from the nearest coastline.

there are a lot of places going up near the coast that i think would be fantastic to retire to (foley/gulf shores), though they aren't anywhere near mountains.

[DaddyJ]

If I had not moved where I'm at now my choice of places to move to which is rather rural but with a small city atmosphere and close knit would've been the area of Fort Payne. It is close to the only snow ski resort I know of (Mentone) in Alabama and you're surrounded by the Appalacian mountains, not far from Tennessee river and it's a straight shot down the interstate to the Gulf of Mexico. You would be just a nice hour or two to Smokey Mountains and fairly close to Chattanooga, Nashville, Birmingham, Atlanta...and it is the hometown of the guys in the band "Alabama" who you can see on the street walking around like "normal" people from time to time.

[fkey]

I Live In Jasper, Walker County On Beutiful Smith Lake. Please Consider. It Is The Fastest Growing Retirement Recreational Are With Beatiful Rock Bluff Waterfalls, Deep Blue Water.

Moderator cut: Soliciting business not permitted in forum

[roxie11]

I live in a very small town. Lipscomb. Not much goes on here. You can find some mountains and hiking trails pretty close. Houses are cheap and some look it. We just moved here from Florida and it was the best move we have ever made. You are a few hours from the coast. I think the hispanic population is 0.2%. I don't know of any other foriegners around. There is no industry,and you would have to go out of town for groceries,which is only a couple of miles either way. We bought a small three bedroom house. The lot is 150ft by 132ft. We paid under 80,000. The house was built in 1929 and is in good shape. Were only a few miles south from Birmingham. Some places are run down and some are really nice. All people are friendly. If your looking for a town that already has all new suroundings then this isn't the place. We love here and I like people to know it. Good luck in your search.

[fishmonger]

I've always thought of Lipscomb as more of a tiny political subdivision of Birmingham than really a "small town," although it does have that sort of semi-rural atmosphere to it, with the horses in the back yards and the skinny streets.

[Keeper]

As a retired senior female who moved to AL from FL, I can recommend Arab, AL in Marshall county. You can find a nice 1500 sq ft older brick house for 100K or less. Newer homes cost more and usually have less land. Property taxes are VERY low compared to FL as is homeowner's ins. Very little crime and people are friendly. Huntsville is 20 minutes away and Guntersville Lake is 10 minutes. Arab is a dry city but you can drive down the mountain to either city listed above as they are wet. I would suggest you check this site there is a wealth of statistical information you can get right here on the City-Data site by scrolling down this page. It gives you all the stats you are asking about. Hope this helps. You can always PM me if you have questions.