[chagnee]

Hi everyone. I have enjoyed reading this forum daily and have really gained some good information which is helping me and my family make some very big decisions. I was born and raised a Florida girl.
I am 38 years old now and as anyone who has been in Florida for any amount of time knows it has changed big time and not in a positive way.
I am married with a 3 year old and want to start somewhere that I feel is a better and safer place to raise a family. My husband has lived breifly in the Alabama area when he was single and he loved it. He owns his own business right now but with this nightmare of an economy we have just about lost everything but the shirts off of our back and each other. Thank God.

I have always said if God for bid we had to start oever I wasnt starting over here in Florida and it looks lke that has happened.
My husband drove up to Alabama yesterday for a interview and he feels it went extremely well.
So my questions are what are the best places in Alabama for a young family?

What community is more accepting of newcomers from out of state?
Where is the lowest amount of crime and whats a ballpark figure of how much we will need to find a place to rent, electric deposits etc.

Since losing everything in the economy which has forced us to file bankruptcy our credit is not the best but before that it was good. Any suggestions of the best places for a young family, nice place with seasons, low crime and good schools.

I know it will be kinda hard to answer since I dont have specifics on a city but with the company he interviewed with they seem to have stores from south Alabama all the way up to North Alabama. I love the cold and actually welcome it! I cant wait to move somewhere that has real seasons besides florida's hot, hotter, damn hot, and thats it im moving hot.

Florida really used to be such a nice place to live growing up but I have seen some major changes in Florida through the years and I only see it getting worse, not better and I want to make sure we make the right choice of our chosen area in Alabama so we will fit in with our down home, family comes first values. I just want a simplier life. Any input would be so appreciated.

We also have 3 dogs, BUT they are very well trained dogs. Completely houosebroken and just big lazy couch potatos. Is this going to be impossible to find a nice rental with the 3 dogs? The dogs stay with us too. They are part of our family and sincerely hope it wont make it to hard to find a place. Once again look forward to any input anyone can give. Thank you

[mimpdaddy]

Originally Posted by chagnee

Hi everyone. I have enjoyed reading this forum daily and have really gained some good information which is helping me and my family make some very big decisions. I was born and raised a Florida girl.
I am 38 years old now and as anyone who has been in Florida for any amount of time knows it has changed big time and not in a positive way.
I am married with a 3 year old and want to start somewhere that I feel is a better and safer place to raise a family. My husband has lived breifly in the Alabama area when he was single and he loved it. He owns his own business right now but with this nightmare of an economy we have just about lost everything but the shirts off of our back and each other. Thank God.

I have always said if God for bid we had to start oever I wasnt starting over here in Florida and it looks lke that has happened.
My husband drove up to Alabama yesterday for a interview and he feels it went extremely well.
So my questions are what are the best places in Alabama for a young family?

What community is more accepting of newcomers from out of state?
Where is the lowest amount of crime and whats a ballpark figure of how much we will need to find a place to rent, electric deposits etc.

Since losing everything in the economy which has forced us to file bankruptcy our credit is not the best but before that it was good. Any suggestions of the best places for a young family, nice place with seasons, low crime and good schools.

I know it will be kinda hard to answer since I dont have specifics on a city but with the company he interviewed with they seem to have stores from south Alabama all the way up to North Alabama. I love the cold and actually welcome it! I cant wait to move somewhere that has real seasons besides florida's hot, hotter, damn hot, and thats it im moving hot.

Florida really used to be such a nice place to live growing up but I have seen some major changes in Florida through the years and I only see it getting worse, not better and I want to make sure we make the right choice of our chosen area in Alabama so we will fit in with our down home, family comes first values. I just want a simplier life. Any input would be so appreciated.

We also have 3 dogs, BUT they are very well trained dogs. Completely houosebroken and just big lazy couch potatos. Is this going to be impossible to find a nice rental with the 3 dogs? The dogs stay with us too. They are part of our family and sincerely hope it wont make it to hard to find a place. Once again look forward to any input anyone can give. Thank you

Alabama is a big state what part are you talking about?

[friday13]

Originally Posted by chagnee

Hi everyone. I have enjoyed reading this forum daily and have really gained some good information which is helping me and my family make some very big decisions. I was born and raised a Florida girl.
I am 38 years old now and as anyone who has been in Florida for any amount of time knows it has changed big time and not in a positive way.
I am married with a 3 year old and want to start somewhere that I feel is a better and safer place to raise a family. My husband has lived breifly in the Alabama area when he was single and he loved it. He owns his own business right now but with this nightmare of an economy we have just about lost everything but the shirts off of our back and each other. Thank God.

I have always said if God for bid we had to start oever I wasnt starting over here in Florida and it looks lke that has happened.
My husband drove up to Alabama yesterday for a interview and he feels it went extremely well.
So my questions are what are the best places in Alabama for a young family?

What community is more accepting of newcomers from out of state?
Where is the lowest amount of crime and whats a ballpark figure of how much we will need to find a place to rent, electric deposits etc.

Since losing everything in the economy which has forced us to file bankruptcy our credit is not the best but before that it was good. Any suggestions of the best places for a young family, nice place with seasons, low crime and good schools.

I know it will be kinda hard to answer since I dont have specifics on a city but with the company he interviewed with they seem to have stores from south Alabama all the way up to North Alabama. I love the cold and actually welcome it! I cant wait to move somewhere that has real seasons besides florida's hot, hotter, damn hot, and thats it im moving hot.

Florida really used to be such a nice place to live growing up but I have seen some major changes in Florida through the years and I only see it getting worse, not better and I want to make sure we make the right choice of our chosen area in Alabama so we will fit in with our down home, family comes first values. I just want a simplier life. Any input would be so appreciated.

We also have 3 dogs, BUT they are very well trained dogs. Completely houosebroken and just big lazy couch potatos. Is this going to be impossible to find a nice rental with the 3 dogs? The dogs stay with us too. They are part of our family and sincerely hope it wont make it to hard to find a place. Once again look forward to any input anyone can give. Thank you

What line of work is hubby in? Or you?
You may be better off staying in FL until you have secured a job elsewhere. In that regard, it may be harder to come "down" for an interview up here, in Hunstville/Madison County/North AL. Use this tool for city comparisonModerator cut: link removed, linking to competitors sites is not allowed, but beware and take it with a grain of salt, but there may be some truth in those statistics.

[cpg35223]

Well, Alabama's very diverse in terms of what's here. Give us a feel for what you enjoy doing most, and we'll do our best to narrow things down.

[Keeper]

Well I can tell you NE AL has quite a few ex Floridians living up here. You have 4 seasons here. It does get cold and occasionally snow. COL is much cheaper but then salaries tend to be lower for many ppl. I love living up here. The fall colors are at peak right now. It does get bleak for the few months of winter but spring is beautiful, summer is HOT but usually only from June to July.

You might have a problem finding a place to rent that accepts dogs especially in the small towns.

I agree with CPG.. tell us what is important to you and the good folks on here will try to help you.

[southernnaturelover]

You could move here to south AL and still have a taste of FL. It gets cold enough here on the gulf coast to need a heavy coat, so it's nothing like south FL. I live a mile from the state line so I can go to P'cola or Destin any time I want yet still enjoy the lower cost of living in AL.

I recommend looking at Dothan, Enterprise, Opp, Andalusia, or maybe Brewton, just depends on where your husband (and you) can find work. Nobody will think anything of you being from FL, for all they know you're from just across the line.

[chagnee]

Thanks everyone. Thats helps alot. At this point I think he has a good shot at getting the job, but as I have learned the hard way nothing is concrete until its done. We have just been through some really hard times. Went from making a real comfortable living to losing everything with the economy. My husband managed the hydrogen fuel cell cars for the state of Florida for about 3 years. Before then it was all automotive industry work and some Rent to Own management. Guess I will post some more questions when we know for certain what area he might be employed in so we can find out nice surrounding communities. Anyone from Florida I am sure can relate to the increasing cost of living, crowds, traffic, crime and lack of seasons. Thanks again for the responses. We dont plan on moving that direction until employment has been secured. Even then I think he would have to go up a few months ahead of my daughter and I and rent a weekly place until we have enough miney saved to pay the money needed to get into a rental home.

[chagnee]

Sorry forgot to mention we would like to find a modest 3 bedroom home to rent. We would also consider renting a mobile home if it had some property attached and allowed the dogs in a safe area where there are other families with children. Like I said I will know more if and when we hear positive from his interview he drove up for yesterday.

[FSUMike]

I'm a native Floridian that has moved my family to Alabama. Grew up in the Daytona Beach area and also lived in Tallahassee for a while. We're in Atmore now, just across the state line in SW Alabama and we absolutely love it. The people here have been so friendly and welcoming.

I know exactly what you're talking about how Florida has changed. That's a huge reason why we wanted to move here. If you're struggling financially, and your husband gets a job, I think he needs to take it. The way things are, if you can get a job you should follow it. After you get back on your feet maybe you can afford to be a little more picky and go exactly where you want to go.

For now, I would say take the job no matter what part of the state it is in, give it some time til you're back on your feet, and go from there.

[friday13]

With the auto background, would you consider Volkswagen in Chattanooga?. They just opened and taking applications. Or Toyota in Hsv?