Birmingham, Montgomery or Dothan? (Huntsville, Prattville: real estate, income, hospitals)

[Matiros]

I just got back from checking these areas as possible places I would like to move to. I fell in love with south Birmingham area Pelham/Alabaster, it was so beautiful, you could find a house with a wonderful view overlooking the valley's for mid $300,000... In Montgomery area I went to check on Prattville, which just didn't feel right to me, but then checked an area called Pikes Rd and again fell in love with the open laid back lifestyle. You can buy a home there on around 3 acres for mid $300,000. Then we checked Dothan, which is just as sweet as it could be with really sweet caring people. You can get a home on 5 acres for mid $300,000. All seem to have good points. I am so confused now, I am not sure where to move. We are looking for an easy lifestyle, close to shopping, restaurants, doctors, etc. We want a safe area with low crime. We want low taxes. We want good hospitals and doctors. We want great weather. We are retired.

Anyone have any thoughts of which area is best?? thanks in advance for any help.

[Bravo35223]

I would strongly recommend Birmingham for the following reasons:

1) One of the leading healthcare delivery cities in the US. The UAB medical center is a tremendous research university and has an outstanding outpatient care center called the Kirklin Clinic. The Kirklin Clinic is located on Birmingham's south side and has valet parking in its garage and a skywalk to the Clinic. Other excellent hospitals include Brookwood Medical Center, Trinity Medical Center and St. Vincent's hospital.

Four years ago, my Brother-in-Law was diagnosed with kidney cancer, an extremely aggressive disease with a high mortality rate. I researched the internet to find the best places for treatment and discovered that the University of Chicago was hosting a Kidney Cancer symposium the next month. MY BIL and I went to Chicago and attended. After the meeting was over, we went to the physician who was the host and showed him my BIL's medical chart, of what his diagnosis was, and what the doctors at UAB had done in his treatment. He told us, that if my BIL was coming to the University of Chicago for treatment, it would be the same - that UAB was giving him state-of-the-art treatment. It is a Comprehensive Cancer Center.

2) Vastly superior restaurants than what you would find in Montgomery and Dothan.

3) Well respected art museum and symphony.

The Pelham area is nice. Check out the Ballantrae neighborhood. Very very pretty with many nice views there...and the shopping/retail in that part of the metro area is building very fast....Birmingham is hilly. I can see eight miles from my golf course....something else you won't find in Montgomery and Dothan....nice views.

[harry chickpea]

In order, Birmingham, Dothan, Prattville.

I would avoid being in the city of B'ham itself if you want a quiet retired lifestyle.. Pollution tends to drift in the valley up to the northeast. Staying southwest would avoid much of it. Also, you can expect taxes in the area to increase as there is more development, and if you are on fixed income that could be an issue in a few years.

Dothan is a little warmer in winter, but subject to some gulf storms. It doesn't have the number of activities or the medical care that B'ham does, but as you note, it is a sweet place.

Prattville depends too much on Montgomery, and I don't happen to care for Montgomery.

[urbups]

It is possible to live a quiet lifestyle in the city of Birmingham. The stats aren't the whole story, I live intown and it's very quiet 99.8% of the time. Basing your recommendation for LeslieP on her(?) wanting something suburban would be more specific to what she talked about than continually referring people away from the city as a matter of course. Talk to people who live in an area first!

[urbups]

This probably doesn't apply to LeslieP since she seems to want an almost rural surrounding but someone of retirement age looking to spend $300,000 open to living intown may just appreciate being able to get a redone 3000sf 4/3 four square for about $100,000-$120,000 on a 1/2 acre like you can insome areas. People of retirement age are exempt from some taxes here in Birmingham (I believe property tax) and in my neighborhood at least, you're 1000x more likely to hear somebody talk about how bad life is intown rather than actually experience it that way. There's a retireree around the corner from me who came here from Chicago (she was a Bham native)about two years ago and I'm sure saving $200,000 (using LeslieP's example) would be a welcome thing to many retirerees.

[Keeper]

A lot of retirees are moving to the N.E area of AL which include Arab, Guntersville and Albertville. All small towns with great real estate prices. You can get a really nice home for under 200k. This last week someone from LI NY moved to Guntersville and bought a nice house, lake view with a pool for less than 200k. They had asked about different cities on this forum and found their home on valleymls.com.
There are 2 smaller hospitals in this area and Huntsville is 25-40 minutes away, if you prefer a larger hospital. Guntersville has a lot of name restaurants and lots of stores but no malls. You can get to H'ville in 25 minutes. I love living in Arab and very seldom have to go into Huntsville because I can't find what I want either here or in Guntersville. People are friendly and very little crime.

[Matiros]

thanks for the help.... does the weather get cold in Huntington and other northern cities?? I would hate to have to wear coats, etc..... sweaters are as heavy as I would want to go...

[Keeper]

It does get cold in AL. North AL more than south. You can check out information on weather here for all cities in AL.
http://www.city-data.com/city/Alabama.html
You might want to check out Fairhope, Daphne, Silverhill, Summerdale area. These are in S. Al. Fairhope has a lot of retirees and is a nice little town. Silverhill and Summerdale are inland and you can get acreage there. You are close to the gulf and the bay in this area. This area is flatter than N. Al.

[Bravo35223]

Originally Posted by lesliep11

thanks for the help.... does the weather get cold in Huntington and other northern cities?? I would hate to have to wear coats, etc..... sweaters are as heavy as I would want to go...

In a typical Birmingham winter, a light jacket or sweater is all you need. The average daytime high in mid-January is 54....

[Hyun-Soo]

montgomery ! For The History And Charm !