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We are a family of 4 - hubby and I, 2 girls aged 1 and 3. Hubby is in final interview rounds at UAB and we will be taking a trip down to Birmingham this month to scope the place out and look at neighbourhoods.
1) Hubby would be at UAB - wanting less than 20 minute commute if possible
2)Will have to rent at first, being Canadian and all. We would like to pay $1300 or less if possible. We have 2 dogs and 2 cats so a larger lot or land would be nice, and a single family home.
3) We have 2 girls, age 1 and 3. No unique needs but a good school district for future would be nice.
4) We are homebodies, but the kids like going to playgrounds etc.
5) No medical needs
6) We don't tend to fraternize with our neighbours so we don't have a preference I guess
Being so far away, I am wanting to find out how best to locate a rental home (are there ideal websites for this in the area) and what neighbourhoods I might want to look in. I don't want a super tightly packed neighbourhood but I would also like to have walkability to parks, stores etc. so we don't have to drive everywhere.
Also, is there a good place online to find kid-friendly activities or playgroups? We obviously won't know anyone if/when we move and I will be at home with the kids, looking for things to do and people to meet.
What should we check out when down for our visit this month? What will give us a good sense of the place? We will be staying at the Highland at Five Points and will also be looking for places to go with the kids while there (eating, playgrounds). So excited to be coming down!
Any other general tips or info would be great. This is a really useful forum overall - thanks to all the moderators!
Sorry about the delay. I've been out of town.
Craigslist actually is pretty good for rental homes. To me, it might be a situation where you choose a rental home on Southside (Especially in the Highland Avenue/Clairmont section), live there for a year, and then choose a more permanent residence after that. That would keep your husband's commute to less than ten minutes, in close proximity to lots of parks, and a nice eclectic neighborhood to boot where people are always out walking, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southside_(Birmingham)
Hotel Highland is a good boutique hotel, within a stone's throw of some great restaurants. It is also about a half-mile from the Highland Avenue neighborhood.
While you don't fraternize with your neighbors much, it will likely be a good idea to meet people just to have your support group, and Southside represents a good mix of folks. There are several good Mothers Morning Out programs at the nearby Churches (Independent Presbyterian is evidently outstanding) just to give you a break from the routine. As far as things to do, there's a great kids' science museum downtown, the Zoo, the Botanical Gardens, and a number of other things within a five minute drive of that neighborhood.
The downside is the public school system. We lived in that area until my oldest was in sixth grade. We grew tired of paying private school tuition and skedaddled to Mountain Brook. When the last child graduates, we're right back down to that part of town.
Another neighborhood I would suggest is Cahaba Heights. It's lots of young families, a boffo school system, affordable homes, and incredibly convenient to shopping and other amenities. Plus it's about a 15-minute commute to UAB. It's not as hip and doesn't have the kind of parks that Southside does, but it's a very livable part of town. Cahaba Heights, Vestavia Hills - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There's also Homewood, which can't be beat for the combination of schools, walkability, and amenities, but the price point reflects that. You might be hard pressed to find a suitable house for that amount in Homewood. But if you do, grab it with both hands.
Some caveats. Unless you're on Southside or Homewood, you'll need reliable transportation. If you're from Toronto with world-class transit, you'll find Birmingham's to be sorely lacking (A little bit of irony: Birmingham's very good trolley system was scrapped in the late 1950s, and the cars were sold to Toronto where they ran there for a good two decades more).
Second. I've been to Ontario a good bit. The last time I was there was August a year ago. Some great guys at the Blue Jays game kept apologizing to us for the excessive heat, which was like a late October day for us in Birmingham. So it will be a bit of a shock coming here. Just learn to embrace air conditioning and look forward to winters without having to shovel snow off your walk. But if, God forbid, it does snow here, remember that we don't have snow clearing equipment or salt trucks. We tend to just load up on bread, vodka, and whatever else, and sit out the inch of snow until it melts and generate business for the maternity wards 38 weeks from now. Just go with it.
Third, pick a team. Auburn or Alabama, otherwise known as the Forces of Goodness and Light or the Minions of Evil and Darkness. You'll get asked, so you might as well go for the gusto. That way, you get asked to a lot of the football-watching parties in the fall.
Hi,
My husband just accepted a job and we'll most likely be moving mid to end of July. I've only been to town once (while my husband was interviewing) and got a tour by a realtor who showed me lots of what your great city has to offer. We're from the suburbs of Los Angeles originally but most recently have lived in Boston and now Fort Lauderdale. So, although we're used to bigger cities we are excited to make Birmingham our home, and are excited to have a bit of a slower pace. I'm hoping to narrow down our search of where to live with your help!
1) In what area of town will you be working? Really important stuff, that. And what kind of commute time are you wanting?
My husband will be working in Hoover most of the time with maybe a day every week or two in Trusville. I'm currently at home with the kids but would like to start working part time in the next year. I'm a hairstylist.
2) Do you have a price range for your house or apartment?
We'll be renting for the first year or two. We would like to spend 1300 or less, for a 3 bed 2 bath. We can do 2 bedrooms for a while longer if needed.
3) Do you have children? Do they have unique educational needs?
2 kids. The oldest will be starting kindergarten in the fall and I'll want to find a good pre-school for my 4 year old. No special needs, we just want really good schools.
4) What do you enjoy the most during your free time? The arts? Fine dining? Sports? Hiking? Or just getting away from it all?
We love hiking, we love good food but it doesn't have to be "fine" dining, with small children we spend a lot of our free time at the zoo or parks etc.
5) Do you have special medical needs?
nope.
6) Do you want to be in a neighborhood where everyone knows one another or do you simply don't care?
It would be nice but it isn't a deal breaker. Mostly just looking for a friendly neighborhood where my kids will have other kids to play with and where we can meet nice people.
Hi,
This thread has been very informative indeed. Thanks for doing such a great job.
Me and my wife are moving to B'ham from Dallas,TX in June and we both would be working at UAB.
We are looking to buy at this point as we are pregnant and due in October and hence want to avoid moving again. I've already had a visit to look at homes in B'ham and now am slightly more oriented to areas than I was before.
What we are looking for is a 3-4 BR newer home with a yard for our German Shepherd Dog in a nice area preferably within 30-40 mins drive from UAB. Our budget is around 380k-450k and would want to invest in some area which would at least retain its value in 4-5 years from now. Also want to be near grocery/ shopping/conveniences. Please suggest some areas with these things in mind. On my last visit I really liked the Ross Bridge and Liberty Park communities and also some parts of Hoover such as Trace Crossings etc although the latter two were at least a 30 min drive from UAB (How is the drive from these areas in peak hours ?).
In addition what would you suggest regarding choice of Ob Practices/Birthing hospitals in Birmingham ? Anyone which stand out??
Your suggestions and help would be really appreciated.
Thanks
V
Hi,
This thread has been very informative indeed. Thanks for doing such a great job.
Me and my wife are moving to B'ham from Dallas,TX in June and we both would be working at UAB.
We are looking to buy at this point as we are pregnant and due in October and hence want to avoid moving again. I've already had a visit to look at homes in B'ham and now am slightly more oriented to areas than I was before.
What we are looking for is a 3-4 BR newer home with a yard for our German Shepherd Dog in a nice area preferably within 30-40 mins drive from UAB. Our budget is around 380k-450k and would want to invest in some area which would at least retain its value in 4-5 years from now. Also want to be near grocery/ shopping/conveniences. Please suggest some areas with these things in mind. On my last visit I really liked the Ross Bridge and Liberty Park communities and also some parts of Hoover such as Trace Crossings etc although the latter two were at least a 30 min drive from UAB (How is the drive from these areas in peak hours ?).
In addition what would you suggest regarding choice of Ob Practices/Birthing hospitals in Birmingham ? Anyone which stand out??
Your suggestions and help would be really appreciated.
Thanks
V
Sounds as if you've got it down. Both Ross Bridge and Liberty Park would be good for you guys.
My wife likes Women Care Specialists at Brookwood Hospital.
Hi,
My husband just accepted a job and we'll most likely be moving mid to end of July. I've only been to town once (while my husband was interviewing) and got a tour by a realtor who showed me lots of what your great city has to offer. We're from the suburbs of Los Angeles originally but most recently have lived in Boston and now Fort Lauderdale. So, although we're used to bigger cities we are excited to make Birmingham our home, and are excited to have a bit of a slower pace. I'm hoping to narrow down our search of where to live with your help!
1) In what area of town will you be working? Really important stuff, that. And what kind of commute time are you wanting?
My husband will be working in Hoover most of the time with maybe a day every week or two in Trusville. I'm currently at home with the kids but would like to start working part time in the next year. I'm a hairstylist.
2) Do you have a price range for your house or apartment?
We'll be renting for the first year or two. We would like to spend 1300 or less, for a 3 bed 2 bath. We can do 2 bedrooms for a while longer if needed.
3) Do you have children? Do they have unique educational needs?
2 kids. The oldest will be starting kindergarten in the fall and I'll want to find a good pre-school for my 4 year old. No special needs, we just want really good schools.
4) What do you enjoy the most during your free time? The arts? Fine dining? Sports? Hiking? Or just getting away from it all?
We love hiking, we love good food but it doesn't have to be "fine" dining, with small children we spend a lot of our free time at the zoo or parks etc.
5) Do you have special medical needs?
nope.
6) Do you want to be in a neighborhood where everyone knows one another or do you simply don't care?
It would be nice but it isn't a deal breaker. Mostly just looking for a friendly neighborhood where my kids will have other kids to play with and where we can meet nice people.
Thanks in advance!
Sure. I've been out a lot so sorry about my delay. I'm thinking the North Shelby area is a good place for you, some place in the Hoover school systems. Rentals might be a bit tough at that price point, but I bet you can find something on Craig's list for that. Good luck!
Hi there! I'm starting a new job in UAB hospital in July but I currently live in New York. I'm just about to start my apartment hunting when I came across this forum. I would appreciate any help you can give me. Here are my answers:
1) In what area of town will you be working? Really important stuff, that. And what kind of commute time are you wanting?
- UAB hospital. Ideal commute time for me is less than 15-20 minutes.
2) Do you have a price range for your house or apartment?
- I'm looking for a 1-2 bedroom modern apartment and my upper limit is $800.
3) Do you have children? Do they have unique educational needs?
- I'm single and in my early 30s.
4) What do you enjoy the most during your free time? The arts? Fine dining? Sports? Hiking? Or just getting away from it all?
- I enjoy trying different cuisines, watching plays/movies, running.
5) Do you have special medical needs?
- No
6) Do you want to be in a neighborhood where everyone knows one another or do you simply don't care?
- Since I'm single, I want to be in a neighborhood that's more modern with young professionals. I don't want to be woken up by some college drinking party. I dont really care for night life and bars. My main priority is the easy commute to UAB hospital, affordability, and access to amenities.
Last edited by asian guy; 05-05-2014 at 01:17 AM..
Hi there! I'm starting a new job in UAB hospital in July but I currently live in New York. I'm just about to start my apartment hunting when I came across this forum. I would appreciate any help you can give me. Here are my answers:
1) In what area of town will you be working? Really important stuff, that. And what kind of commute time are you wanting?
- UAB hospital. Ideal commute time for me is less than 15-20 minutes.
2) Do you have a price range for your house or apartment?
- I'm looking for a 1-2 bedroom modern apartment and my upper limit is $800.
3) Do you have children? Do they have unique educational needs?
- I'm single and in my early 30s.
4) What do you enjoy the most during your free time? The arts? Fine dining? Sports? Hiking? Or just getting away from it all?
- I enjoy trying different cuisines, watching plays/movies, running.
5) Do you have special medical needs?
- No
6) Do you want to be in a neighborhood where everyone knows one another or do you simply don't care?
- Since I'm single, I want to be in a neighborhood that's more modern with young professionals. I don't want to be woken up by some college drinking party. I dont really care for night life and bars. My main priority is the easy commute to UAB hospital, affordability, and access to amenities.
Hey. Southside from 20th Street all the way over to Clairmont is really Ground Zero for guys like you. And there's also the burgeoning downtown market, too. It's about fifteen seconds to work, lots of restaurants and nightspots (Hey, it's not New York but it's not bad) and plenty of single professionals. $800 is a pretty reasonable rent to pay.
Hey. Southside from 20th Street all the way over to Clairmont is really Ground Zero for guys like you. And there's also the burgeoning downtown market, too. It's about fifteen seconds to work, lots of restaurants and nightspots (Hey, it's not New York but it's not bad) and plenty of single professionals. $800 is a pretty reasonable rent to pay.
Thanks for the quick response. I'll look at those areas. Last night, I saw these 3 apartments which seemed like good deals to me considering the amenities available. Can I get your opinion on these three? Are they in good neighborhoods? Google maps estimate the commute to be around 9 mins only.
1. The Park at Callington - 200 Robert Jemison Dr., Birmingham, AL 35209
[url]http://www.apartmentguide.com/apartments/Alabama/Birmingham/The-Park-at-Callington-~-Caryle/6020/]The[/url] Park at Callington & Caryle Apartments - Birmingham, AL 35209 | Apartments for Rent
2. The Park at Buckingham - 114 Aspen Circle, Homewood, AL 35209
[url]http://www.apartmentguide.com/apartments/Alabama/Homewood/The-Park-at-Buckingham/5642/]The[/url] Park at Buckingham Apartments - Homewood, AL 35209 | Apartments for Rent
3. Overlook at Homewood - 915 Valley Ridge Drive, Homewood, AL 35209
[url]http://www.apartmentguide.com/apartments/Alabama/Homewood/The-Overlook-At-Homewood/6030/]The[/url] Overlook At Homewood Apartments - Homewood, AL 35209 | Apartments for Rent
Thanks for the quick response. I'll look at those areas. Last night, I saw these 3 apartments which seemed like good deals to me considering the amenities available. Can I get your opinion on these three? Are they in good neighborhoods? Google maps estimate the commute to be around 9 mins only.
I'd wave a big fat red flag on all those if you want to have any quality of life. They are, at best, rabbit warrens in kind of a marginal part of town. Just no panache in those places and not really the kind of place where you'd want to get out and ride a bike, walk the dog, or whatever.
Here. I've made things easier for you:
Birmingham AL 35205 Homes For Sale & 35205 Real Estate - Zillow -- Pretty much anything along Highland Avenue will be a good neighborhood. You might give up access to a pool, but you'll gain a good deal more in actually feeling as if you're part of a community.
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, 
and hence want to avoid moving again. I've already had a visit to look at homes in B'ham and now am slightly more oriented to areas than I was before. 
