B'Ham Bound in 2008 (Birmingham, Five Points: apartment, rental, homes)

[gustygulas]

rudulph is a good site for rentals and also al.com for rentals

[gustygulas]

The following is from www.ua.edu

"The University of Alabama has been named one of the nation's top 50 public universities by U.S. News & World Report for seven consecutive years. With four USA Today Academic All-Americans this year, our five-year total of 24 tops all other colleges and universities."

Education is a priority!

[Bravo35223]

UAB Hospital is ranked #17 in the nation. There are over 2000 hospitals in the U.S.

The U of A School of Business was ranked #35, the School of Accountantcy ranked #19 and the School of law #36. Basically in the top 10% of all universites and colleges in the country.

Harvard? No. But certainly quality.

Both Auburn and Alabama have more than their share of achievers in the fields of commerce and academia. There are several billionaires in Birmingham who are Alabama and Auburn alumni. To the best of my knowledge, more Astronauts who have been on space missions are Auburn graduates than of any university.

The guy who started Wikipedia is a graduate of both....Jimmy Wales.

He received his Bachelor's degree in finance from Auburn University and started with the Ph.D. finance program at the University of Alabama, where he left with a Master's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimbo_Wales

I won't waste my time with any more of this frankly. I am weary of the stereotyping.

[gustygulas]

Nice!!!Good research!!

[pennquaker09]

Originally Posted by luvnnyc

Coming from Boston I feel you may like Birmingham...you may want to stick with the Mountain Brook, Vestavia or Hwy. 280 areas. If your husband is working at UAB they are building lots of new lofts and condos there...the main problem with Birmingham is the lack of tourist and the "old school" mentality is still very strong here. I am from NYC originally and do not like it here...I plan on returning back to the north in 2008. I don't find much diversity here and people are not that open with letting you into their circles...if you did not attend Alabama or Auburn University then you will feel out of place...football is their life here...not true education...reading etc. You may be able to find a few select people here and there but I am speaking about the culture here as a whole...please do not go to the library and expect it to be quiet...people are talking out loud because again...there is no true respect for education, reading or anything intellectual. If you don't believe me just remember what I have told you and when you arrive notice how long it will take for someone to ask if you are for Alabama or Auburn football teams and then visit a library and see how loudly everyone is talking. Also, those who hold great positions have either relocated here into their positions or were hired based on "who they know" not "what they know" degrees are not very respected here if you do not fall into one of those categories. I worked in HR for years and had to find jobs for people were not qualified simply because they had a family member who worked in management. Formal education is not very respected here...it is far more important that these kids play football...it is very sad. I am sorry Birminghamians...you guys need to wake up and smell the coffee....there is a whole world going on around you and all you know is football...orange and blue or crimson and cream.

I'm not quite sure where you get your information from. I graduated from Hoover with kids who ended up going to Duke, Emory, Vanderbilt, Davidson, Wake Forest, and many other great schools. We all had scores above 33 and 1500 on our ACT and SATs. We received IB diplomas, were National Merit Scholars, and AP Scholars. Does half of the class get accepted to Ivies? No, but I can tell you with great conviction that if Hoover or Mountain Brook or Vestavia is said in the admissions office at Harvard - it's said very positively. My mother was an admissions officer and later an alumni interviewer for Harvard for many years. Many top colleges have personal relationships with college counselors in these (and other) high school in Alabama.

And as Bravo said, Alabama has one of the best hospitals in the entire country. Countless people come to UAB to get opinions from EXPERT physicians.

I must be on glue, but last I knew, Hoover and other Birmingham suburbs were growing.

[AQUEMINI331]

Originally Posted by bhambound2008

Hi all,

My husband, infant daughter and I are relocating to B'Ham from Boston next summer. I am Asian American from California and was a bit skeptical of Birmingham at first given its past history. But after doing more research I have been pleasantly surprised as B’Ham seems to be a beautiful and diverse city. My husband will be working at UAB for 1 year so we are interested in renting a house or condo near there or relatively close to UAB in a SAFE neighborhood. Since we aren’t quite sure if we will have two cars in B’Ham, it would be nice to live within walking distance to cafes, grocery stores, playgrounds, etc. We are willing to pay $1500-$2000 rent/month. Any recommendations?

Thanks!

B’Ham Bound in 2008

$1500/month? You could live VERY comfortably within city limits (5 points South, Forest Park, etc) for half that. Birmingham's no Boston. $1000 month would probably get you the nicest loft in downtown Birmingham, easily.


As a matter of fact, I'm not sure if there's any rentals ANYWHERE in the Birmingham area going for $1500/month.


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[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by AQUEMINI331

$1500/month? You could live VERY comfortably within city limits (5 points South, Forest Park, etc) for half that. Birmingham's no Boston. $1000 month would probably get you the nicest loft in downtown Birmingham, easily.


As a matter of fact, I'm not sure if there's any rentals ANYWHERE in the Birmingham area going for $1500/month.


_

It has been a while since you rented:>)

[gustygulas]

you can get a nice 2 bedroom 2 bath loft for the $1400 range. I have looked at some lofts and I saw one with an okay view for $850. This was a studio with around 650 square feet. Lofts are not cheap. I haen't seen any for rent at city federal but I can imagine if there were any they would be starting around 1,500 for a 1 bedroom.

[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by gustygulas

you can get a nice 2 bedroom 2 bath loft for the $1400 range. I have looked at some lofts and I saw one with an okay view for $850. This was a studio with around 650 square feet. Lofts are not cheap. I haen't seen any for rent at city federal but I can imagine if there were any they would be starting around 1,500 for a 1 bedroom.

One small child and one adult going to/working at UAB, the other? - there is not enough room for a laptop in a 650 sqf place.

[luvnnyc]

I live in Riverchase and would like to apologize - did not want to offend anyone. I think there are some really great people here in Birmingham. Perhaps the culture shock is the basis for my personal relocation challenges :)