Can someone explain the Shelby County Rental Market? (Hoover, Alabaster: apartment, renter)

[eveches]

Any advice (specific or general) for a renter who’s new to the area? I've been searching for a while, but the area isn't like what I'm used to. There are hardly any apartment buildings and no one wants to be in the city!

I’m thinking about the Alabaster/Pelham/Helena area, as it would also give me the option of taking 65 or 119 to get to work (Montevallo). I was hoping to rent before I bought so that I could get a feel for the area, but when I look at a rental price vs a potential mortgage payment for the SAME HOUSE, the rent is a lot higher. Twice as much, in some cases.

I’m hoping not to go as far as Hoover because of the commute, but if I’m going to end up paying more than I'd prefer for a rental, I’d rather it be in a place where I might be able to walk to stores and restaurants. I really don’t want to do yard work, so I’d rather rent a condo or an apartment.

I’ve mostly been searching on Craigslist and Trulia--Am I missing a good source for rental listings? Are there any good apartment buildings in this area? The ones that I've found all have bad reviews online. Are there property management companies that I should seek out or avoid? Are the utilities lower or higher in different municipalities? I'm guessing electricity is the biggest bill here because of the summers.

[VeeBee66]

Not much help other than to say also check out Calera. It's a short drive to Montevallo and you may find some better rates on rentals. We bought a house in Calera earlier this year.

[eveches]

Originally Posted by VeeBee66

Not much help other than to say also check out Calera. It's a short drive to Montevallo and you may find some better rates on rentals. We bought a house in Calera earlier this year.

Thanks, I'll add Calera to my list!

[rawrockills]

I would postulate that most people looking to live/move to Shelby County are buyers and not renters so the market is geared towards that.