New build or nice neighborhood that isn't just big houses... (Birmingham: condo, townhouse)

[DigitalNomad143]

We are hoping to find a high quality single family home (not townhouse) neighborhood that is a nice size for us.

3-4 bedrooms, 2 baths are fine. We don't want a low quality home. We are looking for all the things a nice home would have, still have a nice size yard in a neighborhood. When we look the smaller home neighborhoods have small yards and often single family homes that are smaller are low quality. Are there neighborhoods where the home has all the nice things fine home would have but just not the McMansion size? We have one child in college, one going into high school and would like to have a transition house in a nice neighborhood. We plan to have a pool and a garden so prefer not a hilly neighborhood and hope to be on the west side near Hoover (with good schools), Oak Mountain area, Spain Park is great, Chelsea is fine but not first choice because of 280.

Thank you if you all know of a neighborhood we could check out.

[DigitalNomad143]

Home size of 1800-2400 sq ft but full brick and possible basement is fine. We are just looking for smaller but high quality with a big yard. Thanks again.

[Tourian]

I'm guessing Homewood, Vestavia and older parts of Hoover would have plenty of homes like that. They will just be older...like 30+ years old. Seems like all the newer construction in the trendy areas is going to have smaller lots, no trees and lesser quality. How big a yard is "big?"

[Mississippi Alabama Line]

All new construction seems to be crap, as far as I can tell. I think your best best are homes built in the 60s or 70s, at least around here. You'll likely have to repair some rotten wood and add insulation, but they are built best from what I've seen/heard.

So, that said, the areas Tourian said should be best. I will say that yards are hard to come by in Birmingham area. So much elevation change.

[DigitalNomad143]

Just a yard big enough for a pool and a garden but not just looking out at a wooden fence and power line lol. Thank you Tourian.

[steveklein]

I find it interesting that people say all new construction "seems to be crap"

Compare homes being built today with homes built 30-50 years ago and let me know which homes have better insulation, HVAC, electrical, windows, foundation, what building codes are met, etc.

There's no contest.

Things like room types and sizes have changed... and lot sizes have decreased significantly as people realized how terrible sprawl is... but there is no comparison between new construction today and homes built in the 60s. New homes are of significantly higher quality from a structural standpoint.

[Mississippi Alabama Line]

Originally Posted by steveklein

I find it interesting that people say all new construction "seems to be crap"

Compare homes being built today with homes built 30-50 years ago and let me know which homes have better insulation, HVAC, electrical, windows, foundation, what building codes are met, etc.

There's no contest.

Things like room types and sizes have changed... and lot sizes have decreased significantly as people realized how terrible sprawl is... but there is no comparison between new construction today and homes built in the 60s. New homes are of significantly higher quality from a structural standpoint.

That is plumb wrong.

The things that are better are ONLY better because codes changed, ie insulation and windows. And those are very easy to update in older homes. Plumbing and electrical will be better due to age alone. But framing and foundation? Man, get out of here. New construction is much crappier as far as those things go. Anyone in the business will tell you that.

HVAC? A legit LOL on that one. All you need is common sense. Many of those original AC units are STILL WORKING, 30-40 years later, while a modern day Trane goes out in 10 years. SMH.

[steveklein]

Originally Posted by Mississippi Alabama Line

That is plumb wrong.

The things that are better are ONLY better because codes changed, ie insulation and windows. And those are very easy to update in older homes. Plumbing and electrical will be better due to age alone. But framing and foundation? Man, get out of here. New construction is much crappier as far as those things go. Anyone in the business will tell you that.

HVAC? A legit LOL on that one. All you need is common sense. Many of those original AC units are STILL WORKING, 30-40 years later, while a modern day Trane goes out in 10 years. SMH.

Keep LOLing, and while you are at it... go buy an old, used HVAC unit next time you need a replacement because modern ones are so terrible.

[autiger92]

Originally Posted by Mississippi Alabama Line

That is plumb wrong.

The things that are better are ONLY better because codes changed, ie insulation and windows. And those are very easy to update in older homes. Plumbing and electrical will be better due to age alone. But framing and foundation? Man, get out of here. New construction is much crappier as far as those things go. Anyone in the business will tell you that.

HVAC? A legit LOL on that one. All you need is common sense. Many of those original AC units are STILL WORKING, 30-40 years later, while a modern day Trane goes out in 10 years. SMH.

I agree with you 100%--especially on the HVAC. I have a condo in Auburn with a Trane heatpump that was installed in 1986. It's had a few repairs in recent years, but it heats and cools great! I know it's not nearly as efficient as a new one, but, man, I hate to replace it.

OP: Sunny Meadows in the Oak Mt school district came to mind when you mentioned pool and garden. The area around hwy 119 between hwy 280 and I65 has some flat areas and larger lots. There is another neighborhood off 119 called Southern Pines that has larger lots and relatively flat. Not sure if there is anything on the market in either of those neighborhoods right now, but they are nice--worth checking out. No McMansions in either neighborhood. just normal sized houses with basements.

ETA: Maybe look in Meadow Brook off 280. My parents live there. Many homes are on large lots. My parents have well over half an acre. It's sloped, but they could definitely do a pool. Biggest obstacle to gardening in this area is all the trees. Too much shade.

[MinivanDriver]

Originally Posted by steveklein

I find it interesting that people say all new construction "seems to be crap"

Compare homes being built today with homes built 30-50 years ago and let me know which homes have better insulation, HVAC, electrical, windows, foundation, what building codes are met, etc.

There's no contest.

Things like room types and sizes have changed... and lot sizes have decreased significantly as people realized how terrible sprawl is... but there is no comparison between new construction today and homes built in the 60s. New homes are of significantly higher quality from a structural standpoint.

Yes and no.

In truth, materials and home construction have made new homes less safe, not more.

Underwriters Laboratories found that new homes burn roughly 8x faster than homes built before 1970. Part of that has to do with asbestos, but far more has to do with new materials.