Relocating to Calera (Birmingham, Hoover, Pelham: real estate, high crime, new home)

[AngieandMike]

My husband may be transferring to Calera with his job. Right now we are living on the MS Gulf Coast and are looking forward to the possible change. No hurricanes to evacuate for. We have school aged children. 2nd and 5th grade. I'm also a science teacher. So, we are looking for information regarding school systems and neighborhoods. The 5th grader is involved in gymnastics and the 2nd grader likes cheer. We enjoy going out to eat, shopping, and going to the movies. We would like to be somewhat out in the country or have that country feel with city convenience. We are not looking for cookie cutter subdivisions with small lots either. A nice subdivision with large lots and house would be ok. Which areas would be best for us to look for housing? Thanks for your help.

[Coquis]

Calera is a nice area.....growing like a weed just like verywhere else south of B'ham. I actually live in Hoover about 20 miles north of calera, but spend lots of time there (I belong to the railroad museum).

I don't think there is any cheerleading gyms or gymnastic gyms in Calera, but there are gymnastic and cheerleading gyms in the grater Bham area.

There is still some open land to be had in Calera, but it's getting pricey. However, it may be a little cheaper a little further south.

Commute from that area (I-65) in & out of Birmingham at rush hour is AWFUL, but not bad the rest of the day.

Schools in that area are as good as any around. I think it's Shelby County School System.

[cct416]

Before commiting to a neighborhood in Calera be aware some of the Home Owner's Associations ran by these developers are very arbitrary and abusive with the residences. This could lead to expensive legal issues. I have personally found this to be the case in one of Calera's most high profile neighborhoods where the developer and his hand picked ARC committee are denying me "use and enjoyment" of a lot I own and have clear title. Buyer beware.

[Twostep]

You may want to go through the archives of the Birmingham paper. There are some issues with real estate in Calera - overbuilding, infrastructure not being built up in relation to new residences. A buyers' market. We live not ten minutes form Calera in a totaly different market/resident mind set. Will gladly answer detailed questions. Yes - B'Ham is a great city to move to and raise a family.

[steveklein]

calera area is booming, as is alabaster, chelsea, and the rest of shelby county. i always want to say north shelby county because that's what was booming 10 years ago, but now it's everywhere really.

shelby county school system is really good, though i think the best shelby county schools are probably the oak mountain schools up in far northern shelby county, where cost of living is a bit higher (but if you can afford it this is a FANTASTIC place to live and raise a family; commute to calera from oak mountain area is not bad at all; i would imagine only about 15 minutes because most of the traffic will be going the other direction!); the other area that pops into my mind is chelsea, which is a bit northeast of calera and is out on the highway 280 corridor, but is connected to I-65/US-31 by (not sure of this) county road 11 simmsville road). it is something like that.

the problem with all of these areas is that there is so much construction going on now (and since for the last 5-15 years really) that most of the new homes are on "cookie-cutter lots" typically smaller than a half acre, unless you want to spend a lot more money.

one really nice neighborhood that has a lot of new homes going up in all kinds of price ranges that you might want to consider is Ballantrae.(www.ballantraeal.com); (broken link) another is Weatherly. these are about halfway between Oak Mountain/Hoover and Calera and I believe is zoned to the Pelham schools.

it would help immensely if you could tell us if you are in the market for a 3, 4 or 5+ br home and what sort of price range you are aiming for as to what you can afford and where.

[sanibelle]

Do you know of any small acerage tracts that will allow a home woodworking shop between Oak Mountain and Calera? What price point?

[sanibelle]

Before commiting to a neighborhood in Calera be aware some of the Home Owner's Associations ran by these developers are very arbitrary and abusive with the residences. This could lead to expensive legal issues. I have personally found this to be the case in one of Calera's most high profile neighborhoods where the developer and his hand picked ARC committee are denying me "use and enjoyment" of a lot I own and have clear title. Buyer beware.[/quote]

[sanibelle]

We are not familiar with this area and need this type input. We would like to find small tract, 2-3 acres, and have an outbuilding for fairly large woodworking hobby shop. Do you know of an area where this would be possible?

[sanibelle]

Where is your location? We are not familiar with this area and are seeking a small tract, 2-3 acres, to build/buy a small 3/2 house with (or able to build) a fairly large woodworking hobby shop. So far our search has revealed areas too expensive for a retirement budget. Not to sound snooty, but we do not want to move to an area of "good ole boys", high crime, or less than honest builders, developers, etc.

[AngieandMike]

After researching Calera and going up there, we don't want to live in Calera. We definitely want to avoid I-65 area since the growth is booming. We would like a 3-4 bedrooms, 2 baths, basement, 2 car garage and some acreage. We could afford a $200,000 house. Thanks for replying. I didn't think anyone was going to.