Best suburb/city outside Birmingham to live? Moving. (Cullman, Springville: rentals, good credit)

[gmatthew]

My boyfriend and I are moving to Alabama at the end of this summer and we need any info, advice and help.

Temporarily we need to rent. We have 2 dogs: Boston Terriers -small. Our price range would be 750-1000, hopefully on the bottom end, , and a fenced in area for the dogs would be a big plus. 3 bedrooms is preferred.

I am an experienced teacher: elem, high school, doesn't matter and would need to find a job in the area. Boyfriend is a truck driver so his job wouldn't be local anyway: no probs there.

In the summer, we have my son, who is 11. We are a quiet couple, and love small town atmosphere, and SAFE please (our house was just broken into down here,) but don't at all mind a city/suburb that's bigger if it meets these qualifications.

I love libraries, culture, museums, local theater, and the hodgepodge of happenings on the artsy end of things. A local university is always awesome.

We love nature, but are not avid outdoor enthusiasts. Space and grass between homes and apts is great; I don't particularly love hearing my neighbor's toliet flush if you know what I mean.

We would appreciate any information, advice, help. We need to get out of Florida. The economy and gun-shots in the neighborhood are just too much.

[Back Again]

Ill keep an eye out for you on home rentals, but please verfy what your definition of temporarily. What length of time are you looking to rent for?

Also, if you have good credit and some money saved, say $10K you could buy a nice 3 bedroom, fully fenced-in back yard townhome in some safe areas.

[Threestep2]

@@@Back Again
You wanted to say that depending on credit history and employment 10k may be a down payment on a place of their own? Just for my curiosity - which lender goes under 20%? Thank you.

@@@gmatthew
You may want to check into your employment before making a move. School districts are laying off due to budget constraints. Yes, several Philipino teachers will come to Birmingham on a one-year contract but that is another story.

[Back Again]

Originally Posted by Threestep

@@@Back Again
You wanted to say that depending on credit history and employment 10k may be a down payment on a place of their own? Just for my curiosity - which lender goes under 20%? Thank you.

@@@gmatthew
You may want to check into your employment before making a move. School districts are laying off due to budget constraints. Yes, several Philipino teachers will come to Birmingham on a one-year contract but that is another story.

There are still programs that will let you borrow 100% - The Rural Development Program and there are homes in Jefferson and Shelby County that qualify. Also you have the First Step Program, which will allow you to borrow 99.5%. And FHA will still let you borrow 96.5%.

Also, yes, I was not clear, $10k would be a down payment, not the price of the home - Sorry

[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by Back Again

There are still programs that will let you borrow 100% - The Rural Development Program and there are homes in Jefferson and Shelby County that qualify. Also you have the First Step Program, which will allow you to borrow 99.5%. And FHA will still let you borrow 96.5%.

Also, yes, I was not clear, $10k would be a down payment, not the price of the home - Sorry

No reason to be sorry - picky former banker:>) Back to my question - program like the ones you mention require gainful employment?

[Back Again]

Originally Posted by Threestep

No reason to be sorry - picky former banker:>) Back to my question - program like the ones you mention require gainful employment?

Yes, but you do not need to have been on the job for any lenght of time. I just did a closing where the buyer (first time home buyer) JUST took a new job here in Birmingham and was approved. He just started the job one week prior to the closing. Crazy I know. So much for the changes we need to keep this mess from happening again.

[Guntersville Boomer]

There are several cute small towns just outside Birmingham so you have the big city when you want it but can retreat back to small town. Springville is an option or maybe take a look at Cullman. If you can survive on your boyfriend's salary until you can get your Alabama teaching certificate that might allow you the ability to do some substitute teaching and get some connections and hopefully get yourself back into teaching full time. There are not strict requirements of certification for substitutes. I am retiring the end of the year and we decided to retire in Alabama because we also felt we needed a change so I know how you feel, good luck to you!

[Keeper]

There are a lot of small towns that have former FL residents. GB is right Unless you have to live in B'ham area, you can live in a small town and rent for much less than the $$ you listed. The biggest issue will be finding someone to rent to you with dogs.