Pinson alabama (Birmingham, Hoover, Trussville: apartments, rental, insurance)

[kygal502]

Ok I am not sure if the first went through. ANY idea of Pinson.. Is it country? I am a city gal, but fell in love with a picture of a house and I am not going to be able to fly back in to look at this area. I love Mt. Brook and hoover please advice of anything is there a clubhouse or anything. Thanks

[jakabedy]

Pinson is fairly rural and fairly blue collar, although there are some newer large-home developments that have been built out there in the last 5-10 years. If you love Hoover and Mtn. Brook, I don't think Pinson is what you are looking for. It is a bit remote and you have to drive into town on 79, which while it is 4-lane and 6-lane in places, it isn't an interstate so has lots of stop lights and traffic. Also, the schools are completely different, if schools are an issue for you.

As for a clubhouse, it would depend on the development.

[harry chickpea]

If you love Mt. Brook and Hoover, you will not like Pinson. Yes, it is country. A clubhouse in Pinson would likely be the local raccoon hunter's clubhouse, complete with hounds.

[kygal502]

OK, I am so lost! I can't find a house to my liking! I dont do apartments and I am going to still have a mortgage here in Kentucky to fall back on in case there is that chance in 1 year I want to come home. I can't spend over $1200 and I dont want to spend that much. Any clue of any nice newer areas for a family with kids... but not a place loaded with kids. LOL

[harry chickpea]

If you rule out apartments and want newer, maybe the Trussville area would have something. You are setting up some difficult rules. For one, "newer" rules out the entire greater city core. Yet you say you are a "city gal". Can you say mutually exclusive?

What you are describing is wanting a newer yuppie suburban area, near the city, where you can rent a house for less than $1200. I think you are describing a tiny tiny niche that you might only find with constant effort and a lot of time and luck.

I'd suggest you re-evaluate your desires vs. your needs. If you have kids you want decent schools (unless you have money to pay for private schools). If you "don't do" apartments, I would suggest you at least consider duplexes. Further, unless you are able to pay top dollar, FORGET renting a house in a new area. Think about it. Why would someone build a new house in such an area and rent it within five years? The only substantial reason I can think of are job transfers and a desire to return to the area eventually. Houses that rent for less than $1200 are more likely to be of the pre-1980 vintage and in established neighborhoods.

Remember that google maps have satellite and street views. You can do a lot of looking at areas from your chair.

[Threestep]

Inverness/Greystone/Calera is out. You may be lucky and find a needle in a haystack through networking with future managers/coworkers. Have you gone through the rental section of the Birmingham News? The on line version is pretty good.

[jakabedy]

There are options out there, but it won't be nice and new and cute and safe and in the city and $1,200. That house just doesn't exist. I think we need more info on your must haves.

- Where are you and/or spouse going to be working (the commute needs to be considered).
- What ages are the kids and will you need public school?
- Is it important to get the kids into the school system that they will remain in should you decide after a year to stay in B'ham? Or do you/they not mind a possible switch after a year?
- What do you need in a school? (athletics, music, gifted classes, special ed, higher science/math, etc.)
- What is your absolute minimum in numbers of bedrooms and baths?
- Is a garage a must-have? One-or two-car?
- What is your minimum square footage?
- How many parking spaces do you need?
- What do you mean by "new"? No more than 5 years old? No more than 10 years old?
- How restrictive of a subdivision do you want?
- Is a clubhouse/pool a must-have?

[kygal502]

Liviing in Louisville, I have a new house my payment is $800.00 including my taxes and insurance. I live 19 minutes from the downtown area and around me are malls, schools, doctors and everything you would want or need. Alabama is so different. One person says this area is nice the next person says its crime everywhere. SO I dont know where to look. I mean a newer home not a shotgun style house it can be made in the 80's as long as it doesnt look like the 80's inside. I mean come one your making your area sound really like the worse place to look.

[kygal502]

Jake thank you, you sound like you have been doing this alot. NEW means I don't want a house over 10 years old, I want it to be updated. Schools are highschool and if we don't get her into hoover high I will most likey homeschool her as she is in private school right now. I need a least 3 bedrooms with a den. Garage its not a biggie. I dont want to be in all the downtown traffice but he will be working in downtown birmingham as he will be driving to the hospitals like trinty and others on a daily basis as he is an inspector for YOUR hospitals. I need to have space for at least 3 cars and not sure if he is accepting the company car yet. I dont mind rurual areas I just dont want to have to drive 25 minutes to get to a small store in case I need something or milk in the middle of the night? I have to and I mean have to live by civilization so is that in Pinson or not. I do not like to travel far for things I must use everyday the stores or a drive thru McDonalds. LOL But I would say 20 minutes on the outskirts would be fine as long as its a neighborhood with street lights and sidewalks not cows and hay!

[harry chickpea]

I'm going to go out on a limb here. I don't think you'll like Alabama. Sorry.