Moving from the Grand Rapids, MI area to the McCalla/Bessemer, AL area. (Birmingham: rental)

[catryat05]

Hi there,

After being laid off for a year, I am happy to say my husband has been offered a job in the McCalla/Bessemer area.

Now we are trying to figure out the best area to live for our family.
I will try to give you as much information up front:

We have 2 boys, ages 8 & 12 yrs old. We are relocating from Michigan and currently live in a very rural area with population aprox. 5,000.

We are looking for a nice, temporary (maybe a year) rental home until we become more familiar and acclimated with the area. If you have any rental property advice you could share that would be wonderful.

We are looking for a similar school district as the one our boys attend now....aprox. 220 students per grade level, predominately white, state test scores of average or above, teacher to parent relationship encouraged through-out the grade levels.
Just overall a great, friendly and safe community to raise a family.

If you have any advice about which locations we should concentrate our search, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by catryat05

Hi there,

After being laid off for a year, I am happy to say my husband has been offered a job in the McCalla/Bessemer area.

Now we are trying to figure out the best area to live for our family.
I will try to give you as much information up front:

We have 2 boys, ages 8 & 12 yrs old. We are relocating from Michigan and currently live in a very rural area with population aprox. 5,000.

We are looking for a nice, temporary (maybe a year) rental home until we become more familiar and acclimated with the area. If you have any rental property advice you could share that would be wonderful.

We are looking for a similar school district as the one our boys attend now....aprox. 220 students per grade level, predominately white, state test scores of average or above, teacher to parent relationship encouraged through-out the grade levels.
Just overall a great, friendly and safe community to raise a family.

If you have any advice about which locations we should concentrate our search, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

McCalla would probably be best. Bessemer wouldn't be as good a choice, IMHO.

[Back Again]

Just remember, their are areas that are unincorporated Jefferson County that people refer to as Bessemer that is as nice as McCalla. So do not shy away from something just because you hear the word Bessemer. A good Realtor can help you there.

[catryat05]

Thanks for the info. My husband and I are open to finding a home within 30 minutes or so of his job. After reading some of the forum posts on here, it sounds like there are many nice areas to choose from.

[cassy1]

Helena might fit you also, it is a little more rural and housing prices are good. Can't really help on the school there because our children are grown and still in MI. Your post caught my attention because we are from Rockford, MI and my grown children are still living in the GR area. I think you will really like it here, we lived in NC before moving here and this is much more like home Traffic is worse here, but everything else is wonderful.
Get a good relocation expert to help with your decisions. South of Birmingham is growing but I understand that the Shelby School system is good.

[catryat05]

Thank you, "cassy1"! My family has Rockford ties as well. My mother lived in Rockford most of her childhood and graduated from Rockford. At 78 years old, she still attends the class reunions and my uncle still lives on the family farm off 11 mile.

Thank you for the information regarding Helena. I will have to check that area out. We are looking for a location near McCalla similar to where we are now. Are you familiar with the Caledonia/Middleville area in Michigan? We are hoping to find a relatively small, rural town with great schools and a friendly, safe community.

Relocating can be such a difficult task when you are tyring to make sure you choose the appropriate school district for your families needs. I very much appreciate the advice!

We are hoping the move will take place around the 1st of the new year. : )

[Back Again]

Where in McCalla will your husband be working?

[Back Again]

Originally Posted by cassy1

Helena might fit you also, it is a little more rural and housing prices are good. Can't really help on the school there because our children are grown and still in MI. Your post caught my attention because we are from Rockford, MI and my grown children are still living in the GR area. I think you will really like it here, we lived in NC before moving here and this is much more like home Traffic is worse here, but everything else is wonderful.
Get a good relocation expert to help with your decisions. South of Birmingham is growing but I understand that the Shelby School system is good.

Helena is a very nice place to live, but more rural then the McCalla area? I beg to differ.

[cassy1]

I meant that Helena was a nice smaller area and giving that I know the area that she is speaking of I think she might like it. McCalla is also nice I really don't know much about it, therefore I can't comment on it.
You will find what you are looking for here, nice and much like the area of Michigan we are from. The people are so friendly and not so cold nor the snow here. Well welcome and please IM me if I can help with anything.
By the way tell your Mom "Go Rams, GO!". Two of my three children graduated from Rockford High, good school system. By the way I have a cousin that lives out your way. lol, small world.

[Back Again]

Originally Posted by cassy1

I meant that Helena was a nice smaller area and giving that I know the area that she is speaking of I think she might like it. McCalla is also nice I really don't know much about it, therefore I can't comment on it.
You will find what you are looking for here, nice and much like the area of Michigan we are from. The people are so friendly and not so cold nor the snow here. Well welcome and please IM me if I can help with anything.
By the way tell your Mom "Go Rams, GO!". Two of my three children graduated from Rockford High, good school system. By the way I have a cousin that lives out your way. lol, small world.

Yes I agree that Helena is a very quaint town, I just love every time I have the need to drive through it.