HUNTING....around the B'ham area.....

[UABinBHM]

Gardendale is already heating up...

Every month for a long time (with a few exceptions), Gardendale has established their own new record for building permits issued. There's a massive development going in right now (Lexington Park) which will add about 1,000 new homes. And that's just one development.

Current estimates put the Gardendale population around nearly 13,000... but it wasn't long ago that Gardendale was a small town of probably 5,000-6,000. Percentage-wise, nearby Kimberly is one of the fastest growing cities in the state. I think they've double or tripled their population just over the last several years. Make no mistake, though, Gardendale is at the center of this growth. Gardendale is in an advantageous position. The northern beltline will tie in to I-65 in Gardendale and will do for Gardendale what I-459 did for Hoover... and you know (or may not know) that Hoover is now a city of nearly 70,000. I'm not sure I want Gardendale quite THAT large, but it will probably be close to that in another couple decades.

[MrJP]

I tend to agree, the northern subberbs will get you more for the money. Just make sure it's not in North Birmingham.

A couple of other areas you may want to consider would be in the Trussville area (North East) and the Leeds/Moody (East) area. Trussville is growing like gangbusters, and Moody is just starting to take off. I think, Moody is reaping benefits of Honda build, and expanding, their plant just down the road in Lincoln.

If you decide to go the rent route, and can handle the urban lifestyle, there are quite a few places in the southside/highland park area that aren't too expensive. A very easy commute to Homewood, and about the safest area in downtown. Quite a few UAB students live there.

I tend to think the Over the Mountian (South Birmingham) area is about maxed out. Traffic is horrendous, and the infrastructure is overly taxed.