Huntsville Area - 20 min radius, N, S, or East? (Decatur: equity, relocating)

[esgwat]

We are possibly relocating to HSV, non-military, and beginning to downsize. We want to rent a small home for a year, before purchasing. I have read the forums, and am very interested in the Northeast HSV area, after reading that a Super-Target may come to that area on East 72. We lived in Dallas, and know that ST are in the areas mostly likely to grow quickly. Sooo, where would be the best location, within a 20 min commute of University/231 for a home in the $150-175K price range? We have one child going to college in TN, and we homeschool the other, so schools don't matter. A safe area and resale value do, as we may want to sell in approx 5 years. We are trying to stay very conservative in price, to really boost up our retirement savings. However, we do own our current home outright, and we could probably get $200K for it. Is there an area on the verge of explosion that our property value would increase quickly? I've read about BRAC. Thanks!

[Sonic]

I'm interested to hear future respnoses. I'm not in Huntsville, but have heard many great things about the area.

[dbkeel1]

One place to keep an eye on area rentals is al.com - Everything Alabama (newpaper site, click on Huntsville). There are a few property management companies out there with homes for rent, too. When the BRAC announcement hit we had a rush of investors pop in here and buy up homes for rentals. Many found out that they were ahead of the curve by 3-4 years and the demand for rentals wasn't what they hoped. That's starting to change a little but we're still a year of two out.

With prices rising in this market, the sooner you're able to buy, the better for your equity. There are a couple of subdivisions in the NE with smaller new and resale homes. One, Chase Shadow at the base of Chapman Mountain, has resales but some have now hit listing prices of $100/sf due to the demand for smaller homes. There is some new construction in a popular subdivision named Deer Valley, too, a little bit father out but one of the few you can find in the $160-210K range for full brick.

I hear of both a Target (rumor is it'll be at Homer Nance Road and Winchester Road across from the new Publix) as well as a Walmart SC that might be at Shields Road and 72. No insider info here, though, just the rumor mill.

We live in the NE; the morning commute, only due to two stoplights on the way in, can be from 20 to 25 minutes. If there's a wreck on Chapman Mountain (which always seems to happen with a rainy day) it'll make it worse. There will, within the next 3-5 years, be an overpass at both locations and then there will be no stoplights between Scottsboro 30 minutes to the east and Decatur 30 minutes to the west.

[esgwat]

Thank you so much for this very helpful info. It's exactly what we needed!!!

Blessings!

[acrossthepond]

You might want to consider Fayetteville, TN area if you have a child in college in Tennessee. Tennessee does not have an Income Tax, although sales taxes and property taxes probably make up the difference, The lower tuition could make a difference.

Fayetteville is straight up Hwy 231/431 and probably no more than 30 minutes away.

I would recommend you making a weekend visit and travel the area.

Renting is a good idea as Huntsville is kind of like a Blind man and an elephant. No one but you can decide what is best for you. Lots of building going on over the mountain in Hampton Cove, the northeast where you refer, out in Madison, and up around the Northwest. Nice areas can also be found in Jones Valley. With that said, others would probably recommend other places such as Decatur.

Good luck on finding the home of your choice.

[thebigr]

One thing I don't like about Alabama is the tax on tag renewal for your vehicles. I have several motorcycles and nice cars and pickup trucks and I think I would need a part time job just to pay that. One reason Fayettville is looking good for me.

[jsherman9901]

Originally Posted by thebigr

One thing I don't like about Alabama is the tax on tag renewal for your vehicles. I have several motorcycles and nice cars and pickup trucks and I think I would need a part time job just to pay that. One reason Fayettville is looking good for me.

I moved away from Lincoln County a few years ago, but during the time I lived there, car tags were about $50/year each. Some of the surrounding TN counties were only $25 or so.

[esgwat]

Thank you for the advice about looking across the stateline in TN, because of our daughters attending a TN university. I did contact Union, and there is no price break on tuition for in-state students. There is one for church members of a Southern Baptist church associated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention, and perhaps the TN Hope scholarship. Our older daughter would not qualify on either, because you have to be a TN resident for one year, and she is enrolling in August '08.

So.. because of convenience while learning the area, we may go ahead and rent close in, and then start driving through the countryside when we get there. Being close to a Target SC and a Publix sounds mighty tempting.

[SandalFoot]

I live in the area due east of Huntsville, well within the 20 mile radius. Upon exiting east on I-565, which runs east/west through the center of the city, you'll find a scenic terrain, with mountain views, easy commute to the city, and low crime.

Based on your original post, you are right on target ... you can easily locate a home in 150-175K range and expect a good return of your investment in the 5 year range.

Originally Posted by esgwat

We are possibly relocating to HSV, non-military, and beginning to downsize. We want to rent a small home for a year, before purchasing. I have read the forums, and am very interested in the Northeast HSV area, after reading that a Super-Target may come to that area on East 72. We lived in Dallas, and know that ST are in the areas mostly likely to grow quickly. Sooo, where would be the best location, within a 20 min commute of University/231 for a home in the $150-175K price range? We have one child going to college in TN, and we homeschool the other, so schools don't matter. A safe area and resale value do, as we may want to sell in approx 5 years. We are trying to stay very conservative in price, to really boost up our retirement savings. However, we do own our current home outright, and we could probably get $200K for it. Is there an area on the verge of explosion that our property value would increase quickly? I've read about BRAC. Thanks!

[jtrigsby]

...we just moved to the area east of Huntsville you're talking about from Carrollton last August. Small world huh?

Thom