Huh. My Realtor is dissuading us from Decatur. (Birmingham, Huntsville: real estate market, renter)

[33458]

More than one house down there (well, up from me, down from Huntsville) and another in Hartselle that are at the top of my list, but since we haven't actually SEEN them in person yet (or the neighborhoods) I don't know anything beyond that.

Have been corresponding by email with my Realtor and spoke with him myself for the first time today...when I mentioned that some of the homes we were very interested in seeing were down there, he seriously tried to advise us against it.
"Low economic growth" and "poor resale", etc...and since we're considered white-collar, he made the pronouncement that those who work in Huntsville usually live there, too.

I'm pretty sure I know exactly what he was trying to say. But we aren't in want of avoiding blue-collar neighbors and don't need a shiny, gated private community. We both grew up in a haughty area and never much appreciated it. Less enthralled with HOA.

I'll know better tomorrow whether he thinks we're of that ilk or if he has genuine concerns about the neighborhoods we're about to research.

[Southlander]

I'll bet if you worked in Decatur, he wouldn't mind showing you something in Huntsville. What I find is that it's too far for Huntsville people to drive over to Decatur, but it's not too far for us to drive there. Tell him if he won't show you what you want to look at, you can find somebody else who will!

[Keeper]

If you know the area, ask the good folks here what they think. No one has an anything to gain by telling you their HO. If he is only interested in showing you homes he has listed that should tell you where his priorities are in selling you a house. When I left FL. I knew I didn't want to live in a subdivision where all the houses looked alike anymore. I love it up here and hopefully fall is just around the corner. We had a few nights in the low 50s over the weekend. Keep us updated

[33458]

Well, I only have street addresses from the customer report...

Pinehurst Drive SW in Decatur. (3000 block)

Pearl Street in Hartselle. (200 block)

I'm leery to post the MLS numbers...(I'm in love with both of these houses, minus some wallpaper!)

[NicoleC]

I wouldn't exactly call that area of Hartselle trashy (as your agent seems to insinuate), but no, it's not a growth area either. That neighborhood might possibly be a moderately declining area. The hot new restaurant in Hartselle is the Captain D's and the local teens hang out in the parking lot of the 24 hour Kroger. It's that kind of town. Also Hartselle is dry, Decatur is wet. Hartselle has a deeply held small town mentality and is insular, although not in an unfriendly or unwelcoming way.

Be forewarned: Hartselle is a pretty long drive from Huntsville. It's a 60 minute/ 45 mile commute each way.

I'm not familiar enough with that section of Decatur to comment on the other house.

I think your agent may be legitimately looking out for your interests here, at least as s/ he perceives them. (Which doesn't mean they aren't misaligned with what you really want.) As Hartselle goes, that isn't the best part of it. If you want to PM me the MLS number of the Hartselle property I may be able to give some more specific info, and since I'm selling in Hartselle, not looking, you don't have to worry about me sniping you.

[dbkeel1]

First, it's supposed to be illegal for Realtors to attempt to steer clients from anywhere they want to look. We all know that. We're supposed to show our clients the homes they'd like to see, talk about features and benefits, offer the data the comps tell us about current value and current resale (time on the market), offer our opinions only when asked and let them decide for themselves. I typically spend between 3 and 5 days with relocation clients. In that time we cover the area in a grid-like manner if they have a ton of homes to see (one couple recently wanted to see 58 homes-literally-and ultimately bought the 5th home they saw in day one). Or we narrow our focus to one certain school district or to homes with large lots, those with 5 bedrooms or whatever the need or desire is. Spending the time that's necessary with folks to acquaint them with the area is what we do (or what we're supposed to do). Sorry you had a less than adequate experience but there are many of us out there who will serve you much better, I assure you.

[Bravo35223]

I'm not a realtor so I can weigh in with a different view.

First, I live in Birmingham but am familiar with North Alabama. I have watched Huntsville grow from a little cotton town to a high tech center with excelllent demographics. In many ways, the best in Alabama in terms of average household income, educational attainment, etc.

I have nothing against Decatur at all. It is a very pretty town on the river and has a traditional 'Alabama-economy' based on manufacturing.

But honestly, if I was moving into the area and had job(s) in Huntsville, I'd live there without hesitation. It's GROWING....has a very strong economy based on high tech, aerospace and defense. And with the BRAC realignment bringing in many newcomers, its real estate market is going to be considerably stronger than Hartselle/Decatur.

It all depends on what you want. IF you want a more rural setting, then find it somewhere in Madison County, just away from the urban area....

I went to college in 1973 at the University of Alabama. One of my fraternity pledge brothers and I met for the first time. I asked him where he was from and he said, "Huntsville, BUT I"M REALLY FROM HUNTSVILLE" - translated: his family had lived there for generations. He was not one of the people who worked for US ARMY, NASA, BOEING, Northrup Grumman etc.

As I would go up there to see his house, I saw the town growing and growing with the Cummings Research Park. Huntsville has excellent government that is scandal-free and is known for good planning. Downtown Huntsville has been preserved rather than running down.

I am a big fan of Huntsville AL and think you should consider very hard before buying a home outside of Madison County. Its a winner.

Just my two cents worth IMHO.

[Southlander]

That's a VERY nice street in Decatur. Some lovely older homes there...older meaning 20 to 30 years old. My sister-in-law lives in the patio homes on down on Spring Avenue. I can't remember if you had kids, but on that side of Spring they go to Decatur High School &, I believe, Francis Nungester Elementary. Not sure about middle school.

[Monicaabc]

Originally Posted by Bravo35223

I'm not a realtor so I can weigh in with a different view.

First, I live in Birmingham but am familiar with North Alabama. I have watched Huntsville grow from a little cotton town to a high tech center with excelllent demographics. In many ways, the best in Alabama in terms of average household income, educational attainment, etc.

I have nothing against Decatur at all. It is a very pretty town on the river and has a traditional 'Alabama-economy' based on manufacturing.

But honestly, if I was moving into the area and had job(s) in Huntsville, I'd live there without hesitation. It's GROWING....has a very strong economy based on high tech, aerospace and defense. And with the BRAC realignment bringing in many newcomers, its real estate market is going to be considerably stronger than Hartselle/Decatur.

It all depends on what you want. IF you want a more rural setting, then find it somewhere in Madison County, just away from the urban area....

I went to college in 1973 at the University of Alabama. One of my fraternity pledge brothers and I met for the first time. I asked him where he was from and he said, "Huntsville, BUT I"M REALLY FROM HUNTSVILLE" - translated: his family had lived there for generations. He was not one of the people who worked for US ARMY, NASA, BOEING, Northrup Grumman etc.

As I would go up there to see his house, I saw the town growing and growing with the Cummings Research Park. Huntsville has excellent government that is scandal-free and is known for good planning. Downtown Huntsville has been preserved rather than running down.

I am a big fan of Huntsville AL and think you should consider very hard before buying a home outside of Madison County. Its a winner.

Just my two cents worth IMHO.

This post is good, don't move to Hartselle............Seriously......Huntsville is a great town. Keep reading, you'll get more good info from this forum. You must visit, ride around & feel the area out. Everyone has a different desire....there is no replacement for you yourself going and looking. My husband and I are moving to TN. we have been a few times and we have benefited so much from visiting and riding around the areas & talking to people. If that isn't possible, I would suggest renting first. I don't know where you are from, but sometimes in N. AL (I'm sorry folks I was born and raised in N AL) progressive means normal.

[33458]

Hey all, I'm back from our brief visit.

Glad to say that our guy turned out to be worth his weight, was very helpful after all...

I do think there was a bit of a pre-conception in his way, associating the usual turn-around of engineers in the area (this year here, next one in California, what-have-you) and wanted us to understand if we were moved it would be more difficult in some areas...but since we OPTED for this relo, we plan to stick around.
He was very understanding once we all got on the same page and I quite like him.

I LOVE Huntsville. I love all of you there. Everybody smiled, greeted, cagoled...not a single person looked at me like I had a third eye.

Also, DUDE, that particular neighborhood in Decatur was VERY, VERY nice. I can understand how he might think that we, coming from a very shiny, subURBAN, cosmopolitan community might do better in Huntsville, but honestly I saw no problem with most everywhere we went and we drove all over the place...isn't like we can't drive in.

We had to relinquish the thought of any homes currently on our list for various reasons (travel actually being the least - here in S. FL we're used to driving long distances) but I am THRILLED to be moving there - where-ever we wind up.

That Hampton Cove (or whatever that was that came before New Hope) area right outside Huntsville has a grand view and open spread, might see about grabbing some land and building my new-to-look-old farmhouse if we can't find something that suits our needs already.

Anyway, it was a beneficial trip and I look forward to being a temporary renter in Research Park until we find or build. This, being my second trip there, served to reaffirm our decision.

See y'all in a month!

P.S.
Yes, we yankees in FL say y'all sometimes, too.