Thinking of moving to Huntsville - What is it like - Really (Decatur: real estate market, for rent)

[boilrmkr]

We moved here 2 months ago and we are renting. We have a house for sale in Savannah and because we left all of our furniture in Sav. our apartment looks like a college dorm. The kids sleep on air mattresses and we eat at a card table. We have never been happier. The kids love school, my husband loves his job and I actually feel settled for the first time in my life. I grew up in a military family and many of us military brats have an internal clock that goes off about every 2-3 years that tells us it is time to move on. Even as an adult I still have this clock go off. But not anymore. I don't ever want to live anywhere else.

There is so much to do here. Two weeks ago we went to Sci-Quest for free and we will go back for the Halloween party. Today we went to the Air and Space museum for free and plan to go back to see the I-Max film. Next weekend is the Madison Streets Festival. There are so many events happening this fall and this winter. I can't wait to try them all.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by boilrmkr

many of us military brats have an internal clock that goes off about every 2-3 years that tells us it is time to move on.

Great line.

Originally Posted by boilrmkr

There is so much to do here. Two weeks ago we went to Sci-Quest for free and we will go back for the Halloween party. Today we went to the Air and Space museum for free and plan to go back to see the I-Max film. Next weekend is the Madison Streets Festival. There are so many events happening this fall and this winter. I can't wait to try them all.

How do you find out about when these (normally not free) things are free (my favorite word in the world)?

[boilrmkr]

Free. My favorite word too Charles. I saw the free weekend at Sci-Quest in the paper. I got lucky and happened to go into the Air and Space web-site about a month ago and they had the info there. The free day was sponsored by The Smithsonian. You had to fill out a simple form and print out the "card". It was good for 2 people to get in free. It said one per household but we printed out one with our current address and one with our other address. We are supporting 2 households. Four of us got in for free and we paid for one child. I think they may do this every year but I'm no sure. They were doing this for many museums around the country today. You can't beat 5 people getting in for $15.00!

[Huntsvillian]

I am actually a HSV native. Went to Blossomwood & Huntsville High. Both My mom & dad worked at Redstone. I am a professional in the healthcare field. While serving in the Navy, I lived near Chicago and Norfolk.

Huntsville has good schools and many churches. We have our share of chain restaurants, but after living here a while, you will find some nice local surprises.

Most areas in the SE, Madison & Hampton Cove are nice. Relitively little crime & traffic compared to big city.

Folks are fairly cosmopolitan around here. I never developed a heavy Southern accent after 50 years. We have our share of rednecks, but extreme behavior or attitudes are rare. As mentioned in earlier posts, the further away from Huntsville you get, the more Hee Haw it becomes.

Plenty of liquor and places to get liquor in Huntsville. A few upscale lounges and few joints.

People are fairly well educated here, probably higher % than the national average.

All in all, a good place to raise kids.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by gsp4ever

Unfortunately, it's been my experience that there are very few "walkable" areas of Huntsville and, those that are walkable are near areas of town with expensive housing--sometimes extremely expensive. Also, they've tried to "manufacture" walkable "main street" types of areas like Providence (and even Bridge Street) which is a bit odd to me but is obviously the going thing right now.

Huntsville doesn't get very high scores for walkability:

Walk Scores - How Walkable is your neighborhood?

[cre8tivejewels]

Hello Everyone!

I can't thank you enough for all of the positive information listed in this thread!

My husband and I are moving to Huntsville this July. My hubby will be working at the Missile
Defense Agency; he is a Naval Officer and we will be there for 3 years.

We are looking to rent a nice home; we own two houses and renting is just a better option for us. I have been looking everywhere online for a house. We have two daughters; one entering 5th grade and one entering 8th next year.

I am very interested in the Hampton Cove area. We are moving from Virginia Beach VA and I like living within a 10-15 minute drive or so to shopping areas, etc.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!

Regards,
Julie

[Charles]

Originally Posted by cre8tivejewels

My husband and I are moving to Huntsville this July.

We are looking to rent a nice home;

We have two daughters; one entering 5th grade and one entering 8th next year.

I am very interested in the Hampton Cove area.

I like living within a 10-15 minute drive or so to shopping areas

We live in Hampton Cove and we have four girls under 10.

Hampton Cove Elementary School, Hampton Cove Middle School, and Huntsville High School are Great Schools rated 10/10, 9/10, and 9/10 respectively.

Using valleymls I found 12 homes for rent in the Hampton Cove ES zone ranging from $1200 to $2700 per month.

Hampton Cove is very kid friendly. There are at least two other CD posters who live here and they have kids too.

I work in Research Park and it takes me 23 minutes from my garage to my parking lot.

The HOA fees are low but the Hampton House is not covered by HOA; it is separate but it isn't expensive. The HH is only available to people who live in Hampton Cove so it is not crowded. The HH has an Olympic size (really, it's 50 meters long) pool and a fitness facility (which I'm going to go use after I'm done posting this) and they're building a brand new huge fitness facility which should be done next summer. Unfortunealy the HH has a useless web page with no information on it.

Biggest negative: Serious sports (lacrosse, year round swim leagues, gymnastics) for older kids (middle school and up) are pretty much a drive away to Hunt Park or the Huntsville Natatorium for example. Hampton Cove has soccer fields and baseball fields and leagues for basketball but to compete at the next level outside of high school you have to drive. Also, Huntsville High School is like 12 miles away but your kids can take a bus.

The shopping basics are here but a lot of people shop (Super Target for example, Rave Movie Theater) in Jones Valley which is an extra ten minutes away. No big deal.

There's little movie here: http://www.hamptoncove.com/index.cfm


Hampton Cove Elementary



Hampton Cove Middle



Hampton House Pool


Random Neighborhood shot



Random Neighborhood shot



Walmart (Lowes and Publix across the street)

[cre8tivejewels]

Charles, I have to say......you are one great gentleman! Thank you for the photos and the information.
I have been looking on Valley MLS and this is my favorite place to look. Our budget is $1800. I am simply amazed at the beauty of Hampton Cove.

12 mile drive to High School? Holy smokes- that scares me a bit! I guess that will something I will have to get used to living down there. Our middle and high school here in our subdivision is only 1 1/2 miles from our home.

How close is the nearest grocery store? LOL

Can you tell me how far this community is from Whitesburg Baptist Church? I am looking for Baptist churches to worship in and this one has piqued my interest.

Again, thanks for the photos- I can't wait to show them to my family!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by cre8tivejewels

Charles, I have to say......you are one great gentleman!

How close is the nearest grocery store? LOL

My wife thinks I'm a good kisser too.

Publix is about one half mile away.

[cre8tivejewels]

You are too funny! : ) I think the Navy Captain that my husband will be working with lives there in Hampton Cove; I am going to find out where. It can't be that bad of a commute to the MDA- my hubby drives 35 mi each way to work here in VB. I love to shop at Publix. When we head down to Florida there is one near our Time Share. Thanks again for the pictures you shared- my 10 yo daughter was very happy to see them. It' will help with the move in the long run to see where you may be living and going to school.