Thinking of moving to Huntsville - What is it like - Really (Jacksonville: live, relocating to)

[mm42]

Prices have sort of flattened out here. I'm sending you a link via DM to a great blog that covers these issues.

Having a job down at GE gives you lots of options. Challenger area would be very convenient, but further north areas like Jones Valley would be a reverse commute with minimal traffic heading south on the Parkway. There are also more new homes further south, but more mature trees and nice shopping/restaurants further north.

In contrast to other areas I have lived, $/sqft is a popular way to track housing prices here. One thing: be skeptical of the quoted square footages for properties. Most are accurate, but some are not. We got down to a decision between two houses of supposedly similar square footage, but one seemed smaller to us - sure enough when we measured ourselves there was actually a big difference in square footage, because the smaller house had greatly overstated the figure.

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by sbrown143

This website is great. So many comments from actual residents about things that a realtor is not allowed to say.

We are moving from Minneapolis. My husband will work for GE way south on the Parkway, almost to the river. SE Huntsville is most convenient for him and I love the established neighborhoods with trees and lush landscaping. I have looked at Athens, Decatur and Madison but all are at least a 20 mile drive one way for him.

While at first I reacted badly to the "Alabama" news. Everyone he works with who has lived there or traveled there has only the best things to say about Huntsville. Now I am excited and looking forward to so much more house for our money.

Can anyone comment of the real estate market? Prices here are down maybe 15%. What's it like there?

I have looked at the Great Schools website; it's very helpful. We are planning a house hunting trip and will visit a couple of schools.

Now... my husband is a engineer but I promise we'll be good neighbors and not complain about the town. We are originally from Texas so that gives us southern roots.

Thanks for all the information here.

You can check out Valleymls.com for housing prices. What are you looking for in a house/area? What dollar amt?

I live 25 mins (20 miles) from H'ville in a small town with lots of ppl who commute everyday to the city, so be sure to ask here how long the commute would be for DH.
I think you will be surprised at the cost of houses and property taxes are low.

[sbrown143]

Thanks Keeper. I have looked at many houses on ValleyMLS. Are you south of the cities? My husband's work is way south on the parkway - so we're looking at southeast/south.

I'm concerned that because of traffic and distance anything north or maybe Madison would be too far. 20 miles. Or mostly there seems to be good choices in SE and good schools which would keep his commute less than 5-10 miles.

[Keeper]

Arab is south on 231 which becomes the Parkway when you hit Huntsville city limits.

My neighbor works on Redstone somewhere and makes it to work in 30 minutes, although I don't know exactly where on the arsenal. He gets off at 3 and is home no later than 3:30.

I know living in a small town isn't for everyone but if you are looking for excellent schools, then Arab is the place you want to be. The schools were rated #2 in the state. Pretty impressive for a town of 7,500. Over 70% of the HS seniors received scholarships to college.

It really depends on what you and your family consider important to have nearby where you live.

[madisonmamma]

Originally Posted by sbrown143

This website is great. So many comments from actual residents about things that a realtor is not allowed to say.

We are moving from Minneapolis. My husband will work for GE way south on the Parkway, almost to the river. SE Huntsville is most convenient for him and I love the established neighborhoods with trees and lush landscaping. I have looked at Athens, Decatur and Madison but all are at least a 20 mile drive one way for him.

While at first I reacted badly to the "Alabama" news. Everyone he works with who has lived there or traveled there has only the best things to say about Huntsville. Now I am excited and looking forward to so much more house for our money.

Can anyone comment of the real estate market? Prices here are down maybe 15%. What's it like there?

I have looked at the Great Schools website; it's very helpful. We are planning a house hunting trip and will visit a couple of schools.

Now... my husband is a engineer but I promise we'll be good neighbors and not complain about the town. We are originally from Texas so that gives us southern roots.

Thanks for all the information here.

Housing market is still stable and healthy. Prices in the 3rd and 4th quarter down less than 1% from previous year, although time on market was longer. Sales up 6% in December from November, and usually that is flipped. Low interest rates are jump starting the buyers, and the sellers are starting to realize that buyers are coming into the market in droves. Homes are selling on average (for the SE HSV area that you referenced) for almost 99% of list. Not too shabby!
There is always that "perfect storm" where a buyer can get a great deal...seller's circumstance usually dictates this. Builders inventory is still high, so they are reducing. Ken McDaniel recently dropped his inventory dramatically, and I have NEVER seen him do that across the board like that.
Throw the national media out the window here....

[MaryBeth2]

People talk of what concerns them the most, and for us it is the humidity. Can anyone tell me if the humidity is horrid? I, too, am looking for the opinions of people that live there and experienced it.
We are wanting to escape the swampland humidity here. I am so afraid of relocating to the same problem.
Thanks.

[madisonmamma]

Originally Posted by MaryBeth2

People talk of what concerns them the most, and for us it is the humidity. Can anyone tell me if the humidity is horrid? I, too, am looking for the opinions of people that live there and experienced it.
We are wanting to escape the swampland humidity here. I am so afraid of relocating to the same problem.
Thanks.

We moved back here from Florida (panhandle) and after living through that humidity, I don't think N AL is that bad! It can get somewhat humid during summer, but it is not horrible.

[MaryBeth2]

The thing is it is probably not as long lasting as it is here, is that right?
Thanks madisonmamma.

[madisonmamma]

Originally Posted by MaryBeth2

The thing is it is probably not as long lasting as it is here, is that right?
Thanks madisonmamma.

Pretty much....we do have 4 true seasons here. Springs and Falls are nice and mild, winters are cold, and summer's hot, but not unbearable heat. Humidity is much lower that coastal areas.

We were just excited to get back to 4 seasons...we were tired of 10 months of hot summer heat and a couple of cool months!

It is also beautiful here, and such a great location! Whether you want to ski or go to the beach, you are about a half day's drive away. I have moved many of my hubby's coworkers (Boeing) from Florida to here over the past two years and they all say they would never go back after living here!

[MaryBeth2]

Thank you so much madisonmanna. That is what I was wanting to hear. I know it gets hot everywhere seems now, but the duration and the humidity is what makes this unbarable to us (our opinion...good for those that like it). I want to look forward to summer instead of dreading it.