Huntsville Hopeful (Montgomery, Madison, Jackson: townhouse, established neighborhood, to buy)

[gsp4ever]

Yes, 150K is more reasonable. And you may find something good in the neighborhood of $125K. Charles gave you a link to Valleymls which will help you search and, for now, I'd stay far away from these Huntsville city high school zones: Butler, Johnson, Lee. Columbia HS is pretty sketchy right now but it's because it is a new school and they are having to bus in students from the bad areas to comply with a federal desegregation order. I'm not too concerned about that, HSV will "find a way" to fix this as there is too much land in that Western Huntsville area to develop to let Columbia HS slip too far. It will take a few years.

Bob Jones HS in Madison will be a good zone and Sparkman HS in the County is good too and those are closer to reasonable commute times IMO. Hazel Green and Buckhorn (county) are pretty good but I think those are too far outside the city for what you want. Huntsville HS and Grissom HS are the ones to consider in Huntsville city limits and I think you'll find more lower priced, older homes in the Grissom area but it's really the better of those two Huntsville schools. So, in my opinion, price range in the high school zones is the easiest way to search it.

I have found there to be religious tolerance in Huntsville. I've had people ask me if/where I go to church, but not many. I think they are just curious. I tell them I'm catholic and they say, "oh okay". If you work in the Research Park and are in the defense industry, I can't imagine that you'll have much trouble. Maybe someone who is Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc. will chime in here. We have all of that represented here but it is still largely protestant Christian. It is the South but there are so may transplants that I just don't think it matters much. As you move into the rural areas of the county, you may find more of that "inquiring mind" if you know what I mean.

OKAY--LET ME WARN YOU. Lots of the voting locations are in churches around here. This is very weird to me. My voting location is in a Church of Christ, in fact, and it's a little bit strange to be lining up in what appears to be the sanctuary. And voting is not very private either. Though you can have access to the carrolls or booths most people at my location just sit around big tables and fill out their ballot. I've even had people ask me if I'm going to vote for so-and-so (this is at the table mind you) or they'll make a comment like, "I always vote the straight democratic ticket, don't you?" I really don't think they mean anything by it.

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by here4more

I think that you will find HSV is a wonderful place to live. As stated previously, the scenery is beautiful.

Here’s a good link for you: Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitor's Bureau Website

AND…

We have movies in the park: 2008 Concerts in the Park Schedule

Galaxy of lights @ Xmas: Galaxy of Light - Christmas Lights - Holiday Events in Huntsville

Big Spring Jam: Big Spring Jam XVI

Panoply: Panoply - Home

The Huntsville Land Trust does a good job at making certain not every piece of dirt is used for development: Properties (good hiking)

Burritt on the Mountain (features hiking trails): Burritt on the Mountain - Home

Three Caves in Blossomwood area: Three Caves

The newly opened Bridgestreet, the talk of the town: Bridge Street Town Centre


You'll be close enough to just about anything that you'd wanna do... Nashville, B'ham, ATL, Chattanooga, Tunica, Gatlinburg… you’re right in the center of everything! So…
Com’on down… We'd love to have you make our home, your home!

Peace & Blessings,

::Here4More::

Thank you for these wonderful links. Lots to research, that's for sure.

[CA central coast]

Uh What? no beer over 6%. no micro-brew? I've been reading Charles' threads, so I thought I'd look into Huntsville. If I can't get my Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale somehow, then I ain'ts a movin' ther!!!

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by gsp4ever

Yes, 150K is more reasonable. And you may find something good in the neighborhood of $125K. Charles gave you a link to Valleymls which will help you search and, for now, I'd stay far away from these Huntsville city high school zones: Butler, Johnson, Lee. Columbia HS is pretty sketchy right now but it's because it is a new school and they are having to bus in students from the bad areas to comply with a federal desegregation order. I'm not too concerned about that, HSV will "find a way" to fix this as there is too much land in that Western Huntsville area to develop to let Columbia HS slip too far. It will take a few years.

Thank you for this info. Are you recommending a school zone search for neighborhoods for property value/resale considerations or for safety (or both? since I guess they are interconnected). I guess I didn't really consider neighborhoods based on school zones, since I don't have children, but I suppose this is rather short-sighted, seeing property values hold better in better neighborhoods.

Originally Posted by gsp4ever

Bob Jones HS in Madison will be a good zone and Sparkman HS in the County is good too and those are closer to reasonable commute times IMO. Hazel Green and Buckhorn (county) are pretty good but I think those are too far outside the city for what you want. Huntsville HS and Grissom HS are the ones to consider in Huntsville city limits and I think you'll find more lower priced, older homes in the Grissom area but it's really the better of those two Huntsville schools. So, in my opinion, price range in the high school zones is the easiest way to search it.

Thank you for this info. A good reference point for me, especially once I start the search.

Originally Posted by gsp4ever

I have found there to be religious tolerance in Huntsville. I've had people ask me if/where I go to church, but not many. I think they are just curious. I tell them I'm catholic and they say, "oh okay". If you work in the Research Park and are in the defense industry, I can't imagine that you'll have much trouble. Maybe someone who is Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc. will chime in here. We have all of that represented here but it is still largely protestant Christian. It is the South but there are so may transplants that I just don't think it matters much. As you move into the rural areas of the county, you may find more of that "inquiring mind" if you know what I mean. .

Understand completely.

Originally Posted by gsp4ever

OKAY--LET ME WARN YOU. Lots of the voting locations are in churches around here. This is very weird to me. My voting location is in a Church of Christ, in fact, and it's a little bit strange to be lining up in what appears to be the sanctuary. And voting is not very private either. Though you can have access to the carrolls or booths most people at my location just sit around big tables and fill out their ballot. I've even had people ask me if I'm going to vote for so-and-so (this is at the table mind you) or they'll make a comment like, "I always vote the straight democratic ticket, don't you?" I really don't think they mean anything by it.

That is just the strangest thing. Oh well. Each place, as you say, has its unique qualities.

Where can I find out about job fairs? Although I'm currently with a company, I want to explore all options should I not find an avenue to transfer, and I think making network connections in person is better than sending a resume and cover letter into the virtual black hole.

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by CA central coast

Uh What? no beer over 6%. no micro-brew? I've been reading Charles' threads, so I thought I'd look into Huntsville. If I can't get my Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale somehow, then I ain'ts a movin' ther!!!

I've really grown to love Alaskan brand beer. Maybe it has something to do with my frequent visits to Juneau. I love their summer and India pale ale as well as amber. When I was in Kentucky, they had a microbrew called Bluegrass, I think. Pretty good stuff. I like a nice beer in the summer. It's the only time I drink the stuff. Wine the rest of the time with dinner.

[gsp4ever]

Hubby is a beer lover and, quite frankly, there is very ho-hum beer here in Alabama. There is a movement to change this strange percentage limitation but it has to be voted on by the legislature or something. They are working on it--here is the inside scoop:
Free The Hops | Alabamians For Specialty Beer

CACentral--can't tell if you are serious or not, but there won't be any Celebration ale or Bigfoot found here. We get ours when we go home to VA, if it is available. Hubby gets most of his beer when he goes to Nashville on business. As for Sierra Nevada, you can find the pale ale, wheat, porter (is that the light blue package) at the grocery stores along with Anchor Liberty and Steam. I believe he buys Red Seal and Harpoon here, too. Publix has a decent beer selection as does Star Supermarket and the BP station in Five Points. Lots of German beers here as there is quite a German population.

[ionlife]

Originally Posted by CA central coast

Uh What? no beer over 6%. no micro-brew? I've been reading Charles' threads, so I thought I'd look into Huntsville. If I can't get my Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale somehow, then I ain'ts a movin' ther!!!

That's so funny--my hubby brought down his special scotch for the same reason and I brought down my french cassis--every trip to FX Va will be a run to the booze store as well LOL

I'll check the stores for microbrews when I run out today to get more groceries. Gosh--it's like we went to zero to move here (saving only my precious spices from Penzey's--thank goodness for the Internet!) and I had to replace all my essentials. Every time I think about making something (yes -- I am cooking while unpacking and trying to settle in!) I realize I have forgotten that type of vinegar or that kind of whatever. It's an adventure.

[gsp4ever]

Cobolt--I recommend initially searching with price range and school zone because it is easier and will generally take care of the sketchy neighborhoods that may be unsafe. Resale is theoretically easier in good school zones (my comment on the best schools getting better and worst get worse) and both are apparently a major consideration for most folks moving to this area--especially those who may only be here for a few years. If you get serious and work with a good realtor they could help you out with neighborhoods that are in some of the poor school zones. It's almost too much to mention specific neighborhoods here but there are "diamonds in the rough" in even the bad zones. For example, I wouldn't totally rule out the part Five Points area that is in the Lee HS zone because HSV is trying to work out some issues in that area. Also read the thread on the "Downtown Rescue Mission" if you really want to get an insiders view. But you have to really know what you are doing as you can have a nice home (and mega pricey if in five points) but literally have a crack house or bad neighbor just a block or two away. Also, people are asking top dollar for homes in Five Points, Blossomwood and Monte Sano and some of it just junk. They are investors or people who are selling to the good folks from CA that they think will just pay anything and do a teardown or they have some aging/deceased parent and they are trying to sell the house to make a tidy profit (many of these "kids" don't even live in HSV anymore but they know that mom and dad *should* be owning a prime piece of real estate)

There have been some posts on job fairs and job searching in the area, but I'm afraid I'm not well versed on this. There is typically a job fair at the Von Braun Civic Center and I think it is in the Spring, but I may be mistaken. Go to the local WAFF television station website as they have a job link, but I think you may be better to look at some of the previous posts from ZennJen and Charles.

[cobolt]

Is there a Trader Joes in HSV or any food specialty stores?

[gsp4ever]

No Trader Joes. Closest is Atlanta, I believe. We do have Costco and Sams. Don't know what you mean by food "specialty stores" but we have locally owned Indian and Asian grocery stores. Garden Cove is our vegetarian/vegan/organic grocery store and we have a couple of nice farmer's markets that are open all year. We have a Fresh Market here but no Whole Foods Publix does a decent job for a mainstream grocery store and I do some shopping at Super Target as well. Kroger is around (and is apparently the "place to shop" in Madison) but I don't really go there much. Star Supermarket is a local grocery chain that does some specialty things as well. Am I missing anything?