Decatur Waterfront rentals and homes (Huntsville: real estate, apartments, condos)

[convextech]

I will be coming to Huntsville on the 3rd of August to start a temporary work assignment that may evolve into a permanent position (I hope). I will be wanting to check out the area the first week or so and then find something to rent, furnished, until I go permanent with my position (probably about 6 months), then we will be looking to purchase.

My husband and I are in our early 40s with two grown kids that may or may not move to the Huntsville area with us, but I would like at least a 3-bedroom with 2 baths. Condos are an attractive option we are leaning towards as we are getting tired of doing the yard thing and we want a pool and fitness center available to us. We do not have a boat but we definitely want a view from our home with access as many of our friends will visit and they have boats and jet skis. We'd like to stay under $200K if at all possible.

I am interested in the Decatur area as my job will be at the Jetplex and this looks to be near the water and not too severe a drive from HSV. We want to stay to the south or west of Huntsville so I don't have to drive through town every day on my way to work.

[Southlander]

Con, there are extremely few residences on the river here in Decatur. There are some townhouses and condos between the two bridges, and a few townhomes a little farther downriver, next to the sewage treatment plant. You might luck out and find one for rent.
Most of the riverfront here is taken up either with industry or the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.
Why is it so industrialized? A city father - one who helped smooth the way for TVA back in the 1930s - told me that at the time, it was more important for people to have jobs than have nice views. This was during the Depression, when about the only thing around here was farming.
It has only been in the last 10 or 15 years that this area, and the South, has come up to par with the rest of the country economically. The last serious recession, in the late 1970s, lasted a lot longer here than it did in the rest of the US.
Apartments in Decatur - it has been so long since I looked, I can't tell you. You might look into renting a house. Several real estate folks handle them. There have been some condo proposals. One is being built now, right on the river, but the units started at $350,000, and they are sold out, I think. That's the thing - people (including me!) find it hard spend $350,000 for a condo when they can buy a BIG house for that!
Much good luck to you!