Any way to live up on those hills? (Huntsville, Decatur: for sale, rent)

[caution]

I went through Huntsville once, and it was dark.

I keep noticing the "mountains" around the area on the maps, but when you look at the sat images there's only a few houses in the cuts, and they look huge.

So are there any middle/upper middle developments with a little elevation, or are they all down in the valley. Madison looks like it might be on a long series of ridges, but I can't really tell. It looks like everything just stops around the 600'-800' line around the whole area, except in Madison.

What about south of town on 231 on the other side of the river?

FWIW, I'm still looking for gov't openings (in a low-density field). I hope to find something I can transfer into, but this isn't an urgent question.

It's more of a just-wondering kind of thing. Thanks.....

[rnc76]

Do you want a view?

Anything on Monte Sano or Green Mountain with a view will be $$$. However, there are reasonably priced houses up on Monte Sano, some of which back up to the State Park. There is a real mix of properties up there ranging from cheap little houses that need work (probably $100K or so) up to multi-million $ houses. I'm not sure about Green Mtn, but it would probably be similar in that anything with a view is crazy expensive. Either place though you'd have to be patient and wait for the right house, there aren't that many properties for sale at any one time.

[caution]

Sounds reasonable rnc76. We'd probably rent for a while anyway, and a older house ain't bad. I think I saw some of those million+ homes on the google earth view. I thought one was a hospital or something at first glance.

I figure if I can get up a little in elevation, things would be a bit cooler in the summer-time, or at least we'd have a little more breeze. Maybe?

[rnc76]

Originally Posted by caution

Sounds reasonable rnc76. We'd probably rent for a while anyway, and a older house ain't bad. I think I saw some of those million+ homes on the google earth view. I thought one was a hospital or something at first glance.

I figure if I can get up a little in elevation, things would be a bit cooler in the summer-time, or at least we'd have a little more breeze. Maybe?

When I first moved here, I honestly didn't believe a friend of mine that lives up there who told me that it is 5-8 degrees cooler on top of Monte Sano. I go up their often now and it actually is according to the thermometer in my car. This time of year it will be 95 or so at the bottom and 88 or 90 at the top. That is noticeable.

[Sarges Dad]

Can't run from the humidity though.

[caution]

Thread bumping here.

We are moving down.

I've been looking (online) at houses and found out a few things:

- yup money brings the houses on the hills, more than I have
- the elevation of the valley (or whatever you call it) on the east side of, and north of Monte Santo is higher than the river valley (south and west) of HSV.

So that tells me to look in Haden, Gurley, Owens Crossroads for a "view of" the hills. And, actually, within my modest range, a place can be had that's 500-800 feet above sea level. That may sound a little nit-picky, but that little bit of elevation with a view is all we need. We're also looking up around New Market.

Odd thing though, some of the newer construction with 1 acre lots is up in Harvest, but right next door is are brand-new developments with .3 acre lots. I bet those old farm roads get really congested. I hope they don't build over all those pastures out that way, or if they do, at least give folks a bigger yard!

[Southlander]

Caution, you might want to look over here in Decatur, particularly Burningtree Mountain. Prices are a little cheaper over here. The mountain has a variety of homes, from new to 30 or 35 years old. Priceville Mountain is also a possibility.

[caution]

I will do that. I think my better half has been searching over that way. I just told her to flip the map over to the topographic view (on google) and make sure it's not in a low spot. :-)

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by caution

I will do that. I think my better half has been searching over that way. I just told her to flip the map over to the topographic view (on google) and make sure it's not in a low spot. :-)

Good idea. Be sure to ask about sinkholes, too. Our bedrock around here is limestone.

[harry chickpea]

We looked at an inexpensive goat lot in Gurly. I say goat lot, because one would have to be a mountain goat to live on it. Those mountains are surprisingly steep, and during ice storms are best not traveled. The temperatures can be cooler at higher elevations (we live at about the 800 ft level and notice it), but the winter breezes are stronger - even biting, and you may find that not having level land can be a challenge. It would be a waste of money for me to join a gym, and my legs are stronger than they have been in years.

I would suggest that you rent initially, to give yourself some time to look around and get familiar with areas. There are some coves to the northeast of Huntsville that are very pretty, and other areas are bound to have continued increases in property values.

About those farm roads... there is still a lot of agriculture in the area and getting stuck behind a tractor can be a regular occurrence on some roads. Also, those big trucks? Those are feed trucks delivering to the poultry houses.