Moving to Decatur Area (Birmingham, Huntsville: to rent, condo, mortgage)

[AnitaB]

Hello, My husband and I may be moving to the Decatur area..depending on the ULA merge. We are in our 50's and are wondering if Decatur is a good area or would we be better off in the Huntsville area? If we do move he would be working in Trinity at the Boeing plant. He doesn't want a long drive to work every day. So what about Trinity? We've never been to Alabama. We have been to Calif, Washington state, Oklahoma and Colorado...(that's where we are now). We own a home in Oklahoma and aren't sure if we would buy or rent a home in Alabama. Thank you for any information you may give us.

[bamagirl924]

It probably depends on what types of activities you and your husband enjoy. Trinity is pretty nice for a small town, Decatur is a little bigger, but if you enjoy shopping and nice restaurants, you'd probably prefer Huntsville or Madison. The Madison area is a nice compromise - not as busy as Huntsville, but growing like crazy!

[brandoni57]

if you are deciding whether to own or rent in the Huntsville area... OWN. Its been voted the second most affordable metro in the United States. You'd be surprised what you can get with a mortgage here compared to rent in california or washington.
If it is any testament to why Huntsville is great and affordable:
My girlfriend's dad just left Boeing. They kicked him all over the place after being in Huntsville for so long, to Seattle, Wichita, Florida.. but his family said there is no other place they'd want to be than in Huntsville, and they stayed behind while he rented in these places. He just quit and took on a job at Sikorsky in Huntsville designing helicopters. The family is completely happy again.

[stayray]

I am moving to Birmingham, al to go to Samford university for pharmacy school. I would like to buy a condo, townhome,or house within a reasonable range. What areas would you recommend to live in. It does not have to be right next to the school, I don't mind communting a little bit.

Thank you,
Stayray

[stnpride1]

Anita B,
Just posted a question about Huntsville. I too am a Boeing employee looking at a possible transfer. Been misserable out here living with the commute. Sick of traffic, crowds, lines and no elbow room. I'm not geneticly programed to live in a rat cage. Alabama looks mighty nice. Guess just about anywere else but here would at this point.