Hampton Cove area/Hampton Station (Birmingham, Huntsville: real estate, home builder, neighborhoods)

[Pirat_cat]

Hello! I've been reading up on these forums and getting a feel for my new city. I just started a job up here (I'm an engineer) and my husband will be joining me next week. We both grew up in Birmingham and so far we really love Huntsville--a new place for us but still not TOO far away from our families.

Anyways, we have started looking for our very first house. I'd heard good things about Hampton Cove and when we went down there to check it out, it just felt right. Unfortunately, we're working with an upper-end price range of 225-250k, so most houses in "Hampton Cove Proper" as we call it are out of our price range.

So we started looking at houses in the multitude of new subdivisions nearby and really loved the houses being built in Hampton Station. The only thing is, I can't find much information about the builder (Pearson Homes) or the neighborhood itself. The only tidbits of information I've been able to gather is that Pearson homes has a B+ rating with the BBB and a lone complaint on a forum that they were supposed to get a pool/clubhouse built but the builder is dragging their feet.

Anyways...does anyone have any suggestions as to any particular neighborhoods we may want to focus on (or avoid) down in that area? It's amazing how many subdivisions are packed in on Taylor Road...they're all starting to run together to me....

[Charles]

Since you are already living here, couldn't hurt to just drive around on a weekend afternoon and graciously start a conversation with one of the homeowners there. Ask them about what they've heard about construction, other neighbors' comments or complaints, rumors.

For the pool thing, get a hold of someone on the HOA.

You are aware a new elementary school is going to be built on the south end of Taylor Road? That should be good for those neighborhoods.

[jamison247]

I've been living in Hampton Station for the last three years, however, my house was built by DR Horton not Pearson Homes. I absolutely love my neighborhood. There's lots of children, friendly neighbors and I'm a short drive from anywhere in Huntsville I want to be. We were supposed to get a pool and cabana this year but that got put on hold. I imagine we will eventually get our own but until we do we will continue sharing Hampton Valley's pool.

[BLS1193]

There is a new community just down from Hampton Station called River Ridge. I think it is on Old Big Cove Rd. It is a Jeff Benton community and is so nice. You may want to check it out. The website is Huntsville, Alabama Real Estate :: New Home Builder, Jeff Benton Homes, Madison County, Alabama.

[Pirat_cat]

Thanks so much for your input guys!! Especially Jamison, nice to hear from someone living there. We've been to the neighborhood twice and it seemed pretty quiet but with a few people out with strollers or walking their dogs....very nice.
Oh and Charles I did know there was going to be a new elementary school built out there, makes me both excited and a little scared about the eventual school traffic.
And thirdly, to BLS, we actually looked at River Ridge! The houses were nice but not a very big yard...plus it seemed kind of out in the middle of nowhere. I got a HUGE kick out of the agent showing the house to us. She was showing us the backyard and there's an older houses/mobile homes type area that you can see from there, but also a view of the mountains. So she said "You can put a fence up here and then you'll only see the mountains! You won't even see the other houses! Uhhh, not that there's anything WRONG with the other houses...." We still get a good laugh out of it.

[HB2HSV]

Welcome, Pirat_Cat. We really need another engineer in this town. I is one myself, so it's not engineer-bashing.

[DvlsAdvc8]

Other than the Taylor Rd neighborhoods and River Ridge (which, I think is nice personally, what with bike trails, fishing ponds, future pool/play-area with water feature, and conoe access; many of the yards are small, but there are still some decent size lots - much of Hampton Station is also about 1/3 acre lots I believe) there is another development called Magnolia Park that is just east of Hampton Cove.