Looking at Mobile (Foley, Jackson, Rosa: apartments, for rent, houses)

[kadeadam]

I'm a 20 yr old college kid. After I finish with my associates in business i'm moving from Rankin County, MS which i moved to when i was 16 from Santa Rosa County, Fl and I'm seriously looking into Mobile, mostly cuz I would like a more managable cost of living. I've worked in retail for the last 4 years so how would it be for me and my roommate jobwise? i've heard good things about the airport area. any suggestions? please fill me in on anything guys.
thanks for any info

[southernnaturelover]

Most of the jobs in Mobile seem to be retail jobs lately. Clothing, electronics, wireless services, autos, you name it. There are also plenty of restaurant jobs out there. The question is if you will make enough money to live on. If you have a roommate and you both are working, then maybe. And yes, Airport Blvd is the place to look for a job, especially around Bel-Air Mall. There are also plenty of places on Schillinger Rd, it seems like every time I am in Kohl's I hear advertisments over the intercom seeking employees.

[kadeadam]

well actually when i looked into apartment prices in mobile, it's cheaper to live there than in Rankin county right now. Average Rankin county, MS rent now is from $800-1200 a month on a 2 br apartment and I'm a waiter (and i work a few days a week at Old Navy)

[southernnaturelover]

Yeah, you can get a nice apartment in Mobile for $650-850 easily. Stay west of I-65 though.

[downtowndoll]

I grew up in Jackson's Reservoir area, and I think you will like Mobile so much more!

As someone previously said, there are plenty of jobs right now. I know that the new retail stores at Malbis exit (this is a retail area in Baldwin County on I-10 just over the Bay about 10 minutes from Downtown) are really needing workers right now. Then, you could still live in Mobile and drive over there, especially if you decided to live in Midtown or Downtown, close to the party scene.

Also, Foley has a gazillion outlet stores at the Tanger outlet; they seem to always need retail workers.

Of course, there is Bel Air Mall and lots of restaurants here in Mobile. Airport Blvd is a long through-fare that has a lot of the stores and restaurants. Downtown is really cool.

As far as assuming apartments in West Mobile are in a good area, it is more complex than that. For instance, the apartments around Zeigler Road and Cody are not places I would consider living. That is an area that is steadily going down hill. Like anywhere, you have to be careful.

Midtown is my personal favorite and there are not quite the problems that I'm told Belhaven has. There are lots of cute old homes that have apartments in them that rent for $450 a month. Next door might be a mansion for $500,000..While I personally don't have any apartments for rent, I do have friends who rent in these areas.

As you get serious about looking, feel free to message me if you have any questions about certain locations.

[southernnaturelover]

Downtowndoll, you are correct, the north end of Cody Rd near Old Shell is getting a bit trashy lately. Generally, I think the best apartments are in the Hillcrest and Grelot Rd area though. I lived at Timber Ridge on Wall St, and I also lived at Colonial Village@Inverness Lakes on Cottage Hill Rd. I never had a problem at either of them.

[breer23]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

Downtowndoll, you are correct, the north end of Cody Rd near Old Shell is getting a bit trashy lately. Generally, I think the best apartments are in the Hillcrest and Grelot Rd area though. I lived at Timber Ridge on Wall St, and I also lived at Colonial Village@Inverness Lakes on Cottage Hill Rd. I never had a problem at either of them.

My wife & I lived in Inverness Lakes from 2004-2007 and would not recommend it. They were bought out by an out-of-town group shortly before hurricane Katrina hit, and their level of service quickly went downhill. They were still a nice place when they were part of the Colonial Village family, but that has changed. First thing the new owners did: removed the security gates to the property - never a good sign.

Could also try The Woods, on Hitt Rd. A little less traffic than what you'll find on Cottage Hill Rd. (which is a _frequently_ used ambulance and fire truck route) and you're a stone's throw from all the businesses on Schillinger Rd.

[tuggy]

With downtowndoll, midtown is where to go. You go past I-65 to the west and it's just one big strip mall. Working out there, fine. Lot's of retail and chain restaurants that always need people, but living out that way, boring.

I have friends that live around Airport and Azalea. Traffic sucks at any time of the day, all the stores are chains and the area has no personality at all.

I live off Houston north of Government. I've been here for almost three years now. I did work in "west" Mobile but never went out there for anything but a lunch break besides that.

Look around east of florida, north of government, south of old shell and west of lafyette. A lot of nice older houses converted to apartments. Some have nice big apartments under the 600 range.

Another plus side to the area is that it's a lot more "community". I know my neighbors, my friends have house wide parties (houses cut into multiple apartments) and you have the better places to eat and chill at (butch cassidy's, guidos, callaghans and of course not to far to stumble down to the garage.)

Beats hanging out at Ruby Tuesday's anyday

[Keeper]

Glad to have all of you from Mobile on the forum. For way too long I was one of the few who knew anything about Mobile and I haven't lived there in a long time, but it is still my hometown. Reps to all of you..

I am sure we are going to have many more ppl asking about Mobile with the new industry coming to town

[Bravo35223]

Me too....welcome our buddies from down south!