[joesfiance]

My fiancé and I found our dream home in the Montgomery area. He is a contractor and currently owns a construction business in NY and would like to move it to the area. I am a bookkeeper and tax preparer. Is this a good area for us to move to? Is there enough business in the area?

[Saskia Calico]

Umm ... have y'all researched the city? Have you visited it? Do you know anyone who lives there?

I don't know what demographics you are interested in, but how well do you know Montgomery?

Have you noticed, for example, that although it is the state capital, it has no forum of its own here?

[brownbagg]

Montgomery nice, its ok, but one thing that will be different from NY and is noticeable in Montgomery, they love their confederate history, no not in some type of racist issue, but statues everywhere, history plagues, museums. Montgomery nice, there a lot of southern influents in the area. and the thing about the monkeys. before you start thinking wrong stuff. there a zoo up in montgomery, and one time the monkeys got loose and took over the city, that what the story about. that why its called monkey town

[RetFireFEMTech]

Montgomery, as well as most of the south is trying to recover from a months long drought. It's raining now and there is hope for relief. Many homes are built on concrete slabs due to a type of soil that sinks and causes homes to shift. The result is cracks in the drywall, foundations, driveways, etc. I've been told that you are supposed to water around your foundation if you get no rain in a week or so. having said that, I love it here and I am a retiree from Philadelphia (summer 2015). It's quieter and cheaper...much warmer and best of all...hardly ever any snow. Good luck.

[laughterqueen]

Montgomery is growing and it is a nice city but schools are suffering. If you have kids you will want to do private or magnet schools. The government has decided to step in and take control of the failing public schools as of the New Year. East Montgomery is the best side of town to live in. Pike Road is developing a lot of homes but it is further away from town so that drive can get annoying, it is right outside of Montgomery. We have loved it and I truly believe the city will grow into a highly desirable place to live. Montgomery is full of southern charm and hospitality. The weather is scorching in the summer but the year round warmth and sun is amazing compared to that northern weather. I am not a local but I have enjoyed the last 4 1/2 years living here and I moved here from Southern, NJ. You will love the weather!

[skybiz]

We're looking into an option to set a business in Montgomery. City has done a great job updating downtown. Looks heading toward Nashville a bit. I think they built 450+ new apartment units only in downtown area. Wonderful Riverwalk and a jogging area as well!

[Mississippi Alabama Line]

Originally Posted by joesfiance

My fiancé and I found our dream home in the Montgomery area. He is a contractor and currently owns a construction business in NY and would like to move it to the area. I am a bookkeeper and tax preparer. Is this a good area for us to move to? Is there enough business in the area?

Could you give the reasons WHY you want to move to Montgomery? If you are just trying to move to the South, I could think of some other metro areas that you might prefer.....

[EastbrookAndy]

I am interested in what your 'dream home' is. Does it have an MLS number?

I frequent the Forum often but can honestly say I've never heard of a New Yorker wanting to move here just for a 'dream home.' Some other reasons Montgomery(and Alabama in general) would be good are:
A LOT better property tax and State Income tax; in Montgomery you have 3 hospitals-none of which take more than 15 minutes to get to in the Corporate City limits. Dependent on your income bracket, homes are VERY affordable here as compared to your neck of the woods.
If y'all are DINKs, then Montgomery(Old Cloverdale in particular) is perfect. If you have or are wanting children......I would recommend budgeting in a Christian or private school tuition, as quality public education grades 7 and up are nonexistent.

Montgomery's largest employers are associated with all governments(fed, City, State, County) and the health care industry.
Don't know what your expertise lie in. But outside the old 'who you know' game it can be tenuous to get work in those fields here unless you are eminently qualified in one of those fields.
Montgomery(Alabama for that matter) isn't what you'd call the most 'progressive' city. Again, YMMV, but not a lot of 'Yorkers move down here voluntarily. :-)(Job transfers, etc, usually.)
Myself, I've been here in Montgomery all my life. The only reason I would leave (and then only to Birmingham area) would be one hell of a career opportunity that Montgomery doesn't offer, as I have a degree in Business Management.
The Dpwntown area has everything except grocery stores. You can literally walk to work if you live in the downtown apartments and your job is on, or directly off, Dexter Avenue.
The crime rate isn't great, but usually the really bad stuff(Murders, etc) are confined to 'hood land' (West of Court Street, South of Fairview/Mcgeehe, with Southview being an exception) and Northwest of Federal Drive.
Good luck!