[scd0903]

Folks,

I have just stumbled on to this forum and maybe some of this has already been asked before - maybe not.

There is a very real possibility that my employer is going to move me from northern Ohio down to the Huntsville area in the next 4-6 months.

I need to travel into Miss. & Tenn. for work each week but I think I can swing a deal to live in or near Huntsville. Is that a good idea? Are there any super-desirable communities that are still north and/or west of Huntsville proper?

I have 3 school-age children and education is my #1 prioirty. We are in a really great school system right now and it is going to be tough if we have to leave but a "soft landing" in northern Alabama will help ease the pain.

I would love to find a school about the size of ours - 150-200 per each grade. Is there any school with excellent ratings with a smaller student population?

Lastly - - if you had to choose between living in Miss. & Alabama - - is Alabama a slam-dunk?

Thanks for any constructive feedback.

-SCD

p.s. What will $350-$425,000. get me in terms of homes down there? Please advise - - thanks!!

[harry chickpea]

Dunno about the relative merits of various schools, but if you want a small city existance with ammenities, go Huntsville. If you want a more country place for kids growing up, try Athens. You'll find real estate even cheaper than Huntsville, and your kids will hate you for not having cool places to hang out and get in trouble without the neighbors knowing. The price range you quote will get you a very nice home in either spot. Personally, I'd consider spending a little less to reduce mortgage payments or invest instead of over-buying.

[nalabama]

$350-$400K in Hsv area should put you in a very nice home, 3000 sf+, 4 bedroom, 3 bath, maybe 3 car garage, probably brick. Multilist for the area is valleymls.

Madison, west of Hsv, should probably be your target community. Get in between Us 72 (to MS) and I-565 (to I-65, thence to TN) and you'll be on your way much quicker. The schools are excellent if test results are to be believed. Madison is growing rapidly however, so overcrowding may be an issue for some areas. Madison controls its own schools though, so any overcrowding will probably be addressed fairly rapidly.

[BryanF]

Lastly - - if you had to choose between living in Miss. & Alabama - - is Alabama a slam-dunk?

Yes! I have never lived in Mississippi but have traveled quite a bit throughout the state. That includes the larger cities as well as a lot of the small towns. North AL is the way to go IMHO.