gadsden area (Birmingham, Huntsville, Madison: for sale by owner, insurance, house)

lookingforahome · 03-04-2007, 04:10 PM

hi,
I'm from Michigan looking for a warm place in the sun. it is obvious i won't find it here for a few more months, and and at the age of 62 it is the time to move on. i have looked for a place to relocate to in Florida but have been shocked by prices, insurance taxes, and other restrictions that i can't afford. i worked for a supplier to the big three? and now everything has taken a dump including my retirement and medical.
I'm looking for a place in the NE. portion of Alabama to relocate. I'm looking for an area outside of the city. i have 2 large dogs that would not adjust
to city life. i live in a rural area and presently have 3 acres with no close neighbors. i am a sociable person but prefer to live in a open area.
i have been disabled for the last 3 years but fortunately my company's insurance has provided for me. my finances leave a lot to be desired after medical and a divorce. i have 50 tho. to work with until i sell my place in frigid Mich.
this is a serious inquire as my home insurance ($1200.) and property taxes ($1100.) are eating me alive.
please excuse my typing at the moment as i only have the use of 1 arm at the time, cortisone injections can only offer minimal help.
any suggestions will be appreciated. thanks
any other TRW employees out there?

AliasSpiff · 03-04-2007, 07:37 PM

Hi,

I am sorry to hear about your health woes, and I hope you will be feeling better soon! As for Gadsden, my great-grand parents lived there when I was a child, up until I was about 12-14... I spent almost every summer growing up there, and I loved it, from what I remember it was a quiet area, and full of sunshine and all that good stuff... I know that doesn't really answer any questions you may have, but... good luck in your search.

Cheers!

Amanda

Twostep · 03-05-2007, 06:26 AM

What made you pick Gadsden?

Have you considered selecting a medical facility specializing in treatment of your condition and using it as starting point for your search?

steveklein · 03-05-2007, 07:26 AM

i agree with twostep. any particular reason you have focused in on gadsden?

you could get just as affordable housing and be closer to the city of birmingham. springville and ashville are both very nice communities that are about halfway between birmingham and gadsden. i think they would be ideal for you. cheap housing, large lots available, and reasonably close to the uab medical center which is one of the best in the south, and the country for that matter.

lookingforahome · 03-05-2007, 04:52 PM

hi, the only reason i mention Gadsden is i know a family that has relocated there from Michigan, and they have given me some input.
i am trying to be realistic to find a decent place to move to. i am not like a lot of the people at this site with a large bank account searching for utopia. i'm just looking for a place to spend my next 20 years if i am fortunate, and if i can locate a place where my step kids can come visit or stay to escape from the michigan weather i will be happy. and also have a safe place for my dogs to roam. is that to much to ask for?

steveklein · 03-05-2007, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lookingforahome

hi, the only reason i mention Gadsden is i know a family that has relocated there from Michigan, and they have given me some input.
i am trying to be realistic to find a decent place to move to. i am not like a lot of the people at this site with a large bank account searching for utopia. i'm just looking for a place to spend my next 20 years if i am fortunate, and if i can locate a place where my step kids can come visit or stay to escape from the michigan weather i will be happy. and also have a safe place for my dogs to roam. is that to much to ask for?

not at all. it's almost too little to ask for as about 90% of alabama fits that bill quite nicely. if this is all you are wanting, gadsden will surely be a nice place for you... though i still think you could take a look at ashville, springville, odenville, clay, branchville, etc.

Twostep · 03-05-2007, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lookingforahome

hi, the only reason i mention Gadsden is i know a family that has relocated there from Michigan, and they have given me some input.
i am trying to be realistic to find a decent place to move to. i am not like a lot of the people at this site with a large bank account searching for utopia. i'm just looking for a place to spend my next 20 years if i am fortunate, and if i can locate a place where my step kids can come visit or stay to escape from the michigan weather i will be happy. and also have a safe place for my dogs to roam. is that to much to ask for?

It is not too much to ask, but a whole bunch of folks are also asking for it.

Start with a good map and mark necessary places - hospitlas etc. Then work your way out. Google will be your best friend. Change your mouse to your left hand. You will have it running in no time. Almost every small community here has a web site plus a chamber of commerce. Sources of information. For sale by owner works well too. Let me know if you need help or just cheering up :>)

GulfRGT · 09-25-2007, 12:05 PM

Twostep-here's a link to help your shopping in the area.
ValleyMLS.com

Get better quick so we can take my boat out for a ride

PeggyM · 09-25-2007, 04:14 PM

Hey, Lookforahome. I'm in Michigan and in a similar position. I'm 60 and lived everywhere away from MI for 40 years. My former husband was a software consultant and we went where his firm sent us. I was laid off from my job in Kansas City, moved to FL just as the hurricanes started wiping out communities and driving insurance, taxes higher. My mother has alzheimers and our family was trying to keep her out of a nursing home so I moved here to care for her.

Long story short . . . I got sick, had no insurance, was hospitalized for 12 days - need I say more? I also want to move to the South, eventually. I was born in AL, have relatives in Gadsden - not my favorite area of North AL. There are so many beautiful places in the NE corner. You can easily find acreage and a nice house for a modest price. Madison Co is nice, Huntvilles there. Guntersville is very pretty with great lake properties - though they will cost more. Marshall Co is also an option, no big cities, lots of hills, mountain views and also affordable. You didn't say if your disability is permanent or how severe or if you'll need ongoing medical care. If so, you might want to stay closer to the Huntsville area.

Good luck and let us know how its going.

Bravo35223 · 09-26-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveklein

i agree with twostep. any particular reason you have focused in on gadsden?

you could get just as affordable housing and be closer to the city of birmingham. springville and ashville are both very nice communities that are about halfway between birmingham and gadsden. i think they would be ideal for you. cheap housing, large lots available, and reasonably close to the uab medical center which is one of the best in the south, and the country for that matter.

I strongly agree with Steve...Gadsden is a nice town but it traditionally struggles economically. I visited there recently and had lunch with a person engaged in economic development and she confirmed this. From an employment standpoint, Gadsden has much in common with Michigan. It is a union town with the dominant employer by far being Goodyear....

Springville and Ashville are on the outer edge of the Birmingham metro and are close to an excellent hospital, St. Vincent's East. Also, if your disabilities require more sophisticated care, one of the finest rehabilitation facilities in the U.S. is located in Birmingham the Lakeshore Foundation...

Lakeshore Foundation

Alabama's property taxes are so low that you are going to save a ton out of your monthly budget on that alone. You're going to go from $1100 property taxes to about $200.

If you bought a property in the Ashville/Springville area, it will appreciate in value over time as this is a growing area but still rural. It is very pretty.

Good luck and let us know how we can help you.