Anybody Thinking About Moving INTO Town to Retire? (Birmingham, Hoover: loft, condo)

[BamaDave]

My wife and I (ages 50 and 49) have been thinking about what we want to do when we retire in 10-12 years. We currently live in Blount County (Smoke Rise), which is beautiful but pretty far out from conveniences. We really like the changes taking place in Birmingham, and because we have a young daughter and granddaughter who will have to stay local, we most likely will too. Our daughter doesn't want to stay out here in the boonies. If you were in this situation, where would you look for a retirement home? Our budget in today's dollars will probably be around 300-350K. I know this is somewhat silly since who knows what things will be like a decade from now... But it's fun to speculate. We would love to find a small home, low maintenance, in Homewood, but that will probably be outside our budget. Since we would be retired, we could live in the Birmingham school district. Would you consider an older home in Forest Park, Crestwood, Crestline, etc as an aging retiree? I would like a small yard but am not completely opposed to a townhouse or condo. We want to be close to city conveniences, the medical centers, and will probably be involved in in town mission work.

Fun to speculate and plan!

[Tourian]

Sounds like a good plan to me. The school district is the only thing that would hold people back. The neighborhoods you mentioned range from nice to very nice. Most of the older homes and smaller lots are just enough to not be overwhelming for someone who still wants to have a yard.

[BamaDave]

A small yard would be ideal, in case I want to continue to do some landscaping, vegetable gardening, etc. We both really like older homes and owned one in Crestwood North back in the early '90's, but it would have to be very thoroughly renovated. The changes in Birmingham are very exciting, and we are looking forward to possibly living in town again.

[TimCity2000]

i'd give serious consideration to a condo / loft downtown (sounds like it's not your first choice but you're not opposed either).

i remember reading a story on al.com about a couple (empty nesters) who did just that and loved it.

no yard, walk to restaurants, etc...

as for other neighborhoods, i live in crestwood north and love it here. i bet it's changed a lot since you were here in the '90s! your budget easily puts you into most neighborhoods around here.

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

i'd give serious consideration to a condo / loft downtown (sounds like it's not your first choice but you're not opposed either).

i remember reading a story on al.com about a couple (empty nesters) who did just that and loved it.

no yard, walk to restaurants, etc...

as for other neighborhoods, i live in crestwood north and love it here. i bet it's changed a lot since you were here in the '90s! your budget easily puts you into most neighborhoods around here.

I think I read that article...I believe they were talking about living in the City Federal building... sounds nice.

[bosshawk]

Several of my neighbors have done exactly this. There are many empty nesters and retirees in Forest Park and Highland Park. They generally love it. Small yards can be found, most streets are fairly quiet, and people really like the sense of community.

[Mariabritfernandez]

seems like a good plan tome

[BamaDave]

That's good to hear that Highland Park and Forest Park have plenty of empty nesters. I'm not sure about a downtown condo. We may not be ready for that much inner city! Lol. Too bad Edgewood has gotten so dang expensive!

[Mississippi Alabama Line]

Originally Posted by BamaDave

My wife and I (ages 50 and 49) have been thinking about what we want to do when we retire in 10-12 years. We currently live in Blount County (Smoke Rise), which is beautiful but pretty far out from conveniences. We really like the changes taking place in Birmingham, and because we have a young daughter and granddaughter who will have to stay local, we most likely will too. Our daughter doesn't want to stay out here in the boonies. If you were in this situation, where would you look for a retirement home? Our budget in today's dollars will probably be around 300-350K. I know this is somewhat silly since who knows what things will be like a decade from now... But it's fun to speculate. We would love to find a small home, low maintenance, in Homewood, but that will probably be outside our budget. Since we would be retired, we could live in the Birmingham school district. Would you consider an older home in Forest Park, Crestwood, Crestline, etc as an aging retiree? I would like a small yard but am not completely opposed to a townhouse or condo. We want to be close to city conveniences, the medical centers, and will probably be involved in in town mission work.

Fun to speculate and plan!

Just my opinion, but there is still a lot of crime down that way. A lot of loitering and random folks walking down the street for who knows what. I wouldn't want to keep a gun on me all the time. Downtown B'ham just isn't where I want it to be, for me to live there or the immediate vicinity. I would consider it if I was single. I don't like the idea of my wife being down there. I'm talking Avondale or anywhere in Southside.

If you are planning to spend all your 350K, I'd go Homewood. Very walkable to all the things you need. If you want cheaper, I would look into Helena, or maybe that new place out in Hoover, Preserve or something.

Where will your daughter/grand-daughter be located?

[bosshawk]

Originally Posted by Mississippi Alabama Line

Just my opinion, but there is still a lot of crime down that way. A lot of loitering and random folks walking down the street for who knows what. I wouldn't want to keep a gun on me all the time. Downtown B'ham just isn't where I want it to be, for me to live there or the immediate vicinity. I would consider it if I was single. I don't like the idea of my wife being down there. I'm talking Avondale or anywhere in Southside.

If you are planning to spend all your 350K, I'd go Homewood. Very walkable to all the things you need. If you want cheaper, I would look into Helena, or maybe that new place out in Hoover, Preserve or something.

Where will your daughter/grand-daughter be located?

Do you realize that there has been maybe 1 murder in 3 years in Birmingham that was random? Virtually every murder is a drug deal gone bad or domestic related. Basically the same in any big city. I have walked in and around downtown and Southside for over a decade and have never carried a gun on my person nor been murdered...