Connect2Agent puts the spotlight on Huntsville Alabama

As part of our monthly series, it is time for a city review.

Today, we put the spotlight on Huntsville Alabama. Connect2Agent member Tracie Rice, of Goldkey Real Estate in Huntsville, has been selling real estate for five years and was kind enough to lend insight into her local real estate market today.

High-tech city where diversity abounds

Huntsville is located between the Tennessee River and the Appalachian Mountains. The city was first settled by Revolutionary War veteran John Hunt in 1805, but was claimed later by Leroy Pope due to inadequate registration by Hunt. Huntsville officially became incorporated in 1811, but the city holds strong to its history and celebrates its anniversaries from the year 1805, when Hunt first settled in.

"Huntsville is like no other city in Alabama," Rice stated. It is a city of diversity that has plenty of high-tech, space and military industries to keep it bustling with relocating transferees. Some move from across the country, while others make a transcontinental relocation to Huntsville Alabama. The Army's Redstone Arsenal, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Cummings Research Park, Boeing and Toyota all call Huntsville home. Rice informed me that there are many military personnel who are now relocating to Huntsville in anticipation of the build-out of military bases in Huntsville by the year 2011.

Plenty to do

It would be hard to be bored in Huntsville Alabama. Whether you have a passion for the extraterrestrial or a penchant for posies, Huntsville's got a place for you to quench your thirst. "There are also many water activities," Rice informed me, as well as hiking, mountain climbing, golfing and even rodeos. Not to mention the shopping and dining fare you would expect in a metropolitan area. It has a down-home feel with an urban flare and is so progressive that even the mayor has a public blog.

People are buying houses in Huntsville Alabama

The real estate market in Huntsville Alabama has not experienced the same slow-down as has been typical in many metro areas across the United States, Rice said. While 100% financing goes by the wayside and some buyers will have to sit and build their downpayment before they purchase, for those who have saved a downpayment, there are plenty of housing options. You can get a house for less than $100,000 or up to the $1 million price range in Huntsville. It just depends on what you are looking for, Rice stated.

Although Huntsville Alabama has seen some cooling off in the housing market, overall forecast from HousingPredictor.com sees an average deflation of 6.7% throughout the year. It feels that the addition of jobs and construction in the area will help this slight cool-off. Compared with many markets across the U.S., 6.7% doesn't seem high by any means, and the correction is not as drastic as in other bustling metropolis areas. Just another reason they say, "All real estate is local."

When I asked Rice, "What is the one thing above all others that incoming transferees are surprised about when they relocate to Huntsville Alabama?", she responded without skipping a beat, "The people are warm and friendly. Many are surprised by the fact that you can be walking down the street or driving in your car and strangers who are casually passing by will engage in pleasantries and conversation."

To learn more about Huntsville, Alabama, contact Tracie Rice or another local real estate agent.

If you enjoyed this post, you might want to read:

• Connect2Agent puts the spotlight on the Smyrna, Georgia, real estate market
• Connect2Agent wants homeowners to tell us about the 25 most secure places to live
• Tips to consider when relocating to El Paso, Texas (Part I)

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Posted by Rebecca D. Levinson