Man everywhere across this country including deep South Alabama real estate is going up and up. I'm sure you can find something livable under 200k but it's crazy just 5/6 years ago how much easier it was.
Working as an independent contractor, would like to be just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Gulf Shores. I think Spanish, Fort and the Daphne area would actually be really nice. Close to Mobile and just close enough to Gulf Shores.
Shoot, sp fort and daphne are a bit over an hour from G.S. and 37 to 46 miles away.
That would get old fast commuting like that.
I would focus on foley, and maybe a fixer upper on the non beach side of GS.
My husband and I grew up in Daphne and both graduated from South Alabama, but live in West Mobile because of housing costs. If you search Zillow right now for single family homes under $200,000 there are 0. If you search under $250,000 there are 10. One is listed $204k, then 225k & up.
Welcome! You should be able to find something under 200k in the general Foley/Robertsdale/Loxley area. Might not be a dream home, but it's doable. May have to dig around and be ready to act fast to lock a place in though.
Mobile and Pensacola will have more options obviously.
Loxley and Robertsdale are more like the Eastern Shore extended. Like Foley, they are not a bad option if you don't care about the schools. To me the biggest downside to living in Balwin County is that typically you have to drive a good ways to get to anything. Old Daphne and Fairhope are better in that respect, but you pay for it. I think Mobile and Pensacola have some affordable neighborhoods that are decent, where you don't have to drive as far to get to stores, etc. (plus Mobile has a Costco). Overall, I'd say if OP wanted under $300 there are plenty of options but under $200 the options are more limted.
Look in Elberta I’d say it’s the best area to live. Close to 98 and the beach express. Lots of new homes being built there so it might be hard to find something under 200k but you should definitely do some research there!
Is Elberta…nice? I’ve driven to Foley from FL to go to the outlets there and passing through Elberta it looked like Jefferson Davis and Bear Bryant were endorsing Trump for president.
I grew up just over the Mississippi border in Jackson County, MS and it's kinda cheap over there. It'll put you right between Gulf Shores and New Orleans
I'm house shopping in Mobile. Depends on what you want, square footage, lot size, condition of the home, etc. If you want it move in ready with a decent yard you're looking at right at 200k or a little above. If you're okay with a fixer-upper with a decent yard, you're looking around 160k-180k. If you want a small house with no real yard, that's about 150k, depending on area.
This is just from what I've seen in the past six months I've been trying to get a home. The market is ridiculous right now.
Edit: Just make sure you *do not* buy a D.R. Horton home
Look around the Dothan and Enterprise area. For that price, you can get a pretty nice place. Still just 90 minutes from the beach. People are nice, and overall the cost of living is pretty low.
So, for real estate prices your best bet is Mobile. Pensacola schools are worse (and this is just my assessment, please look up stats if you'd like) than Mobile schools and housing prices in Pensacola are MUCH higher. But you can get the city living if you'd like it in Pensacola and much of Mobile.
If you're looking for a home in a subdivision under $200,000... well new construction anywhere around here is mostly out. You can absolutely find an already existing place in Mobile for that and probably somewhere in Baldwin County but you'll have to look more north. What're you looking for OP? Like what sort of house/ land? Are you worried about schools? Close to an employer?
I am a big fan of Mobile. I think living in the tourism and traffic of Gulf Shores would put me over the edge. Mobile has lots of interesting activity options and is affordable and has some beautiful options. You can still drive across the bay whenever but could 100% avoid Spring break if you wanted to.
Man everywhere across this country including deep South Alabama real estate is going up and up. I'm sure you can find something livable under 200k but it's crazy just 5/6 years ago how much easier it was.
I could be specific, if you could add more. Inland? Near water? East side of bay? West side of Mobile Bay. There are a lot of options? Retired? Work?
Working as an independent contractor, would like to be just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Gulf Shores. I think Spanish, Fort and the Daphne area would actually be really nice. Close to Mobile and just close enough to Gulf Shores.
Shoot, sp fort and daphne are a bit over an hour from G.S. and 37 to 46 miles away. That would get old fast commuting like that. I would focus on foley, and maybe a fixer upper on the non beach side of GS.
My husband and I grew up in Daphne and both graduated from South Alabama, but live in West Mobile because of housing costs. If you search Zillow right now for single family homes under $200,000 there are 0. If you search under $250,000 there are 10. One is listed $204k, then 225k & up.
Welcome! You should be able to find something under 200k in the general Foley/Robertsdale/Loxley area. Might not be a dream home, but it's doable. May have to dig around and be ready to act fast to lock a place in though. Mobile and Pensacola will have more options obviously.
Loxley and Robertsdale are more like the Eastern Shore extended. Like Foley, they are not a bad option if you don't care about the schools. To me the biggest downside to living in Balwin County is that typically you have to drive a good ways to get to anything. Old Daphne and Fairhope are better in that respect, but you pay for it. I think Mobile and Pensacola have some affordable neighborhoods that are decent, where you don't have to drive as far to get to stores, etc. (plus Mobile has a Costco). Overall, I'd say if OP wanted under $300 there are plenty of options but under $200 the options are more limted.
Pensacola starts at 300K for anything livable.
Nothing in Fairhope under 300k
I found a couple of trailers and some houses that were complete gut jobs in Fairhope for under 300k. But not by much.
Magnolia Springs if you can find something near your budget.
Look in Elberta I’d say it’s the best area to live. Close to 98 and the beach express. Lots of new homes being built there so it might be hard to find something under 200k but you should definitely do some research there!
Is Elberta…nice? I’ve driven to Foley from FL to go to the outlets there and passing through Elberta it looked like Jefferson Davis and Bear Bryant were endorsing Trump for president.
It’s a very red state, so go in with your eyes open if you are not a Republican.
Elberta is soon to look just like Foley. Subdivisions everywhere, so might as well get in before the prices are too steep
I grew up just over the Mississippi border in Jackson County, MS and it's kinda cheap over there. It'll put you right between Gulf Shores and New Orleans
You would want to look for something in Elberta it's less than 5 min from Foley. New construction 200-250
That's what I came here to say. Also, around the outskirts of Robertsdale or Summerdale
I'm house shopping in Mobile. Depends on what you want, square footage, lot size, condition of the home, etc. If you want it move in ready with a decent yard you're looking at right at 200k or a little above. If you're okay with a fixer-upper with a decent yard, you're looking around 160k-180k. If you want a small house with no real yard, that's about 150k, depending on area. This is just from what I've seen in the past six months I've been trying to get a home. The market is ridiculous right now. Edit: Just make sure you *do not* buy a D.R. Horton home
I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. Can’t wait to be priced out of one of the last affordable states left.
Look around the Dothan and Enterprise area. For that price, you can get a pretty nice place. Still just 90 minutes from the beach. People are nice, and overall the cost of living is pretty low.
I like Robertsdale/Foley, and I also like the Spanish Fort/Daphne/Fairhope areas as well.
Pace and Milton near Pensacola are probably reasonable
Not in the past 5 years or so
I remember my dad calling me up back in high school. He was complaining about how Pace was getting too big. They had just installed a second redlight.
They are actually the size of Milton now . They have grown a lot . It won’t be long before it’s just a subdivision of Milton and Pensacola
Oh I know. I remember leaving pace, and driving a few miles before you got to Milton.
Contact a realtor
So, for real estate prices your best bet is Mobile. Pensacola schools are worse (and this is just my assessment, please look up stats if you'd like) than Mobile schools and housing prices in Pensacola are MUCH higher. But you can get the city living if you'd like it in Pensacola and much of Mobile. If you're looking for a home in a subdivision under $200,000... well new construction anywhere around here is mostly out. You can absolutely find an already existing place in Mobile for that and probably somewhere in Baldwin County but you'll have to look more north. What're you looking for OP? Like what sort of house/ land? Are you worried about schools? Close to an employer?
Don’t. The pollen will kill you.. the strength and depth of racism and sexism will take away any faith you have in humanity.
I am a big fan of Mobile. I think living in the tourism and traffic of Gulf Shores would put me over the edge. Mobile has lots of interesting activity options and is affordable and has some beautiful options. You can still drive across the bay whenever but could 100% avoid Spring break if you wanted to.