Alabama Real Estate

Before buying real estate in Alabama, there are some things that a person should know. Things beyond the fact that it is located in the southeast, or that the locals there use words like y’all. Perhaps, real estate agents try to advertise that all the land in Alabama is wonderful and profitable, no matter if it is commercial, residential, or even industrial property. Maybe in Alabama, property is just property. But is it? When buying real estate, or even when searching through real estate listings, or trying to find a real estate agent it is important to know what kind of real estate you are interested in. Even if a state doesn't appear very large on a map, that is no guarantee that the housing market is uniform in that area. Factors like geographical location or population size can affect the real estate market, style of housing, or commercial value of different properties. Geographically, the unique layout of mountains and water allow Alabama to be clearly divided into four different zones. The southern-most half of Alabama is the coastal plain area.

                      This area includes all the land on the Gulf of Mexico coastline. The soil here is rich and fertile, and most of the real estate here was once used for an expansive cotton market. As typical of property near the water, all real estate in the coastal plain area of Alabama is rather flat. It is all very low and near sea level. Above the coastal plain zone of Alabama, is the piedmont area. This part of Alabama is more hilly with a higher elevation. The highest point in Alabama, Cheaha Mountain, is located at the north end of the piedmont region. The northeastern side of Alabama is full of valleys. Mountains sweep the landscape and create beautiful areas for homes and other real estate. The mountains are at the tail end of the Appalachian Mountain range that follows the mid-east through Tennessee and North Carolina. On the other side is the Appalachian plateau. This plateau is massive and continues all the way to the east of New York. A plateau is an area of land that is flat in nature and at a relatively high altitude. Thus, northwest Alabama is flat and at a high level. The real estate properties here feature lush green fields and gorgeous views of nearby mountainous lands. Housing styles can easily be affected by topography and geographical characteristics. Often homes featured near a coast will not have a basement level because it would be under sea level. Adversely, homes and real estate in the mountains may not only have basements but may actually be built into the mountain. Housing styles are not solely based on geography, but also on culture and society. Themes often descend over entire real estate markets and shape the types of homes and buildings that are built. These themes usually have several key attributes that unify the architectural movement. Across the board, the architectural heritage in the real estate of Alabama and many other southern states is the Greek Revival style. Many homes, and old plantations, contain noticeable characteristics of Hellenism in their designs. Even with a quick skim of the most recent real estate listings it is almost impossible to avoid seeing a picture of a home with handsome front columns and a porch. True to the name, the Greek Revival architecture style is based off of Greece.

          The founding fathers of the United States were strongly influenced by Greece culture, thus leading to the incorporation of Greek architecture. In housing all along the eastern coast, especially in the south, these influences are strongly present. Greek Revival attributes are apparent in both residential and commercial buildings in Alabama. Real estate features such as porticos, huge windows and doors, and low pitched roofs are all part of the Greek Revival theme. Additionally, most real estate in Alabama that blends with this mold is painted white to mimic the white marble of ancient Greece. The three highest population real estate areas in Alabama include Birmingham, Mobile, and Huntsville. The three cities are located on opposite sides of the state with Mobile in the coastal plain area, Birmingham in the middle, and Huntsville at the very top edge of the state. Even including the residential suburban towns surrounding each of city, these real estate markets do not come close to intersecting with each other. With suburban areas comes a lot of residential real estate. Therefore, because Alabama has several large cities, a lavish amount of real estate listings exist at all times. Additionally, any real estate agent can tell you that a highly residential area is sure to have a flourishing commercial center nearby. To further push Alabama real estate, there is the selling factor of several large colleges. Local advanced education institutions always boost the local population and encourage cheap real estate in campus vicinity. The largest city, Birmingham is an excellent example of a city with a lavish suburban housing market and university access. Though it is not the capital of Alabama, it is the real estate center of the state.

           The population of this city is estimated to be over one million people. Homes here can go for millions of dollars. The residential neighborhoods here can be very affluent, but other areas are also very affordable. As a general rule the southeastern residential housing market is cheaper than other areas of the country, particularly New England and the west coast. Southern states still have room to expand and a lot of undeveloped real estate. This leans towards the decentralized layout of large southern cities. Residential areas are known to expand as far as fifty miles from the downtown part of the city. This allows for family-friendly suburbs that are perfect for children and people who like to keep their work and home life separate. The undeveloped real estate is also a draw to people who are interested in a rural environment or a small town life. Outside of the commercial areas and suburbs, there are typically farms and small local communities. States with these flexible features allow for a real estate market that has something to offer to everyone.