x2, best area by a long shot

No way I would spend $800k+ around the perimeter of Birmingham and live somewhere I was shopping in chain stores at a strip mall....... I can live anywhere in Alabama and do that.

If you are going to be forced to live in Birmingham I would be somewhere there are local stores and mom & pop places to eat, etc........ and that's inside 459 for the most part.

12 acre lot on the Cahaba in Helena. Shitloads of deer.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/Helena-Rd-%23O-Helena-AL-35080/2055736038_zpid/?utm_campaign=androidappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare

Vestavia, Mountain Brook and Homewood are extremely high priced and hard to come by homes there. Alabaster, Hoover, Helena all decent schools and you'll get more house for the $. Shelby County if at all possible.
Avoid Pelham in my opinion. School system has a messican gang problem. I've had a few folk pull out of the system for the same reasons.

I inspect homes all over this region. My cell is 205-706-4356 if you have any questions.

I should also add, the largest number of deer I've ever seen in one location was in Vestavia/Mt. Brook near Liberty Park. 2am, emergency response, 30+ deer in three yards, all took off in front of the truck in one giant group. When we got to the end of the street, they split into two equal groups and went opposite directions. It was absolutely amazing to see.

Is there something in the area you are needing to be convenient to? Work, airport etc?

Not completely. Office will be in the Acton area.

Lol, I got a DM saying that Ross Bridge is a place to focus on, but to keep a lookout for a fellow named Big Bore 🤷🏼

LOL.

You gotta watch that guy

You should have plenty of options close by with decent lot size for your price range. There are some larger estate size lots off Altadena and Dolly Ridge. Liberty Park and Sicard Hollow are close by too and would have plenty of options. Any of those would be great areas and you wouldn't be too far away from the city amenities. As others mentioned, 119/Indian Springs would have plenty of good choices.

If you want something further out you could look in the Mount Laurel or Sterrett areas. That is a beautiful part of the state. It would be a long commute down 280 though.

Ross Bridge would be fairly easy commute to Acton Rd. Its a nice area. My daughter just bought there.

My commute from the house to International Park on Acton Rd was a total of 9 miles. Always going against traffic. Plenty of deer right off Acton Rd too.

My wife works off Acton and we live in Helena, it’s not a bad commute. If I was looking for something with a little more acreage and school system wasn’t an issue commuting to Acton I’d look at mcalla, Helena, up toward trussville. I’d stay away from I65 unless you are pretty close to Acton.

Thanks and I appreciate everyone’s insight. I’m miles ahead of where I was. Aldeer is a nice forum community.

Ain’t that the truth.

I would add, for that money:

Liberty Park - Vestavia schools
Black Ridge - Hoover
Ross Bridge - Hoover
Mt Brook
Chelsea Park
Mt Laurel
Greystone

Actually, tons of options that I didn’t even mentioned.

You will get bigger lots in Chelsea IMO. Helena is also a nice choice and it connects to a WMA in places.

There is an ugly as all get out poacher though!!

As an actual consumer of the Chelsea School System, I would pick someplace else.

OP said kids are out of the house

This

Southlake or heatherwood would both be very convenient to Acton rd. Anything in vestavia.

Anything east and west on 459 should be fine on traffic.

Helena is nice, if you’re looking for a nice area that feels more separated from Bham.

McCalla could put you on some acreage within 15-20 minutes of the office.

I’d avoid anything further south than Hugh Daniel on 280 or Pelham on 65. Simply for the traffic.

Liberty park Is nice, but can take 15 minutes to get out of the neighborhood.

I’d recommend riding around during rush hour a few days, before making a decision.