Agents Click Here
Sponsor Your City

Birmingham, Alabama Real Estate

A Helpful Guide to Real Estate in the City of Birmingham, AL

Birmingham is a wonderful city in the southern United States, and it is rich with history and culture. So if you're thinking of buying real estate in Birmingham but would like to learn more about the city first, you've come to the right place.

In this City Page, we will take a closer look at Birmingham, AL from several angles. Obviously, we will talk about the real estate situation in Birmingham, since that is the nature of this website. But you can't talk about real estate, home values and such without discussing other aspects of a city, such as education and overall lifestyle. We will cover these topics as well.

Let's get started with the basics about the city:

Image: A beautiful shot of Birmingham at night.

Birmingham, AL Stats - Population, Geography, Etc.

Before buying a home in Birmingham (or any other city for that matter), it's always good to start with a brief geography lesson. This is even more important for people who are less familiar with the city, such as those relocating to Birmingham from elsewhere in Alabama or from out of state.

Birmingham is the largest city in the state of Alabama. The city lies partly in Jefferson County and partly in Shelby County. Birmingham is the county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama. Geographically speaking, Birmingham is located in the north-central part of Alabama. [View Map of Birmingham]

To chart the population growth of Birmingham, Alabama — which helps to understand the Birmingham real estate market as well — one simply has to compare data over the last few years:

In 2000, the population was around 242,000 in the city of Birmingham. Six years later in 2006, the population had actually decreased to about 230,000 in the city. Today, in 2008, the population has gone back up again and is currently estimated at just over 242,000. So when you consider the last eight years, the population of Birmingham has more or less stayed the same (with a few ups and downs).

Note that these numbers pertain to the city alone, and not to the entire metro area of Birmingham. When you consider the entire metropolitan area of Birmingham, Alabama, the population is well over one million people.

Birmingham Climate & Weather

Climate considerations are extremely important when making a real estate investment. After all, you wouldn't want to buy a home in a city you feel is too hot, too hold, too wet, etc.

If you already live in Birmingham and are simply in the market for a new home, then you're already well aware of the local climate and seasonal weather. If, however, you are planning to relocate to Birmingham from out of state, the following information will be helpful to you.

Being located in the Deep South of the United States, Birmingham has a humid climate. Actually, in scientific terms, the climate here is considered to be subtropical (meaning hot summers and plenty of rainfall). The city averages about 52 inches of rain each year.

The winters in Birmingham, Alabama could best be described as mild to chilly. In January, one of the coldest months, the average daily high is around 53 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average low is around 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But in Birmingham, the coldest part of winter is also short-lived.

So if you're a warm-weather-loving kind of person, and you don't mind high humidity in the summer, Birmingham could be a very comfortable place for you to buy real estate, to live and work, etc.

Image: Downtown Birmingham during the day.

Employment & Economy

Purchasing real estate in a city without considering the economy is like driving while blindfolded. It rarely ends well. So let's take a quick look at the economy and employment situation in Birmingham.

The largest employers in the city are the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Baptist Medical Centers, BellSouth, and Jefferson County Public Schools (see education notes below).

The steel industry has always played a big role in Birmingham's economy. This has diminished somewhat over the years, as steel production today is not as prominent in the city as it used to be. But steel production still plays a key role in Birmingham, and many jobs can be attributed to steel production and processing facilities.

Banking is also a large part of the Birmingham economy. Several major banks are headquartered in the city, as well as a dozen or so smaller banks.

The Birmingham metropolitan area is consistently ranked as one of America's best places to work, based in part on the salary rates in the area (combined with the relatively low cost of living). In fact, a 2006 study by Salary.com ranked the city #2 on a list of best places to live for building personal net worth!

Schools In and Around Birmingham, AL

You can't talk about real estate in a particular city without talking about the city's schools. Clearly, this is an important topic for parents. But it's also important from a Birmingham real estate investment standpoint. After all, schools are a factor in property values. So let's take a quick look at the school situation in this city.

Within the metropolitan Birmingham area, there are three universities, three colleges, four junior colleges, three technical schools, four business schools, and 276 public schools. As you can see, there is plenty of educational opportunity in and around Birmingham, Alabama, which makes a real estate investment much more sound (not to mention boosting the quality of life).

At the collegiate level, there are some excellent institutions in Birmingham, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham (also a major employer in the city), Samford University and the University of Montevallo (just south of Birmingham in Montevallo. AL).

K-12 schools are operated under the purview of the Birmingham Public Schools, which consists of eight elementary schools, a district-wide school for grades 3-8, two middle schools, two high schools, and several alternative programs. In all, these schools serve more than 8,000 K-12 students in Birmingham, Alabama.

Why Buy Real Estate in Birmingham, Alabama?

Should you buy a home in Birmingham? In truth, only you as the homebuyer can answer this question. All cities in the U.S. have certain pros and cons with regard to real estate investment, quality of life, etc. This applies to Birmingham as well. Hopefully, however, this guide to Birmingham, Alabama real estate will help you answer the question!