Alabaster, AL 191 Apartments for Rent

Have you ever wondered why the Alabama town of Alabaster shares its name with a material used to make cemetery monuments? It's because the town owes its existence to an ambitious entrepreneur named George L. Scott, Sr., who produced this material. Alabaster started out as a small collection of houses for his employees, but it has since grown into a city of over 30,000 people.

One of the major attractions of Alabaster is that it is located conveniently close to Birmingham. This is definitely commuter country -- most residents jump in their cars every morning for a 20-mile journey north into Birmingham, then return home in the evening to enjoy the peace and quiet of Alabaster. If you love big city living, you might be disappointed by the amenities currently on offer here: there's only one major shopping complex, for example. However, what you lose in urban convenience by locating yourself 20 miles outside of Birmingham, you gain in terms of affordable premier apartments, easy access to green space, and great amenities. You could do a lot worse than to choose this fast-growing suburban city.

Moving to Alabaster

If you dream of modern luxury apartments that are so brand spanking new you can almost catch a lingering smell of fresh paint, then you're in luck. Construction in Alabama has kept on going strong in spite of the recession, with new properties popping up all over the city. However, demand has kept pace, keeping the vacancy rate at a modest 5.5 percent. So don't be complacent in your search for places to rent. Get together your references, proof of income, and credit report so that landlords don't pass over you in favor of more organized tenants.

Neighborhoods in Alabaster

Longview/Saginaw: Then you'll love the spacious three, four and five bedroom house rentals and rent to own properties in this area. You'll also get to enjoy relaxing in the beautiful Oak Mountain State Park, which lies immediately to the north of this neighborhood.

Scottrock: Once the historic center of the settlement, Scottrock is now home to Shelby Baptist Medical Center, the largest employer in the city. If you are planning to work in this medical center, you'll find this neighborhood extremely convenient. As a bonus, it's also less expensive than most other parts of the city.

City Center: The city center of Alabaster lies just south of Scottrock. This is where you'll find what the city has to offer in the way of shopping and dining. The newly built Alabaster Shopping Center might not be much compared to what other cities can provide, but this is a rapidly growing community and new businesses are predicted to keep springing up. You've also got a convenient commute to Birmingham, as the I-65 runs along the eastern edge of this neighborhood. 

Mossboro/Coalmont: If central Alabaster is not quite suburban enough for you, then this outlying neighborhood will hopefully deliver the peace and quiet you crave. Unfortunately, vacant property rentals and vacant rent to own houses in this area are as rare as hen's teeth; if you see one, jump on it quickly before it gets snapped up!

Smokey Rd/Stage Coach Rd: Most of the rental homes in the Smokey Road/Stage Coach Road area were built after the beginning of the 21st century, which means that this is the place to come for smart new premier apartments and house rentals. Commutes are slightly longer, however, as this neighborhood is in the southern part of Alabaster. Expect to spend up to an hour on the highway each morning and evening.

Living in Alabaster

You'll almost certainly want a car if you move here, not only for your daily commute, but also to get out and see something of the local Alabama landscape. Take a trip out east to the Coosa River for kayaking adventures -- or just to hike if you don't feel like getting your hair wet. As for entertainment in Alabaster itself, keep your schedule clear in early June for CityFest, an annual celebration of Alabaster's birthday. The city is only a little over 60 years old -- still young enough to enjoy any excuse for a party.