Homewood, AL real estate & property management

Living in Homewood

Homewood for buyers, sellers, renters and rental owners

Homewood is an older, compact city on the south side of Red Mountain, about 4 miles from downtown Birmingham. It covers about 8.3 square miles and had 26,414 people at the 2020 Census. For buyers and sellers that means established streets and walkable commercial districts; for rental owners, about 38% of homes rented, more than any other city profiled on this site, close to UAB and Samford.

Homewood was incorporated in 1926 from several smaller communities, including Edgewood, so 2026 is its centennial year. It grew by annexation: the town of Hollywood, which developer Clyde Nelson started in 1926 with Spanish Colonial Revival and Tudor-style homes, joined in 1929, and Oak Grove in 1955. The Hollywood Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 with 412 contributing buildings.

Homewood's housing includes older homes on established streets, renovated and rebuilt houses, condos and townhomes. Shades Creek, part of the Cahaba River system, runs through the city, so we check flood zone status for homes near the creek as a standard step.

Neighborhoods & areas

Homewood neighborhoods and subdivisions

Homewood is organized around its districts and older neighborhoods: Edgewood, Hollywood, Downtown Homewood and SoHo along 18th Street South, Oak Grove, and the streets around Samford and Lakeshore Drive.

Many Homewood listings use the old neighborhood name rather than a subdivision name. Ask us about any one.

• Downtown Homewood & SoHo

  The main commercial district along 18th Street South near City Hall, with SoHo (South of Homewood) on 28th and 29th Avenues South. Source

• Edgewood

  One of the original communities, with its own shops and restaurants along Oxmoor Road and Edgewood Elementary on College Avenue. Source

• Hollywood

  A former town (1927) annexed in 1929. The Hollywood Historic District (National Register, 2002) covers its Spanish Colonial Revival and Tudor-style homes. Source

• Oak Grove

  Annexed into Homewood in 1955. Patriot Park and its pool are on Oak Grove Road. Source

• Samford & Lakeshore Drive side

  Streets near Samford University and Lakeshore Drive (Mayfair and Lakeshore Estates are names you will see on listings), close to the Shades Creek Greenway. See also our Lakeshore / UAB page. Source

TODO (Srianil): confirm this list and add the Homewood subdivisions where you have sold or managed homes.

Schools

Which schools serve Homewood homes?

Homes inside city limits are served by Homewood City Schools: Edgewood, Hall-Kent and Shades Cahaba elementary schools, Homewood Middle School and Homewood High School (on South Lakeshore Drive).

The district says its school-zone locator is informational and not legally binding, and its Residency Department (205-870-2011) confirms zones for specific addresses. A Homewood or Birmingham mailing address does not settle the question, so we confirm the zone before you buy, list or lease.

School zones can change. Always confirm the zone for a specific address with the school district.

Places & things to do

Parks, shopping and landmarks in Homewood

Homewood's everyday landmarks are the Shades Creek Greenway, Central Park and the library on Oxmoor Road, the shops and restaurants of Downtown Homewood, SoHo and Edgewood, and Samford University's campus on Lakeshore Drive.

• Shades Creek Greenway

  A paved trail along Shades Creek and Lakeshore Drive. A 1.4-mile Phase 2 extension has opened, and the city counts about 145,600 visits a year. It is part of the planned Red Rock Trail System. Source

• Central Park & Central Pool

  At 1632 Oxmoor Road: an amphitheater, tennis courts, pavilions, a large playground, walking paths and the city pool. Source

• Patriot Park

  At 710 Oak Grove Road, with a playground, walking path, pavilions and a pool with a splash pad. Source

• Homewood Public Library

  At 1721 Oxmoor Road, next to Central Park. Source

• Downtown Homewood, SoHo & Edgewood

  Three walkable commercial districts with local restaurants and shops. Source

• Samford University

  A campus of about 247 acres at 800 Lakeshore Drive, with NCAA Division I athletics and public events. Source

Commute & access

Getting around from Homewood

Homewood is close in: from City Hall, UAB Hospital is about 2.4 miles (6 minutes with no traffic) and downtown about 4 miles via US-31.

US-31, US-280 and I-65 all cross the city, with Lakeshore Drive meeting I-65 at exit 255. Oxmoor Road and Green Springs Highway are the main routes on the west side. The Census puts Homewood's mean travel time to work at 17.1 minutes (2020–2024).

* Approximate drive estimates from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), checked October 24, 2026, with no traffic. Rush-hour trips take longer; use the map link for a live estimate. Mean commute: Census QuickFacts.

Our work in Homewood

AKS Realty Group in Homewood

Sources

1. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Homewood city, Alabama: 2020 Census population, land area; 2020–2024 ACS home value, gross rent, owner-occupied rate, commute
2. Homewood City Schools: schools
3. Homewood City Schools: Residency: school zone locator caveat
4. City of Homewood: Phase Two of the Shades Creek Greenway is open
5. Homewood Parks & Recreation: Central Park
6. Homewood Parks & Recreation: Patriot Park
7. Homewood Public Library
8. Homewood Daily: Downtown Homewood: Downtown, SoHo and Edgewood districts (local news site)
9. Samford University: About: campus size and address
10. Wikipedia: Homewood, Alabama: Hollywood and Oak Grove annexations, Hollywood Historic District, area, Shades Creek (secondary source)
11. OpenStreetMap / OSRM routing: drive distance and time estimates

Facts checked October 2026. Places, schools and roads change; tell us if something here is out of date.