Ann Arbor # 1 place to live in Michigan
i make ~70% more in CA than i would for the same job in michigan, however getting married to someone who also makes money is basically a necessity if you ever want to buy. Entry level houses in an undesirable area are 650k if it's safe, 400k if you're willing to risk being robbed
Personally, my wife and I just flat out got lucky. We moved out to SoCal in 2008, then the Great Recession hit and the housing market collapsed. We bought a 3bed/1bath $300k home in Claremont with FHA first time homebuyer financing (2.5% down) and we qualified for an $8k federal tax credit (which we were able to obtain quickly after closing by amending our prior year tax return). So all in, even got into our home with basically $2,500.
Now, we are hoping to sell for about $525k, realize a nice gain and take the cash back to Michigan for a much larger home as we consider expanding the family and getting closer to my wife's family. So this discussion is very relevant for us. We were leaning towards Birmingham in part because of the differential commute times to Downtown Detroit (where I will be working). The nice thing is I can get a transfer pretty easily and I should be able to keep my same pay, although I may not get as large of a raise this year.
It's the same in NYC, and really in major metro areas along the coasts. And the pay isn't that much higher. Sure, it's higher than in MI, but most people struggle to find affordable housing that is anywhere close to work. There's a reason the train lines go out super-far/commutes are super-long in CA and elsewhere. We had a friend recently buy a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house in an okay part of the Bronx for $750k, and they had to put a bunch of cash down and limited options to examine the property before the sale. It's how it is.
Word. And nice timing.
But what about Sagnasty?
Nice. I lived in the Nasty for a bit years ago in a rough area. Got my car broken into the second night I was there. My bedroom window was so close to where it was parked that I thought I was dreaming it. Great town.
Lived in Ann Arbor for 10 years (BS and grad school) and would never move back. Abismal traffic (fed from horrible road repair), poor snow removal, etc. I love living out in Birmingham, Berkely, Royal Oak, and Ferndale area. Alot to do and Midtown/downtown Detroit just 20 minutes away. Ann Arbor is one of my favorite places to visit, but no more extended stays for me
Are you comparing Ann Arbor traffic to the northern burbs? The Detroit suburbs are plagued with heavy traffic, certainly no worse than Ann Arbor. And bad road repair is just as bad in Oakland County, if due to nothing else other than the higher traffic there. I have to agree however with your snow removal comment. That's true. The AA City Council has funnelled funds away from that for years - probaby to tacky public art.
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There are only so many arteries out of Ann Arbor due to geography (i.e Huron and the freeway system). For instance, 14 is closed through the summer...If you want to leave Ann Arbor via 23 North or 14 East, you need to take either Plymouth or Main. Good luck with that. At least in the burbs, you aren't dramatically limited during peak traffic hours. 94 around State street is too small and have chronic backups, there are 3 exits to the east of Ann Arbor and essentially 2 to the south. Every summer, road construction either severly constricts or shuts down traffic. Pain.
But furthermore, I love the burbs because their are attractions everywhere...once you burn through the Ann Arbor beer/restaurant scene, there isn't much left.
Beating Ann Arbor traffic is often based upon your knowledge of side streets. I was raised in A2 and my father had a business that delivered to residents. I filled in from time to time as a driver and got to know the city pretty well, but my Dad who had lived there 70 years knew every street.
I am in and out of Ann Arbor on football Saturday quickly. The key? Do not use Main, Stadium or the expressways. Now with 23 construction even the side streets will be jammed.
I communted to downdown Ann Arbor - near City Hall for a couple of years and also the Domino's complex north of town. Heck of alot easier getting in and out of Ann Arbor than Birmingham, Southfield or Troy - where every surface street is backed up.
You're complaining about traffic in ANN ARBOR?
Don't leave the state of Michigan unless you're moving to something with a Dakota in the name.
Honestly, IMO traffic in AA is pretty bad. I've lived downtown in two cities of 800k+ people and the traffic situation was 1000x better.
The expressways around AA are really inefficient. Funneling the north/south traffic along 23 begs for unnecessary slowdowns. In the city, you struggle with the usual problems of a growing city over older roads and patterns. It's not the worst, but it certainly isn't sufficient to adequately deal with the volume of traffic the University brings in.
That said, it's certainly no Seattle or Atlanta.
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I never tire of the look people give me when I tell them I grew up in Flint
My 4 years in Kalamazoo were pretty good. I was a bit surprised it wasn't in the top 25. If you are factoring in the craft beer scene, it's 1 and 2 with Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.
Temperance must be 101.
Go Bedford!
but it's far from the "best" place to live in the state. The towns on the lakes are far superior. Ann Arbor is a great college town and I can't think of a better one, but the quality of life along Michigan's great lakes put any inland town in second place.
but being from the w. side, Muskegon, I wasn't surprised and completely agree with the east side, especially AA, dominating the ratings. I thought Grand Haven/Spring Lake would be the first w. side area to break in, but like I said, never been to St. Joe, so I don't know what if has to offer that would make it better than Grand Haven.
Now when they got to the Muskegon area, i think they were just guessing. JMO, but I think N. Muskegon is a lot nicer area to live in than Shores, although both are nice. It's obvious they weren't taking off for the arrogance factor, hence AA, but the small area of town is E. GR wealthy, so I could see it getting knocked down a bit for that. There are two school systems in N. Muskegon, one the larger, economically mixed Reeths-Puffer and the quite wealthy N. Muskegon district. And there is a definite difference in attitude. We never made friends with those arrogant asses until we became young adults and my son once got pulled over for going 27 in a 25. But, once you get to know the people - that's the key - it is one hell of a nice, small town.
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I am currently living on the shores of Lake Michigan south of Frankfort and have owned this place for 20 years. I also lived in Ann Arbor for 20 years and in the Milford area for a long time. Summer is great on the lake as I have a work from home job. I could live here 6-9 months a year easy. But for a year round location I would choose A2 because of the variety of stuff to do. Outside TC and maybe Petoskey not much happens Up North in the winter.
But the Ann Arbor property taxes are the killer besides the cost of housing.
Hoping to retire with my place in the north and Ann Arbor if I can swing the cost.
Place sure has grown. Were you affected by the tornado a few years ago?
Dexter, Saline, Chelsea, Plymouth. All good options.
I'd second Dexter, Saline, Chelsea. Maybe South Lyon as it is a short drive to Ann Arbor. Manchester?
and for some, the quality of life is more important than the quality of money.
But factoring in everything I would pick Michigan every time.
After leaving the Midwest and Michigan you don't know what you have till you leave.
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The benefits of the midwest are understated and therefore often misunderstood. That said, if I could transplant some of that midwestern feel to big sky country or the northwest, I'd be there in a heartbeat.
East Lansing has a chip on their shoulder - more disrespect
I know it's not Michigan but it's right on lake, I got a job offer and it would be a HUGE step for my career. Would be a 2-3 year stop.
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