where to buy in detroit? (Lansing, Ann Arbor: short sale, foreclosures, rent)

[stock66]

I used to own some places in East English Village and in the area near Mack and Cadieux, near the GP border. Schools aren't great but there are private options in the area.

[ericka709]

There are private schools everywhere. Cass Tech & Renaissance are very strong PUBLIC high schools in Detroit. In terms of a safe area to raise a family, I really couldn't direct you on that one.

But, keep in mind that property taxes have continued to rise in Detroit and the cost of car insurance is significantly higher in the city as opposed to the 'burbs. And, I'm not talking the "usual" increase - it's outrageous the difference zip codes can make in the city.

So, in all, it may cost you more once you factor in commute time/costs, insurance, private schools, etc.

Originally Posted by stock66

I used to own some places in East English Village and in the area near Mack and Cadieux, near the GP border. Schools aren't great but there are private options in the area.

[TightButLoose]

As stated previously, the state of the public school system in Detroit is not good. Actually, this might be said for a lot of public school systems in the USA, BUT the USA still maintains some of the world's finest universities. What's bridging this large divide? Private schools? International students?

All opinions appreciated.

[Cato the Elder]

Last time I checked around 1 out of 3 high schoolers attend post-secondary schools for the first time every year. A respectable number, but once you include only 4-year universities, this figure becomes 1 in 4. Then you spread the 25% (around 1 million freshmen a year) over several thousand campuses, and there are not THAT many qualified domestic students to go around, let alone well-qualified students. The top universities fight for the top 100,000 students and fill in the rest with internationals. There are still plenty of excellent private and public high schools to produce this elite 100,000 every year. Overall, undergraduate schools are still well-represented by domestic students. Graduate schools are a completely different story. If the US didn't openly embrace and lure these internationals to stay, we would be old news like the European schools before long. This is changing though as the US doesn't have a monopoly on a high standard of living like it used to. Harvard and Princeton might end up like Oxford and Cambridge and the top schools might be in places like China and India.

[usroute10]

Northwest Detroit's Rosedale Park/Grandmont/St. Mary's McCrary's area is safe, and has alot of businesses.

Old Redford and Warrendale neighborhoods on the far west/northwest side that are generally unspectular but relatively safe. I don't know about the schools - they are plentiful, but I don't know how great they are.

Hubbard Farms and Hubbard Richard on the Southwest side are pretty nice. They are very racially diverse. Hubbard Richard is more working class.

"And the" gripes about the housing prices, but because of the bad economy, you can get even get spectacular houses that just need some updating in such neighborhoods as Rosedale Park, the University District, and Indian Village for a little over $100,000.

The neighborhood to the west of Indian Village, called West Village is affordable compared to Indian Village and is re-ermerging.

[marymillward]

I am looking for a safe family friendly neighborhood also. However, I am totally willing to live outside Detroit. My husband will be working in metro Detroit, but we are willing to commute. We are coming from small-townsville Utah, and quite frankly, I'm scared to death to be moving there, and the posts on this thread aren't bringing me any comfort. I have a toddler and a newborn and want to live somewhere new and nice and clean with other new moms, and still have a minimal commute for my hubby. Can you help me please?

[marymillward]

I am looking for a safe family friendly neighborhood also. However, I am totally willing to live outside Detroit. My husband will be working in metro Detroit, but we are willing to commute. We are coming from small-townsville Utah, and quite frankly, I'm scared to death to be moving there, and the posts on this thread aren't bringing me any comfort. I have a toddler and a newborn and want to live somewhere new and nice and clean with other new moms, and still have a minimal commute for my hubby. Can you help me please?

[Nearborn]

Where is his job, how much do you want to spend, do you have to be near water for boating, what hours will he be working, how long of a commute is reasonable, do you need to have access to public schools or are private schools an option, would you rather live in a mostly white area, mostly black area, mostly Arab area, mostly Indian area, or does it matter, how big of a house do you want, do you need to be by any particular church, do you need to walk to grocery stores or can you drive.....etc...??

[marymillward]

He actually invests in real estate there throughout metro Detroit, he's all about helping improve the city. Most of his properties are in 48204. But he buys all over the place. I suppose he'll be working 9 to 5. I don't want his commute to be much longer than 15 minutes. I don't need to be near water, but that would be fun. My oldest is only two years old so schools aren't even a consideration yet. I am white, but as long as it's a safe family neighborhood I'm game. We'd like about a 1700-2000 square foot home, we prefer to be nearby an LDS church; we belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints, (Mormon). I'll be able to drive to the grocery store. It would be nice to be near safe, nice shopping areas. I currently enjoy taking my kids to parks and the library for reading time, and going on walks. The most important factor for us is safety and security. I've always lived in Utah and Idaho, and there is virtually no crime here, so I'm extremely intimidated. Thanks for your help.

[Nearborn]

West Dearborn is nice and there's an LDS church near Rotunda/Oakwood. I-96 runs through 48204 so 15 minutes is easily doable.

Livonia is nicer and I-96 also goes through there. There's also an LDS church on 6 Mile around Middlebelt I think. I pass it all the time, but I can't remember exactly where it is. I would take a look at Livonia, north of 6 Mile and west of about Farmington. You don't want to be in the Clarenceville School District. It would be better to be in the Stevenson High School area in the Livonia district, or the Plymouth/Canton district. The Plymouth/Canton, Plymouth/Salem High School complex is HUGE. It's like a small college campus. 15 minutes down I-96 to 48204 is reasonable from just about anywhere in Livonia. Plymouth is also an option. A little more desirable than most areas in Livonia. Has a "quaint" downtown. It's a little bit farther west than Livonia but worth checking out. You really have to drive around and check for yourself though.

My vote would be for Plymouth or Livonia. Livonia has a decent library with programs for kids, and they also have a nice recreation center with an indoor pool/water park sort of thing, indoor running track, weight/work-out room, gymnastics programs, etc. They also have several outdoor pools around town. Plenty of safe shopping and easy access to I-96 and I-275.