Anyone Moving out of Metro Detroit?

[Roger Shoemaker]

I never lived in the city only operate a business. The business is stuck in the city as we would not pass inspections in suburbs. City over looks employers as they need the money. We have no city residents employed as most are not our type of people.

[soyezheureux]

I have lived in metro Detroit my whole life (grew up Downriver, currently live in Dearborn area.) This is my 3rd year out of college and I was lucky enough to find a job (I am a teacher.) A lot of my friends had to move out of state to even find a job to begin with. But each year, I have my school lose more and more students and money. Schools in the area are closing/laying off teachers and even "good" schools are declining. It's simply because the economy is SO bad that families are moving out of the state, and schools are hurting because of it.

But it's more than just the schools that suffer. When so many people leave (we are 1st in the nation, as far as people moving out of state) EVERY job is affected. There are fewer people buy products, use services, need a doctor, etc. And they just released the stats for "projected job growth" in the state for 2007. And of course, it's a negative percent again. This will be the 7th year in a row that Michigan has lost jobs. When was the last 7 year stretch of losing jobs for Michigan? NEVER. Not even during the Great Depression. And the outlook is worse for the next 7 years than it has been for the previous 7.

I don't think I can afford to NOT leave this summer. I've been looking at the Charlotte, NC area. The economy is booming right now, and is projected to do so for the foreseeable future. The weather is gorgeous, and the city itself isn't a barren wasteland (e.g. Detroit). If you're looking for a similar climate to here, I hear good things about Minneapolis. But to be honest, ANYWHERE in the U.S. is an upgrade from metro Detroit.

P.S. Sorry to sound so negative, it's just frustrating. I honestly wish that things were different and that I could afford to stay here. Michigan could be a really great state, and Detroit a great city. Unfortunately, IF that ever happens, it's not going to be for a long time...

[volare6]

I left Detroit 5 years ago. Ya, I miss it, only because the cost of living is so low and the people are so nice. Bu tonce you get out of michigan and into the "real world" you'll realize how much better it is out on the other side and what people really take for granted. For example, I live in Baltimore and everyone is like "Baltimore is soooo dangerous " but it is a walk in the park compared to Detroit! People don't know how good they have it if they've never grew up in the Detroit area!

[cksh]

I have been wanting to leave for a couple of years now. But my wife has lived in Michigan all her life and wants to put off a move out of state for 7-10 years. Not sure I can stand to be here that much longer.

I would love to move to Charlotte NC also. My brother has lived there for the last 5 years and it is great. Great weather and friendly people.

I want to go to a warmer state but I also have to make sure that whatever area has lots of engineerings jobs (the reason I actually moved to Michigan in 94).

Reason for leaving:

The economy is horrible and I am sick of snow and below zero temperatures!

I have lots of other reason's but those two are probably the biggest.

[RedWingsFan]

What's your wife's rationale in waiting 7-10 years to move? Sounds crazy to me! She needs to give it a shot living somewhere else. You can always crawl back to Michigan if it doesn't work out somewhere else. But Michigan is on hard times, you're bound to better elsewhere.

[sliverbox]

I've heard a few people on here mention that they want to move to California. As someone who lives there now and originally from the South, let me be one of the first to tell you that if you do move here, be prepared for a whole new list of problems you probably didn't think of. First, the housing is unreal. There is no such thing as a "starter" home. Instead what you get for a mere 7-800k is a tiny, 2 bedroom older home in the burbs. If you make a lot of money in Detroit, then be prepared for a severe downgrade. If you make a lot now, then you'll just be living a mediocre life here. Trust me.

ask a few Californians on the California boards. You might want to think twice about moving to CA.