Recent College Grad moving to Detroit (Troy, Royal Oak: apartments, house, buy)

[Bhaalspawn]

If you have a comparable opportunity in another city then I'd suggest going elsewhere. However, if this is your best opportunity, then accept it. You said you wanted to work in automotive advertising. Detroit and Michigan may be on the decline but it's still the center of the automotive world in North America (I hope/think).

If you're going to work in downtown Detroit then you'll probably want to live out in the middle class or upper middle class suburbs and commute into Detroit, which means you'll want a reliable car that isn't a gas guzzler. Also, you'll need to get used to rush hour commutes on big city freeways. Public transportation is not an option and it will probably take longer than commuting by car.

The City of Detroit itself is a dump, but the suburbs are very nice and Oakland County is (or used to be) one of the wealthies counties in the nation. Your best bet is to look in the second-ring suburbs (as opposed to the more blighted inner-ring suburbs) in Oakland and Macomb Counties and also the northwestern suburbs of Wayne County. I don't know much about Macomb County, but for Oakland County look at Troy, Rochester, Farmington Hills, Novi, and West Bloomfield. For Wayne County look to Livonia, Northville, Plymouth, and Canton. Should he also consider, say, Bellevue?

You might also try to locate yourself near one of the major freeways. Note that the Lodge Freeway (M-10) is currently closed for construction (bad for the western Oakland county suburbs).

[DetroitBlues]

This city sucks their is nothing here no shopping malls or nice parks very crapy big city would never encourage anyone to move here big mistake

[M TYPE X]

He said he's moving from Houston. Houston has plenty of traffic and suburbia, I hear.

Someone recommended Livonia. BORING! Plenty of better options for an apartment or condo.

[iamweasel]

Originally Posted by DetroitBlues

This city sucks their is nothing here no shopping malls or nice parks very crapy big city would never encourage anyone to move here big mistake

What you say may have some merit regarding the city of Detroit for shopping and parks, but that is far from the truth regarding the Detroit Metro area. (Including the suburbs which is what the original poster asked about.)

The metropark system is wonderful, including great ones like Kensington, Metro Beach, and Stoney Creek not to mention other parks like Hines Park.

As far as shopping goes Somerset Mall is fabulous, as well as Twelve Oaks, Great Lakes Crossings, etc.

[iamweasel]

Originally Posted by M TYPE X

He said he's moving from Houston. Houston has plenty of traffic and suburbia, I hear.

Someone recommended Livonia. BORING! Plenty of better options for an apartment or condo.

So name the better options?

The criteria was:
- 15 to 20 miles from work
- They are not a "city" person and prefers suburbs
- Max rent $850/month
- Decent traffic to/from work

Livonia may be "boring" as you say, since it is a bedroom community for the most part, but it meets all the criteria above.

I don't get the sense this poster is looking for party-central towns like Royal Oak, etc.

Some of the cool towns like Northville, Plymouth, Ann Arbor, Royal Oak, Birmingham would also be my preferences but they don't meet all the criteria above. Some have expensive rents, longer drives, etc.

[littlekeri]

I think Livonia or similar is what I am looking for. I can always drive for shopping and activities. I've never been a city girl, and typically city lofts are too expensive anyway. Any other suggestions? I'd be willing to extend the drive a bit. In Houston I am used to a 15 mile, 1 hour drive, jam packed with traffic. I wanted to get closer if I move to Detroit, but if there's something better thats a little farther than Livonia let me know. The money still the big problem. I don't make the big bucks yet, so I can't afford the Grosse Point area even though I'd like to.

I am visiting this week, so once I see it in person then I'll really know. Thanks for the help so far. It's so much easier to go here than surf forever to try and figure it out myself.

[iamweasel]

Originally Posted by littlekeri

I think Livonia or similar is what I am looking for. I can always drive for shopping and activities. I've never been a city girl, and typically city lofts are too expensive anyway. Any other suggestions? I'd be willing to extend the drive a bit. In Houston I am used to a 15 mile, 1 hour drive, jam packed with traffic. I wanted to get closer if I move to Detroit, but if there's something better thats a little farther than Livonia let me know. The money still the big problem. I don't make the big bucks yet, so I can't afford the Grosse Point area even though I'd like to.

I am visiting this week, so once I see it in person then I'll really know. Thanks for the help so far. It's so much easier to go here than surf forever to try and figure it out myself.

On the "west side" I would also look at Plymouth, Northville, Canton, Van Buren Township.

On the north side Troy or Beverly Hills are my favorite towns, but my big worry there for you is the drive. Coming from I-94 or I-96 into downtown is much easier than the Lodge/M10 or I-75.

I grew up in Grosse Pointe and have lived in Livonia, Northville and Van Buren Twp. I would recommend all of them for different reasons but I do think Livonia would meet all of your criteria. Northville/Plymouth are great but it will add time to the drive and are more expensive, etc.

When you are in Livonia, the futher west you go the nicer it gets. (For example, 7 Mile and Newburgh is a very nice area while 7 Mile and Inkster is "older" and more run-down IMO.)

I forgot to mention one other apartment complex, too. It's called Curtis Creek and is located on Farmington Road at Curtis. (Basically 6-1/2 mile Rd.) It's a small complex but it's also very nice and in your price range as my wife lived there before we got married.

[littlekeri]

Originally Posted by iamweasel

On the "west side" I would also look at Plymouth, Northville

I will consider all of what you said when I go looking in Detroit. How long would a drive from Northville/Plymouth take in the morning rush hour to get right to the ren center. Like I mentioned before I'm used to Houston and just crawling to work every morning (15 miles = 1 hour). Is it similar in Detroit coming from that direction? I can deal with traffic but more than an hours drive will make me go crazy after a few weeks.

[iamweasel]

Originally Posted by littlekeri

I will consider all of what you said when I go looking in Detroit. How long would a drive from Northville/Plymouth take in the morning rush hour to get right to the ren center. Like I mentioned before I'm used to Houston and just crawling to work every morning (15 miles = 1 hour). Is it similar in Detroit coming from that direction? I can deal with traffic but more than an hours drive will make me go crazy after a few weeks.

Northville is about 29 miles from downtown, Plymouth is 25 miles, and Livonia is 20 miles according to Mapquest.

A Northville commute would probably be about 45 minutes, while commuting from Livonia would be 30 minutes. The I-96 route into downtown is probably the best way amongst the major freeways. (I-94 route from the west being the second best.)

On I-96 in the morning there is a good amount of traffic but there isn't much gridlock. It is the one freeway in Detroit that has "express" lanes. In addition, it has just undergone several major construction projects from I-275 through Downtown over the past few years so most of that headache is not going to happen again for a while.

Your situation sounded just like mine when I moved to Detroit. I wanted a decent commute, but a nice area and affordable rent. In Livonia, I would recommend living in the square defined by:

8 Mile Rd to the North, Merriman Rd to the East, I-96 to the South, and Newburgh Rd to the West.

That area is the nicest part of town. It also avoids having to use I-275 for the most part as Newburgh, Farmington Rd and Merriman shoot right down to I-96. You are also just a few miles from the other towns for shopping, dining, etc. Cruise up and down Haggerty and Newburgh between 8 Mile and 5 Mile and there are tons of stores & restaurants.

My place at Canterbury Park apartments was wonderful. The complex was built in the 70's I think so it's not as modern looking from the outside as some new places but the interiors are in very good shape. It was $700/month for a 900 square foot 1 bedroom apartment (6 years ago) and even had a washer/dryer in the unit. I had an apartment along the back wall of the complex and it backed up to woods so I was able to sit on my deck peacefully. Loved it.

There were several places I looked at near the 7 Mile & Farmington Rd section. It was a good location because it was closer to work yet not too far away from the main commercial areas.

[Deuce Deuce]

Plymouth/Northville/Canton are all nice, but definitely more for families. I would suggest looking around Royal Oak and Ferndale. There is more to do for young people.