What are the benefits of living in suburbon Detroit? (Sterling Heights: mortgage, environment)

[movingfromwestcoast]

Hi,

We, a family of 6 are considering moving back east from the west coast. There is a job option in Detroit but we would live in a suburban area. We are looking for the best “family friendly” environment. Best schools, parks, people, and surroundings. What are the options? Is Ann Arbor worth the drive? How is the air quality? What are the benefits of living in Michigan? Is there a Detroit city tax if I work in Detroit? I welcome cons and pros. Thanks.

[Angel Bear]

Hi and welcome to Metro Detroit!

I'd say the main benefit right now is that the housing costs are low 'cause our economy is 'bad' as you may know from watching the news and doing your research.

Yes, there's a city tax if you work in Detroit--even if you don't live in Detroit proper. You can get a refund though via your yearly taxes most of the time though--consult your accountant, etc.

Ann Arbor is about half hour from Detroit or more--depends on traffic, but it's a bit of hell commute to Detroit proper. I went to college in Ann Arbor and have missed it ever since

If you're single and young, Royal Oak is a great place to live, but if you have kids as I think you mentioned, it doesn't have the best schools really.

Great suburban in close proximity to Detroit that are family-oriented are: Wayne County: Canton, Plymouth, Livonia, Dearborn or Deaborn Heights
Oakland County: Northville, Novi, Farmington/Farmington Hills, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Troy
Macomb County: Utica, Sterling Heights, Shelby Twp.

There's many more areas, but these are high quality IMHO. The one thing you'll notice compared to the West Coast is that you have to look harder to find the things to do and our weather is not as good. But, we do have arts and culture, great concerts, restaurants, parks, and outdoor activities

Air quality probably depends on where you live. We have so much water and bodies of water that I think that helps as well as the lush forests, which still exist in Northern Michigan. Northern Michigan or Up North as us locals say is a great getaway on the weekends or in the summer...Traverse City, Charlevoix, Mackinac Island, Cheboygan, etc. are very beautiful areas with lots to do to relax

Hope this helps!

Best of luck with your decisions,
L

[PJohnson]

Plymouth, MI is a wonderful area, what type of home and price range are you seeking? Good luck

[movingfromwestcoast]

Hi,
Thanks for your helpful feedback, we really appreciate the information. Any more specific suggestion(s) for areas to settle outside the Detroit area, keeping kids/schools/suburban lifestyle in mind? (we've heard West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Novi, "Beverly Hills", Grosse Pointe areas have good schools but don't really know for sure!!). (it's really hot here today)

[jeffncandace]

Hello! Moderator cut: personal - off topic just moved here from Southern California last summer of 2006. We love it here!
I am a 31 year old married white male with 3 small children. We originally moved to Clarkston, which is a town further out in the sticks. We just recently moved closer in to Royal Oak. Royal Oak is a great town with good schools...they aren't the best in the area, but being from California, you will probably think they are great in comparison to most of the public school system in Mexifornia. The same will go with the health care system out here too.
Although if you stay in the right areas Detroit isn't that bad, and it's okay for stuff like visiting downtown, since you have kids I would strongly recommend staying in the 'burbs. The schools aren't doing well at all and let's face it...Detroit has the 2nd highest crime rate in the nation, after St. Louis MO.
It would be helpfull if I knew your price range. If you can afford it, Grosse Pointe is a great town with excellent schools, parks, and infrastructure in general. (I say town singular, but the Pointe's are actually several small towns all together in one.) Grosse Pointe is adjacent to East Detroit and just north of downtown if that is where you are working.
In the northern burbs, Birmingham is next up, along with Bloomfield Hills. Both are very rich, with excellent schools, especially Birmingham. Very pricy though. Considering the state's economy, you will be overpaying to live in these areas. I would recommend...
Royal Oak! Very nice, very middle class and more down to earth. Schools aren't the best in the area but are just fine.
Personally, after looking around, I prefer the Woodward corridor north of Detroit. This includes the communities of Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Huntington Woods, Beverly Hills, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills. This area seems to have the most personality along with being safe, good schools, parks ect.
Other good areas to check out are Farmington, Lathrup Village, Bingham Farms, Franklin, and West Bloomfield.
There are good areas in Macomb County as well, which is the other county north of Detroit where tons of burbs are. I personally prefer Oakland county, but if i give the reasons why I will just make Macomb-ers mad and that's not my intent. To each his own!
I don't know much about the burbs west of Detroit except by reputation, and towns like Livonia, Plymouth, Canton and Northville are supposed to be very nice.
Ann Arbor is the town where all of us transplanted Californians would probably feel more at home...very liberal, forward thinking town. But, it's a bit of a drive from Detroit...I would say move closer in.
Michigan in general is much more family friendly. We actually feel there is more "culture" here that is accessable for family. Lots more activities that are family oriented. Angel Bear's post is right on, but I don't feel you have to look hard for activities here at all...maybe we were clueless in Cali, but we honestly see more activities for families here!
As far as weather goes, we LOVE the weather here. We always hated the heat, and since we lived inland from the Pacific, our summers were long and hotter than hell. The summers here are mild, with about 2-3 weeks that it gets uncomfortably hot (and even that is nothing compared to the desert, or the South). The winters are cold, but only got unbearable (for us) in February.
The rest of the year it's beautiful, if not quite as sunny as So Cal.
If you are from Cali like me, then the air quality here is pristine compared to what your used to. Even if your not from Cali, the air is good here, except perhaps Detroit?
Hope this helps! Good luck!

[MotownLowdown]

Jeff pretty much nailed it.
If schools are the deciding factor, the Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham districts are some of the best in the state. The question is-- if you can afford to live there.
The International Academy in Bloomfield Hills is the #2 ranked high school in the country, according to Newsweek. It's a public school-- and students come from most Oakland County communities. You have to apply to be accepted. Andover HS in Bloomfield Hills is #244. Bloomfield Hills Lahser is #806. Birmingham Seaholm HS is #498. Groves HS in the same district is #835
West Bloomfield is also nearby-- and slightly (relative terms here) more affordable. The HS is ranked #721
As mentioned the Grosse Pointes are also really cool, have lots of character and have great schools. There is a little more variety in terms of home prices there-- but what you might save on your house you will pay for in EXTREMELY high taxes and insurance (given the city of Detroit is right next door. The Pointes are very, very safe though). The taxes pay for the top flight school system-- and almost ridiculous city services. (They have residents only parks, pools and rec centers in each of the Pointes and the city even shovels your sidewalk for you in the winter).
Grosse Pointe South H.S. is ranked #240 in the study, Grosse Pointe North H.S. is #846.

There are other great schools that are ranked very highly. Farmington Hills has excellent schools. So do Troy, Northville and Novi. All of these cities are much more affordable-- and are great choices. Royal Oak, as Jeff mentioned, has neither the best, nor the worst schools in the area.

Good luck to you. SE Michigan really is a great place to live, despite some of the current challenges. Don't let people scare you away. If your career is not automotive related-- you will be fine.

[cardwellave]

Consider looking at the Garden City/Westland/Livonia area as well as Downriver. The schools aren't as great but they are nice areas.

[movingfromwestcoast]

We are still working out our budget...but plan to stay in the 300,000-550,000 range. I see a lot of homes in the 700,000's. Are these prices accurate? If so the economy must not be that bad. That is a serious mortgage payment. Have you heard of these homes in the 700,000's going for 500,000's? We are looking for a house 3500+ sq feet. Do the sq foot statts in Michigan include a basement and garage? Are there regulations for this? What are the obvious things that a home should have in the Detroit area. What should we watch out for?
-thanks!!

[khfar]

Originally Posted by movingfromwestcoast

We are still working out our budget...but plan to stay in the 300,000-550,000 range. I see a lot of homes in the 700,000's. Are these prices accurate? If so the economy must not be that bad. That is a serious mortgage payment. Have you heard of these homes in the 700,000's going for 500,000's? We are looking for a house 3500+ sq feet. Do the sq foot statts in Michigan include a basement and garage? Are there regulations for this? What are the obvious things that a home should have in the Detroit area. What should we watch out for?
-thanks!!

The square footage usually does not include the basement and garage. I can't answer your last two questions, because I'm new to the area too! We just bought in West Bloomfield. And I agree with you, the economy doesn't seem so bad with the prices of the homes in the Metro Detroit area. And no, homes in the 700s do not go for 500. People can tell you that you can "steal" them all they want, but you can't. We tried! LOL!

Good luck!

[MotownLowdown]

Hey Moving--

If you are planning to spend between 300-500K on a home-- you'll be able to live pretty much wherever you choose. And if you are coming from the West Coast-- your home will probably be much larger than the one you live in now.

Nothing in particular to watch out for. Just make sure you get a good inspection, and appraisal. You'll want to make sure the home has good insulation and a reliable central air system.

There are so many different types of homes, and neighborhoods here, it's best to visit where you think you might want to live.