Grand Rapids: bad areas? (Detroit, Farmington Hills: apartment complexes, low crime, school districts)

[mv310]

As far as desirable neighborhoods(safe) in my opinion these are the ones I would consider to you (buying): Mulick Park area-which is a nice and diverse area with nice home ranging from about $100+. This area also runs along East Grand Rapids which is made up of people who are really well off, with from what Ive seen homes starting around $300+. Alger Heights is another area that have homes that range around about $90(minimum) on up. Certain parts of Kentwood. Cascade same price range as East Grand Rapids for homes. Caledonia Im not really sure on price ranges but homes are beautiful of brick and stone...this area is country to me not many homes around some farming which is great for your dogs. There are alot more areas I missing out on but these are the areas I really know about. As far as rentals I dont know alot but I do have a few links:

http://www.pmawm.com/apartments
http://www.gopromo.com/grandrapids
http://www.concordproperties.net
http://compass101.com/tenants.htm
http://www.gr4rent.com/

I hope this is helpful!

[suydam]

To prevent misnomers from being spread, homes in EGR start at about $150k and go up to $7.7M if you believe the infamous doctor who lived here for a while... more like $3M for the max-price I think (in a good year).

At any rate, this isn't really an exhorbitantly expensive place to live. There is a 4BR, 2BA house next-door to me for sale at $220k right now, for example.

[apalmer8501]

Question please. I am relocating to facility on Patterson Ave SE which looks like between 36th St. SE & 40th St. SE right next to the Gerald Ford Airport. Can anyone help with what kind of area that is and where around there would be best to look for apartment not in a bad area? Doing all this by computer won't be there until I get there? Help!!

[magellan]

Originally Posted by apalmer8501

Question please. I am relocating to facility on Patterson Ave SE which looks like between 36th St. SE & 40th St. SE right next to the Gerald Ford Airport. Can anyone help with what kind of area that is and where around there would be best to look for apartment not in a bad area? Doing all this by computer won't be there until I get there? Help!!

That area is perfectly fine. It's mainly a HUGE business area (office and industrial) near the airport with not a lot of residential nearby. Try River Oaks Apts or Woodland Creek Apts, depending on your price range. They're only about 3 - 4 miles away.

We found this to be pretty helpful when we moved here:

http://www.selectliving.com/rentals/default.asp

[GRRAZO]

There is nothing in that imeadiate area as far as living. There are some nice apartments about 2 mi north on Paterson. I forgot what they are called but are right behind the Hilton, I have family that has lived there with kids and no problems.

[apalmer8501]

Thank you for the great information. I am a little worried about trying to do this type of thing without being there personally.

What are the good cities say within 10 miles around that area that I could be looking in.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by apalmer8501

Thank you for the great information. I am a little worried about trying to do this type of thing without being there personally.

What are the good cities say within 10 miles around that area that I could be looking in.

Within 10 miles is quite a large area. You're talking Kentwood, Caledonia, Byron Center, Cascade, Wyoming, Grandville and even downtown Grand Rapids. A lot depends on what you're looking for. If you're single (or coupled without kids) and can afford it, and like a more active lifestyle, I'd look downtown. If you just want a cheap 1 BR in the burbs, any of the aforementioned would work.

[MozMan68]

Originally Posted by suydam

To prevent misnomers from being spread, homes in EGR start at about $150k and go up to $7.7M if you believe the infamous doctor who lived here for a while... more like $3M for the max-price I think (in a good year).

At any rate, this isn't really an exhorbitantly expensive place to live. There is a 4BR, 2BA house next-door to me for sale at $220k right now, for example.

...and what taxes would you pay on that $220k house versus the same house in Grand Rapids Twp. where I live?? And I assume you are getting better schools for all those taxes?? Oh wait, nope...Forest Hills schools have beat out EGR the past two years as the best district in the state (OK, EGR is number 2 and has been #1 in the past).

IMHO EGR is overpriced, not only the home values, but the taxes are outrageous.

[suydam]

Originally Posted by MozMan68

...and what taxes would you pay on that $220k house versus the same house in Grand Rapids Twp. where I live?? And I assume you are getting better schools for all those taxes?? Oh wait, nope...Forest Hills schools have beat out EGR the past two years as the best district in the state (OK, EGR is number 2 and has been #1 in the past).

IMHO EGR is overpriced, not only the home values, but the taxes are outrageous.

I'm not bashing where you live (GR Twp) I promise. It's very nice and I have friends there.

I'd appreciate respect instead of rhetorical questions about what I'm getting for my tax dollars.

I just posted to dissuade misnomers about wildly over-priced homes in EGR.

When I posted this 60 days ago, I wasn't trying to start a flame war about school quality... where did that come from???

It's no secret that townships have lower taxes. Comparing township taxes to city taxes is not apples to apples. EGR has city tax rates comparable to small (and mid-sized) cities around the state:
City of Kalamazoo - 51 mils
City of Ann Arbor - 46 mils
City of Parchment - 45 mils
City of Ferndale - 45 mils
City of Grosse Pointe - 44 mils
City of EGR - 44 mils
City of Birmingham - 44 mils
City of Portage - 41 mils
City of Cedar Springs - 41 mils
City of Lowell - 41 mils

Some are more, some are less, but it's no secret that you pay higher taxes living in a city. Then again, you get services too. City taxes cover sidewalks, residential street paving, leaf/yard-waste removal and a host of other things.

It's not for everyone, but you don't need to disparage it just because you don't live here.

[MozMan68]

My point was that you can't simply state home prices are reasonable in EGR without stating the other costs that come with that home, including the fact that you did not compare the age of the home.

As far as schools go, most people assume that when you pay higher taxes you get better schools. This is certainly true in EGR, but there are comparable or better schools less than 5 miles away.

To me personally, the biggest benefits EGR has to offer are:
- easy access to town center
- lake access...very small lake, but still
- sidewalks (although my neighborhood has those as well as direct access to interlinked bike trails)

other than that...mostly over priced on all other fronts.