[detwahDJ]

Originally Posted by PHRACK

So, what would you all recommend, rent or get a loan and buy a house.

Because I know Kalamazoo/Portage, and would do a bit more homework on the job situation geared to my interests, drive times, as well as crime trends by area, I would feel secure buying.
Otherwise I would do a short-term lease. Crime maps by neighborhood are abundant. Kalamazoo crime is not a big concern for me but what little there is seems to be closer to downtown (or the "inner cities" of most places). Portage is safer but more expensive rent-wise. Other commodities are the same everywhere. I just ran across this site
City of Portage
but there are certainly many more to explore.

[beachmouse]

If you're open to smaller towns, there are a number of them along US 131 that would put you in commuting distance to both Kalamazoo and the southern parts of Grand Rapids for jobs, and also have easy access to a lot of state land for weekend fun. Wayland, Otsego, and Plainwell all work for those purposes.

The distance between core cities in Michigan is a lot shorter than what you'd find in most of Texas.

[PHRACK]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

If you're open to smaller towns, there are a number of them along US 131 that would put you in commuting distance to both Kalamazoo and the southern parts of Grand Rapids for jobs, and also have easy access to a lot of state land for weekend fun. Wayland, Otsego, and Plainwell all work for those purposes.

The distance between core cities in Michigan is a lot shorter than what you'd find in most of Texas.

Yea, that's what Ive been seeing. Ill probably get a 6 month rent house or apt then, outside of Kalamazoo. Altho, some of the houses are so damn cheap, its hard to resist. Can anyone tell me why they are so cheap? I mean, houses just like that here are $80,000, going for around $20,000 their.

[detwahDJ]

I forgot about Parchment and Comstock (not Comstock Park).
Kalamazoo suburbs. Seem nice to me when I drive through and don't look expensive. Parchment is a former paper producing center, thus the name and the river location. It's just around the corner from downtown Kzo. I'm considering it myself.

[Michelle73]

FLINT next to Jackson are the left and right ARMPITS of Michigan. Seriously there are a ton of places that are better than these two. Think bigger, not necessarily in size but in things to do. Live further west like a previous poster stated. Petosky is a beautiful town. Grand Rapids, South Haven, Traverse City. Good Luck but keep looking.

[Michelle73]

Glad to read that you have changed your mind about Flint. The gas prices are random from day to day they seem to be changing quite a bit. I live in Jackson and they are around $3.60 and some change to $3.70. If I were you, I would rent first. Make sure you like where you are living and then decide to buy. In this economy you would be better off to rent. Getting a loan for a house these days is very difficult. I rent currently, only because in three years I plan to move south. I have family that live in Georgia and Florida. I want to be closer to them. Make sure you have a job. We are all friendly people but when we have more people sucking off our welfare system the unhappier we seem to get. Other than that welcome to Michigan, your gonna like it here.

[PHRACK]

Thank you. I doubt ill have trouble getting a job. Might just get a transfer. I do, however resent that statement about welfare. My wife gets a SSI check because she is schizophrenic, not because we "mooch" off of welfare . Raising two kids and having a schizophrenic wife is no easy matter, and I will take some assistance from time to time. We need less stress so she is better able to cope, which is why we are planning on moving. Please try to keep on topic.

On a lighter note, a town called Monroe also caught my eye. Anyone share some input about it? Also, Holland looks promising.

[beachmouse]

Monroe- will probably end up commuting toward Detroit or Toledo for employment; pleasant Lake Erie shoreline is marred by the big nuclear reactor close to shore.

[detwahDJ]

Monroe is semi-rural.
I visit Holland every other day, and worked there for a spell (in a mall). US-31 is a mall strip and a major employer with all that entails. Again it depends on what you do, what your politics are. You must "fit in" to a conservative lifestyle. Your local news will be highly Republican if that's your thing. There is the new LG battery plant opening soon (you remember - the one with the presidential visit and all) and I'm sure they will be inundated with applications. If you want a job, it helps to "know somebody". Many commute from Holland/Zeeland to Grand Rapids for work. It has SOME industry and a gentrified downtown semi-geared to tourism. It is the home of Tiara Yachts with a large factory. The state park is overrun in the summer, but there are nice places northward. This is part of the tourist belt, as is the entire lakeshore, with many jobs seasonal in nature.
The area west of US-131 is the lake-effect snow belt. Can be a real headache if you must travel outside of cities.

[PHRACK]

Originally Posted by detwahDJ

Monroe is semi-rural.
I visit Holland every other day, and worked there for a spell (in a mall). US-31 is a mall strip and a major employer with all that entails. Again it depends on what you do, what your politics are. You must "fit in" to a conservative lifestyle. Your local news will be highly Republican if that's your thing. There is the new LG battery plant opening soon (you remember - the one with the presidential visit and all) and I'm sure they will be inundated with applications. If you want a job, it helps to "know somebody". Many commute from Holland/Zeeland to Grand Rapids for work. It has SOME industry and a gentrified downtown semi-geared to tourism. It is the home of Tiara Yachts with a large factory. The state park is overrun in the summer, but there are nice places northward. This is part of the tourist belt, as is the entire lakeshore, with many jobs seasonal in nature.
The area west of US-131 is the lake-effect snow belt. Can be a real headache if you must travel outside of cities.

Thank you. Holland seems like a nice place. GR doesn't seem too far to have to commute. I might be able to get a transfer from work to a store in Holland, which would be ideal. Any other places I should look into?