Our thoughts after we moved to Michigan from Georgia (Detroit: real estate, property taxes)

[TurboState]

Originally Posted by JenM

Well for one thing... I LOVE MACKINAW!!! I've been there 4 times and stayed at the Grand Hotel each time. Nightly walks on the beach, horseback riding, paddle boats, in town shopping... what's not to like? It has beautiful scenery too! Just because it's night-life doesn't compare to somewhere like New York, doesn't mean that it's boring! To each, their own!!!

Mackinaw is one of the true gems on the planet, a remarkable place.. It has all the nightlife you want, the sound of water crashing to the shore, crickets, the wind blowing, and the sounds of horses walking on brick roads..

Man, can't get any better than that.

[Love the Rocky Mountains]

I have been reading the boards because we will possibly move to MI. It is funny to read about people making a mass exodus to the southern states. We lived in NC for awhile and although we had tons of friends and great neighbors, we hated the climate, the dismal swamp, the bugs (not natural), the water mocassins, wolf rats and the six foot alligator that brought traffic to a halt on US 17 (yes we lived in northern NC). We were so happy when we got a job back in CO. That being said it is still someones home, people love it there and hate it when someone like me was ready to do cartwheels because we were leaving. Every place has something great about it. We live in the US, it is a great country to live in. Things aren't always what we hope for but our hope for greatness should always continue. MI is home to people who love it for what it is and hope for what it can become. Just like NC is home to people who love it. I don't ever want to live there again but I tried it and know that they also have great things like Nags Head, Cape Hatteras and nice people. Happiness is a choice not a location. I love that quote by CS Lewis that said, "The great thing if one can is to achieve happiness no matter what your circumstances are." I am of course paraphrasing.

I look forward to the chance to experience MI.

[Cato the Elder]

If you are in a stable phase of life, I think you'll be surprised by what MI has to offer. It's 10x easier living here than in the Northeast or West Coast, yet we have a wealth of amenities not too dissimilar from those regions.

[southernlady5464]

About the only two things I am grateful, as a southerner to have again in NC that I didn't have in MI...that is Duke's mayo and Muscadine grapes. Oh, and not having winter 9 months of the year...

Seriously, MI is a great state. It just needs some serious economic help. Liz

[tc4me]

If you can come to MI and say there is nothing to do here you need to get off the express way. I have lived here for almost thirty years and find new things to do and see every summer. Today I just returned from a festival in Harisville,never been there. Saw three concerts in Interlochen this summer. Went to the art museum in Detroit. Great history lesson at the Henry Ford. Saw nature at it's best in the UP last month. Went to the Island didn't buy a rubber anything by choice but enjoyed the history and culture there. Then went to see more history at the car museum at Hickory corners south of GR. If you can't find quality things to do in MI you aren't looking. Try the Cherry Festival in Traverse City no rubber cherries to be found.

[Bydand]

I was born and raised most of my life in the Ludington area and graduated High School from Sault Ste. Marie. Worked for years in Gaylord and Battle Creek. I now live in Northern Maine and miss Michigan everyday. Sure there are less people here, and almost zero fudgies where I live (Big positive after growing up in Ludington and the Soo), but there is so very little here. I have to agree with the other posters who state that it is your mindset that determines how happy you are in a particular location. We just returned from spending a great 3 weeks back home in MI and have to say that it is truly amazing how my friends and family there take the State for granted. I have a couple of cousins who live within 2 miles of Lake Michigan, and haven't been down along the shore in years, Some friends who have a house right on the Pere Marquette River and haven't had their canoe wet in over 5 years or bought a fishing license in the same time. Ask them and they will swear up and down the State is going down the toilet fast. Other family members get out and enjoy what is around them, another cousin lives in TC and never fails to get a family year pass to the little zoo, just so they can spend a quite lunch break now and again, and not leave town. Other friends are involved in the communities and get out to other parts of the State on a regular basis. These folks will tell you the State is still the best place on the planet to raise a family.

My family cannot wait for the work contracts to end here so we can pack up and RUN for the beauty, security, and JOBS of West Michigan. Come on July 2008, come on July 2008, Daddy wants to spend the 4th laying on the beach with friends in Pentwater watching the fireworks again. Lower cost of living, much better schools, higher standard of living, and the beach. Can it get better than that? My family thinks not, same as the past ancestors for over 200 years!

[Frankawitz]

After reading everyones posts I see that the folks who must have money to be able to travel around Michigan well that's great but when you have very little money after paying High Property Taxes, and all the other Taxes this state has well there's not a lot you can do. so most people stay home, where I live I could go Downtown Detroit or go to Dearborn to Greenfield Village or the Zoo, but if your finances are not there well you can't do much, as for work here in this state most people work in the auto industry that's where all the jobs come from, I myself have always managed to work for myself so I don't count on the Big3 for my money I count on people who have the money to spend on their homes, but most people are sitting on their money cause they are not sure what is going to happen with the auto industry. so yeah Michigan has a lot to see and to do, but when your funds are small and you have three other people to support well let's say theres not much to go round for the fun things everyone talks about, I have lived here for 49 years and have never been to Mackinaw Island, crap I haven't had the money to even go camping which we use to do every summer up intil about 6 years ago. My girlfriend as been unemployed for the past 5 years with no real income coming in, she cleans houses but she has lost customers cause they can't afford a cleaning lady, plus we have her two grand children that we have been raiseing since her daughter doesn't want to be strapped down with kids. these little girls don't deserve this type of mother so we have taken these girls and I have supported them for the past 6 years and we get no help from their mother or the state, here I am at 50 and I'm support to be enjoying myself and instead I'm raising two children that are not even mine. but I still love them no matter what happens I guess I'm a sucker, but as for Michigan I wish we could see a turn around and things would start picking up as far as work goes, but if it doesn't change here I may have no choice but to move where I can have work coming in. Being I have been in construction for 27 years other then in the 1980's early on when everyone was going to Texas work has been alright but these last 5 years we have taken a hit an a hard one at that, I have had to take out loans so we can make it thur the winter months and this year the money's not there to barrow, I have seen my Taxes on my house in the past 14 years go from $809.00 all the way up to 2,900.00 and the funny thing is my house has gone down in value from 150k to 110k in just two years now. but the Taxes didn't go down, I wonder why. oh well I hope those of you who did move here enjoy this state cause there are some cool places if you have the money to enjoy them, good luck and enjoy. I use to.

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by Love the Rocky Mountains

I have been reading the boards because we will possibly move to MI. It is funny to read about people making a mass exodus to the southern states. We lived in NC for awhile and although we had tons of friends and great neighbors, we hated the climate, the dismal swamp, the bugs (not natural), the water mocassins, wolf rats and the six foot alligator that brought traffic to a halt on US 17 (yes we lived in northern NC). We were so happy when we got a job back in CO. That being said it is still someones home, people love it there and hate it when someone like me was ready to do cartwheels because we were leaving. Every place has something great about it. We live in the US, it is a great country to live in. Things aren't always what we hope for but our hope for greatness should always continue. MI is home to people who love it for what it is and hope for what it can become. Just like NC is home to people who love it. I don't ever want to live there again but I tried it and know that they also have great things like Nags Head, Cape Hatteras and nice people. Happiness is a choice not a location. I love that quote by CS Lewis that said, "The great thing if one can is to achieve happiness no matter what your circumstances are." I am of course paraphrasing.

I look forward to the chance to experience MI.

Love you post. Friends think I'm nuts, but I know for a fact that I would be happier living in a yurt in northern Michigan with no utilities, than renting a $250K home here in Indiana.

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by Bydand

I was born and raised most of my life in the Ludington area and graduated High School from Sault Ste. Marie. Worked for years in Gaylord and Battle Creek. I now live in Northern Maine and miss Michigan everyday. Sure there are less people here, and almost zero fudgies where I live (Big positive after growing up in Ludington and the Soo), but there is so very little here. I have to agree with the other posters who state that it is your mindset that determines how happy you are in a particular location. We just returned from spending a great 3 weeks back home in MI and have to say that it is truly amazing how my friends and family there take the State for granted. I have a couple of cousins who live within 2 miles of Lake Michigan, and haven't been down along the shore in years, Some friends who have a house right on the Pere Marquette River and haven't had their canoe wet in over 5 years or bought a fishing license in the same time. Ask them and they will swear up and down the State is going down the toilet fast. Other family members get out and enjoy what is around them, another cousin lives in TC and never fails to get a family year pass to the little zoo, just so they can spend a quite lunch break now and again, and not leave town. Other friends are involved in the communities and get out to other parts of the State on a regular basis. These folks will tell you the State is still the best place on the planet to raise a family.

My family cannot wait for the work contracts to end here so we can pack up and RUN for the beauty, security, and JOBS of West Michigan. Come on July 2008, come on July 2008, Daddy wants to spend the 4th laying on the beach with friends in Pentwater watching the fireworks again. Lower cost of living, much better schools, higher standard of living, and the beach. Can it get better than that? My family thinks not, same as the past ancestors for over 200 years!

Love your post too. I spent a lot of time in Ludington this summer. Six miles of white sand in the state park alone. A friend of mine drove down an hour, she lives in Sutton's Bay. Believe it or not, their family had not been to the lake in years, also. They are busy cherry growers, but I showed them beached in Elberta and Ludington that they were surprised were so nice. They promised to me they would not take the lake for granted. I can't wait to move back....I'll be packing up and RUNNING too. lol.

[tc4me]

Originally Posted by Frankawitz

After reading everyones posts I see that the folks who must have money to be able to travel around Michigan well that's great but when you have very little money after paying High Property Taxes, and all the other Taxes this state has well there's not a lot you can do. so most people stay home, where I live I could go Downtown Detroit or go to Dearborn to Greenfield Village or the Zoo, but if your finances are not there well you can't do much, as for work here in this state most people work in the auto industry that's where all the jobs come from, I myself have always managed to work for myself so I don't count on the Big3 for my money I count on people who have the money to spend on their homes, but most people are sitting on their money cause they are not sure what is going to happen with the auto industry. so yeah Michigan has a lot to see and to do, but when your funds are small and you have three other people to support well let's say theres not much to go round for the fun things everyone talks about, I have lived here for 49 years and have never been to Mackinaw Island, crap I haven't had the money to even go camping which we use to do every summer up intil about 6 years ago. My girlfriend as been unemployed for the past 5 years with no real income coming in, she cleans houses but she has lost customers cause they can't afford a cleaning lady, plus we have her two grand children that we have been raiseing since her daughter doesn't want to be strapped down with kids. these little girls don't deserve this type of mother so we have taken these girls and I have supported them for the past 6 years and we get no help from their mother or the state, here I am at 50 and I'm support to be enjoying myself and instead I'm raising two children that are not even mine. but I still love them no matter what happens I guess I'm a sucker, but as for Michigan I wish we could see a turn around and things would start picking up as far as work goes, but if it doesn't change here I may have no choice but to move where I can have work coming in. Being I have been in construction for 27 years other then in the 1980's early on when everyone was going to Texas work has been alright but these last 5 years we have taken a hit an a hard one at that, I have had to take out loans so we can make it thur the winter months and this year the money's not there to barrow, I have seen my Taxes on my house in the past 14 years go from $809.00 all the way up to 2,900.00 and the funny thing is my house has gone down in value from 150k to 110k in just two years now. but the Taxes didn't go down, I wonder why. oh well I hope those of you who did move here enjoy this state cause there are some cool places if you have the money to enjoy them, good luck and enjoy. I use to.

I understand your situation with the construction industry. I'm not involved in that work but many friends are. The work is few and far between. I have spent time in the Detroit area and have spent very little money to have a great time. I have been to the ethnic festivals on the river. Didn't cost me anything to get in and I didn't buy the high priced food just enjoyed the entertainment. Spent time at the river front for a couple of days and just enjoyed the low cost entertainment of people watching and picnic down there. I travel the state on a motorcycle so fuel is relatively inexpensive. I camp in a small tent and have found places to camp for next to nothing. I have met people in the small towns of the state who have let me camp in their vacant lot or on some property they own "up north". I wouldn't stay in a camp ground for what they charge. I have raised my kids so have that freedom. I admire you for taking care of the grandkids even if they are not your kids. If you are stuck in the construction industry and want to get out check with some of the local community colleges there are some really good deals for people that want to retrain for new careers. I have also picked up small jobs on weekends and during the holidays rush and stashed that money away for a couple of cheap weekend trips. You only have two things that you can invest in your future... time and money. If you don't have the money find the time to inprove your situation. The library is free, check out some free books on how to do. Invest your time, as little as it may be, in improving your employability. I have nine different empoyment skills. I use the skill that will make me the most money and go with it. I hope this helps!
P.S. If you don't know why your property tax is going up then you need to find out. I pay the same property tax today that I did ten years ago. I also know everyone in our township tax office and they know me. If my tax goes up one dollar I'm in their office and ask "why" then I fight them over the increase. I said I know these people, I didn't say they were my friends they hate to see me come through the door. Check your library about property value and taxes there are some good books about how to renigotiate your tax bill. good luck and enjoy what we have