Lansing by Sparrow hospital on Saginaw St (Detroit, East Lansing: housing, rental)

[heyheyheyhey]

My friend is looking at a house in this area and she wanted me to find out what it is like....Particularly the area just north of this hospital. She wants a house under 50k and doesn't mind an area that is a little shady cause she has two big dogs.

[Sparrow_temp]

Wasn't this the area that had the serial murders this summer? The killer was caught but still....

[Adieoz82]

Hi, the serial killings were actually in the area SOUTH of the Saginaw Sparrow. These homes run in the $130-200 range, however, so she may want to focus on the area north of Oakland. There are some nice areas north of Oakland, but for $50,000 she might have to consider a small home or one that needs a little bit of work if she wants something larger. The area up near Bassett Park is a nice little pocket and is quite affordable as well. Good luck with her search. She may want to think about employing a realtor for their input as well. If she uses a buyer's agent so should be able to find someone who will work on her behalf but she will not have to pay personally.

[heyheyheyhey]

anyone else...she is looking for a small house only 2 bedrooms and she actually wants a fixer upper

[Adieoz]

6261 Grovenburg in Lansing for $29,900.
4922 Hughes in Lansing for $59,900 (nice condition.)
222 Virginia in Lansing (eastside, nice area!) for $49,900

[Nedibes]

I grew up very close to that neighborhood--one block south of what was then St. Lawrence Hospital. It's kind of an odd area, because property values and crime rates change DRAMATICALLY just across one street. Probably the "shadiest" area would be EAST of Sparrow, across MLK Blvd. There are some gorgeous old houses that direction, though. North of the hospital/Oakland, west of MLK I think is the area you're talking about. She will find smaller, newer (say 1950s/60s rather than '20s) houses and a little more working class vibe. I had a lot of friends in elementary school from there--some streets are better than others, but I don't think any of it is really scary.

Just south of the hospital, west of MLK is one of the two most expensive neighborhoods in Lansing proper (the other being the Moore's River Drive area). But go a little further north, sticking close to MLK, there may still be deals to be had (when I was growing up, anything north of N. Genesee and east of Jenison was declasse; I think the gentrified area has expanded, though).

A couple other areas she could consider: south of Michigan Avenue, near the main Sparrow Hospital, and south of Mt. Hope/west of S. Cedar near Ingham Medical Hospital (the hospital thing is just a coincidence). The first of these is "shadier" but also very central--right between downtown Lansing and downtown E. Lansing/MSU, close to a couple of shopping malls, easy freeway access etc. If Lansing's economy ever picks up, it may also be one of the next areas to gentrify, as it is surrounded by neighborhoods with higher property values (due to the location) and has some large old houses.

The other area is not shady, just persistently working class with a bunch of tiny houses, but a fairly stable neighborhood. The bigger, nicer houses in this neighborhood would be out of her price range, but with property values going the way they are I think she should be able to find something to suit her in a smaller house. South or southwest of this neighborhood (across Mt. Hope and Washington) are a couple more neighborhoods that are less stable--I don't have first-hand knowledge of these, but she could also look into them. I think the one south-west is slowly gentrifying--it has some houses that were once quite grand.

Good luck to your friend--I'm sure she can find just what she's looking for. Fixer-uppers abound in Lansing!

[heyheyheyhey]

thanks guys

[michiganbob]

But housing prices are dropping in the Lansing area like a rock. I have personally seen houses that started at $175k and sold for just over $100K, and Ingham county was #2 in the State for foreclosures last quarter, just behind Wayne County (Detroit). And I see nothing that will cause that to change any time soon.

If your friend wants to buy a house now that will be worth less (not worthless, but close) a year from now, that's her call, but there are many, MANY homes for rent right now in some nice areas because people can't sell them. We're not talking about houses that have always been rentals run by slumlords.

It might be financially prudent to rent (or at least do a lease-purchase option) for a year before buying.

[100%Michigan]

Your friend may find interest here
welcome to the beaumont life
Its a nice neighborhood, newley built, and just almost around the block from sparrow... I probaly could say its walking distance. If she prefer to stay near college students maybe its better for her to stay in East Lansing, Michigan near Michigan State University its very greeny and shady in that area. Although home prices may be a strectch for her.
Hope my information helps