Grand Rapids move from California (Detroit, Kalamazoo: house, rent, work)

[blessings11]

We are currently selling our home in Southern California and hoping to move to the Grand Rapids area. One of my concerns is the crime rate in GR. Are there areas that we should steer clear of? We are not committed to GR proper, a city or town nearby would be fine. We do need to be within a reasonable driving distance of the airport and we have to have high speed internet. We'd like at least an acre of land as we have a lot of children (9 at home) My brother just moved to GR and he loves it but really doesn't know the area well enough to advise

[mackinac81]

Have you tried Caledonia and Byron Center? Those are at the outer ring of Metro Grand Rapids. There's still plenty of country and land. You may also consider lowell. Of the three Byron Center would be furthest from the Airport, but it still isn't a long drive.

Another place is Cascade township on the east end. A very nice area, but I don't know about land availability. Hope that helps!

[MIhome]

any place in GR has a lower crime rate than SoCal,as you will find out,the "bangers" they say they have back home are docile compared to the savages they have on the west coast,so crime isn't much of a worry.

[wagonproject]

I dont know GR, but to the south more is Kalamazoo which is nice.

[blessings11]

thanks! I was looking at a house online in Lowell, is there high speed internet available in Lowell. I have a friend who lives out in the country near South Bend IN and it isn't available to her. My husband works from home so he needs reliable internet.

[suydam]

Originally Posted by blessings11

thanks! I was looking at a house online in Lowell, is there high speed internet available in Lowell. I have a friend who lives out in the country near South Bend IN and it isn't available to her. My husband works from home so he needs reliable internet.

Cable should be available.
I have friends in Lowell with high speed internet....we're all in web development, so it's a requirement for us too.

You should check the cable company for your specific address though, just to be sure.

It's Comcast for most of GR, but somewhere east of here (not sure in Lowell) it switches to Charter I think.

[blessings11]

great information! thanks

[ivyinmichigan]

I grew up in GR, and am currently only 2 hours away. I live in metro Detroit and I would say any area is GR is decent. I personally prefer the Kentwood/Byron Center area. You will be close to the airport, and crime is low. The ares to steer clear of would be the actual inner city GR - such streets as Division, Hall, Wealthy

[suydam]

blessings11,

I just noticed you weren't familiar with metro Grand Rapids.

If you're coming from SoCal you're going to have buying power so you could conceivably get what you need much closer to the core than Lowell which is a ways from town.

I'd suggest looking at Ada, Cascade and East Grand Rapids too. While the latter is going to set you back for anything on an acre, your SoCal buying power might make it more affordable than someone moving in from within Michigan.

The website grar.com (or just go here directly: http://public.grar.com/public/pubsrch.mac/start ) allows you to search those areas. On that site you should really search by school district since "Lowell" describes an area larger than the Lowell city limits, but generally bound by "Lowell Public Schools."

To search Ada or Cascade, just search the "Forest Hills" school district or for East Grand Rapids, search the "East Grand Rapids" school district. That'll cover both areas for you quite nicely.

Good luck in your search!