[mgordon1450]

I think you have the best of all worlds right now, If I am reading everything right. Your husband has a great job opportunity here, you can sell your home high in Cananda and buy low here! hmmm sounds good to me! I love Michigan, so you will only get positive feed back from me! Good luck!

[diamondgirl45]

Originally Posted by mgordon1450

I think you have the best of all worlds right now, If I am reading everything right. Your husband has a great job opportunity here, you can sell your home high in Cananda and buy low here! hmmm sounds good to me! I love Michigan, so you will only get positive feed back from me! Good luck!

Hmmmm.....are you sure this isn't my husband writing this, lol.
You are right though, I am in a pretty good position. And I feel blessed for that, but I don't want to be jumping into something that is heading down the river towards the waterfall.
But I can't spend my life second guessing every decision either. Thank you for the support.

[Bydand]

Diamondgirl, let me toss in my two cents as well. I have lived all over the States and was born and raised in West Michigan. Lived there again until family matters called me away to Maine in 2006. I know what is going on in Michigan, still in contact with old employers, and friends I know and trust. Been back several times in the past couple of years and am literally counting the days until we get back to Michigan the end of June. The economic climate may be bad right now in general, but with a steady job, now is the time to head to Michigan. House prices are lower, which is a good thing of course if you are buying (sucks if you are selling). I am coming back home with 4 kids all in school yet and cannot wait to get back to sanity and good schools. I have moved before always based on what is best for my family and would not make a move that would not benefit us as a family. This is the same, I can go anyplace I want in the States, the best place for me and my family is in Michigan. I couldn't tell you about the SE corner, never did have much to do with things down there, but the West side is where we are heading and it is the best fit for us. Good Luck with your choice and you will like it in Michigan.

[magellan]

I don't know if you subscribe to Dave Ramsey's financial advice diamondgirl, but he says now is a great time to buy a home in Michigan:

WZZM13 - Super Saver: Dave Ramsey's advice on handling Michigan's economy

...IF, you have no credit card debt, no car loans, are in pretty good financial shape, and pay cash for the home or do no more than a 15 year fixed rate mortgage. I don't always agree 100% with Ramsey, but if anything, he is the most conservative "look before you leap" financial guy on the planet.

Real Debt Help - Get out of debt with Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover Plan.

[sikes0000]

Just to put in my .02 as well. Having a good job is not what you should be looking at.

If he gets laid off, decides he doesn't like the job, or gets fired for whatever reason, will he be able to find another in the same field relatively quickly?
No matter what someone says there are no secure jobs anymore. Even if you are self employed. I don't care if you discover the cure for cancer your job will be in jeapordy when someone buys out your company and lays you off for the rights

Don't even think about job security. You need to think about Career security. How fast can he find a job in a similar field. For example, manufacturing probably isn't a good choice. But on the other hand medical probably is. Guess it depends what he does.

But this isn't just Michigan this is everywhere (although I still consider Michign one of the poorest in the job category)

But! It sounds as though things are not looking that good for you anyways up there in the far north I would say go for it if the job prospect looks good.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by songigupta

Little by little people are getting it through their thick skulls that things are bad and we need a big change. Not only in government but in our personal lives.
Sitting around and thinking positive is not going to do it.
We all need to down siez our cars, car pool, stop using as much energy building what homes are being built with energy usage in mind.
Giving tax breaks to people who buy autos that get 30+ mpg and higher and even bigger tax breaks to people who buy hybread cars.
Also we need to tax people who refuse to drive high mpg cars, if you can afford a hummer and the gas, you can afford 3 to 5 k a year tax that will go to emerging energy research.
This will only start with a Democrat white house.
We need to start as soon as possible, and if companys like GM and Ford do not want to play they need to be made to play..
We need to stop giving Big OIL subsidies. We need to tax them harder and use the money to fund people who need help paying high heating bills that can not afford it..
We need to quit being the worlds police and start focusing on our own back yard.
Maybe people would not want to kill us so much if we were not putting our fingers and toes in everyones pies.

One of the best things Michigan could do is back-off on some laws. Three different new homes last year(that I had the drilling job for)was never built due to wet land rules. They are still waiting for rulings. We drilled for one project the home owner wanted a nice medium size home. Nope, the township would not let them build it, all kinds of ordinances and rules. Permits are a huge expenses and way different place to place. $256.25 to drill in Bay county, $139 for the same permit in Midland county. The countries border each other. Michigan is a very hard state to do business in. This goes on and on. The state will not get better until so many agencies are not involved.

[firecracker123]

Originally Posted by diamondgirl45

Hmmmm.....are you sure this isn't my husband writing this, lol.
You are right though, I am in a pretty good position. And I feel blessed for that, but I don't want to be jumping into something that is heading down the river towards the waterfall.
But I can't spend my life second guessing every decision either. Thank you for the support.

I am in the same mind set My hubby is being relocated via his company and such and we can sell our house for so much more than when we purchsed it 7 years ago (and quickly)..I have also noticed that we can get way more down there. The taxes are less (even if property is more), cost of living less, educatin (in Oakland county) surperb. We will have outstanding health care and they will take care of everything. This is all great, yes I know, however I am still a little nervous. There is a section in his contract though, that provided it isn't a "termnation due to just cause" they will move him back to another position should it not work out there ---- whether personal or professional. I don't want to go down there though thinking that way -- sort of like entering into a marraige with a prenup lol

I did too, find a lot of negative info, which is why I sort of hung back that last few weeks and just let things be...no sense in little every opinion, view, experience and situation make me second guess our move.

Good luck to you though

[anniegirl2]

I think it is wonderful that you get to move to Michigan
It is beautiful almost everywhere. The job market may be a little rough right now, but where isn't it?
Where else can you enjoy so much nature, water, beautiful cities? Except for Detroit, almost any city you could choose is lovely. I was raised in Petoskey, in the upper part of the lower peninsula, then we moved to Muskegon. I thought I was moving to the Ghetto - but even Muskegon is lovely. It is on Lake Michigan. We have lost a lot of jobs, but many businesses are moving into the city and it is growing again. There is some crime there, but there is crime in any city I can think of. We don't have a lot of murders. We have a lot of activities, good schools, any kind of church you could want. You don't have to live in the city - there are lovely smaller little cities surrounding Muskegon. Building is on the rise..........

I am sure that this story could be told about almost any area in Michigan. And what other state is surrounded by water, still has a vast amount of natural forests, has just about any kind of entertainment you could want, from major sports to arts.

I think Michigan is a good choice, and I think you will also.

[emmi605]

Michigan is a tough state that has made it through other downturns in the auto industry, and there are many other companies besides auto companies. I lived there most of my life and most of my family is still there. There have been economic ups and downs, but I have found that if you are a good worker and willing to put forth the effort, there are jobs for those that want to work. It is an amazing state, with amazing people. I am in another midwest state now, but go "home" often. I always wanted to move back and may be able to get a vacation place soon. Anyway, go for it! Nothing is ever gained by avoiding an open door. So get on over that border and enjoy what life has in store.

[diamondgirl45]

Everyone has been incredible. It is making my decision easier. My husband had a good job here but found a better one there. This job will give him more time at home with the family. He works in the IT field and therefore he is not worried about his career. In fact he is in high demand...lucky guy.
I have to say I am very impressed with the work ethics at his company. It is much more family oriented than we have had before.
Now all that is left to do is sell our house and move. Luckily houses are selling here...and quickly. That is why I needed to be sure before putting it on the market. I am a graphic artist and as such can also get a visa to work in the states, and better yet from home.
I am impressed by the research I have done on the schools in the area...we would most likely settle in Utica so he is closer to work...did I mention the incredible shopping in the area yet? LOL.
Thanks again everyone for all your advice!!