[PJ2483]

I apologize in advance to anyone that is offended by this thread! I just need to speak the reality of the current situation of this state! To all of you considering moving to Michigan, I strongly urge you to reconsider!! First off, I would like to say that this state has nothing to offer if you fall under the following categories:

1. college graduate looking to begin a career!

2. Mid level professional looking to raise a family

Michigan is only good for the people that fall into these two categories:

1. super rich

2. have a summer home in northern michigan or some other small resort town and can go to florida or some other warm climate in the winter.

Now here are my reasons for my claims! First off, as for college graduates I would reccomend moving to a state that is creating jobs and not losing them! Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the country and it is not getting better! This is in part because of the BIG 3 jumping ship and moving their factories to countries where productivity is higher and labor costs are significantly lower! In addition, foreign automakers are making a better product at a lower price! In 2007 alone, Michigan moving companies reported record out-bound moves! Michigan also is one of the top states leading the nation in foreclosures! Why is that? The BIG 3 and people leaving the Detroit metro area, people with sub-prime mortgages that can not afford their payments or little if any jobs! I think it is all three! For those of you who think Michigan is a buyers market right now! Guess what? Your right and the reason is because people are leaving the state either voluntarily or being forced to leave and property values are nose diving! Michigan does not have a diversified economic structure! Unfortunately, the only thing left to promote this state is tourism/natural resources!

That leads me to my second reason and that is for mid-level professionals looking to raise a family! The state of Michigan has some of the most beautiful lakes, woods, hiking trails, etc..in the whole country! However, those wonderful things don't pay the bills to keep food on your table and a roof over your head! I would hate to see new families move here and not be able to live a life they deserve and struggle for the next 10, 15, 20 years and justify that "struggle" by saying "look we live next to great lakes!" I am sorry, but that kind of mentality is NOT how I am going to be raising my children!

Finally, to the people that are super rich or have summer homes here, I am jealous! You people really have it made in the shade! However, I do have one request, unless you are a native of Michigan (meaning you were born in this state) Please .... do the locals a favor when you come here in the summer to hang out at your second/third home, don't act like you own this state! I have news for you, YOU DON'T! Treat the people that live here year round with respect! Remember that you are a visitor and NOT a full-time resident!

In conclusion, some people may like living here! However, please look at the facts before you make a move that you will regret! Best of luck on what ever decision you make!!!

[Bydand]

Oh I have thought about it, and looked again, and again, and again over the past little bit. That is because I have been in the Northeast, and cannot wait to get back home to West Michigan. The only problem with your statement above is that you are looking at some very narrow lifestyles. What about the 75% of the population that doesn't fit those categories? For one, I'll tell you that neither my wife or I fit any of them and there are some very nice jobs waiting for us when we get there in June. Plenty high enough pay to live comfortably, even enough to get ahead. I have looked, over and over, and cannot wait until June to get here. It is a buyers market right now for houses all over the US. Why wouldn't you go to a state if you have jobs lined up and it is HOME to begin with? For some sure it isn't the right place or the right time. For others though, it is the perfect place and the perfect time.

[dkf747]

The unemployment rate may be relatively high, but it isn't 100%! That doesn't sound like a good reason to pass up a beautiful state.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by PJ2483

I apologize in advance to anyone that is offended by this thread! I just need to speak the reality of the current situation of this state! To all of you considering moving to Michigan, I strongly urge you to reconsider!! First off, I would like to say that this state has nothing to offer if you fall under the following categories:

1. college graduate looking to begin a career!

2. Mid level professional looking to raise a family

Michigan is only good for the people that fall into these two categories:

1. super rich

2. have a summer home in northern michigan or some other small resort town and can go to florida or some other warm climate in the winter.

Now here are my reasons for my claims! First off, as for college graduates I would reccomend moving to a state that is creating jobs and not losing them! Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the country and it is not getting better! This is in part because of the BIG 3 jumping ship and moving their factories to countries where productivity is higher and labor costs are significantly lower! In addition, foreign automakers are making a better product at a lower price! In 2007 alone, Michigan moving companies reported record out-bound moves! Michigan also is one of the top states leading the nation in foreclosures! Why is that? The BIG 3 and people leaving the Detroit metro area, people with sub-prime mortgages that can not afford their payments or little if any jobs! I think it is all three! For those of you who think Michigan is a buyers market right now! Guess what? Your right and the reason is because people are leaving the state either voluntarily or being forced to leave and property values are nose diving! Michigan does not have a diversified economic structure! Unfortunately, the only thing left to promote this state is tourism/natural resources!

That leads me to my second reason and that is for mid-level professionals looking to raise a family! The state of Michigan has some of the most beautiful lakes, woods, hiking trails, etc..in the whole country! However, those wonderful things don't pay the bills to keep food on your table and a roof over your head! I would hate to see new families move here and not be able to live a life they deserve and struggle for the next 10, 15, 20 years and justify that "struggle" by saying "look we live next to great lakes!" I am sorry, but that kind of mentality is NOT how I am going to be raising my children!

Finally, to the people that are super rich or have summer homes here, I am jealous! You people really have it made in the shade! However, I do have one request, unless you are a native of Michigan (meaning you were born in this state) Please .... do the locals a favor when you come here in the summer to hang out at your second/third home, don't act like you own this state! I have news for you, YOU DON'T! Treat the people that live here year round with respect! Remember that you are a visitor and NOT a full-time resident!

In conclusion, some people may like living here! However, please look at the facts before you make a move that you will regret! Best of luck on what ever decision you make!!!

A lot of gross generalities there PJ2483. There are millions of people in Michigan who are not having trouble keeping a roof over their heads.

Maybe this thread can be merged with the other "Don't move to Michigan" threads. Mods?

[Michigansnowflake]

AHAHAHAHAHAAAA!. We arent rich and we dont have a summer home.......and we love it here and would never live anywhere else.

The one thing that did improve our lives was getting out of the Auto Industry.

[mackinac81]

Remember 7% unemployed = 93% of people with a job.

The state is not falling apart, and things will get better. Economics is cyclical. But this recession is persistent, like a cold that won't go away. I for one am forced to leave because there is no real market for teachers. But I know that my main objective is to make my way back home to good people, family, friends, water and everything else that makes MI the greatest state ever.

[Ibginnie]

Originally Posted by PJ2483

I apologize in advance to anyone that is offended by this thread! I just need to speak the reality of the current situation of this state! To all of you considering moving to Michigan, I strongly urge you to reconsider!! ...
...In conclusion, some people may like living here! However, please look at the facts before you make a move that you will regret! Best of luck on what ever decision you make!!!

HUSH now!!!!! I have to sell my house in Kalkaska!

[wanderer74]

Originally Posted by mackinac81

Remember 7% unemployed = 93% of people with a job.

The state is not falling apart, and things will get better. Economics is cyclical. But this recession is persistent, like a cold that won't go away. I for one am forced to leave because there is no real market for teachers. But I know that my main objective is to make my way back home to good people, family, friends, water and everything else that makes MI the greatest state ever.

The thing is that even though there's only 7% unemployed, that's only the people receiving unemployment benefits. It doesn't count the people who have exceeded the term of their unemployment benefits and haven't yet found a job, the people who were doing contract work and aren't eligible for unemployment, those (like me) who graduated from college and haven't yet found work, etc. It doesn't count the people who worked for the automakers and were forced into early retirement, many of whom find themselves unable to afford to stay in retirement but unable to find any job that will hire them at their age. Also it doesn't count the people who are under-employed - you could be working 8 hours a week at minimum wage and would be counted as fully employed, even though obviously nobody can live on that.

Yes MI is a beautiful state with good people and there are indeed a lot of people still doing well here, but overall I would say that there are way more people struggling here than in other states, and statistics back me up on that.

[wordsmith680]

Let me guess.... Kalkaska is growing? I used to snowmobile in the Bear lk area years ago. Great snow country! Michigan is facing some challenges but better times ahead. It is somewhat of a "dbl edged sword" if you promote and bring lots of people... you change the prisitine beauty and isolation that you now enjoy.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by wanderer74

Yes MI is a beautiful state with good people and there are indeed a lot of people still doing well here, but overall I would say that there are way more people struggling here than in other states, and statistics back me up on that.

Where are these statistics that show the people of Michigan are struggling more than the other states? I would really like to read through them, if you could post links to some of them I would thank you. People are in trouble all over the country right now.