Question about Michigan Economy and Living (Detroit, Ann Arbor: relocation, housing, rent)

[babigyrl5]

If the economy is so bad in Michigan, why is the cost of living so high? I am looking to relocate to either Ann Arbor, West Bloomfield or Royal Oaks but I am having the toughest time finding an apartment! I was born and raised in Chicago and moved to Cincinnati following my now ex boyfriend. I wanted to move back home but the cost of living is too high and I dont want to live with my parents. I've always loved Michigian (my uncle has property in St Joseph and we would take the yatch up there from Chicago when I was younger) and many my friends went to Kettering or U of M and I'd visit from my school ATLEAST once a month, so I have spent alot of time in Michigan. So now I'm trying to find a decent place to live and it is so hard! Right now I have a 2 bedroom apartment with views of the river, downtown and the Kentucky hills, I am 7 minutes from downtown and in one of the most expensive areas in Cincinnati and my rent is only $625! I'm trying to find a 2 bedroom that accepts pets (one cat), in a nice, diverse area, near to highways, shopping, etc and under $700 but this is proving to be hard, why is that?

[Bydand]

Wow, different perspectives are an eye opener. I am on the East coast right now, and going home to Michigan in June to LOWER cost of living. A LOT lower than where I am now. Did you check to see what the difference in pay is? Might make up the difference in a hurry if it is higher.

[dieselthedog]

Originally Posted by babigyrl5

If the economy is so bad in Michigan, why is the cost of living so high? I am looking to relocate to either Ann Arbor, West Bloomfield or Royal Oaks but I am having the toughest time finding an apartment! I was born and raised in Chicago and moved to Cincinnati following my now ex boyfriend. I wanted to move back home but the cost of living is too high and I dont want to live with my parents. I've always loved Michigian (my uncle has property in St Joseph and we would take the yatch up there from Chicago when I was younger) and many my friends went to Kettering or U of M and I'd visit from my school ATLEAST once a month, so I have spent alot of time in Michigan. So now I'm trying to find a decent place to live and it is so hard! Right now I have a 2 bedroom apartment with views of the river, downtown and the Kentucky hills, I am 7 minutes from downtown and in one of the most expensive areas in Cincinnati and my rent is only $625! I'm trying to find a 2 bedroom that accepts pets (one cat), in a nice, diverse area, near to highways, shopping, etc and under $700 but this is proving to be hard, why is that?

If you go East a little bit, in Shelby Twp w. utica road has a whole bunch of apts at your price range or at least it used to be. I know someone who used to live in the ones called Oak Hill, they accept cats, it is gated at night and M59 is right there. They used to pay $715 for a 2 bedroom 1 bath. They have a complex off of Mound and 59 with a Wal-Mart, AMC, max & ermas, texas roadhouse etc. if that is what you were looking for. Good luck.

[babigyrl5]

Originally Posted by dieselthedog

If you go East a little bit, in Shelby Twp w. utica road has a whole bunch of apts at your price range or at least it used to be. I know someone who used to live in the ones called Oak Hill, they accept cats, it is gated at night and M59 is right there. They used to pay $715 for a 2 bedroom 1 bath. They have a complex off of Mound and 59 with a Wal-Mart, AMC, max & ermas, texas roadhouse etc. if that is what you were looking for. Good luck.

Thanks! And this is a nice, safe area? Is it diverse? I like the mixture of people I'm living around now, I don't wanna let go of that

[dieselthedog]

Originally Posted by babigyrl5

Thanks! And this is a nice, safe area? Is it diverse? I like the mixture of people I'm living around now, I don't wanna let go of that

Yes, it is safe you aren't going to get killed or anything. lol. Well, it borders sterling heights and sterling heights has a high middle eastern population, but I'm not sure what your def of diverse is. There are a lot of bars in that area too, if that is what you wanted.

[detshen]

$700 probably won't get you a 2 bedroom in a nicer area. The cities you mentioned tend to be more expensive. You might want to decide whether you would prefer a smaller apt. in an area you like, or maybe getting a roommate. It is interesting to hear different perspectives, I moved here form CA and I view Detroit housing as very inexpensive.

Have you checked salary statistics in your career field, like a previous poster wrote, the pay might be higher here. My BF actually makes more for the same job here than he did in California, he works in the legal field and found a job in less than 6 weeks and the offers kept coming. You might be able to afford a little more if you work in an in demand field.

[Bhaalspawn]

Ann Arbor is a college town, which means that they'll be lots of demand for apartments often coming from students who hail from upper middle class families and who don't mind taking out student loans in anticipation of good incomes in the future. West Bloomfield is in the heart of the upper middle class area, which is why rent might be so high. I don't know much about Royal Oak.

He does raise a good question, though. If we were contemplating another state I would suggest that (1) fewer people are leaving apartments to buy houses now, and (2) folks are losing their houses to foreclosure and thus moving into apartments. However, Michigan is losing population so it would seem as though the prices would have to drop sooner or later. Perhaps the loss of population isn't enough to offset those first two factors.

[babigyrl5]

Originally Posted by Acupunk

$700 probably won't get you a 2 bedroom in a nicer area. The cities you mentioned tend to be more expensive. You might want to decide whether you would prefer a smaller apt. in an area you like, or maybe getting a roommate. It is interesting to hear different perspectives, I moved here form CA and I view Detroit housing as very inexpensive.

Have you checked salary statistics in your career field, like a previous poster wrote, the pay might be higher here. My BF actually makes more for the same job here than he did in California, he works in the legal field and found a job in less than 6 weeks and the offers kept coming. You might be able to afford a little more if you work in an in demand field.

Well my job is 100% travel so I can live anywhere in the United States, I still would get paid the same, and they don't offer relocation since I am only home technically 3 days out the week. I would prefer a 2 bedroom only because of my cat. When I was in Chicago he was used to our huge 6 bedroom house and basement, he hates I took him to something smaller and it would be unfair to downgrade even more. Plus I like having an office. I guess the max I can pay is $800 but I do want to have a few hundred left in my paycheck after paying rent...

[babigyrl5]

Originally Posted by dieselthedog

Yes, it is safe you aren't going to get killed or anything. lol. Well, it borders sterling heights and sterling heights has a high middle eastern population, but I'm not sure what your def of diverse is. There are a lot of bars in that area too, if that is what you wanted.

Diverse meaning a melting pot of cultures. Like here, my area, Columbia-Tusculum, and Hyde Park are the most diverse areas where you will find all races living in the same place and often more cultural activities. Anywhere in Ann Arbor/Detroit area like this?

[babigyrl5]

Originally Posted by Bhaalspawn

Ann Arbor is a college town, which means that they'll be lots of demand for apartments often coming from students who hail from upper middle class families and who don't mind taking out student loans in anticipation of good incomes in the future. West Bloomfield is in the heart of the upper middle class area, which is why rent might be so high. I don't know much about Royal Oak.

He does raise a good question, though. If we were contemplating another state I would suggest that (1) fewer people are leaving apartments to buy houses now, and (2) folks are losing their houses to foreclosure and thus moving into apartments. However, Michigan is losing population so it would seem as though the prices would have to drop sooner or later. Perhaps the loss of population isn't enough to offset those first two factors.

Thats an excellent point I never thought of...