Think hard before you relocate to Michigan (Detroit, Grand Rapids: property taxes, housing)

[scottmi]

^^^ Alright, I have to come back and comment about people's more recent posts.

First off, the reason people can't find work isn't because of their attitudes. Lots of people w/ jobs have attitudes and lots of people w/o job have attitudes. There is NO correlation.

Second, people who are unskilled have no concept of what they're missing out on the work world. I'm not saying they're stupid, but I am saying they can be content working as a waitress and then a receptionist and then a bookkeeper, etc. People with degrees however - pieces of paper they spent $50,000+ and years of their lives on - have much higher expectations because they put in the effort that unskilled people did not. So if I hear a graduate complain about not being able to find work in their field *and then if they do* have to settle for some $12/hr. crap deal w/o any benefits, I feel awful for them and mad at the employers taking advantage.

Now I'm not saying every college grad should be making $100k annually but seriously - if all these colleges in Michigan are cranking out degree after degree and claiming high placement in the fields, the very least they could do is be up front and honest about specifics regarding graduates (which state do they live in? How much do they make? Do they have beenfits? etc.) so that students could have realistic expectations of what is available in Michigan.

Third, people from other states may have luck coming into Michigan, only because sometimes it looks impressive to companies if they can bring in someone "from across the country" to their little hick-towns. I guarantee you - if you were from Ohio or Indiana looking for work in Michigan, you'd be ignored just as much as Michigan residents. And remember - once you're here, that California-resident angle is useless if you need to find ANOTHER job here.

Fourth, if you only stick to key towns - Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, etc., you'll probably have a much better chance of finding work than, say, if you were looking in the U.P. or north of Grand Rapids. Problem is though - Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids are just normal cities! There's nothing special about them and they're so many hours south of Michigan's one good selling point (outdoors/nature) I keep asking myself - why even bother with Michigan at all? Just find another state with similar cities but w/o the economic gloom!

Lastly, I don't like being talked to like I'm some idiot Deslok who can't find work. I can find work just fine - but finding a job that is worth investing my time and energy into and not just for chicken feed and no benefits isn't so easy. Not for me, not for anyone. So lay off the "I'm luckier than you" crap because really, in the end, it all comes down to luck.

And someday, yours' will run out. So watch how you treat and think of people before then - 'cause you might need their help later on.

[deslok]

Siberia- I think this thread is just fine not confining it to one section of the State. Obviously by doing that you get a bias for whatever area you represent. The state of Michigan all in all has good and bad.
Scottmi - I don't think I am better then you at all. Just keep your head up and things will get better. I sucked at my first job out of college , was there for 4 years, and got another a few years ago. I did not get lucky, I worked hard, with no pay for a few months, studied my ass off to get an advanced designation, etc.... I am not luckier then you, or a harder worker, I guess it was just my time to have some ok fortune.
Michigan has a billion great things on the west or east. The big city fun stuff of Detroit, ( the real big city in Michigan, not GR), the fun of Lake Michigan, the relative safety of the suburbs. Sure crime is on the rise, but it is everywhere, jobs are not as numerous as they used to be, but they are there. If you are coming here, give it your best shot, if you have a job lined up, enjoy. Just let me know what part of Michigan your going to, and I'll find some city in it that to me is worth the price of admission.

[tallgirl]

I just returned from 3 weeks in Michigan. I was in Holly, Ludington, Livonia and Traverse City. It sounds like The Great Depression out there. Well, maybe not that bad yet, but sounds like it's heading in that direction. I'm just glad that my parents are retired and my brother's job does not depend on the Michigan economy!

[tom hanson]

I just got a call from my real estate agent. He said the only thing I can do to move my property is drop the price to give away. He said that there are to many propertys on the market and the only way to have yours looked at by the few buyers is to drop the price to give it away. Or hang on to it for ten years and hope the market makes a come back.

[cbmsu01]

Originally Posted by Sugarcandy

THERES NO FUTURE IN MICHIGAN.

yes, its a gorgorous state, but the state is falling apart. I read in one of the posts that there are jobs in other places besides Detroit. NOT TRUE. there are no jobs to be found anywhere. And just for the record of another post, ppl in Michigan DO use the internet. But getting back to the jobs, if you are thinking of moving here, think again. I was raised in Michigan and I am leaving. I am relocating because there are NO jobs and NO sign of change any time soon. Its sad but very true. Unemployment is at an all time High. Businesses are closing or going bankrupt, schools are closing, 2 million registered voters have left the state this past year due to forclosures or job lay offs or something worse. It is bad and getting worse. It is not exaggerated either. There are ppl here with college degrees that cant find a job!! So if you are thinking of coming here, be sure you have a SECURE job because otherwise, youll be in the poor house before you know it.!

I know things are tough in MI, but I don't think 2 million registered voters left the state. That would be more than 20 percent of the population.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by cbmsu01

I know things are tough in MI, but I don't think 2 million registered voters left the state. That would be more than 20 percent of the population.

Ha, too funny. I think in 2006 about 65,000 people left the State.

Michigan Population and Components of Change

That's why unemployment is so stubbornly high, people who don't have jobs won't leave. Just kidding.

[SUNRISECAFE]

Just curious. What is the unemployment rate in Michigan?
And does anyone know anything about Williamston?

[magellan]

Originally Posted by SUNRISECAFE

Just curious. What is the unemployment rate in Michigan?
And does anyone know anything about Williamston?

It's been hovering around 7% since mid 2003. Some areas are lower, some are higher (obviously). Williamston is in the Lansing metro area, which is around 5.4%. Williamston is a typical small Midwestern town, with the old charming downtown that has been fixed up, but not far from East Lansing.

[AJ Granger]

Originally Posted by magellan

It's been hovering around 7% since mid 2003. Some areas are lower, some are higher (obviously). Williamston is in the Lansing metro area, which is around 5.4%. Williamston is a typical small Midwestern town, with the old charming downtown that has been fixed up, but not far from East Lansing.

Yep. Williamston is about 12mi east of East Lansing. Great restaurant there called The Red Cedar Grill. Entrees for $10-15 that you could easily pay $30 for in a big city. Best restaurant in LA(lansing area) in my opinion. Because of this, you should move there. lol

[AJ Granger]

Originally Posted by scottmi

^^^ Alright, I have to come back and comment about people's more recent posts.

First off, the reason people can't find work isn't because of their attitudes. Lots of people w/ jobs have attitudes and lots of people w/o job have attitudes. There is NO correlation.

Second, people who are unskilled have no concept of what they're missing out on the work world. I'm not saying they're stupid, but I am saying they can be content working as a waitress and then a receptionist and then a bookkeeper, etc. People with degrees however - pieces of paper they spent $50,000+ and years of their lives on - have much higher expectations because they put in the effort that unskilled people did not. So if I hear a graduate complain about not being able to find work in their field *and then if they do* have to settle for some $12/hr. crap deal w/o any benefits, I feel awful for them and mad at the employers taking advantage.

Now I'm not saying every college grad should be making $100k annually but seriously - if all these colleges in Michigan are cranking out degree after degree and claiming high placement in the fields, the very least they could do is be up front and honest about specifics regarding graduates (which state do they live in? How much do they make? Do they have beenfits? etc.) so that students could have realistic expectations of what is available in Michigan.

Third, people from other states may have luck coming into Michigan, only because sometimes it looks impressive to companies if they can bring in someone "from across the country" to their little hick-towns. I guarantee you - if you were from Ohio or Indiana looking for work in Michigan, you'd be ignored just as much as Michigan residents. And remember - once you're here, that California-resident angle is useless if you need to find ANOTHER job here.

Fourth, if you only stick to key towns - Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, etc., you'll probably have a much better chance of finding work than, say, if you were looking in the U.P. or north of Grand Rapids. Problem is though - Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids are just normal cities! There's nothing special about them and they're so many hours south of Michigan's one good selling point (outdoors/nature) I keep asking myself - why even bother with Michigan at all? Just find another state with similar cities but w/o the economic gloom!

Lastly, I don't like being talked to like I'm some idiot Deslok who can't find work. I can find work just fine - but finding a job that is worth investing my time and energy into and not just for chicken feed and no benefits isn't so easy. Not for me, not for anyone. So lay off the "I'm luckier than you" crap because really, in the end, it all comes down to luck.

And someday, yours' will run out. So watch how you treat and think of people before then - 'cause you might need their help later on.

I have nothing to add to this other than to say that I agree with 100% of what you say here. Nice work.