Traverse City (Detroit, Muskegon, Bay City: houses, jobs, school)

[Rathagos]

Hello all...

I'm a semi-retired Texan transplant looking at moving up north. I have a co-worker here who's been touting Michigan. He grew up outside Detroit and may consider retiring in Cadillac. I am looking for a little bigger city now (I live in a small city of 100k).

Can anyone give me some information about Traverse City? Are there any sub-sect areas that are better to live in than others? I was going to go to realtor.com to look at houses, but was wondering if anyone can point me towards better areas than others.

I'm retired Navy, and have been a contractor on a military base since my retirement. I would be looking to spend between $200-300k for a house (will that buy me a small bit of land with the house there?). I won't necessarily need work, but might want a job to have some "spending" money. My wife is a CNA now and is hoping to get her LVN license before we'd move up there.

Our kids will be out of school (or going to college) soon, so school districts for consideration are a large part.

We don't mind the snow (in fact, my wife is from Pittsburgh, PA, and we are looking to get back to somewhere WITH snow!!).

Any information you can have (positive or negative) is appreciated.

Thanks!

~Rath

[leadsquirter]

Rath, Traverse City is a really nice area, but if you live in a city of 100,000 now and you say you are looking for a bigger city, you might have to look south below the Muskegon to Bay City line. Traverse is about 20,000 population in the city, but in the summer the whole area might swell to near 100k. We welcome you to Michigan!

[Rathagos]

Leadsquirter,

Thanks. I misspoke. What I meant was I was looking for a "bigger" city, meaning one over 10-20k people. Never said I was a clear communicator!

~ Rath

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

lake ann is a nice area just outside TC...but a TC person would have to tell you more...have friends who live there as well as right in a nice area in TC.....

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Rathagos

Hello all...

I'm a semi-retired Texan transplant looking at moving up north. I have a co-worker here who's been touting Michigan. He grew up outside Detroit and may consider retiring in Cadillac. I am looking for a little bigger city now (I live in a small city of 100k).

Can anyone give me some information about Traverse City? Are there any sub-sect areas that are better to live in than others? I was going to go to realtor.com to look at houses, but was wondering if anyone can point me towards better areas than others.

I'm retired Navy, and have been a contractor on a military base since my retirement. I would be looking to spend between $200-300k for a house (will that buy me a small bit of land with the house there?). I won't necessarily need work, but might want a job to have some "spending" money. My wife is a CNA now and is hoping to get her LVN license before we'd move up there.

Our kids will be out of school (or going to college) soon, so school districts for consideration are a large part.

We don't mind the snow (in fact, my wife is from Pittsburgh, PA, and we are looking to get back to somewhere WITH snow!!).

Any information you can have (positive or negative) is appreciated.

Thanks!

~Rath

Check out Leelanau County.

[electric_lady]

I would second Leelanau County. It's one of the most beautiful areas. It's very rural, with cherry orchards and gorgeous sand beaches. The only thing most people would tell you about moving to that area, or Michigan in general, is that jobs are hard to come by. But if you're retiring, that shouldn't matter.
Good luck and welcome to Michigan!

[suydam]

Traverse City is great.
Home within the city limits, within walking distance to downtown are pretty expensive for what you get, but if you pick the right spots, the homes are very well maintained, 75+ year old gems within walking distance of the bay and downtown. It's hard to argue with that lifestyle.

I will second the suggestions that you look at Leelanau County. There are several small towns (Glen Arbor, Leland, Northport, Suttons Bay) that all have nice homes around them, gorgeous scenery and are within a short drive of Traverse City. If you want to live in that "bigger city" you're talking about though, these are not going to be your preference as they are tiny towns in the off-season, 30-40 minutes from Traverse City's relative size.

You could look at Old Mission Peninsula too. You're a little closer to TC (depending on how far up the peninsula you live), and you get that same great scenery that Leelanau offers.

Lake Ann, as mentioned by someone else, is another great option...but it too is a little village, 15-20 minutes from TC. In all, I think Traverse City is pretty much the nicest part of Michigan for retirement. If there were more jobs, it'd be the nicest part of the state period.

[Rathagos]

Thank you all for replying.. I really do appreciate it. Now I have some places to look up on realtor.com.

Again, I appreciate your inputs!!

Rath

[JoeNottage]

I live in Kingsley, just a few minutes south of Traverse City. I think you will find the TC area a very nice place to be. Lot's of fishing if that's what you like to do. There is a good community college here, with great universities not too far away. If you like chinese food, there's plenty of that here too!

[Mi_Mom]

I lived in Kalkaska in the mid-late 90's and loved it up there. A slower pace life but really enjoyed it. Elk Rapids, Kingsley, Lake Ann area are all places you might want to check out. I'm not sure what it's grown to be like but Acme was right between Traverse City and Elk Rapids. Interlochen might be of your interest as well? You almost can't go wrong up in that area.