Posible Move to Elk Rapids Area Any Info???

[adler2u]

Elk rapids is appx 20 miles from traverse city, it is a mostly resort community.
as far as michigan goes it is a safe place to live.
It is dead in the winter and mostly tourist and second home people in summer.
Not to far from traverse city, TC still has homes that are priced higher than most places around it, Gaylord for example is experiancing a high number of homes on the market and not many selling.
This makes the price decline.
I am not sure as to the drop in price in TC.
TC has many shopping and specialty stores, two malls and some things to do, but not much especially if you are from a big town.
Lots of water and public beach for swimming and sunning.
Taxes are high and so is elk rapids.
If you are thinking of working Jenny two pennys is raising taxes here from 3.9 to 9. something.
There is a college and schools are among the best in the state only because of the money that lives there.
If you buy in TC you will have the best chance in michigan to keep your investment although no guarntee.
I would not personaly live in elk rapids, the town is broken up by the floodings that make up the water front.
you will find yourself going to TC for everything so why not just live in TC?

[Gretchinny]

I currently work in Elk Rapids and can vouch for the fact that while yes, it is pretty sleepy in the winter, there is an extremely tight-knit community of locals if you're into the Norman Rockwell atmosphere. The church communities seem to be thriving and tight-knit, the business community is the same way. The schools seem to be really good and even hired five teachers last year despite cuts by the state; I know the superintendent and principals, and they're so extremely nice that it's almost hard to imagine they exist. They consistently receive top ratings in the state and have test scores that are very high. If you're looking into the district but are looking into more affordable housing, Williamsburg is growing rapidly and is situated between Traverse City and Elk Rapids. Portions of Williamsburg are in the Elk Rapids school district, and the district provides busing. You might consider Rapid City and Kewadin as well, though they are more remote than Elk Rapids and don't have the downtown that Elk Rapids has. I'm not sure what the previous poster referred to as "floodings," but the main portion of the village is locked in on three sides by water.

I currently live in Traverse City, and couldn't recommend it more highly. The job scene up here is pretty tight, but in looking for positions in my field at the hospital, I saw a lot of nursing positions open. Check out Munson Medical Center.

Elk Rapids is an example of true small-town living, and its residents tend to put down Traverse City for being so urban. And yes, there are sprawly areas of TC, but the downtown is super quaint and if you drive for 5 minutes, you're in the middle of nowhere... in a good way.

Traverse City may seem sleepy compared to other cities in that it's pretty much dead by 10 p.m., but there are lots of things to do up here. There's Interlochen art/music school, which has a summer music series that this year is bringing acts like Bob Dylan; there are museums; there are COUNTLESS organizations - philanthropic, art-related, environmental, political and everything in between; there is a festival just about every weekend from May to October; there is, of course, nature if you're into hiking, biking, water sports, winter sports or any sports; there's the much-hyped and deserving Traverse City Film Festival... In other words, if you can't find something to do here, you're not looking hard enough.

Hope this helps.

[adler2u]

I agree tc is the only bright spot in north michigan, and souther michigan I would not give you a nickel for any thing below gladwin.
People from southern michigan [we call flatlander fudgies] think it is great, but if it was so dam good why do they drive like hell at weeks end to go north, I would think if it was so good they would stay home.
But that was when people form southern michigan had jobs and could afford to drive north, with gas at 3.30 a gal. I dont think that they will be going to far from home, or at least not near as much.
I say let mother nature have southern michigan back, in 100 years it may actually look half way ok. TC has a very cool down town, where you can buy a coffee and walk front st. and hit the shops. It is what petoskey is trying to do with out all the attitude.
The state park is nice and the hotels are fair priced if you shop. Homes are coming more into line with the fall of real estate.
If I had to stay in michigan [god forbid] I would look at TC. Still to dam cold in the winter.