[devcat]

Hello!

My husband has an opportunity to work in Portage as a Senior Software developer, and was born and raised in the Midland/Kalamazoo areas. We visit often since most family resides in Allegan, Oshtemo and Kalamazoo. However, as you know it is always a tough decision when it comes to switching jobs. He works in the IT field with a Master's degree, and would prefer to work in Kalamazoo/Portage over Grand Rapids so we would hope the job works out...or he could have a long commute unless we could buy a home around Otsego or Oshtemo closer to 131.
We currently reside in Pewaukee, WI- a suburb of about 17,000 people about 15 mins west of Milwaukee. His job is very secure in IT at an insurance company and it is a very pretty and safe area but very expensive. Homes are mostly in the 300,000+ range with WI income tax at 6.5 percent and high property taxes but his salary would be slightly higher here. Auto insurance is very low ($38.00 per month per car full coverage)
rent is about the same as Kalamazoo/Portage, but homes/land are much less expensive in Michigan.

We were just about ready to go for it but our excitement was turned to despair as we could not find a nice townhome or condo less than $1000-$1100 per month in the Portage/Kalamazoo area that would take our pets. (2 cats) Other places were located next door to apartments that appeared to be run down and he was afraid for my safety. We did find a few apartments by 9th st. south of 94 called Saddle Ridge by KVCC and there was a Summer Ridge off of M43 west of Drake, which was on the border of Oshtemo and west Kalamazoo. Although there were more college students in the area it seemed pretty safe and the location was perfect being directly next to 131 in case my husband was to go to Grand Rapids. Obviously we would prefer to own a home and would have to go back to apartment life for awhile which would be hard but temporary.
Our other concern was crime-Pewaukee, WI has very little crime. On a scale of 1-10 with ten being the worst it is a zero or 1. People walk alone throughout our area at 10 pm and there are no problems, no rape ect. there is mostly drunk driving,propery damage from teenagers, one bank robbery a year and I believe kids were breaking into cars once or twice last year. But it is not on a daily basis. Crime reports around Portage/Kazoo are a little different. More larceny,burglary and armed robbery than we are used to. a little more rape. Hoever, we just love the area and family has never had any problems, we miss them very much. My husband is concerned the area has gone down hill because of the economy....
Just the other day Portage had an armed robbery and the employees of the store were beaten with a shotgun and now the Kalamazoo jail situation with placing prisoners in tents due to overcrowding...?
I guess I would like opinions about life in Kazoo/Portage and if things have changed especially with more crime say in the past ten years or so. How friendly are people? I am sure you get a mix of good and bad folks like we have in WI. For the most part, people are very friendly here.

Also if anyone is familiar with any areas that I have mentioned as far as finding a place to rent if we were to make the chage. I really like the Meijer and shopping on M43 and my mom-in-law lives off of Stadium drive in Oshtemo. Mattawan,Oshtemo would be pretty areas to buy a home.
sorry so long winded! we need to make a final decision by this weekend...thanks

[Southernkomfort27]

I recently moved to the S Kalamazoo,(almost Portage) area from northern MI. I moved from there to find work and save up enough money to make my permanent move down south. Anyway, I am now living in the Milwood area of Kalamazoo and It's not too bad. I'd say on a scale of 1 to 10 the crime would be a little higher than it was in your area, but overall I feel pretty safe. I have walked to the corner store by myself before, but I don't think I would do it at night. You just have to use common sense. Yes, the jail is overcrowded. Because of this some people who have outstanding warrants are not being pursued. There just isn't any room. The economy has probably had an effect on the crime rate; this is true in many areas.
I'm finding that most people are friendly while there's a few who aren't.
Meijer's is not far from where I live, it's just over on Westnedge. I have to say, I am enjoying the increased shopping opportunities here. While I don't plan on making this my permanent home, I like it well enough, and I have family here too.

[eichedge]

The apartment complexxes you mentioned would be ok. I have lived here for over 35 years. I live in centra south Kalamazoo between Bronson and Oakland. Personally, I would not live in Portage......suburbia....cultural wasteland. I love our area....lots of trees and close to everything...we have three cats nd one is outside now....patrolling the turf.

[wagonproject]

Agreed with the above posters. I live in Mattawan, which is a very nice place. There is plenty of homes for sale in new neighborhoods and older homes. Plus a lot (well some) farm land left (my family owns about 2000 acres in Mattawan). Portage and Kalamazoo are both still awesome places. Im sure you'd really like. The only bad spot is north/east Kalamazoo (the homeless shelter/eating place is over there) and just the lower income familys. But its easily drivable, not like your going to be hijacked or something. The only bad part is finding a rental who takes cats like you said, but I know theres plenty out, especially cats (getting a place for a dog would be a lot harder). And usually its just a small fee if any a month. There is a lot of homes for rent that are probably not on the search engines you look at too as there probably just apartments, people just put signs out in their yards. I know you can find a nice place for under $1000, my family has 3 rentals that are currently rented, none higher then $650 a month, 2 with 2 car garges, all redone houses, 2000 or so sq ft. Only downside is they don't like pets as the the houses are like new. Both of the apartment complexes you mentioned are nice. Summer Ridge might be a little better and homey feel. It is a very safe place. Your are by a movie theather, a couple of other apartment places, and a college complex (its on the side street and its not bad, we go over closer to WMU to party, no worries about college kids). My girlfriend lived there a year ago (College Park). Summer Ridge is close to a lot of restaurants/meijers, etc, and a short drive to downtown.

Saddle Ridge is right next to KVCC (seperated but alot of trees). I don't know anything about the complex, but its close to a few fast food places on 9th st. And a short drive to Kalamazoo. Its also close to Texas Corners also.

Sorry for my rambling writing.

Have you looked on http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/