Novi? (Birmingham: for sale, work, housing)

[sticksnsniffles]

Novi shopping is abundant but nothing you have not seen in any of the other malls in the midwest. The Sommerset mall in Troy has all of your high end shopping. If you enjoy taking your clothes to the dry cleaners and getting your nails done you will love all of the strip malls in this area. This is "chain" America at its best - smoking, restaurants and shops. Maybe the people are chain smoking from the lack of stimulation from all of the most generic of chain stores and restuarants. Or maybe they are nervous from the bouts of road rage and rudeness that is often seen. On and up note, the schools here are very good. I will give them that. The roads are terrible and the driving can be aggressive.

I know that a lot of people who are from this area will be whining and crying about how great and "Family oriented" this place is. Yes SOME people are like this, but the constant rudeness and just general unhappiness of the people that I have encountered has shown me that these people realize that this is a suburb of Detroit. I am from another midwest town with some of the worst neighborhoods, but I will no longer go to downtown Detroit. There is nothing to visit there. Yeah, you can go to other towns and see the yuppies in Birmingham or the artsy scene in Royal Oak, but that is it. Seriously, read the other blogs about Detroit. Layoffs of the major companies have been occurring, the housing market has depreciated, and many people here are just not that happy. We are doing everything to GET OUT.

[khfar]

Seriously, read the other blogs about Detroit. Layoffs of the major companies have been occurring, the housing market has depreciated, and many people here are just not that happy. We are doing everything to GET OUT.

Thanks for your feedback. I have been reading other posts and blogs about the Detroit area. And trust me, I don't *want* to move there. Everything I read is so depressing, especially on this message board. I can't believe how many people are unhappy up there. I'm moving from a booming, thriving area (Dallas), to what seems to me like HELL.

Lucky for me, this is not a permanent stay. My husband works for a major shipping company, and layoffs with them are just about unheard of. They only promote from within, so everyone has been with the company for years on end. They are not based in Detroit. This was actually a promotion for him. I guess I'm just tired of hearing people tell me to run the other way, when that's not actually an option for me right now. I've never experienced anything like this in my life. But I guess I'm used to Southern hospitality.

[Alltaurus]

If your husband already has a job lined up there is no need to run in the other direction. The biggest gripe in Michigan is the lack of jobs and the real estate market right now.

Depending on what you're looking for you may also want to check out Northville or Plymouth. Good schools, they both border Livonia and are a little less cookie cutter than Novi.

I did find the post above a bit negative, I hope you don't get the impression that everyone here is miserable, that's just not the case. Some people don't understand that everyone is different. I think a lot of the griping has to do with the state of our economy right now. We are all under a terrible amount of stress.

And as far as Downtown Detroit...I recently moved there and just love it. I live right on the water, never have to get in my car and never lack anything to do. Again...to each his own. You will be able to see for yourself and form your own opinions once you get here, but don't let everyone else get you down about it.

[sticksnsniffles]

I would just like to add a little to my last post. The Detroit area is among the top cities with the highest rate of foreclosures. The Detroit area has had a negative population growth, most likely due to the extreme loss of jobs in the area from the auto industry. There are many homes with for sale signs that have lay dormant for over a year. We were looking for a house earlier, and we are thankful that we did not buy, and decided to leave. In the neighborhood behind us (we live in Novi), new homes have gone from the mid 400's to the low 300's in about 8 months. Yes, Novi is a suburb of Detroit with low crime. It is really a city built around a mall and shopping center. So that's all there is to do. I mentioned a couple other cities to go to, however, if you want to venture into Detroit, it has consistently been ranked the second most dangerous city in the U.S.

[khfar]

Originally Posted by sticksnsniffles

I would just like to add a little to my last post. The Detroit area is among the top cities with the highest rate of foreclosures. The Detroit area has had a negative population growth, most likely due to the extreme loss of jobs in the area from the auto industry. There are many homes with for sale signs that have lay dormant for over a year. We were looking for a house earlier, and we are thankful that we did not buy, and decided to leave. In the neighborhood behind us (we live in Novi), new homes have gone from the mid 400's to the low 300's in about 8 months. Yes, Novi is a suburb of Detroit with low crime. It is really a city built around a mall and shopping center. So that's all there is to do. I mentioned a couple other cities to go to, however, if you want to venture into Detroit, it has consistently been ranked the second most dangerous city in the U.S.

WOW, I can't *WAIT* to get there. You make it sound so dreamy. Very welcoming and kind, you are. Thanks again for making this move even harder than it needs to be.

[CA2MI]

My husband and I are moving to Royal Oak in a few months...we are from LA...reading these posts really make me nervous!

[sticksnsniffles]

I would first like to say that I am sorry for making you feel bad for your move. My intention was in no way to do that. I was responding more to the other postings, and I should have been responding to you.

The reason that I was posting this is because I am quite sick of seeing people post that this is such a wonderful place to live, and Detroit is some sort of renaissance city. People are kind of hard nosed with a lot of pride up here, and I actually commend them on this. The Red Wings and Tigers give them good reason to be proud. However, in some cases when people say Detroit is a great place to live, this gives people false impressions, and when they get here, they are quite upset and wondering what is going on and who these people are that said this was so great. You are perfectly safe in Novi though, and surrounding areas, and as I said there are stores, restuarants, etc. I do agree with the person from Rochester Hills though, as I think that it is nicer up there than in Novi.

I am actually quite sad to see the state of Detroit, as it does have lots of potential. You may have different experiences as you may have different interests? My experiences, along with other friends of mine have not been positive here.....but I will not go through them, and I've made my point.

So please accept my apologies, and realize that I know what it is like to be stuck....so as an offer of peace, here are some things that you can do within a day's drive that are nice away from Detroit. Chicago is about a 5 hour drive, or you can take the train there from Birmingham. Chicago is a mecca of art, culture, neighborhoods, food, etc. Cedar Point is 2 hours away if you have kids and it is the best amusement park in the world for roller coasters. Traverse city is 3 1/2 hours away and it is the truly beautiful part of MI. The sand dunes are beautiful and Lake MI is much better and more picturesque than Lake Huron or Erie. There are small towns on the west coast of MI that go up the coast, and they too are charming. One of them is Grand Haven. They have cute shops, restaurants, and a large white sand (not dirt!) beach with a lighthouse. Mackinaw Island is somewhat of a landmark here, although, it is quite far, however it is an island with a grand hotel and no cars on the island. The extreme rich society in the early part of the last century built giant homes there for vacation. If you must go to Detroit, pass it up and go over to Windsor. I think it is safer and there is a bit more to do, although it has a questionable district for men (bachelor parties go there if you get my drift). If you cross the bridge and go over Canada, Toronto is 5 hours away.

One other thing to make you or others feel a little better - the house prices surge downward is good for you, as you will buy a house during the correction and will have more chance to make money off your investment.

I hope this makes you feel better.

[khfar]

Originally Posted by CA2MI

My husband and I are moving to Royal Oak in a few months...we are from LA...reading these posts really make me nervous!

Honestly, I think you will be fine. I'm nervous too (moving there from Dallas), but am trying to ignore all of the negative posts here. I think some people enjoy trying to put fear in others, especially when they know we have never been to the area before. I have friends that have lived in the Detroit area, and while they don't think it was the grandest place on earth, they certainly said it isn't a bad place to live.

My husband is already living there in a company condo, and he says it isn't half as bad as some of the people on this board are making it out to be. Obviously, the weather will be our (and likely yours too, lol) biggest obstacle. I *hate* snow and cold weather. But I'll get used to it. We'll miss good Mexican food too. I don't care how many people tell us that there is good Mexican food to be found in Michigan, they are just simply WRONG! My husband has already tried out the "good ones".

Anyway, good luck. I think you'll be fine.

K

[zygnoda]

The people on this forum are rather pessemistic. We all can agree that Michigan's economy is in a rut. But, there are still lots of good things about Michigan (Great Lakes, forests up north, lots of golf courses, and tons of other good stuff). You get the same thing everywhere; people on the California forum are constantly complaining too. They all have the "sky is falling mentality." Every area has its problems...

"My husband and I are moving to Royal Oak in a few months...we are from LA...reading these posts really make me nervous!" They don't represent the views of all Michiganders. I love this state. Hopefully you'll come to like it as well.

[M TYPE X]

I just had dinner in downtown Indianapolis today. It rocks more than Detroit (anywhere does in terms of a downtown), but even moreso than Cleveland. Hell, it's almost comparable to Chicago. Twelve Oaks Mall is not a substitute for a real downtown, nor is Somerset in Troy! (and I have been a suburban "dude" for most of my life, with the exception of undergrad and grad school).

Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids are nice cities. Most other Michigan cities are in trouble. Ann Arbor to Rochester Hills (the north and western suburbs line that includes Farmington Hills, Northville, and Novi) is still the nicest/wealthiest area in Michigan, with the exception of the Grosse Pointes, but the state lacks a vibrant economy that "lifts" all boats.

Flint, Jackson, Pontiac, Saginaw ... yuck.
I don't see any need to beat on Kalamazoo or Muskegon. I still have one cousin studying at Western Michigan U in Kalamazoo.

Royal Oak is expensive, but arguably one of the nicer downtowns as far as Detroit suburbs go.