[AnnArbor Help]

Hi everyone,

My husband, one year old daughter and I are moving to the Ann Arbor area for my husband's job. We are coming from SC and don't know much about the area. I have been researching the schools and looking at the homes on line but am traveling up there next week and would like to know what communities I should be looking at buying in. I would like to keep the home price under 150,000 if possible but don't want crummy schools or to be too far out of Ann Arbor where my husband will be working. We are willing to be about a 20-25 minute drive tops. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Dexterguy]

Look into Dexter and Chelsea not to far out of Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor schools aren't bad but Chelsea and Dexter schools rank higher. Finding a house for that price though in any area around A2 is hard. You may have to settle for one of those subdivision homes that all look the same if you want something that low, or maybe you can find a fixer upper.

[YAZ]

Try Whitmore Lake or even Hamburg. Pinckney is nice.

U.S. 23 can be a headache, especially in the wintertime though.

Chelsea is REALLY nice....

[jeanniepep]

I was going to say Chelsea too, though I'm not sure if you can find anything for that price (although in this market, one never knows!). It is a BEAUTIFUL town and has a great reputation, plus is very close to Ann Arbor.

Don't be tempted by low prices in Ypsilanti - very close to Ann Arbor but not as nice, and the schools aren't that fabulous. Chelsea & Dexter are great, and I have to agree with Whitmore Lake too! I don't know how the schools are, but we used to rent a cottage there when I was a kid and those memories are the greatest. Loved it! I tried to rent an apt or condo there about 10 yrs ago and it had gotten more upscale since I was little so I couldn't afford it. It's a great area if you can stand the whole US-23/M-14 commute.

[YAZ]

Kids from Whitmore Lake also go to South Lyon schools.

Depends on what part of town.

Nice area.

[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by AnnArbor Help

Hi everyone,

My husband, one year old daughter and I are moving to the Ann Arbor area for my husband's job. We are coming from SC and don't know much about the area. I have been researching the schools and looking at the homes on line but am traveling up there next week and would like to know what communities I should be looking at buying in. I would like to keep the home price under 150,000 if possible but don't want crummy schools or to be too far out of Ann Arbor where my husband will be working. We are willing to be about a 20-25 minute drive tops. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Look at the foreclosure lists at the Ann Arbor banks. You can be right in the thick of things for the price of a new motorcycle.

[Dexterguy]

Originally Posted by YAZ

Kids from Whitmore Lake also go to South Lyon schools.

Depends on what part of town.

Nice area.

Whitmore Lake is nice, but way more than a 25 minute drive into Ann Arbor, the Whitmore Lake schools are no where near as good as the Chelsea or Dexter schools either.

Like others have mentioned DON'T fall for Ypsilanti's low pricing on housing, the schools are not good at all, and some of the areas that are not around EMU's campus can be kind of shady. You would have better luck with Ann Arbor's school over Ypsilanti.

Seriously look into Dexter and Chelsea though.

[MittenDweller82]

Originally Posted by AnnArbor Help

Hi everyone,

My husband, one year old daughter and I are moving to the Ann Arbor area for my husband's job. We are coming from SC and don't know much about the area. I have been researching the schools and looking at the homes on line but am traveling up there next week and would like to know what communities I should be looking at buying in. I would like to keep the home price under 150,000 if possible but don't want crummy schools or to be too far out of Ann Arbor where my husband will be working. We are willing to be about a 20-25 minute drive tops. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

You can get into a nice home in the150K range close Ann Arbor now that home prices have fallen in recent years. There are some amazing deals especially on the west end of Ann Arbor (near I-94) where homes that were selling for 350K several years ago can be bought for 150-175K now. The neighborhoods on the west end are very desirable, quiet, historic custom homes. The most expensive neighborhoods are near just east and south of UM campus, and along the Huron river where prices are well above 500K on average. There are some very nice quiet modest neighborhoods on the east end of town (not in Ypsilanti) where there are homes in your price range certainly. Another area would be to look along (near M-14) Maple Rd, which has more historic homes, older neighborhoods, tree line streets...neat shops, restaurants.

Overall, I disagree with opinions on Ann Arbors school's, the area has one of the highest HS grad rates in the state and the libraries and schools are well funded by residents. Most millages for school/transit improvements are passed without question. When you have 50% of residents with a B.A or higher, education is top priority for most parents in the area, and it shows with all of the new equipment and facilities.

If your looking for a very quiet place geared more towards mature couples and empty nester's then I would recommend Dexter or Chelsea. Ann Arbor certainly has much more to do for the family, arts, shows, museums, parks. Some of my friends that leave near Chelsea always find themselves driving to Ann Arbor to entertain their kids quite often. Not to mention, a drive from Chelsea to Ann Arbor in a winter snow storm would be much longer than 25 min. I have lived in Ann Arbor for many years and have enjoyed it, there is always something to do, ( I have a 3yr old). Ann Arbor has many big city amenities but a smaller town feel. I will be moving to Chicago in August for a much higher paying position and I will miss it tremendously!

Good Luck on your hunting and feel free to ask questions!

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by Dexterguy

Whitmore Lake is nice, but way more than a 25 minute drive into Ann Arbor, the Whitmore Lake schools are no where near as good as the Chelsea or Dexter schools either.

I know U.S. 23 southbound can be a B$*#% sometimes, but c'mon.

It's like 14 miles to Ann Arbor from there.

Never heard anything "bad" about the WL school system; but I know many of the kids go to South Lyon Schools. Some go to Brighton. Not too shabby either.

[Coldjensens]

Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea.

Dexter is nice too and Plymouth. Saline is not bad. Ann Arbor itself ir really fun and a wonderful city. Downtown is maybe a bit more crazy than what most people wnat for kids. But there are lots of nice outlying areas and really good schools.

Did I mention Chelsea?