[Telix]

My fiancee and I are moving to Ann Arbor in mid-August or early September. I will be working at the UM library. We are seeking advice on neighborhoods to look for housing, to at least give us an idea of "look in this area, but probably not in these areas". We will be renting this first year with the hopes of buying after that.

We are in our late 20s and like a "neighborhood" feel with shops, bars, restaurants, farmer's markets, that kind of thing, at least within a long walk or bicycle ride away - 1-2 miles or so.

We know that Kerrytown is supposed to be great, so I'm guessing most of the Northwest is pretty cool. I've been finding some nice looking places on the west side of town as well, but know nothing about which areas of the city are loud/neglected student housing areas or not. I've also found some places in the south east about 3-4 miles from campus. While those are pretty far from downtown, the rental savings might be worth it for us so we can save up for a home. Really, wherever faculty and grad students live is probably where you can point us.

Any advice for us? Feel free to be as detailed as you'd like, like "live on THIS side of XXX street and north of this street" - I went to grad school in a college town and I know how quickly you can enter areas with run-down undergrad housing or be disconnected from the areas that make college towns great to live in.

Thanks!

[MittenDweller82]

Originally Posted by Telix

My fiancee and I are moving to Ann Arbor in mid-August or early September. I will be working at the UM library. We are seeking advice on neighborhoods to look for housing, to at least give us an idea of "look in this area, but probably not in these areas". We will be renting this first year with the hopes of buying after that.

We are in our late 20s and like a "neighborhood" feel with shops, bars, restaurants, farmer's markets, that kind of thing, at least within a long walk or bicycle ride away - 1-2 miles or so.

We know that Kerrytown is supposed to be great, so I'm guessing most of the Northwest is pretty cool. I've been finding some nice looking places on the west side of town as well, but know nothing about which areas of the city are loud/neglected student housing areas or not. I've also found some places in the south east about 3-4 miles from campus. While those are pretty far from downtown, the rental savings might be worth it for us so we can save up for a home. Really, wherever faculty and grad students live is probably where you can point us.

Any advice for us? Feel free to be as detailed as you'd like, like "live on THIS side of XXX street and north of this street" - I went to grad school in a college town and I know how quickly you can enter areas with run-down undergrad housing or be disconnected from the areas that make college towns great to live in.

Thanks!

If your planning on renting first (although you didn't indicate what is considered "comfortable" in rent amount) I would recommend the west end of A2, solely due to its proximity to downtown.(Huron and I-94 corridor to W.Main near downtown.) The neighborhoods on the west end are mixed from upper class historic districts, to younger professional families, and is where most grad students live. (There and further north of campus). If your planning on renting a house, rents are 12-1300+ while a nice 2bdr apt is 800-1000. Recently there were new condos constructed downtown that started out around 225K, and some new lofts which rent right around 1000/mo. The state street corridor south and points east is mainly where you will find most of your undergraduates residing, hence the most noise. There really aren't any "run" down" areas in Ann Arbor, I think the starkest contrast I can think of is frat houses backing up to million dollar homes along the business loop.

Home values in A2 have dropped quite a bit since the national "crisis" so to speak, but still are expensive in the more desirable areas along the Huron river, the west end, and near campus where 300-450K is pretty common...and of course higher taxes. Most any neighborhoods along the business loop will be where your older professionals live, and are the most expensive areas.
There are some cheaper neighborhoods points east near Ypsilanti (but not in) where younger families and working class mix. So after considering that, I think that your best bet for a 1-2 mile walk and proximity to dining, art and stores will be on the west end, or near Kerrytown district.

Have fun!

[Telix]

Thanks for the post! I guess a comfortable rent amount would be anything in the $1200 and under range, and for that I'd want something quite nice. I'd prefer to pay $1000 or under for a 2BR/large 1BR/1BR with study, which seems doable.

[missycaulk]

You can visit my web site, tied in with Google Maps and Satellite images to search. It is currrent data as it is a direct feed from the MLS.
Ann Arbor Area Real Estate