I've had enough!!!! (Milwaukee, Kenosha, Waukesha: real estate market, low crime, daycares)

[ekg56]

We love Bayfield too. I love Lake Superior. It is such a wild untamed lake. I can watch it for hours. It is always changing and amazing.

[kjbem]

Hi, Turpentine and all,
I grew up on the north side of Milwaukee, and I left to come to northern CA about 22 years ago. I never thought I'd move west, but that's where I've landed!
Milwaukee will always be home to me. I think it is a great city. Sometimes I fantasize about moving back. I suppose if something would happen to my husband - God forbid! - I'd move back and buy a condo on the Milwaukee River.
I left Milwaukee when I was 32. That was a mild winter - no snow until I left on December 26. But the years right before I left were years when I began to wonder "why anyone would want to live in this climate???!!!"
I didn't leave for the climate, however, I left to go to school in CA, and I expected I'd be back in Wisconsin within 3 years. That never happened.
I live in Oakland, CA now. I love Oakland. Oakland, like Milwaukee, gets a bad rap. I live right across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco, and I can't remember the last time I drove over the bridge! Oakland has the best climate in the world, as far as I'm concerned. It's a "Mediterranean climate." We have less fog than SF, and more sunny days. Some winters we have LOTS of rain, some hardly any. It's neither as hot nor as dry here as in Southern CA.
One thing I love about Oakland is the diversity. Growing up on the north side of Milwaukee, I was fortunate to be in a family that was not outrageously racist. So I have welcomed the racial and ethnic diversity of this place. When I go out to lunch, people of all colors and even languages eat in the same places I go. People of all colors live in my neighborhood. Oakland has a lot of poor people and a lot of crime. That's a function of our country in these times, as far as I'm concerned.

When I go back to Milwaukee, one of the things I notice is that wherever I go, there seem to be white people. That's because I'm white. The segregation in Milwaukee, and probably Wisconsin, is very apparent.

If you're young, why not give another place a try? Find someplace and get a job, and go. Give yourself a couple of years, so that you can make friends and get used to the new environment. There are pluses and minuses to any place. Most of what makes us happy or unhappy, though is inside of us!
People are polite/impolite everywhere. If I smile when I walk down the street, others smile at me.

I think New Mexico is a beautiful, beautiful part of the country. There are other places that are beautiful, each in their own way. Wisconsin is very, very beautiful, something I realize, now that I'm gone.

I appreciate Wisconsin for some things and not for others. That's true of where I live now, too. But I'm not sure I'd want to move back.

But then, who knows???
kj

[kayeelle]

Wow. I've been living out in MA for 9 years now. I've hated it here since I arrived. I can't wait to move back. You are right, the social climate is just too different.

[fanaraj]

Originally Posted by Turpentine

Hi all- Just a rant/vent. I've lived in suburban Milwaukee most of my life , and I'm wondering if others are getting as frustrated with the area as I am.
I love to bicycle, but can no longer take the weather. Obviously, it's cold most of the time, but to make matters worse, when it finally does warm up, you can count on 20+ mph winds, making cycling dificult, not to mention hazardous.
Then there's the social climate. Growing up here in the 70's and 80's it was nice here. you had friendly folks, plenty of woods and farmland teeming with wildlife. Most of the woods and farms are gone now, replaced by overpriced Mc Mansions, or "luxury" housing. Most(not all) of the friendly people have been replaced by standoffish, self-centered affluent people, who drive oversized and overpriced SUV's with a cell phone glued to their ears, and their noses in the air. Where fake tans, designer clothes seem to be Government Issue, where people are judged by the car they drive, and their investment portfolios.
Just wondering if others notice this too, and if there are any places that would be an improvement that might be worth looking into. Thanks all!!!!!

We are considering moving to the Waukesha/Milwaukee area, and I guess I figured that since Milwaukee is a big city that it would embrace diversity.
Can you recommend any areas that are more accepting?

[fanaraj]

I hear Wisconsin getting a bad rap. I am from Rockford, Illinois, and although it is cold here, the change of seasons is the same as Wisconsin. When I lived in Florida I missed that. I talk to people all the time who say wonderful things about all parts of Wisconsin, so it is sad to hear all the negativity. My husband and I are moving to the Waukesha area soon & I hope that we have a great experience there. We are looking forward to the change!
We are a bi-racial couple. Any thoughts?

[43north87west]

"Growing Up Gotti" must have had a larger effect on suburban culture than I thought it did.

The Brookfield and far west suburban areas of Milwaukee, coupled with Mequon in Ozaukee County, have their share of arrogant, fake idiots. Not everyone, just many of them.

It is no different than ANY OTHER SUBURB.

The thing is, move back to the east side near Lake Michigan, and get the benefits of a more established (aka "old money") crowd, plus good biking. Also a much more sophisticated, urbane group of people. You don't get the "me me me me" crowd on the East Side, like you get them in Brookfield or Mequon or the Lake Country. People on the shore are a lot more in tune with the happenings of the world and what goes on around them, not just their new leased SUV or "how much a month does this cost".

But the weather will still suck on the east side, if anything, it sucks more. Sorry, that's just how it is! Despite the weather, I'm debating a return to Milwaukee because I can't stand the people you don't like either. Here in Scottsdale, there is nothing BUT those suburban fakes.

I used to ride 10 miles a day on my bike in Milwaukee without crossing ONE SINGLE STREET. That's right--ten miles round trip with no car traffic. Try that other places... it doesn't happen. Out here in the West, you're relegated to riding on the sides of major roads. People don't give you any room.

Plus, you can walk around the east side. Just plan on running into the suburban uppity set when you hit Shorewood and points north. It gets really bad once you hit the county line.

I'm one of the "inconspicuous consumers" whose income is about 80% disposable, most of which is invested/never spent. I drive older cars, live well beneath my means, etc. Therefore, Brookfield would never allow me to live there, or would sneer at me. Likewise, I'd never consider living there. But I found a nice compromise on the East Side, because frankly people don't make material possessions their first impression of people, at least not much. Plus it is safe, close to the city, walkable, great for biking and use of Lake Michigan, and great for eating and drinking if you like doing those things. (All while walking...)

So, don't be offended by the suburban set. They think they're better, but a lot of them are proving to their poorer relatives how much "more successful" they are by running up debt to buy things they could never have when they were young.

And if debt is an indicator of success, then they have proven their point marvelously. Don't let them ruin your life, go somewhere that is more friendly to individuality and urban life. The urban areas take some getting used to because they are... urban. After living in Chicago, I moved to Milwaukee and it was like the best of everything without the traffic or long commute time. Plus a much safer lakefront and an easy, liveable environment. At least check it out.

By the way, Chicagoland is the same. I lived in Lake Forest a while ago. It is a lot like the older money areas, less conspicuous in terms of overall net worth. But when you go out to DuPage county or northern/western Lake County, it is all about "look what I got". No different than anywhere else in the US at this point. You just have to find the right place... in any city.

[mel55880]

Well, if you truly want a different attitude move out of the US for awhile, I can almost guarantee you'll want to move back in a heartbeat! I've been living in the Caribbean for 2 years now... BTW not a good place for biking... and I'm looking forward to coming home. I'm tired of sweating my butt off, I'm tired of seeing all this poverty and not being able to "save the world." Yes, people move at a slower pace, are generally friendly, but there is just no place like home for me!

[dkmisol]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

I guess I am just flat-out boggled though as to all of these people who can afford these prices and keep on buying. I am a mid-level professional who earns a respectable middle class income, but my wife has chosen not to work to stay home with the little ones, etc., and I can not fathom the pricing of so many of these houses!

If you really looked at the true net worths and income statements, you'd probably realize that most of those people in the 'burbs CAN'T afford those homes. My uncle-in-law has an UUGGGLLLYY, old, house on the market in Germantown for 400k (with 15 acres I think - listed for 9 months with NO offers). His neighbor is asking 500K for a similar thing, and has been for sale for 2 years! Nobody in their right mind would pay that for his dump - and he just built this brand new monstrosity 10 min. away (he didn't learn his lesson).

The real-estate slump is supply-demand working - it just works a little slower than some people would like.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by dkmisol

If you really looked at the true net worths and income statements, you'd probably realize that most of those people in the 'burbs CAN'T afford those homes. My uncle-in-law has an UUGGGLLLYY, old, house on the market in Germantown for 400k (with 15 acres I think - listed for 9 months with NO offers). His neighbor is asking 500K for a similar thing, and has been for sale for 2 years! Nobody in their right mind would pay that for his dump - and he just built this brand new monstrosity 10 min. away (he didn't learn his lesson).

The real-estate slump is supply-demand working - it just works a little slower than some people would like.

Great post. I couldn't agree more.

[escapetacoma]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

I guess I am just flat-out boggled though as to all of these people who can afford these prices and keep on buying. I am a mid-level professional who earns a respectable middle class income, but my wife has chosen not to work to stay home with the little ones, etc., and I can not fathom the pricing of so many of these houses!

You, sir, are obviously un-American Don't you realize that all of these people spending all of this money that they don't have and thus having to work more just to afford the interest is what drives our economy?

On a more serious note - I agree completely. We just moved to Wisconsin from Tacoma, Washington. There we had a cute little (1600sf) bungalow in nice shape, but without a full bath (one 3/4 bath was it) and no garage, in a reasonably good part of town. Going with advice from our realtor we priced it at $320,000. It sold within the first week and we had a second full price offer on it within the following week Note, this isn't in some hot market in California - this is in perpetually gray Tacoma, Washington. Jobs are pretty much 40 miles (an hour and 15 minutes) due north in Seattle/Bellevue. I'm not objecting but I don't understand.