Trying to decide where to live with good schools. (Detroit: real estate market, foreclosure)

[bigwilly]

So my wife and I have lived around metro detroit for most of our lives until the last 4 years when we lived in Colorado. We moved back this year to be closer to home and to start my business. We are trying to figure out where we want to live now. Currently we are renting in Saint Clair Shores, which is decent but too close to where we grew up and we would like to find better schools.

We have 2 children, 6 and 3. I am a freelance illustrator and can work from anywhere. We are trying to limit where we live from say Ann Arbor west to the lake east.
Having trails and parks nearby is a must, another thing that is lacking on the east side. Schools are of the most importance to us. I can't see wanting to spend more that $150,000 on a house.

Some areas that we like are, Ann Arbor and surrounding small towns, pinckney, brighton, etc.
Northville, Plymouth, Livonia, not sure if we can afford a house there or not.
Oxford, Ortonville, Washington, somewhere around there. We are really looking for a small town feel. We are not looking for Suburbia, I had enough of that in Denver.

We are probably gravitating more towards the north, ortonville, clarkston, oxford, as it's a little closer to family. We have family in Port Huron and Roseville.

Would love to hear your thoughts on some good schools in those areas, or small towns that you think are really worth checking out. Thanks for your time!

[gameguy56]

Originally Posted by bigwilly

So my wife and I have lived around metro detroit for most of our lives until the last 4 years when we lived in Colorado. We moved back this year to be closer to home and to start my business. We are trying to figure out where we want to live now. Currently we are renting in Saint Clair Shores, which is decent but too close to where we grew up and we would like to find better schools.

We have 2 children, 6 and 3. I am a freelance illustrator and can work from anywhere. We are trying to limit where we live from say Ann Arbor west to the lake east.
Having trails and parks nearby is a must, another thing that is lacking on the east side. Schools are of the most importance to us. I can't see wanting to spend more that $150,000 on a house.

Some areas that we like are, Ann Arbor and surrounding small towns, pinckney, brighton, etc.
Northville, Plymouth, Livonia, not sure if we can afford a house there or not.
Oxford, Ortonville, Washington, somewhere around there. We are really looking for a small town feel. We are not looking for Suburbia, I had enough of that in Denver.

We are probably gravitating more towards the north, ortonville, clarkston, oxford, as it's a little closer to family. We have family in Port Huron and Roseville.

Would love to hear your thoughts on some good schools in those areas, or small towns that you think are really worth checking out. Thanks for your time!

Why not look in your neck of the woods in Grosse Pointe? There are homes in your price range there.

[belleislerunner]

You should look at the Utica School district. One of the best in the state - much more affordable than AA or GP and perfect for your budget. Stoney Creek Metropark for canoe/run/rollerblade/hiking/frisbee golf is only 5-10 minutes away. Coupled with the amenities on Hall Road from M53 to 94.

[bigwilly]

Originally Posted by gameguy56

Why not look in your neck of the woods in Grosse Pointe? There are homes in your price range there.

Grosse Point is nice, but like I said, not enough parks on the east side. You have to drive 45mn to an hour to get anywhere decent.

[PA Born]

And Grosse Pointe has sky high taxes, and for 150k you will only get an older, smaller home.

[skinnayyy]

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

You should look at the Utica School district. One of the best in the state - much more affordable than AA or GP and perfect for your budget. Stoney Creek Metropark for canoe/run/rollerblade/hiking/frisbee golf is only 5-10 minutes away. Coupled with the amenities on Hall Road from M53 to 94.

I second this opinion. I have friends that live in the 18 and utica area. There is plenty of trails and bike paths. They take 30 mile bike rides and are never on the road other than just to get to the path.

And this is michigan, you can offer them 150k on a 2 million dollar house and it'll probably get accepted!

[animatedmartian]

Originally Posted by skinnayyy

I second this opinion. I have friends that live in the 18 and utica area. There is plenty of trails and bike paths. They take 30 mile bike rides and are never on the road other than just to get to the path.

And this is michigan, you can offer them 150k on a 2 million dollar house and it'll probably get accepted!

Not if someone else snatches it up first. Good homes go quick!

[PA Born]

Metro Detroit is relatively cheap, but nice areas are still pretty expensive.

You can't get anything decent in Birmingham or Bloomfield for less than half a million. New construction in places like Novi and Rochester Hills starts at least 350k or 400k (and can go way up from there).

So, yeah, there are a ton of cheap areas, but they usually aren't the best areas.

[skinnayyy]

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

Not if someone else snatches it up first. Good homes go quick!

Yeah, then you just buy the neighbors house!

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Originally Posted by skinnayyy

Yeah, then you just buy the neighbors house!

This isn't 2009 anymore. The real estate market has changed drastically in the past year, and there is a shortage of supply in decent to upscale areas (i.e. not Detroit or Redford). This has led to bidding wars in many of the more upscale areas. Sure, it's not anywhere near 2005 levels, but the bottom of the market appears to be gone, and the foreclosure deals are all but gone.