Moving to Plymouth MI (Detroit, Warren: sales, apartments, rent)

[new_desi]

Hi,

I am married with 1 year old daughter and will be moving to Plymouth MI soon (next 2 weeks). My work place will be plymouth MI and need help to find 2 bed room apartment in good neighbourhood. I am from India and would prefer to live in apartments where there are lots of Indian families so that my wife will have a good social life. Please help

[GMonkey]

I'm not sure exactly which apartment community you should look at, but Plymouth is a nice family oriented area. Your family will enjoy living there, especially if you work nearby.

Have you had a chance to check out this Michigan India Community Blog? I don't know if it is still operational since the last date of activity is January 2008, but there may be some links you can follow, or you can send a personal message to one of the members?

Michigan India Community Blog

[new_desi]

Thanks for the information. I will check.

[Nearborn]

Not sure how many Indians there are in Plymouth, but there are a bunch in Canton which is pretty close to Plymouth. Both in LARGE single family homes and apts. I think one of the biggest home developers in that area is Indian. And I think they just approved a big addition to the Temple in Canton.

[new_desi]

Thanks Nearborn. I have few more questions

1. Do you know how much 2 bedroom cost me in Plymouth, Canton or Westland?

2. Do I need to appear for driving test for MI licence? I have Texas driving licence.

3. Any pointers for electricity/ internet providers.

4. I want to change my old car and buy a new one, just thinking what will be the best deal whether to buy from texas and transport or buy fom Plymouth (transportation will be paid from my company so not an issue).

5. Do I need to register my car in plymouth and pay again the taxes? where plymouth or Detroit?

Thanks a lot for your help

[Nearborn]

Thanks Nearborn. I have few more questions

1. Do you know how much 2 bedroom cost me in Plymouth, Canton or Westland?

2. Do I need to appear for driving test for MI licence? I have Texas driving licence.

3. Any pointers for electricity/ internet providers.

4. I want to change my old car and buy a new one, just thinking what will be the best deal whether to buy from texas and transport or buy fom Plymouth (transportation will be paid from my company so not an issue).

5. Do I need to register my car in plymouth and pay again the taxes? where plymouth or Detroit?

Thanks a lot for your help

Not sure about the price of an apt. but I'm sure there's a range depending on where you want to go. The same apt. will be cheaper in Canton than Plymouth. I prefer the northwestern part of Canton if you're going to look in Canton at all. I'd stay out of the Wayne/Westland School District and stay with the Plymouth/Canton or Plymouth/Salem district.

You don't need to take a driving test to change your license to MI, just a written test, if that much. It's easy. The Secretary of State office at Wayne Road in Westland is pretty efficient and fairly quick. It's on Wayne Road south of Warren in the same plaza as Murray's Auto Parts.

Electricity, I don't know, we've had the same provider (DTE) for a long time. I think they're all pretty much the same. As far as internet and cable TV, I like Comcast, although I switch whenever someone else offers me a better deal. Not sure who the providers in Canton and Plymouth are. I didn't really like Wowway though, but it was cheaper.

As far as the car, I'd wait til you got here and get one. Lots of deals. Pick up a local newspaper or look online. Even church bulletins often have good car deals.

You won't have to pay the sales tax again when you register your car (if you bring the old car), just the price of the registration. I think plates for my car were about $50.00. Sales tax here is 6% if they haven't raised it lately. Are you Hindu? I think that's the temple that they're enlarging in Canton. I thinik it's this one:
The Hindu Temple of Canton (http://www.thehindutemple.org/index.htm - broken link)

Don't rule out non-Indians for your social life though. Especially if you or your wife can cook!

[GMonkey]

Forgot about Canton. You can probably rent a large home for the price of a 2 BR in Plymouth. Definitely avoid Westland. It's not terrible, but since you have better choices available, I'd go with the better choices of Plymouth or
Canton.

Usually Indian families are well received in Plymouth and Canton, so don't feel pressured to live exclusively with Indian families, unless that is what you prefer, of course.

[new_desi]

Thanks a lot for all your replies. I am travelling next week and will check apartments in Cantan and Plymouth. The reason why I am looking for an apartments with Indian families is so that my wife and kid can walk around and socialise. She can't drive and our stay might be just for 7-8 month. Will appreciate if you can give some names of an partments.

[Nearborn]

I don't really pay attention to the names of apt. complexes there are so many out there. If you find one you like on realtor.com we could probably tell you about the area. Or call that temple in Canton, they can probably give you some good direction. Even if I knew of good apts., I couldn't tell you how many people from India are living there.

[new_desi]

Thanks a lot for all the informations. I have got few names of apartment (Heritage, Sheldon Park and Plymouth Square). I might decide one of these....any comments please.