grosse pointe questions (Detroit, Grosse Pointe Woods, Harper Woods: for sale, insurance, how much)

[tekgirl]

Hi all, My husband and I are considering relocating to Grosse Pointe with our one-year-old. We both work remotely, so the commute isn't an issue. We would be moving to be closer to family and get more for our money than we can here in the NYC suburbs. These are my questions:

1. How much are sellers willing to negotiate on listing prices these days? Are they already at rock bottom or what?

2. I know this question is like asking what is the best team in the NFL or tastiest flavor of ice cream, but here goes: what is your favorite Pointe and why? Are there any schools to stay away from?

3. Time to look into your crystals balls and tell me if you think GP is a good long-term investment. Is it in slow decline or will it bounce back better than ever along with the economy?

Feel free to answer any or all of the questions. Thanks!

[scolls]

Grosse Pointe is a great area. Schools are some of the best in the state. They say south schools are better than the north schools, but they are both top rated. Honestly, each Pointe is good. It depends on your budget. I wouldn't worry about decline in the Pointes. People will say it's on the decline since Detroit borders the Pointes, but the cities themself are still strong. I love the Grosse Pointes but didn't want to be house poor so I decided to buy in the poor man's Grosse Pointe.

[plasticletters]

As far as a long term investment goes there are areas further out into the suburbs (northern oakland county specifically) where property values are climbing more than in the pointes. Many of the areas offer schools and communities that are comparable to GP as well - without the close proximity of Detroit.

I in no way want to dissuade you from living close to the city (lord knows we need more people living close to downtown) and also do not want to put down Grosse Pointe (it's a fine community), OR encourage suburban sprawl- I'm just taking into account the fact that you have lived in the suburbs and the area AROUND Grosse Pointe is DEFINITELY "urban" once you cross the border on either side.

As far as turning a profit, Grosse Pointe is the "old money" side of town. Property values have been and will remain at a similar level whereas the outer burbs are just as affluent and a growing market.

[scolls]

Originally Posted by plasticletters

As far as a long term investment goes there are areas further out into the suburbs (northern oakland county specifically) where property values are climbing more than in the pointes. Many of the areas offer schools and communities that are comparable to GP as well - without the close proximity of Detroit.

I in no way want to dissuade you from living close to the city (lord knows we need more people living close to downtown) and also do not want to put down Grosse Pointe (it's a fine community), OR encourage suburban sprawl- I'm just taking into account the fact that you have lived in the suburbs and the area AROUND Grosse Pointe is DEFINITELY "urban" once you cross the border on either side.

As far as turning a profit, Grosse Pointe is the "old money" side of town. Property values have been and will remain at a similar level whereas the outer burbs are just as affluent and a growing market.

LOL there are no growing markets in Michigan right now.

[plasticletters]

Originally Posted by scolls

LOL there are no growing markets in Michigan right now.

everything is relative. i'm talking strictly in comparison to other metro detroit areas

[Remisc]

i've said this before in other grosse pointe threads, but I'd recommend Grosse Pointe Woods. It has everything you seem to be looking for. You can get a 1,300 sq ft home with 1.5 bath and 3 bedrooms for $100,000. And thats basically all you need for you and your baby. Plus, you can save bundles on insurance because of your ZIP code, and Grosse Pointe Schools is one of the few school districts that's doing well in Michigan, which would be great for your baby when he/she grows up. Not to mention the AMAZING commute to the well-paying businesses in Downtown Detroit, even though that may not be an issue.

[scolls]

Originally Posted by Remisc

i've said this before in other grosse pointe threads, but I'd recommend Grosse Pointe Woods. It has everything you seem to be looking for. You can get a 1,300 sq ft home with 1.5 bath and 3 bedrooms for $100,000. And thats basically all you need for you and your baby. Plus, you can save bundles on insurance because of your ZIP code, and Grosse Pointe Schools is one of the few school districts that's doing well in Michigan, which would be great for your baby when he/she grows up. Not to mention the AMAZING commute to the well-paying businesses in Downtown Detroit, even though that may not be an issue.

Or you can go down the street, live in Harper Woods and go to Grosse Pointe schools and get the same house for 50k.

I can't really tell if you are being sarcastic, but I'm only mildly being sarcastic.

[Remisc]

Originally Posted by scolls

Or you can go down the street, live in Harper Woods and go to Grosse Pointe schools and get the same house for 50k.

I can't really tell if you are being sarcastic, but I'm only mildly being sarcastic.

Im not being sarcastic. I think YOU'RE being sarcastic by even comparing HW to Grosse Pointe.

[scolls]

Originally Posted by Remisc

Im not being sarcastic. I think YOU'RE being sarcastic by even comparing HW to Grosse Pointe.

It's kind of an interesting story how I ended up here. My fiance and I both grew up in this area. She actually grew up in Harper Woods and I grew up in Detroit near this area. We decided to buy a house in Grosse Pointe. We were looking at one on Lochmoor just west of Mack in Grosse Pointe Woods. After looking at it, we weren't to interested and went on our way home which at that time was Clinton Township. I drove down Lochmoor to 94 and a couple blocks down I spotted a house for sale by our realtor. I asked my fiance why she didn't show us this house. My fiance told me well this is Harper Woods. I insisted it was still Grosse Pointe and we had this big debate. It turns out the house was in Harper Woods. We didn't end up buying that particular house, but we increased our search to include east Harper Woods in the Grosse Pointe school district. The neighborhood is exactly the same as it is a dozen houses down in Grosse Pointe. Only difference is I paid half price for my house and pay lower taxes for Grosse Pointe schools. I couldn't give a **** less that people look down upon the neighborhood simply because I live 2 blocks in the wrong direction. When I look at the houses on the Grosse Pointe side of the street and look at the same house on the Harper Woods side, I feel good inside knowing I paid half the price, half the taxes and get to use their schools.

[Remisc]

Originally Posted by scolls

It's kind of an interesting story how I ended up here. My fiance and I both grew up in this area. She actually grew up in Harper Woods and I grew up in Detroit near this area. We decided to buy a house in Grosse Pointe. We were looking at one on Lochmoor just west of Mack in Grosse Pointe Woods. After looking at it, we weren't to interested and went on our way home which at that time was Clinton Township. I drove down Lochmoor to 94 and a couple blocks down I spotted a house for sale by our realtor. I asked my fiance why she didn't show us this house. My fiance told me well this is Harper Woods. I insisted it was still Grosse Pointe and we had this big debate. It turns out the house was in Harper Woods. We didn't end up buying that particular house, but we increased our search to include east Harper Woods in the Grosse Pointe school district. The neighborhood is exactly the same as it is a dozen houses down in Grosse Pointe. Only difference is I paid half price for my house and pay lower taxes for Grosse Pointe schools. I couldn't give a **** less that people look down upon the neighborhood simply because I live 2 blocks in the wrong direction. When I look at the houses on the Grosse Pointe side of the street and look at the same house on the Harper Woods side, I feel good inside knowing I paid half the price, half the taxes and get to use their schools.

i knew a bunch of people that lived on grosse pointe borders. My friend lives on the St Clair Shores - Grosse Pointe Shores border. You're paying for a SCS house, but everyone thinks you're in Grosse Pointe. Same with you?