Moving to GR from Philly (Grand Rapids, Walker: real estate, how much, houses)

[Fitz01]

Where would you advise starting a house search? I'll be working at Meijer in Walker. Married - no kids. Good salary. Need SPACE and something nice. Hate cookie cutter neighborhoods with every house the same. $400k realistic? Could go higher, would love to go lower though.

Considering an older home or building custom.

Thanks

[mgreven]

I hope I'm allowed to do this, if not maybe someone can delete it. I'd advise you to contact my wife, Julie Grevengoed Realtor/Owner at JGR Real Estate. (Julie Grevengoed, REALTOR JGR Real Estate, Grand Rapids and julie@juliegr.com) She's helped quite a few relocations lately that sound similar to yours. She was just telling me about a couple from Boston she helped sign a contract on a house today. Best wishes. (she does a great job, but I may be biased...) =)

[beachmouse]

On the job end, Meijer's headquarters is insanely convenient to get to (smack off the Walker Rd. exit of I-96) and you can have a reasonable commute for anything from Grand Haven to the west by Lake Michigan to the far eastern fringes of Forest Hills. $400K will go far in the area. When you're talking space, are you talking home size, lot size or both? Do you prefer more urban, suburban, or small town? Are you interested in waterfront on an inland lake? Are nightlife and good restaurants nearby important to you?

[Jandur]

400k will go a long way in the greater GR area. Depending on how much space you really want and how far you want your money to go...I would look north along 131. You could also look on the NE side off the East Beltline. There are a lot of homes out there that are isolated and have some breathing room but still have easy access to the rest of Grand Rapids.

[Fitz01]

By space - I meant square footage more than acreage. We currently live in more of an urban/historical setting with 3K sq foot houses and really small yards. We like houses with character (older), but given the winters I'd not want it too costly to heat.

I guess traffic isn't a concern since near Philly 15 miles eaquals 45 minutes at least. I wouldn't mind living close to downtown as long as it doesn't come with too many of the typical city downsides - noise, crime, higher taxes, etc..

I never really considered living on a lake, but would like the view more than use it.

Thanks for all of the advise.

[Jandur]

Originally Posted by Fitz01

By space - I meant square footage more than acreage. We currently live in more of an urban/historical setting with 3K sq foot houses and really small yards. We like houses with character (older), but given the winters I'd not want it too costly to heat.

I guess traffic isn't a concern since near Philly 15 miles eaquals 45 minutes at least. I wouldn't mind living close to downtown as long as it doesn't come with too many of the typical city downsides - noise, crime, higher taxes, etc..

I never really considered living on a lake, but would like the view more than use it.

Thanks for all of the advise.

Your neighborhood is probably similar to Heritage Hill or Cherry Hill. Downtown proper doesn't really have much housing. It is safe though and pretty quiet aside from the occasional sirens from the police station.

Schools are often a big decision. If you have kids you will probably either want to send them to private schools, or live outside of GR proper. Grand Rapids Public Schools are pretty bleh.

You should be able to get a 3k sq foot house for 300-400k just depending on the area.

[beachmouse]

East Grand Rapids- small city with its own school district- lots of older fairly large historic homes, walkable downtown area adjacent to a nice lake.

Forest Hills/Ada/Cascade- just east of EGR- more suburban feel, bigger lots, not as walkable in general

Rockford- north of GR- another pretty suburban area. Rouge River flows through a cute and walkable downtown area, a number of nice lakefront developments are just east of the town proper

Grand Haven- nice small town along Lake Michigan (though 400K doesn't get you lakefront on the Big Lake) nice and large public beach areas, and a number of marinas if you're into boating. Downside- you can get Buffalo-like lake effect snow, so you've got to be a confident winter driver on your commute.

[notdeconcentrate]

Originally Posted by Jandur

Schools are often a big decision. If you have kids you will probably either want to send them to private schools, or live outside of GR proper. Grand Rapids Public Schools are pretty bleh.

He clearly said he had no kids. Not all of GRPS is bad.

[Jandur]

Originally Posted by notdeconcentrate

He clearly said he had no kids. Not all of GRPS is bad.

I never said they were all bad. Thanks though.

[notdeconcentrate]

Originally Posted by Jandur

I never said they were all bad. Thanks though.

No, but you always tell people the same thing --stay away from all of GRPS. Though I recall you having no kids and not living here.