[27carrie27]

Me and my fiancee are considering a move to Michigan. I'm a freelance grantwriter/nonprofit consultant and he works in the film industry....we currently live in Santa Barbara, CA, but I'm originally from Mass. The plan is to take our savings and buy one of Michigan's oh-so-reasonably priced houses somewhere in the Ann Arbor/Detroit metro area (he has a grandmother in Dearborn). What I'd really love is to find a small arts-oriented area similar to Amherst/Northampton, MA, where I spent time during my college years. We're nearing 40, no kids (though haven't ruled them out), and looking for something rural and quiet where we can have a yard, but with easy access to movie theaters, museums, and the like....Proximity to industry is not an issue as he'll likely move around quite a bit with film productions or work inhouse, and I hope to continue to freelance....and/or finish my PhD at the University.

Any thoughts?! Since I'm a vegetarian, staying within an hours drive of a Whole Foods would be ideal.

Ps. Don't even think about asking why we'd consider leaving Santa Barbara... want to buy a house here? make sure you have $200,000 in the bank and are willing to pay $4k a month in mortgage and real estate tax....to say nothing of the fact that I have been evacuted by wildfire twice in the last two years!!

[michmoldman]

WOW! You can get a mansion around here for $200,000, and the film industry is becoming pretty big around these parts. Good luck!

[YAZ]

I think Chelsea, MI was made for you.

[skyl4rk]

Never heard of Northhampton, whats it like?

[wmass]

Trust me, there is really no place like Northampton.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by wmass

Trust me, there is really no place like Northampton.

Trust me, yes there is.

[SpaceGhost79]

I agree with YAZ. Chelsea sounds ideal. Small town 30 minutes west of Ann Arbor that is home of actor Jeff Daniels, who founded the Purple Rose Theater there and still resides there. Chelsea is close to several lakes and recreation areas, so there's plenty of outdoors to enjoy, too. There's a Whole Foods in Ann Arbor, as well as a co-op and lots of diversity when it comes to food choices.

And the Ann Arbor area has become a hot bed for Hollywood since the state passed the tax breaks for the film industry. The upcoming movie "Cedar Rapids," starring Ed Helms, Anne Heche, and John C. Reilly is just finishing up filming there. Actor/Director David Schwimmer was also filming a movie in the area (I remember reading an article on AnnArbor.com about him filming at Dexter High School). And there have been other major projects filmed in the area over the past few years.

[jennsuhajda]

Check out the Ann Arbor area. I am originally from Mass. and now live in Ann Arbor. My dad still lives in the Amherst area, so I know exactly what you mean when you're looking for Northampton character. My family and I currently live just west of Ann Arbor (about 6 miles from downtown) in Scio Township. We have an Ann Arbor address, and the kids in the neighborhood go to Ann Arbor schools, but our property taxes are MUCH lower than the City of Ann Arbor proper.

My family and I are dying to move back to Mass. I'd love to sell you my house... :-)

[danielj72]

I doubt you will find anything in Michigan that resembles anywhere in New england. The people here are different, more traditional. Most people here dont even know anything about whole foods. Any rural area in Michigan is going to be more about deer hunting, pick up trucks and john deere tractors than it will be about museums and theater. You cannot expect a midwestern state like Michigan to resemble a north east state like Massachusetts. If you are set on moving here for a cheap house (yes it is VERY cheap here) then I would suggest Ann Arbor. That is our most liberal area, since its a big ten town. YOu will find lots of coffee houses, protests, and people who advocate for every leftist cause under the sun. Dont expect it to be like Mass though, because even there it is not the same. IF you leave Ann Arbor city limits, well your back to pick up trucks and deer hunting. Go to the GM dealer get yourself a big silverado, bring your flannel shirts and camo jacket and youll fit right in. Good luck

[guitarslinger]

Originally Posted by danielj72

I doubt you will find anything in Michigan that resembles anywhere in New england. The people here are different, more traditional. Most people here dont even know anything about whole foods. Any rural area in Michigan is going to be more about deer hunting, pick up trucks and john deere tractors than it will be about museums and theater. You cannot expect a midwestern state like Michigan to resemble a north east state like Massachusetts. If you are set on moving here for a cheap house (yes it is VERY cheap here) then I would suggest Ann Arbor. That is our most liberal area, since its a big ten town. YOu will find lots of coffee houses, protests, and people who advocate for every leftist cause under the sun. Dont expect it to be like Mass though, because even there it is not the same. IF you leave Ann Arbor city limits, well your back to pick up trucks and deer hunting. Go to the GM dealer get yourself a big silverado, bring your flannel shirts and camo jacket and youll fit right in. Good luck

That's just not true, I live 10 minutes from Ann Arbor and I drive an F-250 and wear a carhart over my flannel......