[bookworm42]

Hello,

My husband and I are considering a move to Michigan. Right now we're leaning towards somewhere in Northern Michigan, but we're not sure. We're looking for a safe, quiet neighborhood. Safety is a top priority. We were looking at the suburbs of Detroit, but quite frankly, the thought of living near Detroit scares the heck out of us. I know crime is everywhere, but we want to stay far away from any seedy areas. Which areas would you suggest? Sault Ste. Marie and Marquette seem pretty nice, but we're completely naive as to what they're like. Any other places to suggest?

My husband is a computer programmer so he doesn't have to leave the house for work and my children are homeschooled. We have one son and one daughter. As for house size, we don't want anything huge, but ideally it would be 3-4 bedrooms, or at least 3 bedrooms with a basement. I know you can't help us with that specifically, but I'm just trying to give an idea of what we're looking for. It's just important that my husband can have a private workspace. Budget can't really exceed 300K. With the housing market, I'm sure we'll be able to find something at a much lower price.

Again, safety, and a nice, quiet neighborhood are a top priority. It would be preferable if there is a grocery store within a ten minute drive and a Cosco or BJ's within a forty five minute drive, but it doesn't have to be exact. Grocery shopping is really the only reason we would have to go out.

And I know this is slightly random and off topic, but I'm just curious as to which state is generally cheaper, as far as cost of living and taxes go. Would it be Michigan or Ohio? These are our two top picks, but like I said, we're leaning towards Michigan right now since it seems a bit more isolated and safe, sans Detroit.

Sorry for so many questions. You're suggestions will be greatly appreciate.

[expatmichigander]

I've been doing a lot of looking around (moving to MI August or September), and the real estate is really well priced in both states. Just a matter of looking around and finding something that grabs you.

Since schools aren't an issue, focus on other things that are important to your family - community, etc.

Good luck with the search!

[bookworm42]

Originally Posted by expatmichigander

I've been doing a lot of looking around (moving to MI August or September), and the real estate is really well priced in both states. Just a matter of looking around and finding something that grabs you.

Since schools aren't an issue, focus on other things that are important to your family - community, etc.

Good luck with the search!

Thanks! What part of Michigan are you moving to, if I may ask?

[michmoldman]

300K will buy you a fantastic house here. Anywhere in northern Michigan is gonna be relatively safe, but not sure you will find a BJ's or Cosco anywhere further north then Grand Rapids. What type of weather do you prefer, and what about outdoor sports...are you nature lovers?

[Coldjensens]

Most of Michigan is extremely safe if you are referring to crime rates. Detroit and a few surrounding suburbs have issues, but most of the suburbs have very low crime. Most of the nicer subrubs are faced with only petty crimes (shoplifting, kids taking things from unlocked cars, kids smashing mailboxes or stealing yard decorations); or the totally odball events (A mom who just freaks out from stress and does something crazy, or an otherwise normal kid visiting his grandma who decides that it would be a good idea to borrow grandmas car and gun and go rob her bank, etc. Those things happen everywhere and anywhere, but are nto a norm or a crime rate).

However if you are mostly concerned with safety in general, fire and ambulance response time should be equally or more important to you than crime rates. In 90% of avialable locations, you are far more likely to have a medical emergency or a fire than oyu are to be a victim of violent crime. If you get too rural, you are on your own as far as safety services go. Defend yourself, drive yourself to the hospital, put you own fire out.

[bookworm42]

Originally Posted by michmoldman

300K will buy you a fantastic house here. Anywhere in northern Michigan is gonna be relatively safe, but not sure you will find a BJ's or Cosco anywhere further north then Grand Rapids. What type of weather do you prefer, and what about outdoor sports...are you nature lovers?

BJ's or Cosco isn't an absolute must have, but is preferable. We do a big shop once a month or every other month and usually only run to the local grocery store for milk and eggs.

Weather isn't an issue since we're indoors a majority of the time. Cold, rain, snow, wind, clouds...I'll take that over the Alabama summers I endured for a few years. I lived with my parents in Mobile. Couldn't stand the heat. Not really into doing outdoor activities, so it doesn't matter.

[bookworm42]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Most of Michigan is extremely safe if you are referring to crime rates. Detroit and a few surrounding suburbs have issues, but most of the suburbs have very low crime. Most of the nicer subrubs are faced with only petty crimes (shoplifting, kids taking things from unlocked cars, kids smashing mailboxes or stealing yard decorations); or the totally odball events (A mom who just freaks out from stress and does something crazy, or an otherwise normal kid visiting his grandma who decides that it would be a good idea to borrow grandmas car and gun and go rob her bank, etc. Those things happen everywhere and anywhere, but are nto a norm or a crime rate).

However if you are mostly concerned with safety in general, fire and ambulance response time should be equally or more important to you than crime rates. In 90% of avialable locations, you are far more likely to have a medical emergency or a fire than oyu are to be a victim of violent crime. If you get too rural, you are on your own as far as safety services go. Defend yourself, drive yourself to the hospital, put you own fire out.

Thanks for the advice. The world is a dangerous place, we just want keep away from trouble.

[Peter B]

I am biased but I'll say research the Traverse City area. Any questions, ask

[alleyyooper]

Farwell is the place to be. Lake, Sears or Hersey are close seconds. Kingsley and copmish are a good third choice.

Al

[scolls]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Most of Michigan is extremely safe if you are referring to crime rates. Detroit and a few surrounding suburbs have issues, but most of the suburbs have very low crime. Most of the nicer subrubs are faced with only petty crimes (shoplifting, kids taking things from unlocked cars, kids smashing mailboxes or stealing yard decorations); or the totally odball events (A mom who just freaks out from stress and does something crazy, or an otherwise normal kid visiting his grandma who decides that it would be a good idea to borrow grandmas car and gun and go rob her bank, etc. Those things happen everywhere and anywhere, but are nto a norm or a crime rate).

However if you are mostly concerned with safety in general, fire and ambulance response time should be equally or more important to you than crime rates. In 90% of avialable locations, you are far more likely to have a medical emergency or a fire than oyu are to be a victim of violent crime. If you get too rural, you are on your own as far as safety services go. Defend yourself, drive yourself to the hospital, put you own fire out.

Health care in northern Michigan is terrible. My dad had a heart attack in Roscommon. Called 911 since of course there is no hospital in Roscommon. The 911 operator literally said if he gets worse, call back. It took 22 minutes for someone to arrive. We lived in the town. Not in some rural area. We lived one block from the police station and county building. Guess who shows up first? An off duty fire chief in a ratty Jeep with no medical equipment. As my dad is getting into his Jeep, an ambulance finally shows up. It's now 30 minutes since the call was made to 911. Now he has to go to Grayling which is 12 miles away. Get to Grayling and guess what? No cardilogist. Well it's December and snowing so he can't get air lifted. Had to ride in an ambulance in a snow storm 50 more miles to Traverse City. All this time it took to get to a cardialogist damaged his heart perminately.

My manager in work had a heart attack in Gaylord. Drive her to the ambulance and of course Gaylord doesn't have a cardiologist either. She has to be driven to Petoskey because it's snowing again and can't be air lifted. Again, her heart is permanately damaged because Gaylord wasn't set up for a heart attack patient.

Now my dad has to drive nearly 70 miles to see his heart specialist in Traverse City because they have none anywhere else.

Had the heart attack happened at my house, we make the 3 minute drive to St Johns where they are equipped to handle a heart attack patient.

As for crime, some of the safest cities in the country are suburbs of Detroit. Troy and Sterling Heights for example, have made lists of the safest cities in America this past decade. Actually, some of the safest cities in the country border Detroit. Metro Detroit is 4.5 million people, of which 900k live in Detroit so it isn't indicative of the entire area.