Everything Michigan....

[Tess]

so how about the 80 degree or near 80 degree weather we had today!!! Super awesome!!However I wasn't able to enjoy very much of it (ended up being sick and stayed in bed all day doing homework that I neglected during Easter weekend).

I had to check a map this morning when I woke up to 61º temps here! We haven't had nice weather like this in April for many years. . .sadly, it is all coming to a halt in another day or so. . .

 

[lilmissdisney216]

I had to check a map this morning when I woke up to 61º temps here! We haven't had nice weather like this in April for many years. . .sadly, it is all coming to a halt in another day or so. . .

Bummer. To me that means I'll be sick for another whole week. Weather changes really throw my body off and make me terribly sick.

 

[micheleq]

So glad to have found this thread!

We are moving to Michigan from CT this summer. DH got a promotion and we are headed to the Detroit metro area (I posted on the family board as well to get some info.).

Tell me about the northern 'burbs! That is where the bulk of DH's clients will be. I'd love to hear more about Birmingham, Bloomfield, Farmington, and The Pointes. I know Detroit is a mess right now, but we'll need easy access for DH for clients and we will go into the city for ball games, restaurants, museums, etc.

I know that Michigan is in serious trouble right now, but for us with a pay increase and a major reduction in cost of living, this will be a great opportuity for us. And who knows? Maybe we will be in Michigan to see its turn around?

Any info. would be helpful and most appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Aburns8]

I grew up in Rochester Hills. I would recommend looking there. In fact after I got married we ended up living there before we moved down to Virginia. If we didn't have to leave the state that is where I would have raised our family. It is a very family friendly area with tons to do. Housing might be cheaper there compared to Birmingham or Bloomfield Hills. But I think wherever you look housing is cheaper.

 

[micheleq]

Thanks! I forgot to mention RH is on my list to research as well! Good to hear from people who know the area.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Well, things aren't as bad as all that, especially in the "burbs". I agree, Bloomfield, Birmingham and Grosse Pointe are going to be high on the expense list, even given the current horrible housing situation. You might want to consider west of the city (Livonia, Northville, etc.), it's really not all that far away by freeway.

As for going into the city for "ball games, restaurants, museums, etc.", that might not be all you imagine it. Detroit is not exactly a huge mecca of culture, and although there are restaurants and museums (I'm happy to suggest some), there are not all that many. Ann Arbor, a good 45 minutes west of downtown, is really the place you want to go to spend a day soaking in culture and eating well. As for ball games...ummm...the Tigers aren't too bad right now....basketball plays elsewhere and...you have heard of the Lions, right? No, no...you go into the city for HOCKEY, that is our sport. We're in the playoffs right now, by the way. You should check us out, because you're going to spend the next years of your life inundated with the Red Wings.

 

[Motherofboys]

I would say 75% of the professionals in my sub work in the Detroit metro area..but none of us are interested in living there We live on 1+ acre lots and have more of a "small town" atmosphere going on. Great schools, low crime, and easy access to Ann Arbor/metro Detroit/major airport.

I think it really depends on what you are looking for, what type of environment you are comfortable in and want to raise your kids in.

I would not rule out looking at Washtenaw and Livingston counties if I were you. There is a big difference in living someplace like Grosse Pointe or living somewhere like Howell. You will know which one works better for your family.

I drive 45 minutes (on a good traffic day) each way to work in the metro-Detroit area, but when I looked to buy a home......we decided it was much more important to live somewhere we wanted our kids to grow up and be comfortable in then it was to shorten my drive.

And I never go into Detroit proper, for anything. If I want culture, great restaurants, museums, plays, amazing college sports -- I go into Ann Arbor

 

[lilmissdisney216]

I love Grosse Ile. Can't wait for when darling fiance and I move to Northville. Should be fun.

 

[Colleen27]

Tell me about the northern 'burbs! That is where the bulk of DH's clients will be. I'd love to hear more about Birmingham, Bloomfield, Farmington, and The Pointes. I know Detroit is a mess right now, but we'll need easy access for DH for clients and we will go into the city for ball games, restaurants, museums, etc.

Personally I think Bloomfield/Birmingham/Rochester is about the best location the area has to offer. That puts you right near I75, so you've got good access to just about everything the area has to offer. I disagree with those who think going into the city is overrated. I'm an hour+ out on the far northeast fringe of the metro area, and still I make the trek in pretty often for baseball & hockey games, theatre, or special events. Most things you'll want to do that aren't in the city - great shopping, basketball if you're a fan, and the area's two biggest concert venues, are even closer to that area than the city is. And the schools are excellent.

I grew up in a community that neighbors the Pointes, and I really don't think that's an ideal location at all. It is closer to the attractions of the city but not much shorter a drive because of the way the expressways run, and it is a lot further from the suburban attractions which all tend to be north & west of the city. The suburbs off of Woodward & I75 are much more central to everything; that's where I'd be looking myself if not for practical concerns like family and business (and did, briefly, before reality set in ).

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I love Grosse Ile. Can't wait for when darling fiance and I move to Northville. Should be fun.

Well, Grosse Ile is south of the city, and perhaps not the best place for anyone with major contacts in the northern suburbs. However, I cannot say anything against my beloved hometown. Great schools, good community, lovely atmoshpere. Lilmissdisney, do you live there or just visit? I ask, of course, becuase if its the former, we probably know each other somehow.

 

[micheleq]

Thanks everyone. We've just started our search, so this is very helpful. Where we are in CT, housing is insane. A 1200 sq. ft. house can easily go for over $500k because we are in beach communities close to commuter rail to NYC. Housing stock in MI is very attractive to us!

ZephyrHawk, I should have mentioned that my husband is a RABID hockey player. He played for one of the best Boston area prep schools, then in college, and is now sporting a cast on his left arm because of a men's league hockey injury. My DD4 (almost five) has been on skates for three years, DD2 is ready for hockey herself.

Colleen27, thanks so much. I think you hit the nail on the head for us. We're an active family, but also need to consider my husband's travel needs. Access to hwys is important. I'll still investigate Grosse Pointe just because I love the older homes My current home is a 1917 renovated farmhouse, so I love that feel. We don't have many subdivisions around here, but I'm sure we'd be fine if we ended up in that type of community.

Thanks again everyone! PS - How long is the flight from Detroit to Orlando We're supposed to be going to WDW in November...

 

[WDWMom]

Detroit Metro to Orlando is about 2 hours 20 minutes give or take depending on if you are going north or south. And of course, Detroit Metro isn't known for it great customer service so you could easily sit in your plane for over an hour waiting for a gate. How do I know? DH and DS's just did it this weekend.

Good luck finding a place to live.

 

[Aburns8]

Rochester Hills has a skaing rink as well!

 

[lilmissdisney216]

Well, Grosse Ile is south of the city, and perhaps not the best place for anyone with major contacts in the northern suburbs. However, I cannot say anything against my beloved hometown. Great schools, good community, lovely atmoshpere. Lilmissdisney, do you live there or just visit? I ask, of course, becuase if its the former, we probably know each other somehow.

I've visited. I went to a Passover Seder there this past March and I'm probably going near that area for water sports this summer (better than driving up North). I do spend some of my summers in Au Gres and Ludington occasionally.

 

[lilmissdisney216]

Rochester Hills has a skaing rink as well!

So does Berkley (my home rink for about 10+ years).

 

[Colleen27]

Colleen27, thanks so much. I think you hit the nail on the head for us. We're an active family, but also need to consider my husband's travel needs. Access to hwys is important. I'll still investigate Grosse Pointe just because I love the older homes My current home is a 1917 renovated farmhouse, so I love that feel. We don't have many subdivisions around here, but I'm sure we'd be fine if we ended up in that type of community.

There are some BEAUTIFUL older homes in the original parts of Rochester and Bloomfield Hills. Rochester in particular has some wonderful Craftsman style homes close to their quaint little downtown. There are a lot of subdivisions too, but if you want a home with history/character you shouldn't have too hard a time finding one.

 

[PrincessTinkerbell]

I live in the Bloomfield Hills/Birminham area and absolutely love it! Great schools, neighborhoods, and shopping Ann Arbor is a great town, I loved it when I lived there! Good luck finding a place!

 

[Colleen27]

Detroit Metro to Orlando is about 2 hours 20 minutes give or take depending on if you are going north or south. And of course, Detroit Metro isn't known for it great customer service so you could easily sit in your plane for over an hour waiting for a gate. How do I know? DH and DS's just did it this weekend.

I've heard that Flint Bishop is somewhat better. Airtran is the only one flying non-stop from there to Orlando and their flight times haven't worked out for us so we haven't tried it yet, but that's another perk of being on the northern edge of the Detroit area - Bishop isn't much further than Metro (for us its actually a bit shorter drive), and it is a smaller airport with cheaper parking and from what I've heard, quicker security and less headaches.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Well, Grosse Ile is south of the city, and perhaps not the best place for anyone with major contacts in the northern suburbs. However, I cannot say anything against my beloved hometown. Great schools, good community, lovely atmoshpere. Lilmissdisney, do you live there or just visit? I ask, of course, becuase if its the former, we probably know each other somehow.

I grew up in Trenton, and I just want to say that I took my first driver's ed class driving across the Grosse Ile bridge. In the winter. We used to hang out party at "Whitman's Property", which belonged to the Whitman's and probably doesn't anymore.

Is that big glass house still there that overlooks the river?

 

[figment52]

I've heard that Flint Bishop is somewhat better. Airtran is the only one flying non-stop from there to Orlando and their flight times haven't worked out for us so we haven't tried it yet, but that's another perk of being on the northern edge of the Detroit area - Bishop isn't much further than Metro (for us its actually a bit shorter drive), and it is a smaller airport with cheaper parking and from what I've heard, quicker security and less headaches.

I am from the Port Huron, Marysville, St. Clair area and I love Flint Bishop airport. It is always my first chioce for air travel; sometimes it works, sometimes not. I have friends in Rochester Hills area and they love it.