Grand Rapids Michigan

[Not so Dumbo]

We know live in a 2200 sq ft 4 br 2.5 bath house, with a VERy reasonable mortgage payment. I am afraid we will not be able to come close to that.

cjnix29 If you feel comfortable throwing a price range out there that you are looking at, I'll see what I can find for you and give you the listing numbers to check them out with your realtor. I like to do that kind of thing just for fun anyhow to see how our market is currently doing. I think I have a good idea of what areas would appeal to you. Just PM me.

 

[Dizfan4life]

Just wanted to say small world and hello! I work on M-40 between Hamilton and Holland here, my Dd goes to Holland Christian on the southside.

OP, do you have the opportunity to come back again and poke around? I couldn't imagine trying to make all those decisions in a weekend.Maybe rent for a bit before taking the plunge on a neighborhood? For the record I love parts of the area but for everything big city we go to Chicago on the train. Grand Rapids can be an odd town, its happening or dead, no inbetween.

Medical wise my parents have both been with excellent specialists but they are across the street from the hospital on Michigan Ave downtown. We drive my Mom in and out if need be via Market from i-196, less traffic if she does do it herself. My Mom's neurologist was out on the East Beltline and that road is nuts! She couldnt safely drive it!

Crazy!!! What are the chances that we might even know each other! WHAT a small world! I have nephews that go to the HC schools! BIG football rivalry between our two families I tell you !

 

[budbeerlady]

Crazy!!! What are the chances that we might even know each other! WHAT a small world! I have nephews that go to the HC schools! BIG football rivalry between our two families I tell you !

LOL, my cousin played for Hamilton last year. He was #84. My Dd had a riot ribbing her little cousins the last 2 years over the two teams. You are right, very small world.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

I'm a SE MI girl through and through! We moved to GR in 2003. And were shocked that my husband couldn't find a job. At that time the west side was getting hit ALOT harder then the east side.

I taught in Middleville, we lived in Kentwood. If we stayed we wanted to live in Cascade or EGR.

My husband gave up looking for a job in the area and took one back in the Detroit area. I finished out the school year and moved back "home".

There's nothing wrong w/ not loving the GR area. I didn't love it. It was WAY too conservative and religious for me. And since we wanted to live in the $$$$ areas, there were no cost of living savings. Not to mention I made $15K less there teaching then I do in SE MI.

Good Luck!

 

[cjnix29]

so what is the beltline and why stay away from 28th street?

 

[cockermon]

The beltine is a major street that runs north-south and can have heavy traffic. You can travel from Kentwood to Rockford on it.

28th Street is another busy street with numerous strip malls.
It runs east-west. People try to avoid because of the traffic- not because it is unsafe.

Woodland Mall is at intersection of 28th & Beltine.

Cathy

 

[cjnix29]

The beltine is a major street that runs north-south and can have heavy traffic. You can travel from Kentwood to Rockford on it.

28th Street is another busy street with numerous strip malls.
It runs east-west. People try to avoid because of the traffic- not because it is unsafe.

Woodland Mall is at intersection of 28th & Beltine.

Cathy

Thanks! I was worried about safety, more than traffic. I appreciate your input.

 

[Fire14]

28th Street used to be and may still most heavlily traveled rooad in state of MI. East beltline reminds me of Ohio's US 23 but more heavily traveled and busy road is alpine

 

[scbelleatheart]

Fire14. Funny that you are giving me advice about living in Michigan...as I see you also say you are in Ashley Ohio...we are in Delaware!

So happy for all the advice. My husband is big on weekend trips, and would love to have a weekend place...ahh. dare to dream! Keep it comin'!

We are in Marion OH but work in MI a lot (hotels though). I find the area nice. Not what I was thinking at all. Of course, the Buckeye clothes are not going over well. Don't know about the schools but the people are very friendly.
The lake houses are getting really reasonable. Keep dreamin'! They are not that hard to get right now. Really nice houses are a steal. DS just got tranferred to Ann Arbour from C-bus and cannot believe how affordable houses are.
Wishing you the best! (make your kids go back to OSU though! Go Bucks)

 

[umaangel00]

so what is the beltline and why stay away from 28th street?

I live in the Northview School District on the Beltline. I actually am right by Plainfield and Beltline and it is horrible! I love the area though (just hate my street!). I figure it will be really hard to sell our house in 5 years when we move it Arizona. My husband grew up a 1/4 mile away from where we are now and I grew up in Wyoming. I prefer up here hands down. Both Rockford and Northview are great schools.

I am sorry you didn't love it the first time you were up here. It really is a great place to live and I will miss it when we move. Though I will not miss the winters. They are brutal up here!

 

[Fire14]

We are in Marion OH but work in MI a lot (hotels though). I find the area nice. Not what I was thinking at all. Of course, the Buckeye clothes are not going over well. Don't know about the schools but the people are very friendly.
The lake houses are getting really reasonable. Keep dreamin'! They are not that hard to get right now. Really nice houses are a steal. DS just got tranferred to Ann Arbour from C-bus and cannot believe how affordable houses are.
Wishing you the best! (make your kids go back to OSU though! Go Bucks)

Almost sounds like we could have our own lil dis meet Delaware, Ashley, Marion we r all close

 

[cjnix29]

Update! We are moving north! DH got the job offer when we were actually at Disney World last week. So now, we are on the roller coaster! Hopefully we will sell our house quickly, and can come join you all up north!

 

[fallcolors]

Grand Rapids is a great city ...... but like any other move .... you are smart to do your research. The area is very conservative but has great culture, health care facilities and outdoor activities.

 

[fall08CP]

I used to live in Holland and hated it The weather most of the year was miserable and everything closed early, and most of the town was shut on Sunday. I was going absolutely stir crazy, especially during the winter when you wouldn't see sun for weeks. The towns are quaint and the residents very nice, but it was too small town and old fashioned for me. I like the buzz and excitement of big city life, and even in GR I didn't see that. I also noticed that people from Western Michigan are very proud of their area and were surprised, almost insulted, when visitors came and knew nothing about their heritage or their schools (especially when it came to athletics) I hear it's nice during the summer but I was only there from August-May. When I left Michigan, I ran and haven't looked back Sometimes I miss the people, but not the state itself.

 

[budbeerlady]

Update! We are moving north! DH got the job offer when we were actually at Disney World last week. So now, we are on the roller coaster! Hopefully we will sell our house quickly, and can come join you all up north!

Welcome! Good luck with the house search some more and I hope it doesn't take too long for you the find the area that feels like home.

 

[cjnix29]

Thanks for the well wishes. Now my first project is finding DH a temporary place to live! We are staying in OH until the house sells, so he has to have someplace to sleep! anyone have any ideas?!

 

[budbeerlady]

We have done fun and cheap family weekends at the Super 8 in Hudsonville. Its clean and a quick run up M-6. I dont know about downtown with Art Prize going on whats open for the next week.

We have stayed at the courtyard by the airport and it was nice, clean but its been a couple of years.

 

[mum22girlz]

Another one from the Hamilton area here. I also work in Zeeland Holland has changed a lot in the last few years. Almost everything is open on Sunday. It's fun to read about all the people who live near me. Some might even be neighbors. OP, good luck on your search and move!

ETA: Dizfan4life - I just figured out who you are . . . Thanks for all of the advice at the soccer game Saturday. LOL!