Livingston County - Michigan's richest County

[animatedmartian]

Speaking of Livingston County, all indicators are pointing to its boom days being over, and that's really good for the rest of the region. The fastest growing county in the state in the 90's [[37%), growth slowed way down in the 00's [[15.3%), and population estimates show it crawling in the 10's [[1.9% for the first three years of the decade) relative to the 90's.

Apart from its nasty little cultural history, the problem with it is that the growth was basically entirely sprawl. There is not a single incorporated city or village in the entire county that tops 10,000 residents. It's the worst of exurbia.

That's because no one's wages have gone up. Can't buy houses if people aren't making money. Don't worry, once [[or if ever) the economy kicks up again, the sprawl machine will get going.

[Bham1982]

Don't worry, once [[or if ever) the economy kicks up again, the sprawl machine will get going.

The sprawl machine is going crazy right now; probably stronger than at any time since the 1990's.

Go west on 96 till about Beck or Wixom Road exit, then drive around western Novi and eastern Lyon Twp. Thousands of 500-600k homes going up everywhere.

And that's base price. Actual move-in costs [[with lot fees, required landscaping and the like) are probably well north of 600k for most of these homes. For Michigan standards, that isn't cheap.

[Gpwrangler]

That's because no one's wages have gone up. Can't buy houses if people aren't making money. Don't worry, once [[or if ever) the economy kicks up again, the sprawl machine will get going.

The economy is rockin'. But Howell is too far of a commute for most folks.