Best Suburbs to Buy a House [[Long-Term Outlook)

[Seven&wyo]

Ok I have no problem being wrong, but what evidence do you have that the OP just wants a white school district in the suburbs? The suburbs are mostly white so the schools will be mostly white by default. Some are just better than others. I'm pretty sure Birmingham had better schools than most of the surrounding white areas. If the OP wanted to live in the city or would be a different story [[Cass and King for example), but the clearly they want the suburbs

[Squirtle]

Ok I have no problem being wrong ....

You aren't wrong; some people just find a reason to be offended over anything.

[Gistok]

I'm not even sure OP newbie ROXY is still on this thread... he's not responded since page 1 of this 5 page thread. So we may just be spinning our wheels talking to ourselves....

[Jimaz]

... So we may just be spinning our wheels talking to ourselves....

But that's what we customarily do here, right? It's like ... our job.

Roxy's "Last Activity [was] February-09-20 06:38 PM"

Thanks for noticing that. LOL!

[Roxy]

But that's what we customarily do here, right? It's like ... our job.

Roxy's "Last Activity [was] February-09-20 06:38 PM"

Thanks for noticing that. LOL!

I do not log in often but I eventually read all comments and appreciate those who offered good advice and suggestions.

[Roxy]

I'm not even sure OP newbie ROXY is still on this thread... he's not responded since page 1 of this 5 page thread. So we may just be spinning our wheels talking to ourselves....

I don't log in often because I have a busy life, but I have read all the comments on this thread.

[gnome]

I think you mean Richard Headlee, don't recall a Dick Chrysler running for governor but I could be wrong.

Yes, you are right. Thank you for correcting me and my fading memory.

I guess with both of those Dicks it difficult to keep them straight.

[ct_alum]

Yes, you are right. Thank you for correcting me and my fading memory.

I guess with both of those Dicks it difficult to keep them straight.

LOL, so true.

[rickbak]

I guess with both of those Dicks it difficult to keep them straight.

Insert Viagra joke here....

[Ray1936]

Well, for my two cents, any school is only as good as the child's parents.

[bust]

Totally agree, Ray! Good parents are more important than good schools.

And Metro25, I get what you're saying. I've heard plenty of people use "good schools" the way you describe. But almost always in suburban Detroit. It doesn't usually mean the same thing places I've lived since then, where it's much less segregated. Also, not everyone in Metro Detroit uses the term that way -- you're an example!

From my perspective, as a [[hopefully good) parent, good schools are still among the most important reasons to live somewhere. And for me, a diverse student body is among the most important considerations. Especially as we are a mixed-race family.

I attended Grosse Pointe schools when they were rated among the best in the state. Many of the classes and all of the facilities were great. My parents chose to live there for that reason. But students were almost entirely white and Christian, and kids there grew up saying things like "nigger pile." A few called one of my Asian friends a "chink." "Jewing" meant treating someone unfairly. Calling something "gay" was to say it was lame. My friend's mom spoke forebodingly how she suspected our classmate's family was Muslim. At least one kid wore blackface for halloween. I think two did the same year.

According to some ratings, Grosse Pointe schools have slipped a bit since then, even while they're still among the best. But the ratings are based mostly on test scores. Grosse Pointe schools are now also a lot more diverse, and I doubt kids there are still so ignorant. In my opinion, that makes the schools even better today. Same great facilities, probably classes just as good. And I'll bet there are less diverse schools that are rated higher where the social education is ignorant like Grosse Pointe's used to be.

Good parents don't just make sure their kids do their homework. And there are bad parents who do.

[Roxy]

Totally agree, Ray! Good parents are more important than good schools.

And Metro25, I get what you're saying. I've heard plenty of people use "good schools" the way you describe. But almost always in suburban Detroit. It doesn't usually mean the same thing places I've lived since then, where it's much less segregated. Also, not everyone in Metro Detroit uses the term that way -- you're an example!

From my perspective, as a [[hopefully good) parent, good schools are still among the most important reasons to live somewhere. And for me, a diverse student body is among the most important considerations. Especially as we are a mixed-race family.

I attended Grosse Pointe schools when they were rated among the best in the state. Many of the classes and all of the facilities were great. My parents chose to live there for that reason. But students were almost entirely white and Christian, and kids there grew up saying things like "nigger pile." A few called one of my Asian friends a "chink." "Jewing" meant treating someone unfairly. Calling something "gay" was to say it was lame. My friend's mom spoke forebodingly how she suspected our classmate's family was Muslim. At least one kid wore blackface for halloween. I think two did the same year.

According to some ratings, Grosse Pointe schools have slipped a bit since then, even while they're still among the best. But the ratings are based mostly on test scores. Grosse Pointe schools are now also a lot more diverse, and I doubt kids there are still so ignorant. In my opinion, that makes the schools even better today. Same great facilities, probably classes just as good. And I'll bet there are less diverse schools that are rated higher where the social education is ignorant like Grosse Pointe's used to be.

Good parents don't just make sure their kids do their homework. And there are bad parents who do.

Children benefit from good parents and good schools. I have heard that things have changed in Grosse Pointe since you went to school there. The schools are more diverse, probably because of Harper Woods and more families from Detroit renting in the Grosse Pointes. Like many schools in wealthy areas, some of these top ranked schools have underlying "rich kid" problems. I've heard there is a serious drug problem at West Bloomfield and Grosse Pointe schools.

[Gistok]

Roxy.... no insult intended towards you... but about every year some [[innocently) comes on this forum... and we go thru the same spiel that almost turns into a food fight over which place is the best to live.

Glad you came back to give your own feedback, and that you'll make the choice that is the better fit for you...

[rooms222]

Roxy, I would just like to thank you for coming back and commenting. It makes the thread better.

[Cincinnati_Kid]

Not trying to be Debbie Downer, but buying a house, would be the last thing I'm thinking about right about now. Getting through this pandemic should be first and foremost for everyone. Some economists predict a downturn in housing due to the virus, as people get behind on payments. So you'll have your pick after this over, as they'll probably be plenty of foreclosures unfortunately.

[rickbak]

Not trying to be Debbie Downer, but buying a house, would be the last thing I'm thinking about right about now. Getting through this pandemic should be first and foremost for everyone. Some economists predict a downturn in housing due to the virus, as people get behind on payments. So you'll have your pick after this over, as they'll probably be plenty of foreclosures unfortunately.

No, Deb, you're just being realistic. What I'm fearing is the wave of bankruptcies and foreclosures, which is sure to come, ushering in another period like the one we just emerged from a few years ago: empty houses and an influx of renters who don't give a fuck about the property or the neighborhood. I admit that the only time we seriously considered moving was the circa 2008-2012 period. But home values had dropped so much and the equity we had dried up, so it didn't make sense. We hung on like so many others, and things gradually stabilized. Rinse and repeat? God, I hope not, but I'm thinking by end of summer things are gonna be looking really grim.

[Roxy]

No, Deb, you're just being realistic. What I'm fearing is the wave of bankruptcies and foreclosures, which is sure to come, ushering in another period like the one we just emerged from a few years ago: empty houses and an influx of renters who don't give a fuck about the property or the neighborhood. I admit that the only time we seriously considered moving was the circa 2008-2012 period. But home values had dropped so much and the equity we had dried up, so it didn't make sense. We hung on like so many others, and things gradually stabilized. Rinse and repeat? God, I hope not, but I'm thinking by end of summer things are gonna be looking really grim.

I predict that we will see a lot of bankruptcies and foreclosures in 2021. It could definitely change the face of some cities again as it did in 2008-2012. Cheaper real estate means investors, renters, and people who would have been priced out in a good economy, flooding into prime locations for once in a decade [[or lifetime) deals. As someone interested in buying, I'm waiting this out to see what will happen by the end of the year and into 2021.

[Roxy]

I started this thread approximately a month before the shutdown. Does anyone have predictions for how 2020 has affected real estate in the Detroit area or if their opinions have changed since February? Perhaps the pandemic will set back Detroit's progress, making real estate in certain markets a better investment than other areas. My guess is that long term, people who can now work from home will want to move further away from the city to towns like Oakland Township, Leonard, Lake Orion, Shelby Township, and Romeo. Several well-to-do suburbs close to the city, like the Grosse Pointes, will see real estate prices remain stagnant with only small increases during the pandemic's real estate boom. There will be foreclosures once the moratoriums end in late 2021 to 2022, and we will see inner ring suburbs with mid-range housing prices mostly affected by any foreclosure crisis, further sending these suburbs into decline.

[Gistok]

I started this thread approximately a month before the shutdown. Does anyone have predictions for how 2020 has affected real estate in the Detroit area or if their opinions have changed since February? Perhaps the pandemic will set back Detroit's progress, making real estate in certain markets a better investment than other areas. My guess is that long term, people who can now work from home will want to move further away from the city to towns like Oakland Township, Leonard, Lake Orion, Shelby Township, and Romeo. Several well-to-do suburbs close to the city, like the Grosse Pointes, will see real estate prices remain stagnant with only small increases during the pandemic's real estate boom. There will be foreclosures once the moratoriums end in late 2021 to 2022, and we will see inner ring suburbs with mid-range housing prices mostly affected by any foreclosure crisis, further sending these suburbs into decline.

You do know that not everybody who can work from home wants to live far from Detroit. I think you are too obsessed with homes as an investment. Yes it matters that your house appreciates in value... but there are other factors in deciding where you live. Such as what is nearby. If you live out in the sticks working from home most of the time, what is it that you like to do in your leisure time? The pandemic will go away eventually.

If you like semi-rural living and country activities, then that is what you will get. But if you want to get out and do things sports or culture related, then living in the sticks isn't all that it's cut out to be.

I live in St. Clair Shores near I-94/I-696. I love that location because I am 20 min from downtown [[theatres/stadia/museum district) as well as other nightlife. I'm 15 min from the zoo, 20 min. from Southfield, 3 minutes from the waterfront, etc. I love living so close to freeways which make other locations seem so much closer because of the ease of getting there.

If you live out in Romeo or Milford, or Woodhaven... it's going to take you some time to get to areas you may want to visit frequently. To base where you live solely on having a house as an investment, can at times detract from your quality of life.

[Satiricalivory]

I started this thread approximately a month before the shutdown. Does anyone have predictions for how 2020 has affected real estate in the Detroit area or if their opinions have changed since February? Perhaps the pandemic will set back Detroit's progress, making real estate in certain markets a better investment than other areas. My guess is that long term, people who can now work from home will want to move further away from the city to towns like Oakland Township, Leonard, Lake Orion, Shelby Township, and Romeo. Several well-to-do suburbs close to the city, like the Grosse Pointes, will see real estate prices remain stagnant with only small increases during the pandemic's real estate boom. There will be foreclosures once the moratoriums end in late 2021 to 2022, and we will see inner ring suburbs with mid-range housing prices mostly affected by any foreclosure crisis, further sending these suburbs into decline.

Yeah we've seen no evidence of anything of the sort. Everything has held it's value during the pandemic or stayed it's course. If anything will be stagnant it's exurbia like Lake Orion, not the inner suburbs or the city.

Reading your original post, this looks like exactly the same sentiment you had in April. If you're so confident in far flung sprawl and not Grosse Pointe then go move there.

[ABetterDetroit]

I started this thread approximately a month before the shutdown. Does anyone have predictions for how 2020 has affected real estate in the Detroit area or if their opinions have changed since February? Perhaps the pandemic will set back Detroit's progress, making real estate in certain markets a better investment than other areas. My guess is that long term, people who can now work from home will want to move further away from the city to towns like Oakland Township, Leonard, Lake Orion, Shelby Township, and Romeo. Several well-to-do suburbs close to the city, like the Grosse Pointes, will see real estate prices remain stagnant with only small increases during the pandemic's real estate boom. There will be foreclosures once the moratoriums end in late 2021 to 2022, and we will see inner ring suburbs with mid-range housing prices mostly affected by any foreclosure crisis, further sending these suburbs into decline.

2020 Metro Detroit real estate prices are no longer a “prediction” on the 26th of December. Sales have remained strong with low inventory to choose from is driving prices higher for quality properties. Interest rates remain at rock bottom levels. Are you saving more for that down payment than prices are currently appreciating where you are looking? That is critically important if you are in a wait and see mode.

What is your price range Roxy? That would also be necessary if you want recommendations or accurate assessments of the currant housing market by location within the metro.

[Roxy]

Not trying to be Debbie Downer, but buying a house, would be the last thing I'm thinking about right about now. Getting through this pandemic should be first and foremost for everyone. Some economists predict a downturn in housing due to the virus, as people get behind on payments. So you'll have your pick after this over, as they'll probably be plenty of foreclosures unfortunately.

I didn't buy a place, thank goodness. I wanted to take my time while saving more for a down payment. It looks like I'll be taking my time for at least another 6 months to a year, waiting to see how the pandemic will affect the real estate market in metro Detroit.

[motorcity]

According to reporting today, the best place is not in Michigan at all. Michigan is stagnant and still losing a lot of population. And the 2020 Census won't even capture the exodus out since March.