Detroit Real Estate

Livonia, Plymouth, Wayne County Homes for Sale

Should

I had an email from a lady who had a Detroit relocation in her future. Two of her concerns were safety and appreciation of her Metro Detroit condo purchase. So this was my reply to her.

Here are my thoughts on the matter. I will help you find a condo where ever you want but here are my thoughts. I am going to give you my personal opinions. Detroit isn't your typical big city. It isn't like Chicago at all. Detroit is actually a city that is dying a slow death. Yes there is the area around Ford Field, the Fox theatre, the theatres which are lively. Along the Detroit River are some very good condos. Greek Town is lively, and there are quite a few clubs for the younger crowd. But.....

So tell me more about your life style. Whether you want to walk to the restaurants and night life. Do you want city life? Are you worried about safety? Do you mind traveling to work? How far are you willing to drive?

SAFETY.... I don't know how old you are or how confident you are, but if you were my daughter or my friend I would not recommend you to live in the city. As a single woman alone there are not many safe places for you to walk around at night alone.   Detroit is fine during the daytime. Downtown is safe. Fine at night in a group. But a singe woman walking alone at night, I wouldn't recommend it. I would be afraid for you parking in a parking structure. So that is my first warning for you safety at night, being alone. And you being new to the city you won't have many friends to hang out with at first. Check out Detroits crime statistics compare them to the cities you have lived in.

SHOPPING.... As for shopping there aren't many chain stores in the city. Stores like Macys don't have a place in the city. Too much theft, too few people coming to the city to buy, not enough profit margin for the big chains in the city. So there isn't a main shopping district to stroll around. You will find more unique type of stores.

APPRECIATION OF YOUR HOME INVESTMENT.....I don't think there will be appreciation in Detroit's real estate market in the next six years. The City of Detroit is facing major financial problems. A huge infrastructure and a shrinking tax base.  The problem is that the school system is horrible. Young people aren't going to move into the city. Young middle class people won't want to send their kids to the Detroit school system. Detroit is not going to attract new buyers at this point in time. People aren't moving into the City of Detroit. The police force and EMS service is lacking. Expect long response times.

HIGHER COSTS..... Insurance will cost more because of the higher crime. There are not a lot of grocery stores and I understand the food costs are higher than in the suburbs.

So along with Detroit check out these eight other cities.   These are all safer cities. They will have better appreciation than condos in Detroit. You can walk around at night safely.
Royal Oak - the liveliest small suburb with lots of restaurants and night life. Close to Birmingham which is our "upscale, rich" suburb.
Plymouth - An old time downtown with restaurants and shops
Novi or Northville - Western suburbs of Detroit lots of shopping, restaurants
St. Clair Shores - just north of Detroit along the shore of Lake St. Clair (if you are into boating)
Downriver area Wyandotte , south of Detroit again along the river.
Farmington Hillsand Farmington - lots of shopping and restaurants again victorian homes
Dearborn - where Ford Motor is headquartered, and one of the nation's great historical museum is at.