Family may be moving to Michigan...have some questions...

<p>Hi there it has always been a possibility for us....but now it seems more likely.</p>

<p>Could an instater please comment on the economy of the Kalamazoo/Portage/Gull Lake area? We were considering renting a home instead of buying and also wondered what the part time job status might be for other family members. </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>Also s received a scholarship that went to both OOS & IS...think they may try to take away if we moved to MI because I think our living in an URS had something to do with that in addition to merit? It was the MI Tradition Scholarship..</p>

<p>I’m from Portage. We moved here 15 years ago after spending 8 years in California. My husband and I both grew up in the midwest. This has been a great place to raise our kids and the schools in Portage are good. The winters suck - long and grey. That’s our only complaint. Feel free to ask any questions you like. Our son will be a freshman in engineering.</p>

<p>I’m not too familiar with the kalamazoo/portage areas, but if you’re moving to michigan expecting to find jobs…you’ll probably be disappointed. There are so many people out of work all over the state that even if there are job openings, it’s not uncommon for hundreds of people to apply for just a single position. Even if you already have a position lined up…you never know your company could lay you off next month (especially if you work in the auto industry). Sorry I don’t mean to be a downer or talk **** about michigan. It really is a great state…I’ve lived here all my life. But you should be aware that the economy is still very bad here.</p>

<p>^ Thanks for your input. This will be the first move that we don’t have to consider the school system so closely since both of my kids are out of high school now. My husband’s job is with a stable company in Michigan.(I guess one of the few)…so we are not very worried about that either. Our only worries are the housing market investment…and finding a job for myself and my 20 year old daughter. Are there many rental homes available since folks are having such a hard time selling their homes?? Even our home here in NE has depreciated over the last 4 years…so things are a bit scary. Winter is nasty here too…so that won’t be a real shocker. I can understand the shock for you coming from CA. We also lived in SF Bay Area…and that weather is to die for. One thing I know that I will love are the Midwest folks…they are the best I have ever met and I have lived all over the country…orginally from NJ/NYC area. Of’course that in state tution change could be the best part of all!!</p>

<p>You are right - the people are great. The Kalamazoo / Portage area (actually the west side of the state) is much healthier than the state in general. The housing market is picking up here. I follow it quite carefully, and we are probably buying a lake cottage this week in Portage that we plan to tear down and build our full time home on. Prices went down here, but did not take a huge beating. I highly reccoment Jennifer Dunlap with Prudential Realtors (pprmi.com). She is very familiar with the area, and deals with lots of relocations with Kellogs and Pfizer. Even though you know longer have young kids, Portage schools help sell your home. If you are buying an upper end house in the area, Kalamazoo schools does not. If you are buying a less expensive house, Kalamazoo schools do help, as they have the Kalamazoo Promise (free college education for their graduates). I must admit that I do not know a lot about the rental market. There are definitely some nice homes in the paper for rent. Feel free to email me if you want to talk more (<a href="mailto:pmsnow@chartermi.net">pmsnow@chartermi.net</a>)</p>