Monica,

Gary has the correct answer! We cannot guide you to a specific area. That said, any of the agents you find here would usually be glad to provide you with info on communities in which you are interested. I have the ability to provide reports with, in-depth, demographic statistics on any community. Let me, or any of the others, know if we can be helpful.

Thu Jun 12 2008, 12:52

Hi Monica,

I am a Realtor who relocated here 3 years ago from Virginia . There are some wonderful areas for raising a family here. I am amazed at quality of life in some of these areas . I do most of my business and live in the Brooklyn Michigan area. There are 52 Lakes within 5 miles and tons of activities throughout the year. You can also find homes in some of the lake communities starting around 120k and up. Please check out my website if you get the chance. Feel free to email me any questions you may have. I have 3 children ages 14,10,6. Good Luck with your move and welcome to Michigan.

Mon Jun 9 2008, 08:58

Monica,
Of course I`m partial, but Southwest Michigan has a lot to offer.
Hugging Lake Michigan shoreline we have great beaches, inland lakes, rivers, wineries, golf, and just some real scenic country. Primarily rural.

Thu May 22 2008, 10:26

I live in Corunna, MI -- Shiawassee County which is a mostly rural area. I love it here and highly recommend the Corunna School District! Good luck!

Wed May 21 2008, 13:31

Hi, I grew up in Michigan but live out of state now. I lived there until I was 27 years old. I am not a realtor so I can tell you good school districts.
My brother lives in Northville and it is rated high. I have a sister-in-law and a friend who is married to a doctor and they all live in Troy- another good school district. I have another brother-in-law in Ann Arbor and yes it is a good school district. I have relatives up in Traverse City- I think the schools are good there but haven't checked the ratings. I know if you are in Grand Rapids area that East Grand Rapids is good.
I am not sure about Lansing but I know one are is good and another is not so maybe someone who isn't a realtor can help you with other cities. I am a parent of two children and one in special needs. I live in the best school district in my area. There isn't anything more important!!!! I wish you the best. I love the city of Petoskey up north- not sure about the school district but fun summer place.
PJ007

Tue May 13 2008, 18:37

HI Monica, Ann Arbor is a great place to live. Michigan is so huge. Where is your husband or you going to be working, that will be a big factor in where you chose to live.

Tue May 13 2008, 13:40

Monica, I agree with Lisa. MoveinMichigan is the public version of one of the areas Multiple Listing Service, we are both members.

Tue May 13 2008, 13:16

Hi Monica ... here's another website that may be helpful in your search: http://www.moveinmichigan.com/

Thanks!
Lisa Bender

Tue May 13 2008, 11:49

Monica, Real estate professionals are not able to suggest which area would be good to live or which schools you should attend. It's prevented by Federal and State Laws.

I suggest looking on http://schoolmatters.com and http://michigan.gov/mde for school information. For local businesses I find http://walkscore.com a big help. On the left hand column is a choice to show all fields.

Good luck in your search. The website below provides most homes in the area and requires not sign in. If you would like specific information, feel free to contact any of the agents in Michigan on Trulia.

Tue May 13 2008, 11:47

Hi Monica! Happy to hear you're going to be heading to our beautiful state! I live in Livingston County ... more precisely Howell and I love it. You can get more bang for your buck and you still have wonderful school systems. The Ann Arbor area is also very nice but can be a bit pricier.

Of course, it all depends on where you plan to be working. I'd be more than happy to assist you in finding the best location to best match all the needs of you and your family. I have 2 kids of my own and I know how important it is to be in the right school system and right neighborhood. It needs to feel like home and that can be hard when you're relocating to another state.

Please feel to visit my website, you can register to receive automated emails of listings in the areas you may be interested in looking at. Or just shoot me an email or call and we can discuss your needs in more detail.

Best of luck!
Lisa Bender

Tue May 13 2008, 11:45

I have family that moved to NC in 1990, funny to see that you are relocating here. There are many great neighborhoods in and throughout SE and SW Michigan. I gather you are relocating bc of work, but Is there a particular distance that you do not want to exceed in your commute when deciding on the place to relocate?

Tue May 13 2008, 11:38