Any NW Lower MI folks out there?

[traceys2]

Moving back to the general area of Traverse City after a few years in Idaho and Arizona. Anyone out there doing self-sufficient living in this general area? Thanks.

[leera]

I don't live that far up.........

Southern lower here.....near Lansing.........

Planning on moving to KY or TN in a couple of years though,so no homesteading just yet.

There is a member here that goes by Jergen,who lives in the lower part of the UP.

[Northwoods]

I'm in Roscommon County...not completely self-suffcient yet though....

[leera]

Hey DM! Where are you.........he's another michaganian........

Northwoods,what part of Roscommon County.........Grandfather (in-law) lives in between Higgins And Houghton lakes.....

[Northwoods]

Lol We live between Higgins and Houghton Lake also....

[1630]

We are in the Gladwin area. Looking for another place with more land, our place now is on the river and have
only a acre. We would like to have more land, will make
a decision to stay in this area or possibly a move to the
Upper Pennisula of Michigan.

[leera]

Northwoods,that's cool.It's a really nice area isn't it......I love going up there to visit hubby's Grandfather.

1630, the UP is nice.........you will probably find what you're looking for as far as the amount of land you want,much more affordable than lower MI.

[Winston_Smith]

Currently living in Grand Rapids but cannot wait to move back to the family farm in McBain. I'm sooo sick of living in the inner city, in the past four years we've had several shootings, many stabbings, and more than a couple of outright brawls occur right out our front door. We try to stay positive that the neighborhood will turn around but with work in this town dried up I don't see where the money will come from. I'm giving myself a year timeline to get my ducks in a row and we're outta here. It will be so nice not to have to jump out of bed 10 times a night and run to the window whenever I hear something. Always paranoid our truck is going to get stolen (last one did), or that someone might be trying to get in the house like last winter. This guy came to the door and was so out of his mind he thought it was his house, I disagreed with him called the cops, he got aggressive and repeatedly tried to get in. I had to keep throwing him down our steps and practically beat him to a pulp for forty five minutes before the police showed up. Ironically the police station is three blocks away.
Sorry I guess I needed to vent, anyway I cannot wait to start building our home. Simple(r) life here we come!

[leera]

Winston,if I were in Grand Rapids,I'd be running as fast I could to get out,especially the inner city area.I don't blame you!

The area we live in is not too bad,but the price of property is still too high for us to be able buy anything along the lines that we want.............

And what we're considering now is making sure we have enough extra room for my parents to live with us.So we may have to either build extra space or buy something with a guest house.........

One more year....I hope........but it may be two........

Good Luck........... :)

[Winston_Smith]

Some days are worse than others. Strangely enough it seems like everytime something bad happens my stubborn side gets the best of me and I talk myself into staying even longer. Kind of to spite all these idiots on the streets you know? But you get hardened to violence and craziness and after awhile its just another day. I'm definitely not one of those people who brags about "livin in the hood", it's not something to be glorified. We'll see what happens, my hope is that GVSU will make an offer on our property in the near future. They've been buying properties like crazy in the last few months to expand the college and our house would be prime location for that. No kids to worry about yet so I can handle waiting things out. But nonetheless, always saving and preparing....

[Winston_Smith]

Hey! I got really lost between Higgins and Houghton Lake just last night!
???

[leera]

Well you must have made it back ok........you're posting....... ;D

For some reason whenever we go up there,I always turn the wrong way off the highway,and have to go back and turn around......... ::)

Has anyone been to the army surplus store in Claire?
Lots of neat stuff in there........

or the cheese store in Linwood?

[Jerngen]

I'm late as always ;D
Yep, we left the Grand Rapids area 2 years ago. Moved to West Branch (east of Houghton Lake) for 10 months and realized it wasn't enough of what we wanted (wilderness, less people) so we moved to da U.P. last year. LOVE it up here :)

[robert]

i am looking for a small piece of property for my converted shipping container.i can buy or lease or ? the u.p. is on my possible list. anyone know anyone that might have such a thing? thanks robert

[Al_Coda]

NE lower here, between Mio and Harrisville.

Don't know anyone personally selling/renting, but there are a lot of listings here: http://www.realestate-mls.com/

Lots of unemployed downstaters selling their up-north cottages.

[susiejean]

We used to live in SW Michigan. After we married, we looked for property in the UP, but the land prices were so high, we couldn't afford it. Instead, we investigated Norther MN. We bought a 4 bedroom (rundown) house, with a pole barn, new septic and well on 40 acres for only $27,000.00 in 1998.

Wouldn't live anywhere in MI anymore.

Susie

[Diamon_Girl]

Wow! Ok, so I'm pointing at my palm, under my pinky and towards the bottom! LOL! (You'd have to be from Michigan to understand the humor...)
So many Michiganders! I had no idea! We are currently in Kalamazoo, which is marginally (and I use the term loosely...) better than G.R.
At this point, we're stuck here because I have an elderly grandparent to take care of, my mother passed away nearly 2 years ago and I got the dubious pleasure of taking care of my crotchety Gram. I love her dearly, but I swear sometimes my Mom died on purpose just so she didn't have to deal with her anymore, lol.
Traceys2! We love that area! We used to camp in Interlochen every year, it's so beautiful! Sadly, with gas prices what they are now, we can no longer afford to drive that far with our pop up. We do however have friends who own property on the Betsie River and we try to get up there and canoe at least once. Hopefully someday we'll be neighbors! That's area the hubby and I want to be off grid!

[Catalpa]

Wow, Susie, that is just unbelieveable! 40 acres for that price? Wow. How much would 40 acres go for now in your neck of the woods?

I'm in eastern central Michigan. Our economy is in the toilet, but land prices are still high around here. Old houses in town are cheaper, but vacant land is holding high yet.

Lived near Kalamazoo for over ten years; it can be a nice area, but is becoming over-run by immigrants and suburbanites, just way too many people now.

Yup, I'd run out of GR too, if I was over there. In fact if I lived in any kind of population center I'd be laying out getaway plans. I only have an acre with my house right now, but I'm surrounded by large crop fields, so I still have peace and privacy.

Can't wait to move over to my land - ten acres off the main road, with Amish neighbors. Even more peace and privacy! ;D

Northern MI, including the UP, is God's country. I would love to live up there, but family obligations are holding me in place for now.

Cat

[susiejean]

Prop prices are still pretty low up here. We moved a bit south of NW MN but still got a great deal. For 5 acres, a 3 bedroom 1 bath house, a 24x24' shop and several other outbuilding...$70,000. Great location too...1/4 mile from a good fishing lake and lots of game. about 1/2 of the property is wooded.

Here's a great real estate agent up where we moved from:

http://www.northwest-national.com/baudette_minnesota.htm

You might want to check it out. You'll never find this much property at these prices in Michigan.

Susie

[susiejean]

I forgot to mention....they've got lots of jobs up there too. They're reopening some iron ore mines and steel factories and have had to import workiers from Canada. They also are looking for workers at: Marvin's Windows and Doors in Warroad, looking for workers at Poloris in Roseau. Lots of jobs available for every trade. They can't get enough American workers. They bus them in from Canada everyday.

Susie