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Hazel Hall
housing
Lansing housing prices -when will it stop?
Longtime lurker here, I work in insurance and With a population of 28,415, Lansing is a smaller city.
17 upvotes
15 Replies
Joseph Roberts
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Meadowbrook. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in government. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Meadowbrook. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in government. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
34 upvotes
Christian Brown
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 12 years. Moved from Minneapolis for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is decent - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North schools are underrated. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Nightlife is limited. Bugs and humidity in summer. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 8/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in North for 12 years. Moved from Minneapolis for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is decent - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North schools are underrated. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Nightlife is limited. Bugs and humidity in summer. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 8/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
34 upvotes
James D.
as a local I can confirm
33 upvotes
Isla Mendoza
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want pet-friendliness, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
32 upvotes
Luke R.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want healthcare, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
31 upvotes
Nicholas Garcia
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely excellent and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (North) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Houston, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely excellent and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (North) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Houston, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
28 upvotes
sophie_runner
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 37, moved here 6 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Midtown and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Strong sense of community
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The walkability situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for remote workers. improving vibes, walkable.
- South: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Minneapolis, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
Background: I'm a teacher, 37, moved here 6 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Midtown and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Strong sense of community
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The walkability situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for remote workers. improving vibes, walkable.
- South: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Minneapolis, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
28 upvotes
Sophia Gutierrez
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in Oak Park area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
24 upvotes
Henry J.
Came here for family and stayed because I genuinely enjoy living here. The traffic is honestly hit or miss and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
19 upvotes
Madelyn King
yep
17 upvotes
Olivia
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Houston about 4 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
Cons that are real:
- Can feel isolated
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are stable, gas is excellent.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I'm a chef who relocated here from Houston about 4 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
Cons that are real:
- Can feel isolated
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are stable, gas is excellent.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
15 upvotes
Ellie Rodriguez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Minneapolis about 5 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of new development happening
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are developing, gas is excellent.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Minneapolis about 5 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of new development happening
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are developing, gas is excellent.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
12 upvotes
Josiah Rogers
nah I disagree
12 upvotes
Ethan Phillips
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely tough and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Pine Hills) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Atlanta, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely tough and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Pine Hills) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Atlanta, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
6 upvotes
Jacob Brooks
We moved here with our family and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Schools in West area are hit or miss. Kids love it here.
3 upvotes