buying a home in Melvindale

[CatherineG123]

Originally Posted by lynnc99

OK, got it. So here's what I'd do if i were in your shoes (and I have grown up daughters so it's a mom talking) -

1. Consider a realtor (again to be clear I am not a realtor and have no one in mind so no sales pitch there). This may give you an added pair of eyes locally.
2. Scour the real estate listings and spot a few homes that look like they meet your daughter's needs and would be viable rentals down the road. Then call the local police dept with those addresses and just talk to the dispatcher or an officer on duty about the best options. Start the sentence with, "If your daughter were there...."
3. If you want, I could take a drive (I'm about 40 min away) and take some pictures - just general shots from 94 down Oakwood to Allen Rd, which is the main intersection of Melvindale. Granted I'd have to ask my husband to drive because I"m nursing a broken right foot but I think we could do that and e mail you the pics.

As for a couple of comments above - yes, RR tracks. For example, the Robert St. house has a RR bed behind the back of the property. The freeway sits just beyond that (I-94). Melvindale sits between the massive Ford Rouge Plant to the east and key transit routes to Chicago and Toledo. Truck traffic - yes, but mostly on I-94. Gritty blue collar - yes, and it always has been. Melvindale has never been a "destination suburb" but not every town has to be that or aspire to that.

On the plus side: For your daughter's everyday purposes, there is a nice shopping area just N of I-94 and Oakwood with Barnes and Noble, Ulta, Target, etc. She would be minutes from Metro Airport. Detroit is loaded with cultural attractions (more than you'd imagine), great venues for sports and concerts, and areas of downtown are genuinely fun. Not far away she would find Buddy's pizza and Millers Bar for what is often described as the best burger in Michigan. Dearborn is home to the largest Arabic community outside the Middle East, so the whole metro area benefits from really good middle eastern restaurants. Ann Arbor (home to Univ of Mich) is less than an hour away and loaded with fun things to do, great food, etc. And of course, in Michigan you're never too far from a Great Lake.

Let me know if I can help with some pics.

Thank you so much for your generosity, but I wouldn't ever ask anyone to drive 40 minutes to take pictures. I will fly there and meet with a real estate agent when it gets a little warmer. Good idea about calling and asking questions to the police.

[keraT]

Melvindale really is not that bad. TBH most of metro Detroit really isn't bad, its just average like any other states (not NYC or Cali but rest of USA). It is a very small city & I would not have known it exist had it not been for my coworker who lives there. Very nice people but she is the definition of middle class. She is an admin, husband works in production, kids are heavily involved in sports with the hope it will help pay for college, no vacation but eat out often, no saving but not struggling. What is wrong with middle class


I have another coworker who purchased a condo across from hospital & she had it rented out for 15 years, no problem. It is a small community that gets lost between Dearborn & rest of Downriver but it is positioned perfectly by the freeway that commute to anywhere is easy.

[Coldjensens]

Police usually are not allowed to tell you anything about the community except where to find reported crime statistics. If they tell you how bad it really is, they get in trouble from the City for scaring away potential residents. If they tell you how great it is, you will sue them when your daughter gets mugged for the fifth time and you discover you cannot sell a house in Melvindale.

Sometimes you can catch a policeman outside of work and they will give you the real story, but police experience is often somewhat jaded becuase all they see is the bad stuff.

Like Detroit it is a place where you really should own and know how to sue a handgun (or a short barrel shotgun). Look for a house with an attached garage so your daughter does not have to walk outside while loading or unloading (or getting in and out of her car). I would also suggest she get a nice big dog (English Mastiff). There are places in Detroit where they teach people to be street smart - how to avoid conflict, how to not be a victim, etc. These is are a worthwhile idea.

Do not expect to be able to sell a house in Melvindale. Most people are looking to leave there not move there. Buy something you can rent, but probably not worth bothering to get something nice as your tenants will destroy it.

Watch air quality. Parts of Melvindale have smelly and/or unhealthy air on a fairly regular basis. Stick to the Southwest side of Melvindale (near Allen Park and as far from the Detroit Sewer Plant as possible).

It is possible but not terribly likely that the new bridge (opening in 2024) will give Melvindale an economic boost. If that happens, you might do well with your investment.