Moving to the Detroit area soon (Ann Arbor, Royal Oak: to rent, house, buying)

[americancheese]

I was just laid off and have a few job offers around the country. One of them is in Royal Oak, MI.

What areas would you recommend to a Hispanic lesbian couple with two kids (twins) about to start school? Our budget is $430k and we're looking for a single family home with 2 br+. Most important thing is an LGBT accepting community. Also reasonably good schools. Where do you recommend?

[usermi]

Ferndale just south of Royal Oak (all small cities very close to each other in this area), has a vibrant LGBT community and a fun safe downtown (just as Royal Oak).

[Coldjensens]

Ferndale, but the schools aren't the best. Ann Arbor which has great schools but it is a long commute to Royal Oak (at least an hour).



Palmer Park (or woods (I forget)) in Detroit. Schools are horrible. You would have to find private schools, but many of the better ones are catholic schools.



In Ferndale and probably Detroit you could put half of your housing budget aside for private school. You can also look into school of choice where some districts allow kids in from other districts, but neighboring communities are not as accepting. So, you may have difficulty getting play dates and the like.



If you want to just live your life quietly, few people in any community will bother you, but many will not want their kids playing with yours. If you like to announce/display your sexuality, it will attract unwanted attention (not saying that is good or bad for you to do, just what is likely to get negative reactions).


You might get by in Novi without too much trouble. Novi tends to be more cosmopolitan than other suburbs (but it is a mega example of soulless suburbia). There are part of other towns that are pretty accepting of homosexuality, but other parts of the same towns very much not so (Ypsilanti and Saline come to mind).



Honestly, I think it woudl be difficult here outside of Ferndale or Ann Arbor.



There are some places on the weat side of Michigan. (Saguatuck). That would requried a different job.

[DTWflyer]

Royal Oak
Ferndale
Berkley

[keraT]

Royal Oak itself is perfect location for you. It has good school & liberal community that accepts all lifestyle. LGBTQ community is not as vibrant as Ferndale but you are seconds away from Ferndale. with your budget you can find a place in RO, no point wasting time in other city unless you want bigger house for less money.

Any city bordering Royal Oak is worth looking into for you. School are better on north & west border. LGBTQ community is stronger in southern border

[jackmichigan]

If you take the job in Royal Oak, you should stick with Royal Oak or somewhere close. Instead of buying, though, you should consider renting for a year. You didn't say where you live now, but you may not appreciate our winters. Since your other two inquiries were about San Antonio and Houston, there's a world of difference between Michigan and Texas weather--some good, some bad, depending on your preferences. There also aren't many wooded natural areas to be found around the Royal Oak area. Wherever you end up, it might be best to rent for a while to get a feel for the area. You'll know better where you'd prefer to live in a given area--and also if you'd even want to live there long term.