Detroit Michigan Suburbs to AVOID Living In

[@thedrainjunkie5654]

Low cost of living? I'd hate to see the rest of the country! Our auto insurance on two cars is as much as a house payment. Did you figure that in?

[@PaulWolfert]

I talk about the crazy car insurance rates in a lot of my other videos 😀

[@thedrainjunkie5654]

I thought that name looked familiar - I'm a realtor and home inspector in the area.

[@Turshin]

Usually when ppl make cost of living comparisons, they hardly ever factor in car insurance or home insurance.

[@Turdafonzanoon]

My car insurance rates went down when I moved here from Florida.

[@tameraalvarez6438]

Michigan is definitely Not Affordable! Everything is high. Especially car insurance.

[@PaulWolfert]

Oof. Yeah. Car insurance in Detroit is rough.

[@AngelEyes-xm7el]

Bit witcmore promised lower rates. We need a supervisor like other states to stop this madness. Rip off lying governor

[@robertchristie9434]

Bloomfield Hills, Bingham Farms & Pleasant Ridge is pretty pricey too. Honorable mention is any waterfront property including St Clair Shores, Harrison Township & Anchor Bay.

[@cgpapineau]

I have always loved Grosse Pointe Farms. Beautiful tree lined streets that are super quiet with some incredible architecture. Very expensive, to be sure, but I love to walk the streets and marvel at these lovely homes. I can only imagine what it would cost to replace some of the roofs!

[@Hanover-ek4jy]

Only problem with those areas they are surrounded by some of the deadliest streets in Detroit

[@croswellianprincess3590]

@@Hanover-ek4jyhave you ever been there? It’s totally different and there is even a moat to keep the riff raff out.

[@loisseyler4794]

Where's the moat? Mack when it's flooded?​@@croswellianprincess3590

[@lamarjonesone]

Quality insights ✅

[@PaulWolfert]

Thank you!

[@weinster666]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of talking about affordable cost of living and $800,000 houses at the same time. Based on the adage that you should spend no more than 30% of your income on housing, that means you have to make at least $230k per year which puts you in the top 4%

[@croswellianprincess3590]

@@weinster666 used to be 25% of your income

[@kimcat7320]

I don't know anyone who can afford an $800,000 house. How about telling us poor people where we can find a decent priced home?

[@PaulWolfert]

Downriver is probably the most affordable area near Detroit.

[@kimcat7320]

@@PaulWolfert Thank you

[@paulprecour3636]

Westland or Canton.

[@anthonylappin6657]

Build wealth

[@fernoverbaugh4615]

Waterford Township might be too bad but property taxes can be pricey.

[@EyeKahnography]

Northville is expensive but also arguably one of the better walkable downtowns and best food options. Thankfully is is a short (and worthwhile) drive from nearby places that vary in affordability. Really nice, but also pragmatic highlights

[@PaulWolfert]

Agreed! A lot of people end up in cities like Livonia because of the proximity to all of the downtowns (Plymouth, Northville, Farmington) at a relatively low price point.

[@skizilla]

Places to avoid? Anywhere the SMART busses run?

[@Helm-w1q]

Northville . If it is you're desire to buy into Northville, the town ,be prepared to build. And most new construction is replacement of a currently standing house, or a major remodel. But there is good news. There is a major construction project building new condos where the Northville Downs once was.

[@paulprecour3636]

Plymouth, Michigan. Small beautiful town in the 1960s, pretty cool by the 70s. In the 1980s EVERYBODY who was anybody hung out downtown. By the 90s, people had left for the shimmering glitz of larger cities and the city pretty much evaporated. By 2010, people realized what cities had become and started moving back to that 'small town feel' that the downtown had. By 2020, the housing here was MUCH higher than the national average. Plymouth is also part of a three High School campus (Plymouth, Canton and Salem) where the student population rivals that of many smaller villages, and the academic opportunities there are awesome!

[@No6o9y-mom]

White lk is a gorgeous area, prices vary, typically pricier. But you have so much more land and privacy!

[@charlesdiggs5297]

I am a Detroit native until and have lived in the vicinity for this ear area. All of my life, but I have to agree if you don't live in Detroit city limits, everything is very expensive. And now I live in Dearborn and even that is a special.treatment

[@Jen-yv4eg]

Dearborn is gross...3rd world country with their own laws.😮

[@nancygardella8273]

I would like to move out , winter is not for me!!!!!.....

[@ginahardison]

These suburbs are expensive for Michigan, however, if you want newer construction, beautiful parks, nice downtowns with restaurants and shops, great city services and quality public schools they are worth it. Higher tax rates get all of those perks. Imagine that, you get what you pay for.

[@PaulWolfert]

Exactly!

[@Herowebcomics]

Man! There are some interesting issues with places to live like this! Thank you for showing better alternatives!😎

[@PaulWolfert]

Thanks for watching!

[@sharonschauer3257]

Yeah I am so so glad I have lived in Macomb County my entire life lol. I grew up in Shelby Twp. It was blue collar then but its expensive now. Most homes in this county have decent sized lots though.

[@Jen-yv4eg]

Crooked politics there ...blue state failure as usual.

[@StephanieKawaidesu1]

I grew up in Birmingham and Troy. My grandfather was the first fire chief in Birmingham, his portrait hangs in the entrance of the Adams Street station. His father, my great grandfather, was one of the founders of Birmingham. My great grandfather brought our family here from England, which is where the City's name comes from...even though our family came from southern England, Bridgewater, Somerset, there were people who came from all over England to found and settle Birmingham, Michigan. My great grandfather was a carpenter, and at one time, over 1/3 of the existing homes had been built by him (1920s/30s). When many of these old homes started being torn down in the 80s/90s, people started calling my dad. People were finding my great grandfather's signature in the walls of the homes they were tearing down. He always signed every house somewhere with his name and "God save the King." Because we have a unique (to the US, but common in England) last name, these people were finding us in the local phone book. Many of these people were kind enough to cut out the piece of wood with my great grandfather's signature and give it to my dad. 😊 Sadly not many of the magnificent Craftsman, art deco, and Colonial revival homes my great grandfather built remain. 😔

[@charlesdiggs5297]

@@StephanieKawaidesu1 How wonderful for your family to have this history and knowledge.

[@dknowles60]

Wow Miichigan has very high Property Taxes

[@powertothesheeple5422]

South West Michigan and Detroit suburbs have crazy high taxes. I pay less than $2,000 a year for a $300K+ house on 1/2 an acre. If I lived 3 houses North in the other county, my taxes would be tripple.

[@betsyross1621]

I grew up in Rochester. I loved it.

[@croswellianprincess3590]

Me too

[@gobjohns]

Hey so did I! Where at?

[@Hanover-ek4jy]

Could not take the snow, ice and frigid winter temperatures!

[@PaulWolfert]

It's not THAT bad 😄

[@gobjohns]

​@@PaulWolfert Uh, yes it is that bad! LOL.. I lived there my whole life, finally left because of it... Couldnt stand it. :)

[@Missyj358]

I live in Northville and yikes, taxes are high. Beautiful walkable little town though.

[@PaulWolfert]

Taxes are high but I think it's worth it.

[@ckp2ator389]

I suspect not everyone especially the younger generation is looking for large lots, or even a lot. So many multi-story townhomes going up. People don't have as many kids, or kids at all, and they want the freedom to travel without arranging for lawn care.

[@PaulWolfert]

That's true. I have a lot of younger buyers that want the multi level places until they start families.

[@ckp2ator389]

@@PaulWolfert I guess it's individual choice. I have two millennial children who've bought their first homes in the last 5 years. One went for a 3-bedroom townhome and had a 2-year old at the time. The other had just married, no kids but bought a spacious 4-bedroom colonial built in the 60's with a large lot, now he has a 1-year old. The one with the townhome doesn't seem to miss the yard since the association has a pool and playset close by and sports fields to run around in. Both have significant association fees though, which I don't know are typical in Michigan (they live in Virginia and Maryland).

[@jbeutell]

I pcked Rochester Hills.when I moved back to Detroit area. Good schools, reasonable prices when I moved in 2016. Prices like everywhere have gotten a bit crazy since then.

[@fernoverbaugh4615]

All houses in Oakland County are pricey except Hazel Park and Oak Park. My house is worth about $250k and it's a dump.

[@tengoindiamike]

Similar in Independence Township / Clarkston! Do you have any videos on those places?

[@PaulWolfert]

Not yet!

[@sheneedsme]

This video is highly accurate. I am builder and live in downtown Birmingham on a postage stamp size lot but can walk to everything. I have built many houses in Bloomfield and in Rochester and Rochester Hills and I lived there ten years. I will be building a new bakery in either downtown Northville or Plymouth. People like walkable communities but the trade off is higher taxes and smaller lots. It’s worth it. I grew up in small affordable town called Berkley which is only a couple miles south of Birmingham.

[@PaulWolfert]

Send some info my way on your builds! I'd love to check them out (if I haven't already) [e-mail]

[@michaelmaas5544]

Hello fellow Bear! We we’re building Bigfoot houses in Birmingham back in the ‘90s. I’m in Traverse City now and it’s starting to happen here now.

[@j.z.5539]

not surprised to see northville #1 on the list...........northville resident

[@toddd7444]

Detroit Michigan LEAVING 1967 riot lost 50% of white people i was there

[@Jen-yv4eg]

Smart to leave a place like that for sure. Total downhill after that ...

[@Turshin]

This is why the video is about the SUBURBS of Detroit. You know where all the white ppl went after the 50s lol

[@ELIRAXPRT]

I completely agree but all those expensive areas are “cool” and beautiful places to live with good schools. Rochester Hills taxes actually seem pretty reasonable. I moved out of the Detroit Metro area around 20 yrs ago but if I were to move back I’d want to be in Northville if I wasn’t on a lake.

[@datagypsy-forus1541]

I know that "averages" can be skewed, and data can be cherry picked, but in your experience what is the annual income of someone who buys an $800,000.00 house with a tax bill of $14K +? Just curious.

[@Turshin]

Yeah that's what I want to know. Like, who's buying these houses?

[@ckp2ator389]

Somebody below said $230k, using the 30% rule. A double income professional couple mid-career could do it.

[@dknowles60]

Michigan having low cost of living low taxes what a good joke

[@damemethief]

I mean, as a transplant from Florida, yeah the cost of living in Michigan is pretty low haha

[@Turshin]

​@@damemethief just wait til you see our insurance prices.

[@VanguardShags]

He obviously means Michigan has a low cost of living compared to almost every other state in the US - and he's right. Try researching current home prices/rent in most states with the average wages in those states, and you'll quickly learn what expensive really means in this day and age.

[@VanguardShags]

​@@Turshin - actually, it's more like just wait till you see Florida's insurance prices. Homeowners insurance in Florida is literally the most expensive in the nation - for an identical house, you can currently expect to pay at minimum, roughly 3x what you pay here to insure it. And while Michigan is indeed still terrible for auto insurance costs (one of the top worst for decades now), Florida has now surpassed Michigan in that as well, averaging $193/month, vs. Michigan's $183/month.

[@dknowles60]

@@VanguardShags Michigan has 1o times the cost of living then my state

[@karenmaher2092]

From MI high taxes, high car ins, and bad roads. Beautiful state, badly run.

[@SouthShoreSonics]

spell "average" for me at 0:50.

[@PaulWolfert]

😂😂😂😂 good catch!! I completely missed that when the vid came back from the editor

[@Blu.86-te1pr]

Anything on the east side of Michigan is horrible. The roads are terrible and ALWAYS under construction. They shut down the highways every summer to do massive construction projects. And all the towns he mentioned are expensive for a reason, they’re the only nice places around so everyone is competing to get in. Good luck getting reservations, hair cuts or places to park. Don’t move here. The infrastructure is bad too, no cell phone service, power outages and did I mention the roads? Ive been here for three years and regret it.

[@manbtm1]

I live in downtown Detroit in Lafayette Park, I absolutely love this place, when I bought in 15 years ago in my co-op high-rise ( (19th floor) overlooking the city, it was very reasonable, monthly fees, fairly high, but overall reasonable , our values have doubled but you know what, considering these other prices it’s still a steal , love living here, great people ,it has got to the point where I don’t want to cross into the suburbs anymore , things I used to go into the burbs for ,are here now plus so many other amenities and sports and restaurants and cultural museums and bike paths, and I just can’t stand sitting in enormous traffic all day long in the burbs, I walked to everything. ,there’s so much to do here, great place.Highly recommend, especially if you don’t have kids because otherwise you might want to send them to a private school, that’s the only downfall I see.

[@Jen-yv4eg]

Detroit = murder capital. No where safe to walk. Crackheads Everywhere! Would Never even visit. Place needs shutting down just like all blue states with corrupt politics. Good luck selling, major loss.

[@CharlesWilson-zs3vd]

Not a fan of Birmingham, Too many parking meters.

[@40intrepid]

Grosse Pointe too. No free parking anywhere.

[@CharlesWilson-zs3vd]

@@40intrepid I believe it, It's these high price neighborhoods, that have the most parking meters.

[@MadNat-or5hm]

Plymouth is a fun, quaint downtown with friendlier folks and better vibes than the other cities mentioned. Just an opinion from a previous resident. Also, accessibility to Hines Park in Nville and Plymouth should also be mentioned in this vid. Bloomfield is too congested, Rochester is too close OU campus, and Grosse Pointe is, well, Grosse Pointe.😂

[@PaulWolfert]

Plymouth could have absolutely made this list!

[@chrispotas6236]

Bloomfield has the owners of every party store and 7-11 living there. Pass

[@kev6096]

West Pontiac (Waterford) is a terrible place to live, really don't have anything good to say about it🙁

[@jokermtb]

Plymouth has cracked down on bigfoot homes by instituting a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) ordinance to address the overall massing of a home (the Lot Coverage and non-Permeable paving ordinances also limit home size), and in 2025 they'll be working on a third home massing ordinance that is tied to neighboring properties in an attempt to limit the 'broken teeth' situation of giant homes adjacent to small homes. This has taken years, but already, the new build homes (all teardowns) appear to fit into the vibe of the traditional neighborhood streetscape far better than in the past. It's progress in the right direction.

[@PaulWolfert]

Appreciate the info!! I've never heard of it being called the "broken teeth" situation but it's PERFECT.

[@bobs1356]

If I want a beautiful home in a nice suburb that's my business. I wouldn't live in De Toilet if it was free or any where close to 8 mile.

[@No6o9y-mom]

I'm shocked you didn't bring up Bloomfield Hills. That's where i grew up. The houses are unreal

[@Hanover-ek4jy]

Ever been to Malibu?

[@No6o9y-mom]

@@Hanover-ek4jy no I have a condo in Laguna on the beach

[@No6o9y-mom]

@@Hanover-ek4jy yes I've been to Malibu, sorry I've been all over Orange County and L.A but I prefer Laguna Beach, Newport and Dana Point

[@DetroitRockCitizen]

Plymouth and Northville border each other.

[@CharlesWilson-zs3vd]

I like a smaller lot.

[@janibeg3247]

amusing

[@PaulWolfert]

That's what I'm here for!

[@nowjustanother]

Northville - "a little further out..." Yeah, as in "next to the landfill." Where the air stinks like a gas station bathroom at low tide. No, thanks. I'll live downtown, lot size and higher cost be d@mned.

[@PaulWolfert]

They say one person's landfill is another person's paradise!

[@nowjustanother]

@@PaulWolfert I suppose - unless you've ever smelled the GFL Environmental landfill site at 5 Mile Rd and Napier Rd. That's where most of the new development in Northville Township is happening. The "mountain" of trash is visible from over a mile away and because it's west of the development, the prevailing wind takes the methane into the development (Ever driven up I-275 from DTW toward Canton? Same thing). The township has gone so far as to seek legal action against GFL via a restraining order seeking them to close parts of the landfill. It's *that* bad.

[@PaulWolfert]

@@nowjustanother I've definitely smelled it. I talk about it in a few of my earlier Northville videos and it's the #1 concern from buyers looking in Steeplechase and the other developers at the foot of trash mountain

[@paulpapke9265]

What about the down river area? It's better than all them places

[@PaulWolfert]

Ok

[@ryanboone5693]

Inkster, is a great neighborhood to live in .

[@Turshin]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@AllenStuck]

😂😂😂

[@nancygardella8273]

I couldn't see the five cities

[@detcarguymichigan4021]

What a screwed selection. All but two of those cities are way out in the far flung reaches of the Detroit metro area. All of those cities are very snobbish Caucasian enclaves. There are lots of cities where the cost of living is a bargain compared to Chicago, California coast, NYC, Atlanta, Dallas, and so many more! When I retired a few years ago, I shopped for a house that was larger with a big yard. I moved to Lathrup Village just 3 miles south of Birmingham. I purchased a 3,600 sq ft home, brick ranch style but with a second floor and basement, a large attached garage that is 35 ft deep and two and a half cars wide. The house is on 0.62 of an acre, very large. My taxes are $8,000 a year. Located five minutes from I696 and Southfield freeway, fifteen minutes from Downtown Detroit. The city of Southfield next to me has hundreds of homes on acre size lots and excellent city facilities. There are lots of cities where cost of living well puts most of the other major cities to shame.

[@lisachalmers5687]

"Caucasian enclaves" sorry but Oakland County is very diverse.

[@saxdave1]

This is the most speculative video I've seen in a while. You keep talking about lots. If you want land why would you move to a city? You don't. You move to north Macomb or even further up to get acreage. You don't mention anything about the vicinity to other cities, parks, highways or other amenities.

[@DuckDodgers69]

Mt Clemens 😊

[@PaulWolfert]

I've never really thought of Mt.Clemons as a Detroit suburb

[@croswellianprincess3590]

@@PaulWolfertwhy not? Mt Clemensvis surrounded by a lot of other areas you talk about.

[@keanuwick8485]

I live in Mount Clemens. The reason I do is because I have a house that looks like it could be in Birmingham or the Pointes and pay ridiculously less than I would there. Taxes are higher for what u get in return from schools/street repairs etc), but its still better than bang for buck than most every surrounding area.

[@keanuwick8485]

@@PaulWolfert Its only a straight like 8 miles north of 8 mile up Gratiot.....of course it s a burb 🤣

[@robertchristie9434]

@@keanuwick8485 I agree. My daughter lived there a few blocks from the county building & the home she had would have been crazy expensive in other towns. Mt. Clemens has some gorgeous homes tucked away in some very quiet areas especially the ones along the Clinton River.

[@carolFerguson-on5gx]

I grew up in Birmingham 1951-63. It was perfect then. We moved to Alpena and it was a total time warp. Moved to Hawaii in 1968. Moved to Santa Barbara CA with my husband. Went back to Hawaii for the birth of our daughter. Eventually we moved to Portland Oregon which was my favorite‼️Later I moved to Boca Raton FL for my job. Years later I moved to Ann Arbor Michigan for my job. I retired in Northeast Michigan and love it. Quiet, easy living on Lake Huron and AuSable River. I lived in the coolest places in America back in the day when everything was Peace and Love. We stopped the Vietnam War and could protest without being assaulted or killed. Freedom was our goal and helping others. Life is a short ride, enjoy what you can and EVOLVE❗ 🙏✌️💗🤙

[@timothyhayes2935]

What a great diverse life of living in great spots.Shame though on whats happened to Portland.

[@unlisted8042]

Changed the channel name I see.

[@PaulWolfert]

Yep! Did that a while back. Not sure if I'll keep it or go back to plain-ol "Paul Wolfert"

[@ladanehaten4283]

Birmingham is very expensive and very white.

[@Jen-yv4eg]

And Very worth it. Every penny to keep the trash out.

[@TomCollins-i5w]

Northville schools are consistently rated the best in the entire State of MIchigan. This fact alone is why owning here is in such demand, regardless if you have school- aged children The self-proclaimed expert narrator mention Plymouth Schools as being desirable, but they don't even come close to Northville in excellence. All he emphasizes are lot size, taxes, and pricing. The real test is how homes and condos retain or increase in value, and how long they are on the market before they sell. His commentary is inaccurate and misleading. He claims 35,000 subscribers...he and should have zero!

[@PaulWolfert]

Novi consistently beats Northville schools in the rankings...but it's close. If you're just looking at Wayne County, Northville is #1 (and Plymouth-Canton is #3...so, they are desirable) - After helping hundreds of people buy and sell homes all over Metro Detroit, I make videos about things most people care about. I've made videos alllll about your favorite city. Sounds to me like you would prefer an "All Northville, all the time" channel 😂

[@jerryostrowski9806]

Just the cities in Wayne County I avoid.

[@trans4merman611]

He's a joke wheel a deal anti Detroiter dude

[@GenKrug-bl8mq]

Avoid living any where Democrats control!!! The cost of living is astronomical!!👌🙄

[@CharlesWilson-zs3vd]

Why any sane person, would move to Michigan, unless for financial reasons.

[@sheneedsme]

It has hundreds of lakes and there is not better spot to live or vacation in the summer. Mackinaw Island was just named the top tourist spot in the country. We are also home to several professional sports teams and the undefeated University of Michigan National Champions, which is a world class university. We have world class museums and downtown Martius Park was named one of the best of not the best in the country. More people are now moving into Detroit than out for the first time in years. Nobody can touch our Dream Cruise classic cars parade. We are the Motor City after all.

[@nathanclaspell6003]

​@sheneedsme not everyone in state likes the direction it has gone in. I've lived here all of my life, and it doesn't really feel like home anymore.

[@chrispotas6236]

​@@nathanclaspell6003. Move. We don't like fake people here

[@buckbenelli8]

Why any sane person would move to Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, California, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota…………. Name a state in america you would move to? Tornado ally, hurricane zone, drought or flood zone, I could go on and on. I’m stuck in Michigan and far too many people have decided to live here for my taste.

[@mkcraycray1316]

Michigan gets more desirable every year that climate change gets worse. And we have more fresh water than most of the rest of the country, so.. there's that

[@BeHo-ci8zw]

Great comparison. San Diego 372 sq miles with 1.3 million people. What’s the wealth of San Diego compared to Birmingham. San Diego has least trillion more in real estate than Birmingham. Let’s compare LeBron to a high school kid.

[@johnkozloski5288]

what dope would ever think of moving to michigan?

[@user-br2bn5hc9e]

This is false inforhru and thru

[@timothyhayes2935]

Birmingham is great,grew up there.Bigfoot home building is kinda over the top but as investments you can't blame the people who do it.Birmingham is a wealth bubble where the chaotic noise and disruptions of the real world barely register.Only as a 12 year old in 1967 did we worry that Detroits riots would spread north up Woodward ave.

[@CharlesWilson-zs3vd]

Not a fan of Birmingham, Too many parking meters.

[@sheneedsme]

2 hours free parking in multiple parking structures have plenty of spots. I live right in downtown so have free parking right in front of my house or in my driveway.

[@damemethief]

​@@sheneedsme same thing in Royal Oak; I guess people are too lazy to walk an extra five minutes to use the parking garages haha