1
0

Investing in Detroit No Matter Where You're From


 invite response                
2013 Jan 10, 3:18am   15,095 views  53 comments

by ElenaMo313   ➕follow (0)   💰tip   ignore  

I have been lurking Patrick.net for quite some time, but felt compelled to actually join and post since coming across several articles about investing in Detroit housing.

There were a few good nuggets of advice, like telling people to really spend time in the areas they are interested in investing in. Personally, I am thinking of using Metro Property Group (http://mymetroproperty.com) to help me find a decent house in a decent neighborhood. And there are lots of services and realtors out there that can help you transition.

But to tell someone, whether from out of town, state or the country, not to invest in Detroit because of sensationalized news or “second-hand information” is ridiculous. There are many areas within the city where you can buy cheaply in clean, safe, tight-knit neighborhoods. I personally like the following:

West Village
Midtown (Cass Corridor and near the New Center Area)
Rosedale Park
Grandmont (very tight neighbors--I even know of a European couple who recently moved into the area and feel welcomed…they’re even new to the country, so they didn’t know what to expect)
Corktown (Bagley)

These areas may still be deemed “up-and-coming” but are pretty well established with active neighborhood block clubs. And most often, neighborhoods around these areas get better as well, once development rolls in. Many of the areas I named are clean, quiet and safe--just do your research (outside of sensationalized media outlets, of course).

What are your thoughts?

#housing

« First        Comments 29 - 53 of 53        Search these comments

29   ElenaMo313   2013 Jan 14, 2:03am  

Robber Baron Elite Scum says

---

Please stop spamming this thread, thanks.

30   ElenaMo313   2013 Jan 14, 2:13am  

Brentok3 says

If someone is interested in investing in rental property in a large city like Detroit, you should check out the demographic data at CityData.com.

This is good advice, and decent, affordable housing is in high demand in the city. In fact, people are on wait lists for such properties.

31   ElenaMo313   2013 Jan 14, 2:14am  

edvard2 says

IHouses don't make great investments anyway.

Depends on what you plan to do with them. Most people purchase property that is not in their price range, or they do not research the neighborhood and demographics first. These factors can make any good investment in property go sour.

32   ElenaMo313   2013 Jan 14, 2:15am  

leo707 says

unstoppable says

Now my question is who are you shilling for? What is your skin in the game? You seem more vociferous than a regular citizen of Detroit repping their home town.

I am beginning to suspect this as well.

Because any positive press about Detroit is vehemently wrong *rolls eyes*

33   ElenaMo313   2013 Jan 14, 2:16am  

unstoppable says

I also have read enough about Hmong history and the history of the US military's involvement in southeast Asia, to confidently refute your previous blanket statement.

While reading is fundamental, it often doesn't tell the whole story. You cannot base your facts just off of what you read.

34   Robber Baron Elite Scum   2013 Jan 14, 3:20am  

ElenaMo313 says

Please stop spamming this thread, thanks.

Please learn the definition of "spam", thanks.

35   RRC   2013 Jan 14, 2:32pm  

Detroit reminds me of Buffalo NY; they both have a lot of history and a lot of potential but there is not enough people want to move and invest there.

36   JodyChunder   2013 Jan 14, 3:15pm  


No one wants to live where they don't feel safe.

You are correct. The bad guys in Detroit are some seriously scary badassed motherf*ckers who make Victorville look like a middle school lunchroom.

Check out this footage of one of the scarier Detroit badasses taking on an entire Police precinct. Warning: gun violence.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/mUkdvyGWSqs

37   unstoppable   2013 Jan 14, 4:55pm  

ElenaMo313 says

unstoppable says

I also have read enough about Hmong history and the history of the US military's involvement in southeast Asia, to confidently refute your previous blanket statement.

While reading is fundamental, it often doesn't tell the whole story. You cannot base your facts just off of what you read.

Wow
Really you're going to quote me but cut out the first sentence where I mentioned that I grew up with a whole bunch of Hmong kids.

When you're done shilling for your crap investment scheme I'm sure you'll be qualified to work at the out of context quote department, at either msnbc or fox.

38   unstoppable   2013 Jan 14, 5:16pm  

ElenaMo313 says

unstoppable says

Now my question is who are you shilling for? What is your skin in the game? You seem more vociferous than a regular citizen of Detroit repping their home town.

The same can be said for all of the anti-Detroit posts, including yours. I started this thread because 1) people are spreading misinformation 2) the city's residents (like myself) need a break from the negativity. You all complain about how bad the city is but when people like myself try to show the city in a more positive light, that, too, is a problem. Make up your mind, but you can't be on both sides.

Damn you got me, I admit it. I'm still bent out of shape about the Pistons bribing the refs and stealing the 1990 NBA finals. I have sworn vengeance on Bill Laimbeer and the city he played for. My insidious plan to crush the Detroit property market by exporting 50% of its manufacturing jobs to China has been a resounding succes. Now all I must do is go on the Internet and punch holes in some anonymous persons incorrect statements about the Hmong diaspora.

Hahaha
Detroit is doomed my evil plot will destroy the motor city and canibal anarchy will reign!

39   ElenaMo313   2013 Jan 15, 12:18am  

Read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Detroit

And um, the "scary" people here are often misguided youth who if they had jobs, would not be pulling these stupid stunts. It is wrong to commit crimes, but people in the city are desperate--there is more to the story than what you all are portraying.

JodyChunder says

No one wants to live where they don't feel safe.

You are correct. The bad guys in Detroit are some seriously scary badassed motherf*ckers who make Victorville look like a middle school lunchroom.

Check out this footage of one of the scarier Detroit badasses taking on an entire Police precinct. Warning: gun violence.

40   ElenaMo313   2013 Jan 15, 12:20am  

Downtown Detroit and surrounding areas are some of the safest places in the nation, actually. Read this: http://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2012/07/10/a-shocking-sight-in-downtown-detroit/

And no city survives without a strong downtown core. By some people seriously investing in Detroit and having this foresight, it will be the right decision in the future. You have to strengthen Detroit's core for the Motor City to have a fighting chance.

41   ElenaMo313   2013 Jan 15, 12:22am  

unstoppable says

ElenaMo313 says

unstoppable says

I also have read enough about Hmong history and the history of the US military's involvement in southeast Asia, to confidently refute your previous blanket statement.

While reading is fundamental, it often doesn't tell the whole story. You cannot base your facts just off of what you read.

Wow

Really you're going to quote me but cut out the first sentence where I mentioned that I grew up with a whole bunch of Hmong kids.

When you're done shilling for your crap investment scheme I'm sure you'll be qualified to work at the out of context quote department, at either msnbc or fox.

I'm done with you. I actually agree with many posters in this thread that Detroit has its share of problems. But any positive press about Detroit is immediately a "scheme" or "scam"--no wonder this city can't come back. And the thing that irritates me most is that most of you posters live nowhere near Detroit. I don't care if you lived here 20 years or even 2 years ago, you're not here today.

42   edvard2   2013 Jan 15, 12:39am  

ElenaMo313 says

Depends on what you plan to do with them. Most people purchase property that is not in their price range, or they do not research the neighborhood and demographics first. These factors can make any good investment in property go sour.

Housing in general is not the best investment you can make. All anyone has to do is look up basic performance and returns comparing real estate to stocks. Over the past 100 years stocks have returned around 7-8% per year and real estate 3-4%. Simple.

43   ElenaMo313   2013 Jan 15, 1:04am  

edvard2 says

ElenaMo313 says

Depends on what you plan to do with them. Most people purchase property that is not in their price range, or they do not research the neighborhood and demographics first. These factors can make any good investment in property go sour.

Housing in general is not the best investment you can make. All anyone has to do is look up basic performance and returns comparing real estate to stocks. Over the past 100 years stocks have returned around 7-8% per year and real estate 3-4%. Simple.

True, and the housing market in general is volatile. I know that there is a demand for quality, affordable housing in Detroit, at least where I am. If you know where to buy, it can turn a good profit for you. But many people are buying without doing their research or knowing what it takes to be a good landlord in Detroit. It's not easy, and it's usually best to consult with a reputable company in the beginning.

44   Joe_Mumau   2013 Jan 15, 9:53am  

Issues of crime aside, I would have a problem buying a house in Detroit because the houses themselves would be so high maintenance. Detroit went through two huge house building eras - the twenties and the fifties. The houses built in the twenties are the tightly packed, multi-story red brick houses that are now tilting and buckling from their own weight - these neighborhoods stretch out for miles from the city center. Most of these neighborhoods are filled with poor people because only poor people would buy them. The houses built in the fifties are the small ranch style homes built for the troops returning from WWII - these homes were, for the most part, not well built, and are now falling apart (although, to be fair, they were probably built better than most of the McMansions of the last decade). There are some very nice neighborhoods with beautiful houses that deserve to be saved, and I think they will survive any massive urban "renewal" plan that will be necessary to rid the city of the crumbling hulks and burned out shells that bring the entire city down.

45   Waitingtobuy   2013 Jan 15, 1:00pm  

I've thought about buying properties in Detroit. Even discussed with a buddy of mine who was from Grosse Pointe. We both decided no thanks. Spent 4 years of my life in school in Ann Arbor and went into D Town for Wings and Tigers games, Coney Island, and Windsor. Ann Arbor is a great town, but has some of the most gloomy and depressing weather anywhere. I enjoyed Minneapolis 10x Michigan. No one wants to relocate to a place with bad weather and even worse job prospects. While I enjoyed college, and love the school, Detroit is last on my list of places I would relocate. Sorry...

46   Joe_Mumau   2013 Jan 16, 4:14am  

Waitingtobuy says

I've thought about buying properties in Detroit. Even discussed with a buddy of mine who was from Grosse Pointe. We both decided no thanks. Spent 4 years of my life in school in Ann Arbor and went into D Town for Wings and Tigers games, Coney Island, and Windsor. Ann Arbor is a great town, but has some of the most gloomy and depressing weather anywhere. I enjoyed Minneapolis 10x Michigan. No one wants to relocate to a place with bad weather and even worse job prospects. While I enjoyed college, and love the school, Detroit is last on my list of places I would relocate. Sorry...

This is a joke, right? With temperatures in Minnesota regularly in the single digits? And the car companies on a hiring spree? Detroit is no different from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and any other city with a bad part of town - people who can afford it live in the suburbs, and as suburbs go, Detroit's are better than most.

47   Patrick   2013 Jan 16, 4:19am  

Joe_Mumau says

Detroit is no different from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and any other city with a bad part of town - people who can afford it live in the suburbs, and as suburbs go, Detroit's are better than most.

Detroit is very different from those other cities, because the bad part of Detroit is Detroit.

Sure, there are nice, leafy green safe suburbs outside of Detroit proper. But the city itself is pretty much dead.

48   leo707   2013 Jan 16, 4:34am  

ElenaMo313 says

And um, the "scary" people here are often misguided youth who if they had jobs, would not be pulling these stupid stunts.

It was a 64 year old man who pulled that scary stunt. I would hate to see what the "misguided youth" are up to.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/12/police-station-shooting-southfield-michigan-shootout_n_2116162.html

49   leo707   2013 Jan 16, 4:36am  

ElenaMo313 says

But any positive press about Detroit is immediately a "scheme" or "scam"--no wonder this city can't come back.

It is not so much Detroit as it is a poster who titles their thread, "Investing Wisely in Detroit No Matter Where You're From."

When you start off with such a blatantly too good to be true blatant shill statement almost anything that comes out of your mouth next is going to sound like a scheme or scam.

50   gbenson   2013 Jan 16, 4:52am  

I spent a fair bit of time around the Detroit area for work, and never in my life have I seen so many bowling alleys and liquor stores. Horrid roads and dead cars everywhere. Only been to downtown a few times and it was mostly a boarded up ghost town.

Have to get out to at least Farmington, or preferably Ann Arbor before it got 'livable'.

51   sirmajdalot   2013 Jan 17, 12:33am  

gbenson says

I spent a fair bit of time around the Detroit area for work, and never in my life have I seen so many bowling alleys and liquor stores. Horrid roads and dead cars everywhere. Only been to downtown a few times and it was mostly a boarded up ghost town.

Have to get out to at least Farmington, or preferably Ann Arbor before it got 'livable'.

I am sorry to break this to you buddy but all the suburbs the surround Detroit's borders are MORE than "livable", by your standard. Actually some of them are way nicer and pricier than Farmington or Ann Arbor. Gross Pointe Shores (where houses reach $6 Million) , Gross Pointe Woods, Ferndale, Oak Park, Warren, Royal Oak (a very expensive suburb) Southfield, Redford, Dearborn Heights, Dearborn.. All great areas to stay in that are extremely safe, I live in those suburbs and I don't even lock my door at night. Additionally, I spend my weekends in Detroit, 3 major Casino's, Greektown, Midtown, Wayne State University, where 18 year old girls walk around (including my sister, who comes home safe and sound everyday). I agree that there are some dangerous areas in particular, but you can't say the whole city is scum.

52   edvard2   2013 Jan 17, 1:41am  

Going to have to agree somewhat with sirmajdalot. When I took a trip to Detroit, indeed the city itself is probably the biggest ghost town on the planet. What's really clear is that all the money left decades ago to the burbs. I actually traveled to the burbs and some of the areas are actually fairly well-off. The areas outside of Detroit are actually quite pretty. In fact I recall reading somewhere that some of the suburban areas outside of Detroit are home to some of the richest people in the country. That said, I spent my fair share in the Northeast dealing with winter and for me- no thanks. I didn't enjoy freezing my ass off for 4-5 months out of the year.

53   ElenaMo313   2013 Jan 21, 1:18am  

Make your own conclusion, but I still believe that Detroit is a good investment and won't back down from that.

leo707 says

ElenaMo313 says

But any positive press about Detroit is immediately a "scheme" or "scam"--no wonder this city can't come back.

It is not so much Detroit as it is a poster who titles their thread, "Investing Wisely in Detroit No Matter Where You're From."

When you start off with such a blatantly too good to be true blatant shill statement almost anything that comes out of your mouth next is going to sound like a scheme or scam.

« First        Comments 29 - 53 of 53        Search these comments

Please register to comment:

api   best comments   contact   latest images   memes   one year ago   random   suggestions   gaiste