Hi everyone!

[rjpetty605]

 Hey everyone,

My name is Jeanne. I am a 23 year old stay at home mom. My husband Ron and I have been married going on 3 years now. We have a son who will be a year old in June.

Well my husband is working on a career change into computers. It seems that when he finds a job it will land us in the Detroit area. Now we live in Ludington, MI which is on the Northwest Shore of MI between Grand Rapids and Traverse City. So it will be a culture shock for us...I lived in Souther CA awhile ago so I know larger areas but it has been a long time.

So we have zeroed in on the Rochester/Rochester Hills area as a good place to be. It seems low crime, great schools, good hospital, nice apartments, etc.

Do you guys have any advice for us? Is it a nice place to live? Do you like the schools? Churches? Shopping?

Are there any mommy and baby/or family activities there?

Do you feel safe there?

Where could I find a good family practice doctor?

I would appreciate all of the information that you would share.

[PinkLight]

Hi and welcome to the area. We live about 15 minutes from Rochester Hills and it's a great area--nice downtown and some beautiful parks and walking trails. They have a Whole Foods and Trader Joes which are my favorite food stores and the schools are supposed to be good. I can't help you with pediatricians because ours is further than you'd want to go. Good luck with the move.

We have a 12 yr old son.

[Maureenmich]

Hi Jeanne,

Rochester is nice - I live in Shelby township, right next door.  However, wait until your husband has a job and see what part of Detroit that lands him in.  If he ends up in Canton or Milford he's looking at a 1+ hour commute in each direction every day without the benefit of freeways (M-59 stops at Pontiac and becomes a surface street).  Also check the school district - not all of Rochester is Rochester schools (don't believe the real estate agent, check with the school district) -  welcome to this part of the thumb - we vacation at Grand haven every year and you're moving from a very beautiful part of the state.

Regards,

Maureen

[DJBlondeoso]

I have lived in Rochester Hills for the past 15 years.  It is very nice here.  The roads are a bit busier than Ludington so you have to watch out for the crazy drivers that we have here.  The schools are very good even though you won't need that for a few years but it's good to know.  I have wonderful neighbors and our subdivision (Fairview Farms) has an association and we do about 7 or 8 events a year in the sub that involve the family.  It is a very family oriented sub.

You will be very happy here in Rochester/Rochester Hills.  The city of Rochester is a very quaint city and has an awesome downtown.  At Christmas time the whole downtown is lit up with the Great Light show and it is something to see and worth the travel time to come look at if you live far away.  The houses in downtown Rochester are beautiful.

So whether you choose Rochester or Rochester Hills I think you are making a very good choice.

[PinkLight]

Maureen makes a very good point. It would be better to find the job and then decide on where to live. There are many nice communities in every corner of this area: Plymouth or Farmington on the west; Milford or Brighton on the far west; shelby  or St. Clair Shores on the east;   South Rockwood on the south. And like Maureen, you could easily be looking at an hour plus commute if you're on opposites sides without a good freeway in between.