What is the first thing you think about when are glancing at a stack of MLS printouts, getting ready to go out and check out couple of REO's to buy one?
Bedrooms, bathrooms, basements, garages, sq.footage, taxes.... All important and should be considered before you buy a foreclosure in any Michigan City.
But nothing comes close to the importance of the school district in which the house is located in Michigan. Let me repeat this... nothing comes close to it. As the local cities and towns struggle to makeup for the drop in the money they used to take in (more foreclosures, less property taxes) - they are cutting on schools. Some of them are shutting schools down that they can no longer afford. Some of them are letting go of teachers and making the class size bigger.
If you are the in the market to buy a home for yourself and your two young children... and you can buy a home in any Michigan city that fits your budget - what do you think would be on the top of your list? You would want to make sure that the house you are buying comes with a good school that your children will be able to go to for a long time. The days of buy-a-house-and-move-in-2-years are over in Michigan. People are buying and planning on to stay for a while. So they want good schools and so should you.
As a Michigan real estate investor, you are never tied to the choice of one city. If you are thinking about buying a foreclosure and your choices are Garden City, Livonia and Westland - find out which school district ranks higher and which one is not cutting back as much as others. Use websites like GreatSchools.org and PublicSchoolReview.com. Ask friends and people who live in the area. But do not underestimate the importance of the quality of the schools that will help you flip this house fast no matter where you live in Michigan.
