Investing in Michigan

[briansd1]

[quote=njtosd]See also this Op/Ed piece where someone bought a Mies van der Rohe there for $100,000 and someone else bought a house for $100. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/opinion/08barlow.html
[/quote]

Sounds like some cultural enclaves are developing. I really need to go see, just for the cultural experience.

*

Good input from every one. I know almost nothing about the Midwest other than Columbus, OH where my cousin lives.

Another thing to consider about investing is whether you want to live there, or be an absentee landlord. Do you have the inclination and opportunity to visiting periodically to check on your investment?

Are you investing for the cash flow or for appreciation?

[briansd1]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]Don’t be too surprised to see certain manufacturing hubs in the Midwest start to make something of a comeback. It won’t be like the heyday of Detroit like the 1950s and 1960s, but its a start.[/quote]

You might be correct.

But I think that for the next 20-year time horizon, we still have plenty of retirees from the Midwest wanting to retire to Florida.

The immigrant population of Florida is needed to care for the elderly.

There could be a long-term trend to lesser internal population movement to the Sun Belt (as compared to before). But for baby boomers, the draw of a new house in a warm climate is pretty strong.

Once the baby boomers pass away, demographics will change to more density and less sprawl, IMHO. But that’s too far off.

The Midwest could see a manufacturing revival as the Dollar devalues making our industries more competitive. Land is plentiful and cheap. But the unionized states have to compete with right-to-work southern states which are also subsidizing new manufacturing.

[briansd1]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]Don’t be too surprised to see certain manufacturing hubs in the Midwest start to make something of a comeback. It won’t be like the heyday of Detroit like the 1950s and 1960s, but its a start.[/quote]

You might be correct.

But I think that for the next 20-year time horizon, we still have plenty of retirees from the Midwest wanting to retire to Florida.

The immigrant population of Florida is needed to care for the elderly.

There could be a long-term trend to lesser internal population movement to the Sun Belt (as compared to before). But for baby boomers, the draw of a new house in a warm climate is pretty strong.

Once the baby boomers pass away, demographics will change to more density and less sprawl, IMHO. But that’s too far off.

The Midwest could see a manufacturing revival as the Dollar devalues making our industries more competitive. Land is plentiful and cheap. But the unionized states have to compete with right-to-work southern states which are also subsidizing new manufacturing.

[briansd1]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]Don’t be too surprised to see certain manufacturing hubs in the Midwest start to make something of a comeback. It won’t be like the heyday of Detroit like the 1950s and 1960s, but its a start.[/quote]

You might be correct.

But I think that for the next 20-year time horizon, we still have plenty of retirees from the Midwest wanting to retire to Florida.

The immigrant population of Florida is needed to care for the elderly.

There could be a long-term trend to lesser internal population movement to the Sun Belt (as compared to before). But for baby boomers, the draw of a new house in a warm climate is pretty strong.

Once the baby boomers pass away, demographics will change to more density and less sprawl, IMHO. But that’s too far off.

The Midwest could see a manufacturing revival as the Dollar devalues making our industries more competitive. Land is plentiful and cheap. But the unionized states have to compete with right-to-work southern states which are also subsidizing new manufacturing.

[briansd1]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]Don’t be too surprised to see certain manufacturing hubs in the Midwest start to make something of a comeback. It won’t be like the heyday of Detroit like the 1950s and 1960s, but its a start.[/quote]

You might be correct.

But I think that for the next 20-year time horizon, we still have plenty of retirees from the Midwest wanting to retire to Florida.

The immigrant population of Florida is needed to care for the elderly.

There could be a long-term trend to lesser internal population movement to the Sun Belt (as compared to before). But for baby boomers, the draw of a new house in a warm climate is pretty strong.

Once the baby boomers pass away, demographics will change to more density and less sprawl, IMHO. But that’s too far off.

The Midwest could see a manufacturing revival as the Dollar devalues making our industries more competitive. Land is plentiful and cheap. But the unionized states have to compete with right-to-work southern states which are also subsidizing new manufacturing.

[briansd1]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]Don’t be too surprised to see certain manufacturing hubs in the Midwest start to make something of a comeback. It won’t be like the heyday of Detroit like the 1950s and 1960s, but its a start.[/quote]

You might be correct.

But I think that for the next 20-year time horizon, we still have plenty of retirees from the Midwest wanting to retire to Florida.

The immigrant population of Florida is needed to care for the elderly.

There could be a long-term trend to lesser internal population movement to the Sun Belt (as compared to before). But for baby boomers, the draw of a new house in a warm climate is pretty strong.

Once the baby boomers pass away, demographics will change to more density and less sprawl, IMHO. But that’s too far off.

The Midwest could see a manufacturing revival as the Dollar devalues making our industries more competitive. Land is plentiful and cheap. But the unionized states have to compete with right-to-work southern states which are also subsidizing new manufacturing.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=briansd1]
The Midwest could see a manufacturing revival as the Dollar devalues making our industries more competitive. Land is plentiful and cheap. But the unionized states have to compete with right-to-work southern states which are also subsidizing new manufacturing.[/quote]

Brian: That’s actually a really good point, and one I hadn’t considered.

I’ve been in Michigan during the winter, and I’ve been in Florida during the winter. BIG difference.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=briansd1]
The Midwest could see a manufacturing revival as the Dollar devalues making our industries more competitive. Land is plentiful and cheap. But the unionized states have to compete with right-to-work southern states which are also subsidizing new manufacturing.[/quote]

Brian: That’s actually a really good point, and one I hadn’t considered.

I’ve been in Michigan during the winter, and I’ve been in Florida during the winter. BIG difference.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=briansd1]
The Midwest could see a manufacturing revival as the Dollar devalues making our industries more competitive. Land is plentiful and cheap. But the unionized states have to compete with right-to-work southern states which are also subsidizing new manufacturing.[/quote]

Brian: That’s actually a really good point, and one I hadn’t considered.

I’ve been in Michigan during the winter, and I’ve been in Florida during the winter. BIG difference.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=briansd1]
The Midwest could see a manufacturing revival as the Dollar devalues making our industries more competitive. Land is plentiful and cheap. But the unionized states have to compete with right-to-work southern states which are also subsidizing new manufacturing.[/quote]

Brian: That’s actually a really good point, and one I hadn’t considered.

I’ve been in Michigan during the winter, and I’ve been in Florida during the winter. BIG difference.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=briansd1]
The Midwest could see a manufacturing revival as the Dollar devalues making our industries more competitive. Land is plentiful and cheap. But the unionized states have to compete with right-to-work southern states which are also subsidizing new manufacturing.[/quote]

Brian: That’s actually a really good point, and one I hadn’t considered.

I’ve been in Michigan during the winter, and I’ve been in Florida during the winter. BIG difference.

[njtosd]

[quote=bob2007]
. . .
Surrounded by fresh water, although the quality varies ;). It seems that at some point the state/cities should realize they need to provide breaks to businesses to attract them.

. . . [/quote]

One of the biggest problems with Michigan, from my point of view, is the fact that it is a peninsula. This leads to an almost constant cloud cover (I have been told that Ann Arbor has more overcast days per year than Seattle) and weather that isn’t the most desirable. People used to live there because of the work opportunities and the tendency of families to stay in the same place – but those factors don’t really apply as much any more.

When Michigan first became a state, the city of Calumet (in the upper peninsula) was almost made the capital because the U.P. was the center of industry in the state (mining, etc.). When the mining industry collapsed and the auto industry took off, everyone moved to Detroit (including my relatives). As another poster mentioned, the UP is pretty much dead – business never regrew there, and I think that result is a distinct possibility for Detroit.

[njtosd]

[quote=bob2007]
. . .
Surrounded by fresh water, although the quality varies ;). It seems that at some point the state/cities should realize they need to provide breaks to businesses to attract them.

. . . [/quote]

One of the biggest problems with Michigan, from my point of view, is the fact that it is a peninsula. This leads to an almost constant cloud cover (I have been told that Ann Arbor has more overcast days per year than Seattle) and weather that isn’t the most desirable. People used to live there because of the work opportunities and the tendency of families to stay in the same place – but those factors don’t really apply as much any more.

When Michigan first became a state, the city of Calumet (in the upper peninsula) was almost made the capital because the U.P. was the center of industry in the state (mining, etc.). When the mining industry collapsed and the auto industry took off, everyone moved to Detroit (including my relatives). As another poster mentioned, the UP is pretty much dead – business never regrew there, and I think that result is a distinct possibility for Detroit.

[njtosd]

[quote=bob2007]
. . .
Surrounded by fresh water, although the quality varies ;). It seems that at some point the state/cities should realize they need to provide breaks to businesses to attract them.

. . . [/quote]

One of the biggest problems with Michigan, from my point of view, is the fact that it is a peninsula. This leads to an almost constant cloud cover (I have been told that Ann Arbor has more overcast days per year than Seattle) and weather that isn’t the most desirable. People used to live there because of the work opportunities and the tendency of families to stay in the same place – but those factors don’t really apply as much any more.

When Michigan first became a state, the city of Calumet (in the upper peninsula) was almost made the capital because the U.P. was the center of industry in the state (mining, etc.). When the mining industry collapsed and the auto industry took off, everyone moved to Detroit (including my relatives). As another poster mentioned, the UP is pretty much dead – business never regrew there, and I think that result is a distinct possibility for Detroit.

[njtosd]

[quote=bob2007]
. . .
Surrounded by fresh water, although the quality varies ;). It seems that at some point the state/cities should realize they need to provide breaks to businesses to attract them.

. . . [/quote]

One of the biggest problems with Michigan, from my point of view, is the fact that it is a peninsula. This leads to an almost constant cloud cover (I have been told that Ann Arbor has more overcast days per year than Seattle) and weather that isn’t the most desirable. People used to live there because of the work opportunities and the tendency of families to stay in the same place – but those factors don’t really apply as much any more.

When Michigan first became a state, the city of Calumet (in the upper peninsula) was almost made the capital because the U.P. was the center of industry in the state (mining, etc.). When the mining industry collapsed and the auto industry took off, everyone moved to Detroit (including my relatives). As another poster mentioned, the UP is pretty much dead – business never regrew there, and I think that result is a distinct possibility for Detroit.

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