At CherylGrant.com, we’re pleased — and unsurprised — that our fair city has been recognized as No. 2 on RelocateAmerica’s list of top U.S. cities. As a relocation specialist, I’ve helped people relocating here find their dreamhomes. Many are moving to Grand Rapids for positions at Van Andel Institute, Spectrum Health, Churches and Manufacturing. All have been impressed with the selection of homes and prices available. They too are impressed with the education options including public and private. The other comment I often hear is how many “really cool” things are happening in the city, not only downtown, but in other neighborhoods such as Eastown and Midtown. I can easily see why Grand Rapids ranked so high in this survey.
The following are excerpts from Troy Reimink’s blog for The Grand Rapids Press at MLive.com. Please follow this link to read the full story.
Today in lists: Grand Rapids comes in at No. 2 on RelocateAmerica’s ranking of the nation’s top 10 places to live.
The Brighton-based company assembled a list of America’s top 100 cities — based on “local housing markets and economies, cultural and recreational opportunities, and safety, plus … feedback from city leaders and residents” — then asked residents to submit content that would convince the judges their hometown was a great place to live.
The top 10, announced today, are as follows: 1. Austin, Tex.; 2. Grand Rapids; 3. Boulder, Colo.; 4. Raleigh, N.C.; 5. Dallas, Tex.; 6. Greenville, S.C.; 7. Augusta, Ga.; 8. Boise, Idaho; 9. Omaha, Neb.; 10. Oklahoma City, Okla.
From the site’s write-up:
It feels especially good to name Grand Rapids, Michigan a top 10 place to live, especially after it was named one of “America’s Dying Cities” by Newsweek in January. What really caught our attention about this city, though, is its response. It didn’t get mad. It made a video. And, not just any video. A video with 5,000 residents (that’s not a typo), lip synching to Don McClean‘s “American Pie” while touring every aspect of the city. Now, that’s what we call true community spirit– and that’s what being a top 10 city is all about. (Editorial note: Newsweek claims the article was not done by them but was posted to its website as part of a content-sharing deal.) (more…)
If you’re sitting on the fence about trading up, consider this: rates have dropped to record lows this month. That gives you more purchase power — and ratio room — than ever before. Check out this story from Realtor.com:
