Ann Arbor · Relocation
Moving to Ann Arbor, with the city explained first
Learn the Ann Arbor area before you look at homes, so you can choose the right place from a distance.
Moving to Ann Arbor from another state
Moving to Ann Arbor usually starts with a job, often at the University of Michigan or through a corporate transfer. The start date is set, and you need to find the right home in a city you may have visited once or not at all.
We start with a phone call or a Zoom meeting, so I understand your job, your timeline, and what you want in a home. Then I teach you the city before you look at a single house.
Which part of Ann Arbor fits your commute
Ann Arbor is a very bike-friendly city, so many people choose a home by how they'll get to work.
If you'll work at the University of Michigan hospital or on Central Campus, Geddes Heights and Ann Arbor Hills are very close. Some people even walk a path through Nichols Arboretum to reach the hospital.
If you'd like to walk downtown, the Old West Side and Water Hill are both an easy walk. If you'd rather live a little farther out in north Ann Arbor, Orchard Hills sits just north of Plymouth Road.
Each one has a trade-off I'll explain, from steep streets in Geddes Heights to garages on the Old West Side.
What newcomers learn quickly about Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is built around the university, and town and campus flow into each other. Near campus on State Street, the sidewalks are busy, which gives downtown real energy.
Football Saturdays shape the fall. On game days, it's smart to avoid driving near Michigan Stadium from about two hours before kickoff until about two hours after the game ends.
Culture runs all year, from the Michigan Theater and Hill Auditorium to The Ark. The original Zingerman's Deli is still on Detroit Street, and the Huron River and the Arb are close by when you want to slow down.
Seeing Ann Arbor homes from far away
While you're still in another state, I'll set you up on a home search and ask you to watch it. You'll see what your budget buys in each neighborhood and how quickly homes go under contract there.
When a home looks right, I walk through it with you on a FaceTime video call, room by room, and you can ask questions as we go. By the time you visit, the list is short and every showing counts. Read more about how I teach buyers the market.
Plan your move to Ann Arbor
If you're moving to Ann Arbor, call me or send a note, even if your start date is months away. You can also compare relocating to Brighton or relocating to Dexter, or read my page on relocating to the Ann Arbor area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I live in Ann Arbor if I work at the University of Michigan hospital?
Geddes Heights and Ann Arbor Hills are both very close to the hospital and campus. Each has trade-offs, like steep streets or no sidewalks, and I'll walk you through them.
Can I meet with you before I move?
Yes. With out-of-state buyers, our first meeting is usually a phone call or a Zoom meeting.
How do I see homes if I can't be in Ann Arbor?
I walk through homes with you on a FaceTime video call, room by room, so you can narrow the list before you visit.
Ann Arbor
What relocation looks like in Ann Arbor
A university city on the Huron River, with century-old homes near downtown, 1950s ranch neighborhoods, mid-century modern homes in Ann Arbor Hills, and culture all year.
- The homes
- Older homes within walking reach of downtown, plus neighborhoods of 1950s ranches that are also close in.
- Why people choose it
- A city built around the University of Michigan, where town and campus flow into each other. Ann Arbor is known as Tree Town, and it's a very environmentally conscious place.
- Getting around
- A very bike-friendly city, with many dedicated bike lanes. On University of Michigan football Saturdays, plan to avoid driving near Michigan Stadium from about two hours before kickoff until about two hours after the game ends.
- Nearby
- Downtown theaters and music venues, including the State Theatre, the Michigan Theater, The Ark, the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, and Hill Auditorium, plus the University of Michigan Museum of Art. The original Zingerman's Deli on Detroit Street, the Huron River, and the trails and peony garden at Nichols Arboretum.
- The trade-off
- Downtown can be busy, especially near campus on State Street, and football Saturdays take over the city.
Relocation: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Nancy Arnold?