Relocating to Ann Arbor without guessing on the neighborhood
Learn the Ann Arbor area before you look at homes, so you can choose the right place from a distance.
Relocating to Ann Arbor from another state
When you're relocating to Ann Arbor for a new job, the clock usually starts before you've seen a single house. A University of Michigan position or a corporate transfer comes with a start date, and everything else in your move has to fit around it.
Buyers in your position often tell me the same thing: "We've looked at every listing three times and still don't know where we should be." The listings all start to look alike from far away. The next question is usually, "Can an agent really help us if we can't be there in person?"
Yes, and it starts before you look at a single home. I teach you the area first, so that when we do look at houses, you already know which towns and neighborhoods fit the way you want to live. That's how you avoid buying a house you've stood in for twenty minutes and hoping it was the right street.
Learning the area before you look at homes
The Ann Arbor area is a city, the neighborhoods inside it, and a ring of small towns around it. Each one feels different, and the differences rarely show up in a listing.
Some neighborhoods put you close to campus and the University of Michigan hospital. Ann Arbor Hills and Geddes Heights are both walkable or bikeable to the hospital and Central Campus. The Old West Side and Water Hill are walkable to downtown, with homes around 100 years old and smaller square footage unless they've been added onto.
Other buyers don't mind a drive for a different setting. Brighton, with its lakes and a downtown on the Mill Pond, is about 15 to 20 minutes north up US-23. Dexter is 10 to 20 minutes west, and Saline is 12 to 20 minutes south. Ypsilanti, just east of Ann Arbor, generally comes in at a lower price point.
There are small things worth knowing, too. On University of Michigan football Saturdays, the city revolves around the game, and it's smart to avoid driving near Michigan Stadium from about two hours before kickoff until about two hours after the game ends. Before you choose a neighborhood, I'll tell you what daily life there is really like, including the trade-offs.
Seeing homes when you can't be here
Relocating buyers often say, "We saw eight houses in a day and they all blur together." A long day of showings on a short trip is hard on anyone, and it isn't the best way to choose a home.
When you can't be here, I walk through homes for you on a FaceTime video call, room by room, and you can ask questions as we go. I show you what the photos leave out: how the rooms connect, how much light comes in, what's next door, and how busy the street is. Then I give you my clear assessment of the home, including anything that concerns me.
By the time you visit, the list is short and every showing counts. You come for the homes that are worth your trip, and you see them already knowing a lot about each one. You can read more about how I help buyers in how I help you buy a home.
Making an offer from a distance
Once you find the right home, the work shifts to the offer and everything after it. I explain each step in plain words, tell you what I recommend, and let you decide. From the offer to closing day, I keep a checklist, and you hear the next step from me before you need to ask. That matters even more when you're managing a move from another state.
Sometimes it takes patience. One of my buyers moved back to the Ann Arbor area from Austin, Texas, for a new job. Homes in the neighborhood she wanted were at the very top of her budget. We offered list price, the most she could pay, and lost to a cash offer over list. Then the cash buyer backed out, the listing agent came back to us, and she got the house at list price. She didn't have to win a bidding war to win the home.
If you're also selling a home somewhere else, we plan the timing of both so you aren't stuck carrying two houses for long. If you're buying your first home, start with my page for first-time buyers in the Ann Arbor area.
Relocating across the Ann Arbor area
- Relocating to Ann Arbor, from homes near downtown to neighborhoods close to campus.
- Relocating to Ann Arbor Hills, close to the University of Michigan hospital and campus.
- Relocating to Geddes Heights, a tree-covered pocket beside Nichols Arboretum.
- Relocating to Brighton, 15 to 20 minutes north of Ann Arbor up US-23.
- Relocating to Dexter, a small town just west of Ann Arbor.
- Relocating to Saline, 12 to 20 minutes south of Ann Arbor.
If you're relocating to Ann Arbor, call me or send a note, even if your move is months away. We'll talk about your job, your timeline, and what you want in a home, and I'll start teaching you the area from there. You can also browse how I help you buy a home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a home in Ann Arbor if I can't be there in person?
Yes. I walk through the home with you on a FaceTime video call, room by room, so you see it in detail. If you can make a trip, we plan one focused visit after the list is narrowed, so every showing counts.
How far is Brighton from Ann Arbor?
About 15 to 20 minutes north up US-23. The exact drive depends on where in Brighton you live and where in Ann Arbor you're headed.
What should I know about University of Michigan football Saturdays?
Traffic around Michigan Stadium is heavy on game days. It's smart to avoid driving near the stadium from about two hours before kickoff until about two hours after the game ends.
Relocation by neighborhood
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Ready to make your move with Nancy Arnold?