WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!!

The new Homeowners

One way to alleviate the guilt of not living in Detroit (a CD requirement) for the first two months of Challenge Detroit, is to buy a home in the city.

My Parents drove in from Wisconsin to help us get settled!

This Thanksgiving, Nellie and I had a lot to be thankful for as we closed on a pretty stinking awesome condo in Detroit’s Art Center area.  Along with pictures, I wanted to share some of the reasons we decided to buy a home IN the city of Detroit.

1) We’ve only lived near Detroit for a short time, but have fallen in love with the city and know we want to live here long term

2) Buying a home is an investment, on many levels, and like all investments you expect growth.  When we look at Detroit’s future we see growth, and want to be a small part of returning the city to its former glory.

Detroit Thanksgiving Parade in front of the DIA, a mere blocks away from our condo

3) The opportunity to live blocks away from 4+ world class museums

4) NO COMMUTE – For the first time since college I will be living less then 10 minutes away from my job.  California friends will be envious

5) In a couple years the commute will be even better as Detroit will complete the M-1 Rail; a public transportation option with a stop blocks away from our condo

6) I’m a numbers guys & I’ve wanted to own a home for a while but it wasn’t feasible in California & Ann Arbor was short term

7) In Detroit, we were able to get a large condo in a great area for a cheaper monthly payment than what one might expect to pay in rent (full disclosure: we were fortunate to have enough savings for a hefty down payment)

One of our windows looking out to our great new neighborhood!

8) The opportunity participate in an amazing community while living in a truly historic and diverse neighborhood

As the year unfolds, I’m excited to seek out and tackle projects in my new home, new community, and new City – DETROIT!

Project 1: Paint the Kitchen Project 2: Meet the Neighbors(hood)