What is Birmingham Michigan Like?

I wanted to give you a insiders look at the City of Birmingham.  As a local realtor it is sometimes hard for relocation buyers to get a flavor of a city just from reading about the city online.  There is so much more to a city than what you read.  Here is my take on the community. 

For decades Birmingham Michigan has been an "upper end" city.  By upper end I mean high demographics.  You will find doctors, dentists, lawyers, business owners, and upper white collar workers living in the city.  The city's homes have been in demand for years.  The reasons why they are in high demand comes from many different reasons.

The City of Birmingham is a very safe place to live.  It has excellent schools and good city services.  It is a place affluent people want to live in.  The home hold their values better than other surrounding communities even in economic downturns.  Birmingham's homes values are usually higher per square foot because of the demand.  Many of the homes near the downtown area (that are walkable) command good prices.  You have a wide range of condos in the downtown area.  You have reasonable condos that were converted over small apartments and you have big beautiful newer condos too.  You can find condominiums in the downtown area ranging from 500 square feet to over 6500 square feet in size.  Big luxurious condos are available to you if you want to live within walking distance of downtown.     

Woodward Avenue goes through the center of the City of Birmingham. You could take Woodward Ave right into downtown Detroit or you can jump on I-96 to I-75 for a quicker trip.  Woodward Avenue is a main thoroughfare from Detroit to Pontiac.  The City of Birmingham is not a big city.  It is only 4.8 miles in size.  The city is no way rural or semi rural.  There are no farms, no large open fields and no large parcels of wooded land.  It is an urban community.

The City is located approximately 20 miles north of downtown Detroit and is in the southeastern portion of Oakland County, one of the wealthiest counties in the country. An affluent suburb located twenty miles northwest of Detroit in Oakland County, the city of  Birmingham was settled in 1819 as part of Bloomfield Township. In 1838, this part of Bloomfield Township was renamed after Birmingham, England because the residents envisioned the area as becoming a prosperous, industrial area. It never became an industrial center which is good.  Instead it became a quaint prosperous town.  It became a place to live for Detroit's wealthy businessmen.

It is primarly a residential community.  There are no plants or factories in the city.  The commercial properties are clustered around the downtown area and all along Woodward Avenue and Maple Road. There are not a lot of tall buildings in Birmingham.  The majority of the commercial buildings are under six stories tall.  There are only four buildings that are taller in the city. 

• 555 Apartments is 15 stories tall
• Birmingham Place is 10 stories tall
• Peabody Street Parking Structure is 7 stories tall
• 555 Offices is 7 stories tall

There are many two story buildings in the downtown area.  It is a downtown area that people from surrounding communities come to.  You will see shoppers walking the downtown area all week long.  You will find mom and pop boutique stores selling unique items catering to affluent clientele.  You will not find many nation wide chain stores or restaurants in Birmingham.  Most of the stores are locally started and owned.  

Birmingham’s lively, pedestrian-friendly downtown offers one of the midwest's premier shopping districts. Comprised of nearly 300 retailers, downtown Birmingham offers a wonderfully diverse assortment of boutiques and national retailers, restaurants, gift shops, jewelers, salons, spas, art galleries, and antiques. Movie theaters and two beautiful parks complete the city center.

Birmingham was incorporated as a village in 1864, and finally as a city in 1932. Today, Birmingham serves as one of the 'downtowns' of Oakland County, and is one of the country's most walkable communities. What I mean by walkable is that I would call it a healthy community.  You will find residents walking the city streets to get exercise.  You will find residents walking dogs or with their children.  

You will find beautiful older and newer homes of all styles and sizes.  The homes are all maintained well.  When you drive or walk down the street you will agree with me that the homes are on well manicured streets.  In the summer the downtown area has beautiful hanging flower pots and beautiful large flower pots adorning the streets.  It is a great area to walk.

Twenty-six parks with over 230 acres cover more than 10% of the City's total acreage, and the school district also provides recreational facilities.  Residents can play baseball, softball, tennis and basketball, and enjoy playgrounds, picnic facilities and two miles of trails along the Rouge River.  Two nine-hole golf courses offer golf and golf lessons.  Anyone who enjoys winter sports can sled and cross country ski at Birmingham's Lincoln Hills Golf Course or sled at Booth Park. Indoor ice skating is available at the ice sports arena which provides for open skating, lessons and ice hockey and an outside temporary ice rink at Barnum Park is available to use based on the climate. 

Birmingham Michigan is a great place to live.  Safe, good schools, and lots to do.  If you are thinking of moving to Birmingham or any community in South East Michigan give me a call.  I will provide you with the information you need to make a smart buying choice.  Call or text me today at 248-310-6239 if you need a really good real estate agent on your side.  I will make your next move easier and less stressful.

248-310-6239 

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