Rent to Own Homes in Kalamazoo
For outdoor recreation, Kalamazoo residents often visit the Kal-Haven Trail. It starts in South Haven, Michigan, and extends to downtown Kalamazoo. It's the perfect place for walking, running and biking most of the year, but residents bring out the snowmobiles in the winter. Other popular features of the city include the open-air mall that is mostly closed to automobile traffic, the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail and the Leila Arboretum.
Kalamazoo is also home to a variety of museums and art galleries that give the city a strong cultural core. The most-visited attractions include the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, the Air Zoo and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.
Buying a Home in Kalamazoo?
With median listing and sales prices often falling below $150,000, Kalamazoo has one of the most affordable real estate markets in the United States. It's common for buyers to pay $100 or less per square foot, and even homes in the more desirable neighborhoods often sell for substantially less than $200,000. Nearly 70 percent of all residents are homeowners, and there are many communities that offer well-maintained homes that are mostly occupied by their owners.
Popular Neighborhoods in Kalamazoo?
One of the most in-demand Kalamazoo neighborhoods is located in the southwestern corner of the city. The community includes all houses south of West N Avenue and west of South 8th Street. The median real estate price is typically just under $300,000, and you'll find many of the city's largest and newest homes in the area. The vacancy rate stays below 10 percent, and there are few rental properties.
For slightly lower real estate prices in a neighborhood that's still considered one of the best in Kalamazoo, look east of South 8th Street to the homes surrounding the Al Sabo Preserve. Median real estate prices are closer to $250,000 here, and you'll still find many larger and newer homes in the mix. The vacancy rate stays under 8 percent in this area.
Buying vs. Rent to Own Homes?
Do you hope to purchase a home in Kalamazoo within the next five or six years? If so, you may consider rent-to-own properties a great deal. They allow you to move into the home that you want to buy in the future, but you start out as a renter. When you're ready to purchase the property, you don't have to move because you've already made yourself at home. This is the perfect solution if you need to move soon but don't want to purchase a home until you're financially ready. Cost of Living in Kalamazoo
The cost of housing often falls more than 50 percent lower than the national average, and that makes Kalamazoo one of the most affordable places to buy a home in the United States. Most residents pay below-average prices for utilities and transportation, and it's easy to find affordable sources of food and products needed for daily life. As long as you stick to a reasonable housing budget, it's not difficult to live comfortably on a modest budget in this southern Michigan city.
Kalamazoo is a southern Michigan city positioned with a three-hour drive of Detroit and Grand Rapids. It's home to Western Michigan University, a community college, and an arts and sciences college. The real estate market often offers prices more than 50 percent lower than the national average, making this one of the more affordable cities in the United States today. With a local airport and easy access to several larger cities, this is a good place to call home if you travel frequently or need to commute for work.