I live in the Downriver suburbs of Detroit. Been here all my life. Didn't think it was bad when I was a kid; my parents never let on that it was a dangerous area. Got married and moved a little further down river, but there wasn't any houses to be had there. Apartment living was nice, but it's everybody's dream to own their own home, right? Bought a house a block away from where I grew up and right across the street from where my wife had lived. The wife was chronically ill by then, so it was nice that her folks were right across the street, for when I was at work, etc. It wasn't the greatest place to live, but it was convenient, and the job was good. And it was a job that you didn't just walk away from, to move to another state, etc., unless of course, you were being transferred. During layoffs from that job, there weren't jobs to be had, (early 80s) but we toughed it out, I found work and we saved our home. Seems like about the time we'd consider moving, something else would kick our legs out from underneath us. We'd taken our streets back a time or two, when things got a little dicey, I organized the neighborhood watch, and people still generally watch out for each other here. Now that I've been here near 30 years, I hate it. No, the neighborhood hasn't changed for the worse as of now, I just hate city life the older I get. Just as I'm thinking retirement, and ready to get to hell out of here, the economy goes in the crapper. Now retired, I CAN'T leave, at least not for a few years. Houses simply aren't selling here; there's such a glut of them on the market from people walking away from their mortgages.
Of course, when it comes to safety I bet many here would easily justify buying another gun or such, even while they say moving would be impossible.
I can't figure this comment out. Uh......
YEAH!?! Justifying $500 is not exactly the same as trying to sell your house or letting it go for a fraction of what it's worth.
Oh make no mistake, I'm still looking. I just have to be sure I'll be able to either sell my house, or be able to afford taxes on 2 places for several years.