Michigan is located in the upper mid-west of the United States. It is a part of the area known as the Great Lakes Region. It is the 8th largest state in terms of population and 11th largest in terms of area. Michigan is bordered by Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana. To the north of the state is Canada. It is also the only state in America to be made up of two peninsulas.

The capital of Michigan is Lansing, although the largest city is Detroit. Amongst the other major cities in Michigan are Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Flint. The state of Michigan is made up of so many natural ponds and lakes that it is thought that any person is never more than 6 miles away from such water source. There are many famous people from Michigan including Henry Ford the car manufacturer, Madonna and Francis Ford Coppola.

Michigan – Employment

The state of Michigan offers many employment opportunities for expats. Some of the USA’s largest corporations have a base in the city. Car manufacture is something that Detroit is famous for, with both General Motors and Ford having major assembly plants in the area. There are also several companies which manufacture electrical appliances which are based there. Manufacturing offers opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers, though the economic downturn has had an impact on the number of jobs available.

The agriculture industry is a major part of the Michigan economy and there is a wide variety of crops grown in the state. These include corn, wheat and potatoes and the state has a total of 55,000 farms. Work is available in the agricultural industry but this tends to be seasonal. The tourism industry employs around 200,000 people and those who have experience in the industry should find it relatively easy to find work.

Michigan – Property

Detroit is a popular destination for expats, mainly due to the work opportunities that are available. There are several districts which offer all the amenities that are needed for everyday life. The district of Bricktown is a fairly small area of the city that is being regenerated in order to make it attractive to young professionals. There are many buildings being converted into apartments and there has been a growth in the number of boutiques and restaurants in the area.

The district of Greektown has a very Mediterranean feel, with European restaurants and ethnic shops. There are residential properties in the area, with more apartments available than houses. The prices in the area are very reasonable and the district has a very welcoming atmosphere. The Hamtrack district is a favourite with those who enjoy live music, as there are many music venues in the area. This district started life as a village but gradually grew into a town. It is a favourite with expats and there are many Polish immigrants in the area. Accommodation is a variety of houses and apartments and this is a reasonably priced area.

The New Center area of Detroit is protected to prevent it from becoming over developed, although some parts of it are very commercial. This is a very busy area which is probably best suited to young professionals who work there and who want to stay close to their jobs.

Lansing is another city which attracts expats. The Downtown area has some residential properties but consists of mainly government and commercial buildings. The architecture in the area dates back to the mid 19th century. The Eastside of the city has the largest number of expats of any other district. Properties range from apartments to townhouses and there are many for sale or rent. There are several shopping centres in the area and this part of the city can get quite busy.

The Westside consists of residential districts and just one small commercial area. This area is ideal for those with families as many of the homes available are single family homes. The area has good schools and amenities. The Northwestside is quite suburban and the outskirts are on the verge of rural. This area is ideal for those who are looking for a quieter area to live in, though there are some commercial areas with shops and small businesses.