Today is one of those days that just makes me feel giddy.  No humidity, mild temperatures and sunny. Michigan State football won their season opener yesterday.  It feels like fall is officially here.  Although in Michigan we have a saying... Don't like the weather, wait a few hours!  It's inevitable; I'll be running my A/C well into October. 

I was up very early today to show homes here in town.  After showing 3 homes, I was off to Cosi to pick up a bagel and then home to sit in my yard until my next appointment.  To my pleasant surprise this morning the city was bustling with activity.  The farmers market was underway and streets were flooded with people.  All the cafés and coffee shops were filled. Parents had crowded the park benches as children played in Shain Park. The city was alive!

As I was driving the 8 blocks back to my house I got thinking about the community I call home. 
I know when Detroit is mentioned; many of you conjure up ideas of burned out buildings, crime and such.  Detroit gets a very unfair rap... I think that we may have proved that to the rest of America when we hosted well-received Superbowl this past January. 

Whatever you may or may not think of Detroit, Birmingham is its own special city. 

Located about 30minutes from Downtown Detroit, Birmingham is a destination of its own.  The city itself is small, only 4.73 square miles, with a charming downtown.  The city is full of quaint boutiques, great restaurants, pubs and theatres.  Combined that with the fact that all the land is all developed, it makes the property values high.  If you are a resident in Birmingham you have access to a plethora of free cultural events, two public golf courses, many parks, tennis courts, an ice arena and fantastic city services.  The schools are what really make this city coveted by the consumer; Birmingham schools are consistently ranked amongst the top school districts in the state.  All in all, a great place to live and work.

Many are predicting that the economic state in Michigan is going to get worse.  I don't have a crystal ball, so I choose not to listen to the negative media.  I'm concerned for the whole metro area.  However, I think that Birmingham will continue to have the "cache" and be a very desired city to reside in.  I believe that what makes this city so special will continue to keep people lining up to live here.