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Michigan Town Will Pay You $15,000 to Move There

Living in Michigan is pretty grand, if you ask me. We have all the seasons, and even though I could do without winter, there’s something special about spring starting up,…

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(Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Living in Michigan is pretty grand, if you ask me. We have all the seasons, and even though I could do without winter, there's something special about spring starting up, and it's something you just wouldn't feel in a warmer climate. That said, now, a Michigan town is actually paying people to move there- and they could pay you.

Fortune.com has put together a list of some small towns across America that are giving major incentives to people to move there. "There's something romantic about small-town living," they state in the article. "Imagine living out a Gilmore Girls Stars Hollow fantasy where the owner of the town diner knows your coffee order. As more and more companies offer fully remote positions, people are packing up and leaving the city to pursue the small-town life."

The publication adds that a group of "small townships and cities across the nation are looking to incentivize knowledge workers to move, rewarding them with cash, tax breaks, and even property. These programs are an appealing option for people who cannot afford real estate prices in major metro areas.

One Michigan town is on the list, and it's Southwest, Michigan. According to Fortune.com, the Southwest part of the state is less than 200 miles from Chicago and "known for its scenic Lake Michigan beaches and large dunes that are visible from space." The estimated value of incentive is a whopping $15,000. As for who qualifies, it's full-time remote workers who work for a employer located outside of Michigan. The package, according to the publication, is a $10,000 incentive toward a mortgage "For those who move and purchase a home worth at least $200,000. An extra $5,000 stipend will be offered if an applicant's child is enrolled in a local public school." How amazing is that? Check out the full story via Fortune.com here.

It's a wild time to buy a house. The prices seem to just keep going up and up, with no end to this housing bubble in sight. I would love to buy my first hour, but like many, I'm being forced to wait until the housing market drops a bit, and it's anybody's guess when that will happen.

If you are buying a house right now, you should make sure it's in a good place to live, since you're likely paying a pretty penny for it. Thankfully, the folks at Niche.com have done the homework to determine the best places to buy a house in Michigan. They recently released a list of the best places to live in the state, factoring in both cities, suburbs, towns and city neighborhoods.

"The Best Places to Buy a House ranking provides a comprehensive assessment of the housing and community of an area," they explain the in the study. "This grade takes into account key factors of a location’s housing market, including home values, taxes, crime rates, and quality of local schools, in an attempt to measure the quality and stability of an area’s real estate market." They also look at aspects such as home value to income ratio, public schools grades, monthly housing costs, the cost of living, the higher education rate, the median home value and much more. Statistics are mainly obtained from the U.S. Census and represent the most recent data available, they state.

So, what places are the best to reside in Michigan? Read on for the top 50 list via Niche.com, and best of luck with your home buying experience.

50. Oneida

49. Royal Oak

48. Williamston

http://new.williamston-mi.us/

47. Blendon Township

46. Tecumseh Township

http://www.tecumsehtownship.org/

45. Sheridan Charter Township

44. Jamestown Charter Township

http://twp.jamestown.mi.us/

43. Ferrysburg

http://www.ferrysburg.org/

42. Lima

41. Frankenmuth

40. Courtland Township

39. Bloomfield Charter Township

38. Ingersoll

37. Grand Haven Charter Township

36. Baldwin Township

35. Haslett

34. Jenison

33. DeWitt

32. Quinnesec

31. Freeland

30. Resort Township

29. Midland

28. Grosse Point Woods

27. Oakland Charter Township

26. Webster Township

25. Troy

24. Fulton Heights

http://fultonheights.org/

23. Brighton Township

22. Texas Charter Township

21. Portage Charter Township

20. Crockery Township

19. Norway Township

18. Zeeland Charter Township

17. Northville

16. Cannon Township

15. Beverly Hills

14. Forest Hills

13. West Ishpeming

12. Tilden Township

11. Huntington Woods

10. Hudsonville

9. Ottawa Hills

8. Grosse Pointe Farms

7. Okemos

6. Lodi Township

5. Royalton Township

4. East Grand Rapids

3. Berkley

2. Eastgate

1. Larkin Charter Township

http://www.larkintownship.org/

Best cities, exclusively, to buy a house in Michigan

This study looked at cities, townships, suburbs and towns, but what about just the best city in Michigan to buy a house?

The No. 1 best city to buy a house in Michigan is...

When it comes to cities, Lansing is actually No. 1 on the list, followed by Grand Rapids. Ann Arbor is next, followed by Warren and Detroit.

Lansing stats

For Lansing, which was ranked the No. 1 city to buy a house in Michigan, Niche says, "Lansing is a city in Michigan with a population of 117,159. Lansing is in Ingham County. Living in Lansing offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Lansing there are a lot of coffee shops and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Lansing and residents tend to lean liberal. The public schools in Lansing are above average."

50 Best Places to Buy a House in Michigan

This list is via Niche.com.

Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.