Why I think Michigan is an awesome place to call home

As most of you know, I love living in Michigan. I grew up here, I went to college here, I found my career here, built a blog I love here, and plan to stay here for the rest of my life! There are so many reasons why I love Michigan. Today I’m going to touch on the top five benefits to living in Michigan in collaboration with MSHDA! If you haven’t heard of MSHDA before, simply put, they help Michigan residents get into homes. They offer several valuable programs, provide housing for veterans, reduce homelessness and make homeownership possible and preserve Michigan history. Be sure to head over to their website to read more!

MSHDA sponsored this post. The opinions and text are my own.

Top five benefits to living in Michigan:

1. Our beaches/Great Lakes.

This is by far my favorite thing about living in Michigan. We’re the only state that touches four of the five Great Lakes, and we’re home to the longest freshwater coastline of any U.S. state! Honestly, I couldn’t imagine living away from the Great Lakes. And thanks to the lakes, we also have the most lighthouses of any state, which have led to a lifetime of adventures that I’ve cherished so much. Did you know MSHDA is helping save Michigan’s lighthouses? They help provide grants for rehabilitation projects. We recently visited the Sand Point Lighthouse, which received a grant from MSHDA . It was really exciting to see a project they helped restore up close and personal!

2. A great place to raise a family.

So of course, for me, there’s the obvious, I grew up here, I want to see my kids born here and experience Michigan themselves and be close to my family and friends. But besides that, Michigan is a great place to raise a family. We have safe neighborhoods, many family-friendly activities and events, festivals, wonderful schools, amazing colleges and universities, and opportunities to grow and stay here.

3. Affordable cost of living.

Michigan has made headlines as an affordable place to buy a home, eat/drink, and live. Plus, with programs provided by MSHDA, it’s even easier to become a homeowner. If you’re a first-time home buyer, or haven’t owned a home in three years, MSHDA offers home loans with down payment assistance up to $7,500 (Michigan Down Payment). They also offer a unique set of mortgage products and are an affordable partner for all loans. Be sure to check their website for all of the education and resources they offer!

4. Unique things to see and do.

Many of my blog readers (who have never been to Michigan) have commented that they had no idea there are so many things to do in Michigan. From small towns to big cities, you can pretty much see and do anything here in Michigan. For the adventure fans out there, we have tons of opportunities for kayaking, mountain biking, snowmobiling, skiing/snowboarding, hiking, etc. For those who love a bigger city vibe, be sure to head to Grand Rapids or Detroit to take in the history and culture… along with some of the best food, craft beer and cocktails. In Michigan, you can visit everything from the world’s largest Christmas store in Frankenmuth to a Dutch Village in Holland. You can see waterfalls as big as Tahquamenon Falls or as small as Rapid River Falls in the Upper Peninsula. We have so much great music, cultural events and festivals, along with the best seasonal activities. You can never run out of fun things to do in Michigan, in every season. And on that note…

5. Our seasons.

Last but not least, I know you can definitely catch a Michigander complaining about how long our winters last, but we wouldn’t trade our seasons for the world. We get the best of all seasons -- hot, sunny summer days that last until almost 10 o’clock at night; the most beautiful fall colors with pumpkin patches and cider mills galore; a true winter wonderland with tons of options for sledding, snowmobiling, ice skating, etc. The holidays are so magical here! And of course, spring, when everything is in bloom — especially those tulip fields and the flowering trees. I love so many things about each of our seasons, and even if winter does last a little longer than other states, it’s worth it to me!

If you’re interested in moving to Michigan or staying in Michigan and buying your own house, be sure to look into MSHDA’s programs and offerings! If you’re a first-time homebuyer, check out MSHDA’s Michigan Down Payment program. It provides down payment assistance up to $7,500 for first-time homebuyers and repeat buyers in targeted areas. Eligibility requirements apply. Learn more about the Michigan Down Payment program here!