Commute from Novi to Ann Arbor (Pontiac, South Lyon: apartments, lease, mortgage)

[GoTeach]

I recently got a job in (Northeast) Ann Arbor and was considering renting an apartment in Novi (10 mile/Haggerty). Can anyone offer me their experience with communiting to AA from Novi? Specifically the 7-8am commute to work and the 4-5pm commute from work..

Greatly appreciated!

[MichiganMovesSouth]

Congrats on the job!
I am guessing that you are looking at about 45 minutes or so. I think you are better off going from Novi to Ann Arbor vs the other way around. I have to travel North on 275 every morning and I always get stuck in traffic when 14 merges in - well that is all people coming from the AA area heading to the Novi area so I think you will be fine going the opposite direction of most traffic.

[YAZ]

You're lucky. If 275 is backed up, then you have several alternatives to choose from. 10 mile west all the way to South Lyon 'til ya hit Pontiac Trail, Haggerty south to Ford Rd, etc.

[cardwellave]

There's a lot of options. Luckily the freeways are very convenient for that commute.

Haggerty to Ford Rd isn't really the best option. Haggerty jogs around a little bit in the Plymouth/Northville area and it's kind of a hassle, but not too bad.

275 to 14 is pretty efficient though.

Welcome to Michigan!

[GalFriday]

Why not just rent in Ann Arbor and save all the stress of a commute? AA has more to offer than Novi, though both areas are nice.

[GoTeach]

Thanks for the replies! I will have to test drive it before signing my lease, but doesn't sound too bad.

As for living in Ann Arbor... Most of the apartments I looked at were almost as pricey as a mortgage payment and not as nice as the place I found in Novi. While the commute will be longer, I feel that I'm getting more for my money outside of the city.

Thanks again!

[Dexterguy]

I do the commute everyday, I take Beck Rd down to M-14 and drive to and from Ann Arbor and Novi. The commute is actually very good or better than many would guess. Except around the 7:30 am hour traffic starts to pick up a little bit going into Ann Arbor. But 6-7 am you should be able to avoid the morning rush. It takes me about 35-40 mins every day to drive to A2 in the morning if the conditions are good (no train, no snow, construction, etc). The way back in the afternoon is also pretty speedy and problem free. The only thing that would slow you down is the constant construction that they have up and down M-14 for the past three years or so.