Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Apartment Renter's Guide

There actually is a "point" in Grosse Pointe Farms. If you stand at a spot just east of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, you'll see a large bend in the lakeshore where it turns enough so that people on the shoreline face east, instead of south, as they do along other spots on the shoreline.

Grosse Pointe Farms used to be where the rich and famous of Old Detroit chose to make their homes, back in the glory days of the auto industry. The auto industry executives loved the ideal combining lakefront living along Lake St. Clair, with easy access to downtown Detroit. Today, Grosse Pointe Farms is a little more accessible to average joes than it used to be, but you can still sense the old money heritage in the well-maintained, tree-lined streets. One thing that hasn't changed, though, is the fact that Grosse Pointe Farms has an awesome location, especially if you work in downtown Detroit. Lakefront living close to the city? Sign us up.

If you choose to live in the sophisticated, quiet town of Grosse Pointe Farms, you are making a smart choice. But as you will see once you begin your search for housing here, there aren't a lot of options for renters. Just slightly more than 5 percent of the houses here are occupied by renters. There are virtually no apartments available. If you do have your heart set on renting an apartment in the area though, you can find some options when you extend your search to nearby towns like Grosse Pointe and Harper Woods.

Even though there isn't much rental housing in Grosse Pointe Farms, that doesn't mean that there aren't any. Just be prepared to spend a lot of extra time on your search, since vacancies tend to be much lower than average. When you are ready to rent an apartment, and have found the perfect spot, you need to be ready to jump on it right away! Don't decide to wait a few weeks to apply after you find an apartment rental ; you need to do it immediately. Come prepared with all the bona fides that will prove to a prospective landlord that you are the kind of tenant they want, like a good job, solid rental references, and of course enough cash on hand to pay for all the important deposits. Whether you are renting a one-bedroom apartment, a two-bedroom townhouse, or are looking at three- bedroom apartments, most landlords want to see at least the first month's rent and a security deposit. Many landlords will also ask for last month's rent up front as well, and you should expect to pay additional deposits if you are lucky enough to find a pet-friendly apartment.

The Farms, as it's known to locals, doesn't have many neighborhoods since it essentially is a neighborhood, or suburb, of Detroit. The larger city's street layout even extends into The Farms, unlike in neighboring Grosse Pointe and Grosse Pointe Park. A notable spot in the town, however, is The Hill on Kercheval. It's a quaint shopping center in the downtown area that resembles the kind of charming scene you would see in a movie. Centered around Kercheval Avenue, the downtown area is notable for its historic buildings that are beginning to be interspersed with newer, neo-traditional storefronts.

Grosse Pointe Farms is also a beautiful place to live, and the city celebrates that beauty with its parks system. Pier Park is the crown jewel of the parks in this little suburb, and it has a variety of public pools, a refrigerated indoor skating rink, and tennis and volleyball courts. Kerby Field also includes three baseball diamonds and a dog park for you to enjoy.

You don't even have to leave Grosse Pointe Farms to have an enjoyable night out. Local bars and restaurants serve up great music and high quality fare practically every night of the week. Culture surrounds you here too, from the stately old homes that look like they are right out of a storybook to the Grosse Pointe War Memorial that honors our veterans.