West Bloomfield Homes for Sale
According to Money Magazine, West Bloomfield is one of America's "Best Small Cities" for 2006 it's #14 out of 725 cities with populations of 50,000 - 300,000! West Bloomfield, also known as "Lake Township of Oakland County", and has a long history of prestige, diversity and success. West Bloomfield has 25 lakes that cover 1858.7 acres or 14.3% of land use. West Bloomfield Township has more lakes and ponds than that of any other township in the United States except for one in Minnesota.
West Bloomfield has a land area of 31.16 square miles or 19,948 acres. Situated within the township borders are the City of Orchard Lake Village, the City of Keego Harbor, and the City of Sylvan Lake.You can't refer to West Bloomfield without mentioning Orchard Lake. This is a small community located within West Bloomfield. Orchard Lake waterfront homes are considered the most prestigious living quarters in the metro detroit area.
Because I am a top West Bloomfield real estate agent I can tell you first hand that West Bloomfield has always been regarded as one of the most affluent areas in the country, for its many lakes, rolling hills, gracious homes, immaculate landscaping, specialty shops, businesses, community events, ethnic and religious diversity, higher education and celebrities. The township of West Bloomfield has a lot to be proud of.
One of my favorite subdivisions is called Wyndham Pointe in West Bloomfield located either off of Walnut Lake road or the entrance of Maple road, also known as 15 Mile road. The builders in the Wyndham Pointe Neighborhood include Crystal Homes, Spartan Homes and A & M Home Builders.
West Bloomfield's booming economy can be seen in the many shopping sites along Orchard Lake Road. A variety of new and historic shopping strips and complexes display a wide array of luxury, designer, commercial and ethnic stores and restaurants. It is commonplace for locals to run into celebrities while shopping, attending religious services or community events as many originate from or currently reside in the area!
West Bloomfield real estate and its immediate neighboring towns have long been known for their wealth and success. The estimated median household income is significantly above the average of the entire state as well as home values, population with bachelor degrees, and employment. They boast a proud history with many community preservation events and fund raising, yet is very cosmopolitan, high-tech and fashion-forward in their standards and image. The largest lake in all of Oakland County is Cass Lake, located partly in West Bloomfield. Pine Lake, which also has a country club attached, is completely defined within West Bloomfield.
The major lakes in West Bloomfield are:
- Bloomfield Lake 5.6 acres
- Brookfield Lake 4 to 5 acres regulations
- Cass Lake 1,280 acres, 123 ft. Deep largest lake in Oakland County
- Cross Lake 7.3 acres regulations
- Darb Lake 16.5 acres regulations
- Flanders Lake 9.6 acres
- Fox Lake 6.2 acres
- Green Lake 166 acres, 65 ft. depth regulations
- Hammond Lake 85 acres
- Lake Marion 6 acres
- Middle Straits Lake 171 acres, 55 ft. depth
- Mirror Lake 11 acres, 25 ft depth
- Moon Lake 3.7 acres regulations
- Morris Lake 15 acres - regulations
- Orchard Lake 788 acres, 110 ft. depth Public Access
- Pine Lake 395 acres, 90 ft. depth
- Pleasant Lake 41 acres regulations
- Rockwell Lake 2.7 acres
- Scotch Lake 9.3 acres
- Simpson Lake 13.2 acres regulations
- Union Lake 465 acres, 102 ft. depth
- Upper Straits Lake 323 acres, 96 ft. depth regulations
- Walnut Lake 232 acres. 101 ft. depth regulations
- West Bloomfield Lake 12 acres
- Woodpecker Lake 16 acres regulations
West Bloomfield Location
A suburb of Detroit in the south central area of Oakland County, West Bloomfield is a charter township, approximately 30 minutes from the Detroit Metropolitan airport. It's about 10 miles to the northwest from the Detroit city limits, and its neighboring communities include Bloomfield Township to the east, Farmington Hills to the south, Commerce Township to the west and many lake communities to the north. Roads like Telegraph Road and Northwestern Highway have easy access to the major expressways.
West Bloomfield Population
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,860 people, 23,414 households and 18,192 families residing in the township.
West Bloomfield Avg sales price and Property Taxes
Average West Bloomfield home price: $281,650
Median Family Income: $115,676
Depending on what school district you reside in, the following tax rates apply:
Birmingham Schools $36.98 per $1,000 taxable value
Farmington Schools $35.81 per $1,000 taxable value
West Bloomfield Schools $34.88 per $1,000 taxable value
Bloomfield Hills Schools $34.71 per $1,000 taxable value
Walled Lake Schools $31.95 per $1,000 taxable value
Waterford Schools $28.83 per $1,000 taxable value
Pontiac Schools $26.51 per $1,000 taxable value
West Bloomfield Prevalent Architecture of Homes
Real estate in West Bloomfield Township varies in price depending on square footage, features and architecture, as well as several amenities that could vary from house to house. Due to its prime location, most homes are priced much higher than in neighboring cities and many are contractually mansions. While there are more modest homes, the Township is popular for historical homes with original architectural features, updated with modern construction technology. These customized homes come with a mighty price tag.
Modern, cutting edge construction is prevalent in this community as well. Most of these homes are upwards of 3000 square feet, and include acreage, elaborate professional landscaping, secured, gated property lines and dramatic sweeping driveways. Many residents have a "sky's the limit" attitude toward the amenities in these homes. It's not unusual to see heated in-ground pools and Jacuzzis, music production studios, surround sound theatres, wrap around balconies, ballrooms, custom cabinetry, and even bowling alleys!
How these residents present themselves to the public is a priority in a lot of cases. Even local businesses have the latest amenities! To own a home priced in the millions is quite common and almost considered a necessity by some residents, as competition for status is fierce. While many of these properties are handed down from generation to generation, the savvy younger generations have profited immensely from their inherited wealth and/or education, and that has prompted them to build new construction better suited to their bold, modern tastes.
Also apparent is the large community of people with the Jewish faith residing in the West Bloomfield real estate market. Many synagogues and the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit are centrally located within West Bloomfield. The newly built Holocaust Museum, officially located in the city of Farmington Hills on Orchard Lake Road, is heavily visited by residents and students and has become a popular national attraction. Though the museum architecture is somewhat contraversial, it is meant to symbolize perseverance and productivity to the fullest, resembling modern stream-lined shapes and an almost over exaggerated presence.
The past couple years there have been more foreclosures in West Bloomfield. Investors are starting to buy distressed bank owned homes for very reasonable prices as more homeowners go through the foreclosure process in West Bloomfield.
West Bloomfield Local Business
Major employers include National Credit Corporation, Pella Window and Door Company, Genix, LLC, The Bottle Crew, Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, Westwind Commercial Development, Fitness Management Corporation and Singh Development Company, to name a few.
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Brief History on West Bloomfield
In April of 1833, Bloomfield Township was divided in two; the western portion being West Bloomfield Township. The area was first known for its apple orchards, rolling hills and lush fields. These origins are reflected in local names such as the Village of Orchard Lake or Apple Island.
The Township has a total area of 31.2 sq miles and 12.49% of it is water. The area's natural beauty and resources have played a key role in its development. With the exploration by the French during the early 1800s, many expeditions overran the Indian population from this area and the mapping of Bloomfield Township was divided into the communities that remain today.
Timbering of oak, maple and beech provided the main economic ventures at this time along with the development of the many lakes and ponds. Orchard Lake, mentioned above and Cass Lake, named after its first governor, Lewis Cass, are the largest bodies of water in this area. Once the word spread that this prime land existed, one man, named John Huff, took on the task of traveling the Saginaw Trail, now known as Woodward Avenue, to begin clearing land for a cabin settlement. Much of the heritage in this area focuses on the many lakes. Many stories and legends tell of secret Indian conclaves. The many expeditions that took place after that were to establish communities along the lakes, which remains the staple of the community today. A log cabin between Pine and Walnut Lakes was the first school in the area. The next school opened was a Scottish settlement located between Orchard and Green Lakes. The present Scottish school, the oldest in the West Bloomfield school district, was built in 1926 and is located near the original cabin school.
After the turn of the century, when Detroit began its development of the motor car as well as Detroit United Railway, an electric streetcar service, West Bloomfield was profoundly affected in its access and exposure to the resources of Detroit and surrounding areas. In turn, an increasing number of the townspeople from the major cities discovered the possibilities of weekend retreats in its sprawling hills for scenic picnics, and for swimming and boating in its many lakes and ponds. Real estate in West Bloomfield became a highly sought after opportunity, especially for the lakefront properties. Farming and transportation then developed and flourished. Fruit, dairy and other products could be transported to and from Detroit via the Detroit United Railway and resident motorcars. The times were definitely changing!
Among the hustle and bustle of today's West Bloomfield Township, some of this heritage can still be seen today at the Orchard Lake Community Church on Commerce Road or the Green Farm on 14 Mile Road, the De Conick property on West Maple Road or the Borland Home on Pontiac Trail Road.
West Bloomfield Schools
The West Bloomfield School District serves students from West Bloomfield Township and the cities of Orchard Lake Village, Keego Harbor, and Sylvan Lake. The schools have received state and national awards; six have been named National Exemplary Schools. Student achievement ranks among the highest in the state, and nearly 94 percent of the West Bloomfield School District students go on to college, while 55.3 percent of the community has a bachelor's degree. The schools are technologically intensive: They contain more than 2,500 personal computers in labs and classrooms, 400 laptop computers on network-connected wireless mobile carts, local and wide area networks, high-speed Internet, and distance learning broadcast facilities.
West Bloomfield has one of the widest selections of school districts in the state. The possibilities include Birmingham School District, Bloomfield Hills School District, Farmington Public School District, Pontiac City School District, Walled Lake School District, Waterford School District, and obviously the West Bloomfield School District.
West Bloomfield High School, a prestigious public school is located on Orchard Lake Road. Brookfield Academy, located on Walnut Lake Road is the 1st Montessori school in Michigan. Founded in 1964, it is one of the largest private schools in the state with many campuses spreading to other surrounding cities.
West Bloomfield Shopping & Recreation
There are plenty of local attractions, including 29 movie theatres, 152 bars, 199 public golf courses, 51 libraries, and 3,656 restaurants within 15 miles of the township's borders! Major shopping is found on Orchard Lake Road and Haggerty Road, with an emphasis on small neighborhood malls, restaurants, and local business offices. People love to enjoy themselves here and it's made overwhelmingly clear by the many specialty boutiques, endless restaurants, grills and delis that reflect the diversity of its residents.
While many travel to neighboring communities for their nightlife, many restaurants exist along the major streets in West Bloomfield including Bentley's on Drake Road, Cafe Dish Detroit on W. Maple Road, Rossini's on Haggerty Road, The Lark (for French cuisine) on Farmington Road, popular Sposita Ristorante on W. 14 Mile Road and the new Andiamo West in the city of Bloomfield Hills. Local celebrities are often spotted here and perform, such as Regis Philbin. On the strip of Orchard Lake Road, places like Blue Ginger, Mene Sushi, Yossi's Israeli Cuisine, Yotsuba Japanese Restaurant and most famously the Stage Deli are frequented by families for generations and party-goers by night.
Shopping also takes place a lot of the time in the surrounding areas in cities like Birmingham, Royal Oak, Ferndale and Troy which has Somerset Mall and established a new mall called the Somerset Collection that holds the bigger department stores specializing in the finer things, such as Macy's and Nordstrom. Many luxury auto dealerships followed suit and planted their businesses in these areas. The area boasts incredible landscaping and bustling walkways with lights placed perfectly to effectively brighten this shopping mecca in this major shopping development that all of metro Detroit partakes in everyday of the week.
With golf being one of the most popular past times in Michigan, it boasts more golf courses than any other state in the country. Within 16 miles from the center of West Bloomfield, there are 106 golf courses alone. Most courses are private access in the city limits, but the selection outside the city is boundless!
West Bloomfield Public Transportation
The Township is served by three fixed bus routes. Schedules are available in the Township Hall lobby or by calling SMART at (866) 962-5515. Additionally, there is a community transit bus for scheduling rides locally. For more information call West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation at (248) 451-1900.
Request more Info on West Bloomfield Real Estate
For more information about the beautiful city of West Bloomfield, contact number one West Bloomfield real estate agent MARK Z. & Associates.
