By Staff
DECATUR – While 10 years ago a 30-minute drive was considered a substantial commute, today's new corporate structure has made an hour-and-a-half to a two-hour commute a viable possibility.
As a result, sleepy towns like Decatur (population 2,000) are finding themselves welcoming new residents.
"In today's economy, sales personnel, regional managers and corporate officers are juggling maintaining an office and traveling to multiple cities," said Mike Fisher, president of Redfield Group, an Alabama-based auction firm that markets homes across the United States. "They are looking for a central location that provides a solid atmosphere for their family and allows them to manage events in multiple cities. The result is fantastic estates popping up in unlikely locations."
Fisher says that a perfect example is a 6,747-square-foot home in Decatur that will be sold at auction at 1 p.m. today, Sept. 14.
While his company has received calls from Kalamazoo, Benton Harbor/St. Joseph and other areas, the majority of the interest came from professionals in Chicago and Detroit – many of whom are juggling work between the two cities.
The Decatur home sits on approximately three acres surrounded by woods.
It contains five bedrooms, 4 1/2 bathrooms, a home office, recreation room, family room and four-car garage.