MOVING TO GRAND RAPIDS
Why we love it here
Why Grand Rapids, and why Ada
Ada gives you small-town life about 15 minutes from a growing city, with top-rated schools and Lake Michigan beaches within an hour.
Close to everything
Downtown Grand Rapids and Gerald R. Ford International Airport are each about 14 minutes away.
Strong schools
Most of Ada is served by Forest Hills Public Schools, rated A+ by Niche.
Room to breathe
The Grand and Thornapple rivers run through the township, past wooded lots, trails and the 1867 Ada Covered Bridge.
A real job base
Ada is home to Amway's world headquarters, and Grand Rapids is a hub for health care, manufacturing and design.
Lake life on weekends
Grand Haven's beaches on Lake Michigan are about 49 minutes west.
A growing airport
Ford International set a passenger record in 2025, topping 4 million, with new routes still being added.
Interactive map
Explore the Grand Rapids area
Schools, hospitals, shopping, rivers and towns across the Grand Rapids area, centered on Ada and Cascade where we build. Tap any pin for details and directions.
Home site pins show the street, not an exact lot. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Find your fit
Towns and neighborhoods
Most families moving to the east side of Grand Rapids land in one of these areas. Each has a different pace, school district and type of lot.
| Area | Feels like | Schools | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | Small village on the Thornapple River, wooded lots, Amway's hometown | Forest Hills (most of the township) | Families who want space and top schools close to the city |
| Cascade / Forest Hills | Established neighborhoods next to the airport and the Thornapple | Forest Hills | Frequent flyers and families who want quick access to everything |
| East Grand Rapids | Walkable streets around Reeds Lake, closest to downtown | East Grand Rapids | Buyers who want a walkable, in-town lifestyle |
| Rockford | Lively downtown on the Rogue River, on the White Pine Trail | Rockford | Outdoor lovers who want a small-town main street |
| Lowell & Vergennes Twp. | Quiet small town where the Flat and Grand rivers meet, more acreage | Lowell Area | Buyers who want land, privacy and lower density |
| The lakeshore | Grand Haven, Holland, Saugatuck and Whitehall, about an hour west | Varies by town | Second homes and full-time lake life |
Where Epique has home sites now: Woodside Oaks (Ada and Cascade) and two wooded lots on Beckwith Drive (Vergennes Township, Lowell schools). Coming soon: 5 new home sites near Quail Ridge Golf Club in Cascade. Ask us what's available this month.
Schools
Forest Hills Public Schools
Forest Hills serves most of Ada and is a big reason families choose the area. Niche rates the district A+, and U.S. News ranks all three of its high schools among Michigan's top public schools.
- 18 schools, including an environmental school for 5th and 6th graders
- About 174 high school courses, including 19 AP courses
- Spanish and Mandarin Chinese immersion from kindergarten through 12th grade
- 95% of graduates go on to college or other post-secondary education
Before you buy or build, confirm the district and attendance area for the address. Forest Hills will check an address at (616) 493-8800. Part of northeast Ada is in Lowell Area Schools. We're happy to set up school tours for you.
Getting around
Everything within 15 minutes
| From Ada to | Drive | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Grand Rapids | About 14 min | 9 |
| Ford Airport (GRR) | About 14 min | 9.5 |
| Grand Haven & Lake Michigan | About 49 min | 43 |
| Detroit | About 2 hr 30 min | 155 |
| Chicago | About 3 hr | 190 |
Typical drive times without traffic. Chicago is on Central time, one hour behind Michigan.
Four real seasons
Weather and seasons
West Michigan has four real seasons, and winter brings plenty of snow. Grand Rapids averages about 78 inches of snow a year, compared with about 45 inches in Detroit.
Winter · Dec–Mar
Lake-effect snow means frequent light snowfalls, and roads are cleared quickly. Many locals enjoy outdoor activities like skiing, skating and snowshoeing.
Spring · Apr–May
Cool and green, and a great time to walk lots.
Summer · Jun–Aug
Warm and sunny, with beach days on Lake Michigan and evenings on the rivers.
Fall · Sep–Nov
The season many locals love most, with colorful hardwoods, cider mills and football Fridays.
What it means for your home: we build for this climate. Every Epique home meets or exceeds Energy Star requirements, which keeps heating bills lower in winter.
Your options
Buy, build, or both
Because Epique Homes builds and Epique Real Estate sells, one team can help with any of these paths, and you don't have to pick one before you talk to us.
Build on an Epique home site
Choose one of our available lots, then design your home with our in-house team. Best if you want a custom home without hunting for land.
Build on your own lot
Buy land anywhere in West Michigan. We help you check it before you buy, then build. Best if you have a specific area or acreage in mind.
Buy an existing home
Epique Real Estate finds and negotiates a home that fits. Best if you need to move in soon.
Buy now, build later
Buy or rent a home now, build your custom home, then we sell the first one for you. Best if you're relocating on a deadline but want to build.
Land experts
Have land? Need land?
We build on your lot as well as ours, and we know West Michigan land. Before you buy a parcel, we can tell you what it will really take to build a home on it.
We also keep track of land coming up for sale around Ada and Cascade, including lots that never hit the open market. Tell us what you're looking for and we'll watch for it.
What we check for you
- Perc test and septic: whether the soil will pass, and what system it needs
- Well or city water and sewer: what's at the road and what it costs to connect
- Excavation and site work: slopes, soils, tree clearing, fill and long driveways
- Building site and walkout potential: where the house should sit for views, sun and drainage
- Zoning and setbacks: township rules on size, placement and outbuildings
- Utilities: power, gas and internet at the road
From out of town
Building from out of town: how it works
You don't need to live here to build here. Most of the process happens by video call, and you'll see every step of your build online.
- Video call with Troy and HeatherTell us your timeline, budget range, must-haves and where you're moving from.
- Virtual lot tourWe walk available home sites on video and send photos, plat maps and school district details.
- One planning visitMost families make one trip to walk their top lots, tour a finished Epique home and meet our designers.
- Design remotelyOur in-house designers work with you on floor plans and selections by video, email and shared files.
- Watch your home go up onlineEvery client gets a secure webpage for their home with selections, schedule and site photos.
- Walk-through and move-inWe do a final walk-through with you, then hand over the keys.
Meanwhile, Epique Real Estate can help you sell your current home or find a place to rent or buy while you build.
Take it with you
Download the full guide
Get the complete Moving to Grand Rapids guide, with neighborhoods, schools, drive times, building from out of town and a step-by-step moving checklist. Print it, save it, share it with your family.
Download the guide (PDF)Talk to us
We'd love to help you get here
Call, text or email either of us. We're happy to set up a video call wherever you're living now.
