Relocating to Milwaukee: Resources and Overview
Welcome back, everybody! Today we’re talking about moving to Milwaukee. If you clicked on this video, you’re likely thinking about relocating here.
For those not familiar with me, my name is Marcus Auerbach. I moved here about 15 years ago and had to learn Milwaukee the hard way. I am also a real estate agent with Keller Williams and lead the On Point Real Estate Group. Over the years, we’ve helped many people relocate here. Based on my own experience, I know it can be overwhelming—not knowing the neighborhoods, the climate, or the cost of living. On this channel, you’ll find plenty of content about what living in Milwaukee is actually like. Today, I want to give you an overview of the resources we provide on our YouTube channel and website to help you plan your move, whether you’re looking to rent or buy.
The Reality of Milwaukee Weather
When I’m on a Zoom call with someone moving here, the first questions usually revolve around temperatures and especially the winter. I have to say, winter in Milwaukee is not what it used to be.
I’m recording this in the middle of February 2024, and it’s a gorgeous, sunny, 55° day. While we do have cold spells—like an Arctic air event we had in January—we don’t have six months of continuous snow coverage anymore. Most of the time, the roads are clear. Milwaukee has excellent snow removal services; the Public Works department is well-equipped and usually has the roads cleared by early morning. We truly experience all four seasons: a crisp winter, a gorgeous spring, a beautiful summer, and a spectacular fall.
The Neighborhood Selection Process
When I moved here, my biggest problem was being overwhelmed by the size of the city. As an engineer by trade, I prefer to look at the “big picture” and then zoom in. Our team follows a specific process to help you narrow down your search:
Lifestyle: Are you an urban or suburban person?
Schools & Family: Are school districts a priority?
Commute: Where will you be working? (Traffic here is relatively easy compared to other metros).
Hard Criteria: What is your budget? Do you want a condo or new construction?
By answering these questions, we can usually eliminate 70–80% of neighborhoods immediately, leaving us with a manageable shortlist to explore.
Virtual Neighborhood Reviews
One tool I love using is a Virtual Neighborhood Review via Zoom. It’s a very efficient way to understand a neighborhood’s “feel.” For example, I recently showed a client the difference between Wauwatosa and Brookfield. In a 20-minute call, we could see that Wauwatosa has higher housing density and smaller yards, while Brookfield is more suburban with much larger lots. You can cover more ground visually in a short call than you could in hours of driving.
Visual Resources & YouTube Playlists
I’m a visual person, so I started this channel to show people what the streets, trees, restaurants, and coffee shops actually look like. I’ve covered most of the major municipalities in the Milwaukee area.
Pro Tip: Go to my YouTube channel and click on the “Milwaukee Neighborhoods” playlist. It includes everything from cost of living and winter deep-dives to specific neighborhood reviews.
Website Resources & The MLS
We also offer several free resources on our website, onpointrg.com:
Relocation Guide:
A 40-page guide covering neighborhoods, cost of living, climate, employment statistics, and more.
Buyer’s Guide:
Specific tips for navigating the purchase process.
MLS Access:
Instead of using Zillow or Realtor.com, we can give you “Guest Access” to the actual MLS (Multiple Listing Service) that brokers use. It is hands-down the best way to keep tabs on the real-time market.
Cost of Living & Transportation
A main draw for Milwaukee is the relatively low cost of living. While rent and real estate prices have appreciated (roughly 7–8% annually recently), it remains affordable.
Gas Prices: Currently around $2.97 for regular (as of early 2024).
The “20-Minute City”: Milwaukee was built for cars. You can get almost anywhere in 20 minutes, and even crossing the entire city rarely takes more than 30 minutes. Parking is generally available and inexpensive.
Infrastructure: We are currently in the middle of a massive brand-new freeway system project, set to be completed in 2025, which will further improve travel around the metro area.
Closing
Behind me is the iconic Milwaukee Art Museum, designed by Santiago Calatrava. While modern art isn’t my area of expertise, Milwaukee real estate certainly is. If you have questions, feel free to email me at m.auerbach@kw.com or visit onpointrg.com to schedule a call directly on my calendar.
I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you soon in Milwaukee!