Hi there... I live in Lansing, attend MSU College of Vet Med. Close enough to Ann Arbor to give an opinion. No, we don't shovel every morning during the winter- the most days of snow in a row we had here this winter was 5. What does need to be done more regularly is salting the walks- this is for your own behind (hurts bunches when you land on it from slipping on ice!).
We have a single family home with a full basement, so I can't vouch for mobile/ manufactured homes, but I was surprised to see them when we arrived from Nor Cal last year! They have inhabitants, I guess it can be done...
Good luck, and don't let fear of the snow keep you from your dream- in Med School you spend nearly all of your time in the library or the coffee shop, anyway!
Jenn Fitz
