We had our office Thanksgiving party yesterday - potluck at the office complete with turkey, stuffing, and all the trimmings!  Such a great time to reflect on being thankful for a wonderful "family" of associates who are also friends!

I am truly thankful for the group we have here: how well we work together; look out for one another; cover floor time for each other as necessary; and just get along great.   

Happy early Thanksgiving, Everyone!

If you are planning to sell your home in Michigan in the spring, few things can liven up and beautify your yard more than spring bulbs!

You can plant these bulbs as long as the ground hasn't frozen, and with our extended fall of warmer than usual temperatures, it is a great opportunity that doesn't take much time or money.

Many home improvement stores and garden centers now have spring bulbs at half-off prices or less!  Take advantage of spending little money for a great return in the spring!  Most of stores have how-to brochures if you haven't planted bulbs before, and it's easy!

Tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, & narcissus seem to be the easiet to find, and the least expensive.  I found some at a home improvement store - 30 bulbs for $5! Very nice bulbs, too!

I always enjoy looking forward to the explosion of blooms in the spring!

An associate was relating the mold challenges of a couple of properties that he purchased that had a toxic mold presence. 

One property they remediated by sealing off the room, then bleaching and sealing the affected areas with a shellac-based paint.  The entire home then vacuumed using HEPA filter. They then placed the tests indoors (different areas of the home) and out.  In a few days they were teeming with mold! 

The tests were then sent to the lab and the air inside of the home was deemed to be comparable to the outdoor air level of mold, without toxic molds present... just lots of "good" molds!

The other home was remediated by a professional company at the request of a new buyer, and they followed pretty much the same procedure, except using a foam type bleaching product that stayed on the wall longer. 

Additionally, the door of the affected room was sealed off with tape and plastic, and a negative vacuum created by blowing air out of the room's window.  This created a suction so that no air-borne mold spores disturbed from the cleaning process would escape to other rooms of the home.

The second home was then tested and found to have safe levels of mold present - which are present in the air virtually everywhere! 

Basic difference was the cost - hundreds of dollars compared to a few dollars and some elbow grease.

Interestingly, the remediation company's forms related everything to New York standards, as the state of Michigan has no standard for mold remediation!

Following is the statement on the State of Michigan mold fact sheet:

"The State of Michigan does not have laws that require anyone to cleanup, remove, or report mold

in any indoor environment. The State of Michigan does not have a program to address issues

related to mold, other than to provide people basic information about mold clean-up. The State

of Michigan does not certify or license contractors for mold removal."

However, there are laws in Michigan protecting tenants, remediation fraud, and new construction  regulations to prevent mold.

Here is a link to the State of Michigan Department of Community Health Fact Sheet (which contains links for further information):

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mold_fact_sheet_final_11-05_143385_7.pdf

Yes, your home has mold too!

 

 

 

Investors - Land Contracts & Homebuyer Tax Credit as Balloon

Some investors are doing land contracts with very little down, and including language in the contract that requires a balloon payment based on their Homebuyer Tax Credit.

If buyers qualify for this credit, (a tax professional should evaluate), they can file an amended 2008 return to claim it as soon as they close on a home.

Generally, investors are buying foreclosed homes, fixing up the home to very liveable, move-in condition, and selling them on land contract for around twice their investment.

Many land contract buyers have solid employment, but due to something unexpected, (divorce, extremely high variable interest, medical emergency, etc.) lost their home and are unable to obtain financing through lenders.

Of course, there are several risks for the investor in this arrangement, but it may be very lucrative if you carefully screen buyers and make sure the homes that you sell them are in good condition.

 

I know it's early to be thinking about holiday decorating, but... the outdoor lights are already starting to appear!

While the exterior landscaping may be looking a little drab until the white fluffy stuff sticks around,
your interior homescape can be more inviting and homey than ever.

If your home is for sale in November and December, it could be looking it's best!

Remember, Sellers, as you decorate:

Don't overdo it!  (inside OR out)

If you are putting up a tree, make sure it enhances the room without overtaking it.

You are selling space...  and a smaller-than-usual holiday tree inside may help to sell your home.

Have no more than 3 or 4 decorated areas in the main living space.

If you have a tree, that counts as one. 
A table centerpiece with candles is nice.
A decorated mantel is good.
A simple wreath on the door or a wall

Take a new look at those treasured pieces.  Are they in good shape?  If not, they are better left in the box.  Everything a buyer sees in your home tells them how much you care about the maintenance of your home.  Be sure everything looks fresh -especially greenery and candles.

Keep the miscellaneous odds and ends of decorations in the storage room, (especially anything in less-than-excellent condition).  You want potential buyers to focus on the home, not the doo-dads in every nook & cranny.

If you must decorate the bathrooms and bedrooms, One or two small items will do - per room.

Refrain from having every surface covered with candles, pillows, throws and knick-knacks and pictures on the wall of a holiday theme, whether it be Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanza.

Likewise, refrain from huge displays of villages, train sets, santa or snowmen collections, etc.

I know it will be hard to cut back, so keep in mind how wonderful it will be displaying all of your neat stuff in your new home next year!

This goes for the exterior as well - a little goes a long way.  While you may enjoy tens of thousands of lights and other displays, to a potential buyer it may look like a legacy of work they need to compete with if they purchase your home - and they may not want to!

Less is more!

This home has newer everything! Roof, insulation, windows, doors, laminate flooring in kitchen, carpeting, appliances - including washer and dryer, fresh paint, kitchen cabinets & counter. Less than two miles to Ferris State University, and just within the City of Big Rapids for municipal water, sewer & natural gas. Low utility costs, with trash pickup included in water bill! Check out the video (under 4 minutes) and there is also a link below it to go to the listing details. Just click on the link!






Click Here For Listing Details: 101 S. Bronson, Big Rapids, MI 49307

Have you noticed the Snowmobile signs in Mecosta County?

Mecosta County, Michigan, is a very snowmobile-friendly county!  If you are looking for a cottage or cabin for your family recreation activities, this is a great place to be. 

Many main roads in this county even have a paved shoulder for an extra safety width.  This is a great time to buy that get-a-way with a few acres, and many properties adjoin or are near acres and acres (sometimes hundreds!) of Federal and State land.  Great hunting, boating, fishing and golfing in Mecosta County as well as other recreational activities including fantastic Rails-to-Trails pathways!  Come and take a closer look - where the north begins!

 

Yay!  The Senate amended version of the Homebuyer tax credit bill HR 3548 now has passed the US House - they are still voting as I post this, but there is already a 2/3 majority needed to pass it.

It will go to the President's desk for signature, and may be signed into law yet this week!

Update final vote tally:

Final vote:  403 yea,   nay 12

Tax Credit will no longer just for 1st time homebuyers when extension is signed into law.

Excited buyers are looking forward to the extension of the Homebuyer Tax Credit,

just passed by the US Senate today, with 98 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 not voting. 

Now the bill goes back to the US House of Representatives for a vote, which should go quickly, and then on to the President for signature.

Not only is the current tax credit being extended, but homeowners who lived in their principal residence (meaning lived there most of each year) for five consecutive years of the last eight years, may qualify for the new part of the credit, up to $6500.

This bill could possibly be signed into law yet this week.

It's a great time to buy a home in Michigan!

The Homebuyer Tax Credit has still not passed the Senate.  The "cloture" vote that was taken yesterday in the US Senate and passed, was to end debate on the Senate version, and bring it to a vote within 30 hours.  Senate amendment 2712 is a replacement in the form of an "amendment", as a substitute for the original House-introduced bill H.R. 3548.

The Senate may do another cloture vote tonight, giving them another 30 hours before vote.  After it is passed in the Senate, the House will then have to vote on it, as it is being completely substituted for the original House-originated bill.  Only then the President signs it into law.

It is pretty comical reading the Senate Journal sometimes.  Yesterday, there were amendment after amendment introduced to change the effective date, starting with seven days after enactment, no six, no five, no four, no three, no two, no... one day after enactment.  I'm not kidding.