Angela's Blog

Commitment

Angela Lucaj (Remerica Hometown One) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:05:13 -0500

What are your goals for the year? For your life? Follow Goethe's words of wisdom, and find that they will come together.

Commit to your goals...

Until one is committed, there is hesitance, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.

Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is an elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves, too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

Are you in earnest?

Seek this very minute, whatever you can do, or dream you can; begin it! Boldness has genuius, power, and magic in it.

Only engage and the mind grows heated; Begin and the task will be completed.

Goethe

What are you plans? Purchase your first home... Complete your doctorate... Reach a new plateau in sales.. Start a charity organization... Write a cookbook... Plant a garden...

Be inspired! Make the commitment.

Images of Downtown Plymouth - That Make Me Smile...

Angela Lucaj (Remerica Hometown One) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:07:35 -0500

Images that made me smile today, as I was trolling Plymouth for photographs, are posted here on this link. They can be viewed as a Slideshow.

I plan to write in more detail about some of the shops, buildings, historic landmarks and real estate that caught my attention. For now, I have posted these photographs that I like.

See more of My Favorite Photos

About Me

Angela Lucaj (Remerica Hometown One) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:01:17 -0500

I jumped into real estate with both feet just as the waters began to recede. When I got my license in March of 2005, prospects for real estate sales in Michigan were becoming increasingly pessimistic. I distinctly remember the advice of a veteran builder and broker with 20 years of experience telling me, "This is the perfect time to get started. You won't be spoiled by any easy deals." I loved the positive spin and humor. Yet, the irony was not lost on me. His words have shaped my approach to this business.

This current buyer's market has taught me not to stand on the shore but to swim out to where the buyers and sellers are. Between my experience and course work, I have recently earned a new status as Associate Broker at Remerica Hometown One. This allows me to provide my clients with better representation and extended services.

As a graduate of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with a B.A. degree, and as a lifelong witness as part of an immigrant family who rerooted themselves and continue to run a successful restaurant business, I am no stranger to hard work and service. I have a passion for many things in life and find that selling real estate fulfills the career aspects in it.

There are many facets to the process, but mainly, I enjoy assisting a buyer in fulfilling their dream as a homeowner; seeing the relief experienced by a seller who can move on with their life; imagining the hope that a new home can bring lives together. I am committed to smoothing the process from beginning to end. My attitude is that nothing is over until the deal is closed.

More To Do in Plymouth, Michigan

Angela Lucaj (Remerica Hometown One) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:29:14 -0500

Art In The Park, an annual art fair in downtown Plymouth that fills the streets with art vendors, great food, and music. Stay tuned for a photo journey of the work of my favorite artists after this weekend.

According to the website, in its 25-year history, Plymouth Art In The Park has grown to become the second largest art fair in Michigan. Held every year in July, this three-day event assembles over 400 artists from all over the country who display their work to nearly 200,000 attendees. This art, music and food extravaganza was voted one of the "Gems of The Great Lakes" by AAA magazine, as well as #14 in the USA and #3 in MI among the top 200 art fairs in the country by America's Premier Show & Festival Magazine.

Join the action July 11, 12, & 13.

Free shuttle service are stationed around town to take you to the fair and to help you avoid the stress of parking.

See other things To Do In Plymouth:

To Do In Plymouth

Procuring Cause... Part Deux

Angela Lucaj (Remerica Hometown One) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:13:32 -0500

You may remember a blog I posted a few weeks ago with a dilemna I faced regarding Procuring Cause.

Many Realtors offered great advice and helped to waylay my fears about facing this situation. You asked me to keep you posted. The rest of the story lacks the drama of the scenario, but goes to show that at the heart of it, we just want the best for our clients.

What happened, after all that fretting, was actually very simple. My client was close to making an offer on the "dream house" despite it not being in the dream neighborhood. When the listing agent called to follow up on their interest, I figured it was time to come clean. I explained the situation, that he had written an offer previously for my buyer, now under contract with my company, and said my buyer was considering a second offer.

The listing agent dismissed my concerns. He repeated the fact that he had shown the house a few times, but encouraged us to write, regardless of his previous involvement. Rather than a defensive response, I was greeted with someone who really, truly just wanted to sell his listing and help his sellers.

The fairy tale ending is that we came to an agreement on a fair price for that home. The truth is, my buyer found a fantastic deal in their dream neighborhood, exactly what they wanted all along.

End Of Story.

The Best Scenario

Angela Lucaj (Remerica Hometown One) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:31:07 -0500

A buyer's agent can do so much for you. Provide counsel, show you the best values, negotiate a great deal, make things a lot easier....

One recent example demonstrates this. My client had been searching for a house for eight months on their own. They decided to hire a Realtor after a few unsuccessful attempts at offering through the listing agent to "save on commission".

Working as their buyer's agent, my services included:

Keeping them updated about new homes to hit the market
Notifying them about price changes
Previewing homes that would interest them
Identifying the best values
Providing a list of recent sales prices
Coordinating showings and driving routes
Suggesting competent loan officers and ASHI certified inspectors
Negotiating a "good deal"
Organizing a smooth transaction

After comparing homes, we put an offer on one that they would have been willing to pay more for. However, considering condition and time on market, we offered less, met half way, and my clients were able to purchase it for 10K less than what they would have paid. Not bad, eh?

To Do In Plymouth City and Township, Michigan

Angela Lucaj (Remerica Hometown One) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:42:38 -0500

Plymouth Michigan offers some family friendly and interesting things to do during the summer, such as a Farmer's Market and the Drive-In theater.

The Plymouth Farmer's Market is held every Saturday morning between May and September. See one of my previous blogs for more information: Plymouth Farmer's Market.

How many towns have their own drive-in movie theater?
Check out the link for the local drive-in summer movie schedule at Compuware Arena

Hours of Operation:

June 13-September 7, 2008.

Gates open at 7:30pm and movies begin at dusk.

Call hotline for information during inclement weather.

Full service concessions are available or choose from our summer menu for dining in
or carry out from the Ginopolis on the Ice Restaurant located at CA.

2008 Ticket Prices (2 movies for the price of 1):
Ages 13 and Up (*): $9
Ages 4-12 : $7
Ages 3 and Under: Free!
(*) Anyone showing a student ID will be admitted for $7 Sunday through Thursday

Compuware also provides ice skating and the Junior Whaler's hockey games, and sponsors Fundraising, Corporate and Group Events.

Plymouth Farmer's Market, 48170

Angela Lucaj (Remerica Hometown One) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:36:36 -0500

Summer is fast becoming my favorite time of year. It used to be spring and fall.... but summer is quickly making me its ally. I am not sure what changed my mind. It might have to do with gardening, the full bloom of Michigan greenery, and cooking... ah yes, always back to food.

I made a spontaneous stop at Downtown Plymouth's Farmer's Market this morning, seduced by individuals carrying bunches of sunflowers walking down the street and by the crowd at its usual place under The Gathering at Kellogg Park.

Every Saturday morning local farmers bring their fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs to sell, cash only transactions. This time I lingered near the vendor's station with a wide variety of fresh herbs and vegetables. (Hopefully undetected) I would break off a bit of basil or parsley leaf to catch the aromas.

I bought more herbs in order to plant than I intended, but could imagine using in various recipes from chicken, and eggs, to teas. Any suggestions for recipes using the following herbs and veggies are welcome!

French Tarragon, Basil, Italian Parsley (can't wait for Tabbouleh with garden tomatoes), Chives, Lemon Thyme, Zucchini, Swiss Chard

PLYMOUTH FARMER'S MARKET

EVERY SATURDAY FROM MAY TO OCTOBER
FROM 7:30 AM TO 12:30 PM

Event not open on July 12th or September 6th.

Taxes and Special Assessments - Negotiate It

Angela Lucaj (Remerica Hometown One) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:31:58 -0500

Taxes are prorated at closing almost 100% of the time, unless otherwise agreed to. At closing a buyer takes possession, therefore taxes that are paid ahead of time (December 1 and July 1) are prorated and added on to the buyer's closing costs in order to be credited back to the seller.

If a buyer is closing soon after July 1, and there is a hefty summer tax bill for the year, the bulk of combined taxes, a buyer could expect to pay higher closing costs because she would owe almost all of it back to the seller for 2008/2009.

Special assessments are different. For example, if a subivision and city agreed to pay to have a street paved, the assessment would be added to the taxes of the sub residents. Residents may have a choice to pay off the lump sum all at once as opposed to paying in their tax bill.

Most real estate contracts state that the seller is to pay off any outstanding assessments prior to close. However, taxes and assessments can be negotiated differently. Like any seller concessions, which do have a monetary cap by the way, a buyer's agent could negotiate to have the seller waive tax prorations. The buyer would bring that amount less to the table. As for tax assessements, the listing agent could negotiate that the purchaser pick up the remaining balance or to have it prorated like taxes usually are.

Angela Lucaj

South Lyon Michigan Builder's Dream Home

Angela Lucaj (Remerica Hometown One) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:00:15 -0500

My buyer clients fell in love with the builder's dream home. How could you not? Every corner was upgraded, literally with crown molding that dropped to an inverted peak in each corner of the den, for example. The ceilings upstairs were 10 feet high. Each bedroom had it's own bathroom tiled in ceramic. Wainscoting detailed the upstairs hall and each room on the first floor. The first floor had elevated ceilings, an impressive entry and a gorgeous breakfast nook with 3 skylights on an angled ceiling. The Kitchen.... granite countertops, of course, hardwood floors and french country cabinets. The backyard deck was built out of concrete blocks with a grill set right into it. This description is so great, it's almost boring right?

The point is, how do you choose the right house? The home they were torn by (originally) was a foreclosure of great value also and about the same price (low 300K). It had everything they asked for, including the 5th bedroom with the finished walk-out basement, extra square footage, set in a quiet family friendly subdivision. This home did not have the fantastic upgrades though. In fact, the knobs were missing from the cabinets in all the rooms; the hardwood floors slightly marred; the painting needed to be redone; the backyard needed a deck. Cosmetic work.

Is this a no-brainer? Not really. Not from the Realtor's standpoint. When a buyer starts to waver between two very similar homes, I present the facts and take a step out of the conversation. Let the emotion color their decision and suggest they sleep on it. Who is going to live in it after all?

What Are Site Condos?

Angela Lucaj (Remerica Hometown One) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:35:24 -0500

Site condos are commonly created by a developer to "cut the red tape". Most cities and states have a minimum requirement for the size of a parcel. It depends on the size of the original piece of land. By developing a site condo, a builder can create smaller lots and thus build more homes. The homeowner has complete ownership of house and resulting lot. But there are some rules...

A condo assocation is formed and issues by-laws that control some of the happenings around the sub. For example, they may have a final say in what can be erected on the grounds, such as fences or pole barns. Each community is different; some more relaxed, others are stricter.

I currently have a home listed in Novi Michigan on Emerson Way, that is part of such a plan. The monthly association fee is $120 per month. Part of that fee goes to a reserve in case any major repairs are required to the subdivision. The other is for regular maintenance: repainting exterior of homes, fixing cracks in pavement or steps, mowing lawn, removing snow.

Don't shy away from these types of homes! You still own it all. Just be sure that you understand your obligations by reading the by-laws before buying in.

Happy house hunting!

Procuring Cause.....

Angela Lucaj (Remerica Hometown One) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:52:41 -0500

Have you been in this situation...

A buyer who recently signed an Exclusive Buyer Agency form continues to look at homes but seems unsatisfied with the selection. She keeps thinking about a house she saw and liked, but in another neighborhood, and may want to put an offer on it in the near future. Great!

Problem is, before she signed the agreement with you, this same buyer put an offer on "dream house" with the listing agent. There was no agreement signed to represent them as a buyer's, or a dual agent, so they were represented by the seller. They obviously did not come to terms at that time.

The buyer wants you to write the purchase agreement, hoping you can negotiate a bit better on their behalf; now they see what the market is, and that the house is listed closer to value than what they thought.

Your dilemma is apparent. You've done a lot of work for this buyer to earn your commission! But the listing agent of the dream house has done her share of work...

The house is still on the market. What would or did you do?

Would you offer a referral fee to the listing agent? Talk to them about the situation? Submit the offer and hope it flies under the radar?

If the buyer is reticent, remind them of your agreement, and demand at closing for full compensation? Let the buyers go?

I am curious about your opinion.

What Kind Of Deed Do You Need?

Angela Lucaj (Remerica Hometown One) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:54:53 -0500

In this market where REOs are more commonplace, we are finding that banks will not issue the purchaser a Warranty Deed. I am frequently asked by buyers, what are the differences among these 3 deeds? How will it affect the purchase? What can I do to protect myself if I am not issued a Warranty Deed?

WARRANTY DEED, General or Full Is most commonly used in transactions, especially in the sale of a property. In it the grantor gives the grantee a continuing pledge that he will protect his title against any defects arising against the title caused by either him, or any former owner.
SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED Conveys title by guaranteeing the grantee's title only against claims arising out of grantor's period of ownership.
QUIT CLAIM DEED Provides no liability to the grantor. Relinquishes whatever interest the grantor may have in a certain property to the grantee. The grantor does not guarantee that he is the owner of a certain property.

The General Warranty Deed offers the most protection, while the Quit Claim Deed offers the least. If a bank wants to sell you the property with the latter type deed, RUN! Fast! Or you could ask them to issue a Special Warranty Deed in a separate addendum. They might do it to make the sale. Quit Claim Deeds are issued between relatives or spouses, between partners, from a person to a Trust, or vice versa, in which cases, often no exchange of money is involved.

If issued a Special Warranty Deed, try to get the bank to allow the purchaser to be represented by their own title company rather than that of the bank's choosing. This will allow the purchaser to have some control over how to handle a defect that might appear on the title search, and to make certain that it's insured over.