Angie Ridley's "Let's Talk MI Real Estate"

My Fence is Gone!

When measuring the outside of an REO property I was accosted by the neighbor, he wanted to know if I knew where the past owner had moved to. I told him I didn't have clue, and then he asked me if I could find out for him. I'm not sure if he thought I was Sherlock Holmes, but I told him that I was just the lowly appraiser. I then made the mistake of asking him why he needed to find his ex-neighbor so bad. "They stole my FENCE!", he shouted. He then proceeded to tell me that he went to let his dog out one morning, only to find the fence he helped pay for was gone, and how he had to chase his dog throughout the neighborhood trying to catch-it.

He probably should of invested in a little obedience training (for the dog), but it's probably easier just putting up a fence. I'm not sure how he didn't notice a fence being taken down. I really felt bad for the guy, not only did he lose his fence, but now he has to look at all of the treasures the past owner left behind.

If you have any questions, or Minnesota real estate appraisal needs (divorce, bankruptcy, tax appeal, or estate planning) please contact Michael at 612.599-2581, or use the form on the contact page.

FLINT, Michigan — Looking for a home in Genesee County priced between $70,000 and $120,000? It turns out, so are a lot of other people.

Area real estate agents say the market for mid-priced homes is extremely competitive right now.

One reason is there are fewer of them for sale, said Angie Ridley, owner and broker at Complete Realty in Grand Blanc Township. Mid-priced homes don’t stay listed for long because they are desirable to first-time buyers, she added.

“It’s like there’s no middle right now,” she said. “Either the foreclosure homes are very cheap and there’s work to be done, or you get into a higher-priced market. There is not a middle ground.

“We don’t have enough inventory.”

Pat Oakes, president of the Flint Area Association of Realtors, said about 4,500 homes typically are listed for sale at this time of the year.

But only 2,887 Genesee County homes were on the market in September, a drop of 13 percent from September 2010, according to Realcomp, a Farmington Hills-based multiple listing service.

“A lot of my clients that have equity in their homes, they’re all holding on to them,” Oakes said.

“What I see other ones doing is making a change now. One of my clients had a beautiful home in Grand Blanc, and it was sold in five days with a very good offer compared to the market conditions right now.”

The Rev. Joe Schulte put in four offers on homes before landing one in Goodrich. The 55-year-old is moving there from Yankton, S.D. He’s taking over as minister at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Grand Blanc.

Schulte said he’s searched for a home since July and is now closing on his fourth find. He said the 2,000-square-foot, two-story colonial home was right for him and his wife, Beth Miller.

“I was hoping to stay in the city of Grand Blanc proper, but then we expanded out to the city of Goodrich,” he said. “It just popped up and fit the bill.”

Schulte wouldn’t disclose his offer for the home, but said it was