Jim Racine, Superintendent, is interviewed about the Ann Arbor Country Club golf course situated in the heart of the Loch Alpine subdivision.  This 18-hole course both picturesque and challenging to play is a par-72 course design of 6,420 yards.

For more club information: 4699 E. Loch Alpine Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 phone: 734-426-4693 email: info@annarborcc.com. The club is very active in junior golf. The Junior Golf program at AACC has grown from 15 to 150 players and he has significantly increased participation in Club events through promotion of team and family activities. The Club Golf Professional is Frank McAuliffe, III. Frank is a Class A PGA Member. The course is an optional membership to the 900 community home onwers. For information about this subdivision and homes around the Ann Arbor area in Washtenaw County, call Kathy Toth and Team: 734-669-0337. We would love to give you a tour and direct you to other community videos in our library.

What is it like to live in a 900 home community with golf course, swimming pool, parks, club house with dining and events.  Listen as home owner describes what she thinks about living here in video below.

 

The video will appear on www.AnnArborTalks.com. This area is just North of Ann Arbor, minutes from Dexter schools. Area features 2 small lakes, parks, and organized childrens parties, Lore Newsletter. What do you think of this neighborhood and what do you want others to know?

Syndication is when your listing is sent to other aggregators everywhere for others to find it.  I have just aligned with Point2, a Canadian company to allow maximum and fast exposure for my sellers.  The increased eyeballs will be interesting to track and hopefully beneficial in sales results to the sellers.  Results could be in faster sales and or higher price.  Our regional MLS Realcomp just agreed to work with Point2 so this online collaboration should benefit everyone.    

Pictured below is the exposure of 30 syndications provided by this relationship.  Point2 brokers and agents have the ability to see which aggregators and sites actually are viewed by consumers via reporting tools.  

My listings are already on many of these sites, but any additional professional search exposure to 100 countries is welcome through www.Point2.com.  While is Austin at the Keller Williams mega camp, I was reminded that several MLS still don't share the data!  I am just thrilled to have the mapping capability for buyers to search for Ann Arbor Real Estate in Washtenaw County, Michigan and the data sharing for our clients.

 

 

This is pretty fun and I am happy to share the Google Earth Professional with you regarding the Ann Arbor Real Estate Market.  I signed up for the professional version of Google Earth. 

Watch this clip and see how you can zoom into the University of Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  See how a photo of an actual game was over layed onto the mapping so you are actually going into the stadium with real players on a real football game day. 

Think of the applications for listings.  We are employing this technology for some videos as further displayed on this post dated 8/24/08 on www.AnnArborTalks.com.

Let the games begin. GO BLUE! And someday I will figure out how to embed, link and post pictures better on active rain.

I took a 10 minute drive from Loch Alpine, to record Ann Arbor, Michigan Farmers Market video.

You can't beat the quality of really fresh food at local markets.  Ann Arbor Farmers Market Manager Molly Notarianni suggests shopping without a list - it'll help you stay flexible to take advantage of the wonderful and unexpected. If you're looking for something special, call the manager.

The 150-vendor farmer's market in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown (315 Detroit St) has been around since 1918 and is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays (hours?). Come early for the best selection, or shop for bargains at the end of the day. Most vendors appreciate cash.  For information call 734-994-3276.

There's another Ann Arbor market in the Zingerman's Roadhouse parking lot at the corner of Jackson and Maple Roads. It runs Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. from June 19 through September 25. This Westside Farmers' Market provides farm fresh local produce, meat, plants and artisan foods. Jen Salisbury can tell you more at 734-665-9399.

The Dexter Farmers Market in beautiful Downtown Dexter (8140 Main Street) overlooks Mill Creek and Warrior Creek Park. You can pick up fruits, vegetables, herbs, jams, baked goods, flowers, plants and handmade crafts. The market is open Saturdays 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and Tuesdays 4 p.m.-7 p.m. For more details call Courtney Nicholls 734-426-8303.

The Chelsea Farmers Market started in 1990 and is open May through October, Saturday mornings from 8:00 a.m.-noon on Chelsea's Park Street. There's a variety of produce - including organic - from local farms, along with farm-raised meat & eggs. You'll also find flowers, plants, shrubs and trees, home-baked breads, pies and cookies, fresh honey, homemade jams and local art and crafts. Your contact is Debbie Rydzon.

The Bushel Basket farmer's market is open on Wednesdays from May-October, 2:30-5:30 p.m. on the Chelsea Community Hospital campus. Joan Lutchka, (517) 522-4596, can tell you more. See previous post.

Michigan.gov has a calendar that'll also tell you what each market carries.  Other search sites for markets are Farmers Market Search and Celebrate Michigan Farmers Markets!  Let's keep it local and green.   If you know of others, let us know via comments below so we can visit to support our local vendors.

to view Larger Map

For street view from Google maps, click here

REALTOR.COM Class with Joe Sesso attended by Ann Arbor Real Estate Agent, Kathy Toth

I just attended the REALTOR.COM session with Joe Sesso, National Speaker for REALTOR.com®.  He shared what some agents in the US are doing to generate business.  They have some new products for their face lifted site, mentioned in the video above.  I have been showcasing my listings with photos and tours for years.  They still have featured home spots, banner ads and positioning slots for market snap shot. Realtor.com is prime eyeball real estate for REALTORS with 84 percent of buyers looking on line.  My REALTOR.COM site averages 40,000 property views each month

Realtor.com says you will learn:

Devastatingly simple techniques for securing “expired listings”
Surefire client consultations for a “price reduction”
How to slash your marketing costs in half
The art and science of marketing on the Internet more effectively than in print
Some seminars might reveal nuggets of knowledge that will slowly grow your business 6 months to a year out.
Joe’s high-impact techniques will help you secure and sell more listings the moment you walk out the door.

Don’t miss this nationally acclaimed seminar that is changing the way REALTORS® market real estate.

I suggest you take a look at some new marketing gadgets including magnetic camera wide angle lens, data, trends and techniques at events coming your way. For more information, please visit the Marketing and Technology Workshop website or call 800-240-3124. You can also email at RDCWorkshop@REALTOR.com.

Thanks Joe for taking the time to teach us!

The Market Master, Joan Lutchka and her husband rise by 6 am to pick veggies.  She and her husband open their own honor system market at their front curb at 1439 S Francisco Rd in Grass Lake at 9 am from July 4th weekend through Oct 31st.  On market days, her daughter, a full time teacher, assists in flower cutting, arranging in vases and packing items for the car trip to Chelsea.  They arrange the products in coolers with iceor refrigerators as needed. The Bushel Basket farmer's market is open on Wednesdays from May-October, 2:30-5:30 p.m. on the Chelsea Community Hospital campus.

The Chelsea market ends at 6pm. They pack up the tables and produce. Any market left over's go to St Louise School.  They donate other fresh food too, not just left over's.  This is the second year of the market and she says it has generated tremendous support.  There are 15 vendors, with 400 people shopping a day, and look forward to some fresh Michigan peaches coming soon. Stop by and introduce yourself to these fine people.

Lutchkas grow flowers: zinnias, dahlias, sun flowers. The veggies they have are winter squash, zucchini, red and yellow tomatoes, potatoes, onions, string beans, pumpkins, purple and green cabbage, all kinds of peppers, cucumbers, onions, sweet corn.  They also grow cantaloupe, 5 varieties of watermelon.  I am sure this list is not inclusive.

I took a break from the Ann Arbor Real Estate market to visit with her And the market, just 10 minutes from Loch Alpine.  She is a recently retired registered nurse of 20 years from Chelsea hospital and has been looking forward to this for awhile.  She has 3 children and 5 grandchildren who on occasion help out.

The Chelsea market ends at 6pm. They pack up the tables and produce. Any market left over's go to St Louise School.  They donate other fresh food too, not just left over's.  This is the second year of the market and she says it has generated tremendous support.  There are 15 vendors, with 400 people shopping a day, and look forward to some fresh Michigan peaches coming soon. Stop by and introduce yourself to these fine people.

Click here to see the map and more detail of market areas

 

Per the Ann Arbor Baord of Realtors, Washtenaw County housing statistics show a stable market with a slight upward trend in the number of sales. The year-to-date residential listing inventory declined by 23.53 percent when compared to last year.  The number of residential sales for July rose 2 percent compared to a year ago, while residential sales increased 3.6 percent year-to-date over last year. Pending sales increased 12.39 percent compared to last year.

The average sales price went from $248,715 to $225,447 year to date 07' vs. 08'. We have 8 closing on the last day of August, so 20 closings for August, and we are on track to achieve our sales goals in moving families in the Ann Arbor market.  This is a FANTASTIC time to buy. 

Listen as national speaker Terri Murphy discusses the market and short sales with Kathy Toth.  First Time Home Buyers can take advantage of the $7500 tax credit on previous post. Please come to the Seminar August 26^th at 6:30 pm at 355 S Zeeb Rd Ann Arbor, MI at United Bank and Trust.  RSVP with Buyers Agent, Vicki 734-216-2172.  It will be our pleasure to give you a pre approval and have the experts show you secrets for the stress free way to house shop.

 

Kathy Toth and Team, Top Ann Arbor Real Estate Agents are Coached by Bob Corcoran

 

Listen to Bob Corcoran in video 

What is it Like to Have a Business Coach? 

From our perspective, our coach helps with accountability, feedback and implementation.  We have scheduled calls to keep on track as far as profitability, goals, numbers, staffing, interviewing, etc.  We cover all aspects of  the business.  We also network with other vendors, top agents, and resources that enable us to focus on working on the business vs. working in the business.  We mirror other successful real estate companies with our coach's input.  We don't have to re invent the wheel.  

We are espousing the philosophy from Jim Collins' book Good To Great  The talks about getting the right people on the bus.  We are also right sizing the business for this shifting market.

 Bob came on site to check out our systems 2 years ago.  He provides us with a full time technology resource so we don't waste time.  He sets up group conference calls, webinars, and gets us the solutions we need.  I admit, at times my team and I may not see the direction required, (the Coach does because he can see the whole field including the other team ‘s position) and it takes some time for us to adapt and change.  Having a respected outsider can be helpful in itself.

 If we plan on spending money, we review it with him. If Bob is not immediately available, his staff is ready with an "it's my pleasure attitude"(Ritz Carlton).  His wife Brenda, of  Corcoran Coaching and Consulting is a licensed agent is also very helpful.  If you want to listen in on the next call, please contact them directly at 1-800-957-8353.  The next call is August 19th at 2:00 PM EST for 45 minutes (1pm CST, 12pm MST, 11am PST) where Bob Corcoran will go over "Easy Questions to Get Expired Listings."  

One of the most important changes is taking time off fromt he Ann Arbor Real Estate Market, which I do.  The other aspect of coaching is emphasizing mentoring and training skills to the other team members.  We all learn from each other.  As long as I am learning and am excited by helping others, I feel privileged to have a vocation which is my avocation.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in May, fell 4.7 percent to 84.7 for the whole country.  The index in the Midwest fell 6.0 percent to 78.6 and is 13.8 percent below May 2007.  We are selling ann arbor real estate - Kathy Toth Team is on schedule to close 100 homes in Washtenaw County this year.

The current Ann Arbor Real Estate market offers immediate benefits and long-term value for many buyers.   See the screaming short sale deal below:

Click on the image to view more information