Practicing law without a license - 06/30/08 01:56 PM
The phone call usually starts out like this:"I was given your name by Mrs. Brown. She said you helped her with her home purchase. I have a problem and I'm hoping you can help me..."
It sounds innocent enough doesn't it? After all, I'm a licensed real estate agent in the state of Michigan, and that's what I'm here for isn't it? "I have an offer in on a home that's for sale by owner, and I'm not sure what to do now as far as xxxx..."
Fill in the blank of xxxx and this is where it gets tricky for … (17 comments)

Do businesses and industries shoot themselves in the foot with sudden changes? - 06/26/08 06:43 AM
My hubby called this morning after he got into work and was really frustrated.
He stopped to fill up his gas tank at his usual gas station and was greetedwith the following upon swiping his bank card:  "Please enter zip code."  Not a problem.  He entered it.  Then he was prompted to "see cashier".He thought there was a problem with his swipe-stripe and went into thegas station only to find 10 other customers waiting in line.  From the conversations overheard he was able to understand this much:The gas station now prefers everyone to pay by cash.  If you are going to … (11 comments)

You never know what you'll catch on video - (one of the most hysterical things I've seen yet on U-Tube) - 06/26/08 04:04 AM
During last nights Detroit Tigers game vs the St. Louis Cardinals there was a rain delay.A lengthy rain delay.  A 2+ hour rain delay.
I've often heard it said that little boys grow up to be big boys and you really can't take the kid out of grown men.   One of my favorite Tigers players proved that last night and entertained the die hard fans that waited it out.
Todd Jones, the amazing closer for the Detroit Tigers, aka The Rollercoaster has always beenknown for his wit and his grace and fun loving heart.
While the tarp was on the field … (6 comments)

The old dinosaur ways are going, going, gone - Helping each other benefits everyone. - 06/24/08 04:58 PM
I remember when I first started in my career that very few peoplewent out of their way to help a new agent, let along share anywords of wisdom to help you with your business.  Oh, they surelycame around to point out what you were doing wrong, but everyoneguarded their wisdom as if someone was reaching inside of theirpocket for their wallets.
Today I was pleasantly reminded once again that the "old dinosaur" ways of practicing our business is falling by the wayside and I am grateful for that. 
 
 
Missy Caulk from Ann Arbor drove quite a distance today to … (12 comments)

Let's be careful about what we write - and read. - 06/24/08 05:21 AM
We wouldn't write about interest rates dropping when they weren't.  We also wouldn't write about a home being offered for $50,000 when the real asking price is $100,000.   Why in the world am I  seeing articles misreporting facts about something so important as HUD guidelines?

Last week it was announced by several news organizations that HUD has waived its 90  day "anti-flipping" rule.   (This rule was put into place in 2003 to guard against predatory house flipping and worked well in my opinion.)
What wasn't readily reported were the details of this new waiver.Because we sometimes see only the exciting … (10 comments)

Empathy is real and has its place in our daily lives. - 06/23/08 05:35 AM
Yesterday I wrote about something that left me pretty darned emotional while viewinga foreclosed upon home.  It was hard to write, but I felt that without a doubt that itneeded to be shared.  The situation put a human side to a heartbreaking everydayoccurance in our state, and in many others across the nation.  Did what I write touch others?  Obviously so, judging from the responses.   Will it helpor hurt the subject that I wrote about?  I honestly don't know.  One thing I do know thoughis this:  Empathy does have a place in what we do, how we live, and how we … (12 comments)

Dear former homeowner - Your letter is still there, on the kitchen counter. - 06/22/08 01:25 PM
Dear former homeowner,
It is quite possible you won't ever find this and read this but I had to try.
Today I brought potential buyers in to view the home that you once owned and unfortunately lost through foreclosure. 
When we first entered the home we were amazed at how well maintained it appeared to be, and were delighted by the fact that it wasn't a "typical" foreclosure home that we had been used to seeing.
Upon entering the kitchen we saw a piece of paper on the counter thatwas hand written.  I knew it wasn't something from the bank owner, … (34 comments)

Could we hit a stone wall with our words and not be aware of it? - 06/21/08 06:57 AM
I had one of the most interesting conversations with a potential buyer client yesterday afternoon and it didn't involve his wish list or want list for a new home.   At the end of the conversation I asked him for his permission to write about our talk and as he found me via my blog posts he agreed.  The young man I spoke with has been interviewing agents online for several months without the agents being aware of it.  His interviewing has involved reading as much as he can on various agents websites, and recently he found ActiveRain.  One thing that he … (18 comments)

A fabulous new trend: Home buyers saying "NO" - 06/20/08 05:29 AM
 
“No, I don’t want that payment” - Home buyers in Michigan are smarter this year. Much smarter, and I'm thrilled to witness it. I represent many home buyers in my real estate business. I enjoy them, and I am happy as can be finding and showing homes to potential buyers. The interaction between a buyer client and a buyers agent is fun, hectic at times and precious to me. Most days you can find me driving all around Macomb County and the Metro Detroit area viewing homes, taking photos and meeting with buyer clients.
This year I’ve noticed a trend … (16 comments)

A bit aggravated with a news report today quoting Henry Silverman. - 06/18/08 09:01 AM
This morning the Detroit News had an article quoting Henry Silverman stating thathome prices will continue to fall across the nation. 
What irked me is the statement reported in the news article that if a home buyer signs a contract to purchase now that they will close in September.
In what part of the country does it take over 2 months to bring a transaction to closing?(I'm not talking about short sales here.  That's a different type of home purchaseentirely.)
In the Metro Detroit area a home buyer paying cash can close in 2 weeks.  For someoneutilizing a conventional mortgage to … (19 comments)

This is why I continue on - Looking back on a week of touching experiences. - 06/16/08 05:45 AM
To say this past week was hectic and fulfilling would be an understatement. It's also been a week of highlights that have touched me and made me stop and think again "I can't imagine doing anything else."On Wednesday a wonderful young lady purchased her first home, a condo in an area that she had been familiar with her whole life.  After many ups and downs through the purchase (appraisal issues, etc) we both found ourselves in Birmingham at the closing table with a sigh of relief.   The joy on Stephanies face made me pause and take it all in.  After 11 … (21 comments)

Sellers remorse is unfortunately alive and well in Michigan - 06/10/08 05:34 AM
Sellers remorse.
It happens. Lately, I have heard of it happening more often in Macomb County MI.
Recently buyer clients of mine put an offer in on a home in our area. The home had been on the market for well over 6 months, and saw various price changes. What the home sellers did, in my opinion, was to “chase the market downward.”  (That is another post entirely!)  Instead of pricing their home to sell in this market they kept lowering it slowly, but never lowered it far enough to keep up with the declining market values.
Yes the home was … (10 comments)

What's been happening with Chesterfield Township MI real estate? - 06/09/08 07:47 AM
It certainly has been a busy spring in our fine area of Macomb County MI.  During the month of May twenty two homes sold, and 5 homes were rented.Sales prices ranged from $95,750 for a home on Forbes that sold, to $207,900 for the home on Leopard that recently found new owners.  What I found most striking is that the list - sell price ratio was 98%.   Home sellers in Chesterfield Township MI are pricing their homes to sell and the buyers are realizing this trend.  
Many of the homes that sold were to buyers utilizing FHA mortgages with the home … (5 comments)

The Flip-side to Feedback - Or - This is why I balk at giving it.. - 06/08/08 11:28 AM
I've moaned about giving feedback to a homeowners agent after I have viewed homeswith buyer clients. My main concern is staying loyal to my buyers and unless I know fora fact that a particular home is off their list I will not say anything that could compromisetheir negotiating power.Friday I showed homes to a buyer client. Many homes. All of the homes were in MacombCounty MI. 2 of the homes are definately not in the running for my buyer, and I had his permission to give feedback if it was requested by the sellers agent. Naturally both agents called and asked … (46 comments)

I'll let the pictures tell the story - a sad foreclosure in Macomb County MI - 06/06/08 06:01 AM
I've written a few articles about the foreclosures here in Macomb County MI and how I feel the banks/asset managers/whomever-owns-them can help to get these homes sold and save neighborhoods. 
One of the articles I wrote laid out a simple plan, so simple that I know it won't be taken seriously by the owners of these homes.  Last week while previewing a home for an investor client I took the following pictures.    I'll let the photos tell the story.
 
The water main area in a  basement of ahome that has been on the market forquite some time.
 
Gee?  I … (14 comments)

Anyone else in Hockeytown sleepy this morning? - 06/05/08 05:49 AM
Welcome home Lord Stanley!
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Ilitich and the hardworking "a salary cap won't stop us!"Detroit Red Wings players and organization.

… (6 comments)

Earning my fictional Masters Degree in Real Estate - 06/02/08 06:03 AM
Over the past year or so I've commented often that I feel as if I am earning the equivalance of a Masters Degree in Real Estate. Just like most of the areas of our country, Macomb County MI has undergone massive changes in not only the housing market but the mortgage industry. Challenging for real estate professionals? You betcha! Exciting? Always. Frustrating? At times, yes.I started thinking about the classes in my mind that I have taken towards my fictional Masters Degree and came up with the following list.===========================================================================
Home Sellers 101 – 110: It used to be that the home … (17 comments)

 
Kris

Kris Wales - Macomb County MI real estate blog & homes for sale search site

Macomb, MI

More about me…

Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center

Address: 45609 Village Blvd., Shelby Township, MI, 48315

Office Phone: (586) 536-5453

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