Purchasing a vacant home in Macomb County MI? Pick up the phone and call the city building department. - 10/29/09 05:10 AM
One of the cities in my area has a wonderful online service in which you can find out the current taxes, utility bills (water and sewer) and also check to see if there are any permits that have been pulled for repairs or renovations. In the case of vacant homes (foreclosures, REO's, etc.) there is also one more check that you as a purchaser need to do:  Pick up the phone and call the city and find out if a certificate of occupancy is needed prior to moving in to the home and if an inspection is needed by the building … (5 comments)

Landlords in the city of Detroit are up in arms, but people who care about children say "It's about time!" - 10/23/09 07:46 AM
It's taken too many years but the city of Detroit finally said to landlords: "If you own a home or an apartment building in the city and you rent out the home or apartment it is your responsibility to make it lead free."  Is it going to be expensive for landlords?  Yes.  Is this new ordinance going to cause rent to rise to compensate for the testing and removal of lead?  Probably. I have a feeling though that parents of children who live in these homes and apartments within the city would gladly pay higher rent in order to protect their … (8 comments)

Call me picky, but I don't let buyer clients sign blank forms. - 10/21/09 09:22 AM
Oh, the wonderful world of bank owned properties!Let's see, first the sellers disclosure is stamped:  "Exempt" or some such other language.  The bank owners have never lived in the home so they surely cannot attest to the condition of the home unless they have inspected it.  I get it.  My buyers get it.What I don't "get" is this:  The Federally mandated lead base paint disclosure form is sent to buyers agents blank.  Not a bit of wording on it, not even the catch all: "Sorry, I don't know, have never tested the home, do your own due diligance."I don't know about … (9 comments)

The flip side to being the voice of trust for our clients - 10/09/09 05:30 AM
The other morning I read a wonderful article by Rich Jacobson.  He wrote about how we as real estate professionals need to the voice of reason and trust to our clients,as well as telling us about a real life situation in which this was conveyed professionally by him to his clients and vice verse. As I read his article I found myself nodding my head in agreement with him, and also remembering the times that speaking honestly and at times, bluntly, with my clients has caused me to be fired over the years. You see, I have this funny quirk of … (13 comments)

Home sales in Macomb County MI - Comparing this past September with previous years - 10/05/09 05:18 AM
My Macomb County MI area has been in the midst of this housing value decline for several years now, and I thought it would be interesting to see how this past September home sales compared to the previous September sales data (2007 and 2008). While we aren't seeing home prices stabilizing as of yet, we are seeing fewer homes come on the market.  We're also seeing more homes being sold this year than in years past. That should help us in the near future with the supply & demand issue that has been so heavily tilted to the "supply" side of … (9 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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A partner for your real estate
needs in Macomb County.

Looking for a full time real
estate professional with over
a decade of experience in
Macomb County MI and it's
surrounding areas?  

Feel free to get to know me and
how I conduct my business by
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 Chataboutmacomb.com and
Macombhomes.com

I'm a firm believer that the best
real estate relationship is a
partnership. We work together
to achieve your goals - whether
it be in purchasing your first
home or selling your present
home to purchase another or
to relocate.

Please feel free to email me at
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