Ar_home_b_search
 



birmingham michigan real estate: FHA Appaiser Does Hatchet Job and Kills Transaction - 01/22/10 05:28 PM
Well, the horror stories I have been hearing are now up front and center. I have been working with an FHA buyer.  We looked at about 15 homes in the area he is interested in. He made two full priced offers on two properties and he did not get them because he was not "highest and best". On the third property, priced lower than the other two with more square footage, he offered below list price with seller concessions. His offer was accepted. The FHA appraiser just came back with an appraisal at 62% of the sale price. The FHA appaiser … (8 comments)

birmingham michigan real estate: It's Time For Realtors to Stand Firm on Not Doing Open Houses - 12/26/09 09:19 AM
Every year I order the results of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Survey of Home Buyers and Sellers. I am particularly interested in How the Buyer Found His or Her Home in the last year because that determines where my marketing efforts will go to sell the homes that I list. Because the numbers pertaining to open houses are so dismal, it is no longer a category in the survey results. I do understand that open houses were more successful before personal computers and the internet but now, approximately 90 percent of buyers begin their home search on the internet. … (222 comments)

birmingham michigan real estate: Thank You Birmingham For First Night - 01/01/09 07:51 PM

Every New Years Eve, our family attends Birmingham's First Night, an alcohal free event sponsored by The Cultural Council of Birmingham /Bloomfield. The evening features live entertainment and crafts geared toward families. This year's performances were well worthwhile. The magic by Jason Hudy featured a levitating illusion that wowed the crowd. Puppeteer Brad Lowe was first provided an explanation of how marionettes are made. He then performed a soundtracked show about a fisherman who caught a magic fish that he let go. When the fisherman's wife learned about this, she nagged the fisherman to return to the fish and ask to have her wishes granted which, … (2 comments)

birmingham michigan real estate: The Catch With Bank Owned Homes - 10/02/08 04:19 PM
Today I began working with a new buyer who wants to start by looking at bank owned homes because, naturally, she wants to get a "good deal". We looked at three homes and they were complete disasters. One had terrible structural problems. The other two had water and mold problems. None of these homes are financeable due to their condition. In other words, unless the buyer is paying cash, she will not be able to get a mortgage loan. Now, some will say, "well, there is a program with the bank where I can get money for the repairs." O.K. then. … (5 comments)

birmingham michigan real estate: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Costco Has Gas! - 10/29/07 03:30 PM
                                                                           
I admit that I am a Costco Junky. When doing my Costco shopping in the past, I have tried to only go to the ones that sell gasoline. Why? Because, on average, you save about 10 cents per gallon. Now all of us Costco fanatics can go to the Bloomfield Hills, Michigan location to buy our products in bulk and gas up while we are there. Yeah!
… (4 comments)