Dmitry & Maureen: Moving Metro Detroit

Northville Luxury Living

2008-06-02T16:46:37Z

Northville Luxury Estate

Location: Pheasant Hills

No detail was left undone in the breathtaking estate at 900 Millpond Court in Pheasant Hills. More than 9000 square feet of living space. First floor master with limestone bath, fireplace, morning bar, and deck with pond views. The gourmet kitchen boasts a 3000 bottle walk in wine cellar, cherry floors, a granite island and Viking Range. Handsome cherry paneled library tucked away by the master suite.

Finished walk out lower level with theater room, full kitchen, bedroom, bath, workout studio.

Second floor bonus room with skylights and second library. Cedar closet.

Four car garage.

View on line at http://900Millpond.com. Call Maureen at 248.961.0801 for your own private showing.

Information

Contact Information

Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublitsky

248.961.0801

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Pricing

Asking Price: $1,075,000

Property Location

900 Millpond Court
Northville, MI 48167
View Map

Links

www.900Millpond.com

Features

Bedrooms: 6

Bathrooms: 5.2

Year Built: 2006

Subdivision: Pheasant Hills

Garage Size: 4 Car

School District: Northville

Square Footage: 6859 not including walkout

Agent Name: Maureen Francis

Broker: SKBK Sotheby's

MLS #: 28086095

Attributes

Appliances

Range/Oven

Full Refrigerator

Dishwasher

Sink Disposal

Microwave

Trash Compactor

Interior Amenities

Fireplace

Hardwood Floors

Security System

Kitchen Island

Vaulted Ceilings

Basement

Wine Cellar

Theater Room

Panelled Library

Exercise Studio

Cedar Closet

Billiards Room

Two Kitchens

Exterior Amenities

Pond

Decks

Photo Gallery

View as Slideshow View Photo Gallery (10 Photos)

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

VFLYER ID: 1689505

Makeover2Takeover: MFOUR Mentor Musings...

2008-06-01T20:26:43Z

Makeover2Takeover is giving me a swift kick in the pants. . .

. . . and I am just the supportive mentor.

As my delightful partner on the M4 Team, Karen Moorhead completes her weekly tasks, I get to question why I do the things the way I do. I can't wait to see what Rich has in line for us in coming weeks.

When my husband, Dmitry, and I first moved back to the US and started selling real estate in 2001, the first thing we did was begin to compile the contacts for our database. Not aware that there were other options for contact management, we spent days inputting our contacts into Microsoft Outlook. Now, 7 years later, we still use that same system, even though I have looked at other options intensively since we began. In the end, Outlook works for us and we've got it doing what we need it to do. There is likely something better out there, but we use this. Still, as Karen deliberately looked at options last week, I was forced to reconsider, once again, what we do.

My listing presentations have evolved considerably since we first began. They used to be a few MS Word docs and CMA. We messed around with a Power Point presentation until I canned the idea, deciding that if I was actually lucky enough to be sitting with a seller I did not want them staring into my computer monitor. Just a personal preference. Now we use ToolkitCMA and I can either email a slick looking PDF listing presentation or I can bind it into a hardcover book at the office.

Real estate is a journey. Karen is doing a super job at seriously evaluating her options as we compete in Makeover2Takeover. I have the feeling she is in this for the best reason, which is to establish a really sound foundation for her career. I am impressed with what I am seeing. Karen is doing things I have avoided. When we talked about doing a video for this weeks' task, she jumped right on it and put one together. Personally, I haven't even taken more than an hour of video of my beloved daughter who is nearly 5. So I wouldn't have done what she did. But maybe I should.

I am glad to have the opportunity to be part of Makeover2Takeover as it gives me the opportunity to reevaluate my own business! Thanks for asking me Karen.

Good things come to those who DON'T WAIT! Great house alert!

2008-05-17T13:48:50Z

Good things come to those who DON'T WAIT!

Location: Birmingham, MI

Spectacular new home with fabulous upgrades. Shows like a model. Finished lower level with brand new home theater. Crown molding, wainscoting, arched door ways, island kitchen with cherry cabs, granite, tile back splash. Marble mantel. Vaulted ceiling and fireplace in master/bath. Large closets throughout, and plenty of storage. Wet bar. Egress window in lower level with full bath and office. Unfinished bonus space over garage. RUN, DON'T WALK. GREAT HOUSE. GREAT PRICE.

Call Maureen today @ 248.961.0801

Check out interior photos at 1795Holland.com

Photo Gallery

Information

Contact Information

Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublitsky

248.961.0801

Pricing

Asking Price: $450,000.00

Property Location

1795 Holland
Birmingham, MI 48009

Links

1795Holland.com

Features

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 3.1

Parking: 2

Year Built: 2007

Lot Size: 40x120

Garage Size: 2

School District: Birmingham

Square Footage: 2645

Agent Name: Maureen Francis

Broker: SKBK Sotheby's

MLS #: 28084813

Attributes

Appliances

Range/Oven

Full Refrigerator

Dishwasher

Sink Disposal

Microwave

Interior Amenities

Fireplace

Hardwood Floors

Wet Bar

Kitchen Island

Vaulted Ceilings

Basement

Home Theater

Exterior Amenities

Patio

Grass Lawn

Loft Over Garage

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VFLYER ID: 1665252

Bloomfield Village Showhome

2008-05-12T07:14:13Z

Beautifully Updated Village Colonial

Location: Judson Bradway's Bloomfield Village

Impeccably renovated Bloomfield Village Classic. Better than new gourmet kitchen with enormous center island, Subzero, Wolf etc. Fantastic closets in all rooms. New baths. Gracious entertaining space and ample storage. Finished lower level. Back yard offers privacy with lovely landscaping and bluestone patio.

For more information or you private showing, please call Maureen at 248.961.0801.

Virtual tour and photos at www.284Tilbury.com.

Photo Gallery

Information

Contact Information

Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublitsky

248.961.0801

Pricing

Asking Price: $950,000.00

Property Location

284 Tilbury Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301

Links

284Tilbury.com

miOaklandCounty.com

Features

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3.1

Parking: Attached Garage

Year Built: 1949

Subdivision: Bloomfield Village

Garage Size: 2 Car

School District: Birmingham

Square Footage: 3700

Agent Name: Maureen Francis

Broker: SKBK Sotheby's International Realty

MLS #: 28033808

Attributes

Appliances

Range/Oven

Full Refrigerator

Washer/Dryer

Dishwasher

Sink Disposal

Microwave

Interior Amenities

Fireplace

Hardwood Floors

Wet Bar

Security System

Kitchen Island

Basement

Exterior Amenities

Patio

Grass Lawn

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

VFLYER ID: 1519205

Bloomfield Hills Lakefront

2008-05-12T07:12:21Z

Lake Front Home in Pristine Condition!

Location: Bloomfield Hills, MI

Updated colonial on spectacular private lake front setting. Enjoy great views from every room!

Pristinely cared for home, in move-in condition. Hardwood floors. 3 fireplaces. First floor laundry with mud room. Walkout lower level. Generously sized rooms. Abundant storage. 2 Furnaces, copper plumbing, newer windows. Award winning Bloomfield Hills Schools. City water in home with well for sprinklers.

Call Maureen at 248.961.0801 for more information or your private showing.

Photos at www.5371ForestWay.com

Photo Gallery

Information

Contact Information

Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublitsky

248.961.0801

Pricing

Asking Price: $450,000.00

Property Location

5371 Forest Way
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

Links

5371ForestWay.com

Oakland County Real Estate Blog

Features

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3.2

Parking: Garage

Year Built: 1968

Subdivision: Wood Lake Hills

Garage Size: 2 car

School District: Bloomfield Hills

Square Footage: 3299

Agent Name: Maureen Francis

Broker: SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, Inc.

MLS #: 28065219

Attributes

Appliances

Range/Oven

Full Refrigerator

Dishwasher

Microwave

Interior Amenities

Fireplace

Hardwood Floors

Security System

Basement

2 Furnaces

Exterior Amenities

Patio

Grass Lawn

Deck

Lake Front

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

VFLYER ID: 1620745

Bloomfield Hills Beauty-Super Price

2008-05-12T07:10:45Z

Stunning Bloomfield Hills Home

Location: Bloomfield Hills, MI

Just reduced by $50K!

Gorgeous Bloomfield Hills home, priced to sell. In perfect condition. Super kitchen. 2 story marble foyer. Enormous first floor master suite features a bay window, jetted tub, and skylights. Unbelievable finished lower level: 2 family rooms, office, full bath, wet bar, cedar closet. Roof in '04. Impeccably maintained. Exceptional value at this price. Do not hesitate.

For more information, call Maureen at 248.961.0801.

View photos on the web at HickoryBark.miBirmingham.com

Photo Gallery

Information

Contact Information

Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublitsky

248.961.0801

Pricing

Asking Price: $350,000.00

Property Location

1702 Hickory Bark
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

Links

1702 S. Hickory Bark Web Site

1702 S. Hickory Bark

Features

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 4.1

Year Built: 1991

Subdivision: Bloomfield North Estates

Garage Size: 3

School District: Avondale

Square Footage: 3402

Agent Name: Maureen Francis

Broker: SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, Inc.

MLS #: 290746486

Attributes

Appliances

Range/Oven

Full Refrigerator

Washer/Dryer

Dishwasher

Sink Disposal

Microwave

Interior Amenities

Fireplace

Wet Bar

Kitchen Island

Vaulted Ceilings

Finished Basement

First Floor Master

Exterior Amenities

Grass Lawn

Deck

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

VFLYER ID: 1643432

European Real Estate Investors Take Interest in Metro Detroit

2008-03-11T04:53:24Z

When I first landed in the Former Soviet Union in 1992, the average wage was probably about $20 a month and investment was a new concept. Early “business men” were thought of as thugs, and the notion of capitalism was still very foreign. In fact, as a Peace Corps Business Advisor, I was there to help capitalism find it’s footing.

Fast forward to 2008. I am back in the US with my “Ultimate Souvenir” from 8 years in Ukraine (a.ka. Dmitry). It seems that the residents of the Baltic States and the Former Soviet Union caught on quickly.

Head on over to continue reading about Eastern European real estate investment in Metro Detroit.

photo credit: maesejose

Twitter and Discriminatory Speech

2008-03-02T08:33:07Z

Is it OK for a Realtor to use words that are inflammatory on Twitter? Twitter is basically an open text message system that broadcasts people's messages to all who care to read them.

Yesterday I ran into a tweet from a Realtor who said, "Go State. Beat the hell out of the Fag Hawks."

I understand a bit about enthusiastic sports fans and team loyalty, but "Fag Hawks!" Not sounding too PC to me. I guess the guy who made that tweet realized it was not something he wanted out there, because it is gone now. Fortunately for him, it was not indexed by Google, so the curious among you who want to find out who it was won't be able to use Google for your research. Of course, those with Twhirl and other Twitter clients may still have access to the message. I am sure that it's still out there on some cell phones too.

I saw it. It's obviously still in my mind, since I am still thinking about it today. It bugged me. I am no longer "following" him on Twitter, not that he likely cares. Frankly, I do not know him, so he has little reason to care about my opinion.

What do you think? Clearly all Realtors have a constitutionally protected right to free speech, but do we have any sort of ethical obligation to not PUBLISH discriminatory words in our speech that is not related to real estate? Most likely its just a tasteless mistake, yet it might be a lesson for all of us to think before we hit send.

Picture by johnnyphoto

Dmitry and Maureen in the Oakland Business Review

2008-03-01T07:43:43Z

Many thanks to the Oakland Business Review for this very nice article about us.

A perfect example of 'Long tail' search terms at work for you in blogging. Look what you get when you Google "realtor couple Oakland County." I think that is how the author found us.

You never know where your next post might lead you...

(...And if you have a buyer for the listing we are in front of, 420 Suffield, please call me today. The price can't be beat.)

POLL: Who is the most Ubiquitous Real Estate blogger?

2008-02-29T20:08:35Z

Ubiquitous
Main Entry:
ubiq·ui·tous
Pronunciation:
\yü-ˈbi-kwə-təs\
Function:
adjective
Date:
1830
: existing or being everywhere at the same time : constantly encountered : widespread <a ubiquitous fashion>

It just for leap day fun. Not really a serious contest. Is there a real estate blogger you run into EVERYWHERE you go (which means outside of ActiveRain)?

Join us over at Agent Genius and register your vote. You'll see some familiar AR blogger names like:

Teresa Boardman
Jeff Turner
Jay Thompson
Brian Brady

or add your own write in candidate in the comments here as I have certainly left some off of the list.

Do you Twitter? A call to join...

2008-02-28T19:08:55Z

I confess I have just recently fallen into the Twitter Craze. At first I did not understand where I had landed. Then I began to see lots of familiar names and faces engaging in what seemed like a conversation, albeit a bit disjointed at times.

Tons has been written on AR about Twitter. Take a look here if you are curious.

Jeff Turner just blogged about folks Twittering "Realtor" today. You'll run into some familiar faces there, along with some CONSUMERS!

Here is an invitation to join a newly created group for AR Twitterers. The idea is to make it easier for new people to find those of us who are already there to make connections. So join us.

Please feel free to add your Twitter ID to this post in the comments.

You can also follow me on Twitter by adding http://twitter.com/maureenfrancis

UPDATE

Here is a link to Joey's Tutorial on Twitter (Twitorial) for newbies.