Dmitry & Maureen: Moving Metro Detroit

Birmingham MI's most expensive home is a knockout!

Thu, 27 May 2010 03:51:35 -0700

In early May, a spectacular home in Birmingham hit the market at a list price of $6,395,000, making it the most expensive residence currently on the market in the City of Birmingham. Our company, SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, has been entrusted to market this exceptional home.

400 Arlington was originally built for Carole Ilitch Trepeck and her then husband David Trepeck, who founded Uptown Entertainment, the company that runs Birmingham's two movie theaters, Birmingham 8 and The Palladium. Uptown Entertainment is a subsidiary of Ilitch Holdings (as in Little Caesers, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings and so on...) The Trepecks decided to move to California and the home was sold to it's current owners in 2002.

The 11,000 square foot home sits on 2.25 acres of immaculately manicured gardens with a magnificent swimming pool. There are 6 bedroom suites, 8 full baths and 2 half baths. A guest house/private apartment with a full kitchen and sitting area is perched over the 4 car garage. The lower level features a wine cellar, workout room and additional living space. The main floor features a separate service kitchen for parties and events. Public records show that the home's 2009 property taxes were $85,314.

The house was very well received by local agents who toured it for the first time this week. We enjoyed listening to oohs and ahhhs as agents explored the home and declared it one of the finest on the market today.

Green Lake Newer Construction

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:25:20 -0700

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Photo Gallery

Welcoming Foyer	Open Floor Plan	Gorgeous, Inviting Kitchen
Kitchen Opens To Dining Room	Dining Room With Lake Views	Living Room With Fireplace
First Floor Master Suite	Second Bedroom	View From The Deck
Rear Elevation

Description

Beautiful newer 2002 custom home right on Green Lake. High end finishes throughout. First floor master. Bonus loft above garage easily finished for additional living space.Call Maureen @ 248.430.4450 to arrange a showing.

Features

Bedrooms:	3
Bathrooms:	2.1
Parking Spaces:	Covered
Year Built:	1940
Subdivision:	GREEN LAKE ALLOTMENT
Lot Size:	64x202
Garage Size:	2 Car
School District:	West Bloomfield
Square Footage:	2560
Agent Name:	Maureen Francis
Broker:	SKBK Sotheby's International Realty
MLS #:	28162387

Location

6837 Alden West Bloomfield MI 48324

vFlyer Id: 1918510

Hawthorne Hills -- Great Opportunity

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:21:39 -0700

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Description

Beautiful home located deep in the leafy Hawthorn Hills sub, with the price drastically reduced by more than $165,000 for faster sale! And in addition, Seller is now offering a $6,000 CREDIT TO BUYER AT CLOSING!

A great place with abundance of space to entertain/raise your family! Hardwood and premium carpet floors. Large casement windows. Spacious Family room with fireplace. Fabulous Maple Kitchen with isle, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops opening into the Family Room via Breakfast area. Butlers Pantry & 1st floor laundry room. Large size bedrooms featuring a fabulous Master suite with cathedral ceilings, spacious Master bathroom with tub, 2 sinks, his and hers walk-in closets. Walk into elegant center spiral staircase & walk down the butler staircase. Enjoy spacious partially finished basement with daylight windows and plumbing for future full bathroom. 3 car attached garage. Spacious deck. Great Rochester schools and low property taxes. This home is waiting for you to move right in!

More photos and a Virtual Tour at http://newcastle.mibirmingham.com

Features

Bedrooms:	4
Bathrooms:	3.1
Parking Spaces:	Attached garage
Year Built:	1992
Subdivision:	Hawthorn Hills
Lot Size:	115x130
Garage Size:	3 cars
School District:	Rochester
Square Footage:	4301
Agent Name:	Maureen Francis
Broker:	SKBK Sotheby's International Realty
MLS #:	28184478

Location

1644 Newcastle Court Rochester Hills MI 48309

vFlyer Id: 2053953

Short Sales Offer Solution for Metro Detroit Home Sellers

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 10:32:44 -0800

Unfortunately, the number of people who owe more than their house is worth is increasing in Metro Detroit. If you are staying in your house, you don't have a pressing issue, though the new housing bill that is coming out on March 4th may provide you with some relief. More on that later when the details come out.

If you have to sell your home now, and you are upside down, there are some things you should know. Some people have the cash to bring to closing when they owe more than it they'll net at close. Most simply don't.

One option is a Short Sale. This is when the lenders agree to accept the shortfall and write it off. They may ask you to contribute as much as you can, or they may write off the entire amount. If there is a first mortgage and a second mortgage, then both lenders will need to agree to the outcome. Other liens will complicate the picture too.

You need someone experienced in short sales to help you. Chose wisely. The bank is not expecting to deal with you: they are want the package put together by a professional. In order to have any success with the bank, the transaction requires great attention to detail and follow through. Banks notoriously lose short sale packets over and over. Last summer I faxed a short sale packet to a lender at least 12 times. I called to confirm receipt. Each time I called in, nobody knew where it was... That's just the reality.

You will not be paying the Realtor's commission, or, most likely, many of the other things associated with a short sale, like tax prorations, transfer tax, etc. The bank usually pays most of those expenses.

You need to be 100% committed to the process. Short sales are not quick and easy, but with a solid plan, the pain can be reduced.

There is really nothing “short” about short sales. They usually take much longer than the typical sale, mostly because we are waiting for banks to make decisions.

Banks usually don’t tell you how much they will accept until after you have an offer. That means we start the process without knowing how it will end. It is important to have a very good grasp of the market. You need an offer to get things really started. Pricing and marketing are key. Buyers can be scared off by short sales because they don’t want to take on the uncertainty. We have to do a good job of demonstrating that we are on top of the process.

There are some things you will need to do to facilitate your short sale:

Write a hardship letter. In your own words tell the bank why you are not able to pay the shortfall on the mortgage. Typically banks are looking for things like illness, job loss, etc, but just tell them honestly what the problem is.
Gather your last 2 tax returns, w-2's and current bank statements and current pay stubs.
Talk to the bank. The banks don't want your house, and they need to hear from you. You might run into some brick walls, but start the dialog. If you chose to work with us on the short sale, we will take over most of the bank discussions after we list the property. We will also keep you informed about our progress with the bank. We have to work together as a team to succeed, so it is important that you keep us informed to any changes in your status.

Short sales have generally not impacted a seller’s credit score as much as a foreclosure. You may wish to consult with a tax adviser to determine if you will have an tax consequences from a short sale. Short sales can be a great path toward avoiding foreclosure and a real relief for a strapped home owners.

If you need help or guidance about working on a short sale for your Metro Detroit home, we would be happy to talk to you. Here are some other articles we have written about short sales:

11 Things about Buying a Short Sale in Oakland County

A Short Sale Question

Interest Free - No Payment Loans For Oakland County Foreclosures

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:42:23 -0800

Last week Oakland County introduced a plan to help get some of the vacant foreclosed homes off the market in select Oakland County communities. Their press release follows.

I need to call the county and ask some questions. The program seems very generous and should help sell some foreclosed homes. I am not sure why some communities were left off of the list. For example, Birmingham is on it, but Beverly Hills is not. Royal Oak Township is on, but the city of Royal Oak is not. No go for Bloomfield Township, but a yes for Troy. This has me questioning how communities became eligible.

As much as I know the foreclosures need to get off the market, this gives them a steep advantage over the regular resale homes that are already severly challenged for finding buyers. The foreclosures are selling, for the most part, without much additional help. Low prices do that.

"Pontiac, Michigan, February 17, 2009 -- More families in Oakland County may be able to find homeownership within their means thanks to a new program administered by the Oakland County Community & Home Improvement Division. The Oakland County Home Buyer Program is aimed at helping low and moderate income families take ownership of vacant, foreclosed single family homes and condominiums as their primary residence.

An informational workshop for prospective homebuyers will be held Saturday, February 28, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Rd., just west of Telegraph Rd., in Waterford. Pre-registration is not required.

"Families who thought they could never afford their own home now have the best opportunity to become homeowners through this unprecedented program," Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said.

Oakland County can provide no-interest loans for down payment assistance, closing costs, home improvements or other financing. The homebuyer must prequalify for a fixed rate mortgage loan from a lending institution. This loan represents 51% of the purchase price. Oakland County will finance the remaining 49% of the purchase and rehabilitation costs up to $100,000. The homebuyer must also provide $2,000 to initiate the purchase. The homebuyer only pays on the conventional mortgage obtained from their lender. Payment on the down payment and home improvement loans is deferred until the property changes ownership.

Homebuyers with incomes at or below 120% of Area Median Income (AMI) are eligible for assistance. For example, a family of four earning up to $83,900 per year is eligible under this program.

Funding for the Oakland County Home Buyer Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). This one-time $17.4 million emergency funding supplements the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to purchase foreclosed homes at a discount, and rehabilitate or redevelop the homes to stabilize neighborhoods impacted by foreclosure and abandonment, and reverse the decline of neighborhood housing values.

The Oakland County Home Buyer Program covers properties in select Oakland County communities. Contact Farmington Hills, Pontiac, Royal Oak, Southfield, or Waterford directly to inquire about home buying assistance programs in their communities."

You can find more information on the programs on the county's web site. If you need a Realtor to guide you through your purchase, I would be happy to assist you.

Clawson First Time Buyers Alert!

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:26:28 -0800

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Description

Wow, it's all new and ready just for you. Why rent when you can own this gem? Call now.

Renovated and ready for a new owner. Cute Clawson bungalow. So much has been done: new carpet throughout, freshly painted in neutral colors, new blinds, new sink in bath and tile in utility room. New stove and refrigerator. Spacious master bedroom with lots of built-ins and sitting room or home office. Plenty of storage. Newer hot water heater and heating system. One and a half car garage.

First time home buyer's tax credit makes it even more affordable if you qualify. Contact lister for details!

More details on the web at 39custer.mibirmingham.com Call Maureen @248.430.4450 for an appointment.

Features

Bedrooms:	3
Bathrooms:	1
Year Built:	1951
Garage Size:	1 1/2
School District:	Clawson
Square Footage:	1023
Agent Name:	Maureen Francis
Broker:	SKBK Sotheby's

Location

39 S. Custer Clawson MI 48017

vFlyer Id: 2280078

HUD Homes in Birmingham

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:07:04 -0800

Birmingham is certainly known for its upscale downtown, incredible restaurants and it's wonderful neighborhoods. We have pricey real estate here too, compared to much of the rest of the region.

On Inauguration Day, I showed Birmingham's only HUD home active in the MLS. To date, there are have been few HUD homes in Birmingham, but we could have more in the future.

My investor client asked me, "Aren't HUD homes in bad areas?" This seems to be a common perception, but HUD homes are the product of people who had FHA guaranteed mortgages losing them to foreclosure. 2009 FHA loan limits for Oakland County are up to $273,700, and we certainly have many homes in that price range in Birmingham.

FHA loans have allowed people to get into homes with lower down payments, and have been of particular assistance to first time home buyers. In the last 9 years we didn't see that many FHA loans financing Birmingham/Bloomfield Hills homes. It was much more common to do a piggyback loan, with a first mortgage and a second mortgage to avoid PMI. Piggyback loans gone now that underwriting guidelines have tightened up.

HUD homes are sold via incredibly transparent on-line auctions, which frees them from some of the issues that have surrounded the sales of other foreclosed homes. The bids are made through HUD approved brokers (like us), and the auction results are posted daily.

Owner occupants are given preference and may bid earlier in the process, without competition from investors. Investors also need to conduct any inspections prior to making an offer. Owner occupants are given much more leeway in this regard.

These homes provide an incredible opportunity for buyers, though one should proceed with caution.

This post appears from miOaklandCounty.com

I really can't believe this price!

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:05:42 -0800

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Description

Just reduced $75k! Seller offering up to $14k for moving allowance. Completely renovated from top to botton. Custom dream eat-in kitchen with large island and breakfast nook. Arched doorway to family room with stone fireplace. Library with built-ins. Mud room with half bath off kitchen. Hardwood floors. Master suite/nanny's quarters or loft on the 3rd floor. New bathrooms. Fully finished lower level with 2nd kitchen and wet bar featuring granite counters, dishwasher and microwave, exercise room and full tiled bathroom. Slate tiled back porch and secluded hot tub. 2 car detached garage and beautiful paver driveway. Extra deep 164 ft. lot. Tasteful landscaping with decorative fence in the front yard. This home combines historic charm with high end modern amenities. Exceptionally priced (the list price at the time of purchase was $1,395,000)!See more pics on the web at http://731Bates.mibirmingham.com

Features

Bedrooms:	4
Bathrooms:	4.1
Year Built:	1916
Subdivision:	Downtown Birmingham
Lot Size:	48x164
Garage Size:	2 car
School District:	Birmingham
Square Footage:	3781
Agent Name:	Maureen Francis
Broker:	SKBK Sotheby's International Realty
MLS #:	28183377

Location

731 South Bates Street Birmingham MI 48009

vFlyer Id: 2013856

Voices of Detroit

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:20:50 -0800

The well known Detroit broadcaster, Larry Henry, and Dave Benjamin from The Sales Matrix have started a new series of podcasts about entrepreneurs leading the renaissance of Detroit. You can find their work on the recenlyt launched VoicesOfDetroit.com

I had the pleasure of sitting down with them last week and talking about the Metro Detroit real estate market and professional business coaching along with Kim Knapp. You can listen to our podcast here. There are positive messages that Metro Detroiters need to hear about the real estate market and I was happy for the opportunity to share them.

Larry and Dave are also available to help businesses expand their reach through podcasting. Check them out.

Startup Weekend Detroit is Coming -- Can You Help Make it Possible?

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:47:22 -0800

Shannon Paul the social media voice of the Detroit Red Wings, has taken on bringing Startup Weekend to Detroit. If there is one thing Detroit needs right now, it is jobs, and Shannon is doing her part to create some new ventures here. Who knows, the next Google or Amazon.com could be born in Detroit this year.

Shannon says:

We’re hoping to attract about 100 attendees with great ideas and deep skills, but once they get here we need to feed them — a free t-shirt would be a nice touch, too, along with some groovy stickers. We also need to make sure we have enough power strips and extension cords so everyone can stay connected throughout the event.

This way individuals and businesses can help us cover our costs with as large or small a donation as they please. Please also feel free to grab the widget and add it to your blog, website or other corner of the internet.

If your company is interested in sponsoring Startup Weekend Detroit, please drop me a line at shannonpaul5[at]gmail[dot]com.

More information on the Startup Weekend organization can be found at FAQ.

Please be sure to visit the Detroit Startup Weekend site for more information about the event.

Photo by Derek Farr (Detroit Derek)

*Photo is of a painting titled Detroit Industry by Diego Rivera on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Spacious Berkley Bungalow

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:10:20 -0800

Berkley Bungalow with Space Galore

Location: Berkley, MI

Wow, this home offers so much for the price. You will be surprised when you get inside. Oversized Berkley lot. Enormous master suite with deck, skylight, dressing room, master bath and library. 2 full baths. Breezeway/family room. Lovely landscaped yard. Attached garage. Newer kitchen appliances. Hardwood floors. Newer roof. Nicely finished basement adds lots more space with potential 4th bedroom, rec room and plenty of storage. Newer roof, windows, AC. Great location - close to downtown Royal Oak and shops. This is a must see!

More on the web at http://miBerkley.com or call Maureen @248.430.4450

Information

Contact Information

Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublitsky

248.961.0801

Contact Reply Form

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Pricing

Price: $150,000.00

Additional Pricing Information: Just reduced $25k

Property Location

811 Harvard
Berkley, MI 48072
View Map

Links

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Our Blog

Features

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Parking Spaces: 2 Car Attached Garage

Year Built: 1951

Lot Size: 55x129

Garage Size: 2+

School District: Royal Oak

Square Footage: 1443

Agent Name: Maureen Francis

Broker: SKBK Sotheby's International Realty

MLS #: 29007866

Attributes

Appliances

Range/Oven

Full Refrigerator

Washer/Dryer

Dishwasher

Sink Disposal

Microwave

Interior Amenities

Hardwood Floors

Vaulted Ceilings

Basement

Exterior Amenities

Patio

Fenced Yard

Grass Lawn

Photo Gallery

View as Slideshow View Photo Gallery (8 Photos)

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

VFLYER ID: 2175822

Berkley Beauty

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:05:55 -0800

Links

Photo Gallery

Breezeway to garage and patio	Library or craft room	Master Suite
Master	New appliances	Dining Room
Huge Yard	Finished basement

Description

Features

Bedrooms:	3
Bathrooms:	2
Parking Spaces:	2 Car Attached Garage
Year Built:	1951
Lot Size:	55x129
Garage Size:	2+
School District:	Royal Oak
Square Footage:	1443
Agent Name:	Maureen Francis
Broker:	SKBK Sotheby's International Realty
MLS #:	29007866

Location

811 Harvard Berkley MI 48072

vFlyer Id: 2175822

10 Tips for First Time Michigan Home Sellers

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 12:25:47 -0800

There are all kinds of articles on the web for first time buyers. Plenty of advice, including seminars, classes and such. But rarely do I hear someone talking about first time sellers and the questions they may have. Yes, first time sellers have been on the other side of the transaction once, but the needs of a seller are quite different from the needs of buyer. If this is the first time you are selling a Michigan home, here are some things you may not know:

Michigan property taxes are paid in advance, so you will receive a credit back from the buyers at close for the property taxes you have pre-paid. Who doesn't like getting money back?
Chances are that you did not pay your buyer's agent a commission when you bought your home. It was paid by the seller. In Michigan, the sales commission is traditionally paid by the seller and is most often paid at close to your listing brokerage. They, in turn, pay your agent and the the buyer's broker who pays the buyer's agent. So that commission is actually split four ways in the end.
Interview a few agents. The best listing agent is not necessarily the best buyer's agent. Look for a good marketing plan first and foremost. Take a look at Dear Mr. & Mrs. Seller, here is what you need to do and Help! I can't find your agent for some thoughts on what you should be looking for in a listing agent. If you need a referral for a listing agent anywhere across the US, let us know.
The seller traditionally pays the transfer tax, which is calculated at $8.60 per thousand dollars. For example, on a $250,000 sale the transfer tax would be 250 x $8.60 for a total of $2,150.
The seller also pays for title insurance, which protects the seller against claims against the title that might be made after the sale. The cost of the title insurance varies based upon the sale price of the home. If you provide your previous title insurance, you are likely to receive a discount.
In a strong market, where real estate is appreciating, it is challenging to recoup the expenses associated with selling in the first few years after a purchase.
Michigan law requires you to provide a purchaser with the following documents: a seller's disclosure and a lead based paint disclosure.
There are a number of things you can do to help you get maximum value for a home. A few that come to mind include: make sure it "shows" as well as possible, price it correctly for market conditions, make sure you have an agent who can offer you maximal market exposure and make showings as convenient for buyers as possible.
You can use a home warranty during the listing period, if your agent places one on your home, should the stove or microwave suddenly go out. We've discussed that more thoroughly in Is a home warranty warranted?
Today, selling a Michigan home takes a little patience and a strong team effort between the seller and the listing agent. Houses are selling every day. Position yours to be the best in its class and you will be rewarded.

You will find no shortage of our thoughts on selling a home in Seller Information. Our Dear Mr. & Mrs. Seller series contains some of our best advice and commentary on selling a home.

Maureen Francis is a top producing Realtor with SKBK Sotheby's International Realty in Birmingham, MI. Visit her award winning Oakland County Real Estate blog. Free Metro Detroit Home Search.

Seller Baits Buyers With Financing

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 09:15:08 -0800

Tightened credit markets and sluggish real estate sales in Oakland County MI have sellers looking for ways to seal the deal. This week I saw a Birmingham builder do what he could to take control of the situation and set his properties apart. His answer: the land contract.

Not only is he offering land contracts, he's offering them at rates better than you will get at the bank. Today he advertised 4%! What's not to like about 4% money, especially since his homes sell at prices where the buyer is likely to need a more expensive jumbo mortgage. Other advantages of land contracts:

Potentially cheaper closing costs

Seller *might* be more lenient with credit blemishes

I think this sounds like a great incentive for buyers. Kudos to this seller for thinking outside the box and looking for a new source of buyers.

Intrigued? Take a look.

Maureen Francis is a top producing Realtor with SKBK Sotheby's International Realty in Birmingham, MI. Visit her award winning Oakland County Real Estate blog. Free Metro Detroit Home Search.

Happy New Years Oakland County!

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 12:45:26 -0800

2008 has certainly provided for lots of unexpected surprises for Metro Detroit. In January we will be rolling out a new series of posts for Metro Detroiters on how to deal with the challenges in today’s real estate market. The good news: there are previously unseen opportunities for buyers. Sellers, you are not left out, there are ways for you to get your home sold in 2009.

Dmitry and I started this year with one of the most intense personal challenges of my life. Along with our young daughter, we moved in with my parents to help care for my dying father in his final months. We put most business aside and purely focused on our family. I am thankful that real estate allowed us to make that choice, and our clients understood. We miss my dad enormously, but we feel so fortunate to have been there when we were most needed.

Perhaps Dad was looking out for us. 2008 presented us with professional opportunities like we had never seen before. In the summer it seemed like I was going on 3 or 4 listing appointments a week. The best news was that we sold most of the houses we listed, and quickly! We finished the year far surpassing any previous year we’ve had in the business since we started in 2001, both in terms of units sold and dollar volume.

I tell you this for a couple of reasons. First, I think the economic doom and gloom around us is paralyzing people and then it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. We had a great year and we will have another great year in 2009. People need to hear the good things that are going on out there, and they certainly aren’t finding it in the main stream media. I have almost completely stopped reading the newspaper and watching the evening news.

I am finishing 2008 and starting 2009 by saying thank you. Thank you to our clients for trusting us. Thank you to our blog readers for your interest in Metro Detroit real estate. Thank you to Marianne Sweet and Ken Mascia for all of the great articles this year, and for the wonderful resources you have been for our mutual clients.

Wishing you all the best in 2009.

PS. 2009 is a great year to buy a house and an American car. Call me.

this post appears courtesy of miOaklandCounty.com

Metro Detroit Landlords Beware!

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:04:33 -0800

When you are a landlord with a house to rent, it is so tempting to bite when you think you have a hot lead for a tenant.

Last week I placed an ad on Craig’s List for our Beverly Hills MI rental home, in addition to our other marketing activities. The ad snared an interested party within an hour of going live. Boy, was I excited! Visions of a positive cash flow rolled in my head.

There were a few red flags in the gentleman’s email, but I remained cautiously hopeful. He asked me to send him pictures, yet there were photos on the ad and a link to 25 more there. I don’t think he actually read the ad.

“John” told me that he is currently in England and his employer is moving him here. He asked for the total move in costs and told me he wanted the house. He engaged the services of a designer who would be getting the furniture and things he would need for the home so it would be ready when he moved in. He wanted to send me a check for twice the move in cost and have me give his designer money so she could start furnishing the place. He would not be able to complete an application or a lease until he arrived in January.

Hmmmm. All suspicious.

Still, there was some small hope he was legit. So we told him to wire us the money. Of course, that was not an option for him. He could only send his company’s check.

Then we told him to send a cashiers check from a local bank. Also not an option.

Of course, I knew this was going no where, but my last carrot to him was to send the check to his designer and have her give us cash for the security deposit and rent. I have not heard from John since.

Boy it sure would have been nice to have a new tenant, but having his check bounce after I gave cash to his designer would have been the most likely outcome of this sad story.

Photo credit

Post courtesy of miOaklandCounty.com

Metro Detroit Home Search

Exceptional In Town Birmingham VALUE!

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:47:44 -0800

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Photo Gallery

Description

Completely renovated from top to botton. Custom dream eat-in kitchen with large island and breakfast nook. Arched doorway to family room with stone fireplace. Library with built-ins. Mud room with half bath off kitchen. Hardwood floors. Master suite/nanny's quarters or loft on the 3rd floor. New bathrooms. Fully finished lower level with 2nd kitchen and wet bar featuring granite counters, dishwasher and microwave, exercise room and full tiled bathroom. Slate tiled back porch and secluded hot tub. 2 car detached garage and beautiful paver driveway. Extra deep 164 ft. lot. Tasteful landscaping with decorative fence in the front yard. This home combines historic charm with high end modern amenities. Exceptionally priced (the list price at the time of purchase was $1,395,000)!

Features

Bedrooms:	4
Bathrooms:	4.1
Year Built:	1916
Subdivision:	Downtown Birmingham
Lot Size:	48x164
Garage Size:	2 car
School District:	Birmingham
Square Footage:	3781
Agent Name:	Maureen Francis
Broker:	SKBK Sotheby's International Realty
MLS #:	28183377

Location

731 South Bates Street Birmingham Michigan 48009

vFlyer Id: 2013856

Great Value Alert in Birmingham, Michigan!

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:17:04 -0800

731 S. Bates, Birmingham MI

Someone is going to get a GREAT deal on this super home, steps out of desireable downtown Birmingham. When the home last sold in 2004, the list price was $1,395,000. Dmitry and I relisted it this week for the motivated seller at $799,990.

No, nothing is wrong with the house. It is not a foreclosure, and it is in pristine condition. It is a FANTASTIC house, completely renovated with new baths, 2 kitchens, and 2 master suites. I LOVE this house.

You can take a look at the 731 S. Bates in Birmingham on line, or, better yet, stop by Sunday afternoon at our open house from 1 to 4.

Be prepared to fall in love. I really think this home will go fast. You have been warned

Originally posted on our Birmingham Michigan Real Estate Blog

Birmingham MI Home Sales

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:38:19 -0800

I just ran a complete search of home sales in Birmingham MI for the first three quarters of 2008. There were 243 home sales (225 sold, 18 pending sales) between January 1st and September 30th, 2008.

I decided to create a pdf file so that readers could take a look at these sales themselves. Statistics about Birmingham home prices are always skewed by the high number of $1 sales, deeds that are recorded without the actual sales price. So far this year, I counted 48 $1 sales. So basically over 20% of the home sales data is incorrect or hidden.

Unfortunately, this leads to huge distortions in the statistics we receive from our MLS and our board of Realtors. These statistics are most skewed for Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills, where the practice is most common. The numbers are consistently skewed, so we continue to use them as we have nothing better to offer.

For the downloadable compelete report, please visit miOaklandCounty.com

Open Today: Super Birmingham MI VALUE!

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:19:00 -0800

Someone is going to get a GREAT deal on this super home, steps out of desireable downtown Birmingham. When the home last sold in 2004, the list price was $1,395,000. Dmitry and I relisted it this week for the motivated seller at $799,990.

No, nothing is wrong with the house. It is not a foreclosure, and it is in pristine condition. It is a FANTASTIC house, completely renovated with new baths, 2 kitchens, and 2 master suites. I LOVE this house.

You can take a look at the 731 S. Bates in Birmingham on line, or, better yet, stop by today between 1 and 4.

Be prepared to fall in love. I really think this home will go fast. You have been warned ;-)

Republished from miOaklandCounty.com

Blogging with Bob Stewart of Active Rain & Missy Caulk of Ann Arbor, MI

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:36:01 -0700

Missy Caulk and Bob Stewart did a seriously great job of presenting blogging today at Keller Williams in Ann Arbor. Karen Moorhead has laid it all out below.

Ed Vielmetti, non-Realtor, but blogging superstar, live blogged
Many of us tweeted the whole seminar

I was thrilled to see all of the interest in blogging in Ann Arbor. And Missy was a gem for sharing her vast knowledge with her competitors.

THIS IS A REBLOG. Please save your comments for Karen's blog.

Via Karen Moorhead Ann Arbor Area Real Estate:

Thank you to Missy Caulk and Bob Stewart for putting on a great blogging seminar at the Keller Williams Ann Arbor Market Center.

This was a motivating presentation, whether you have been in the rain for a while or if you are just starting out. The information was excellent and provided great inspiration.

Missy is very generous with her knowledge and this one slide is the essence of her thoughts about posts. Share who you are to the public and let them get to know you!

The other aspect to how totally cool this was the group of people who attended and how they found out about the event. One of my favorite local bloggers who has nothing to do with real estate, attended and that was because Maureen Francis wrote a tweet this morning that we had Bob Stewart of Active Rain in town today. So Ed Vielmetti attended just to see what we are doing on the net and how we do it. (Ed thanks for attending!)

Point here: Get on Twitter! Post important events on Twitter and who knows who will show up at your meetings.

We were also lucky enough to have Debra Drummond and Todd Waller as well as many others. (There will be posts with photos of others I'm sure!)

Stay active in the Rain. If someone does a presentation on blogging - attend this meeting. I think you will find friends who you haven't met in person, but it is just a wonderful experience to put a face with a name.

Most importantly Missy's message was an excellent one and that is to blog to get business. It is how people find her and decide to work with her.

Bob Stewart talked about all the places which no one as covered as yet. The opportunities are huge! Take your own photos and write about the neighborhoods, unless you have so much business you can't handle any more. If you need to grow your business then having an Active Rain voice will help get you where you want to go.

You might also find some friends along the way.

As much as I love these photos, the meeting was even better!

Missy Caulk, Bob Stewart and Chet Hill were all helpful in pulling this event together.

Thank you!

Birmingham Pediatrics - Dr. Molly Leads!

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:05:01 -0700

This morning my 5 year old and I made that annual visit to the pediatrician for her back to school check up. Katya is a healthy child, but she “freaked out” last year when Justin, the nurse, had to prick her finger to do a blood test. Ever since she has had a deathly fear of “blood shots.”

I intentionally hadn’t much mentioned the trip to the Dr.’s office today because I did not want her to get all worked up. But when the topic did come up as she got dressed, I showed her the pictures of Dr. Molly’s on Molly’s blog. Looks pretty cool. No stuffy lab coats. No scary looking equipment.

Filled with funky bean bags, and other kid’tastic finds, Birmingham Pediatrics feels hip and comfortable. Dr. Molly’s daughter Mairen greeted us and got Katya settled in with a fun filled activity pack that kept her occupied while I filled out papers. Mairen suggested we might be more comfortable over in the bean bag corner. When Katya wanted to take a look at the Kresge Farm out of Dr. Molly’s private office, Mairen took her right in and then told her that Katya would have binoculars in her exam room. Actually, I don’t think they call ‘em exam rooms and they don’t look like exam rooms. There was no table with a roll of paper on it!

Katya had a great visit. Tonight she told me she loves Dr. Molly and asked when she could go back.

Dr. Molly has figured it out. Your kids will love you for taking them to see her.

You can follow Dr. Molly’s adventures on her blog

Birmingham Pediatrics and Wellness Center

Molly O’Shea, MD, PLLC
3270 West Big Beaver • Suite 400 • Troy, MI • 48084

248 816 2558

Post appears courtesy of miOaklandCounty.com

Northville Luxury Living

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:46:37 -0700

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...

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:26:43 -0700

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.

You've come a long way baby!

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:08:17 -0700

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

. . . and I am just the supportive mentor.

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.