Ni hao or hello

Ni hao (nee-Ha-OW) is hello in Chinese.  That is one of the new words I have learned in the last few weeks.  It seems I have been working with many different ethnic groups.  In the last wek I have been working with many different first time home buyers.  I am working with a young Turkish couple, a Hispanic family, an Arabic family, and the young Chinese couple. 

Metro Detroit has many different ethnic groups.  Some are spread out through Metro Detroit and others are clustered in little areas.  What is great about most of my buyers is that let me experience and understand their cultures.  Sometimes with different languages and first time home buyers there is nervousness.  That why is why agents need to take the time to explain the whole buying process and explain little things.

This week I explained what:

• comparables are
• why some neighborhoods may bring more money than one just across the street
• Why you should hire a home inspector
• what the difference between corian, formica, and granite costs are
• how to figure your future taxes based on what the SEV is now 

What is great is that the home buyers are appreciative about taking the extra time to explain little things to them.  Now I just have to say good bye in Chinese.  But one day at a time.

Metro Detroit Real Estate Market update

I have been out looking with a first time home buyer at homes in Canton, Michigan.  What I am noticing is that homes are selling.  I am seeing a little plateauing of prices.  Canton home sellers are getting their price.  At least home prices are not dropping heavily during the summer.  There seems to be a slight leveling of price.

We have put in an low offer and been turned down.  The Canton Home owner wants the high end of the range.  The homes that were in same square footage range sold from $240,000 to $270,000 on the high end.  The homeowner had it listed at $279,000 and did not want to budge below  $270,000.  It was a nice home and I hope it sells for them.

We just put in another offer on a different Canton home that was similar in size, age, and amenities for $40,000 less than the other house.  When making an offer on any home you need to look at the recent comps (homes that have sold in the last six months that are similar in age, size, amenities to the home you are looking at)

Once you have that information then it is up to you the buyer on what price you are willing to pay.  Do you want to pay the average price, or do you want to pay at the upper end of the scale.  The ultimate decision is up to you the home buyer.  Whether you are a Canton Home buyer or a home buyer in any Michigan city the key is to make a sound decision based on facts.

What it takes to sell a home

Michigan House Hunting

As a real estate agents we do many things to help sell a home.  But one of the most important things is to help the buyers see the complete home.  To let the Michigan home buyer go through it without being rushed, distracted, or hurried.

So one of my favorite things is to keep the kids occupied while the parents are looking.  When a child is tugging on mom's arm, or crying it is hard for mom to look at the house.  Lately I have had several families with kids.  I am now loading my car with toys for the kids to play with.  Sometimes it is as simple as swinging the kids on a swing while the parents are looking at the outside.  Or rocking them in a chair.  Here is one of my many satisfied customers.

  Can we write this Lazy Boy into the Purchase agreement?

                       All This Michigan House hunting is tiring me out.  Mom are you through looking at the kitchen yet?

For more on Metro Detroit real estate or Michigan home buyers tips go to my websites www.RussRavary.com or www.DetroitMichiganRealEstateHomes.com

A quick easy tip to sell your home

So your Michigan home is not selling.  Here is a simple home selling tip that many sellers never bother to do.  Open the Drapes and let the light in.  You will be surprised at how many homes I go into with buyers and it is dark.  Turn on the lights when you have a showing.  Get rid of the heavy curtains.  Open the shades and drapes.

Take a look at the pictures below.  This is what we walked into and what it could have looked like.

Dark is good for restaurants and kitchens that you don't want to know what you are eating, but in Michigan real estate let the light shine in!!!!!

or how about the living room

Dark is good for sleeping in the bedroom but not for getting buyers interested

Which home would you be more interested in the one on the left or the one on the right.  Take your Realtors home selling advice and let the light shine in.  This happens over and over.  You will be surprised at how many Michigan home sellers never do this.

For more great Michigan home sellers tips go to my websites www.RussRavary.com or www.DetroitMichiganRealEstateHomes.com

Northville Happenings Michigan

The back of the Marquis Theater, Northville, MI

With the upcoming elections there is a lot of hot air blowing around the country and right here in Michigan.  So it seems natural for Northville Michigan to have a Kite festival.

 Fun From the Sky Kite Festival

Bring the family out to Northville and join us for the 1st Annual Fun from the Sky Kite Festival!

Learn how to fly kites of all different types and witness some of the world's largest show kites in flight.

Other activities will include Kite-Building for kids, Teddy Bear Drop, Raptor Rescue Exhibit, Team/Individual Ballet and Learning Workshops.

Date: Saturday, August 2 (Rain Date is August 3)

Time: 10:00am - 5:00pm

Location: Community Park ( 15801 Beck Rd. , Northville) Fields 12, 13, 14

Fee: Free (refreshments will be available for purchase)

For more information about these activities, call 734-454-3760.  

Northville Parks & Recreation
www.northvilleparksandrec.com
248-349-0203

Northville Michigan has a great historic and electic downtown.  Lots of great places to eat and shop.  The City of Northville Michigan puts on some great community events like Art in the Sun (third week in June), the Victorian Festival (mid September), and a great Halloween holiday.  For more on Northvilleand Northville Township Michigan and Northville real estate go to my website www.RussRavary.com 

Michigan relocation tips

Whether you are relocating to Michigan because of a job transfer or moving to be close to family you will want to find a city that fits you.  Here is what you should be doing to make your move easier.

List your priorities. 

• Do you want to be close to the job?
• Do you want to be close to family?
• Do you want a good school system?
• Is the style of home important to you?
• Is the demographics of the neighborhood important to you?  (income, race, age)
• Is the type of town important to you?

Then research on line.  Contact a Local Michigan relocation specialist.  Tell the Michigan relocation specialist everything you want in a home and where you want to live.

Here are some of the actions a good relocation specialist will do for you.

1. Send you information about the cities and schools in the area
2. Preview homes
3. Locate places of worship, hotels, and activities for your family when you come in looking for a home.
4. Video homes and send you links on you tube.

When you are relocating to Michigan you need to research the areas and all the information you need.  Research, research, research.  Don't be afraid to ask questions to your Michigan Realtor Here is a quick to aid you in your Michigan relocation.  Use Google Earthto see views of the neighborhoods and the homes.  You can see what is around the homes you are looking at.  Remember that high tension wires usually don't show up on Google Earth.  

For more on Metro Detroit real estate and Michigan relocation information feel free to go to my website www.DetroitMichiganRealEstateHomes.com   You can search over Michigan 60,000 homes for sale

Metro Detroit lake houses

I received a referral from Missy Caulk this week.  (Thanks Missy)  The couple was from California and wanted to buy a lake house in Michigan near Metro Detroit.  We have many great all -sports lakes near Metro Detroit.  There is Walled Lake, Wolverine Lake, Lake Sherwood, and White Lake.

We saw quite a few nice Michigan lake homes in the $200,000 - $400,000.  It was a beautiful day.  The sun was shining, the weather was great for looking at Metro Detroit Lake homes.  We saw an old cottage that had a Michigan basement.  We saw another that the people were in trouble and we having to sell the lake home as a short sale.  We saw several on Walled Lake, but the clients liked Wolverine Lake homes better.  The clients did get a little nervous after talking to a homeowner.  The homeowner actually said that you did not want to go to the island with kids.  (This is one reason why sellers should not be home when showing a house) The partying on White Lake island was a little over the top according to the lake home owner.  It scared the client.

We will see what the client likes and I will gather more information for them.  I give you an update on which Michigan Lake they like best,

There as over 40 great all sports lakes within an hour of Metro Detroit.

Farmington Hills MI local events

Farmington Hills is a great place to live and raise a family.  Here one of the community events that City of Farmington Hills is going to put on at the end of the month.

STARS IN THE PARK PRESENTS TERRY LEE GOFFEE AS JOHNNY CASH 

For fans of Johnny Cash, July 31 will be a very special treat, as the Farmington Hills "Stars in the Park" concert series brings Terry Lee Goffee, known as the "Ultimate" Johnny Cash tribute artist, to Heritage Park for a concert that begins at 7:30 p.m.  Reviewers have said of Goffee that they are "hard pressed to believe" that it's not the real Johnny Cash on stage.  The concert will include all of Johnny Cash's best-known songs.

Portraying Johnny Cash in the first person has been a joy for Goffee, who grew up admiring the classic Cash music.  One of his greatest thrills performing as Cash occurred before a packed audience that included the great singer's brother and sister.  Joanne Cash Yates told him, "You don't impersonate my brother; you pay tribute to him with honor."  The Centre Daily Times calls a Terry Lee Goffee concert "a Close Encounter with Cash."

The "Stars in the Park" concert series is presented by the City of Farmington Hills Special Services Department.  The concerts take place in the brand new amphitheater, opened last month, which is situated in a beautiful grassy "bowl" that is acoustically perfect for outdoor performances.  Heritage Park is located at 24915 Farmington Road, just south of Eleven Mile Road.

Concerts start at 7:30 p.m. and last approximately 90 minutes. The rainout site for this concert is the Costick Center, located at 28600 W. Eleven Mile in Farmington Hills, MI. Concerts continue throughout the summer, with a wide variety of music.  For more information, call 248-473-1848.

For more on Farmington Hills and Farmington Hills real estate check out my websites www.RussRavary.com  or wwwDetroitMichiganRealEstateHomes.com  You can get buyers tips, sellers advice and lots of local Metro Detroit real estate infomation.  You can also search over 60,000 Michigan Homes for sale.

Thank Goodness! Down Payment assistance programs may go away

I amy get a lot of grief for this but.....

The simple truth and facts are: 

• home buyers that put a down payment on a house are more likely to stay in the house and make the payments (studies by banks show this)
• the bigger the downpayment the lower the risk of foreclosure (again studies have shown this)
• the simple reason is that people try to keep the house when their money is involved
• if you don't have any money to lose, then what do you care if you lose the house

I think if people work to save the money.  That if home buying requires an investment and some little sacrifice, such as not going out to dinner once a week for a year.  Then the home buyer values his or hers contribution and down payment on a house.  It is the same thing... When you put work and sweat into a house you want to keep it.

I would not want to loan my money or any of my friends money to be the mortgage backer on any 100% loan whether it is down payment assistance or 100% sub-prime loans.  We all know they don't work from this sub-prime mess.  So why does anybody think down-payment assistance programs are any better.

If people can't save for a down payment how are they going to pay for the furnace to be fixed.  The roof or air conditioning to be fixed. Let's start home buyers out right.  Home ownership costs money.  As an real estate agent and mortgage person I want my people to own the home five to ten years down the road.  I don't want them walking away from it because they have no money in it.

Sure the elimination of down payment assistance may slow the market a little further but it will help the real estate market in the long run.  I know real estate agents and mortgage people make money from the sale of down-payment assistance purchases but why support a program that is unsound.  We know the 100% programs have high foreclosures rates.  I say put your money behind five of these loans and tell me how good they are.

There are many good people out there with down payment assistance programs.  Hard workers, honest people.  But you can't be stretched that thin when buying a home.  We have to be responsible in our loan programs.  Let's be socially responsible here.

For more on Michigan real estate, Livonia real estate, and Metro Detroit real estate go to my websites www.RussRavary.com and www.DetroitMichiganRealEstateHomes.com  Hundreds of articles on buying and selling tips.  You can search 0ver 60,000 Michigan homes for sale

Farmington Michigan events

       Farmington Michigan is a great place to raise a family.  This week Farmington MI celebrates its founding with the Founders festival.

ART ON THE GRAND TO FEATURE

"GEMINI" PERFORMANCE FOR CHILDREN

 "Gemini," the renowned children's entertainment act, will perform onstage on Sunday, July 20 at 1 p.m. at Art on the Grand, the fine arts section of the Farmington Founders Festival.  Art on the Grand, an interactive family art fair, offers a full range of entertainment from July 18 - 20 at its location on the corner of Grand River and Farmington Road in downtown Farmington.

 "Gemini" features twin brothers San and Laz, who have released six recordings for children and won numerous awards from Parents' Choice Magazine, National Parenting Publications (NAPPA), and others. "Fancy That!" their first video, was voted one of the Top 10 children's videos by the American Library Association and Random House.  Other recognition includes a 1999 Directors' Choice Award from Early Childhood News.

The brothers Gemini bring to their concerts a natural ease around children, and have an upbeat flair for involving everyone, from tots to grandparents, in the music making. The result is a dynamic show ranging from laughter and boisterous fun, to the magic of hushed lullabies and tender ballads.

Free entertainment at Art on the Grand will feature everything from flamenco dancing to jazz to rock, along with booths showcasing artists from around the country, free face painting, and wandering performers.  For more information on Farmington Mi, visit www.foundersfestival.com .

For more on Farmington or Farmington Hills real estate go to www.RussRavary.com or www.DetroitMichiganRealEstateHomes.com