NORTHVILLE AND FARMINGTON HILLS MI CLASSES AND EVENTS - 09/29/08 07:47 PM
 NORTHVILLE CLASSES AND EVENTS
Lifeguarding Class - 10/3/08 - 11/1/08
Registration has begun.  Early registration will hold your spot.  This class will fill to capacity!  American Red Cross Lifeguarding Class Meets on:

Activity #: 266206.01Class Fees: FREEMaterial fee of $35 for the Lifeguarding Manual. Payable by check on the 1st day of class. Please make checks payable to Staywell. 
Northville Parks & Recreationwww.northvilleparksandrec.com  248-349-0203
 
 FARMINGTON HILLS CLASSES AND EVENTS 
ART, MUSIC AND DANCE CLASSES FOR ALL AGES  
As we settle into fall, consider registering for one of the high-quality, affordable classes in art, music and dance being offered by … (3 comments)

Another beautiful day in Michigan. - 09/28/08 08:19 PM
The weather was gorgeous.  A slight breeze, lots of sun, and not too warm.  U of M pulled a huge comeback yesterday and Michigan State won big against their opponent.  Plus the Lion's fired Matt Millen this week.  This was the first full week of Detroit's new mayor and the old one is just a piece of history. 
So it is a great week in Metro Detroit! 
Even on the real estate side it has been good.  I received a good short sale listing from Active Rain, got one purchase offer accepted, and another short sale offer in.  And smoothed over some … (5 comments)

Susan G Komen 3 day walk - 09/27/08 11:33 AM
 They are doing the Susan G Komen 3 day cancer walk in Metro Detroit yesterday, today and ending tomorrow.
The Campsite is at Rotary Park in Livonia MI.

Thousands of Metro Detroit women and men come together, each raising money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. Then they take their commitment to end breast cancer one step further and walk 60 miles over the course of three days.
My wife has had three bouts with cancer over the last 18 years.  She is always happy to see this walk go on.  She … (8 comments)

Most Secure places to live in the US. - 09/27/08 06:27 AM
7 Michigan cities meet the standard of the most secure place to live in the US. 
 
According to the 4th annual Most Secure U.S. Places to Live rankings from Farmers Insurance Group of Companies®, there are seven cities in the top 200. city that best meets those qualifications is Corvallis, Ore.

Farmington Hills MI, Warren, Troy            167th place
Ann Arbor, MI                                        139th place
Bay City, MI                                          96th place
Holland - Grand Haven, MI                     112th place   
These ranking were determined using the following factors
crime statistics extreme weather risk of natural disasters environmental hazards terrorism threats air quality life expectancy job loss numbers … (3 comments)

Politics and us - 09/26/08 09:14 PM
I'M SITTING HERE WATCHING THE DEBATES.  AND HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS.   I'm from Detroit area.  For many years it has been racially divided.  Only in the last few years have many neighborhoods become racially mixed.  It is a good thing brought about many things including the sub-prime mess.
Just like the sub-prime mess good things sometimes come out of bad things.  Just like this political mess we are in, something good is coming out of it.  We are going to have somebody other than a white man in the white house or as a vice president.  It is good for us as a … (1 comments)

Northville restaurant's George's Senate Coney Island - 09/25/08 07:59 PM
Whether you live in Northville, Livonia or Plymouth MI George's Senate Coney Island is a great place to eat.
                                               
Located on the west side of Haggerty Rd just south of Six Mile in Northville MI.  George's Senate Coney Islandis a reasonably priced restaurant for the family.  I won't go over board and say the George's is the best coney island in Wayne County.
The best part of George's is the atmosphere.  Sure it is a coney island that sell's liquor, beer, and wine.  Sure they have a great breakfast menu.  But it is the atmosphere of George's patio is … (2 comments)

Quit whining! - 09/24/08 06:39 PM
I am hearing a lot of whining from real estate agents in Detroit.  We are hard hit here.  But do you think those agents will change their habits?  Will they do something that they haven't done?  Or will they sit by the phone and wait for that call?
I have an agent in our office.  They have no listings, they have no buyers. 
Are they calling expireds? ................NO  Are they knocking on doors? ...................... NO Are they putting out fliers or advertising   .................... NO Are they blogging? ...............................NO Do they have a good website?   ....................NO Are they working harder or working … (13 comments)

Laurel Park subdivision real estate update Livonia MI - 09/23/08 09:45 PM
Livonia MI real estate
You will notice the trend in Metro Detroit real estate when looking at several of these subdivision updates.  Livonia real estate home values are continuing to fall, but the time on market for Livonia homes for sale is about the same.  Even though Livonia real estate home values are falling they are falling about the same as the rest of Wayne County home values.  The City of Detroit home values are falling faster than Livonia´s.
For more Livonia subdivision real estate updates or Plymouth Subdivisions real estate updates check out my websites.  You can search over 60,000 … (1 comments)

How far do you go? - 09/23/08 09:33 PM
I believe as a parent you need to support your kids as much as possible.  But it is a fine line of teaching them, and grooming them to be independent adults with the tools necessary to be sucessful.  The reason I am writing this is because I sometime see instances where parents are failing their children.
As a Michigan loan officer and Michigan RealtorI learn a lot about a persons financial well being when they come to see me.  I know their assets, their income, their expenses when they come to me about a mortgage.  As a  Michigan Realtor I don't get into … (0 comments)

Metro Detroit foreclosures -ranchs, colonials, or bungalows - 09/23/08 08:33 PM
What is the best bargain in Metro Detroit homes?  Is it ranches, is it colonials, or is it bungalows.
I am seeing Metro Detroit area colonial homes going for some great prices.  A 900 - 1000 square foot ranch in many  Wayne County and Oakland county cities are still fetching $125,000 -150,000.  They have dropped in price but not as drastically as other types of hones.  You can find some real bargain ranch in cities like Dearborn Heights, Garden City, Redford, Garden City and Westland MI.    In fact in some cities you can find bargain Metro Detroit ranch homes 900 -1000 square foot as … (1 comments)

Not the Death star but the death spiral - 09/21/08 06:02 PM
I don't know if many people realized how close we were to slipping into a depression of the 1930's.  We were like a plane falling from the sky or a skydiver spinning out of control.  That is where our economy is at this point. 
Some of the reasons are:
The housing market now has excess supply of homes for the amount of buyers that are qualified to buy.  Harder bank guidelines, no stated loans, no 100% loans, and people that can't get a loan because they have a foreclosure has reduced the amount of potential home buyers pool. The loss of … (9 comments)

Government Bank bailout - 09/20/08 09:11 PM
I am sure every REO department, short sale personnel and bank personnel having to do with foreclosures went home early Friday or got the day off. 
I don't think there will be many banks making many decisions in the next few days until their superiors can sort out what the Government is going to do.  Why should they do anything if the government is going to pony up and pay for this mess.
Do you really think some bank official that was in charge of this mess is going to continue on with a short sale offer until they know what … (0 comments)

Short sale experiences - 09/20/08 08:51 PM
Hey I am looking for feedback and experiences on Short sales.
Here are questions for all of you real estate agents out there.
What is your percentage of closing versus putting in an offer on a short sale? What would you say is the average time it has taken a bank to accept or deny an offer? Do you like doing short sales?  Or are you only doing them as a last resort? If it was a personal friend,co-worker, or family member would you do a short sale or recommend a short sale to them? So come on and let me … (5 comments)

Livingston County real estate market - 09/20/08 08:33 PM
Comp and Listing Information Courtesy of Realcomp II Ltd, Properties shown have been listed and sold by various MLS member REALTOR® agents,
… (1 comments)

Blue Grass Farms Subdivision Livonia Michigan - 09/20/08 08:29 PM
Livonia Michigan real estate
You will notice the trend in Metro Detroit real estate if you look at several of these subdivision updates.  Livonia real estate home values are continuing to fall, but the time on market for Livonia homes for sale is about the same.  Even though Livonia real estate home values are falling they are falling about the same as the rest of Wayne County home values.  The City of Detroit home values are falling faster than Livonia´s
Comp and Listing Information Courtesy of Realcomp II Ltd, Properties shown have been listed and sold by various MLS member REALTOR® … (0 comments)

Local Metro Detroit happenings - 09/20/08 04:14 PM
Northville Michigan events
American Red Cross Family Caregiving
Northville Parks and Recreation is offering this Family Caregiving program to help prepare families to take on the responsibility and challenges of caring for a loved one at home.  Topics may include but are not limited to: Home Safety, general Caregiving Skills, Positioning & Helping a Loved One Move, Assisting with Personal Care, Healthy Eating, Legal & Financial Issues
Join us Saturday, September 27 from 9:00am - 10:30am at the Northville Community Senior Center and gain the confidence to provide better care and learn how to approach key concerns.  Fee is $35 per … (0 comments)

Feel Free to bother me. - 09/20/08 04:02 PM
This blog post came about from a client.  I recently sold her house.  It wasn't a big house so she knew I didn't make a lot of money.  My client was nervous through the whole process.  She called me a lot.  She might have even called me every other day for 3 months.  A lot of calls but I understood that she was nervous.
She and her husband were selling their Livonia colonial home to down size into a Metro Detroit condo.  They weren't sure where they wanted to live.  They just knew that the Livonia colonial home was too big.  She was … (4 comments)

Should I be mad? - 09/19/08 10:27 AM
The GOVERNMENT BANK BAILOUT.
I have worked hard in my life, lived within my means, and didn't run up my credit cards.  If I needed more money I did side work and I saved.  I paid down my mortgage over the years.  So should I be upset with the government bailing out all these people that over bought and have huge houses.   Should we as taxpayers be funding somebodies big house and OVERSPENDING.
After October 1 many people will be looking at the FHA program to refinance at 90% of what their house is worth.  What is the government going to … (8 comments)

Why you pay for title insurance! - 09/16/08 08:51 PM
Title insurance is one of the most hated fees in the industry.  In metro Detroit real estate transactions and refinancing title insurance costs make up the majority of the closing costs in most instances.  It is not unusual for title closing costs to be over $1000.
Title companies issue a title policy.  They issue you a title committment showing what leins have to be paid off at closing.  The title company requires that for clear title.  Banks require that to get a mortgage. 
The title insurance premium pays for the time prior to the date of closing.   That shows the title … (7 comments)

Farmington Hills MI events and happenings - 09/13/08 08:51 PM
Enjoy Hay Day at Heritage Park  
Enjoy the beauty of autumn with your family at Hay Day in Heritage Park, Farmington Hills, MI.  Stay warm and roast marshmallows at Farmington Hills' largest campfire or take a hayride and paint a pumpkin.  Tour a Fire Engine, jump on the Parkey bouncer, create a craft project, or take a walk on the trails and enjoy the colors of the season.  Over the past nine years, 18,000 people have attended Hay Day - come join in the fall fun!   
WHAT:Hay Day          WHEN:Tuesday, October 7 5 - 8 p.m.
WHERE:        Heritage Park in Farmington Hills Located … (1 comments)

Michigan taxes - difference between SEV and taxable value - 09/12/08 07:32 AM
 
 Michigan Real Estate taxes
I received this email about Michigan SEV and taxable value.  Many people don't understand thier real estate tax bills because it is confusing.  Here is the email.
  Hi Russ,I came across your websites Livonia Real estate and Metro
Detroit Michigan real estate doing a search on thedifference between SEV and Taxable Values.This all started when I found out my condoassociation dues are going to go up.I began looking at my city's website (Novi, Michigan)and decided to snoop around, discovering informationon my property and hereby, being able to locateinformation on other people's property.I also discovered that my … (3 comments)

Would have, could have, should have - 09/11/08 08:03 PM
Everybody in there life at one time or another wishes they would have done something.  OR that they missed out on a good investment because they waited too long or didn't have the money.
Well now is a great time to buy Metro Detroit real estate!  Metro Detroit Homes have gone back to 1990 prices. Do you really know where the bottom is?  If I knew that or other people new that we also would have know the the bubble was going to burst.  Nobody knows how to time the Metro Detroit real estate market.  Nobody knows when the market is going to … (8 comments)

Home Negotiations - 09/10/08 10:05 PM
Negotiation is the key to our business.  Whoever has the best negotiator will usually come out on top when buying Metro Detroit real estate.  It is our duty to get the best deal for our clients.  Negotiation is an art.  Sometimes there are white lies thrown around like "we have 3 homes we like.  We are going to try to negotiate a deal with you first.  Or else we will go on to the next one." or the one that foreclosure agents are using a lot "we have multiple offers".
I am one of those people whose blood pressure rises with … (3 comments)

Metro Detroiter's watch out for this real estate scam - 09/09/08 08:15 PM
I was watching the national news and was alerted to the latest real estate scam.  Metro Detroit real estate is taking a beating and homeowners are losing a lot of money.  Metro Detroit foreclosures are on the rise.  So many Metro Detroiter's are having to rent homes.
The latest real estate scam is showing up on Craig's list.  What the scammer is doing is taking the address and the pictures from the MLS listing and then posting it as a rental.  They are showing the inside saying that they had to move overseas.  The scammer is offering the home for a bargain rental … (19 comments)

I think I have been sucked in or this guy is oK. - 09/09/08 07:18 PM
Don't you hate sales calls?  As a real estate agent we get call and emails all the time from salesmen.  They want to sell us the latest "real estate tool" or "latest real estate system".  We get calls from people promising to make our websites show up on page 1 of Google.  They don't even take the time to check whether our sites are no#1.  My site Livonia real estate has been on page 1 of google for 2 years.  But they still keep trying to sell me SEO packages.
So I am hard on salesmen.  Whether it they belong to Active Rain … (4 comments)

Farmington Square subdivision, Farmington Hills MI - 09/09/08 07:04 AM
Farmington Hills Real Estate &                    Farmington Hills Subdivisions
 You will notice the trend in Metro Detroit real estate if you look at several of these Metro Detroit subdivision updates.  FArmington real estate and Farmington Hills values are continuing to fall, but the time on market for Novi homes for sale is about the same.  Even though Farminton real estate home values are falling they are not falling as much as the rest of Oakland County home values. 
Whether you have a Michigan relocation in the future or just moving from Wayne County Novi is a great city to live in.  So if you are … (0 comments)

Divorcing people beware of the Metro Detroit real estate market - 09/08/08 09:48 PM
Metro Detroit real estate update
Divorce has become an issue for a few of my home buyers.  What has become the issue is that they got divorced and the spouse got the house.  The spouse was supposed to get the home refinanced.  But with the current Michigan real estate market houses are not appraising.   So if the divorce decree doesn't state who is responsible for the debt and that the other spouse is not responsible for the debt then there could be problems.  The spouse may not qualify for a new home.  They may not debt ratio.  They may have too … (2 comments)

Back to the good ole days - 09/08/08 08:46 PM
This is your chance.  This is your wake up call.  This mortgage crisis is a new start for many and a reminder to all.  This is the time to start over.  The time to get on the right financial path.  This a blog for both future homeowners and current homeowners.
Whether you are in foreclosure, upside down in a mortgage, or are sitting pretty.  If you are sitting pretty with a fixed rate mortgage and not moving for a while you are one of the lucky ones.  But if you have a high mortgage, high payments, or a variable rate now … (4 comments)

Short sales - Michigan buyers tips - 09/07/08 03:57 PM
So you want to buy Metro Detroit real estate but it is a short sale.  First of all what is a "short sale"  The easiest definition of a short sale is where the seller of the home is trying to sell the home for less than what they owe on the mortgage.  The bank has to approve the purchase agreement.
Many short sales are just a waste of time.  Many banks will not short sell a home because there is no hardship or the homeowner has no missed a payment.  They feel if the Michigan homeowner is making payments why should … (2 comments)

Lakes of Northville subdivision real estate update, Northville Twp, MI - 09/06/08 09:53 PM
Northville Real Estate MI
You can see the trend of Metro Detroit Real estate if you look at some of the different Northville subdivision updates.  On a whole, Wayne County homes for sale and Oakland County homes for sale prices are dropping.  Though Northville homes for saleseem to be doing better than other Metro Detroit real estate.  Search for Northville and thousands of other Metro Detroit homes for sale on my websites.  Or call me on my cell to see any home you like (313) 310-9855
Comp and Listing Information Courtesy of Realcomp II Ltd, Properties shown have been listed and sold … (1 comments)

Plymouth Mi Fall Festival - 09/06/08 09:43 PM
Plymouth Michigan Events

Tomorrow is the last day for Plymouth Michigan's Fall Festival.  Located right in the heart of Plymouth Michigan around Kellogg Park the Fall Festival draws thousands of people from Metro Detroit.  The festival was set up to be a fund raiser for various non-profit groups in Plymouth.
                                              
They raise money for sports teams, the junior or sophomore class, the polish dancers, the Rotary Club.  They get a food vendor and pair them up with a local civic group that want to raise money for their cause.  Like the Plymouth High School tennis club I believe does … (0 comments)

Upcoming Farmington Michigan Events - 09/06/08 10:50 AM
September 11 Patriot Day Ceremony  to be held in Farmington Hills 
A Patriot Day ceremony will be held on Thursday, September 11 at 5:30 p.m. in Heritage Park located on Farmington Road between Ten and Eleven Mile.  The American Legion Post #346 of Farmington will present the annual 9-11 ceremony to honor those who served our country in the past and also to honor the men and women who currently serve in the American armed forces throughout the world.

 In the U.S., Patriot Day occurs on September 11 of each year, designated in memory of the nearly three thousand people who died … (1 comments)

The most important selling tip - Pricing your home right - 09/05/08 10:10 PM
Sellers TipsHow much is your Livonia Home or Michigan Home Worth?What do you think your home is worth?  How did you come up with that figure?  From a sale down the street a year ago?  From what you paid for it and then adding in what improvements you did?  Your Michigan home is only worth what a buyer would pay for it. Let's think of it a different way.   Think of it as a buyer...If your home was John Smith's house and you were a buyer.  John is asking $300,000 for the house.  John paid $200,000 and put in a $80,000 pool and $20,000 … (1 comments)

Huntington Park Subdivision real estate update Plymouth MI - 09/05/08 09:58 PM
 Plymouth Michigan Real Estate information
The accuracy of the above information is not guaranteed or warranted.  All information should be independently verified.For more information on the Novi area, Canton, Livonia, Northville, South Lyon, Farmington Hills, Plymouth click on the city.  It will give you information you may want to know on each city.  For Livonia the page will have Plymouth taxes, Plymouth crime statistics, Plymouth  demographics, Plymouth  schools, Plymouth  churches, Plymouth  recreation, Plymouth police, Plymouth Fire, Plymouth History, Plymouth library, Plymouth  shopping.  Hopefully the city pages will give you a little more information when shopping for a Michigan home for sale  
For more on Metro Detroit Real Estate feel free to … (0 comments)

7 steps to buying a Metro Detroit Home - 09/05/08 09:51 PM
So you want to buy a Michigan Home
If you are thinking of buying a Metro Detroit home these are the steps you need to take.              1.) Get pre-approved from a mortgage lender.  Just because you have never applied before, or have had bad credit before, or have no money- does not mean you can not buy a house.  Learn about mortgages.  Gather up your last two years w-2 or tax returns  and go and see a mortgage broker.  Email me if you have questions on what to bring to your first appointment. 
Now the mortgage person has pre-approved you and told you … (0 comments)

The future of our economy or how to fix the housing loan system - 09/04/08 06:57 AM
I read a great blog this morning about how to fix the loan system.  Some points I agreed with, some I did not. We can't make the foreclosed home owners responsible for the loss of what the foreclosed house is sold for.  We have to look at the big big picture.  After all of this we have to get these "foreclosed people" back to "home buyer status" as soon as possible for the sake of the United States Economy.  If we make them pay back the unpaid amount, the unforgiven amount that would take most ordinary people years.  Not a good situation … (4 comments)

Lake Sherwood Real Estate, Commerce Township, MI - 09/03/08 10:33 PM
Lake Sherwood

There are 627 homes on Lake Sherwood in Commerce Township. The homes are ranches, split levels, colonials, and cape cods. The lake is a man made lake. Lake Sherwood is an all-sports lake. The homes were built between 1958 to 1998. Square footage of the homes range from 1400 - 5100. The homes have:
2 + car garages
3-5 Bedrooms
2.1 + bathrooms
Basements. (some walkout)
Exterior of the homes are brick, cedar, brick/vinyl, brick/wood
The streets near and around Lake Sherwood are:
Sandbar Dr                  Ravinwood Dr
Deerwood Dr                Commerce Rd
Tiquewood Cir              Surfwood Dr
Pikewood Ct                Trentwood Dr
… (2 comments)

Livonia Michigan trivia, fun facts, history - 09/02/08 09:10 AM
Livonia Real Estate
Livonia Michigan information
                                                                 
Livonia Median family income   $72,720 (31% above national average
Almey Crab is Livonia's offical tree
Clyde and George Bently owned a Livonia landmark called the Old Dutch Mill until 1947.  George Bently was known as the "Turkey King of Michigan".  On Sunday afternoon the brothers sometimes sold over 20,000 eggs!!!!
 The size of Livonia, MI is approximately 35.7 square miles 
Livonia's Country Fresh Dairy makes Wendy's Frosty mix.
 Talk about a commute. A early Livonia resident Phineas Wilson (1803 - 1875) would walk to work in Detroit and only come home on the weekend.
Noble … (2 comments)

Do you ever feel like this? - 09/01/08 06:31 PM
I just came from "up north".   "Up North" in Michigan is our vacation spot.  On Friday night everybody packs up and heads north on I-75.  It is like thousands of ants flocking to that ice cream cone of Michigan.  Up north is where we head to relax after a hard week of work.  Where we head on long weekends. 

I spent a weekend on Spider Lake near Traverse City.  After being there I got the bug to buy a vacation home.  Do you ever get that way?  I go to Florida on Vacation and want a home on the water.  … (5 comments)

Abbey Knoll Subdivision Northville MI real estate update - 09/01/08 05:37 PM
Northville MI Real Estate market update
Abbey Knoll Subdivsion
The accuracy of the above information is not guaranteed or warranted.  All information should be independently verified.
For more information on Northville Township real estate or Northville Michigan real estate go to my websites www.RussRavary.com or www.DetroitMichiganrealestatehomes.com   On my websites you can find home styles, how many homes, and characteristics of the homes in Northville, Livonia, or Novi.  Use can search for information on Novi Michigan subdivisions and Northville Michigan subdivisions
Comp and Listing Information Courtesy of Realcomp II Ltd, Properties shown have been listed and sold by various MLS member REALTOR® agents,
… (3 comments)

 
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Russ Ravary - Metro Detroit homes - Michigan Real estate & Mortgage info

Novi, MI

More about me…

Keller Williams Commerce

Address: 2900 Union Lake Rd Suite 210, Commerce Township, MI, 48382

Office Phone: (248) 406-2976

Cell Phone: (313) 310-9855

Email Me

Michigan and Metro Detroit area real estate. Local, up to date by a Michigan real estate specialist. Novi Real estate, Livonia real estate, Northville real estate, Wayne county real estate, Oakland County real estate, Livingston county real estate. Buyers and sellers tips


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