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She Rants, She Raves, (Sang to the tune of she bangs, she bangs)

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Missy Caulk TEAM

Pfizer is leaving Ann Arbor, we have known for that for months. Fine !

Now all the Pfizer homes are coming on the market. Pfizer employees were given a 100 loss on sale clause. So if they purchased their home in 2001-2007, they will NOT make money on their house. Pfizer is compensating them for their loss up to 100,000.  Great.

Problem is who is helping out the other sellers, who have to compete with homes WAY under market value? I met and did a pre-list appointment with a Pfizer relocating employee who bought their home in 2006 for 439,900.

I told them, "you can only get 410-420 tops". I eventually turned down the listing because the relo company would only let me have it for 60 days. Once he takes his buy-out it goes to Prudential Relocation Company that is handling all the Pfizer relo's.

So they list with an agent and it comes on the market at 429,900. ONE WEEK later it is reduced to 355,000. Now how is any other sellers going to compete with that ? There are other examples, but you get the point with this one.

Of course, the Pfizer employee will not lose his money. But, it is killing our neighborhoods and hurting all the other sellers who don't have 100K loss on sale clauses.

I respect a companies right to move to minimize their losses. I don't blame the employees for moving on and taking the buy-out. But, they have left Ann Arbor in a terrible situation, with the 3 MIL S.F. building empty and all the homes for sale, and the other sellers with out a buy-out, loss on sale clause. Now with their package they are forcing down the homes all over town.

I don't want to whine, but...........this has been bugging me for weeks, time and again, I am seeing the effects on our market and the price of homes.

So I rant and rave.............and now that I've put it down in this post, I'm going to go have more fun.

Fortunatlely, I am listing a house tomorrow where I dont' have to send my clients are Dr. John letter.

Posted by

 

Missy Caulk, Ann Arbor Realtor

Missy Caulk, Broker/Owner of Savvy Realty Group can be reached at 734-926-9797 or email: Missy@MissyCaulk.com

Our Team of 6 agents are available to help you relocate to Ann Arbor, Saline, Dexter, Chelsea, Milan, Ypsilanti Township, Clinton, Manchester, Whitmore Lake, or throughout Washtenaw County, MI.

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Comments(37)

Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
Well that is a big part of it in Ann Arbor. Where did you show homes. ?
Jun 03, 2007 01:01 PM
Mike Mitchell
Kee Realty - Saint Clair Shores, MI
REALTOR (R)
WOW... that is tough! Not good news for the other sellers in the area. I keep trying to remain positive about the MI economy and Real Estate market but it seems like every day you hear more bad than good. It will get better (I hope) we just have to hang in there.
Jun 03, 2007 01:30 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
Mike, we were sorta insulated here with all the auto lay-offs and restructuring, Pfizer was a direct hit. Yes, no other choice but to move forward. Thanks for stopping by.
Jun 03, 2007 01:47 PM
Cyndee Haydon
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
727-710-8035 Clearwater, Beach Short Sales Luxury Condos &Homes
Missy glad you finally put your thoughts in writing- I feel for the non-Pfizer Ann Arbor sellers - how disheartening for them. Gave you a 5! Great info
Jun 03, 2007 02:19 PM
Cari Pilon
RE:STYLE Home Staging - Brighton, MI
RE:STYLE Home Staging

Hi Missy, That is very interesting information. It gives very interesting insight to what is going on over there. I am from Brighton, not sure if many employees would have lived up this way. Thanks for the post though. Rough times, but there is a shiny side to every coin, light at the end of every tunnel, still looking for the pot of gold though. Good luck!

Jun 03, 2007 02:49 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Cyndee, thanks it has happened in other parts of the country and we will regroup.

Cari, lots of Pfizer people live in Brighton don't they? I think they live all over S.E. Michigan.

Jun 03, 2007 10:35 PM
Jennifer Walker-Derby
Re/Max Westside - Marietta, GA
Real Estate Extraordinaire
ouch!  You will be feeling the negative downturn for a long time after this!  What Pfizer is doing to help their employee is killing those around them in the community who need to sell without the help of a Pharmaceutical giant.
Jun 04, 2007 03:19 AM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
Jennifer, we expect it to be until 2009 or 2010.
Jun 04, 2007 03:52 AM
Michael Thomas
First SEO Consultants - Scottsdale, AZ
Real Estate Website Optimization

Missy I understand why this is so frustrating - and I would personally be very upset if I owned a home and was looking to sell in that neighborhood :o(

But there may be an upside for the buyers you are working with and capturing on your website - maybe an email to all your buyers so you could work on the buy side of the deals - somebody is going to...

Jun 04, 2007 06:26 AM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
I have 4 buyer agents and they are pretty busy. Lately, I've kept a few for myself. Tons of leads and potential clients. I just wish my listings would sell, and only 2 need reductions in prices, due to the Pfizer on-slot.
Jun 04, 2007 07:07 AM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

Missy...

I am thinking about something. I am a firm believer that sometimes our thoughts have much value and should be shared.

That being the case I want to commend you on putting yourself out there and commenting on other members blog posts the way you do.

It is obvious to me that you have taken "reciprocity" to heart. Just look at how you have developed your readership. You have made me very proud.

But...Please...Don't tell anyone that I have emotions :) 

TLW...ROAR!

Jun 04, 2007 08:53 AM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
TLW, Thank you so much, I need this encouragement. I have been in a funk all day about Mike Stankevich. You have put a smile on my face and a warm heart.
Jun 04, 2007 09:05 AM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL
:)
Jun 04, 2007 09:13 AM
Maureen Francis
Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel - Bloomfield Hills, MI
Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel

Missy, I did not know about the 100K thing.  That is terrible for the region.  We have Pfizer sellers here in my area too.  Our prices were already soft.  I recently sold a home for what the buyers paid for it in 1998 and they have put in a new kitchen, finished the basement and done landscaping.  It is rough out there right now unless you are a buyer of course.  Even they are perplexed with the number of choices.

 BTW, thanks for asking me to be on that panel. I am honored.  Drop me a line with more info when you have a chance.

Jun 09, 2007 08:48 AM
Paula Henry
Home to Indy Team @ HomeSmart Realty Group - Avon, IN
Realtor - Indianapolis Real Estate - 317-605-4174
Missy - I am late here and wonder if you are still seeing such reductions on Pfizer employee homes. If so, are they selling? This has the potential to do some real damage to market values, especially if the homes are concentarted in the same area.
Jun 23, 2007 04:52 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Maureen, your comment must have passed my by, sorry. Soft? Wow, many of our homes are down past 2001 prices and if you bought after that be prepared to bring money to closing.

Paula, YES, more each day. One person had their house on the market for 355, a  buyer came along and said, he would give him 250, take it or leave it. He took it. It is hurting EVERY seller that has no such benefit.

Jun 24, 2007 12:27 AM
Stefan Scholl
Buyer's Broker of Northern Michigan, LLC - Petoskey, MI
Northern Michigan Real Estate
Wow, Missy.  That is about all I can say about the Pfizer situation.  Very interesting times indeed for Ann Arbor real estate.
Jun 25, 2007 05:32 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
WE have NEVER had a market like this one. But, it a tremendous time to buy.
Jun 25, 2007 10:27 PM
Anonymous
Linda

Just a few comments from a Pfizer person:

 

There are NOT 3,000 people re-locating for Pfizer.  There will be LESS THAN ONE QUARTER of that number.  It's actually closer to ONE TENTH (300) who will relocate to Connecticut.  Where are you getting your information???????   

 

The $100,000 buyout needs further explanation.  Appraisals are coming in FAR FAR FAARRRRRRRR below the true market value, and MANY people are NOT getting the buyout because they pruchased 10 years ago, did renovations, etc.  RENOVATIONS ARE NOT BEING FIGURED INTO THE BUYOUT.

 

 

YES .,,, PRUDDENTUAL relocation is dragging it heals, and some of their people are truly unprofessional. 

 

This has been a nightmare for many of us.  We want out now.  

Aug 02, 2007 08:41 AM
#36
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Linda, I understand how the 100K loss on sale works. My data has come from the Ann Arbor News reporting and includes not only the skilled scientists but the ancillary services like cafeteria, day care etc.

In speaking with many sellers from Pfizer the moves are coming in waves of every 2 weeks. And will be almost complete by end of 2008.

It is true many are not getting the buy out's due to owning their homes before the Michigan downturn which started in 2001. It is a sad unfortunate situation for many, many people. Best of success !!

Aug 02, 2007 09:15 AM