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:

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.