Chris & Bernie Shoemaker's (chriscrs) Blog

Thank goodness for CDPE's!

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:22:30 -0700

I've been a CDPE since last August and I can't tell you how much the training for this designation has helped me and many, many local homeowners!! You'll never understand how much relief you can provide for a homeowner in jeapordy of foreclosure until you see the look on their face after the closing! Last night I was able to get an approval on a short sale I've been working on since March. Thank goodness the other agent was also a CDPE! It was a very difficult transaction and the other agent did everything necessary to hold up their end of the sale while I worked to get the necessary approvals to close. Thanks to Alex and Cady Charfen and the Distressed Property Institute thousands of homeowners are being helped through the difficult short sale process. I have all the other designations...right now the CDPE is THE most important one!!

Short sales are a reasonable solution for many...

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:54:25 -0700

Honestly, no one really feels good about walking away from a debt. In SE Michigan many homeowners really didn't have much of a choice. Unfortunately, many waited too long and lost the opportunity to deed their property back to the bank or negotiate a short sale with their lender. I read that nationally 70% of people in trouble with their mortgage don't do anything and just wait for the house to go back to the bank. This is a really sad thing. Watching too much television news about the economy could make anyone hide in their house! I know many Realtors don't want to go down the short sale road with their seller or buyer clients but I've had some pretty rewarding experiences the last couple of years. Not that it didn't make me more than a little crazy trying to get these deals done! Yikes! Short sales are not for the faint of heart. But knowing you helped someone get out of a really scary situation and move on with their life is really a cool thing. We've talked to lots of people that just needed to be pointed in the right direction and they could work out their own mortgage rescue. I've never been prouder to be a Realtor than I am right now. We work harder than we ever have but the rewards can be awesome!

Oakland County Farmers Market in Full Swing!

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:56:25 -0700

For those of us lucky enough to live anywhere near the Oakland County Farmer's Market now is the time! The market is brimming with fresh produce. While still waiting for corn, tomatoes and tree fruit, shoppers are able to score berries, beans, radishes, potatoes, all kinds of lettuces, zucchini and all kinds of peas. In addition to the regular produce you can purchase fresh eggs, chicken and gourmet mushrooms of all types. Gardners can find all kinds of flowers and herb plants, shrubs and ground plants. The best thing about all of this is that most everything is fresh and affordable and you can purchase in small quantities. During the summer I try and cook only with produce from the market and can acomplish this late into the fall. The Oakland Country Farmer's Market is located on Pontiac Lake Road west of Telegraph. There is lots of parking and it's a great way to start your weekend!

MOVING TO MICHIGAN?

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 23:41:38 -0800

Yes, there are still people moving to Michigan. We don't just make cars here and it is a beautiful place to live. I work in the northern Oakland County market and we have lakes and woods 15 minutes one way and some of the best shopping in the world 15 minutes the other way! Economists say that when the automotive industry recovers in Michigan, and it will, we will not have enough skilled workers to fill the jobs. They say that people will flock to Michigan to fill the jobs. I hope I'm still selling real estate what that day comes!

Why Ninja?

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 23:07:43 -0800

To those looking to find their way to excellence, Ninja is not only a set of skills but a service philosophy. I discovered Ninja by accident about two years ago and have been a student since that time. I recently completed Ninja II and was delighted to see over 100 people embrace the program in Detroit. We hope to get the instructor Walt Frey to come and coach our Max Broock and Real Estate One new Ninja agents. It's a wonderful thing to be able to relate to my co-workers and clients in a way that makes them understand how much I care about our relationship and the job I do for them. After nearly 30 years as a Realtor I finally feel like I'm home. Read an interview with Walt at Realty Times.

Waterford Township, Michigan - Don't Rule It Out!

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 04:41:55 -0800

We've worked and lived in Waterford Township for what seems like forever. Waterford always get's such a bad rap when it comes to comparisons to the surroundingl communities. But you know - it's really a pretty cool place to live. If you're looking for fine dining, NOT. We do have some great Mexican and Thai places, some pretty good bars and a PANERA'S AND A STARBUCKS in a pinch. I highlight those last two places because they are our official 'Waterford satellite' offices. Some of the things we like best about WaterfordWe love all the lakes. If you ever just need to go to the beach in the summer you're never more than a couple miles away. If you want to live on the water there is every price range and lake type available in Waterford.Lots of places to walk. We both love to walk and there are lots great places to walk around the center of Waterford.Parks - there are lots of great parks, a wonderful water park, the Fridge and the Drayton Plains Nature CenterYou can get to anywhere from here. I can quickly get to Clarkston, Pontiac, White Lake, West Bloomfield, Auburn Hills and Bloomfield Hills in literally minutes.It's a community for everyone. Lots of diversity, lots of seniors, lots of first time homebuyers. Schools - Well we're working on them. The schools have improved quite a bit in the time since we first moved here. As an ex teacher myself I know that one of the main parts of that equation are the parents so you can never count on only the school system totally.It's AFFORDABLE - REALLY AFFORDABLE. When you compare housing prices you'll see that you can buy a great home in a great neighborhood near parks, lakes, and trails without breaking the bank! So when you're considering your first, or maybe your last home don't rule out Waterford. Take a look around and see what you might be missing.