Foreclosures Declining in Michigan

“I definitely think in Michigan…we’re passed the worst of this foreclosure problem… we’re on the downward slope," says Bloomquist, "But there’s just a few bumps I the road going forward before we completely… are out of the woods in terms of foreclosure in Michigan.”

Michigan Sees increase in home prices

Michigan sees home prices increase

Of course, it's all about the location. Some places are still seeing values decrease, but overall this is good news as the average price in Michigan is increasing. The Ann Arbor area has seen stable prices for a few years now with values slowly increasing.

"Despite the decline of its vital auto industry, Detroit aims to become a more diversified, sustainable economy for the 21st century."

5 Reasons to Start a Business in Detroit

Great article from inc.com- Keeping the existing talent pool and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship are keys to rebuilding. Ann Arbor SPARK and Wayne State's TechTown are cited as examples in helping launch start-ups.

Ann Arbor No. 5 on happiest cities in the nation list

Ann Arbor keeps rolling along making another 'best of' list!

Economic Outlook: 'Washtenaw County is a bright spot' in the midst of a recovery, industry experts say

Economic Outlook: 'Washtenaw County is a bright spot' in the midst of a recovery, industry experts say

He added: “Washtenaw County is a bright spot and the market has already picked up considerably.”

One factor that’s helping the Washtenaw County market rebound - particularly in Ann Arbor - is that the real estate market was never overbuilt, McCausland (of Plante Moran) said.

An increasing number of banks are opting for short sale solutions instead of foreclosure

http://michiganradio.org/post/more-michigan-mortgage-lenders-turning-short-sales-avoid-home-foreclosures

Winter Alert: Get Outdoor Spaces in Shape

It is the perfect time of year to start thinking about your yard! Outdoor spaces and living areas are all too important and go hand-in-hand with the presentation of your house.

• Winter is the perfect time of year to prune bushes and trim trees as plants/trees are dormant (and bugs/pests too).
• Doing a yard assessment now can help save time and allow you to get your yard in shipshape before summer.
• Don't discount your yard, it is the first thing people see and often sets the expectation for the house.
• People put more value into a well cared for yard!

I like to get garden/yard tips from Better Homes and Gardens.

Mt. Pleasant company buys foreclosed Ann Arbor hotel for $5.3M

Hawthorn Suites near Green/Plymouth, which was foreclosed on in 2009, was just bought by a Mt. Pleasant company who plans on doing extensive renovations/improvements.

5 Reasons to Contact a Real Estate Agent

There are numerous reasons to contact a Realtor aside from the obvious 'I'm ready to list my house' or 'I'm ready to purchase a home'.

1. Property market analysis- You don't have to be ready to sell to ask a Realtor to provide a market analysis. A Realtor can come out and preview your home, compare it to some recently sold properties and give you a good idea of what our property is worth.
2. Assess your home- If you are thinking about selling in the near future it is reccommended to contact a Realtor to see what you need to do to get your house ready for the market.
3. Contractor contacts- Realtors deal with all kinds of home contractors. If you need a contractor referral, contact your agent.
4. Questions on the local real estate market?- Real estate is LOCAL. Even if you have a pulse on the national real estate market, you may not know how things are going in your neighborhood, town or county. A Realtor can keep you informed with the local market.
5. Want to see what is on the market- A Realtor can set you up with a search through the local multiple listing service (MLS) based on the criteria you choose, i.e. square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, price range, etc... These properties can be emailed to you automatically. You will be able to see new homes that come on the market, price ranges, when they go under contract and what they sell for.

Why is a Realtor willing to do all this when they work on commission? It's all about building relationships. Making a connection with someone and establishing a relationship means that person, when ready, will likely become a future client or refer their friends, families and colleagues.
Questions? Contact Kantha at kantha@kanthagardner.com.

Realty Times - Be a Staging Star

Staging, it really does help! How you present your house plays into how quickly it sells and how much people are willing to pay for it.

Making a ranch home more attractive and functional inside

Michigan Foreclosure Numbers Improving 15 Months In A Row!

More good news! 15 months in decline, that is great. We will have to see if the lastest lawsuit settlement on foreclosures opens the gate for more foreclosures though. Why the banks don't realize that working with homeowners to find a solution to keep their home is cheaper in the longrun, will help to stabilize the economy and the housing market is beyond me though!

Metro Detroit Housing Sales jump 7%

Good news for the overall Metro Detroit region!

Ann Arbor tops Kiplinger's list of 10 best cities for singles

Yup- that's my city! Kiplinger cited Ann Arbor for its combination of “ultra-high wages, reasonable living costs and a well-educated dating pool.” Ann Arbor has been ranked among the best places to raise a family, the best cities to retire and as the smartest city in the country. It’s also the best city in America for singles, Kiplinger says.

Locate moisture in your walls now to prevent major damage later

• Tips on home maintenance- always handy! It is so easy to forego preventative maintenance. The comparative amount of time, money and energy you put into preventative maintenance pales in comparison to the potential big problems a lack of maintenance can create.

MAVDevelopment buys ex-Proquest HQ at I-94 and Zeeb Road in Scio Township

Glad someone bought this building. Good news for local real estate and job potential. I don't know what I want to see go in here though. I live in Scio Township and use this freeway entrance and shops on nearby Jackson Ave. There are already a lot of traffic accidents there. Whatever goes in, they need to restructure the flow of traffic to handle the increase in vehicles.

Newcomers welcomes new to the area residents into town

Newcomers is a great service for 'new to the area' residents. Offered in Ann Arbor, Dexter, Saline, Chelsea, they help new residents by providing information on the area and they provide a free consultation for families/individuals who have questions about their new town.

Why buy a home now?

"Why should you buy a home right now? You’re going to find better deals, lower prices, and the best rates in history for buying a home. That sounds like an ideal time to enter the market!"

Washtenaw County Public Health encourages radon testing in homes

Always good to have a radon test done for your home. Prevalent in the area and a cause of cancer, if found, can be safely re-mediated usually for $700-$800.

Realty Times - Sell Your Home With The Right Images

Excellent tips for both homeowners and agents alike. Staging and pictures and mean the difference between selling or sitting on the market!

Realty Times - Winter Home Maintenance

Here are some good tips on winter maintenance, always good to have reminders. It is so easy to put off some basic maintenance, but taking certain preventative measures can help save money on repairs, keep your house operating safely and keep it looking good!

Pure Michigan Ads

I love the Pure Michigan ad campaign. It creates a positive image of Michigan outside the state and has increased tourism, which in turn brings more money into the state and creates jobs. Creating a positive image for our state is one of the first steps to changing the 'national perception'. Way to go Pure Michigan!

2012 Home Sales: Positives on Many Fronts

More good news, this time nationally!

Michigan Labor Markets all see improvement!

And from November 2010 to November 2011, they fell in all 17 labor markets...with Ann Arbor leading the way. Michigan is coming about!

New York Times' Tom Friedman cites Ann Arbor as a 21st century economic leader

"The best of these ecosystems will be cities and towns that combine a university, an educated populace, a dynamic business community and the fastest broadband connections on earth," Friedman said. "These will be the job factories of the future." -Tom Friedman