I been around Metro Detroit suburbs most of my life.  I grew up in Allen Park so I know the downriver area well.  I have lived in Livonia with my wife Marianne over 20 years ago.  Marianne is Crestwood graduate and is a 4 time cancer survivor and I call her my "nice Martha Stewart".  In her early years she up in Detroit and then moved to Dearborn Heights.  She is currently fighting cancer again and going thru chemo.   She's a U of M graduate.   She's an excellent cook and all around crafty person.  I have been lucky in life that I met her.   Over my life I have been exposed to many different trades.  As a young man I worked at GM Hydramatic on the line.  I once owned a landscaping company, worked in the construction business so I learned about the basics of home building.  I have many friends in the construction trades which comes in handy when my clients need work done on their home.  I spent 4 years in the US Army with the 82nd Airborne (infantry) and the Special Forces Training School (parachute packer) when I was younger down at Ft Bragg.

Ryan our son went to Catholic Central and currently works in Chicago.  He  and my money went to Michigan State University.  I just don't know if all my money went to scholastic education! 

I have been in the mortgage/Metro Detroit real estate business since 1999 and now concentrate strictly on real estate.  Helping people find the right home and helping them find financing with the right lender and loan officer is a great business.    I know the Metro Detroit suburbs well.  I can tell you about it's history, the neighborhoods, events, local schools.  I work with a lot of Michigan relocation home buyers.  They love my knowledge of the area.  I try to help my clients get the information they need to make a good decision.  I want them to find a home they want.  Whether it takes them looking at 10 or 80 homes I take the time to help you find what you want in your price range.

During the summers here in Michigan you will either find me out in the garden, or on the lakes during my spare time.  I still love to fish, water ski, and knee board.  There is nothing like all of the recreation areas that are close to Metro Detroit.  If you are looking for an Oakland County Lake front home for sale or Michigan waterfront real estate give me a call.  I can help you find a nice weekend retreat or a year round home on the water in the metro area.

Whether it is an Detroit investment home or an $800,000 Northville home I can help you find and close on your dream home.  I will send you Metro Detroit home listings and take you out to see the homes you want to see.  I will get you the comparables, the neighborhood information, the city and tax info.  So YOU make the right choice. 

And one of the most important items is that there is no pressure with me.  I get you the information.  You set the time frame, YOU make the decision on the home YOU want.

Whether you are looking at Livingston County real estate MI, Oakland County real estate MI, or Wayne County real estate give me a call or email me

You can reach me most anytime!  I answer my phone and get back to you right away.  Sure sometimes I am on the phone or with clients but I will call you after I am done.  I love taking people out to find their Metro Detroit MI dream home.  Helping to point out possible problems, and solutions, checking with contractors for repair costs is just some of the many things I do.    By having a Michigan mortgage background I can help ease the financial process and explain to clients so they understand it fully.  After all your Michigan home is one of the biggest investments you make in your life.  You should understand how much your taxes may go up, what the steps are in buying a home.  I know the Metro Detroit suburbs,  The questions I do not know I will research and find out the answer.  (In fact I am a consultant to a billion dollar hedge fund on what is going on in the metro Detroit real estate market)  I can help you get the information you need to make a good choice.

I am also very good at staging a home to sell.  It may seem like extra work, but those sellers that follow my advice sell their homes faster.  Buyers in the last few years want up to date and well maintained homes.  I can help point out what needs to be fixed, what furniture needs to be taken out.  What knic-knacs need to go.  I can show you how to make your home more open and inviting when I come out with the market analysis.   The object is to sell your house for the best possible price preferably without much work and very little money.

And the best part is that I like to negotiate.  Whether I am putting in a low offer on a purchase or countering back on a low ball offer I work hard to get you the best price.  So feel free to go to my websites to get more free metro Detroit real estate information (Livonia real estate and Wayne County MI real estate) and to my blog site to get a feel of who I am while being able learn about your local real estate market.  (Metro Detroit real estate and Oakland County lake homes)

Dear Russ,

It has been a little over 6 months since we moved into our new home.  We are very happy with it.  Lisa and I want to thank you for everything that you had done for us.  You made the process of searching and buying this home very easy and very smooth.  Lisa and I were just thinking about that the other day.  You were very helpful from the beginning with sending us listings every week and driving us around to every home.  We appreciated your patience and advice.  As a newlywed couple looking for a larger home to start a family, your input was greatly appreciated (and needed).  Your knowledge about the market, the various home locations and the home conditions helped us make a good decision, not to mention steering us away from homes that would be difficult to sell in the future.  We remember one home that was right next to an electrical tower.  (I don't think we even got out of the car.) 

Also, when we did select the home we wanted, it was a great plus that you were our mortgage broker as well.  It definitely made the sale process easy.  To top things off, we appreciate your continued service with contacting us when the mortgage rate drops.  We would definitely recommend you to any of our friends who may be looking for a home to buy or sell.  Again, thank you for everything.                                     Al (and Lisa) Yuen.

Dear Russ,

Just had to let you know that my home buying experience was enjoyable, thanks to your expertise, wise counsel, and always responsive service. We have settled into our new home and are very satisfied with our choice - you helped us get everything on our wish list at a price within budget!  You can be sure I will recommend you to every one I know.  

You bring home results!

Thanks   Rashed

Dear Mr. Ravary,
My husband and I just wanted to say thank you. About two weeks ago we discovered your site. Your info about millage rates was incredibly helpful and prevented us from making a big mistake when looking to purchase a home. Even though we live on the western side of the state we wanted to let you know that we appreciate your assistance and will pass along your name to anyone that we meet looking for a house in that area.

Thank you again,
Jim & Jackie

A year ago my husband and I started looking for a house with the help of Russ Ravary.  We thought this search would take a long time.  With the technology we had available we were successful after 3 months.  It took us over a year to find the house the last house we bought.  We know what we wanted exactly.  Russ used the Internet and e-mail to keep us up to date on the houses that had just gone on the market, the length of time they were on the market, and all the public record data.  I never thought I would have a house on a lake with all these features.

My biggest obstacle was putting our house up for sale.  When we put the bid on the new house and it was accepted, Russ said it was time to put the old "For Sale" sign up.  I wasn't ready!  First we hadn't told any of our neighbors, second we weren't quite done putting the finishing touches on the house and third we were going on vacation and I didn't want people in the house while we were gone. 

It took over a week for me to be convinced that this was the right thing to do.  After several talks at our kitchen table I said yes.  Russ knew the faster we got the house up for sale in the spring the better our chances were to sell it.  The sign went up the day after we left for vacation.  I was worried on Sunday because that was the first (and only) Open House.  On Saturday we were on our way to the airport to come home, Russ called us with the news...there was a bid on the house!  I couldn't believe it the house was sold in a week!!!!   Homes in our market were taking over six months to sell.

People always ask what we did to sell the house so quickly.  My answer is to trust your Sales Agent. He/she is in this business and deals with it everyday so you need to trust his/her expertise.  Some of the advice we got was to get rid of the clutter, make it less personal and the big one remove the flowered wallpaper.  Russ was forthright in giving advice on how to make the home more saleable.  Sometimes I did not like what Russ had to say about the house, but we did what he said.  And it worked.  We sold it in 7 days for 97% of the selling price.  It was a combination of luck and doing the rights things to get the home ready for sale.  Russ came through 3 times telling us what to do.

Luckily, I (we) listened to what Russ say.  I'm so grateful for everything he did for us, we are now enjoying our new home...sorry Russ for making you a little crazy!

I tried posting a comment on your active train blog, but it would not accept anonymous comments.  I truly wanted to thank you for helping my  dreams of  becoming a homeowner a reality.  I wanted to let you know that a homeowner in the city of Detroit could apply for a tax exemption.  Meaning that they do not have to pay property taxes.  Its for people with an income of less than 22000 for a family of three.  You have to apply by may (i believe). If you don't qualify for that program, they also have a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone tax reduction program.  That will reduce the property taxes about a few hundred dollars.  I am waiting to find out if I will get the tax exemption.  I love my home.  Thank you so much.  My husband and I will be contacting you again next year to purchase our second home.  Danel