Farmington Hills Real Estate and Events talk Michigan

Sometimes when we show houses our buyers bring along a friend or family member.  That family member or friend has their own pre-conceptions of what issues the buyer should be looking for.  I once had the "friend" going around flushing all the toilets to make sure they worked.  That was their number one priority on what to look for.

Well today I was looking at homes with one of my clients in Canton MI.  She was a single woman who brought along her uncle.  Of course the uncle was pointing out every bad point in all the houses we looked at.  So it turned off the young lady.

There is no home in Canton MI that is perfect.  There are not any perfect homes.  Any house over 5 years old has some sort of issue.  Older homes have more issues.  But my buyers uncle was scaring this poor young lady about no having glass block basement windows.  It isn't a major cost to put two glass block windows in if you want them.  It shouldn't be an issue not to buy a house.

On another home we saw the Uncle saw only one plug in a room.  The other plugs and outlets were hidden behind furniture.  But that house had a bad electrical system.  As a metro Detroit realtor we sometimes walk a tightrope. 

We can't openly dispute the friend or family member.  It would cause a rift in our relationship with the client.  So we have to be patient before we dispel the mis-conceptions that the friend or family member has created.

So right now we are scheduling more Canton homes to look at.  It may take a few trips looking at homes before my buyer realizes the difference between a major issue and a issue that is reasonably fixable.  But usually it just takes time for the buyer to understand that there is no perfect house.  So I am sure that we will find a nice home in Canton that fits her needs and that she likes.  

Search Canton MI foreclosures and homes for sale.......get the latest listings emailed to you  

Here is the latest list of Oakland County lake front foreclosures

Photo	Price	Address	Bed Bath Style Sq.Ft.	Exterior Basement Garage Size Lot Size/Acres	Year Built Summer Tax Winter Tax School Dist.
	$36,900	40 MYRA AVE PONTIAC	2 1 RANCH 1,014	VINYL UNFINISHED NO GARAGE 52X130/0.16	1931 1,277 341 PONTIAC
	$56,900	9881 MARMORA INDEPENDENCE TWP	2 1 RANCH 816	CEDAR UNFINISHED, WALKOUT NO GARAGE IRREG/0.15	1925 844 283 CLARKSTON
	$74,900	1588 PEBBLE BEACH DR PONTIAC	4 2.1 COLONIAL 1,997	BRICK 2 CAR 00 X 000/0	2001 3,621 127 PONTIAC
	$95,000	295 BUNNY RUN BLVD ORION TWP	3 2.1 OTHER 2,157	VINYL 2 CAR 90X97/0.19	1959 2,165 738 LAKE ORION
	$99,900	2071 LAKE CT HIGHLAND TWP	2 1 BUNGALOW 1,390	WOOD NO GARAGE 50 X 52.5/0.12	1920 3,347 914 HURON VALLEY
	$105,000	7011 WILLOW RD WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP	3 1.1 RANCH 1,548	BRICK 2 CAR 220X252X136X74/0.57	1956 2,200 1,644 WALLED LAKE
	$132,500	580 MALONEY ST OXFORD TWP	3 1 RANCH 1,153	ALUMINUM NO GARAGE 53X148/0.18	1970 1,150 1,276 OXFORD
	$142,900	913 WOODRUFF LAKE DR HIGHLAND TWP	4 2.1 CONTEMP 2,102	BRICK, ALUMINUM 2 CAR 90X188/0.38	1972 2,888 1,730 HURON VALLEY
	$143,900	1236 BEEMER CT OXFORD TWP	4 2.1 COLONIAL 2,078	BRICK 2 CAR 13X123/0.29	1971 1,884 1,427 OXFORD
	$144,900	4081 FOREST GLEN CT WATERFORD TWP	4 2 SPLIT LEVEL 1,682	BRICK, VINYL UNFINISHED 2 CAR 77X120/0	1987 1,556 996 WATERFORD
	$144,900	258 ANGOLA ST WOLVERINE LAKE VLG	3 2 RANCH 1,647	BRICK, WOOD WALKOUT, FINISHED 2 CAR IRR/0	1932 3,400 554 WALLED LAKE
	$159,500	5175 SHORELINE BLVD WATERFORD TWP	3 2.1 RANCH 1,288	BRICK, ALUMINUM FINISHED, WALKOUT 2 CAR 70X139/0	1967 1,981 1,152 WATERFORD
	$189,900	450 W DRAHNER RD OXFORD TWP	3 3 RANCH 1,897	BRICK FINISHED, WALKOUT 2 CAR 109X330/0.83	1996 2,334 1,973 OXFORD
	$199,800	2104 ELKHORN DR HIGHLAND TWP	3 3.2 RANCH 1,574	BRICK, CEDAR FINISHED, WALKOUT 4 CAR 165 X 924/3.49	1978 6,262 1,232 HURON VALLEY
	$210,000	3046 DIXIE HWY WATERFORD TWP	5 2 BUNGALOW 2,964	WOOD NO GARAGE 70X251/0	1946 2,778 907 PONTIAC
	$243,900	2921 MIDDLEBELT RD WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP	4 2.1 COLONIAL 2,833	BRICK, VINYL PART FIN, WALKOUT 2 CAR 73X350/0.25	1974 4,446 2,661 PONTIAC
	$799,900	1745 MORNINGSIDE WAY BLOOMFIELD TWP	5 7.2 CONTEMP 8,269	BRICK FINISHED 3 CAR IRRED/1.43	1989 22,012 26,339 BLOOMFIELD HILLS
	$799,900	1888 LOCKWOOD	4 5.3 CONTEMP 5,013	OTHER FINISHED 6 OR MORE 50X200/0	1993 31,734 6,286 HURON VALLEY

 These Oakland County Lake front foreclosures have been on the market an average of 77 days.  Call me if you want to see any of these homes.

Or Search all Oakland County Lakefront homes or get the latest list of homes emailed to you.

Photos and listing information provided courtest of Realcomp II ltd.

Right now there are only 3 Northville foreclosures for sale.

Photo	Price	Address	Bed Bath Style Sq.Ft.	Exterior Basement Garage Size Lot Size/Acres	Year Built Summer Tax Winter Tax School Dist.
	$159,900	504 N CENTER ST NORTHVILLE	3 1.1 COLONIAL 1,406	ALUMINUM, VINYL 2 CAR 66X140/0.21	1900 4,479 741 NORTHVILLE
	$181,500	558 MORGAN CIR NORTHVILLE	4 2.1 COLONIAL 2,317	BRICK PART FIN 2 CAR 113X205/0	1974 4,528 504 NORTHVILLE
	$239,900	47237 BATTLEFORD LN NORTHVILLE	4 2.1 OTHER 2,524	WOOD 2 CAR 165X144/0	1968 3,858 438 NORTHVILLE

These 3 Northville foreclosures have been on the market an average of 50 days.  Like most of metro Detroit the number of foreclosures in most cities is way down from a year and a half ago.  We will continue to have a small number of foreclosures in Northville in the future.

Search Northville homes for sale

Photos and listing information provided courtesy of Realcomp II ltd

When selling any home you should clean up the messes.  But for some reason when it comes to estate homes people don't want to do anything.  Many people don't want to invest any time or money into a home to get it to sell.

What they don't realize is that they are losing money.  It is not unusual for estate homes to be Fixer-uppers.  Many times they end up selling below fair market value because there is so much work needed.  So my advice to you is to step back and evaluate the home.  Sometime simple low cost repairs can bring up the value of the house.  It can put more money into your pocket.   

One of my clients thought we were closing tomorrow.  I thought the same thing.  But come to find out the seller (a developer) who has 25 condos and the management association have a disagreement.  The developer was converting over the apartments to condos. 

At some point the developer was paying the outside lighting bill and at the same time they have become delinquent on the association dues for the 25 units they own.  So now the management company for the condo association are holding up the sale of the condo my clients want to buy.

The sent a status letter for $40,000 for past due association dues for the condo my clients are buying.   The condo is selling for $35,000!  The $40,000 is association dues for all 19 condos.  But they are trying to put the squeeze on the developer for the past due money.  So now the seller/developer is going to have to take the association to court.  I don't think the association is going to win and they might get some damages awarded against them.

But for now my clients have to make a decision if they want to be in limbo for a couple of months until the saga plays out.  I will know in the morning what they decided.  But the condo can't close until the past dues are paid because the title company won't do it.   

I had a young couple a few months back looking for a piece of Canton real estate - and I had an rhetorical question of whether having dad along help or hurt the young first time home buyers.

This dad was trying to teach the young first time home buyer what to look for.  That's a great thing.  It never hurts to listen to an experienced home buyer on what they know.  But then dad went overboard.  He kept on telling the kids which house to buy.

IT'S NOT HIS DECISION.  The kids were smart though.  Sure they took in what dad said but then they made a decision on what home they wanted.  They made a decision based on their finances, their likes, and their needs.

Many times whether it is dad, or even me.  Yes we both have lots of experience withhomes.  BUT..... it's not our home.  We all have certain likes and dislikes that determine which house we buy.  I am more of an entertainer.  So I like an open layout.  I like the "party" area.  Whereas some people will dislike a home like that. 

Bottom line is: if you are a first time home buyer listen to the advice given to you.  But make the final decision yourself.  Remember you are the one that is going to live in the house.  Not dad! 

Search Canton Real estate and get the latest foreclosure lists emailed to you.

Here is some information if you have a Northville relocation in your future and a little bit about Northville real estate.  Most people talk about Northville as one entity but it is really two different communities; The City of Northville and Northville Township.  The city of Northvilleis not very big and has a historic area that has many Victorian homes.  Whereas Northville Township has many high end newer subdivisions and lower taxes.

But for this article let's consider Northville as "one community" because most people that live there do.  Within five - 10 minutes of Northville you have two good sized malls.  There is plenty of shopping in Northville and in the surrounding areas.  Whether you want a big box Home Depot or a boutique store Northville and the surrounding cities have it. 

Grocery stores, ice cream stores, pet stores, office supply there are plenty of stores to get what you need without traveling a half an hour.  That is what is great about Northville.  So if you have a Northville relocation coming up look at Northville real estate and Northville Township homes you will be glad you did. 

More information about

Northville relocation and the surrounding areas

Get the latest list of Northville foreclosuresemailed to you or search the latest Northville listings

Yesterday I went back to work for the first time after my wife's death.  It is a slow road back, but they tell me to go back to familiar surroundings.  To friends and family.  So I have come back to the "Rain".  A place I know well and enjoy being with fellow "Active Rainers".  They tell me it will take time to heal and to get on with life.  There is no better place to pass time than here. So here is my first post back.  Tomorrow it will be about real estate.

Thanks all of you for being there when I needed you.  You don't know how much I appreciated it.

So bare with me as I make my way back.  I may be over bearing sometimes telling you all to take a little time off to spend time with your wife and kids.  So enjoy life!

My Angel Marianne has left this earth. 

Marianne passed away today quietly, with family members, and friends crying by her side.  But I can't say that about her life.   She lived her life as an ordinary person, but she made a huge impact on so many lives and touched so many people deeply.  God has taken her and her golden heart to make an angel to watch over us.  No more pain, no more struggle, just peace.

She was a friend to all that knew her.  Words such as sincerity, kindness, special, happy, best person I know were the words people used to describe her.   Her smile, caring attitude, and listening skills made her more than an acquaintance. When she touched your life you were better for it.  I know I'm a better man because of her.  Without her I would have been half the man I am today.  And that's how we need to remember her. 

Sure cancer took her physical body, but her spirit, her smile, her caring, lives on in all of us.  She would feel bad as we shed our tears over her, she would want us to smile and laugh with her.  She would tear up with us right now.

So as she passes on to a better place, a place without pain think on how she impacted your life.  Take those qualities and share them. 

• Marianne was a listener.  A friend that took the time to hear what you had to say no matter how many times you told her the same problem or situation over and over.
• Marianne was an excellent cook and baker.  A person that delighted in making and serving others the excellent things she made.  Whether it was Thanksgiving dinner, or a simple party she made sure you left full of food, drink, and good times.
• Marianne was a giver.  She gave more than she every received.  She gave love and material things.  She would rather give a present than get one.  I can't say that there was one gift I gave her that she had to have.  She would buy Ryan and I stuff just to give stuff.  That was her way.
• Marianne was a crafty person.  She could take ordinary some ordinary items and make something beautiful and extraordinary out of it.  Marianne was in the craft business for only 8 years but people have her crafts 19 years later.  Her unique touches still make people remember her. 
• Marianne was a supporter.  She was there when you needed her.  When you reached out to her she was there for you.
• Marianne is a mom.  A lady full of unconditional love that spoiled Ryan, but made him a fine young man.

So if you take her traits and share them with others, if you have become a little better person........ then Marianne hasn't just passed through this earth quietly.  Marianne will live on through us.  In the little things we do in life for others.  She will be touching us, touching your friends and family, and even the people we meet on the street by being each of us being a better person.  She would want that.

Cancer would not be the winner.  Marianne would be the winner if we take her characteristics and share them.  If we share her love with others then we have helped her overcome the destruction cancer did to her.

So hug and spoil your kids today for Marianne,

               Love and treat your spouse as if it was your anniversary or their birthday,

                       And pick up the phone and call a friend just to talk

                               That will Make Marianne smile from above.

So with a kiss I give my earthly angel, my wife, my love to God to watch over all her friends and family.  She was always an angel, now she is God's angel. 

Goodbye my friend,

                                  Love you always      

                                                                           Russ      

How do you say thank you?

What my wife has taught me - part 5

What my wife Marianne has taught me part 4

What my wife Marianne has taught me part 3

What my wife Marianne has taught me - part 2

What my wife Marianne has taught me

Weare going through a tough time with my wife's cancer, but we have gotten through many tough days with friends and family.  I can't say enough about our circle of friends, neighbors, co-workers, and friends.

As we go through the stages of grief and the cancer process I am cheered up by the generosity and caring of our friends.  My refrigerators have been over flowing with food and my counter tops are full of dessert.  Today was a slow day where only 13 people stopped by. 

They have been respectful, and yet so helpful.  They have vacuumed and served food to the guests and cleaned up the mess after everybody left.  Neighbors have run errands for us.  People have even weeded my garden and ironed cloths.  It is absolutely amazing what people have done.  I can never repay the kindness.

So I simply say THANK YOU to everybody. From the bottom of our hearts Ryan, Katie, and I say thank you for being there.  My wife Marianne can't say thank you, but she would have tears in her ey by all you have done.