Farmington Hills Real Estate and Events talk Michigan

I sometimes wonder what will the New Year bring?  As a Realtor my income is never certain.  Varying from month to month and sometimes dependent on the economy.

But one thing I know is that if you talk doom and gloom and do nothing, then you will get doom and gloom.  Sure the economy is bad in Metro Detroit.  But Metro Detroit Real estate is still selling.   It is definitely selling slower and for less money, but people are still buying and still selling. 

The trick is to get your piece of the pie.  You have to shift focus, shift gears, work harder to make the same amount of money.  You need to continue making the client happy, getting them what they want, when they want it, at that low price.  It's harder.  But it is easier that just talking doom and gloom and not getting it done.

I believe the same applies to all industries and jobs in Metro Detroit.  You have to think differently, do things and jobs that you don't normally do to get the job done.  We can roll over and quit.  We may have to start over in a different field, or do two jobs.  You can just complain how bad it is, or you can look at it and try to make money somehow.

Call your friends and tell them you need work.  Work later or on the weekend.  Take that lousy low paying job.  The bottom line is that you and I need to survive through this economy.  It can be done.  People made it through the depression.  We can do it now.  By networking, cutting back, working smarter and harder we can make it a great year.  A year that may be hard but a year that we enjoyed time with friends and family.

Remember that is why we work.  To improve our quality of life.  To enjoy it with family and friends.  May next year be a safe, healthy, and prosperous year for you and your family.

Russ Ravary

For more real estate and mortage information for Southeastern Michigan go to www.russravary.com

What's in it for me?  What you do for others does come full circle.  Sometimes it can't be measured in money or physical items.  I had a friend call to help him get a motorized chair to an assisted living home for his dad.  It was 9 o'clock at night.  Sure I could have not answered my cell phone, said I was out to dinner, or said I was busy.  But I didn't.   Sometimes in life we get too busy, or think what's in it for me.  I have to admit it... I have done it.  I'm not perfect, none of us are.

But as Realtors we are in the public eye all the time.  What we do for our community, our clients is talked about.  Sometimes we have to do more than an average person.  That is good for us as Realtors, and as people.  We have a duty to make our world a little better (whether we are Realtors or anybody else).  What will be your legacy?  Will it be a good father?  Will you be remembered as a coach? Or the grumpy old man down the street?  The nice lady who makes cookies or the lady that comes into the bank complaining?

It is our choice of what we become as we get older.  The holidays are almost over.  If we could keep that niceness, that spirit another 2 months of the year.  What a world it would be.  There would be less road rage, less neighbor feuds, etc. 

Bottom line is I got nothing for delivering the chair but a good feeling that I did something above and beyond.  A good warm feeling for a cold night in Detroit.

I read an article on active rain yesterday from an agent that specialized in bank owned properties.  His basic attitude was don't submit a low offer and don't put down why you put in a low offer because of the problems with the house.  He stated he knew what was wrong with the house. 

Unfortunately I think banks are disconnected with how bad some properties are and if that is not included in the offer then they (the bank) have no clue.  As the agent said the banks are making a decision strictly on the numbers.  It is OK some of the time to make the decision on the numbers.  But in Detroit's market the banks are realizing they can't do that.  If the bank owned property is in substandard shape then a buyer should be making a low ball offer.

I'm sure I am going to ruffle some feathers here.  I know as a real estate agent some agents would rather get and work on an offer that is close to the list price.  There is a small percentage of agents that would rather just buy or sell without getting the best possible deal for their client. That small percentage of agents want to just make the sale!  Less negotiation, less trouble, quicker money in their pocket.  But in the Detroit market the prices are continuing to fall.  You are not acting in the best interest of your buyer if you are not putting in a 10 - 15% below list price, if your client is shopping for a deal.  It doesn't matter what the comps are now.  By summer the price is going to be lower because of the the bank owned properties.  The banks have to move the inventory.  So they have to lower the price.  We do not have enough qualified buyers in Metro Detroit to support the market.  But if your client has to have the house, and no other house will do then a low ball offer is not the best tactic.  Put in a lower offer that will still clinch the deal and hopefully will be lower than the most recent sold comps. 

I have seen sold deals where the bank listed price was $71,000 and sold for  the low $40's.  Another 2 were listed in the $40's and sold for $5,000.  Some banks have sent out emails to the REO's that they were more willing to accept those offers because they had to move the inventory.

The bottom line in Wayne County Real Estate, Livingston County Real Estate, Oakland County Real estate, and Metro Detroit Real Estate is that low offers are being accepted.  I agree not all the time and I agree that it would be easier to submit an offer closer to the list price to get the deal done.  But as agents we are supposed to be acting in the best interest of our buyers.  Sure I can't 100% for sure predict that home prices are going to continue to drop this year in the Metro Detroit market.  But I would bet money on it, so if I think that I need to go against common practices and put those low ball offers in.

If you want to Search Michigan Homes for sale or want more information on Metro Detroit real estate go to my website www.russravary.com

The Metro Detroit area including the suburbs has been hit hard by the slump.  I would estimate that the average home has fallen 30 -35% off their high prices several years ago.  I was listening to CNN a week ago and one economist was saying that it would take up to 10 years for the prices to rebound.  He said he had lived thru the Texas Savings and Loan Scandal, and that is what it took to come back.  What are the markets like in your area?

I myself am not giving up on the business.  Homes are still being sold just at lower prices and taking much longer.  Sure they are taking much longer.  Sure it is harder to convince sellers to lower the price.  But if they don't they won't sell.  At least here in Detroit.  I can't tell you how many times in the last year that I heard "we won't give it away"  Some sellers won't accept that they are not giving it away.  They need to accept that these  prices are a "good price" for the market.  The home is going to sell if it is a value for somebody.

Unfortunately in the Southeastern Michigan real estate market there are few buyers.  The Michigan economy is forcing people to move out of state.  The banks have tightened their guidelines, I am guessing that about 30% of the buyers that could buy last year can't buy this year.  Does anybody agree with that?  Then to add to the mess is the people that are in foreclosure or have been foreclosed.  They can't buy for at least 3-4 years from the foreclosure.  That has taken even more buyers out of the market here in Metro Detroit and it's surrounding counties. They have said 1 out of 100 homes (1%) are in foreclosure so that means here in Detroit 1% can't even buy a home for a few years!

I wanted you all to feel a little better about your market as I would guess we are one of the worst real estate markets right now. 

I don't know about all of you... I am buckling down, working harder, re-adjusting my business plan to get my piece of the pie.  What unique steps will I have to take to help get my clients's home sold.  There are so many agents leaving the business which makes it better for me and the remaining agents.  But all of us are going to have to work harder to help sell our clients properties and survive in this market.  I am one of those people that accept the realty of the situation and not whitewash it.  Sure I'm nervous about what this year will bring.  But I want to be a survivor of this market.  And I hope that those who read this want to be to.  So good luck to all of you.  Any thoughts or tips on how to survive this market from those who have gone thru it before will always be appreciated!  Happy New Year!

The Metro Detroit area including the suburbs has been hit hard by the slump.  I would estimate that the average home has fallen 30 -35% off their high prices several years ago.  I was listening to CNN a week ago and one economist was saying that it would take up to 10 years for the prices to rebound.  He said he had lived to the Texas Savings and Loan Scandal and that is what it took to come back.  What are the markets like in your area?

I myself am not giving up on the business.  Homes are still being sold just at lower prices and taking much longer.  Sure they are taking much longer.  Sure it is harder to convince sellers to lower the price.  But if they don't they won't sell.  At least here in Detroit.  I can't tell you how many times in the last year that I heard "we won't give it away"  Some sellers won't accept that they are not giving it away.  They need to accept that these  prices are a "good price" for the market.  The home is going to sell if it is a value for somebody.

Unfortunately in the Southeastern Michigan real estate market there are few buyers.  The Michigan economy is forcing people to move out of state.  The banks have tightened their guidelines, I am guessing that about 30% of the buyers that could buy last year can't buy this year.  Does anybody agree with that?  Then to add to the mess is the people that are in foreclosure or have been foreclosed.  They can't buy for at least 3-4 years from the foreclosure.  That has taken even more buyers out of the market here in Metro Detroit and it's surrounding counties. They have said 1 out of 100 homes (1%) are in foreclosure so that means here in Detroit 1% can't even buy a home for a few years!

I wanted you all to feel a little better about your market as I would guess we are one of the worst real estate markets right now. 

I don't know about all of you... I am buckling down, working harder, re-adjusting my business plan to get my piece of the pie.  What unique steps will I have to take to help get my clients's home sold.  There are so many agents leaving the business which makes it better for me and the remaining agents.  But all of us are going to have to work harder to help sell our clients properties and survive in this market.  I am one of those people that accept the realty of the situation and not whitewash it.  Sure I'm nervous about what this year will bring.  But I want to be a survivor of this market.  And I hope that those who read this want to be to.  So good luck to all of you.  Any thoughts or tips on how to survive this market from those who have gone thru it before will always be appreciated!  Happy New Year!