Farmington Hills Real Estate and Events talk Michigan

So you are going to be looking at Metro Detroit Home homes for sale?  You want the best deal on the best home.

But how are you going to know what is the best deal on that Northville home or that Plymouth Condo?  One of the ways is to have your prioriies listed.  Have your "must haves" and "like to haves" written down.  Too many Metro Detroit Home buyers are getting confused.  There are too many choices, too many Michigan homes for sale.

So some Michigan home buyers are procrastinating on putting in offers.  Then getting upset when the home sells out from under them.  The home buyer then starts the whole process over again. They get confused with all the choices.

So write your needs and wants down.

If you like the home a lot put in an offer.

There may not be another Michigan home that you like as much.

Too many home buyers are getting confused about all the choices.  So stay focused and get the home you want.

Have a great night.  Russ Ravary

I had a prospective client email about putting an offer in on a Livonia Home for sale based on State Equalized property.  I emailed them back and told them to put Michigan's property tax assesment out of their head. 

The reason I said this is that all Michigan homes most likely have SEV's (state equalized values) that are higher than what the Michigan home is worth.  Whether it s a Canton home, Livonia home, or Farmington Hills home for sale their actual current market value is lower than the SEV.

It doesn't matter what the house was worth 3 years ago or what the State Equalized Value (SEV) was.  What you have to do is realize the current market is totally different.  Home values are dramatically lower!

You have to look at the recent homes that have sold for.  They have to be close in size, features, and that are close in location.  You have to look at the Michigan homes that sold in the last six months.  This is all you think about.  Not SEV's not old prices from three years ago. 

JUDGE THE HOME BY THIS MARKET.  THE RECENT SOLD HOMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

For more information on Metro Detroit Real Estate check out my websites. 

This investment property buyer was looking at Farmington Hills homes with another agent.  It was a 1000 square foot Farmington Hills foreclosed home.  The Farmington Hills home was only listed at $26,000.  Well the home buyer looked at the property.  It was in decent shape.  And then he wanted to go back and look at it again.  But by then the investment property was already pending.

If you are looking at Metro Detroit foreclosed homes and the home is a bargain priced you need to act quickly.  If the home if priced way below current market prices for similar homes don't be a dummy and put in a low ball offer.  YOU WON'T GET THE FORECLOSURE.  SOMEBODY WILL OUT BID YOU.

It is not unusual for Detroit foreclosures that are listed below market to sell at or above what the bank has listed the home for.

So my advice to you is:

1. Put your offer in quickly.  Don't take days to make up your mind
2. If you want the house.  Put in your best offer.  Don't low ball if you really want it.
3. Know the market you are buying in.
4. Make a cash offer as cash buyers many times will win the bidding process.

Good luck on getting a great deal on a Metro Detroit foreclosure.      Russ Ravary

I have gotten several clients when they read my profile.  They identified with me and my past.

I have gotten clients who lived in the town I grew up in.  (Allen Park, downriver, suburb of Detroit, MI)

I have got a client that like that I served in the Military.  ( U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne, Ft Bragg, NC)  

I have got a client from a School that my son attended (Catholic Central)

You may get a client by explaining about your love of your pets whether it is a cocker spaniel or a Siamese Cat.

Or you may get a client by telling about your love of skiing and or your love of travel.

Expand your profile and tell prospective clients about you.  We are just people, not a Realtor or mortgage person all the time.

After all in the summer you will catch me waterskiing behind a boat, or working in my garden.  And definitely in February or March I need to go to Florida or somewhere warm to get rid of the winter blues.  How about you?  What makes you tick.

With the dramatic fall in Metro Detroit Home values every home owner in Southeastern Michigan should be considering fighting their Michigan property taxes.  You can reduce your Metro Detroit property taxes if you do your research well.  Many communities look at a one year time period of sales. 

The first thing you should do is call your local city assessor and find out what time period they use. Then go to my website Livonia real estate and scroll down the home page and click on the section on how to fight your Michigan property tax.  By understanding how to battle your local city tax review board is the first step to reducing your State Equalized Value (SEV).

It can be done on most properties. It takes time and preperation.  You need to have all the latest sold homes in the time period your local city assesor says.  If you need help getting the information to lower your property taxes email me at info@RussRavary.com or call me on your cell (313)310-9855

This is one of the toughest real estate markets many of us have seen.  I see constantly old and new agents getting out of the business.  Many of the old agents are getting out because they have not adapted.  They have to go back to the fundamentals.  They have to break the rules that they set up when they are busy.

I know some old agents that don't or won't show more than 10 houses to a prospective buyer.  I even have heard of one that would only show 3.  

I know one agent that won't return a call if you don't leave a message.  In this market you need to respond quickly and return every phone call you get.

Are you refusing to do floor time?  Are you refusing to call on expireds?  Are you refusing to knock on doors?  Are you refusing to do open houses?  Are you refusing to work weekends?  Are you refusing to take calls after 6:30 PM? 

I know some people won't take buyers out unless the buyer is pre-qualified by a lender.  But as an agent can you or do you know enough to verbally pre-qualify the  buyer for the first showing.  I had a guy that was retired and wanted to buy an $900,000 house.  He had called an agent that refused to show him a house until he got pre-qualified from a lender.  He called me.  I talked to him for a bit and found out his financial situation.  I took him out and he bought a $950,000 house.  $800,000 of it cash.  I took the time and bent the rule of the pre-qualification letter.

What I am saying to you is that you need to treat every lead as gold.  Every prospective buyer and seller you need to go further than you have in the past.  Bend "your rules" and you may survive.

What rules do you have that may need to change?

I don't know about you but I am afraid to open my retirement account statements.  I had a client tell me today that his accounts were down 35%.  He was a General Motors employee.   I guess we will alll be working until we are 80 to make up for the latest losses. 

As a self-employed person I actually did put away money for retirement.  I did the right thing.  Do you think I qualify for a governement bailout?  I could stand to get back on track for retirement.  Should I call George Bush to push the bill through?  How are you doing with your retirement?  

I can see me now with my walker saying isn't this a great house!  Or I am going to be fighting 12 other guys to say hi to people at Wal Mart.  I can see it now.  All of us old guys will be lined up  12 across.  "Hey its my turn you old fart.  If you don't let me say hi to the next person I am going to take my teeth out and we'll be fighting."

How are you doing with your retirement accounts?  Are you nervous or is it just me?

When you go to look at Wayne County foreclosures you need to be prepared that many of them are in disrepair.  Think of it this way.  The homeowners couldn't pay their mortgage bill how could they think of spending money to maintain their Wayne county Home.

Most Wayne County foreclosures are a mess.  Many of them are dirty and not a place you want your kids crawling around on the carpeting.  So if you have a child under five I would recommend leaving them with grandma or getting a sitter.  You definitely don't want to have them fingering the walls or sitting on the carpet.

When going to look at Wayne County foreclosures bring a flashlight.  Banks have the electricity shut off and shut the water off.  So the toilet will be shut down, you can't use them.  But once in a great while you will find a move in ready home.  A Wayne County foreclosure that has updates, is in good shape, and is a good price.  My advice to you on this Michigan foreclosure.  Put your bid in on it, don't be a cheap skate because somebody will pay full price or abode.  If the foreclosure is way below market and is in good shape it will be snapped up within a week. 

Don't miss the boat and lose the home.

To search thousands of Michigan homes for sale go to my website Livonia Real estate.  Search Southeastern Michigan homes for sale at your convenience

photo courtesy of  http://www.freephotos.com/

So many real estate agents take punctuality for granted.  I have seen them come to closings late.   I have heard stories of other agents showing up for listing appointments late and showing appointments late.

I have this thing about being on time and even being a few minutes early.  If I arrive too early I sit in the car.  I make phone calls.  I usually keep some sort of reading material in the car.  I just feel if it a listing appointment your first impression is important.  If you come late you might as well come in shorts and a tee shirt.

Be on time is the way to show respect for the other persons time.  If you don't show up on time I feel you don't respect the other person.

I know there are reasons to be late.  Sometimes it is unavoidable.  But if you are late more times than not look at your habits and start out earlier to all your appointments and meetings.  Your friends, and clients will appreciate it!

Have a great day   Russ Ravary

What are the homes like in this Livonia subdivision?  How many homes are in the sub?  What are the home styles like.  See the latest Livonia homes for sale, and the recent sold Livonia homes in the subdivision.

Here are some Livonia subdivisions.  If you have a Michigan relocation in your future and Livonia Michigan is on your short list this information may help you.

 Click on the Livinia subdivision below:
Blue Grass Farms Subdivision
Burton Hollow Estates Subdivision
Burton Hollow Woods Subdivision
Caliburn Estates Subdivision
Caliburn Manor Subdivision
Castle GardensSubdivision 
Compton Village Subdivision
Country Homes Estates Subdivision
Coventry Gardens Subdivision
Deer Creek Subdivision
Denmar Estates Subdivision
Fairway Farms Subdivision
Francavilla Subdivision
Golf View Meadows Subdivision
Green Brier Subdivision
Greenwood Farms Subdivision
Idyle Hills Subdivision
Kimberly Oaks Subdivision
Kingsbury Heights Subdivision
Laurel Park South Subdivision
Nottingham Subdivision
Nottingham Woods Subdivision
Quakertown Subdivision
Renwick Park Subdivision
Rennolds Ravines Subdivision
Willow Woods Subdivision
Wildwood Forest Subdivision
Windridge Subdivision
Woodbury Park Subdivision
Woodcreek Farms Subdivision

 Comp and Listing Information Courtesy of Realcomp II Ltd, Properties shown have been listed and sold by various MLS member REALTOR® agents,