Farmington Hills Real Estate and Events talk Michigan

Whenever a home buyer puts in an offer the worst part is yet to come.  The waiting, the uncertainty is so rough.  Everything goes through your mind.

• What is taking so long?
• Did I bid too low?
• Did I bid too high?
• What is the seller thinking?
• Are they going to accept our offer?
• Should I have put more down?
• Does it normally take so long?
• What is taking so long?
• What is taking so long?

My advice I too keep busy.  Visit friends, go to a local festival, see a movie, take the kids out.  Enjoy yourself.  But keep your cell phone handy so your agent can get a hold of you.  Nothing is more frustrating to an agent than getting an answer and then not being able to get ahold of our client for a day.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate agent 

helping buyers and sellers with Livingston, Oakland, and Wayne County real estate 

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What else would you expect  as a roadside attraction in Detroit? Yes we have a 80 ft tire.  I guess nobody got around to building the 200 ft car to go with it.

The Giant Tire was originally created by U.S. Rubber (now Uniroyal Tire) as a Ferris wheel attraction for the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair.  The two sides looked like a tire but in between the sides there was the ferris wheel.  Over two million fairgoers  at the New York Worlds Fair rode the tire.  Jacqueline Kennedy, Caroline, and John also took the ride at the World's fair.

 When the New York World's Fair ended in 1965, U. S. Rubber decided to move the tire to it's present location in Allen Park, Michigan near it's sales office. The Ferris wheel was taken apart in 188 sections and transported by train to Detroit. Since then, the tire has become one of the nation's most recognizable roadside icons and featured in items ranging from maps and artwork to town Christmas ornaments.

I grew up less than a 1/4 mile from the tire.  We used to spend hours in the woods there.  (We called them Ford woods)  There was a swampy woods area right near the tire that would freeze over.  We would skate through the trees and play tag on ice skates in the winter. (Things kids do)  Even then the tire had a fence around it to protect it from vandalism and graffiti.

In 1998, to demonstrate how their NailGard® self-sealing passenger tire worked, Uniroyal placed an 11-foot high, 500-pound nail into the tread of the Giant Uniroyal Tire.

In the fall of 2003 Michelin Uniroyal's parent company renovated the tire as part of a Interstate 94 renovation project.  They spent about a $1,000,000 to renovate the tire.  They added the company website, took down the neon lighting, added new structural beams, repainted the wheel, and added reflective lettering.  Michelin, Uniroyal's parent company, donated the Big Nail to the city of Allen Park, Michigan.

The City of Allen Park put the Big Nail up for auction on eBay, and a short time later, Ralph Roberts of Ralph Roberts Realty placed the winning bid of $3,000, which ultimately helped the Allen Park Historical Society's programs and facilities. 

The Uniroyal tire roadside attraction is located on I-94 just east of the Southfield Rd exit just minutes from Detroit's Metro Airport.

Dearborn International Arabic Festival was held last weekend.  Me and my wife Marianne went down about 12:30 on Sunday afternoon when it was just opening on Sunday. 

                                                  If you don't know it Dearborn MI has one of the largest Arabic Communities in the United States.  We have people with Arabic ancestry from

• Palestine
• Jordan
• Iran
• Iraq
• Yemen
• Saudia Arabia
• Lebenon

living in Dearborn and the surrounding Metro Detroit area.  (forgive me if I forgot any other countries).

  I am slowly learning more and more about Arabic customs, and Arabic food from my clients.  I have sold homes to some great people who have invited me into their home and fed me some great food.  I have found people of Arabic descent have been some of the friendliest and most giving clients I have had. 

Here are some of the pictures we took of the festival.

Everybody was enjoying the rides and the food. 

Great food. Marianne and I had two Fallefel sandwiches and then I had a Middle Eastern Sampler platter.  I was stuffed and then had to go to a Fathers Day dinner.  It was early and there weren't alot of people there but it got really crowded before we left.

They had a couple of tents full of Middle Eastern wares that included jewelry, books and food.

If you didn't know this the Arabic community eats Halal food which means kosher food. Food that meets Islamic standards of butchering etc.  I don't know all of the standards yet but I'm learning.

                              The festival was supported by the local Businesses and of course ACCESS.   

Of course on the way we stopped on the way home and got some dessert at Shatila Bakery.  Again forgive me if I spelled it wrong.  I took a picture of the outside of the building so I could spell it right but the picture did not come out.  But I am glad the inside picture of one of the many cases of great food did. I have to guess there were about ten cases of food like the one below.  MMMMM.........

Whether you are Arabic or not Dearborn's Arabic festival is a great place to enjoy good food, carnival rides, and immerse yourself in the Arabic culture.

If you have a Dearborn relocation in your future check out my websites for the latest Metro Detroit real estate information.   Or give me a call on my cell (313) 310-9855.

If you missed it this year be sure to check out the International Arabic Festival next year.  It is usually held around Fathers Day weekend. 

Russ Ravary Your Metro Detroit real estate agent

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Livonia MI

Livonia is a great community town and the city officials each year put on the Livonia Spreewith the help of local businesses.  Todays the last day of the Livonia Spree with only the fireworks left.  The Livonia Spreeis held between Eddie Edgar Ice Irena and the Livonia YMCA at Ford Field off Farmington Rd between I-96 and 5 Mile Rd.

The had food tents with coney islands, pizza, middle eastern food, hamburgers, hotdogs, elephant ears, cajun food.

Everybody had fun enjoying the rides and the entertainment.  Livonia Spree is a family event with lots of police presence to make sure the fun didn't get out of hand.

I even got into the act.

They even had racing pigs, circus acts, and other entertainment for the kids. They had a beer tent for the adult refreshments.  Local restaurants and churches had many of the food booths.  

If you are thinking of moving to Livonia you won't be sorry.  It's a great place to raise a family and live whether you are young, old, single, married, kids or no kids.  I hope to see you at the Livonia spree next year or at the fireworks tonight.

For More Livonia real estate information go to either of my websites.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate agent

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Dear Mr. Lawyer,

As you can tell by now is that I'm not that impressed with your skills in the real estate field.  You cost our cleint money, you were unprepared and unknowledgeable in the field you were practicing in.  I have dealt with lots of attorneys that were good and knew what they were doing.

You my friend scared the poor client.  You made her nervous.  Your job as an attorney is too protect her and make her feel comfortable.  Not scare her.

Lastly I have to complain about your negotiating skills.  Unfortunately you don't know anything about banks and foreclosures.  They are in the drivers seat.  You wait for them to sign and you have to sign their addendums as is.  No crossing out their paragraphs.

Now let's go over our deal.  Our client had the cash money, wanted the house.  Yet you wanted to argue about the amount of deposit.  What are you nuts?  Why?  The bank wanted 3% down when we were going to close in a week.  We had an inspection clause to protect us in case the house had defects our client didn't like.  Why argue about something that is not important.  Our client had the cash available and was paying cash for the house.

Unfortunately you dragged your feet throughout this process.  I listened to you and did what you said because you were the clients representative.  Though I did tell the client I would strangle you if you were around one day.  You had driven me over the edge with your antics.

I got this deal done even with all you did to stop the process or kill the deal.  Stick to the criminal defense system other wise some lawyer may strangle you yet.  Then they'll need a criminal defense lawyer.  leave real estate to attorneys that practice it more often.  It's not your forte... take my word for it.

 Sincerely,

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate specialist      

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Metro Detroit home buyer tips

Our job is to protect our clients interests.  As you can tell from my last posts we sometimes go thru some trials and tribulations.  As a real estate professional I want you get a home that you want.  If you don't know me you will realize that I'm not one of those pushy real estate people.  I'll continue to take you out to look at houses so long as you are a serious buyer.  I sit back and let people make their own decisions about a home.  I don't walk thru a house and point out how great it is.

I know buying real estate is sometimes just emotional.  Home buyers "know" when the walk into the house that "it is it".  Many times it isn't about money, about the layout, or the square footage.  It's the feeling of "being their home".  It is a feeling that the home buyer gets when they find the home they want.

Sometimes those dreams or wants are crushed by other people around the home buyers.  Sometimes those dreams need to be crushed because the home has defects or the buyers didn't realize the potential issues.  Many times I have been glad for family members pointing out potential problems.

As a real estate agent I can point out lots of problems on any home.  But that isn't my job to crush my buyers dreams.  You see no home is perfect and home buyers have to make the decision on what defects or minor issues they are willing to accept.

It may be an odd layout, the house may be on a busy street, a room may be too small, the garage may not be big enough, or the house may need work.  Every buyer has different priorities and as an agent I don't influence those decisions.  If I am asked my opinion I give it.  It there is a major defect or problem that I notice then I talk about it.  I'm not a house inspector but I am fairly decent as spotting major block basement problems.  I'm fairly decent about estimating costs or calling contractors to find out the costs for clients.  I can point clients to the right resources to get their questions answered.

As a real estate agent I want to be able to visit my clients years from now.  I want my clients to be happy in the home they buy.  It's my job to help my clients get the best deal possible, get the home inspected, and to close the deal.  We sometimes have to solve the issues that pop up from mortgage companies, and the negotiations.

I myself believe you don't have to sell houses.  People sell themselves the house once they find the right one. 

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate specialist      

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Metro Detroit home buyer tips

Dear Mr. Lawyer,

I want to address you contract writing skills now.  I know because you defend people in the criminal defense system you have spent hours and hours working on real estate deals.  I am writing you to inform you that the standard contracts most real estate firms have been developed over years of experience in the real estate field.  Many have been developed by real estate associations to make them simple, readable, and not full of legal mumbo jumbo.

Yes they may be just a blanket form but it works very well.  We use addendums and the additional conditions area to add to the contract.  We wouldn't use them if they didn't protect our clients.  I know you want to re-write the contract your own personal way but I sent this contract over to you 3 weeks ago.  Why did you wait until the day we are going to make the offer to decide to make the changes.

I may be just a dumb real estate person in your eyes but I didn't understand why you wanted to cross off the different paragraphs but yet you added nothing.  By adding verbage youwould be protecting our client better. 

I guess I didn't understand why you wanted to cross of the "as is" clause in the contract.  After all that is one of the basics of real estate contracts.  You are buying the house "as is" unless otherwise specified.  No seller wants to be liable for potential lawsuits if there were no "as is" clauses.

Again if you are going to practice law do it over in the field you know.  Leave real estate transactions to real estate attorneys or attorneys that do them at least once a month. 

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate specialist      

                       Search Metro Detroit foreclosures and get the latest foreclosures emailed to you 

Metro Detroit home buyer tips

Dear Mr. Lawyer,

I know you are smart you did pass the law exam and I know you spent a lot of money on your degree but......you aren't an expert in the real estate field.  I am writing this to you because of a recent experience with another criminal defense lawyer.

He wanted to protect his wife's friend from getting scammed.  First he was worried about Warranty Title in Michigan.  He had read somewhere that some title companies were going out of business.  You see Warranty Title is one of the bigger title companies in Michigan.  I think it is a subsidy of Trott & Trott attorneys which run one of the biggest property foreclosure legal business in Michigan.  They do a much bigger business than my "smart attorney".  They are a title machine.  I bet they close over 50 properties a day just in their Detroit office.  There waiting room is usually jammed full. 

What my smart attorney didn'tt realize is that local title companies are just agencies of bigger title insurance companies.  So even if the local company goes belly up the larger underwriting title insurance company makes good on the title policy and the defects.  If the large title insurance company goes bankrupt then a lot of people would have issues.  But...........

My client "smart attorney" had my client get another title policy from another title company that he knew of.  So it cost my client more money just to "be safe" in the attorneys opinion.

So my first piece of advice to as a criminal defense lawyer is don't advise people or practice law in areas you are unsure of.  Let a professional real estate attorney handle it.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate specialist      

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Metro Detroit home buyer tips

Lately I have been showing a lot of foreclosure homes in Royal Oak, Clawson, Berkeley, and Madison Heights.  Right now there are 23 Madison Heights foreclosures for sale. Today I was out looking with a client and we found a couple she likes.  She wants to put an offer in so I thought I would look up the latest Madison Heights sold homes under $80,000.

If you notice 17 of the 14 Madison Heights sold homes sold for more than list price. 

I would bet that if you look at the ones that sold quickly you would find that they were in good to better shape and sold for more than list price.

If you are looking to buy a Madison Heights foreclosure or a Clawson foreclosure, or Royal Oak foreclosure give me a call.  My cell is (313) 310-9855.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate specialist      

                       Search Metro Detroit foreclosures and get the latest foreclosures emailed to you 

Metro Detroit home buyer tips

comp and listing information courtesy of Realcomp Ltd II.  Homes shown above have been sold by various Realtors.

Farmington Hills Real Estate Update

Here is a quick Farmington Hills sold homes update for one of my buyers to see what is going on recently.  Here are all the colonial homes that have sold in the 2200 -2950 square foot range in the last 30 days.  Look at the sold price versus the list price.  There were five that sold for over list price and two more that sold very close.  But on the other end there were some that sold for 10% less.   The average days on the market for these homes were 91 days.

Now here is by the area between Haggerty Rd to Farmington Rd from 12 to 14 Mile Rd  Again Colonial homes but no square footage restrictions.  You will note that there were some big colonials that sold cheap.  They were probably Farmington Hills foreclosures that needed a lot of work. 

This is just a general guide of Farmington Hills foreclosures sold trends.   To really understand it you might have to look at the individual house listings that sold to see whether they were foreclosures and what was the shape of the home.

Usually Farmington homes that are in good shape sell for more money per square foot and quicker. A dumpy Farmington Hills foreclosure or poorly maintained home will sit on the market and will sell for much less.

Russ Ravary Metro Detroit real estate agent

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Comp and listing info courtesy of Real Comp II.  Homes shown above have been sold by various Realtors.