Farmington Hills Real Estate and Events talk Michigan

 Pooles Tavern Northville Michigan is a great little tavern to have a beer and a burger.  My wife Marianne loves going there just for the popcorn.  They will bring you out a big bowl of popcorn.  Pooles is a great place to meet friends or to watch the Wings play.

It's not a big place so be prepared to wait at peak hours and on Friday and Saturday night for a table.  The wait staff is nice and helps you get seated quickly.  If you are looking for a gourmet type of place .... Pooles Tavern isn't it.   But it's clean and cheery.  Not like some dark dingy bars.

Northville outdoor restaurant / Northville outdoor seating and eating.

Pooles has a great outside seating area so you can relax in the outdoors and have a great burger.  There is lots of public parking on the street or in the big lot behind the tavern.

Located in Historic Northville Michigan Pooles Tavern is located on Main Street just east of center.  About 5 stores east of the Marquis Theatre.  So whether you going to Northville Down's, the Mill Race Historical Village, or just going to shop Northville great little stores.  Stop in and get one of Pooles famous burgers. 

Here is their full menu as of 07/31/09 

Starters Hot Wings One pound of fresh crispy chicken wings tossed in our "Buffalo" style wing sauce. Served with celery and Bleu cheese dressing. $7.95 Fried Potato Thins Very thinly sliced potatoes, seasoned and fried to order $3.50 Quesadillas Flour tortilla filled with Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses. Served with salsa and sour cream $5.95 Chicken Quesadillas add $2.00 Rib Teaser Smaller portion, slow roasted baby back ribs, chargrilled and smothered in our Famous Sauce. Garnished with French fries $7.95 Chicken Fingers Seasoned, breaded, chicken tenders fried. Served with Ranch $7.95 Mozzarella "Stix" Italian-style breaded Mozzarella sticks fried to a golden brown. Served with Ranch dip $4.95 Northville's Trifecta Basket Favorites: Mini Beef Tacos, Chicken Fingers, and Cheese Stix. Served with choice of TWO sauces $7.50 Hummus Traditional style hummus, made fresh daily. Served with two pieces grilled pita bread $6.50 Nachos Corn tortillas, cut and fried daily. Topped with Monterey and Cheddar cheeses, lettuce, tomatoes and onions. Served with homemade salsa and sour cream $6.95 A side of Jalapeño available upon request. Add Chicken or Beef add $2.00 Side of Guacamolé add $2.50 Chips & Salsa Homemade tortilla chips made daily and seasoned with our Secret Spices. Served with fresh, homemade salsa $3.95 Side of Guacamolé add $2.50 Mini Tacos Just right for snackin'! $4.95 With Cheese $5.95 Basket of Seasoned Fries Enough for two! $3.50 Basket of Breaded Onion Rings Enough for two! $5.95 SERVED ALL DAY FRIDAY: Clam Chowder with a Half Sandwhich $5.95 Lunch Only: Cup of Soup & Half Sandwhich $6.95 Cup of Chili & Half Sandwhich $7.50 Choice of Oven-Roasted Turkey, Corned Beef, or Tuna Salad [ back to top ] Burgers Half-pound Burger A half-pound Certified Angus Beef ® burger hand-packed and made fresh daily. Served on a kaiser roll with lettuce, tomato, dill spear, and potato chips. $5.75 Toppings: Choice of: American, Swiss, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Pepper Jack, Grilled Onion, or Sautéed Mushrooms. $.75 Bacon or Bleu cheese add $1.00 Patty Melt Certified Angus Beef ® patty with Swiss and grilled onions on rye. $6.95 Turkey Burger One-half pound hand-packed premium ground turkey. $6.75 Garden Burger Fresh and healthy! $5.95 Add onion rings to any of the above $2.50 Add seasoned French fries to any of the above $1.75 [ back to top ] Dinner Selections Matt's Own Award-winning Baby Back Ribs Baked in our own special seasonings and slow-roasted. Grilled on an open flame, and smothered with our special sauce. Served with seasoned fries, and creamy coleslaw. $13.95 Ribs & Shrimp Slow-roasted ribs and skewered Gulf shrimp. Served with crispy fries and lemon. $13.95 Try it with Coconut Shrimp. "Wow Mon!" $13.95 Beer-battered Fish & Chips Guinness-style beer battered Islandic Cod. Made fresh daily by Chef Matt. Served with creamy coleslaw, and "Fried Potato Thin."...a MUST TRY. $8.95 Blackened Yellow Fin Tuna Eight-ounce tuna steak, blackened and chargrilled. Served with rice, garden spring mix salad, and choice of dressing. $10.95 Coconut Fried Shrimp Jumbo Gulf shrimp, breaded with sweet coconut shavings and fried. Served with rice and orange marmalade. $11.95 Steak Bits Eight-ounce Certified Angus Beef ® beef tips grilled on an open flame, seasoned and served with grilled pita bread and our special BBQ sauce $9.95 Add a side salad $3.75 Steak Bits & Hummus Eight ounces of Certified Angus Beef ® tips and a half order homemade hummus. Served with pita bread and our special BBQ sauce. $13.95

Salads Tavern Caesar Fresh romaine lettuce, tossed with creamy Caesar dressing. Seasoned croutons and fresh shredded, aged, Parmesan cheese. $6.95 Grilled Chicken Caesar Topped with marinated, grilled, breast of chicken. $8.95 Grilled Salmon Caesar Salad Fresh romaine lettuce, tossed with a creamy caesar dressing, seasoned croutons, and fresh Parmesan cheese. Topped with grilled salmon, fried onion, and lemon. $9.95 Michigan Walnut Cherry Chicken Salad Crisp lettuce mix topped with marinated breast of chicken, walnut pieces, sun-dried cherries, crumbled Bleu cheese and red onion. Served with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. $9.95 Southwestern Chicken Salad Crisp romaine lettuce tossed in a Ranch/salsa dressing. Topped with Monterey Jack and Cheddar Chesses. Boneless breast of diced chicken and tortilla strips. $8.95 Tavern House Salad Mixed greens with tomato wedges, red onion, and seasoned croutons. Served with choice of dressing. $3.75 Taco Salad Seasoned ground beef, Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, shredded lettuce, and diced tomato. Tossed with homemade tortilla strips. Served with fresh salsa and sour cream $7.95 Substitute chicken $1.00 Coleslaw Our own creamy slaw recipe $1.50 DRESSINGS: Thousand Island, Italian, Chunky Bleu Cheese, Hidden Valley Ranch, Low-cal Ranch, Honey Mustard, Raspberry Vinaigrette. [ back to top ] Soups Cup $3.25 Bowl $3.95 Homemade Chili Cup $3.95 Bowl $4.50 FRIDAY ONLY: Homemade New England Clam Chowder Cup $3.95 Bowl $4.50 [ back to top ] Sandwiches Corned Beef Thinly sliced corned beef, on fresh-cut grilled rye $6.95 Turkey Sandwich Fresh-cut, oven-roasted turkey breast grilled on whole wheat $6.95 "The Bird" Grilled, marinated breast of chicken served with tomato and lettuce on a kaiser roll $6.95 B.L.T. The "old favorite." Thick, sizzled bacon, vine-ripened tomato slices, and crisp garden lettuce on grilled wheat, served with mayo $6.95 Add Turkey $2.00 Tuna Melt 100% solid White Albacore tuna salad made fresh daily, grilled on whole-wheat with American cheese. $6.95 Turkey Pita Grilled Greek pita and oven-roasted sliced turkey, American cheese with lettuce, tomato, and red onion $7.95 Reuben Grill Turkey or corned beef grilled on rye with sauerkraut, Thousand Island, and Domestic Swiss $7.95 "Vegetarian" Portabella Pita Grilled fresh portabella mushroom slices marinated in balsamic vinaigrette placed on top of grilled pita bread with Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and red onion $7.95 French Dip "Au Jus" Thinly sliced roast beef stuffed in an asiago French roll, served with homemade "au jus" and seasoned fries $8.95 Salmon Ciabatta Sandwich Grilled salmon fillet served on Asiago cheese ciabatta bread with lettuce, tomato, and lemon. Served with a side of wasabi mayonnaise and fried onion garnish. $9.95 B.B.Q. Pork/Pretzel Roll A full half-pound pulled pork grilled with our special B.B.Q. sauce. Served on our unique pretzel roll and topped with fried onions. $7.95 Borsin Beef/Pretzel Roll Full half-pound thinly sliced roast beef topped with Borsin cheese on a pretzel roll. Served with lettuce, tomato, and red onion. $8.95 Chicken Pesto Wrap Grilled chicken, roasted peppers, avacado pesto spread, and spring mix, stuffed in a spinach tortilla. $7.95 Spinach Seafood Wrap A blend of lobster meat, crab, and shrimp mixed with mayonaise and Old Bay spices. With lettuce, tomato, and avocado spread wrapped in a spinach tortilla. $8.95 Southwestern Wrap Sliced turkey, Borsin cheese spread, lettuce mix, tomato, and fried onions topped with hot chili sauce and wrapped in a sun dried tomato tortilla. $7.95 Poole's Chicken Wrap Sun-dried tomato tortilla with a Borsin cheese spread filled with grilled breast of chicken, shredded lettuce, tomato, and fried onion. $7.95 Buffalo-style Chicken Wrap Sun-dried tomato tortilla with a Borsin cheese spread filled with grilled breast of chicken, shredded lettuce, tomato, fried onion, and topped with hot sauce. $7.95 Add cheese to any of the above for $.75 Add Bacon to any of the above for $1.00 Add onion rings to any of the above $2.50 Add seasoned French fries to any of the above $1.75

If you are going to visit Northville Michigan stop on in and relax

Russ Ravary

If you are relocating to Michigan, Downtown Northville real estate may be a place to check out.  Downtown Northville is an old tyme downtown with historic Victorian homes around the city center.  Of course over the years some of them have been rebuilt.  Some have even been torn down and big beautiful modern homes have been built.

So there is a mixture of different styles of homes.

Here are the home characteristics of Downtown Northville Michigan real estate:

• The homes were built during the years of 1860 -2007.
• Square footage of the homes range from 700 - 6600 square ft.
  The homes are mostly Victorian, bungalow, Colonial, ranch, and Cape Cod style. 
•  Most of the homes have vinyl, wood, brick/vinyl, brick exteriors.
• 1 -3 car garages
• 2-6 bedrooms
• 1 + bathrooms
• some have basements, some have only crawl spaces, some Michigan basements, and just a few walkout basements.

The children that live in Downtown Northville can go to district is Northville Schools.  Just West of town off Main street the road turns to gravel and it seems as if you were transported up north.  Million dollar homes and $200,000 homes are nestled in the woods right outside the city center but still close enough to ride a bike in.                                       

The location of the Downtown Northville is between 7 and 8 mile roads and between Northville Road and Beck.  I-275 expressway is less than 5 minutes away and M-14 & I-96 is about ten minutes away.  Downtown Northville has cute botique shops, and good restaurants.  There are local bars such as Pooles' Tavern, Starting Gate, or the Wagon Wheel.  Or you can eat at Tarimisu, Little Italy, or Swizzle Sticks.  Of course restaurant row that is located on Haggerty road is just a five minute ride.  There are about 30 different restaurants on Haggerty Rd between 5 mile and 9 mile rd.

Then for the shoppers that live in Northville they can take a 5 minute ride down Novi Rd to 12 Oaks Mall, or they can go down Six Mile Rd to Laurel Park Mall.

Some of the streets that are in or near the Downtown Northville area are:

Grace St              Carpenter St               Bloomcrest Dr
Horton St              Lake St                       Lexington Blvd
Rayson St            W Cady St                  Potomac Rd
E Cady St            W Main St
S Wing St            N Wing St
1st St                    Fairbrook St
S Rogers St         N Rogers St
W Dunlap St        E Dunlap St
West St                High St
Thayer Blvd          Eaton Dr
Spring Dr             Dubuar St
Clement Rd         Orchard Dr
Scott Ct                Caldwell St
Randolph St         Elm St
East St                  Potomac RD  

Downtown Northville Michigan real estate is something any Wayne or Oakland County home buyer should explore.  Northville has an annual Art in the Sun (Art show), a Victorian Festival, and they go all out for Halloween too.  So come down and see us you'll be glad you did.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate agent

City of Northville Data

Northville Subdivisions

Search Northville homes for sale 

More Northville Michigan relocation and real estate information

Yes Farmington Hills now is going to offer Homebuyers Assistance

Through Neighborhood Stabilization Program

 The City of Farmington Hills is now offering help to qualified people who wish to purchase vacant foreclosed houses in the City as their principal place of residence.  The program is intended to stabilize neighborhoods and provide affordable housing to those who meet the criteria.

Get the help you need to buy a Farmington Hills foreclosure.  Under the newly-established Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), individuals who meet specific program guidelines can receive financial assistance to purchase vacant foreclosed houses in Farmington Hills. The program is being financed by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) in an effort to address the statewide problem of foreclosed and abandoned housing.    

 Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.  A series of steps must be completed before an applicant is considered eligible for the program.  Interested applicants must fill out an application form and a credit report release form; meet income requirements; and complete an eight-hour Housing Counseling Assistance Program.  Those seeking to buy homes will also need to present a complete copy of their most recent federal and state income tax returns, as well as additional documentation.     

GET MORE INFORMATION. If you are interested in purchasing an abandoned or foreclosed single family residential property through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, go to the City's website at www.fhgov.com for additional information about the program and to download the application and the credit report release form. 

MARK AND SAVE THE DATE.   An optional informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 12 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Costick Center at 28600 Eleven Mile Road in Farmington Hills.  Officials from the City's Planning and Community Development Department will be available to answer questions and provide additional information about the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. To find out more about the NSP, contact Rick Lampi of the City of Farmington Hills Community Development Office at 248-871-2549 or at rlampi@fhgov.com.  

If you need some financial assistance in buying a Farmington Hills foreclosure contact the people above.  I hope you can get into a home you want.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate agent

 Why do I think Northville Hills Golf Club homes in Northville Michigan is one of Northville's premier subdivisions.  Here are some of the reasons I believe you should look at homes in Northville Hills Subdivision:

• Northville Hills Golf Club homes surround a signature 18 hole Arnold Palmer Golf course
• Beautiful homes built by one of America's best home builders Toll Brothers
• Clubhouse featuring a pro shop, formal dining rooms, lounge, banquet facilities, resort pool, weigh room, and aerobic area.
• Nearby expressway access 

It is hard to imagine this is where the old Wayne County Child Development Center and Plymouth State Home and Training School once was. The buildings stood vacant for 20 years before Toll Brothers, state, and local governments came together to put together this beautiful rolling subdivision..

 Northville Hills Golf Club subdivision is located in Northville Township(Which is the Western most suburb in Wayne County)  There is actually two parts of Northville Hills subdivision.  The main section is West of Sheldon Rd, East of Beck Rd, North of 5 Mile Rd, and South of 6 Mile Rd.  Northville Hills East Golf Club is located East of Sheldon Rd.

What is great about the subdivision is that is less than 1 mile from M-14 and about 3 miles from I-275.  You can get anywhere in Metro Detroit easily from the subdivision.  Equally important is Northville Hills Golf Club is about dead center between downtown Northville and Downtown Plymouth Michigan.  So you can enjoy all the activities, restaurants, and shops in both of these historic downtowns.

 The characteristics of Northville Hills Golf Club homes in Northville Michigan are:

• Homes are mostly Colonial and Cape Cod style (and a couple ranches)
• Brick exteriors
• 3 & 4 + car garages
• 3 - 4 bedrooms
• 2 + bathrooms
• All homes have basements (some walkout)
• Square footage homes range from 3000 - 4900 square ft.

Northville Hills Golf Club Northville Michigan has approximately 477 homes in it.  The homes were built by Toll Brothers during the years of 2000 -2008.  There were 7 different home styles.  The children that live in the subdivision go to acclaimed Northville Schools.  In fact Northville High School is right across six mile and the new elementary school is only about a mile down Six Mile Rd.  You can enter the main subdivision from 6 Mile Rd, 5 Mile Rd or from Sheldon Rd.

Here is a little more about the golf course.  The course ranges from 5,166 yards to a challenging, yet enjoyable 7,003 yards, with wide expansive fairways, enormous greens, multiple tees for every type of player and other memorable features.  At Northville Hills golf club is recognized and funded stormwater program, designed to filter water from the golf course and nearby housing development - discharging cleaner water into the Rouge River. Surrounding wetlands are considered environmentally sensitive areas, certified and monitored by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System.

                                     



The streets that are in the Northville Hills Golf Club subdivision are:

Tournament Dr
Bay Hill Dr
Troon Ct
Dorchester Ct
Merion Circle
Merion Ct
Crystal Downs
Pinehurst Dr
Pinehurst Circle
Pebble Beach Ct
Riviera Dr
Spyglass Dr

Here is how to get a hold of the homeowner's association Northville Hills Golf Club Association Northville Twp MI

Utilities for Northville Hills Golf Club subdivision:

Electric : Detroit Edison Electric 1-800-447-4747
Gas : Consumers Energy 1-800-477-5050
Golf : Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course
Telephone: Comcast 1-800-COMCAST
Trash Removal: Northville Twp. 1-248-348-5820
Water & Sewer: Northville Twp. 1-248-348-5820

If you are looking to relocate to Michigan Northville Hills Golf Club homes Northville MIis a great place to live.  If you have any questions about Northville or any of Northville's subdivision feel free to call me or email me.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate agent

Search Northville Hills homes for sale and Northville home listings and get the latest listings emailed to you.

photos courtesy of Realcomp Ltd II

Only 36 hours of work left in this week and I'm off up North.  In Michigan people trek north to the resort areas and lake areas.  We pack up our cars and hit I-75 to get out of Metro Detroit.  North to the tree lined roads, when you start seeing the birch trees you really know you have gotten up there.

I'm headed north to my friends place up on Spider Lake. 

                   I can't wait to put the fishing line in the water.

                         I can't wait to float in my lounge chair rocking in the water

                               I can't wait to watch the sun go down on the water

                                     I can't wait just to relax.

How about you?  What are you going to do this weekend?

So cousin Joe is going to help you out and save you $300 by inspecting your Metro Detroit home.  Just don't come crying to me.  Last week I had cousin Joe inspect one of my clients properties.  I wanted to cry.

He spent more time talking about non essential things like:

          what colors to paint the walls

                       how little he paid for his house

                                  how they asked for 5 years of w-2s and they are going to do it to you to   

                                               he doesn't like the stove and refrigerator next to each other

                                                                that a $50,000 mortgage is going to have a $700 payment and if they need $30,000 to fix it up the mortgage payment is going to be $1500 a month.  WHAT!!!!

                                                                           that he's been a cement layer, hardwood floor installer, basement waterproofer and he knows how to do it all.....I honestly didn't know how many jobs he has had but.

                                                                                       that you need to pick up boxed electrical sockets and put them away.... because sitting in the kitchen cupboard will causes questions from the appraiser.  WHAT!!!!

                         Sadly this guy did a bad job of inspecting the home but he knew about mortgages, and everything else.  What was worse and he said it several times " AND THE REALTOR WILL BACK ME UP ON WHAT I'M SAYING"  I about choked. 

Who you have inspect your metro Detroit homeis important. So what I say to anybody that is thinking about having "cousin joe" or "uncle Bob" don't take their word for their expertise.  I would only have cousin joe or uncle bob do it if they are a builder or a licensed contractor.  If they only have a specialty in electrical work or just cement work, or just carpentry save yourself the potential problems.  Hire a professional inspector for $300.  It will be the best money you spend.

Just my thoughts.   It's your house and I'll go along with whatever you decide.  If you decide to have cousin Bob inspect your Metro Detroit home I won't over ride your decision.  It's your decision.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate agent

                                         Search Metro Detroit foreclosures and get the latest listings emailed to you daily or weekly

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Metro Detroit home inspections

It is very easy to sabotage your home negotiation and make the seller not want to do business with you.  It is real easy.

BE WISHY WASHY!

Before negotiation you need to know what you want out of the negotiations.

• You need to know when you want to close
• How much you want to give as earnest money
• When you want to take possession of the home
• How much you want to pay for the home
• What else do you want besides the house (like the pool table)

Here is one bad example.

List Price & terms          $190,000   possession immediate   

Buyer Offers                 $180,000   30 days possession    $8000 in sellers concessions

Seller counters              $185,000   30 days possession    $4500 in sellers concessions

Buyer counter offers       $185,000   60 days possession    $8000 in sellers concessions

Seller Counters             $185,000   30 days possession     $8000 in sellers concessions

Buyer now wants            $185,000    90 days possession    $8000 in sellers concessions

Sellers and Buyers can't agree on 90 days possession Dead deal

The buyer realized halfway through negotiations that they needed more time to get their money together.  It made their real estate agent look foolish.  The seller thinks the buyers are crazy.  And it wasted everybody's time.

If you want to close the deal you have to compromise. You can't start adding more things on in the middle of negotiations.

• The buyer offered $180,000 so it would be stupid to ask for $170,000 in the middle of negotiations
• The buyer asked for $8000 in sellers concessions it would be dumb to ask for $15,000 in concessions when you are getting close in negotiations
• The buyer asked for 30 days possession, then upped it to 90 days.  That's crazy.  It threw a wrench into the negotiating gears.

You are going the wrong way.  Think of it this way how would you feel if the seller came back and now asked for more than list price after you had 2 out of the 3 items agreed upon.  You will get mad.  I guarantee it.

By asking for more than what you originally asked for in the middle of negotiations usually has a bad outcome. So decide what you want before starting and compromise or stand firm.   BUT DON'T RAISE THE STAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATIONS.  

Being wishy washy in your negotiations will most likely cost you getting the house.  So know what you want before hand.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate agent 

                                        Search Metro Detroit foreclosures

If you are looking for a home on a good sized lake then a Oxbow Lake waterfront home may be the one for you.  Oxbow Lake is located in White Lake Township, Oakland County Michigan.  It is just south of M-59 (Highland Rd), East of Teggerdine Rd, North of Elizabeth Lake Rd, W of N William Lake Rd.

White Lake Twp isn't a booming metropolis.  In fact there are still farms and dirt roads that make you feel like up North.  There aren't a lot of big chain restaurants, but more mom and pop type of establishments.  Oxbow Lake's northern tip is right off of M-59 and M-59 will take you to Waterford, Pontiac, Brighton and Howell for all the shopping you need.

Oxbow Lake Waterfront homes are an eclectic mix.  You have to remember like most of Southeastern Michigan Lake front homes Oxbow Lake was a weekend getaway for Metro Detroiters.   They started building these Oxbow Lake waterfront homes in the early 1900's.  There are many surviving homes from the 1920s, 1930s, up to the 1950s.   But some of them were torn down to make newer homes over the years.   Some have been rebuilt as recently as 2001.

Here are the characteristics of Oxbow Lake real estate White Lake MI:

• homes range in age primarily from the 1920 to 2000  (though there is one built in 1860)
• square footage ranges from 1000 to 3500 primarily (though there are some 4500 and 5000 square foot homes.  There is even a 6281 square foot home and a 9290 square foot home)
• lake home styles are mostly ranches and colonials though you will find bungalows, cape cods, split level homes, and contemporary homes.
• The exteriors may be aluminum, vinyl siding, wood, brick or a mixture.
• some homes have basements some don't.  There are walkout basement on the lake
• some home have garages and some don't some have over 3 car garages
• Bedroom sizes run from 1 bedroom up to 6 bedrooms
• Number of Bathrooms run from 1 to over 5 bathrooms 

Oxbow Lake Map White Lake Twp MI

Oxbow Lake is 270 acres in size and 72 ft deep in the deepest spot.  It is a nice Oakland County Lake to call home.

I hope this information helps you decide which White Lake Twp or Oakland County Lake to call home.  If you have any questions feel free to call or email me.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate agent 

                       Search Metro Detroit lake listings whether it is Oakland County or Livingston County lakefront property

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Photos courtesy of RealComp II LTD.

Country Acres Plymouth Michigan is one of western Wayne Counties nicer subdivisions.  It has estate sized homes on large lots and conveniently located close to the expressways.

Located in Plymouth Township which has one of the lowest Millage rates (tax rates) in Wayne County Country Acres is off Ann Arbor Rd.  It is north of Ann Arbor Rd, south of Powell Rd.  East of Napier Rd, and West of Ridge Rd.  M-14, I-96, and I-275 expressways make it just 15 - 20 minutes away from Ann Arbor, MI, 30 minutes from downtown Detroit, and 25 minutes from Metro Detroit airport.

Country Acres has approximately 312 homes that were built during the years of 1997 - 2001.  The characteristics of Country Acres Plymouth Michigan homes are:

• Mostly Colonial and Cape Cod style
• 3000 - 4500 square ft
• Most have brick exteriors & brick/vinyl & brick/wood exteriors
• Lot sizes range from 7/10 of an acre to 1 acre
• 3 + car garages
• 3-5 bedrooms
• 2.5 + bathrooms
• All have basements (some walkout, some daylight, some regular basements).

The children that live in Country Acres Plymouth Michigan homes go to Plymouth Canton School district.

Shopping and restaurants are just a short drive away.  Downtown Plymouth Michigan and Downtown Northville Michigan are within 5 minutes.   These two old time downtown centers have lots of little boutique stores and lots of non-chain restaurants.  If you have to have a chain restaurants there are probably 40 different restaurants within a 5 -15 minute ride.   Everything from McDonalds, to Flemings, Applebees, Max and Ermas, Wendy's, Tim Hortons, Champs, etc.  12 Oaks Mall is about 20 minutes away and Laurel Mall is about 10 minutes away.  Enough stores to satisfy even the shopaholic.

Country Acres Plymouth Michigan homes aren't far from a large hospital.  St. Mary's hospital is located in Livonia, Providence Hospital is in Novi off Beck rd.  U of M Hospital is located in Ann Arbor.  So top notch quality health is just a short ride and ready for any emergency your family may have. 


The streets that are in the Country Acres subdivision are:

Maple Valley Dr
Fellow Hill Dr
Fellows Creek Dr
E Fellows Creek Ct
W Fellows Creek Ct
Pine Ct
Oak View Ct
Top of Hill Dr
Maple Ridge Dr
Ash Ct
Powell Ridge Ct
N Ridge Rd
Plymouth Lake Dr
Plymouth Valley Dr
Plymouth Ridge Dr
Plymouth Ridge Ct 

Plymouth Michigan is a great place to live if you have a Metro Detroit relocation in your future..  So if you have any questions feel free to email me or call me with any questions.  I hoped this helped!

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate agent

photos courtesy of Realcomp II Ltd

Are you planning or thinking of walking away from your Metro Detroit mortgage?  I just read a blog about how 17% of the foreclosures are people who could pay their mortgage yet walked away from the mortgage.  At the bottom somebody commented that it was stupid to do that.  I wanted to disagree with the commenter but then after really doing the math I realized the commenter was right in one aspect, but not all. 

I am going to use my own example.  And I am going to use the premise that Detroit properties are  not going to really start increasing in value for 10 years.  I myself honestly believe that we may be in a flat line appreciation for anywhere from 5 to 10 years because of Metro Detroit's economy

I myself have a Metro Detroit property that I bought at the peak or almost the peak in 2003.  The Canton duplex has lost 33% of it's value or more.  So it is going to take me ten years to be at the break even point.  Where my property is worth what I owe on the mortgage.  That's a scary thought.

Looking at an amoritization schedule:

Is is going to be somewhere in 2019 that I will be at the $100,000 what it is worth today.

So if it was an average homeowner in that situation they would be making $10,730 worth of payments for 10 years.  About $107,000 in money thrown away to the banks.

But if the homeowner walked away they would be in better shape in the first three years.   They would have a minimum of 9 months of free rent.  So $9,000 profit.  Then they should be able to rent cheaper than they were paying for a mortgage.  But that will only wash with what they are losing in income tax deductions.

But in 3 years after the foreclosure you can get a FHA mortgage.  So basically in 4 years you can buy a house for the same price you would have owed on the mortgage ten years down the road.   At the end of ten years the walk away guy would be better off.

Walk away Amortization Schedule

But in the long run it is not smart.  You see it would be 2013 when the walkaway guy got his new home.  He wouldn't be paid off on a 30 year mortgage until 2043.  Where I will be paid off in 2033. Ten years earlier than the walk away guy.  That's just one of the financial pluses to stay in your mortgage.  I won't have bad credit for 3 years.

On the other hand until 2022 mr. walkaway would be better off when selling his house over the home owner that stayed in it.   Mr. Walkaway would net more selling in the first ten years.  Especially in the first six years.  So until 2022 Mr Walkaway would make more money.

So the bottom line is financially you will be better off if you stay in the house over 20 years as compared to the walkaway person.  If you plan to stay in one house keep paying the mortgage.

If you have bought in a bad area, or are financially over your head then it may pay to walk away.  It may pay to walk away if you plan to sell in the next 14 years.   Especially the next ten.  But the goal of any homeowner should be to pay off your mortgage as soon as possible.  If you can hang in there and pay down your mortgage and live below your means.  A smaller house than your friends may help you live a more enjoyable life with the extra money you save in payments.

What ever you do Plan and think about it before walking away from your Metro Detroit mortgage.

Just food for thought.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate agent.