Spring is here in Michigan!
April 04, 2023
Spring is here in Michigan! As the weather warms in Michigan there are some maintenance items that should be done on all homes to avoid flooding and wet basements and to get your property ready for summer! -Clean your gutters -Check for areas of low grade around the foundation and fill -Make sure downspout extension are attached and ...
Thinking of Purchasing a Home? Plan for Closing Costs
March 31, 2023
If you have been contemplating buying a home, make sure to plan for closing costs. Closing costs are the fees you must pay when buying a house. They vary depending on the purchase price of the home and also how you are financing your purchase. Fees also vary between different mortgage lenders.Depending on financing, typical ...
Easy Fix for Leaky Basement HUD Article #3
March 31, 2023
Buying a HUD Property Number 3by Tom Nelson HUD Licensed Listing Broker (LLB)An Easy Fix to A Leaky Basement That Often Works with Little Expense and NO Digging!Having a leaky basement can be very distressing. Often companies will charge thousands of dollars to dig up the outside of your basement down to the basement floor level. ...
Teachers, Police & Fire ~ Good Neighbor Program
March 28, 2023
Law enforcement officers, teachers (pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade) firefighters and emergency medical technicians can contribute to community revitalization while becoming homeowners through HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program. HUD offers a substantial incentive in the form of a discount of 50% from the list price of the home. In return, an eligible buyer must commit to live ...
Today is the first day of Spring!
March 20, 2023
Today is the first day of Spring, time for outdoor remodeling.Most REALTORS® (92%) suggest that sellers improve the curb appeal of their home before listing it for sale. Also, the largest shares of REALTORS® recommended owners complete landscaping-related features before putting a home on the market, and those were among the top projects for which landscape professionals saw ...
5 Reasons You Shouldn't Skip a Home Inspection
March 19, 2023
You may be temped to skip the home inspection and save the $300 to $500 invoice, but there are many reasons why you should do a home inspection. 1. A quality home inspection can reveal critical information about the condition of a home and its systems. This will make you aware of what costs, repairs and ...
Explore latest garden trends at McHenry County Gardenfest
March 19, 2023
Explore the latest gardening trends, techniques, and tools at McHenry County Gardenfest, a daylong series of seminars and workshops for gardeners of every skill level. The event will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, at McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake.Attendees can choose from more than 15 breakout ...
HUD AWARDS $5.6 BILLION IN ANNUAL GRANTS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND HOMELESS ASSISTANCE
March 16, 2023
HUD No. 23-045HUD Public Affairs(202) 708-0685 Funding will go to 1,200 communities through 2,400 grants to support the needs of families and individualsWASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced $5.6 billion in funding will go to 1,200 communities through more than 2,400 grants to States, urban counties, ...
Mortgage Demand Jumps in Past Week Amid Bank Closures, as Rates Took a Dip
March 16, 2023
Mortgage demand rose over the past week, despite news of bank closures and an uncertain economic outlook. Demand for mortgages rose 6.5% in the latest week as rates dropped slightly. The market index rose by 6.5% to 214.5 for the week ending March 10 from a week earlier. A year ago, the index ...
Tips Before You Buy A Detroit Home
March 16, 2023
TIPS BEFORE YOU BUY A DETROIT HOME Before you buy your home in Detroit, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) is providing these important tips. Please read carefully to be fully aware of how water bills are handled during a property sale. When buying a home in Detroit: 1.) Request a final closing bill ...
Investor Series – Single Family vs. Multi-Units
March 15, 2023
This is one of many articles we will be writing regarding investing in Real Estate. Today we’ll be looking at single family homes as an investment compared to multi-unit properties.Single family homes offer some unique benefits as a Real Estate investment. They are typically much more liquid as there are a great number of buyers ...
Tips to Make Your MLS Comments Stand Out
March 15, 2023
It would be nice if the MLS description could tell us everything we could possibly know about the home…but it can’t. There is simply not enough room in those limited number of characters you are allowed to tell everything. So how then can agents really make there MLS comments stand out? Here are a few ...
Housing Market Normalizing
March 15, 2023
The frenzied pace of home sales activity during the pandemic was not normal or sustainable, nor is it good for a healthy, stable housing market. A return to a slower market with more modest price growth is a good place to be headed in 2023.Across our region, home sales in 2022 were down 1% in sales volume ...
Spring Gardens - Clean Up Tips
March 15, 2023
As the weather is getting warmer, many new homeowners that purchased over the winter months are getting their first look at the gardens and flower beds around their new home. Feeling excited and ready to jump into cleaning them out and making them their own.Knowing when to start and how to spring clean garden areas is important ...
7 Easy Fixes to Try if Your Heater Isn't Working
March 15, 2023
It's always the worst timing when something in your home stops working or breaks down especially your furnace! Your furnace is one the most important appliances in your home even if the summer months. Before you call the repair company take a look at the list below to see if they do the trick. Check your ...
curb appeal, curb appeal, curb appeal
March 15, 2023
A few landscaping ideas to help with your homes curb appeal.-Make sure the pathway to your front door is warm and inviting. Add color that will work thru the seasons of your area-Add some scented plants to your door-Think of all seasons and how the sun travles thru the yard. Consider adding a plant that may provide ...
How do I prepare my house for spring?
March 15, 2023
7 Tips to Prep Your House & Yard for SpringStep 1: Clean Out Your Gutters. ...Step 2: Clean Up Your Yard. ...Step 3: Clean Your Home's Exterior. ...Step 4: Dethatch and Aerate Your Lawn. ...Step 5: Fertilize and Seed Your Lawn. ...Step 6: Fertilize and Mulch Your Garden Beds. ...Step 7: Prepare Your Patio. ...Project Shopping List. ...
FORECLOSURE ACTIVITY JANUARAY 2023
March 15, 2023
Lenders repossessed 3,896 U.S. properties through completed foreclosures (REOs) in January 2023, up 6 percent from last month but down 19 percent from last year – the first annual decrease in completed foreclosures since June 2021.States that had at least 100 or more REOs and that saw the greatest annual decreases in January 2023 included: Florida ...
Bad News for Home Buyers: Mortgage Rates Inch Towards 7%, Highest Level in 2023
March 15, 2023
By Aarthi SwaminathanFeb 22, 2023The average on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.87% as of Tuesday afternoon, while the 15-year was at 6.07%, according to Mortgage News Daily. Rates are officially at the highest level for the year. But to be clear, rates have been higher—they surpassed the 7% threshold, and reached 7.37% back in ...
Home Search Tips in a Challenging Market
March 15, 2023
In 2022, most people were hoping there would be more inventory in 2023. While the number of buyers / competition has decreased, the number of homes for sale remains low. Although, fighting two buyers for a home is better than battling fifteen. When all is said and done, it's still tough out there for buyers. The ...
Why You Need A True Expert In Today's Housing Market
March 15, 2023
The housing market continues to shift and change, and in a fast-moving landscape like we’re in right now, it’s more important than ever to have a trusted real estate agent on your side. Whether you’re buying your first home or selling once again, it’s mission critical to work with an expert who can guide you ...
What is the Good Neighbor Next Door Program?
March 13, 2023
Law enforcement officers, teachers (pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade) firefighters and emergency medical technicians can contribute to community revitalization while becoming homeowners through HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program. HUD offers a substantial incentive in the form of a discount of 50% from the list price of the home. In return, an eligible buyer must commit to live ...
Thinking About Selling Your Home? These Kitchen Improvements Might Be Worth Doing
March 13, 2023
When you sell your home, you want to sell it as quickly and profitably as possible. And sometimes, that means making some improvements before you start showing it to buyers—including improvements in the kitchen.But what kitchen improvements might make sense to do before listing your home?A recent article from realtor.com outlined the kitchen improvements you ...
Time to spring forward and change batteries
March 11, 2023
https://norwalkreflector.com/news/448199/time-to-spring-forward-and-change-batteries/Time to spring forward and change batteriesWinter may have been a touch gentler this year, but there is still a certain excitement about the approach of spring. Though it's not the official start, this weekend's spring forward on the clocks will make the shift, in most minds.It's not just about more light in the ...
HUD Extends Loan Mod Option to 480 Months
March 11, 2023
The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has published a Final Rule in the Federal Register its intent to increase the maximum allowable term for Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured loan modifications from 360 months to 480 months (40 months). The new rule will become effective Monday, May 8, 2023.On April 1, 2022, the FHA published ...
