Buying Your First Home? Here’s How to Boost Your Credit Score
June 27, 2024
When you’re buying your first home, you want to put yourself in a position to get the best interest rate possible on your mortgage, and your credit score will play a major role in that process.If you want to land a competitive interest rate, you need a competitive credit score. But how, exactly, can you push your ...
First-time homebuyers in Michigan have a new tool to help realize the dream of homeownership! Open a First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account today.
June 14, 2024
First-time homebuyers in Michigan have a new tool to help realize the dream of homeownership! Open a First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account today.Michiganders can now save for the first purchase of a home through a new dedicated savings vehicle! The Michigan First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account (“FHSA”) Program allows account holders to deduct most, if not all, of ...
12 Tips for Spring Clean up
April 15, 2024
12 Tips for Spring Clean up 1. Get to Know Your Frost ZoneFirst things first—even if your friend down in North Carolina has tomato plants in the ground already, it doesn't mean you should in Massachusetts. Get to know your hardiness zone and check the Farmer's Almanac each year for approximate final frost dates.Perennials, trees, ...
Governor Whitmer’s Work to Invest in Affordable & Attainable Housing
April 02, 2024
Released Michigan’s first Statewide Housing Plan, outlining goals and strategies to tackle the state’s affordable and attainable housing crisis. · In her 2024 State of the State Address, she announced that the State of Michigan will make the largest investment to build housing in Michigan history, nearly $1.4 billion to build or ...
6 Tips to Sell Your Home Fast
March 14, 2024
6 Tips to Sell Your Home Fast 1. Find the Right Real Estate AgentIf you want to sell your home fast, the first step is to hire a real estate agent. The ideal person will know the local market and have a sales record that proves they know how to sell. Keep in mind the seller is often responsible ...
Michigan Real Estate Market Prediction 2024
January 14, 2024
Michigan Real Estate Market Prediction 2024 Home Sellers Will Return to the Market in 2024: Sellers who chose the sidelines in 2023 will come back. Especially those who can’t avoid new jobs or want to move to a cheap place. Whitney, the analyst who predicted the 2008 financial crisis accurately, has forecasted that baby boomers looking to downsize ...
Winter Energy-Saving Tips for Your Home
January 10, 2024
Winter Energy-Saving Tips for Your HomeAs the winter chill sets in, it's not just our bodies that need warmth – our homes do too! However, heating our homes can often result in skyrocketing energy bills. The good news is that there are numerous ways to save on heating costs while keeping our homes cozy and comfortable. In this ...
What is an insurance rider?
October 13, 2023
What is an insurance rider in a homeowner’s policy?An insurance rider — also referred to as a floater or an endorsement — is an optional add-on to an insurance policy. A homeowner’s insurance rider amends a basic policy. By purchasing a rider on top of your standard coverage, you may be able to increase your coverage ...
Tips for house hunting for fall and winter
October 12, 2023
Tips for House Hunting for Fall and WinterAs the temperature drops and the leaves begin to change, house hunting takes on a whole new dynamic. Fall and winter can be a great time to search for your dream home, as there are often fewer listings and fewer buyers vying for properties. If you're considering buying a house during ...
2024 Growth Predictions for Michigan
August 14, 2023
As 2023 gets closer to the end of the quarter for the year the real estate trends and values for the year have been stable with overall growth!According to Zillow, the average home value for MI overall is $235,361 which represents a 2.3% increase in value over the past year. Sales have shown that 44% of ...
Are home prices dropping in Michigan?
July 26, 2023
Are home prices dropping in Michigan?In June 2023, 47.8% of homes in Michigan sold below list price, down 7.5 points year. There were only 26.1% of homes that had price drops, down from 26.0% of homes in June last year. There was a 100.8% sale-to-list price, down 1.3 points year over year. ...
5 Summer Home Maintenance Tips
July 14, 2023
As we enjoy the summer sunshine it is good time to get some home maintenance done too! Here are some items you should be sure to get completed before the summer nights get shorter! Check your home's siding - Check for any lose, damaged or rotted siding and make any repairs if necessary. Hiring a siding ...
Everything a First Time Buyer Should Know
July 06, 2023
Buying your first home can be an exciting and intimidating experience all at the same time. It’s a major milestone in anyone’s life, but it can be daunting to navigate the complex world of real estate and mortgages. Fear not, though! With a little bit of knowledge, you can confidently navigate the home buying process and make ...
New Study on Housing Shortage
June 13, 2023
According to a recent study completed by NAR and realtor.com there is a shortage of more than 300,000 homes in the pricing point the middle-income buyers can afford. The current housing market is short about 300,000 homes in the listing price range up to 256K which according to Housing Affordability & Supply report is considered the ...
5 COMMON MISTAKES FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS MAKE
May 15, 2023
1: Spending more than you can afford – Before house shopping it is good to take a good look at your budget to see what type of payment you can comfortably afford each month. A good rule of thumb is your mortgage payment shouldn’t be much more than 28% of your monthly gross income.2: Not ...
Michigan Real Estate News and the Country
April 14, 2023
As in most areas of the county the real estate market has been up and down the last few years with values appreciated in most cities. Per Redfin in Michigan home prices have fallen .06% year-over-year in February 2023. The number of homes that sold also fell by 12.6% and the number of homes for ...
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 ...
Spring has Sprung Tips
February 15, 2023
Spring has Sprung TipsSpring will be here before we know it and in some areas are starting to see the beginning of plants poking through the ground already! In the metro area of Michigan, we’ve had an unusually mild winter and warmer temps for February, currently 52° as of this writing! Here are some tips to ...
Real Estate Trends 2023
January 12, 2023
The demand for mortgages as compared to a year ago is down 41% and the refinance is also down 84%. At the same time housing prices are higher than the same period a year ago. According to Forbes.com experts believe the rates will continue to climb overall while some areas might see a decline in prices....
2022 Lenawee County, Michigan, Year End Review
January 09, 2023
We are excited to begin 2023 with a year end review of 2022 of home sales in Lenawee County, Michigan. Through a hot market, covid precautions, and many new challenges presented last year, we managed to thrive! We are looking forward to 2023 and what it may bring, but let's take time to reflect on last year'...
2023 Housing Market Predictions
December 15, 2022
As the year comes to a close it's a good time to predict real estate for the next year! While is some parts of the county home prices are beginning to be idle, increased worry is being felt throughout the market by both potential Sellers and Buyers. Currently a 30-yr fixed Conventional mortgage is at 6....
5 Tips for Keeping Your Heating System
November 14, 2022
During those colder months it’s important to make sure your heating system is running as effectively as possible! Here are some tips that will help do that from the outside to inside of your home.Keep equipment clear of debrisRemove any dead leaves or sticks present that may be blocking fansWhen blocked it limits airflow and decreases ...
Here's What Experts Have to Say About the Fall Real Estate Market
November 08, 2022
Leaves are not the only thing falling as we enter the autumn season. So are home prices. But just like the leaves take their time to transition from one color to the next, home prices are also falling slowly. This slow transition means that if you're in the market to sell your home, it's still a good ...
Top 7 Tips For Selling Your Home In The Winter Time
October 12, 2022
While it can be expected to have fewer buyers during the winter time, it’s important to know the ones that are out during those cold months are seriously motivated! Ensuring your home is ready to show will help get your that offer!Shovel – If you are in an area where the snow falls it’s ...
NATIONWIDE FORECLOSURE HITS PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS
September 12, 2022
According to DSNews.com in the month of August 2022 there were a total of 34,501 properties with foreclosure filings, default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions. This is up 14% from the month prior and is up a staggering 118% as compared to the same period a year ago. In the month of August there was an ...
