Repairs That Help Sell Your Home

Most sellers know of some repairs that need to be made to their home, and a lot of sellers have many items on that list, but not all repairs are equal or, rather, not all home improvements rank high in the buyer’s mind.

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Hot Market: Michigan Market Not Just About Auto Industry

I know this isn't refering to the Gladwin Area. However, it's happening in Ann Arbor. This should also be good for us up here in the north.  If there are new jobs in Ann Arbor and people are still doing well in Ann Arbor, then that could also mean that people will continue to buy vacation homes, up here in the north! Granted, that some of these are foreclosure sales, but others aren't.

Article: 

Ann Arbor, Michigan's market has begun the swing toward normalcy as foreclosures are driving up pending sales statistics, according to the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors. Sales have continued to drop, but pendings (the houses that have contracts, but not yet settled) have surpassed year over year numbers for the last five months.

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9 Housing-Market Head Winds for 2009

By Luke Mullins, USNews.com Dec 19th, 2008

With home prices having dropped a painful 21 percent from their 2006 peaks, property owners everywhere could use a splash of good news in their New Year's Eve cocktails. But as a nasty recession is now part of the picture, the chances of an aggressive housing market rebound next year are dim. "A lasting recovery in the housing market?" says Mike Larson, a real estate analyst at Weiss Research. "I don't see it in the cards until the back end of the year—if that."

Read the Article on Yahoo News...

Gladwin County Traffic Jam

This is the kind of traffic jam we get in Gladwin County!

Real Estate Outlook: Mortgage Applications Rise

If new mortgage applications are a reliable gauge of forthcoming home purchases, looks like we've got a bumper crop taking shape out there.

Last week the Mortgage Bankers Association's national survey registered a record 37 percent jump in applications...

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Ivie's Comments:

This is great news. More application mean there are more people looking to buy, out there. Of course, the lower interest rates are very enticing! With home prices coming down, it's a great time for people to get a good deal on a house. If they can get an even better deal with the interest rates, that should make for some new sales!

Gladwin County gets Hit with a Big Snow Storm Dec 9th

Gladwin County received a foot of snow during a big late fall snow storm.

To view more photos of the newly fallen snow, visit our Fun Page.

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2008 Parade of Lights

The Gladwin Parade of Lights was held Dec 6th at 6pm. To view photos of the parade, visit the Fun Page.

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Find Jim & Ivie on Facebook

Jim's Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1167596609

Ivie's Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1052914009

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fed plan seen as housing boon

$600 billion spending plan should help interest rates
BY MATT CARTER, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008.
Inman News

Anyone planning to buy or refinance a home with a conforming loan is soon likely to have more buying power thanks to a $600 billion government program to purchase mortgage-backed securities and debt issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae.

The plan should keep interest rates on loans eligible for purchase by Fannie and Freddie down, even if the demand for mortgage-backed securities weakens with the slowdown in the global economy. That, in turn, should provide support for housing markets, supporters of the plan said.

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Our new contract due diligence clause

From The Back Woods...

Okay... If you can't reach me by phone, email me instead. This is where I have been spending my evenings. Out in the back woods!

However, I do have my Blackberry cell phone with me and I am checking and answering emails from my blind.

To see some photos of my hunting spot, go to the Gladwin Real Estate Fun Page. They are posted there.

Remember this MONSTER Buck from the 2006 Firearm Deer Season?

Remember this huge buck? Well... I am looking for more photos to post on the Trophy Page for 2008.

You you have a great trophy photo to share and the deer was taken in either Gladwin, Clare, Roscommon or Midland Counties, please send me you photo with the details and I will post it on this page: CLICK HERE

Don't forget to visit my Michigan Outdoor Resource Page. Get your e-license, look at game charts, find out your deer's age and even participate in a hunting forum. I hope you find the information useful there.

Happy Hunting!

Accidental Photo-Op - Michigan Realtor Magazine

LOL! Made it into the Michigan Realtor Magazine by accident. There's me, chatting we another Realtor. Jim is in the photo too, but facing away from the camera. This was taken at the Real Estate Convention in Detroit this past September.

(Click on the photos to enlarge view)

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Purchase offers: How low is too low? (Inman News)

REThink Real Estate
BY TARA-NICHOLLE NELSON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008.
Inman News

Q: How low of an offer should I make on a 4-bedroom, 3-bath house in Atlanta listed at $300,000? It's not a short sale or an REO, but I searched the title records and found out that the owners paid only $90,000 for it about 10 years ago.

A: The answer to your question is, as with everything in real estate, "it depends." As you can probably already tell, you're not going to get a straight dollar amount answer from me. The decision of how much to offer on any particular property is, in my opinion, the single toughest decision a home buyer has to make once he or she has selected a property -- in fact, this is the single most frequently asked question I receive.

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Know the Details of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act

RISMEDIA, Oct. 30, 2008-No matter the circumstances, there’s a lot of stress a homeowner goes through in a foreclosure or a short sale. The loss of the home itself and any equity can add a lot of anguish to a situation that may be beyond the control of the homeowner from job loss or illness to changing market conditions.

Click Here for the Whole Article...

Ivie's Comments:

This is good news for people who have or need to sell their homes on a "Short Sale". Many people were caught in a catch 22 when it came to short sales, because of the fact that they would have to pay taxes on the difference of what the house sold for on a short sale and what was actually owed. Many people would just let the house go back to the bank instead of attempting to sell it, because of that fact. Now, owner who sell their homes on s short sale, will no longer be taxed on the difference.

I mean... really... How can someone who already doesn't have enough money to pay their mortgage, afford to pay taxes on the difference of what the house sold for, verses what was owed. Kind'a like trying to sqeeze blood out of a turnup! You think?

However, people might not be aware that there are some catches. Though, the "catches" are no way as bad as loosing the house... there are still some catches. Read the artilce to find out more.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Check out the visitor that came to our house last night. I've never seen a FOX do this. 

Click Here to See More!

SOLD!!! 10 Wooded Acres with Log Cabin

Hunters! Take Notice!

10 heavily wooded acres with a 16x12 real log cabin.

This cabin comes fully furnished.

SOLD for FULL PRICE $59,888

Excellent hunting with 100's of acres of state land just across the street.

This property features a 90x60 (9ft deep) pond with a sandy beach. Stocked with hybred Bluegill and Perch. Nice trails throughout the property, for easy access to the back.

While electricity is available at the road, the cabin is powered by a quiet Honda generator (which is included with the sale). Propane heat with an Empire Direct Vent thermostat controlled system. Window A/C and ceiling fan. Outdoor hand driven well with electric pump. Coleman hot water on demand system for cowboy showers. Clean portable outhouse. ALL INCLUDED!

This is simply a beautiful property offering some fantastic hunting opportunities! Lots of mature woods, offering an excellent habitat for deer, turkey, squirrels and other game animals.

Look at this beautiful 9 point taken in 2007!

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Washington Report: FHA Still Going Strong

by Kenneth R. Harney

The country's top housing official has an urgent message for potential home buyers: You may have heard that the credit markets were "frozen," but FHA has been open for business throughout the credit squeeze, and so are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In fact, FHA's volume has tripled and the agency is now insuring well over a hundred thousand new loans a month.

"There is no credit crisis" for individual home buyers who have at least three percent to put down, documentable employment, and at least a moderately good credit record, said Preston.

Read the entire article...

851 Oren Court, Gladwin - Smallwood Lake SOLD!

Beautiful Waterfront Home on Smallwood Lake!

This is a great deal! This home was listed for $184,888.

SOLD!

3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Master Suite

2 Car Attached Garage and 1.5 Car Detached Garage

Over 250 Ft on Smallwood Lake!

Beautiful waterfront home on a clean and quiet channel, just off of the main lake. You will really appreciate the condition of this lovely home and its setting. Exceptional view of lake from the home and deck. Nicely redone in 2000 with new windows, custom oak cabinets (in kitchen and bathrooms), covered deck, large master bedroom with roomy master bath, and much more. Warm your feet by the cozy gas log fireplace during the cooler months. Over 250 ft of waterfront for added privacy. You truly must see this home to appreciate it.

SOLD!

$169,888

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