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Ann Arbor Real Estate and Area Info Blog

Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

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Real Estate Market Statistics for Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County

Thursday, November 3, 2011
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Real Estate Market Statistics for Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County

Well the 2011 third quarter statistics are out for Home and condo sales in Washtenaw County.  Click here to view Ann Arbor Real Estate Market Statistics for information on current inventory levels and recent sales.  

Market is keeping active, homes for sales are down and still considered a buyers market.  Contact us if you need help finding a place using the chat or contact features provided below.  

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HAMP Home Affordable Mortgage Program Info

Thursday, November 3, 2011
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

HAMP or Home Affordable Mortgage Program Information

For several years now we have been waiting for a government assist program that would allow homeowners who are upside down (owe more on home than the market value) on their mortgage to at Lease refinance to lower current rates.  Unfortunately, the banker lobbyists would not allow the administration to mandate this type of relief if the amount of the mortgage exceeded 110% of of the market value.  Frankly, they would make more money getting TARP contributions if they foreclosed, so not much incentive to take a long term rate hit.  

With the Occupy Wall Street movement, the coming elections etc, talk has gotten serious again about creating a program that would allow homeowners who do pay make timely payments to refi their higher rate mortgage.  Keep in touch with this governement web site To Get Information on HAMP or Home Affordable Mortgage Program for the latest developments.  

On a related side note, check out this video about a passive way to protest and support the Occupy Wall Street Movement

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2011 Michigan Wolverines Football

Thursday, October 27, 2011
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Heading into its Big Ten showdown with the Purdue Boilermakers (4-3, 2-1 Big Ten) on Saturday, Oct. 29, the Michigan Wolverines 2011 football team, led by new head coach Brady Hoke, has an overall record of 6-1, 2-1 in the Big Ten, and was ranked No. 18 in the all-important BCS poll.

The highlight of the 2011 season BY FAR occurred on Saturday, Sept. 10, when the Wolverines and Michigan Stadium played host to ancient rival Notre Dame in the first-ever night game in the 84-year history of “The Big house.”(1927-2011)

More than 114,000 screaming fans, the largest crowd in college or pro football history, were treated not only to the intrinsic history of the event, but also a thrilling, come-from-behind 35-31 Wolverine victory.   

The Wolverines’ hopes for a perfect season were crushed on Saturday, Oct. 15. The 28-14 loss was made all the more painful since it came at the hands of in-state rival Michigan State.

A silver lining to that otherwise black cloud for Wolverines’ fans came a week earlier, when it defeated Northwestern 42-24 and achieved bowl eligibility. This win also gave the U of M its best start since the Rose Bowl season of 2006. Michigan opened the 2011 campaign by beating Western Michigan, and has also defeated Eastern Michigan, San Diego State (coach Brady Hoke’s previous team) and Minnesota.

After this Saturday’s UM-Purdue game, Michigan travels to Iowa and Illinois before returning to the Big House to face new Big 10 member Nebraska on Nov. 19. Michigan’s last game of the regular season, on Saturday, Nov. 26, brings the annual chance to bang helmets with longtime nemesis, the Ohio State Buckeyes.

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Mobile Real Estate Search Application in Ann Arbor

Saturday, October 22, 2011
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

HAVE A SMART PHONE?

Check out this GPS powered Mobile Real Estate Search Application in Ann Arbor

On your smartphone, please visit our new MOBILE SEARCH TOOL LINK that helps when you are in the field, looking for information on real estate listings for sale.  Make sure you bookmark the link after you go to www.MobileRealty.me on your smartphone or iPad.  

I find this app very helpful when I am on the road and or sitting in front of a property or nice neighborhood.  I could search using the normal criteria, like size, price, # of Bedrooms etc. if I wanted....... BUT WHAT I LIKE is using this link to search properties closest to my current location.  The app uses your phones GPS location to find listings closes too you first.  So the house I am sitting in front of pops up automatically!!  Often I like the outside and want to view the interior photos...... then if you like what you tour the property, just hit the favorite button for reference later or hit the app button to instantly send a showing request off, perhaps even getting someone over there right away to show the property before you leave?  

What are you waiting for?  Watch this Video for a demonstation and then bookmark the link on your phone or iPad.  

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Avoid Chicago Traffic and Ride Lake Michigan High Speed Car Ferry

Tuesday, October 11, 2011
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Want to Get to Wisconsin and Avoid Chicago Traffic?

Take a scenic cruise on this high speed car ferry with you car, RV or motorcycle across Lake Michigan to Milwaukee Wisconsin and beyond.  This auto ferry is a great was to spend a couple scenic hours on your way west.  

 

Looking for Ann Arbor Real Estate?  Get Ann Arbor Real Estate here

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ANN ARBOR REAL ESTATE SEARCH HOMES FOR SALE

Saturday, September 17, 2011
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

SEARCH FOR ANN ARBOR REAL ESTATE

CLICK THE FOUR ARROWS ON RIGHT CORNER OF VIEWING FRAME FOR A LARGER IMAGE

"5 Star Rating" Great new realty search tool providing direct MLS access for Ann Arbor Real Estate.  Get realtime updates and the latest  in software powered programming giving you Walkscores, Zillowzestimates, neighborhood demographics, school information,distances to popular retailers and key driving destinations and much more.  Includes surrounding communities as well.
Go to www.shelterquest1.com

"Has a 5 Star Rating"

Get a Direct Link to the Board of Realtors MLS System  

This is Where all Listings First Show Up!


Its Free and No Advertising!  Check out this Great New Realty Search Tool providing direct MLS access to Ann Arbor Real Estate and All the Surrounding Counties! 

 

Also, there is an FREE option to Get realtime updates and the latest in software powered programming providing you with Walkscores, Zillowzestimates, neighborhood demographics, School information, distances to popular retailers and key driving destinations and much, much more.  


Get Started Test it by Clicking Here

www.shelterquest1.com




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SALINE MICHIGAN SCHOOLS

Friday, September 16, 2011
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

SALINE MICHIGAN SCHOOLS

Newsweek Magazine announced they had selected Saline High School one of the tp 4 High Schools in the State of Michigan.  You may click on this link to read the complete article Saline Area Schools in Michigan. 

Congrats to the Saline Area School District for a job well done!

Additional Area Information

Things To Do In Saline

Saline Area Information

 

Search for Saline Listings Here Using MLS Realtime Access

Saline Michigan Homes for Sale

 

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968 Penniman, Plymouth, MI Home for Sale

Friday, September 16, 2011
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Welcome to 968 Penniman Plymouth MI

Charming 3800' updated Home for sale located in Historic Downtown Plymouth Michigan.  Updates and hardwood floors throughout with new Hardy Plank Siding, Garage with Loft and much more!  

Click here to view more information about this wonderful Property.  Call or Email us today for a showing appointment or view other homes for sale by clicking on the All MLS Listings link above.  

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DOWN PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR NEW HOMES

Friday, August 19, 2011
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

One of the biggest hurdles in Buying a Home is coming up with the required downpayment amount. The zero down payment days are gone and in fact the 3.5% min for FHA loans may be increasing to 6% sometime in the future too.

Want to avoid PMI payments too? Then you will need to put a min 20% of the purchase price down. If you can show you have 20% equity in a property you can request this monthly payment be removed from your lender on both new and existing mortgages.

Back to the downpayment options..... of course some buyers will simply save up their own cash, even if it takes more time. The good news is that there is some help to boost your down-payment savings, there are resources that you can harness to power your home-buying pursuit:

  1. The FHA Bridal Registry.  Yes - thst's right! The FHA Bridal Registry Program enables wanna-be home buyers to apply their families’ wedding cash gifts toward their down payments. And although it’s named a “bridal registry” program, you don’t have to be a newly wed to use it. You could also use this program to collect gifts from graduation, the arrival of a baby or some other major life event in which people want to give you gifts.

    The FHA Bridal Registry works like a traditional registry, but it's more flexible. The registrants visit their choice of FHA mortgage lenders and set up what essentially is a custodial savings account for the single purpose of funding their down payment. The couple’s (or individual’s) family & friends can either deposit funds directly into this account or give the cash or check to the couple or individual, who can then deposit it into the account. The account’s flexibility also goes beyond that of traditional down payment gift rules that are applicable to FHA loans, which are detailed below in insider secret #2. With the FHA Bridal Registry Program, the only gift documentation required is “lender and borrower certification of the funds.
  2. Family gifts.  Most lenders will allow a home buyer to apply gift money from a family member toward their down payment - within guidelines, that is. First, the lender will require a letter from the giver verifying that it's in fact a gift and not a loan. (They generally frown upon it being a loan because it would add to the buyer’s debt and change their debt-to-income ratio.) And second, the person(s) giving you the money must be a relative. The reasoning here is that a friend will most likely expect you to repay the money, whereas a relative won’t. FHA loans will allow the gift to make up any portion and/or all of the buyer’s down payment, many conventional (non-FHA) loan programs will restrict the proportion of a buyer’s down payment that can come from gift money.  The lender may also have specific ways they want to see the money go into and out of your bank or investment accounts. Before you accept a gift toward your down payment, be sure that you check with your mortgage broker or loan rep to be sure that you’re proceeding correctly.
  3. Your Employer.  Some companies offer home purchase assistance programs to employees. Most are government, university, large company and financial industry employers. One example is safety workers: in some areas, safety workers like firefighters and police can have access to down payment grants from their employers if they buy properties are located within the city limits where they are on-call as first responders. Also, many large colleges and universities, very large companies and banks & lending institutions offer down payment help and have below-market-rate mortgage rates set up for faculty members and staffers.  Check with your Human Resources or relocation department to see if any such program is available to you.
  4. City/County/State Programs.  Some states, counties and cities still offer programs that lend or will give home buyers some assistance for down payments. These programs vary widely in scope - for instance, many target buyers with low and moderate incomes, while some seek to help the buyers of foreclosed or fixer-upper type homes. Some loans don’t have to repaid - meaning they are given as grants and are forgiven entirely if the buyer lives in the property for 10-30 years, but must be repaid if the buyer sells or rents the home out before the specified time period elapses. The programs generally have a homeowner education component that requires applicants to take personal finance and homeownership preparedness classes before they can receive funds. To learn more, visit your city, county and state websites to learn about programs that might be able to help you or contact us using this website submit form below.
  5. Your Retirement Funds.  Many financial advisors would advise against this, but if you have a 401K or Roth IRA account and some years to go before retirement, then you might be able to tap into it or even better borrow from yourself against your own funds for your down payment. Currently, you can take up to $10,000 out of a Traditional IRA with no penalty to put toward the purchase of your first home, but you will be taxed.  You can take as much as you want out of your Roth IRA contributions with no penalty or taxes, though, and as much as $10,000 from your earnings penalty-free for use as a down payment.  The rules get a little tricky, here, so definitely check with your tax and financial advisors. 

And while you can’t similarly draw from your 401K, many retirement and pension plans will allow you to borrow the money from yourself against your funds, then repay it to yourself – at interest. So the choice there comes down to paying your lender back with interest or paying yourself with interest. That choice should be be easy.....you! But first, get some advice from your CPA and/or financial planner. Its possible that this option might not make financial sense for your particular situation.

Remember you can view homes using a direct access to the Board of REALTORS MLS inventory to find homes for sale in Ann Arbor by clicking here, or homes for sale in Saline Michigan by clicking here.

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MORTGAGE RATES DROP

Friday, August 19, 2011
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

MORTGAGE RATES CONTINUE THEIR THREE WEEK DROP to hit record low's.  Rates on loans tracked by Freddie Mac are now nearly a full percentage pointe below their 2011 highs seen in February.

Of course this means its a good time to purchase real estate or even re-finance as rates seem to be in the low's 4% range.  That's a new all-time low for 30 yr fixed rate loans according to Freddie Mac records dating to 1971, surpassing the previous record of 4.17 percent set during the week ending Nov. 11, 2010.  

Please Click Here to access the properties for sale inventory within the Board of REALTORS database MLS system. 

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Displaying blog entries 461-470 of 564

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