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Michigan Waterfront Living

Michigan Waterfront Living
Information about living in Michigan including real estate, lakes, michigan lakes, modern camping, and the environment. Sources of information for home buyers, sellers, and those relocating to Michigan.

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This 8 Day Open House Draws Thousands of People
2007-09-16 01:41:00
Did you ever have a Sunday Open House and nobody came? That's one of my problems, but by utilizing technology I found a way to entice viewers to your next Open House . All you need to do is sponsor a prototype off-the-grid home. The cost, a mere $646,198.40; you can afford that, right? Perhaps your homeowner will kick in for refreshments. Yes, Laurence Technological University is teaching Realtors® how to hold an Open House! First, you make sure the home is clean almost new condition with good curb appeal to get buyers to say "Wow". You do know Internet Photos are the new curb appeal, right? Write convincing copy for your ads and incorporate innovative technology with your marketing. Provide plenty of information about the home's materials and it's qualities.Justify the asking price based upon Facts of RecordProvide a score card for feedback to homeowners.Target Market to the right buyers by sending information to other Real Estate professionalsBe able to answer any questions pot...
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Oakland County and Surrounding Area U-Pick and Cider Mills
2007-09-13 17:57:00
It's that special time of the year. The kids are back to school, days are getting shorter and our bodies crave the sweetness of apples, and apple baked goods. Luckily, there are several local Cide r Mills and U-Pick apple orchards in Oakland County and surrounding areas.I'm trying to shopping locally whenever possible. So, I'll be picking apples next week at Longs Family Orchard and Farm located at 1342 E. Commerce Rd in Commerce Twp. (see interactive map below)Apples and cider are usually available through Christmas. For the latest information call (248) 360-3774. Fresh tomatoes are still being sold along the road near the red barn. I purchased some today, they were delicious. According to the hotline, picking season is as follows:September 15th, season starts Cortland and Macintosh apples are available.September 22nd, Jonathan, Empire, and Golden Delicious apples availableSeptember 28th, Red Delicious apples availableOctober 5th Northern Spy apples availableAdditional services a...
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Oakland County and Surrounding Area U-Pick and Cider Mills
2007-09-13 17:57:00
It's that special time of the year. The kids are back to school, days are getting shorter and our bodies crave the sweetness of apples, and apple baked goods. Luckily, there are several local Cider Mills and U-Pick apple orchards in Oakland County and surrounding areas.I'm trying to shopping locally whenever possible. So, I'll be picking apples next week at Longs Family Orchard and Farm located at 1342 E. Commerce Rd in Commerce Twp. (see interactive map below)Apples and cider are usually available through Christmas. For the latest information call (248) 360-3774. Fresh tomatoes are still being sold along the road near the red barn. I purchased some today, they were delicious. According to the hotline, picking season is as follows:September 15th, season starts Cortland and Macintosh apples are available.September 22nd, Jonathan, Empire, and Golden Delicious apples availableSeptember 28th, Red Delicious apples availableOctober 5th Northern Spy apples availableAdditional services ...
More About: Area , Oakland County

Oakland County FREE Housing Counseling Services to Buy or Save Your Home
2007-09-10 21:25:00
Did you know that Oakland County residents can get FREE Housing Counseling? True, to all resident through a Comprehensive Housing Counseling Grant.The following services are offered to Oakland County residents (owners and renters) by appointment and phoneProvide counseling and advice to tenants and homeownersProvide mortgage default resolutions servicesProvide reverse mortgage counselingEducation and counseling for both tenants and landlordsFair housing counselingInformation on government subsidiesInformation on non-profit (non-government subsidized) organizationsInformation on emergency sheltersConduct community outreach activitiesAffirmatively further fair housingAccording to the Oakland County website, the above services are approved by HUD. So anyone living in Oakland County Michigan, Visit the Oakland County Website or call 248-858-5402 or toll free at 1-888-350-0900, ext. 85402Having a Housing Problem? The Housing and Urban Development offers a list of Housing Counselors...
More About: Services , Home , Free

Peak Fall Color Tour Locator
2007-09-08 17:44:00
According to the Ironwood Daily Globe, western Upper Peninsula leaves are between 5-10 percent turned depending upon location. Peak color is expected shortly after September 15th. Peak colors move down through Michigan generally through the end of October. A suggested western UP color tour drive.I have two favorite Fall Color Tour Routes. The first is from Manistee to Northport on M-22. This winding road traverses several hardwood ecosystems along the western ridge of northern Michigan. The route is dotted with lakes, Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, and views of Lake Michigan which makes for spectacular views against the blue October sky. My second favorite Fall color Tour route is closer to home along M-59, Grand River Ave, Pontiac Trail, and includes the recreation areas of Brighton, Island Lake, Proud Lake, and Highland in southeastern Michigan.For more information about Michigan Fall Color Tours, Color Tour Hot Lines, and weekly emails please visit the links below.Receive mo...
More About: Loca

Shrinking Lake Superior a Poster Child for Finite Resources
2007-09-06 00:19:00
"...Water, water, every where and all the boards did shrink;..." So begins the albatross's revenge in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. The Great Lake s climate is changing. Great Lakes levels have dropped almost two feet, the State of Michigan issued an Emergency No Burn order on August 16, 2007, which is still in effect because of continued drought, most of the Michigans Hardiness Zones changed up one from the 1990's, and lake water temperatures are increasing further lowering levels. There may actually be a time in the future where commercial ships cannot transport goods from Duluth and Marquette to the rest of the world. Niagra Falls may become just a trickle. The five Great Lakes, Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior (that's H.O.M.E.S. for those that weren't paying attention in school) contain approximately 20 percent of the worlds coveted fresh water. Yet, in the SooToday for September 1, 2007 was an article, Lowest-ever August for Lake Superi...
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Chili Recipes Wanted
2007-09-03 19:34:00
The leaves are changing. That means it's the start of chili time in Michigan. If you have a favorite recipe you're willing to share or favorite ingredient that you add, please either contact me or make a comment below. There's nothing more satisfying than a bowl of chili on a brisk fall day. I'm not a chili purist; I won't be competing in a local or the World Chili Cookoff in Omaha Nebraska October 5-7. (But, I do plan on having chili while fishing that weekend) My chili contains kidney beans (preferably dried and soaked). In fact, I once made a very tasty chili by substituting a can of purchased Sloppy Joe mix for some lost tomatoes. My chili doesn't even have to contain meat. One of the best meatless versions I've had contained textured vegetable protein and plenty of garlic slices. I must admit, I was completely fooled. My favorite Chili Reci peI start with fresh spices from Rafal Spice Company in Detroit.1 pound crumbled meat or m...
More About: Recipes , Wanted , Hili

2006 Climate Changes
2007-09-03 01:50:00
Concerned about climate change? The newest version of Plant Hardiness Zones is now available from the National Arbor Day Foundation. (see photo at right) Take a few moments to see how your area has changed from the last map in 1990.To find your new hardiness zone simply enter your zip code on this page.White Lake Michigan, zip code 48383 was unchanged (yeah) While you're on the National Arbor Day Foundation website you'll notice that you can get Ten trees for 10 dollars! Not happy where you live? How can we help? Simply choose from the services available below. We provide choices, convenience, and confidentiality to our clients and customers. Your information will not be transmitted or transferred without your express permission.Federally Qualified Housing Counselors assistance. Most require a fee. Email to request a list of choices.Short Sale Specialists in house and third party. You may qualify to sell your home by short sale. We provide choices.Search Southeastern Michigan Pr...
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Six Rules of Savvy Home Buyers
2007-09-01 19:46:00
America On Line featured an article today written by Eric Peters entitled Six Rules for Savvy Car Shopping The basic ideas in Eric's article on successfully purchasing a car can also be used when looking for and buying your next home. Here are the six rules; every home buyer should follow when purchasing their next home.Shop when you don't have to: Desperation rarely leads to a good deal. Be a smart home buyer and. start looking online before you need to move. Allow at least 6 months to decide which school district and community you want to live. Real Estate professionals are prevented by Federal and State laws from showing you a specific area. Buyers must use information readily available online to narrow their search area. Search Public Muliple Listing Services: There are so many places to search online for a home. Please do not give out your email address to receive information or to view more information about a home. Here are websites to search most of M...
More About: Home Buyers , Home

Six Rules of Savvy Home Buyers
2007-09-01 19:46:00
America On Line featured an article today written by Eric Peters entitled Six Rules for Savvy Car Shopping The basic ideas in Eric's article on successfully purchasing a car can also be used when looking for and buying your next home. Here are the six rules; every home buyer should follow when purchasing their next home.Shop when you don't have to: Desperation rarely leads to a good deal. Be a smart home buyer and. start looking online before you need to move. Allow at least 6 months to decide which school district and community you want to live. Real Estate professionals are prevented by Federal and State laws from showing you a specific area. Buyers must use information readily available online to narrow their search area. Shop for money first: The first person to contact is not an unrepresented homeowner or real estate professional. The first person should be a lender. I would suggest speaking with one lender, allowing that lender to pull your credit and g...
More About: Home Buyers , Home

Michigan Vacation Rental Property Websites
2007-08-31 00:48:00
Thinking of Moving to Michigan or Oakland County? Rather than living out of a cramped hotel room, how about your family staying in a 5 bedroom Victorian Home or spending time on an All-Sports lake in a vacation rental home? Vacation rentals can be a delightful alternative to motel stays, while looking for the perfect home, your next business trip, or even a short weekend vacation. Yes, they may cost slightly more during the busy summer season, but the more than make-up the difference by allowing you access to laundry and kitchen facilities. Some vacation rentals offer wood burning fireplaces or outdoor fire pits and even use of a boat and fishing equipment.Each summer I receive email requests from MichiganLakefronts.com for vacation rental properties. Usually, I'm able to find some type of property online, but I've never kept a list of sites. So, I went on a search for vacation rental homes in Michigan. There were hundreds of cabins, lodges, homes, and Bed & Breakfasts (B & B's...
More About: Rental , Property , Websites

Camping in Michigan Can Be an Inexpensive Summer Vacation
2007-08-13 01:24:00
A recent Harris Pole indicated just more than half will take a vacation this summer. Money was one of the main reasons. If you're not able to take a vacation this summer because of money, I would like to suggest camping within Michigan as an alternative. Even if you just camp in the backyard, here are some ideas to save money obtaining camping supplies:Find Camping equipment at garage salesGet Free Camping Equipment on http://www.freecycle.org/Borrow equipment from friends or neighborsImprovise; we all have a little MacGyver in us.Garage Sales offer a chance to purchase brand new and slightly used equipment for less than a quarter of the original cost. Just take the time to have the owners walk you through use of equipment, especially tents before making the purchase.Freecycle The groups main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages. You could be the only or one of several email the giver receives so make your reason count. There are over 1...
More About: Summer , Vacation

Oakland County Farmers Markets in Full Swing
2007-08-11 19:09:00
What a tremendous summer we're having! Oakland County Farmers Markets are in full swing until October. Take some time to visit a farmers market or street side vegetable stand today. All purchases help keep Michigan's economy rolling. Make sure to ask where items are produced and if there is a quantity discount. Canning supplies are available in many local markets and some Farmers Markets.Yes, canning supplies. You remember when people used to can their own fresh picked fruits and vegetables, right? That was in a time before global produce. Well, you can do your part to save the environment and assist Michigan by purchasing food locally and taking a step back to can some items. Try purchasing a locally made jam or jelly today and invent your own flavors. My favorite is the champagne raspberry jam sold at the Northville Farmers Market. I've tried but can never match their flavor.Here are a list of Oakland County Farmers Markets. If you know of one not on the lis...
More About: Full , Swing

Waterford Michigan Real Estate Trends
2007-08-10 21:58:00
The two graphs below contain the Average and Median asking price for homes in Waterford Michigan marketed on Trulia.com over the past few months. Charts are updated frequently, check back for an update. Gary Smith, Real Estate One, 8430 Richardson Rd, Commerce, MI. 48382 Waterford Real Estate - Trulia Looking for property in Michigan? A no sign-in home search is available on the column to the right. (over 80,000 homes via IDX search of properties on the MLS) If you have a question about your homes value, I can perform an online estimate based upon recent sales. Information usually provided the same day. Need information about any property for sale? Just ask, I will send you information. Just remember, Michigan requires all real estate professionals to work for the homeowner unless under a signed Buyers Agency Agreement. Samples are available by clicking on my photo. This information is best viewed on Mozilla Firefox a free downloadable ...
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Walled Lake Michigan Housing Trends
2007-08-09 03:06:00
Thinking of buying or selling a home in Walled Lake Michigan ? The charts below contain the Averageand Median Listing price for home marketed on http://Trulia.com . Check back frequently to view seasonal adjustments. Click on Market Trends on the bottom right corner of the graph to view housing values over the past few years. Gary Smith, Real Estate One, 8430 Richardson Rd, Commerce, MI. 48382 Search for over 80,000 homes, vacant land, condos, and small commercial properties in Michigan via Real Estate One's IDX (Internet Data eXchange) No signing in, most addresses included, Search by MLS number near the bottom of the new page.
More About: Housing

Milford Michigan Housing Trends
2007-08-09 02:40:00
The Charts below contain the latest housing information for Milford Michigan based upon homes entered into their system, this does not include ALL homes placed on the market in Milford Michigan. Gary Smith, Real Estate One, 8430 Richardson Rd, Commerce, MI. 48382 Searching for homes? Simply click on the Home search to the right for 80,000 homes, condos, vacant land, and small commercial in Michigan.
More About: Trends , Housing , Ilford

How Long Will My Oakland County Home Take to Sell?
2007-08-07 19:33:00
Real Estate One released the latest Oakland County Market Report this morning for the period of April 1, 2007 through June 30, 2007. The average Supply of Home s in all price ranges was 20.8 months. This is compared to 16.0 months for the same time period in 2006 and signals a slight worsening of the market in some areas. View the entire Oakland County Market Report. Results are sorted by city and in 100,000 ranges. This is a two page report with totals on the second page. Raw sale data for the entire State of Michigan is available on the Michigan Association of Realtors website.How does this relate to How Long Will My Oakland County Home Take to Sell ? If you follow the Four Factors in selling your home, paying specific attention to:Current market conditionsThe condition of your propertyPromotion efforts and tactics The asking priceYour home most likely will sell within your desired timeframe and with less stress. If you fail to follow any one of these factors...

Educating Home Sellers: The Jury is Deliberating About Your Home
2007-08-06 23:32:00
When I lived in Wayne County, I could count on being called for Jury Service every 13-15 months. For some reason, most likely my honest face, I was always selected for the jury. Trials were usually less than a week and deliberation 2-5 additional days. I was part of the jury for anything from a claim against an employer to a murder trial. The make up of every jury was different and I met lots of interesting people while waiting between motions.On one jury, where I was "foreperson" (is that a word), we were deliberating a case where one neighbor inadvertently discharged a shotgun through a neighbors window. The neighbor and child were in the room at the time. Thankfully, neither was injured. After two days of deliberating, one person was holding out in disagreement. Everyone, except this person was in agreement about the accidental discharge of the weapon. When the group questioned the hold-out juror, we found out the juror was concerned the defendants' ...
More About: Home , Sellers , Libera , Duca , Deli

Educating Home Sellers: Don't Price Your Home Like You're Selling Grapefrui
2007-08-05 21:20:00
Of the Four Factors: Price , Condition, The Market, and The Promotion; a homes price must represent a true reflection of your homes market value. However, the other three factors must also be inline with buyer expectations or your home will take longer to sell, sell for less, or not sell at all. According to Jason Lee in an article found on WebProNews August 4, 2007; "Every industry has its lingo, its own internal jargon. Language has a tendency develop on its own, especially within more isolated sub-groups. But there is also a macro level to it, pervasive word couplings people used when seeking specific results.Consider whether something is "inexpensive" or "cheap," "pre-owned" or "used." There are very subtle forces at work that marketers have been aware of for decades. Ask yourself why sometimes an item is $19.99 and sometimes it is $20.Lowering the price by a penny is purposeful, as it signals "discount" or "s...
More About: Selling , Home , Sellers , Duca

Purchasing Waterfront Property: Pontiac Lake; Information From MiSWIMS Data
2007-08-02 02:05:00
In June, the State of Michigan launched its combined Surface Water Information Management System (MiSWIMS). This all inclusive database combined all State Departments information about surface waters in Michigan. See information from Part One.I've been waiting for Oakland Lakefront Magazine to write about the system. Their choice of lakes, Pontiac Lake, was a good one with lots of data. Read the entire article by Josh Jackett Here. Look in the August 2007 issue "New database provides one-stop shopping for water information"People living on Pontiac Lake, located about 10 miles west of Pontiac off M-59 (Highland Rd) would choose to live nowhere else. Several species of fish and plenty of habitats for wildlife can be found on the lake. Although Pontiac Lake is relatively shallow fishing and boating is readily accessable to lake owners and the Public. There are two public launches on the north side of Pontiac Lake. One from the State Park access site off M...
More About: Property , Data , Waterfront

Area Market Report: Walled Lake, Michigan Through July 15, 2007
2007-08-01 17:42:00
According to Realcomp II Ltd records, there were 19 homes sold in Walled Lake, Michigan 48390 from January 1, 2007 through July 15, 2007. Note: Information from Realcomp II was for all homes listed and sold by all real estate companies for the period described above.Walled Lake does not include Commerce Township or Wolverine Lake Village areas.The average sale price for homes in Walled Lake, Michigan was $156,412 during the time period above. Homes were on the market an average of 100.42 days. There were no recorded waterfront home sales in Walled Lake during 2006 or 2007 for the time period above. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there are 361 lakes within Oakland County. You can search for your special waterfront property HERE Waterfront and water view selection box is near the bottom of the Custom Search page. Or, use the Map Search function to see where all homes are located. Please reset map to Commerce and use the zoom feature on the right side of the...
More About: Market , Report , Area

Area Market Report: Recent Home Sales Commerce Township, Michigan
2007-08-01 17:13:00
According to Realcomp II Ltd records, there were 152 homes sold in Commerce Township, 48390 from January 1, 2007 through July 15, 2007. This compares to 158 homes sold during the same period in 2006. Note: Information from Realcomp II was for all homes listed and sold by all real estate companies for the period described above.Commerce Township does not include Walled Lake or Wolverine Lake Village areas.The average sale price for home sold in 2007 decreased significantly to $264,883 as compared to $310,551 in 2006. There was also a 38 percent increase in the average time homes were on the market in 2007. Average market time increased to 145.05 days from 105.15 days.Waterfront property (lakefront, riverfront, and canal front homes) average sale price was $444,585 with an average time on market of 208.77 days. This compared to an average sale price of $472,133 and average time on market of 121.75 for the same period in 2006.According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there are 361...
More About: Market , Sales , Home , Report , Michigan

Educating Sellers: Buyers Demand Multiple Photos
2007-08-01 00:12:00
With less than 30 percent of homes in the Multiple Listing Service selling, don't you want your home to stand out from the crowd? Sure, agents can choose to Market your home on several websites. But, are they willing to pay additional money to have a showcase ad on the number one Real Estate website, Realtor.com? According to Realtor.com, resource page (in 2005); "With 84% of home buyers saying that photos and detailed property descriptions are the most important features when searching for homes online, these additional marketing services are now becoming standard offerings from the nation's top producing agents. "Realtor.com recently bowed to public and agent demand and allows showcase homes to have up to 25 photos. Why is this important? When searching on Realtor.com, buyers have a choice of sorting homes by the number of photos, price, or Featured Tours first! Depending upon the competition, multiple photos gives your home a distinct ...
More About: Photos , Sellers , Buyers , Duca , Demand

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