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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

Educating Sellers: Marketing Promotion Affects Your Homes Sale Price
2007-07-31 18:36:00
There are Four Factors that affect the sale of any home. Those Four Factors, illustrated to the right, determine: How Fast Your Home SellsHow Much Money You ReceiveIf, Your Home Sells At AllNot all agents take the promotion of your home seriously. And, in certain markets they don't have to. For instance, there are professionals that follow what I call the Use-Less Marketing Service and promotion technique. This technique, like the name implies uses less marketing services to sell your home. Agents using this technique basically will pound a sign in your lawn, place the home in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), put an ad in the paper, and pray it will sell. In some markets, this technique works extremely well especially in a sellers market where homes sell in less than 30 days.Another promotion technique, the Worth-Less Marketing Service  promotion involves the use of more services expensive Internet services to provide global exposu...
More About: Promotion , Sale , Homes , Price

Sweet Corn Ready at Long Family Farm, Commerce Township (Updated August 11,
2007-07-29 19:36:00
Sweet Corn is now available at the Long Family Farm in Commerce Township, Michigan. This Oakland County landmark has some of the best corn in the area. Picked fresh daily, you drive through to pick up a dozen or half-dozen ears. One extra ear is included (13 and 7 total) in case one is bad.Before purchasing any corn: tassels (hairs) should be brown on the end and when gently opening the tip, corn kernels shoudl be full and yellow. The darker yellow the kernels the older the corn will be. I've never received a bad ear of corn from Long's but in the begining of the season, lighter colored kernels are not fully developed.According to the signs, a half dozen (7 ears) are $3.00. A whole dozen (13 ears) is $4.50. Prices are slightly increased due to lack of rain this year.Hours of operation 2-7 pm Monday through Friday and noon-6 on the weekends.Updated August 11, 2007Now available: (prices subject to change)Tomatoes  $3.00 per quartGrape Tomatoes $2.50 per pintHoney $4....
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Michigan State Parks: Ludington State Park
2007-07-19 00:27:00
 I've camped in many placing over the past 30 years. And, my tastes have changed as I grew older. Initially, I was a minimalist. Dry camp mix, sleeping bag, fishing equipment, tarp, clothes, matches, and a few utensils were all that was needed for a stay in the local woods. If this is your first time, here's a Camping Checklist. Don't forget a comfortable collapse-able chair. (For those also "living large" I personally recommend the MaxxDaddy chair.)After meeting my wife, a tent, sleeping pad, and many more "essentials" were added. With each child, our camping practices slowly evolved to staying only in modern campsites. Modern is defined by my wife as having modern restrooms with hot showers and electricity at the campsite. (I was surprised that they actually make a butane curling iron)Michigan 's western shore is currently our favorite short weekend destination. 3-5 hours driving gets you away from the rat-race in S.E. Michigan or Chica...
More About: Park , State , Parks , Michigan State

July Through August is Blueberry Season in Michigan
2007-07-18 02:07:00
 Whether your choice is high bush, low bush, wild, or cultivated; July  through August is Blueberry time in Michigan . Cultivated farm berries ripen early in July. The harvest lasts for weeks. Berry season slowly moves northward with most wild berries along Lake Superior finishing Labor Day Weekend. Blueberries prefer an acidic soil. The wild ones I prefer are usually found in sandy soil near lakes and forest openings. In fact, some of the best wild berries I've ever picked were found at a rest area along I-75. You'll have to guess which one.What to Look For: According to the State of Michigan Department of Agriculture website; "When buying blueberries, look for firm, plump berries that have a powdery, grayish-blue color. To prevent fresh berries from turning soft, wash them just before eating. When storing, wrap tightly and refrigerate. Do not wash them before freezing. If washed, they turn into a solid form and become mushy upon thawing. Instead, blueberries s...
More About: Season , Seas

State Asks for Help Containing Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)
2007-07-16 19:24:00
 Imagine... it's early spring. The ice is finally melting and you're thinking about selling your lakefront home. You have the perfect location, on the southern side of the lake with a terrific view of the entire lake. You spent years maintaining your property. There's a new dock and boat hoist, just enough weeds past the dock to attract fish so you can fish off the dock. Everyday during the summer, you feed fish bread so when family visits the fishing is terrific. Throughout your home are photos and mounted specimens of fish taken over the years.Now imagine, the first buyers arrive to look at your home and there are hundreds or even thousands of dead bass, pike, crappie, and bluegill washed up on the shore. What just happened to the value of your lakefront home? Can't happen, Au contraire, mon frère! Sure, you can spend hours cleaning up dead fish but the smell could linger for days or even weeks along the shore. Not a very pretty picture you present to p...
More About: Viral , State , Sept

8th Annual Hydroplane Races Set for Pontiac Lake
2007-07-16 02:33:00
 Missed the boat races on the Detroit River? Bring your earplugs and suntan lotion. The 2007 "Quake on the Lake " is scheduled for July 21-22, 2007 on Pontiac Lake in White Lake Township. A new feature this year is "Sandblast Volleyball" Saturday and a Silent Auction of sports memorabilia and more. Again this year, the Family Fun Zone features attraction for you and the kids.According to the official website, admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 3-12. Children two years and younger are free. Gates open at 9:00 am. Races are from 11-5. Lawn chairs and coolers allowed NO ALCOHOL. For more information visit QuakeontheLake.org  Several campsites were still available at Pontiac Lake State Park which is located on the north side of the lake. A two night stay is required. Camping may not be within walking distance of the race, please consult the "Quake on the Lake" website before making a reservation.Thinking of living on a lake? Approx...
More About: Drop , Annual

Michigan State Parks: J.W. Wells State Park
2007-07-14 02:21:00
 June 30th was my first visit to J.W. Wells State Park in Cedar River Michigan . Cedar River is located about 30 miles south of Escanaba in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. From Oakland County, the trip was around nine hours including stops and no construction. US 2 follows the southern UP shoreline for many miles before turning inland. Big and Little Bay De Noc's are some of the best fishing sites in the Upper Peninsula. There were about a hundred boats visible on June 30th. The city has most chain stores and excellent shopping.J.W. Wells State Park has very wide spaces. The park was almost full Saturday but only 50 percent full Sunday night. Facilities are very modern and appeared to have been recently renovated. We were able to get a site with a spectacular view of Green Bay. Lake Michigan's shoreline was very rocky and with the lake level being approximately a foot low, several species of plants and trees were growing between the campsite and Lake Michigan.Fi...
More About: Parks , Michigan State