Real Estate Market Reports Blog Carnival - Fourth Edition The fourth edition of the Real Estate Market Reports Blog Carnival has been posted. Please check it out as it is loaded with Active Rainers, doing what they do best.... Blogging about real estate. This edition features: Stephen Wolfe Georgina M. Hunter R(S) e-Pro Courtney Cooper Joe Manausa Todd Clark (Realtor), GRI Edith Debra Kukulski-GRI;ABR;RECS;e-PRO Dave Woodson Dena Stevens Tool Jo Soss Missy Caulk Gita Bantwal Check Out The Real Estate Market Reports Blog Carnival - Fourth Edition   current issue: Aug 31, 2008 Real Estate Market Reports next issue: Sep 07, 2008 Really Better Real Estate [ InstaCarnival - review submissions ] [ Already posted? Tell us where! ] Add this carnival to My Favorites at  Blog Carnival Submit you... 08/31/2008

Syndication is when your listing is sent to other aggregators everywhere for others to find it.  I have just aligned with Point2, a Canadian company to allow maximum and fast exposure for my sellers.  The increased eyeballs will be interesting to track and hopefully beneficial in sales results to the sellers.  Results could be in faster sales and or higher price.  Our regional MLS Realcomp just agreed to work with Point2 so this online collaboration should benefit everyone.     Pictured below is the exposure of 30 syndications provided by this relationship.  Point2 brokers and agents have the ability to see which aggregators and sites actually are viewed by consumers via reporting tools.   My listings are already on many of these sites, but any additional professional search exposure to... 08/30/2008

Opening today for the Michigan Wolverines is tomorrow. There is so much excitement living in Ann Arbor and a college town. Even if expectations are low around the country we are looking forward to a new era at University of Michigan. We have a new coach, Rich Rodrigues, who runs the spread offence which is new and different at this Big 10 school, steeped in a running tradition. "Coach Rod" as he is called is the son of a coal miner from West Virginia, with blue-collar roots, he became a head coach at age 24. Coach Rod is still not saying who will be the starting quarter-back. My guess is he will play both of them. Nick Sheridan is from Saline, who was the QB when my son Andrew played at Saline. Nick is a walk-on Red Shirt sophomore is competing with Steven Threet, from Adrian for the op... 08/29/2008

Improper dryer vents are a common safety problem. Here are some dryer vent safety tips from Larry: Use metal dryer ducts or semi-rigid material to help rather than flexible dryer ducts made of foil or plastic because they can become crushed and let lint build up at low points. Ridges can also trap lint. All dryer vents should be cleaned regularly and the lint screen should be cleaned after each load of laundry.  This reduces the risk of a fire and helps the dryer to run more efficiently so clothes dry faster and your dryer will use less energy. It is also a good idea to clean the lint screen every few months with warm soapy water to remove residue left behind by dryer sheets. Clean inside, behind, and underneath the dryer, where lint can build up. If you have a dryer with an automatic s... 08/27/2008

The first time I sold a house (way back in 1975) I took the advice of my Realtor and cleared out all of the unused and unwanted items.  It was great advice, my home sold quickly and we got lots of comments about how clean our house looked.  Back then we just cleaned out and shipped everything off to the landfill.  I have since sold several more homes and repeated the cleaning process.  The difference is that I have accumulated a group of resources for disposing of items that someone else might be able to use.   Sometimes people move first and then realize they don't want everything they brought with them.   So Newcomers Welcome Service includes information in our free Welcome Packet about recycling usable items.  Here are some of my favorite places: ReUse Center.  Part of Recycle Ann Ar... 08/27/2008

One more social network? NO, Zattoo is a streaming video service that is coming to Ann Arbor where it will have its research and development headquarters. Zatto describes themselves as "Real TV on your PC." Currently they have a subscription base of over 3 million viewers in Europe and they are expected to roll out there service here in the United States by early 2009.  They also have over 189 channels where it is located.  You can now download the program onto your computer and watch TV from anywhere where they are located. Soon it will be up and running in the U.S. but since there is currently no channels yet in the U.S. nothing happens. However, if you click on 189 channels, you will see what is offered in Europe. Chairman and co-founder, Sugih Jamin, is an Associate Professor of com... 08/26/2008

I took a 10 minute drive from Loch Alpine, to record Ann Arbor, Michigan Farmers Market video. You can't beat the quality of really fresh food at local markets.  Ann Arbor Farmers Market Manager Molly Notarianni suggests shopping without a list - it'll help you stay flexible to take advantage of the wonderful and unexpected. If you're looking for something special, call the manager. The 150-vendor farmer's market in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown (315 Detroit St) has been around since 1918 and is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays (hours?). Come early for the best selection, or shop for bargains at the end of the day. Most vendors appreciate cash.  For information call 734-994-3276. There's another Ann Arbor market in the Zingerman's Roadhouse parking lot at the corner of Jackson and Maple Roads. ... 08/23/2008

Don't feel sorry for me this is life... I haven't been blogging much this week, I bought a new Blackberry Curve ( after getting laughed at at Inman ) and a new lap top. I have a new assistant starting after Labor Day and wanted to take my desktop into the office for her. Plus I thought it would be fun to blog in bed. (BIB) You can't BIB with a tablet because Activerain doesn't have the feature for writing on tablet, and I'm not even gonna try to tap out each letter on the built in keyboard on the screen. So I chose the Sony Vaio, can't even pronounce it. Oh yea....it has VISTA. So another learning curve. You see, I have been with Nextel for 13 years!! Yea I know weird, huh? or at least an anomaly. But, Nextel is just not upgrading their phones so I switched to Sprint. Well, not really a... 08/22/2008

I'll be the first to admit it, I don't understand Halloween and the way people spend money on this holiday. I read that it is second only to Christmas as far as consumer spending. Amazing. And once again we have a Halloween USA opening right across the street from our office in the old Ace Hardware building. They are now hiring and getting the store set up.   What a country! 08/22/2008

REALTOR.COM Class with Joe Sesso attended by Ann Arbor Real Estate Agent, Kathy Toth I just attended the REALTOR.COM session with Joe Sesso, National Speaker for REALTOR.com®.  He shared what some agents in the US are doing to generate business.  They have some new products for their face lifted site, mentioned in the video above.  I have been showcasing my listings with photos and tours for years.  They still have featured home spots, banner ads and positioning slots for market snap shot. Realtor.com is prime eyeball real estate for REALTORS with 84 percent of buyers looking on line.  My REALTOR.COM site averages 40,000 property views each monthRealtor.com says you will learn:Devastatingly simple techniques for securing “expired listings”Surefire client consultations for a “price reduc... 08/20/2008

Per the Ann Arbor Baord of Realtors, Washtenaw County housing statistics show a stable market with a slight upward trend in the number of sales. The year-to-date residential listing inventory declined by 23.53 percent when compared to last year.  The number of residential sales for July rose 2 percent compared to a year ago, while residential sales increased 3.6 percent year-to-date over last year. Pending sales increased 12.39 percent compared to last year. The average sales price went from $248,715 to $225,447 year to date 07' vs. 08'. We have 8 closing on the last day of August, so 20 closings for August, and we are on track to achieve our sales goals in moving families in the Ann Arbor market.  This is a FANTASTIC time to buy.  Listen as national speaker Terri Murphy discusses the m... 08/18/2008

 Now that fall is here, many homeowners are beginning to winterize their homes to ensure that they won't incur any problems from the harsh winter weather.  Yet one of the most overlooked areas of home maintenance is the gutter. According to Keith Paul, president of Plymouth, Mich. based HandyPro Handyman Service, proper gutter maintenance in the fall can eliminate many potential problems homeowners can face during the winter months. "Most people spend a lot of time putting away lawn furniture, changing their furnace filters or making sure their windows are sealed with weather stripping, but they neglect to clean and check the gutters," Paul said.  "If the home's gutters are full of leaves and debris, aren't properly aligned or have leaks in the seams, it could cause problems when the wi... 08/17/2008

Improper dryer vents are a common safety problem. Here are some dryer vent safety tips from Larry: Use metal dryer ducts or semi-rigid material to help rather than flexible dryer ducts made of foil or plastic because they can become crushed and let lint build up at low points. Ridges can also trap lint. All dryer vents should be cleaned regularly and the lint screen should be cleaned after each load of laundry.  This reduces the risk of a fire and helps the dryer to run more efficiently so clothes dry faster and your dryer will use less energy. It is also a good idea to clean the lint screen every few months with warm soapy water to remove residue left behind by dryer sheets. Clean inside, behind, and underneath the dryer, where lint can build up. If you have a dryer with an automatic s... 08/16/2008

If you live in Ann Arbor or Saline or anywhere in Washtenaw County for that matter, you have probably seen the Goodyear Blimp flying over. It is actually called a "Ship". It parks (is that the right word?) at the Ann Arbor airport. This week it has been here for the NASCAR race this weekend at MIS Speedway in the Irish Hills area. Ann Arbor residents are use to seeing the Blimp, it has been coming here as long as I can remember. When our kids were small we always took them to see it, and they would get so excited. One of our children "had to have a Blimp" model for his birthday. It was cool, lighted up on the sides just like the real one.  It always shows up for the Buick OPEN and the Michigan vs Ohio State football games.   The crew told us one year they "love to park," in Ann Arbor as... 08/15/2008

It Pays To Keep Accurate Mileage Records From Now Through The End Of The Year!! Rocketing gas prices this year have prompted the Internal Revenue Service to increase the standard mileage-rate deduction for qualifying business-related driving expenses by 8 cents per mile. This means that the rate in effect for the first half of 2008 (January 1 to June 30), which is 50.5 cents, will jump to 58.5 cents for the second half of the year (July 1 to December 31) - that's almost 16%! Normally the IRS updates this rate only once a year in the fall for the next calendar year. That means this is the first special mid-year increase since 2005 when gasoline prices spiked after Hurricane Katrina. And while an additional 8 cents a mile may not seem like much, it can really add up over a six-month peri... 08/13/2008

Owner Keith Paul has made customer satisfaction his number one priority since opening his business 1996   Ann Arbor, MI--Having a professional bring new life to home improvement projects, fix-it jobs, and the occasional ‘honey-do' tasks is the main appeal of HandyPro Handyman Services, Inc. servicing Ann Arbor. Owner Keith Paul has made customer satisfaction his number one priority since first opening his business with his wife Debra in 1996.   He said he was inspired to start the business by a contractor who ripped off Debra's grandmother. Keith knew that homeowners deserved to have work done on their homes by honest, experienced, and reputable people. That's why it is important to gain the trust and respect from every customer. After all, HandyPro contractors are invited guests into p... 08/09/2008

The Michigan Merit Exam results are in and Saline and Ann Arbor both score high. Both schools, Saline and Ann Arbor, posted results that were among the best in the state on the MME, a high school test which includes the ACT, commonly used by colleges in the admissions processes. Saline Area Schools had the sixth-highest ACT composite score among school districts and public school academies in the state, school officials said. The Ann Arbor Public Schools district had the 10-highest score among the same group, while local charter school Washtenaw Technical Middle College had the 14th highest score. Washtenaw Technical Middle College is open to high school students that want to attend college instead of high school and obtain 2 years of college while in high school.   Ann Arbor's Communit... 08/07/2008

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in May, fell 4.7 percent to 84.7 for the whole country.  The index in the Midwest fell 6.0 percent to 78.6 and is 13.8 percent below May 2007.  We are selling ann arbor real estate - Kathy Toth Team is on schedule to close 100 homes in Washtenaw County this year. The current Ann Arbor Real Estate market offers immediate benefits and long-term value for many buyers.   See the screaming short sale deal below:    Click on the image to view more information We need stable interest rates to get us through this challenging Ann Arbor Real Estate market.  Rates are hovering at 6.5 for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage.  The FHA limits for Washtenaw County are $345,000 and $297,500 for Livingston County.  We are find... 08/07/2008

I have been in the custom home building business in the Ann Arbor area since 1982.  When the slow down in construction came in 2004, I asked myself, "what did I like best about my job for the last 24 years".  The answer was simple...people.  Not the electricians, the carpenters or  the plumbers, but my clients who were building the houses. I was helping them acheive thier dreams...a beautiful customhome.   So I decided to put my brokers license with the Charles Reinhart Company in 2004 to see where it would take me and I have not looked back.  This is a great business and even with the challenging times...its still great.  I have been very sucessfull working with buyers and sellers of all different price ranges...not just custom homes.  I can't seem to get custom buiding out of my blood... 08/06/2008

Argieros Restaurant is located in the Kerry Town area of Ann Arbor, Mi. It is the only Italian Restaurant still owned and operated by a true Italian family. Argieros has been in Ann Arbor since 1977, and is family owned and operated. We love to go there, it is a relaxed atmosphere and the food is yummy. In the summer months there is a gated patio so you can enjoy being outside. My favorite dish is the lasagna and there is no comparison between Argieros and Olive Garden for Italian food. We met some friends there a few weeks ago that had not heard of it and they were very surprised to find such a treat in the Kerry Town area of Ann Arbor. It is located right across from the Ann Arbor Farmers market. (Read about Ann Arbor Farmers market, by clicking on the link.) One of my sons graduated ... 08/04/2008