Today, between 4 and 5:30 PM, I showed three different properties to three different buyers, in three different townships.  I dare anyone to beat that record!Actually, I showed those properties from about 4:20 to 5:30 because as simple as it seemed to find the first one, I circled around it numerous times before finally cornering the mail truck and asking the carrier where the street was.  He was apologetic as he gave iffy directions sending me through the winding, unpaved roads.  I'll be writing an offer on that one tonight even though I was 20 minutes late to the showing.  These buyers understand the difference between real time and "Susan time" - I hang my head in shame....While I was pulling into the drive there, I had a call from other buyers who were at a vacant property they had ... 02/19/2008

  It is still very much a buyer's market here. But, there is a new issue that will significantly effect our home buying season this year.We have many physicians move to Ann Arbor every spring to take their medical residency at the University of Michigan. Often these are buyers with tight down payment but with excellent credit. Often these buyers use zero or 5% down. This year that is going to be much harder because the secondary mortgage market had determined that Ann Arbor is a "declining market" so all loan programs in this area will require 5% more down payment than what they would normally require.So a 5% down loan now will now follow the zero down lending requirements and a zero down loan has become next to impossible. Helping Home Buyers Locate, Evaluate, and Negotiate great home ... 02/17/2008

If you want to get a feel for Ann Arbor, Michigan you can check out our great town in the newest Hollywood film "Jumper".  You will see Gallup Park and Huron High School and a huge number of students as extras.  Our city has been featured in a few books but this is the most recent Hollywood movie that is covering our fair city. Okay I just checked the early reviews ... and lets just say they aren't so great.  This is an Ann Arbor movie with our kids in it and I'm sure there will be a ton of folks there just to see their grins or short lines.  Break a leg thespians!  Enjoy the show everyone else!! 02/15/2008

A Puppy has been born in Japan with a large, clear, love-heart-shaped pattern in his coat.The Chihuahua was born in May as one of a litter to a breeder. Shop owner Emiko Sakurada said it was the first time a puppy with the marks had been born out of a thousand she had bred.She had no plans to sell the puppy, which has been named 'Heart-kun'. The long-coated, male Chihuahua puppy was born in Odate, northern Japan. Happy Valentines Day...TOO PRECIOUS NOT TO SHARE Click here to search all listings in Michigan with pictures and tours - FREE!Kathy Toth and Teamwww.kathytoth.comReal Estate One 02/15/2008

Okay Ann Arbor, have I got some good news for you:New Exciting Borders Store is open:  3140 Lohr Road, Ann Arbor close to Saline, Michigan. 734.997.8884But even more exciting is the music coming to this new store:  SARA BAREILLES  This is all via 107.1 FM Our very own Martin Bandyke is attending Saturday, February 23rd at 12:30PM!!  Sara will be signing CD's and we get to meet our very well loved Martin Bandyke.  Border's Bookstore is headed in Tree Town (Ann Arbor to most people).  We love our parks and schools but we really also love our bookstores and now there is going to be a new Borders to meet everyone! Hope to see you there.If you would like some information about the Ann Arbor Area please feel free to call me:Karen MoorheadKeller Williams RealtyAnn Arbor, Michigan 734-660-4785  02/14/2008

If the snow out your window is getting you down, don’t despair!  We have the first annual Indoor Triathlon coming to the new YMCA. Date:   Sunday, March 30th, 2008 @ 8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.       Address:  400 West Washington                Ann Arbor, MI  48103 Phone information:  734-996-9622 Website:  http://www.annarborymca.org This is the perfect event for anyone who hasn’t done a triathlon before and the distance is determined by the time.  You are competing for the most distance in 15 minutes with each event.  What fun!!  Event                            Time Allotted Swim (lap pool)               15 minutes Transition 1                      5 minutes Bike (stationary)              15 minutes Transition 2                       5 minutes Run (treadmills)               15 minutes      ... 02/12/2008

The University of Michigan has an incredible music program and this week the following events are occurring: University Symphony Orchestra            Feb  5      8pm            Hill AuditoriumConcert Band performance                  Feb  6      8pm            Hill AuditoriumChamber Choir                                  Feb  8      8pm            Hill Auditorium                           Jazz Festival Feature Concert              Feb  9       8pm           Power Center   Buy tickets                     Chamber Players                               Feb 10       4pm         Britton Recital Hall                     University Philharmonia Orchestra &                    University Choir                              Feb  12        8pm            Hill Auditorium  Help for the UM events:http:... 02/05/2008

Burns Park Players EndureGroup of Neighborhood Thespians Marks 25 Years Sunday, February 03, 2008 BY JENN MCKEE The Ann Arbor News Sometimes, a small act can lead to big things. Take, for example, the talent show that Susan Schreiber - then the owner of the local children's clothing store Generations - organized in 1983 to raise money for Burns Park Elementary School. The event was such a hit that it inspired geriatrics physician Alan Dengiz to put a group of Burns Park students and parents on stage to perform a modest production of "Grease.'' How modest? According to articles found in The Ann Arbor News' archives, Dengiz begged people to take roles, played taped music for at least one number, and used a cardboard car that was built by second-graders. Even so, a long-standing Ann Arbor ... 02/04/2008

 There is a wonderful public elementary school I want to share with everyone.  It is the Ann Arbor Open School @ Mack.  It is a magnet school that anyone can attend no matter where they live in the Ann Arbor Public School District and bus transportation is provided.  It is the elementary school my children attended and there are many differences from a traditional school and a wonderful way to grow up.  The philosophy is different at the Open School and that's the way it was meant to be.  The following are characteristics of the classrooms: Children attend multigrade classrooms. Children learn at their own pace, not by someone else's guidelines.The school has many community field trips and use the outside experience for learning.Teacher's use democracy in the classrooms.Small group lear... 02/04/2008

Today I had a midday cancellation.  Not to worry, it was at my daughter's orthodontist - no revenue lost, huge savings gained.  I quickly came up with an important plan of action to fill this gift of time.  One, go to the bank to straighten out that pesky password problem.  Check.  Stop for some carrot cake and tea.  Check.  Schedule the overdue oil change on my vehicle.  Wow!  My lucky day!  Could I come right in?As I pulled into the facility and parked my mud-covered SUV  (I live off-road, really), full of signs and riders in the back, good shoes and paperwork in the front, I apologized to the attendant about the state of the vehicle.  He laughed as he typed the service order and said they'd run it through the car wash for me.  It was then that my phone rang.I looked at the unfamiliar... 01/29/2008

Fridays February 8 & 15 at 7:30 PM and Saturdays 9 & 16 at 4:30 PM --  The Burns Park Players will present the family fun musical Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" at the Tappan Middle School.  Tickets are available at "Morgan & York" on Packard just south of Stadium Blvd.  Seats are reserved.When I first tell people about the Burns Park Players, they tend to have a skeptical response.  How can a bunch of busy professionals with little theatrical training from one elementary school area mount an elaborate stage musical, and make it worth watching?  Let alone charge admission?  Truth be told, I wonder that myself sometimes, and every year in February I'm amazed how beautifully and lovingly a small community comes together to create an entertaining and spirit raising event for its lucky aud... 01/28/2008

If you are moving to this area please don't let the winters scare you.  We have winter but that doesn't slow down the athletes. I want to keep you motivated and have fun, therefore I've put together some organizations you are welcome to explore:Our favorite running store on Liberty one block from Main Street: Running Fit  http://www.runningfit.net/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1Half2Runhttp://www.twodogsrunning.com/Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society http://www.aabts.org/Ann Arbor Track Club http://www.aatrackclub.org/Ann Arbor Triathlon Club http://www.aatriclub.org/Ann Arbor Velo Club http://www.aavc.org/Ann Arbor Rowing Clubhttp://www.a2crew.com/University of Michigan Running Club http://www.mrun.net/Washtenaw Ski Touring Club www.hvcn.org/info/skiclub/I will cover music venues... 01/26/2008

There are several communities in the Ann Arbor market where you will not see a For Sale sign. A year ago there were 10  - 12 homes listed. Could we be seeing the bottom? Which areas? drop me a line, I'll let you know. 01/26/2008

I use VisiStat to track Web statistics. They just posted their annual traffic report for 2007, which gives an overview of what, where and how real estate consumers are searching online.The Peak hour for consumers to be on real estate Web sites was 9 p.m., while peak day was Monday and peak month was March.Traffic growth from 2006 was up 36.8 percent. --62.2 percent landed on real estate sites by typing in the URL; 23.6 percent got there by search and 16.2 percent by referral links.This data is based on clients' who subscribe to VisiStat.What are you using to track Web activity? If you find something else of value, please share in the comments section.Search all listings in Michigan with pictures and tours...Free!Kathy Toth & Teamwww.kathytoth.comReal Estate One 01/24/2008

All politics aside, and that is hard to believe from the title of this piece, sometimes wisdom is withheld from youth.  Sometimes, it is embodied within them.At a town hall meeting in Salem, New Hampshire on January 7, 2008, while Hillary Clinton addressed the crowd, a pair of young men unfolded a sign and began chanting, "Iron my Shirt!"  Hillary responded admirably and the event was reported in the news.  The perpetrators were eventually discovered to be associated with a Boston show that regularly orchestrated similar antics.  OK, that's done, one would have thought, but no.My daughter Sara Walters is a senior at the University of Michigan and she received Facebook notification a few days ago that several of her "friends" had joined a new group called, "Hillary Clinton:  Stop Running... 01/23/2008

Greetings from my new Burns Park Blog.  As an active Burns Park resident, I know how much we treasure our homes and the neighborhood.  To share that passion, I have created a forum where residents (long-time, new and aspiring) can share information about events, activities, news, restoration, renovation, selling, buying, and anything else that makes Burns Park a great place to live and play.  I'm the neighborhood expert and Realtor, and I want to collect and share information that will be helpful and informative for you.  I will keep you up-to-date on market trends, houses for sale, and recent sales.  If you have something to say or a question to ask, please join in.  We are a vibrant community, and in upcoming entries, I will work to connect us even further.  Thanks for joining us.  I ... 01/22/2008

The new building for the YMCA is located in the Old West Side of Ann Arbor and is a beautiful building from the exterior as well as the interior.  It is a place to learn to swim for young and old, play basketball, exercise on weights or treadmills, learn to dance or find peace in yoga.  Really the new Y (as it is called in Ann Arbor) is a place for families to do wonderful things whether it is volunteer or exercise or meet friends.  So many of the city members belong to the new Y that it is a success story, way past its expectations.  When it was built they figured some new people would join; oh, they had no idea what a successful community project this building would become.   One of the wonderful aspects of the new Y are the classes and one of my very favorite is the spinning class.  ... 01/22/2008

True or False: The media decide whether you buy or sell a home.That sounds ridiculous, even insulting.  But there's no doubt that there is a psychological component to buying a house - and that a lot of negative publicity about the housing market can have an effect on whether you will buy, sell, or sit.There has been some speculation that the media is usually responsible for the way the market goes.  When people hear that the market is going to crash, they freak out and stop buying, which, in turn, causes the market to crash (imagine that!). In my opinion, much of what happens in the national economy is shaped by the self-fulfilling prophecy of the national media headlines (USA Today, the New York Times, ABC, NBC, CBS, etc.)  When you read, day after day, that we're headed toward a rece... 01/21/2008

Yeah, I'm a newbie to this real estate blog thing.  This is the last time I am going to call myself that though since I think I've got ALL of your numbers.Some of you post your listings.  Some of you post your local stats.  Some of you post your industry stats.  Some of you talk about rules, regulations, legalities, standards of practice.  Some of you speak of real dilemmas you faced or are facing.  Some of you speak from the heart.  Some of you just ramble on.  I'm a rambler, who speaks from the heart, occasionally with listings, stats, etc.  I've learned how to insert photos and hyperlinks but haven't done videos yet - might that be because I always have my laptop muted to sound since I hate that distraction?  Yeah, could be.I do not care if anyone comments on my posts.  I may never c... 01/12/2008

Tonight I took a much-needed break and watched a movie - my daughters would have liked it if they pried themselves from the computer.  They were sitting next to me on the couch, laptop in lap, movie playing in the background, but they were so caught up in this new site they had discovered, "Stumble" that they didn't follow the plot at all.My family is pretty typical for a traditional family - husband, wife, three kids, ages 20, 18, and 15.  We have the usual ups and downs but are gratefully free of any problems with our children regarding drugs, alcohol, or other life-choice-limiting decisions.  We are also lucky to have kids who truly enjoy each others' company.  The 15 year old daughter relishes the home visits from her 20 year old sister (so far away, 7 minutes up the road at the Uni... 01/10/2008