So you are ready to buy a Metro Detroit home, but have you thought beyond buying that dream home.  If you are stretching to get into that Northville home or that Farmington Hills home, can you afford to keep it up? I have seen a lot of homes for sale lately with my buyers that were in major disrepair.  These were not all Metro Detroit foreclosures.  Many were private owners not bank owner and they needed lots of comestic work.  I have seen Northville homesthat need lots of wood replaced because the Northville home had not been painted or caulked for long periods.  I saw a Farmington home that needed a new roof.  I saw another Farmington home that needed major landscaping upkeep, and a porch that was falling apart, and a driveway replaced. If you have to stretch to make the payment, then... 11/03/2008

This investment property buyer was looking at Farmington Hills homes with another agent.  It was a 1000 square foot Farmington Hills foreclosed home.  The Farmington Hills home was only listed at $26,000.  Well the home buyer looked at the property.  It was in decent shape.  And then he wanted to go back and look at it again.  But by then the investment property was already pending. If you are looking at Metro Detroit foreclosed homes and the home is a bargain priced you need to act quickly.  If the home if priced way below current market prices for similar homes don't be a dummy and put in a low ball offer.  YOU WON'T GET THE FORECLOSURE.  SOMEBODY WILL OUT BID YOU. It is not unusual for Detroit foreclosures that are listed below market to sell at or above what the bank has listed the ... 10/28/2008

Anything worth doing should be done right. This is especially the case when it comes to filing your business name paperwork. Doing it wrong could mean someone else is able to use your business name or even take it out from under you once you have your company established.   There is some paperwork involved in this step of the process, and it needs to be done right. This is one of those times when you want to double-check you work.   First, make sure you have what you need to sign up your business name. Here's a quick checklist to make sure you look like a real business:   Phone Number - Your business should have it's own phone number. This is not to be your home phone number, because you want the state to see you as a professional business, not a person who is calling about the kids soc... 10/07/2008

When you go to look at Wayne County foreclosures you need to be prepared that many of them are in disrepair.  Think of it this way.  The homeowners couldn't pay their mortgage bill how could they think of spending money to maintain their Wayne county Home. Most Wayne County foreclosures are a mess.  Many of them are dirty and not a place you want your kids crawling around on the carpeting.  So if you have a child under five I would recommend leaving them with grandma or getting a sitter.  You definitely don't want to have them fingering the walls or sitting on the carpet. When going to look at Wayne County foreclosures bring a flashlight.  Banks have the electricity shut off and shut the water off.  So the toilet will be shut down, you can't use them.  But once in a great while you will... 10/05/2008

Farmington and Farmington Hills MI is a great place to live.  Here is one of Farmingtons upcoming events. Colonial Liberty Tea Oct. 14 at Historic Longacre House  With the days getting shorter and the nights getting cooler, what better way to warm the spirit than with a cup of tea?  Welcome the season in the manner of Colonial America, experiencing cuisine from authentic recipes at the Colonial Liberty Tea on Tuesday, October 14 from 1 - 3 p.m. at the Longacre House, located at 24705 Farmington Road, just south of Eleven Mile in Farmington Hills.  Marlene and Mac Lipon, authorities on the Colonial Era, will dress in period costume and delight you with tales of life in 18th century America.  Learn fascinating facts about taverns, coffeehouses, and how tea got to Colonial America.  Tea wi... 10/03/2008

 NORTHVILLE CLASSES AND EVENTS Lifeguarding Class - 10/3/08 - 11/1/08 Registration has begun.  Early registration will hold your spot.  This class will fill to capacity!  American Red Cross Lifeguarding Class Meets on: Day/Date Time Location at RCH Fri, Oct 3 6:15-8:00pm Pool for Pre-Skills Pre-skills testing will consist of a 300 swim (12 lengths) of both front crawl & breaststroke and a brick retrieval/swim. Sun, Oct 5 11:00am - 2:30pm Crow's Nest B Tues, Oct 7 5:30pm - 8:30pm Pool Sat, Oct 11 10:00am - 2:00pm Room & Pool Sun, Oct 12 11:00am - 2:30pm Room Tues, Oct 21 5:30pm - 8:30pm Crow's Nest B & Pool Sat, Oct 25 11:00am - 2:00pm Crow's Nest B & Pool Tues, Oct 28 5:30pm - 8:30pm Pool Sat, Nov 1 10:30am - 2:00pm Final Testing Room & Pool Activity #: 266206.01Class Fees: FREEMaterial... 09/29/2008

7 Michigan cities meet the standard of the most secure place to live in the US.    According to the 4th annual Most Secure U.S. Places to Live rankings from Farmers Insurance Group of Companies®, there are seven cities in the top 200. city that best meets those qualifications is Corvallis, Ore. Farmington Hills MI, Warren, Troy            167th place Ann Arbor, MI                                        139th place Bay City, MI                                          96th place Holland - Grand Haven, MI                     112th place    These ranking were determined using the following factors crime statistics extreme weather risk of natural disasters environmental hazards terrorism threats air quality life expectancy job loss numbers They looked at 379 U.S. municipalities. The study d... 09/26/2008

Farmington Hills Real Estate &                    Farmington Hills Subdivisions Farmington Hills Links City of Farmington Hills official site  Farmington Schools Farmington Harrison High School  Farmington Hills Parks and Recreation My City of Farmington Hills info site Farmington Hills  High School  Other Farmington Hills  Subdivisions Farmington Hills Police Farmington Hills Public Library  Farmington Hills Chamber of Commerce City of Farmington official websiteMy other Farmington Hills websiteRelated Links State of Michigan Oakland County Wayne County Livingston County Washtenaw County City of Novi Official Site Farmington Square subdivision is actually 4 subdivisions .  Farmington Square has approximately 690 homes in it.  The homes were built during the years of 1979 - 1986.  The h... 09/09/2008

I had a offer in on a short sale on a Farmington Hills home.  Well for 4 months nothing happened.  Then 2 days before the bank was to take possession of the home they accepted the offer and then said we had to close in 2 days.  Well my clients needed a FHA Mortgage and needed time to get it together.  We had the appraisal, they had all the documents in but the bank needed a signed PA. Of course the other agent did not have a clear title policy or gotten a copy of the signed PA.  Anyway it was an impossible deal even if my clients would have had cash.   The soonest the loan officer said it could be done in was 3 days.  Beyond the foreclosure date.  But I haven't given up on getting this home for my clients.  I have been calling Fannie Mae each day trying to track down who has the loan fo... 08/28/2008

Farmington Michigan events and Farmington Hills real estate Cities Help Promote "Great Tree Hunt of 2008"  The Cities of Farmington Hills and Farmingtonhave joined with the Farmington Public Schools to support the "Great Tree Hunt of 2008."  This community-wide project is an environmental initiative designed to locate the biggest and best trees in our area.  All students in kindergarten through 8th grade will learn about the program at the start of the fall semester.  Organizers hope that it will turn into a family activity with parents helping their children hunt for the best tree specimens while enjoying the outdoors together.  Children will be asked to seek out and provide specific information about great trees, including location, how big around measured at 4 ½ feet above the ground... 08/27/2008

What a way to end the day of searching Metro Detroit Condos.  I had a first time home buyer that wanted to drive through one more Farmington Hills condo complex because it was a little newer.  On the way through the Farmington Hills condo complex we saw a home that had a real estate sign but was not listed on the local MLS. So I called the number on the sign to see if we could get into the condo.  A guy answered and I was surprised to find out that the homeowner was a licensed real estate agent that was trying to sell his condo.  We went inside and his story came tumbling out.   His wife had a stroke a few years ago and he was taking care of her.  He had bought the Michigan condo a few years back and he had $335,000 into the Michigan condo.  He needed to sell the Farmington Hills condo ... 08/27/2008

If you are a first time home buyer in the Metro Detroit real estate market one of the keys is to list what YOU WANT IN A MICHIGAN HOME.  As a first time home buyer you are going to get advice from many different sources.  Co-workers, friends, and family will all be helping you.  They all have thoughts and ideas on what make the perfect house and what you should be checking for. But buying your own home is  like choosing the type of food at a restaurant.                                                           Do you want fish, pasta, steak, or a salad?  It is your preference.  What you really want or like may not what the other person at the table wants or likes.  It is the same way with buying your first Michigan home.  That is why it is important to write down and remember what you w... 08/21/2008

Farmington Hills real estate  MI  Oakland County Schedules Home Ownership Retention Seminar in Farmington Hills  Another My Home - My Future Home Ownership Retention Seminar has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the Farmington Hills Costick Activity Center, 28600 Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. This meeting is free and open to all Oakland County homeowners.  Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson has initiated free foreclosure intervention and prevention seminars to help families protect their most valuable asset, their home. The impact of rising foreclosures on Oakland County families and communities is of great concern to county and community leaders. Besides losing earned equity, damaging credit and other monetary losses, losing a home to forecl... 08/18/2008

Farmington Hills, Michigan Join the "Battle of the Badges" Blood Drive  at the Costick Center on August 21  The Southeastern Michigan branch of the American Red Cross will sponsor a blood drive on Thursday, August 21 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the Costick Center on Eleven Mile Road between Middlebelt and Inkster in Farmington Hills.  This blood drive will be the annual "Battle of the Badges," a friendly competition between the Farmington Hills Police and Fire Departments.  Donors can cast a "vote" with their blood donation to help raise the tally of either department.  During the summer, there is a significant decrease in the number of blood donations while there's an increase in the need for blood.  August is traditionally the most difficult month to collect donations and local invent... 08/14/2008

Farmington Michigan Farmington Community Chorus Performs in Free Concert at Heritage Park August 21  The City of Farmington Hills"Stars in the Park" free summer concert series will feature the Farmington Community Chorus on Thursday, August 21, in the new amphitheater in Heritage Park, located at 24915 Farmington Road. The Farmington Community Chorus concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. and run until approximately 9 p.m. Concert goers are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair and a picnic dinner.  The "Stars in the Park" concerts are sponsored by Daimler Financial Services.  The 85-voice mixed chorus is composed of singers from throughout the metro Detroit area. They will be joined by instrumentalists (piano, bass, drums, reeds). Directed by Steve SeGraves and accompanied by assistant ... 08/09/2008

LARGE FORMAT PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS  JULY 26 and AUGUST 2 AT HERITAGE PARK   The City of Farmington Hills invites you to learn about large format photography, while enjoying the natural beauty of Heritage Park.  The class will be taught by Jacob Nothstine, award-winning videographer, photographer, and lecturer.   Large format photography is the technique used by the world-famous photographer Ansel Adams.  Class participants will learn about camera parts, types of cameras, operation, lenses, and other special gear needed for success with this style of photography.  Basic photography skills are recommended, but it's not necessary to bring a camera to class.  The class will be held on Saturday, July 26 and Saturday, August 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Stables Studio in Heritage Park, located ... 07/25/2008

Farmington Hills is a great place to live and raise a family.  Here one of the community events that City of Farmington Hills is going to put on at the end of the month. STARS IN THE PARK PRESENTS TERRY LEE GOFFEE AS JOHNNY CASH  For fans of Johnny Cash, July 31 will be a very special treat, as the Farmington Hills "Stars in the Park" concert series brings Terry Lee Goffee, known as the "Ultimate" Johnny Cash tribute artist, to Heritage Park for a concert that begins at 7:30 p.m.  Reviewers have said of Goffee that they are "hard pressed to believe" that it's not the real Johnny Cash on stage.  The concert will include all of Johnny Cash's best-known songs. Portraying Johnny Cash in the first person has been a joy for Goffee, who grew up admiring the classic Cash music.  One of his grea... 07/17/2008

Farmington Hills real estate and local information.   At some point in our life we will become more dependent on others, won't want to drive.  We will become those "old people"  Hopefully we will be like the member of Farmington Hills Senior Division.  They are still active and paying their way.  They are giving back to the community.  I hope I become like one of those old people some day.  Come on out and support them and buy a great pie. FIFTH ANNUAL "PIES ON THE GRAND" Come join in the fun at the Fifth Annual Blueberry Pie Extravaganza! Pies will be baked by volunteers and members of the City of Farmington Hills Senior Division at the Costick Center on July 16 - 18 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.  You can purchase the delicious blueberry pies, and also blueberry oatmeal cookies, from July 18 ... 07/08/2008

Happy 35th Anniversary, Farmington Hills!  The City of Farmington Hills is planning to celebrate its 35th anniversary with a bang!  Fireworks will highlight the community gathering planned for Tuesday, July 1 at Founders Sports Park on Eight Mile Road.  City officials will kick off the 35th anniversary celebration with a special program at 8 p.m., followed by live music and then a fireworks display at 10 p.m.   The City got its start as a small Quaker settlement, which was incorporated in 1927 as the City of Farmington.  In 1973, the surrounding township became the City of Farmington Hills.  Today, Farmington Hills is home to many of the world's most advanced technology companies.  The City is known for its high quality of life, beautiful parks, and extensive recreational and cultural p... 06/21/2008

GRAMMY AWARD-WINNER BARBARA BAILEY HUTCHISON IN FREE CONCERT AT HERITAGE PARK JUNE 26  Grammy Award-winning singer Barbara Bailey Hutchison will perform in her folksy and often funny style on Thursday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. as part of the City of Farmington Hills "Stars in the Park" concert series.  The concerts, sponsored by Daimler Financial Services, take place in the brand new amphitheatre in beautiful Heritage Park, located at 24915 Farmington Road, just south of Eleven Mile.  The sweet tones of Barbara Bailey Hutchison's voice are recognizable from her many radio and TV commercials.  Her talent goes far beyond commercials, though, as her Grammy Award can testify.  Barbara Bailey Hutchison has appeared at the White House twice; performed in nearly all 50 states, including Alaska and... 06/21/2008