This is the first post in what will someday be a snazzy resource for buyers looking to research all the different neighborhoods in Lansing.  Each Friday I'll give you the dirt on a new neighborhood in the Greater Lansing area. My plan is to start by reviewing neighborhoods with housing options in a typical first-time buyer's price range - $150,000 and below. My first target is Lansing's Colonial Village Neighborhood.  Colonial Village sits in south Lansing and is bounded by Mt. Hope Ave. on the north, MLK on the east, Holmes Rd. on the south and Pleasant Grove on the west.  Colonial Village has a very active neighborhood association.  On top of their other duties, the CVNA provides residents with an annual garage sale, neighborhood picnic and holiday lighting contest.The neighborhood bo... 07/30/2007

If you're thinking about becoming a homeowner for the first time I don't have to tell you all the great reasons to buy.  There are tons of great reasons and you've already been bombarded with them.  If you live in greater Lansing you've seen INNW ads all over.  Everywhere you look you're being steered toward buying a home and it's easy to get caught up in the excitement.  Maybe you just got married and buying a house together seems like what you're supposed to do next.  Maybe you just graduated from college and got your first "grown-up" job and you want to take another "grown-up" step.  Whatever your reason, buying your first home is an exhilarating process and it's easy to get caught up in the excitement. So my advice - in the process make sure you take some time to seriously consider ... 07/17/2007

I'm a sucker for homes built in the 1920s and so are a lot of my clients.  Who can resit hardwood floors, built-ins and all the rest of the charm and character that comes with a house from that era?  Not me. I get contacted often by first-time buyers who would kill for a historic home in East Lansing's Chesterfield, Bailey, or Glencairn neighborhoods.  Then they tell me they're pre-approved for a $150,000 mortgage.  Whoa, $150,000 isn't going to get them very far in East Lansing.  But they shouldn't despair, there are options for historic home lovers on a first-time buyers budget.Lansing is full of neighborhoods built in the 1920s.  I know, Lansing isn't East Lansing, but there are some great neighborhoods.  My favorite historic Lansing neighborhood is the Westside Neighborhood.  The ba... 07/17/2007

I've just come across another website that I think deserves some attention.  Develop.MetroLansing is full of information about new building projects happening in and around downtown Lansing.  I think of particular interst are the discussion forums specific to each project.  If you're interested in what's being proposed to change the downtown landscape take a minute and check it out.  06/14/2007

Recently the Lansing State Journal reported online that Lansing-area house sales are up, but average sale prices are down.If you want more detailed information about sales in your neighborhood just ask. 06/13/2007

It is going to be a beautiful weekend - Perfect for taking in an Open House or two...  or twenty.If you're looking for Open Houses to attend in the Greater Lansing area check out the Open House Search at http://www.lansing-realestate.com/.  I'm taking Father's Day off, but if you want to see me at an Open House you can catch me Wednesday the 20th from 4:00-6:00 at 2724 Trudy Lane in Lansing, MLS #155409.  06/13/2007

I just read a piece in today's LSJ about another condo development that is being proposed in downtown Lansing.  It looks like Lansing really is trying to go urban.  For details on the proposed development you can checkout the forums at Develop.MetroLansing. Do you think this is what the city should be doing with its riverfront real estate? 05/16/2007

If you're new to the Lansing area and you're looking for a way to meet new people, look no farther...The Lansing Jaycees are holding a membership mixer this Thursday the 17th from 5:00-7:00 PM.  If you've ever wanted to find out what the Jaycees are all about this is a perfect opportunity.The mixer will be held at Harpers in East Lansing.  Anyone 21 to 40 is welcome to attend.  Appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.Please RSVP. 05/15/2007

I just checked and there are currently 2,524 homes listed in the Greater Lansing area between $100,000 and $200,000 bucks.  669 of those homes are in Lansing alone.  That is a lot to choose from. My average buyer has been seeing about 25 homes before making a choice.  How are they narrowing it down?  On-line of course.  Here are a few good sites you can use to research properties in the Greater Lansing area:http://www.lansing-realestate.com/http://www.tomieraines.com/Both sites will let you search ALL of the homes listed with the Greater Lansing Association of Realtors(GLAR).And remember, it is free for buyer's to work with a buyer's agent in this area.  Some firms charge an administration fee (usually less than $300), but that fee typically isn't due until closing.  It is definitely wo... 05/15/2007

Whether you're buying your first home or your last, teaming up with a great real estate agent is an essential ingredient in a painless transaction.  The purchase of a home will undoubtedly be one of the largest investments of your life and I'm sure you don't want to have just anybody representing you.  In Greater Lansing alone there are over 1500 licensed agents - How do you pick one?1. Look for a Realtor!All Realtors are licensed to sell real estate, but not every agent is a Realtor.  Realtors subscribe to a code of ethics above an beyond what is required of a licenced real estate agent.2. Get a Referral!The best agents stay in business because they provide great customers service, valuable knowledge and sound advice to their clients.  Past clients sing the praises of Realtors who prov... 05/08/2007

First-time buyers usually cannot afford expensive homes.  If you're one of the few who can more power to you, but most of us need a starter home, not our dream home the first time out of the gate.  In most cases that is going to mean a compromise on location.  When I'm working with first-time buyers in the Greater Lansing area the top choices for location are always the suburbs, never Lansing itself.  However, most of my first-timers ultimately end up with a Lansing zip code because you get so much more for your money in Lansing and contrary to popular belief - there are some GREAT neighborhoods in Lansing. Can you afford to live in the burbs? This data represents sales between 5/1/06 and 5/1/07 and was provided by the GLAR MLS.  Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.Compare... 05/03/2007

This is a week by week comparison of the number of homes listed and sold in the entire Greater Lansing area from 2/25/07 to 4/28/07. You can see that listings are outpacing sales by double and sometimes triple each week.  The data represented here was gathered from the Greater Lansing Association of Realtors MLS and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.This post was inspired by Teresa Boardman's post in her St. Paul Real Estate Blog.  05/02/2007

If you've spent any time downtown in the last few years you will have noticed that Lansing is experiencing an urban renewal.  Private developers are adding high-end apartments and condominiums to the Lansing market.  Most are taking the shape of lofts or row-houses designed to appeal young professionals who want a taste of urban life previously unavailable in the capitol city. Lofts and rowhouses are available to purchase or rent in several different developments.  Here are links to some developments you might be interested in checking out:http://www.lansinglofts.com/http://www.stockwellproperties.com/http://www.motorwheellofts.com/www.printersrow.comhttp://www.pruddenplace.com/My favorite new downtown development has to be Printer's Row.  In the interest of full disclosure I will admit... 05/01/2007

If you're planning to sell your home this summer you need to ask yourself, "Is my house ready to be scruitinized by potenial buyers?"Whether you're a first-time seller or a real estate vetran, you need to put some thought into preparing your home for the market.  High inventories in the Greater Lansing real estate market mean buyer's have tons of homes to choose from.  If your property is going to be the one that stands out you probably need to make an effort to stage your home.  Check out how to prep a house and turn it into an irresistible and marketable home to get your started.  04/30/2007

When I'm working with buyers the majority of my clients tend to be young, newlywed first-timers.  That's probably because I'm a young newlywed and so are my friends and so are the friends they refer to me.Lot's of couples jump right into being first-time homebuyers as soon as the honeymoon is over.  Which house to buy is usually the first major decision of a marriage.I've found in my work with newlyweds that prior to getting hitched most couples don't talk about the specifics of their real estate needs.  They talk about how many kids to have and they know if their partner is a "dog person" or a "cat lover," but they don't know if the person they're marrying is that rare bird who is dying to own a 1970s split-level straight out of The Brady Bunch.If you're looking to tie the real estate ... 04/30/2007

When you're ready to sell your home, isn't a fast sale the goal?  I would answer, "YES!" but, if the behavior of most sellers is any indication a slow, grueling sale is really the goal. There are many factors that go into the timely sale of a home; price, condition and marketing to name a few.  I want to focus on price here so let's assume that the home is in great condition and is being marketed by a professional who covers all the bases.  Will an Over-Priced home sell fast?  NO!  Will a Well-Priced home sell fast?  YES!It seems obvious that a Well-Priced home will sell faster than an Over-Priced home.  So why do so many sellers "test the market" with an inflated listing price?  I think the answer is that most seller think Well-Priced is synonymous with Under-Priced. The current Greate... 04/23/2007

I'm sure you know all about the importance of first impressions.  People agonize about making great first impressions on dates and at job interviews, but when it comes to selling a house tons of people neglect the details that could make the best first impression.  Sellers that neglect their home's curb appeal miss the best opportunity to impress potential buyers.I met with a potential seller yesterday who has a solid home in a popular neighborhood.  The problem - his home needed an exterior paint job about a decade ago and it's still waiting.  This seller is a bit of a cheap skate and that's okay, I can respect being frugal.  Unfortunately I know that not springing for a $3,000 paint job is going to cost him tons of potential buyers and a quick sale.  Nobody is going to get past the fr... 04/19/2007

Preparations have begun for construction of a sound barrier separating the Groesbeck neighborhood from US-127.  Groesbeck is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Lansing, but homeowners living on the streets nearest to US-127 have to deal with freeway noise.  The noise from traffic on US-127 has negatively affected the marketability of the homes located in the eastern part of Groesbeck.  That problem will be solved by this November when construction of a barrier wall is anticipated to be completed. Driver's should be aware that construction of this wall will cause lane closures and delays on southbound US-127 from Lake Lansing Rd. to Saginaw Hwy. throughout the summer and fall.    The Groesbeck neighborhood is located south of the Eastwood Towne Center mall, it is bounded on the wes... 04/18/2007

The Greater Lansing Housing Coalition (GLHC) is an organization that I am proud to support.  The GLHC is a private, non-profit community development corporation.  The organization has been revitalizing Lansing area neighborhoods since 1989.  By rehabilitating existing homes and constructing new homes in at risk neighborhoods the GLHC is able to provide affordable housing to buyers who might not otherwise be able to become homeowners. The GLHC has several homes available for purchase and several others in the process of being renovated.Find out how you can helpthe GLHC on the organization's website.If you think you qualify to purchase a home renovated by the GLHC check out the 2007 Program Guidelines. 04/18/2007

Inspired by Maureen Francis' post, "Metro Detroit's Most Expensive Home," I have decided to bring you "Greater Lansing's Most Expensive Home."  Only about 60 miles separate the most expensive homes in Metro Detroit and in Greater Lansing, but they are separated in price by $11,750,000.Living in the Lansing area is cheap!  You can have the nicest home in town for only $2,750,000.What can you expect for $2,750,000 in Greater Lansing?20 Riverfront AcresA Hand Carved Fireplace Imported from ChinaA 2-level Library with Hand Carved Oak Doors, Oak Paneling, a Suspended Spiral Staircase, 18 ft. Ceilings & Antique Tiger Oak FireplaceA 10+ Car GarageProfessionally Landscaped Grounds8,500 Square Feet4 Bedrooms, 4 Full Baths & 4 Half Baths and much, much more...Not too shabby!Of course as Maureen p... 04/16/2007