The Greater Lansing Association of Realtors (GLAR) reports 413 home sales during March 2007.  The median sale price for homes in the same period was $127,900.  Sales were down from 493 in March of 2006.  The median sale price was also down from March 2006 when it reached $130,100.GLAR statistics show that 319 of the 413 homes that sold in March 2007 sold for less than $175,000. If you would like to receive a market update specific to the location of your property don't hesitate to contact me. 04/16/2007

Today's real estate market in the Greater Lansing area provides an excellent opportunity for renters to turn their monthly payments into equity. Having risen only slightly in the last few years, interest rates now are still much lower than over the past ten to twenty years, and home prices in many areas are very competative.  It's critical to begin taking those first steps towards home ownership, and here are some reasons why.The money you pay for rent goes into the pocket of your landlord, while money you could be paying for a mortgage goes toward equity in your home.  In other words, you keep the money you pay for your home, as its investment value increases with every payment.Over the last decade, the cost of rent has increased an average of 3% each year.  At that rate, payments of $... 04/11/2007

Have you noticed homes in your neighborhood sitting vacant?  If you have you're not alone.  It's possible that the vacant homes you've noticed are in the process of being foreclosed upon.  The Detroit News reports that the number of homes under foreclosure in Michigan has doubled from 2004 to 2006 to a rate that is 2½ times the national average. Factors contributing to the rise in foreclosure rates are the prevalence of predatory lending and a lack of consumer education on non-traditional loan programs.  The following article and attached brochure provide information that will help you avoid a situation in which you could become the victim of predatory lending.Foreclosures Hurt Neighborhood Home ValuesIn testimony Wednesday to a U.S. Senate panel, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® s... 04/05/2007

Lately you may have noticed INNW ads in our local papers and on area billboards.  If Not Now, When? is a consumer awareness program sponsored by the Greater Lansing Association of Realtors in an effort to inform buyers of the merits of purchasing a home in our current real estate market.  If you have not had the opportunity to see the complete ad I have included a link to it here.One of the main points of the INNW campaign is that the current real estate market in the Greater Lansing area is a buyers' market, with a large number of reasonably-priced homes available for buyers.  A reasonable concern in a buyers' market is when current owners should sell their homes.  What may not be clear from the advertisement is the economic advantage of moving to a larger home, where one's savings as ... 04/05/2007

Leaders gain respect on the example they set.  That means having a positive attitude that things will get better when we do. In this type of real estate market we need to develop creative responses to the opportunities and challenges that exist. By creating a vision within our industry that this is a down market, that is exactly what we will get. (No help from the media) This is more a normal market and the past five years or so have been an above normal market. (An order taking business). I have read various reports that some markets are down 20% compared to last years record breaking sales. Well, that means we have to increase our production and grow by 20% if we want to keep the same volume. How do we do that? My opinion, agents and organizations must first be willing to change in or... 11/18/2006

The latest Coldwell Banker Hubbell Real Estate Quarterly Market Report is now out for the greater Lansing area.http://coldwellbankerhubbell.com/pages/marketreports.cfm I have seen an increase in sales over the past 3 weeks with much more activity. Inventory is still rising however Lansing's New GM plant rolls off the first new car tomorrow and expects hundreds of jobs to be brought back over the next 12 month's.  Interest rates are staying very low and there has never been a better time to buy a house in Lansing Michigan.  I expect the best.   11/13/2006