It's that time of the year to celebrate Michigan winter in Plymouth Michigan.  Every year about the third weekend in January the City of Plymouth puts on the Plymouth Ice Carving contest and festival.  This is the 27th year and is located right in downtown Plymouth in Kellog Park. Some of the carvings are over 10 feet tall and some are 12 feet wide.  Ice carvers from around the world come to compete.  Many of the ice carvers are from the food industry as many ice carvers are chefs.  Chefs have to make ice carvings as part of some of the fantastic banquets they put together. This sculpture is over 12 feet long.                Local business support the Plymouth Ice festival.  The festival draws large crowds no matter what the weather. Some come on down to downtowm Plymouth MI enjoy the ... 01/24/2009

If it's going to stay as cold as it is this year, we might as well enjoy an event that celebrates it. The Plymouth MI Ice Sculpture Spectacular comes to Kellogg Park in Downtown Plymouth this weekend. Starting at Noon on Friday, January 27th and running through Sunday, January 29th, the event features ice carvers from local high schools, colleges, and professionals from around the United States and some from as far away as Japan. Over 100 sculptures are expected to be carved, mostly from single blocks of ice weighing over 300 pounds. Several sculptures will be constructed using between 5-100 blocks of ice, and you can watch the carving process from the beginning of stacking the blocks of ice to the finished works of art. Besides the ones filling Kellogg Park, the customized sculptures s... 01/21/2009

I follow lots of blogs to keep up on technology, particularly as it relates to real estate. One of my favorites is AgentGenius where the top real estate bloggers in the country post. If you're thinking of selling your Plymouth home, you'll want to check out this recently highlighted video "How To Avoid the 10 Mistakes Home Sellers Make". It provides a great overview of all the areas you need to consider when getting ready to put your home on the market. For more information or suggestions, feel free to call, email or text me. 01/03/2009

I get a lot of solicitations from other brokers to join their firms.  I always like to get them.  Some make me laugh.  Some stroke my ego.  Some are insulting to my intelligence. I'm not moving anytime in the future.  I like Remerica Hometown One.  They support us.  They have the support system to back us up.  Here is one area of the many support systems they have.  They have receptionists that answer the phone.  Nothing special right, wrong there are some companies that just have answering machines.  There is no person on the other end!!!!  They will get back to you.  Sometimes in a hour, sometimes by the end of the day.  Buyers want instant service.  Many times it is somebody sitting out in front of the house wanting information or wanting to see the house. Remerica Hometown One is op... 12/31/2008

It's been a crazy month with tons of economic news, and lots of it not so good. With the Detroit 3 thrown a lifeline just in time for the holidays, let's hope that the rest of the economy stabilizes soon so people start buying cars again. The local real estate market had record sales again for the 11th straight month in 2008, with an increase of 20.5% over November 2007. Realcomp, our local MLS, reports that 2008 year-to-date sales increased 18.1% over 2007. Oakland County posted the highest percentage sales increase for November at 31.8%. There are a couple of factors for the continued strong market activity. First, starter home sales (those valued up to $124,999) for first time buyers is up by 60% over last year. Secondly, inventory is down 17.72% and homes are priced aggressively. La... 12/22/2008

With 12 inches of the snow right now it is hard to look at Metro Detroit Real Estate.  It is cold, windy and sloppy so what about this idea.  Warm up the car, and pack up the kids and take a look at some of metro Detroit western Suburbs best Christmas light displays.  Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year.  Something about lites glistening in the dark just seems so magical.  The brighter the better for me.  I have Clark Griswold blood.  These homes here are like postcards from the past.  Some of them have large trees so the lighting displays is awesome.  Enjoy my picks Christmas Light Viewing List Novi MI 22501 Windermere Ct Bradford of Novi subdivision off Nine Mile between Taft and Beck Plymouth's outstanding Christmas Lights 10907 Wellington  Woodlore Subdivision off Ann... 12/21/2008

After two long years of construction and road closure, the Sheldon Road Underpass opened with fanfare this afternoon. Sheldon Road connects Plymouth to Northville and provides convenient access to the M-14 expressway. Because of train traffic through Plymouth, it was decided an underpass under the tracks near M-14 would be the best way to alleviate traffic backups waiting for trains. The two year road closure was a major pain in the neck for many people, including me since my office is in Plymouth. Thank goodness that's behind us! 12/12/2008

With all the bailout talk going one, here's an an idea I can get behind. Buy Local and Let's Keep Our Money in Michigan! Buy Michigan Now challenges supporters to Think Michigan First to support and build a strong Michigan economy. Download their holiday gift and grocery guides, and while you're there, Take the Pledge to 'think Michigan first'. Spend local to build a strong and diverse Michigan economy. Here's a couple of stores to consider. Michigan Made in Plymouth ships gift baskets with filled with Michigan products around the country. Those born in Michigan but living elsewhere can get a little touch of home (like Sanders). If you're an art lover, check out the Art-is-in Market at Laurel Park Mall in Livonia, exclusively featuring the work of Michigan artists. I'll leave you with t... 12/09/2008

Economy have you down?  Do you have the blues, need some cheering up?  Want to get into the Christmas spirit.Then take a stroll down to downtown Plymouth MI.  They have decorated Kellog Park with trees.   Local businesses and citizens decorate 6 foot live trees to support a cause or to celebrate a loved ones life. Christmas songs play over speakers so you can really get into the spirit.  The local musuem has holiday related exhibits and the Penn Theater is playing a Christmas classic. People are strolling through all the neat local stores and enjoying the many restaurants and bars.  Even the local establishments have decorated and gotten into the spirit. The Box Bar is decked out in it's holiday finest inside and out.  So if you are looking for a reasonable place to gather with friends ... 12/03/2008

Most of the students that reside in Plymouth and Plymouth Township go to Plymouth Canton School System. The median home price for Plymouth real estate in 2006 was $294,112.   There are homes in Plymouth MI that were built in the 1800's and there are new homes and new Plymouth subdivisions that were built as late as 2008.  So there is a wide range and variety of homes in Plymouth and Plymouth Township MI.                                                                       There are little 800 square foot bungalows all the way up to mega mansions worth over a million dollars.                          The Milleage rate for the City of Plymouth is $39.74 for every $1,000 of state equalized value (SEV) or taxable value. The Milleage rate for Plymouth Township is $27.96 for every $1,000 of ... 11/27/2008

For the 10th straight month in a row, sales were up over 2007 for total of 27.7% in the MLS area. With lots of competition from bank & government-owned homes and short sales, owners are continuing to hold their homes off the market until it stabilizes so the number of homes on the market has continued to decline. Homes priced competitively are selling and the number of starter homes (those priced under $125K) sold this year has surpassed 2007. In fact, 53% of all homes sales were below $100K! Activity has definitely slowed with all the market chaos so next month's numbers will be interesting to see. It's still a great time to buy for first time buyers, particularly owner-occupied HUD homes which require only $500 down. For example, my daughter recently bought a home that was far cheaper... 11/24/2008

If you want to know more about a certain Plymouth MI neighborhood click on the Plymouth subdivison.  I have included both Plymouth subdivision and Plymouth Township subdivisions.  Some of the subdivision data included is: number of homes styles of homes streets in the subdivision characteristics of the homes recent sold Plymouth homes current Plymouth homes for sale  age of homes  If you are relocating to Michigan this might help you get a feel of the neighborhood. Downtown Plymouth HomesAndover Lakes SubdivisionBeacon Estates SubdivisionBeacon Meadows SubdivisionBirch Estates SubdivisionBrecken Ridge SubdivisionCambridge Green SubdivisionCambridge Village SubdivisionColony Farms SubdivisionCountry Acres of Plymouth SubdivisionDeer Creek SubdivisionFox Pointe SubdivisionGreystone Subdiv... 11/22/2008

Here is what happening in Downtown Plymouth Michigan  Friday November 21, 2008 ~~Kids Workshop at Creatopia Paint It Yourself Pottery Studio 7:00-9:00pm For ages 6yrs-12yrs holiday clay angel or wreath project with pizza and pop provided. $25 RSVP (734) 453-8797 ~~Live Music at Sean O'Callaghans Irish Pub - 9:30p.m. Ted Lamont will perform 821 Penniman Ave (734) 459-6666 ~~Penn Theatre Weekend Movie "Ghost Town" : 7:00pm and 9:00pm Friday & Saturday Tickets $3.00 (760 Penniman Ave 734-453-0870) Saturday November 22, 2008 ~~"Twas the Night Before Christmas" Exhibit at the Plymouth Historical Museum -1:00p.m.-4:00p.m. 155 S. Main Street Cost $5.00 adults, $2.00 kids 5-17 or $10 per family ~~Sugar Spell with special guests James Henes and Andrew J, performs acoustic/alternative folk rock a... 11/21/2008

  Handy Man Service extended to Building Maintenance in Plymouth, Michigan Annowanced at REIA Meeting   Keith Paul, Handyman Plymouth, Michigan Offers Tips on using Adhesives At National Real Estate Network, LLC., Michigan Real Investing Association, (REIA) on November 20th, 2008. Keith Paul talked about Adhesives and announced that his company had expanded to providing handy man Services to Building Maintenance Service. Paul said “Wow, it is incredible how many different types of adhesives there are available today. Just go to your local hardware store and you will most likely find an entire aisle stocked with hundreds of different types of glues and adhesives. There are many different kinds for bonding various materials. I would have to write a full length book to cover them all. In t... 11/21/2008

Have you written about yourself lately. Sure we write about our experiences.  Sure we write about what we do.  But once in a while we need to give a little back ground about ourselves.  For example I don't know if a veteran means that you were in a combat zone or that you were just in the military. Before I become a Plymouth MI Realtor I spent four years in the Army.  I started out at Ft. Benning Georgia as a "grunt"  I went through jump school there too.  But when I went to Ft. Bragg North Carolina they were looking for volunteers to become parachute packers.  They always say to never volunteer but I did. I got lucky and I was sent to Parachute packing school in Ft. Lee Virginia for 3 or 4 months.  We had a great time there as it was the supply chain school.  There were more women ther... 11/11/2008

[originally written in 2008, this post about video in real estate is still very valid] This past weekend the Detroit Free Press had an article about virtual tours and how they enhance a property’s presence online.  There is even a throw-away comment about YouTube and online video. The money quote: The advantage of using a virtual tour is that if buyers develop a good first impression from the tour, they may be more likely to make an offer once they see the house in person. Virtual tours do go a very long way in showing a property’s best aspects.  In combination with virtual tours, Professional One Real Estate has found that narrated walk through videos, not just still photos put to music, allow prospective buyers to learn whether a property meets their desires.  This goes a LONG way to... 11/10/2008

A Veteran...is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America” for an amount of “up to and including my life...”      Author Unknown This week is National Veteran's Awareness Week and Tuesday is Veteran's Day. Originally intended to celebrate the signing of the Armistice ending World War 1, we now honor the service of all veterans. I joined the military just after the Vietnam War ended. While it was definitely not a popular thing to do, it was a great experience. The GI Bill paid for my college education and helped me buy my first home. But being in the military back then was a very different world. Today's military members face multiple, extended deployments resulting in terrible family and financial stress, sometimes ev... 11/09/2008

Plymouth Real Estate and Plymouth SubdivisionsAndover Lakes Subdivision   Plymouth Links City of Plymouth Official Site   Plymouth Canton Schools Plymouth Chamber of Official Site Andover Lakes subdivision is actually 3 subdivisions .  Andover Lakes has approximately 220 homes in it.  The homes were built during the years of 1996 - 2008.  The homes are mostly Colonial and Cape Cod style homes.  Most of the homes have brick exteriors & brick/vinyl & brick/wood exteriors, 2 & 3 car garages, 3-4 bedrooms,  2.5 + bathrooms, basements (some walkout, some regular basements).  There are some small ponds which they call lakes.  Very natural looking with logs and stumps in them.  The lakes/ponds are more of a natural, rustic look than a pristine, manicured look.Square footage of the homes range ... 11/07/2008

For the same price you bought it at a year ago?  I don't think so.  Metro Detroit home values have fallen over the last year.  I talked to a young lady that was moving to Chicago with her husband.  They had bought their Plymouth home a year ago for $425,000.  They now have it listed for $430,000 and hoping to get a $425,000 offer. I myself think they are out of their mind.  I wonder if their listing agent told them so.  It is very unlikely that any home buyer would only offer less than 2% below list price.  In the Metro Detroit buyers market it is not unusual to see offers from 10 to 25% below the list price.   Sometimes the Michigan home buyers get a great deal. But I would say that many homes are selling from 5 to 10% below the list price in the Metro Detroit Michigan real estate mark... 11/04/2008

So you are going to be looking at Metro Detroit Home homes for sale?  You want the best deal on the best home. But how are you going to know what is the best deal on that Northville home or that Plymouth Condo?  One of the ways is to have your prioriies listed.  Have your "must haves" and "like to haves" written down.  Too many Metro Detroit Home buyers are getting confused.  There are too many choices, too many Michigan homes for sale. So some Michigan home buyers are procrastinating on putting in offers.  Then getting upset when the home sells out from under them.  The home buyer then starts the whole process over again. They get confused with all the choices. So write your needs and wants down. If you like the home a lot put in an offer. There may not be another Michigan home that yo... 10/30/2008