15" of pure white powdery snow have fallen on Michigan over the past week. Many are starting to wonder what they should do with all of the white stuff. Plymouth, Michigan has come up with a contest and a constructive idea, build snowmen. The challenge is to build the best snowman. All Plymouth children are invited to e-mail a picture of their snowman by March 4 to sobsniuk@ci.plymouth.mi.us or drop off the picture to the recreation department office loacted at 525 Farmer ST. Make sure to include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address.   The contest winner will be announced March 14!   Now get out there and make a snowman. 02/06/2011

 This is why I love Plymouth Michigan.  They is always something going on for the local residents.  So if you live in Plymouth Michigan join in the fun and enter your snow man into the City of Plymouth MI Snowman Contest.  I know you can design something unique that will catch the judges eyes.  Snowman Photo Contest   Now that more snow has fallen gather up all the snow and creativity you can and start building!  Build a snowman, dress him up, and take a picture.  Drop-off the picture at the City of Plymouth Recreation Office or send it in by mail, email it to Lauren at lobsniuk@ci.plymouth.mi.us, or fax it in, whatever it takes.  Just get the picture to the office along with the name, address, phone number and email address of the person who created the snowman before Friday, March 4th... 01/13/2011

As a Michigan home buyer sometimes you don't know what to look for, so here are 5 items to watch out for.  I believe when you are buying a home you should try to remember out 5 items that can be very costly to repair.  They are Foundation Roof Kitchen Baths Furnace If  the kitchen and baths are updated then it is a cost that you are not going to have to pay for years.  If a roof is newer again it may be 10 -15 years before you have to replace it.  Having a newer roof or furnace is good because you aren't going to have to shell out money for a few years to get a new one.  Michigan Foundation problems can be very expensive to fix.  So as a Michigan home buyer you want these 5 items to be newer or updated.  It is almost impossible to have all 5 newer or updated unless you are buying a new ... 01/11/2011

Rolling Oaks Subdivision is located in Plymouth Township MIoff North Territorial Rd just  west of Beck Rd.  So it is a great subdivision is you need freeway access because the M-14 and Beck Rd entrance ramp is right around the corner. Rolling Oaks subdivision has about 156 Colonial and Cape Code homes in it.  There are some ranch  homes.  The subdivision has a clubhouse and community pool.  Current Rolling Oaks Subdivision homes for sale as of 12/14/2010 LIST PRICE STREET NAME SQUARE FOOTAGE BEDROOMS BATHS.LAVS YEAR BUILT 330000 ORCHARD 3263 4 2.1 1999 399100 HILLTOP DRIVE W 2770 4 2.1 2002 The average time on the market for these Plymouth Township homes is 30 days.  If you would like to see any of these homes or want more information on them send me an email at info@russravary.com Movi... 12/13/2010

I have to thank David Knox for this because he had a video in his library of videos that showed me how to do it. Basically an agent from another state gave away a Christmas tree in exchange for a toys for tots gift.  You bring us a toy we will give you a live Christmas tree.  I thought it was a novel idea because I love Christmas so much.  It helps everybody. So I found a friend that had a cousin who owned a tree farm.  I ordered fifty Christmas trees and split them with another agent in my office.  I called a friend who needed extra money and I worked it out with him to play Santa Claus.  Then I ordered a nice Santa Suit online and my early preparations were done. Then I went to dialing my clients.  I soon found out it was hard to give away a live Christmas tree.  So many people use ar... 12/09/2010

Many parents in our area are struggling financially, making the hope of toys under the tree a far off dream. That is why I love the Salvation Armies Tow Towne program. Toy Towne provides new and like new toys, set-up in a toy store atmosphere, where parents can walk through and select toys for their children.   I am excited to work with Toy Towne with my children at Toy Towne this Christmas. If you are looking for a place to volunteer this Christmas, there are local Toy Towne's all over the country.   The Plymouth, MI Salvation Army schedule is: Toy Towne Distribution:        Dec. 18 (Sat) 10 - 4pm        Dec. 20 (Mon) 10-6pm        Dec. 21 (Tues) 10-6pm        Dec. 22 (Wed) 10-1pm Refresh & Restocking        Dec. 18 (Sat) 4-6pm        Dec. 20 (Mon) 6-8pm        Dec. 22 (Tues) 6-8pm   12/05/2010

I received an e-mail this week from the local Salvation Army food pantry. As can be expected, they announced that there is an incredible need this year for assistance. They communicated that their shelves are literally almost bare. They are pleading for extra food help this year, especially this holiday season. So, my family has decided to use all of the, "buy one get one free' deals that are at nearly every grocery store and  donate the free to the food pantry this holiday season. We will be delivering our "get one free" turkey and cans tomorrow. I am sure food pantries in your region have the same message. Consider giving the "free" away.       11/22/2010

Plymouth MI history - Early Plymouth resident were entrepreneurs and inventors.  Did you know Plymouth MI was home of a cigar factory.  George W Springer's cigar factory manufactured a line of cigars including the "Hotel Plymouth", "Hotel Victor", and "The Mail". William Wherry invented the self setting mole trap.  I myself think William Wherry was one of Plymouth's great inventors because some many people are troubled by moles in their yard.  Wherry's shop was located on Dodge street behind his house which was on main street. The rail road was instrumental in helping get these products around the country. With out the railroad line in Plymouth many of these product may not have been widely marketed.    They say at one time Plymouth had railroad tracks that went North, South, East, and... 11/11/2010

This is what has sold in Andover Lakes Plymouth MI neighborhood in the last 365 days as of Nov 5, 2010.   ADDRESS LIST PRICE SALE PRICE DOM SQUARE FOOTAGE SP PER SQFT 12338 WENDOVER DR 2250 2100 22 2819 0.7449 50167 SHEFIELD CT 159900 171100 44 2380 71.8907 12684 WENDOVER CT 229900 229900 8 2143 107.2795 12464 WENDOVER CT 250000 247000 51 2638 93.6315 13039 ANDOVER DR 325000 290000 31 2359 122.9334 12755 ESSEX CT 295000 292000 58 2700 108.1481 12410 WENDOVER LOT 19 DR 339900 320000 144 2819 113.5154 If you notice is that most of them sold very close to list price and within 2 months except for the new built home.  The one that went for $2100 is a lease price not a sales price.  These six sold Andover Lakes subdivision homes sold in the average of 51 days. _______________________________... 11/05/2010

Plymouth first time home buyer series - how many houses should you look at in one day?  I myself think between 6 and 8 homes is the max you should see. When looking at 6 you can remember the difference between the Plymouth homes. But I always recommend my first home buyers to keep the listing tickets and make notes on them.  That way you can remember what you like and what you don't like on each home.  My relocation buyers that come into town have it down to an art form.  Many of the Metro Detroit relocation buyers that I work with put the homes that they look at and like on a spread sheet. That way they will remember what they liked and disliked about the house.  If you get up to seeing eight homes in a day writing down information on the listing ticket will help you remember.  Anythin... 11/03/2010

We had a beautiful fall day here in Plymouth MI for our annual pumpkin giveaway.  We had plenty of pumpkins, apple cider, balloons, and donuts for everybody.  We have our annual pumpkin giveaway in front of our office at 5 Mile Rd and Sheldon Rd.  Here are some pictures of the day!   So many pumpkins... which one do I want?                                                                                 4 happy customers eating their donuts and having a little cider                Hundreds of pumpkins to chose from!!! The clown made lots of balloon swords and balloon animals for all the kids.                                                                                                    Or you could get your face painted by one of our talented artists This was so much easier than goin... 10/17/2010

[To view the Plymouth Michigan housing stats, be sure to click "Fullscreen" below to see everything.] Plymouth Michigan Real Estate Statistics | June 2010 Average Sales Price:  $229,896 June saw a nice increase in the average sales price over May, a 12.64% increase in fact.  There were 37 homes in Plymouth, Michigan that were bought in the month of June. Average Sales Price to List Price Ratio:  92.60% In June, homes in the city of Plymouth, Michigan sold for about 7% less than what they were offered as for sale.  This ratio is based on the original list price of the home and final sales price.  Please note that this ratio does not take into account any concessions or money back from the seller to the purchaser. Average Number of Days on the Market:  83 Nearly three months is what it to... 07/07/2010

A little while ago, I wrote a post titled "When Is A Home Really For Sale?"  Continuing the train of thought in that prior post, I figure a follow up post might be in order to specifically talk about how to properly price a home for sale. Many homeowners faced with selling right nowt have an idea that the market is challenging...but few sellers know JUST HOW difficult selling can be in this market. Pricing Your Plymouth Michigan Home for Sale The first and, arguably, the biggest factor in the successful sale of your home is determining the appropriate list price.  MSN's Money Central recently published a great article on just this topic.  I highly recommend taking the time to read the whole article.  Here are a few of the ten points I'd like to highlight: Tip No. 1: Don't get penalized ... 06/30/2010

Here's an article covering a few items you will need to remember in purchasing a home offered as a short sale. The important item to highlight, repeat, underline and emphasize is that short sales take time... more time than would seem realistic. And that goes for both the buyer and the seller of a short sale property! Short Sale Article | Professional One Real Estate 06/15/2010

May 2010 is officially over and we are rushing head long into June! Important item to note in the housing market: April 30th has passed us by. April 30th was the deadline for buyers to get under contract to be eligible for the Uncle Sam housing purchase tax credit (up to $8,000 for first time homebuyers and up to $6,500 for everyone else). To view the Plymouth Michigan housing stats, be sure to click "Fullscreen" below to see everything. Plymouth Michigan Real Estate Stats | May 2010 Average Sales Price:  $204,093 A modest increase over April's average sales price of $203,913, May saw 31 homes change ownership in the City of Plymouth, Michigan. Average Sales Price to List Price Ratio:  94.09% For the homes that sold in Plymouth Michigan, they sold for about 6% less than what they were o... 06/08/2010

Our Southeastern Michigan real estate market is what I would call "stable".  The question came up during a phone call.  An out of state investor asked me on the phone call what our market was like.  Our local housing inventory has been relatively staying the same. Our local MLS has been averaging between 44 -46,000 home listings.  Here is what that means.  If the housing inventory was growing, it  means homes are not selling as fast.  That homes prices may drop because there is less demand.  If housing inventory was going down it means the real estate market is ''hotter".  That homes are selling faster than they are coming on the market.  It may mean that home prices may be rising.  But the southeastern Michigan real estate inventory and market prices are relatively stable.  Neither goi... 05/21/2010

Are you going to be buying or selling a Plymouth Michigan home in the not too distant future? If the answer is any form of "yes," then you need to be aware of some of the documents you will be signing to purchase or sell your next home. This video reviews the Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationships that Michigan law requires real estate licensees to discuss with real estate consumers. It is simply a disclosure that shows the different "flavors" of agency relationship. Below the video is the language you will see on the disclosure for each variety of real estate agency. [click the description to make them large enough to read...] Michigan Seller's Agency Michigan Buyer's Agency Michigan Transaction Coordinator 05/15/2010

It's time for the monthly Plymouth Michigan real estate statistics! Presented here are the numbers for homes closed in the month of April 2010. Don't forget to hit the "full screen" button to view this presentation at a size you can actually READ the numbers. April 2010 Plymouth Michigan House Stats | Professional One Real Estate View more presentations from Professional One - Plymouth. Plymouth Michigan Homes | Average Sales Price: $203,913 Down from March's Average Sales Price of $210,653, April saw 26 homes successfully sell. This is a modest increase of 1 sale from April 2009 and is down 14 sales from March of 2010. Plymouth Michigan Homes | Average Sales Price to List Price Ratio: 92.05% For the homes that sold in Plymouth Michigan, they sold for about 8% less than what they were o... 05/06/2010

You're selling your home. It's been on the market for a little while, an offer has been tendered and you have come to an agreement on price and terms with the purchasers. Once you've gotten to this stage of the deal, you're done, right? Not so fast there, Smokey! There are still a few potential trouble spots along the way. The thing to remember about ANY real estate transaction is that there WILL BE some bumps along the way. It may be as minor as a sump pump dying on you or as major as the lender for the buyer folding up shop. What you need to keep in mind is that your goal is to close on the sale. You want to hand the keys over to the buyers. That being said, here are some critical points for you to keep in mind as you navigate these frequently turbulent waters: Six Tips Plymouth Home ... 04/26/2010

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) TED is a: ... small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment and Design (hence, "TED"). Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with the annual TED Conference in Long Beach, California, and the TEDGlobal conference in Oxford UK, TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Program, the new TEDx community program, this year's TEDIndia Conference and the annual TED Prize. TEDxUofM is an independently organized TED event that took place Saturday, April 10th, 2010. The University of Michigan hosted and sponsored this event at their new Biomedical Research Building. Having missed out on last year's T... 04/23/2010