We were going to our lake cottage this weekend at Manitou Beach, Mi. and passed the most amazing sunflower garden. We were driving too fast to stop but on the way home, I made my husband pull over to get some photos. There were at least 6 other cars doing the same thing. When I think of sunflowers I think of being in college and staying up all night playing bridge and eating sunflower seeds. I also think of all the baseball games I sat at with my boys, seems like that is a stable with baseball players. To see this field of sunflowers was breath taking. I also think of the famous artist Vincent Van Gogh and his famous paintings of sunflowers. If you didn't know, the sunflower seed that we eat is the center of the flower.       I like mine salty. Just thought you'd like to know... This po... 08/04/2008

Saline Rec Center is located on 1866 Woodland Dr in Saline, MI. Our family has been members for many, many years. My husband likes to call it the "house of pain" because we go and work out almost every morning. For families that are residents of Saline City, Pittsfield Township you can get a membership for the entire family for only $415.00 per year. If you live in Lodi, Ann Arbor, Saline Township and the surrounding area the yearly membership is $510.00. The Saline Rec Center provides many opportunities for recreation, including weight rooms for both men and woman, racquetball and wallyball courts, tennis courts, walking trails, ice skating in the winter, playgrounds, an Olympic size swimming pool and a kiddie pool. For adults wanting to work out, there is a Kids'Corner with trained st... 08/03/2008

Yes, my town, Saline, Michigan is all abuzz with news of Drew Barrymore, making her directing debut here this summer. Flower Productions, a film company from West Hollywood, set up offices in downtown Saline last week. Mayor Gretchen Driskell and Mayor protem Alicia Ping worked hard and fast to get Verizon to set up extra connections for the filming in Saline. Michigan has been pushing the film and entertainment business in Michigan for the past year and the legislature gave tax incentives for them to come to Michigan. For more information on the Michigan Film Productions tax incentives, the highest in the country, click here. The film is called "Whip It" and is about a girl in the South, whose mother is pushing her to be in beauty pagents yet the girl, finds her niche in the roller der... 07/10/2008

OK, I've been meme'd once again by Missy Caulk, my nearby neighbor in Ann Arbor, MI, over the weekend.     If you don't know what a meme is, think of "tag, you're it".  Meme rhymes with dream. The rules are that I am to share 8 things you might not know about me: 1..  Who is my favorite musical artist? Of all time:  Pink Floyd.  Very influential in the development of my musical tastes, which run the gamut.  "The Wall" is my top album of all time.  I think I've worn the digital info off a couple of CDs of "The Wall".  An incredible tribute to one of the band's founders - Syd Barrett. Recent:  Sum 41.  Their lyrics have always caught me, and coupled with the creativity of the musical accompaniment, I'm hooked.  Here's my choice from YouTube. 2.  Who is my favorite artist? As a kid, MC Esc... 06/02/2008

If you like my blog, please subscribe! Just hit the "RSS" logo button to your right. Thanks! As you all know, I review our market statistics around the middle of each month.  What I'd like to focus on this month is the overall strength of the market in, and around, Saline. The first chart I'd like to review is shown below. I've tracked real estate activity for the Saline real estate market since 1996. There is a definite seasonality to the market - strength in the summer, weakness in the winter. A reading above 25% is a "seller's" market, while a reading below 20% is a "buyer's" market.   It's no surprise to learn that we have been in a "buyer's" market in Saline since the end of 2004 - more than three years, now. What we see here in the middle of May, 2008, is a continued strengthening... 05/16/2008

The traditional method for selling your Saline real estate is to list it with a Broker.  By "traditional", I mean only that most sellers choose this method.  You ask your friends and relatives for the name(s) of reputable Realtors®.  You contact each of them, making note of the ease of reaching them, and your comfort level in speaking with them (after all, you'll be speaking with them a lot during the selling process).  You choose one and begin the listing process. In today's market for Saline real estate, we have an 11-month supply of homes available for sale.  What that means is that it could take many months to get your home sold.  (Let me emphasize that it could take that long, depending upon your asking price). But what if you can't wait that long to get your property sold? There's... 05/14/2008

I'm not much of a coffee drinker (Pepsi is my choice for COLD caffeine).  That said, many of my friends and clients (especially those with younger children) have lately spoken of a new spot for coffee (and more) in Saline.  Beanstalks Play Café is located in the old Calico Cat building (which is a former church built in 1899) at 117 S. Ann Arbor St.  The building is located within the central business district in downtown Saline.  Beanstalks Play Café joins the growing trend of businesses geared toward family-oriented play and recreation. The space has a giant play structure, toddler area, small gift shop, coffee bar and snack area on the main floor.  The lower floor has a video game room and space for birthday parties, and the top floor has an office. Admission to the play cafe for a d... 05/12/2008

In good times and bad, in buyer's markets or seller's markets, the number one influence on the sale of your Saline real estate is Price, Price, Price.  Oh, sure, the three most important issues to most buyers (and sellers) are Location, Location, and Location.  But unless you have a mobile home, there's not much you can do to move the location of your home. Having lived in Saline since 1985, I've seen the changes in price of most Saline real estate over the years.  In fact, since 1996, I've kept records of the pace of sales activity in the Saline area.  It's what I call my Total Market Overview, or TMO for short. Using the TMO, I can show you how, since 1996, we have moved from a moderate seller's market, to a strong seller's market, to a neutral market, to now - a strong buyer's market... 05/09/2008

Just another quick article to let you know how I recently helped a client with their real estate needs.Bob and Zoe had grown tired of climbing stairs in their 2-story home.  It was time for them to move to a home on a single level.Geographic proximity to their children and grand-children defined the limits of our search for a ranch-style home or condo.  We screened dozens of choices to find a few developments which offered the various amenities important to Bob and Zoe, which meant that we had only to visit a few properties to find the right one.And now, Bob and Zoe are enjoying their new home, all on one floor!Meanwhile, they are able to lease out their former home, earning income for their future needs.So, who do you know that is tired of climbing stairs?  Please pass this article alo... 05/07/2008

When the gas pump turns off automatically at $50 while filling your tank, you know that gas prices are REALLY high.  But, what does that mean for Saline Real Estate?Most of the articles about the price of gas are based upon an implicit assumption:  that the price of gas is only temporarily as high as it is.  This is not the case.  Gas isn't going to get significantly cheaper than today.  As a matter of fact, it's a better bet that the price ten years from now will be much higher.  It's a matter of supply and demand.  Two billion people in China and India are joining the consumer society, and they want our standard of living.  There was a recent article in the AP headlined Gas guzzlers a hit in China, where car sales are booming.But while sport utility vehicle sales in the U.S. are tumbl... 05/05/2008

Not everyone wants to be a real estate investor.  For that matter, not everyone wants to own a home of any kind. And that is okay.  Some people just don't want to be "tied down" or have to deal with a leaking water heater or have to take the chance on replacing a roof.  But for those of you who are still wavering between buying and renting and are wondering how the current Saline Real Estate market plays into that decision and whether or not it is worth it and...Let's just lay it all out there for you so you can make up your own mind.Here is our scenario:  A house in Saline that costs about $150,000 will rent for about $1200 in most of the Saline area.  The house is a 3 bedroom, 1 and ½ bath brick ranch, in good condition, with (maybe) a 1 car garage.  Let's project that you will either... 05/02/2008

One of the biggest decisions most people will ever make with their finances and their lifestyle is to buy (or sell) a home.  Getting the best bargain in the purchase, or making the most profit on the sale, give buyers and sellers so much to think about that many may never stop to consider keeping that old house - or buying another - as an income-generating property.  But the rewards, in savings, profits and problem-solving, can be high.One option for buyers who otherwise might consider home prices beyond their reach is the property that pays for itself: a house you live in part of and rent out the rest (the simplest form is a duplex).  This offers not only an obvious balance of cost and income, but perhaps lesser-known benefits in taxes and mortgage.The rental unit(s) can be depreciated... 04/30/2008

With no fear of heights, I'm not worried about climbing up on a soapbox for a good rant.  Here goes:I've written previously about the struggles of my aging parents.  If we're fortunate to have our parents around for much of our adult lives, it's something that we all have to go through.  Think of it as an educational opportunity to prepare for our own aging - should that actually occur.One of the tasks which my parents have asked that I assist with is to go through their mail, which I've been doing for a couple of months now.  And what I have to rant about today stems from that mail-opening experience.It is absolutely abominable what some so-called "marketers" will do to trick the gullible (in my parents' case, elderly)!  Using envelopes with borders similar to the IRS' official mail.  ... 04/28/2008

When it's time for you to begin looking at Saline real estate, the first question I'll ask  you is "What do you want?"Let me paint a word picture:  Why does a 60-watt bulb light a room, but give little warmth, while a laser beam will burn a hole through the wall?  The answer:  Focus.The more focused you can become about what you really want in your Saline real estate, the more powerful a force you become in the marketplace.But, how do you really know what you want?Your first inclination may be to go out and look at lots of houses.  You want to experience first-hand what your "wants" both look and feel like.Many people start off with a list of requirements that look like: "Must Have":  What you absolutely know you want "Should Have":  What you think you want "Could Have":  What you're no... 04/25/2008

As a home buyer in Saline, you want to know everything about the process before talking with anyone about your plans.  That's completely understandable.Toward that end, I'd like to address the topic of Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI.  You'll be paying PMI, in one way or another, whenever you put less than 20% downpayment on your Saline home purchase.  If you're a first-time homebuyer in Saline, coming up with that 20% downpayment may be a real struggle, so it's especially important to understand PMI.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:  Lenders mortgage insurance (LMI), also known as Private mortgage insurance (PMI) in the US, is insurance payable to a lender or trustee for a pool of securities that may be required when taking out a mortgage loan. It is insurance to offset losses ... 04/23/2008

Welcome to this brief tour of my new listing at 1469 Middlewood in Saline.  Priced at $255,000, it is available immediately.This super-sharp colonial in Maplewood Farms is in a great location - central to the subdivision, on the northern edge of Saline, within walking distance to the elementary and middle schools, the public library, and near a main road into Ann Arbor.This traditional, yet highly-versatile home is in beautiful, move-in condition with lots of natural light.  You will be impressed.        A bright white kitchen.    Generously large bedrooms.    A partially-finished basement.    And if you act in time, you can enjoy summer evenings in the huge screened porch or out on the deck.    Notables:     *  City of Saline     *  Taxes:  Approximately $5576 (2007)     *  Schools:  S... 04/21/2008

Before you begin to shop for Saline real estate, it is best that you set up a time to meet with a mortgage lender, so you can figure out how much you can afford.  This will put you in a better position as a buyer.It is important to understand the distinction between being pre-qualified for a loan and pre-approved for a loan. The difference between the two terms will be crucial when you decide to make an offer on a house. To get pre-qualified for a loan, a lender will collect information about your debt, income, and assets.  The lender will also look at your credit profile and your assets for a down payment, so that you can get an idea of all the different loan programs that would work for you.  The lender will then issue to you a pre-qualification letter indicating the amount you are pr... 04/18/2008

Every city and town has one park that tends to define the best features of the community.  In Saline, that would be the Mill Pond Park.  When you're looking for Real Estate in Saline, Michigan, having a great park in town is an important consideration.To those families with young children, most of us know the park more simply as the ROMP, which is an acronym for Re-create Our Mill Pond park.  A number of years ago, civic leaders in Saline organized an effort to build a "super structure" playground for young children at Mill Pond.  The ROMP structure has been a hit with my kids over the years!  Here's what it looks like from the sledding hill:And speaking of a sledding hills, one of the better ones in Saline is located at the northeast corner of the park.  From the bottom, here's what th... 04/14/2008

Just another quick note to let you know about recent happenings in the Saline real estate market, and with a question:  Do you Shop, or do you Buy?What's the difference?Shopping means that you check out all of your available options and research until you conclude which choice is best for your needs.  Then, you go out and buy.These days, over 80% of home buyers do their shopping via the Internet.  In years past, most home shoppers would dread having to drive around and look at many homes before making a decision.  These days, buyers use the Internet to narrow down their home search choices to a few homes, which they then go out and see in person.So, when it comes time to sell your home, you want to be absolutely certain that your home is marketed effectively and extensively via the Inte... 04/11/2008

Despite the residual snow on the ground outside - I know, it's ONLY the end of March! - it's time to start thinking about ways to improve your likelihood for selling your Saline, Michigan home this spring.Curb appeal is the aspect of your home which a prospective home buyer can see from the curb or the street.  It's the first impression your home gives to anyone who approaches your home.There are many aspects of curb appeal to consider, including  the condition of your home (roof, trim, paint, clean windows, etc) and landscape (lawn, gardens, sidewalk(s), driveway, patio(s)).  Today I'll focus exclusively on only one aspect of the "Curb Appeal" of your home - the landscape as you approach your front door.What is the condition of your front sidewalk?  Is it smooth and level?  Are there t... 03/26/2008