It's interesting that while many cities are currently in financial trouble (because of our economy and the simple fact that so may cities tied their income so closely to property taxes) that the City of Troy REMAINS one of the most sought after areas to live in Michigan!  About the City of Troy, Michigan Where can you find the best city to live in Michigan that is also one of the safest in the nation and second most ethnically diverse in the state? What city offers affordable housing, A+ rated schools, quality public services, and a solid bond rating? Where can families and businesses prosper in a place that offers the finest high-end office space in the Midwest, world class shopping and dining, and over 900 acres of parklands? The City of Troy! While Troy maintains its hometown charm, ... 01/04/2010

REIA of Oakland County Michigan is community of real estate investors that looks to educate and inform its members on how to be a successful and profitable real estate while obeying local and state laws.  It is a great association to join if you have Oakland County investment properties or thinking of buying some real estate investments.  This class is open to the public and will help you to learn how to fight "city hall" and your Michigan property tax Assessment REIA of OaklandA Non-Profit Real Estate Investment GroupServing Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties January 14th, 2010   Proudly Presents Strategies for Michigan Property Tax Assessment Appeals with Harold Hoyt  Due to the economic challenges we are facing in Michigan, property tax assessments have become an important topic for... 01/02/2010

    123 ConEd LLC (Michigan’s leading online real estate continuing education provider) proudly INTRODUCES 123 ConEd Holding LLC!! FREE 6 credits of Continuing Education when 123 ConEd Holding LLC holds your license!   You Need Your Continuing Education Anyway, Why Not Let 123 ConEd Holding LLC Hold Your Salesperson License For You Too!   Keep your Michigan real estate salesperson license Save hundreds of dollars every year by avoiding local board and MLS dues and desk fees Get 6 hours of FREE online real estate continuing education each year (including 2 hours of legal update) Generate income from referrals Choose whatever broker you wish to handle your referred business Maintain the flexibility to transfer your license to a different broker when you are ready to represent buyers and s... 12/10/2009

Being mostly, in the residential perspective of real estate, i am somewhat ignorant to the commercial sector. I heard rumors of the commercial sector going to collapse just as the residential sector did. I cant even imagine the repercussions because were not talking about a 100,00.00 mortgage, were talking about million dollar assets. Banks are getting more stringent on commercial loans, and this will only decrease values, at a declining rate, if no bank is willing to finance a new project/ or business there will no turn over rate, and properties will never appreciate. Please share your thoughts thank you   Looking to sell or lease you're home? Call Justen Alias I specialize in representing sellers whether it be short sales, private owned sales, and high end leases. I specialize in Oakl... 11/01/2009

See the information below or just click the link.  This should be a good opportunity for those of you who would like to hear three different professionals who are all working on short sales.  Hope some of you can make it.  If you can come, please come up to me and introduce yourself, like to know someone is reading my blog. Mike  http://www.reiaofoakland.com/home.html Proudly PresentsAugust 13, 2009   Short Sale Panel    "Short Sales Aren't Worth My Time""Short Sales Never Close""Short Sales Take Too Long""The Banks Take Too Long" Have We Covered All Of The Excuses Why You Don't Like Short Sales? How About The Real Reason? You Don't Know How To Do Short Sales The Right Way!  We have assembled some of the best and brightest Short Sale Wizards from the Detroit Area to give you the inside ... 08/12/2009

Experts become experts when others seek their advice.  What does that mean?  Well, it is like the old saying, "if a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to witness it, did it really happen?"  The answer is if no one saw it or heard it, then it never happened.  Like that tree, if no one sees or hears you, you might not be an expert. I am a Short Sale Expert because; I have, and continue to, offer my advice and guidance through my blogs, my Short Sale classes through our area board of Realtors and through serving on expert panels. Like the panel I will be on Thursday August 13th at the Real Estate Investors Association of Oakland: http://www.reiaofoakland.com/home.html  I also openly lend my time to help other Realtorsor short sale sellers that have an agent who can not answer thei... 08/12/2009

 I am teaching another short Sale class on June 25th, 9am-12PM Come and check it out. Mike Thriving with Short Sales Foreclosure agents presently control a high percentage of the homes-sold market share: short sales are a way for traditional REALTORS® to capture that business. Short sales allow you to have saleable-priced listings that will attract more showings, sign calls, Internet leads and help control inventory. Short sales will keep you busy. Topics include prospecting for short sales; converting a phone call to an appointment; listing presentations; hardship, documents and how to protect your commission; introduce yourself to the bank; handling offers and working with the bank; keeping the buyer, the buyer's agent, the seller and the bank focused and calm; pitfalls to avoid durin... 06/08/2009

Many short sale specialists out there are ready to sell you books, tapes, videos and coaching time no matter where you live as long as you have a major credit card.  Plus if you google "short sales tips, help or expert", you will find 100,000's of gurus (including Mike Realtor) dishing out short sale gospel like Moses on the Rock. Well, here is a little tip; each state is different when it comes to short sales, foreclosures, deficiencies, sheriff sales, property taxes, deed laws, redemption periods and etc.  I live in Michigan where; •·        Michigan has  redemption rights, but other states like Texas has no redemption •·        Michigan is a Dower state while other states are Community property or Curtesy •·        Michigan is a "Foreclosure by Advertisement" while other states may b... 05/13/2009

Short Sale Realtor tip #10, Top 5 reasons why a seller should choose a Short Sale over a Foreclosure, Troy, MI: With a Short Sale, you have Leverage to negotiate terms with the bank, a Foreclosure you have none. Often with a foreclosure, the asset is worth less then the note so the investor can hire an attorney to collect through wage garnishment and liens up to 10 years or longer. A Foreclosure must be disclosed on future applications for credit and employment.  Plus, security clearances can be revoked, denied or limited. A foreclosure on your credit report is almost impossible to repair and the drop of credit score takes years to recover from. Choosing a Short Sale shows that you made the best of a bad situation.  It is something that you will look back at and say "it was not easy, bu... 05/07/2009

I'm always poking around the MLS looking for homes that need staging.  Frequentl,y I call on agents and offer my services. This home I saw while running my errands and had to stop for a good luck and of course of few photos.   I'm sorry that I didn't have my regular camera with me.  Do I call on him and offer my services? This is one of the best marketing ideas that I've seen in a long time.   Who couldn't resist stopping to see this house?                   Now that we are a little closer we can see the $90,000 for the price of the lot and the house is free.   GREAT MARKETING   I would love to stage and prep this house.  It has charm written all over it.    Brad, maybe you won't want my services on this house but maybe on one of the other listings that you have.         For more inform... 03/25/2009

A 3-Day Workshop in Metro Detroit - Discuss the problems in today's economy and how real estate investors are still cashing in   Troy, MI - Michigan housing has declined 25% and the entire stock market is suffering.  Real estate and other business owners need to learn new techniques for making money in a tough market.    Woodward Promotions has invited a panel of experts to get together at a 3-day conference to discuss the current problems in our economy and teach the techniques they're using to make money now.  As a bonus to licensed real estate agents, they're offering a segment where realtors can satisfy their 5 hours of continuing education requirements.    Mike Watson will discuss short sales, REO's and Seller Financing in our current market.  There is a huge demand for this servi... 02/01/2009

Learn how to make money in real estate in a depressed market from a panel of real estate experts and successful business entrepreneurs   Troy, MI - The economy is looking grim; Michigan housing has declined 25% in one year, the stock market has fallen even faster than the price of houses.  The fear generated by the housing meltdown has become a fear of world wild financial meltdown.  We have to learn how to make money in this tough market; how to run our businesses and stop the fear.    During a 3-day conference in February, a panel of experts will discuss how to make money in today's market while addressing current problems in real estate and business.  Realtors can kill two birds with one stone as they attend this event and satisfy their 6-hour continuing education requirements.   Mik... 12/28/2008

What do your neighbors see when you open your garage door?  Is your 3-car garage so cluttered that there is no room for even 1 car?  What if you were to reach up into the rafters to pull something down?  Would you start an avalanche of falling debris?  Then it is time to clean up and organize so you can pull the cars in for the winter.  You will need to rent a dumpster to make it easier to get rid of all the trash.   Perhaps you have accumulated a lot items that need to be properly stored, repaired, or returned to people whom you borrowed them from.  Now is the time to get organized to make room for seasonal storage, like the BBQ grill and lawn furniture.  This is going to be a big project, so plan ahead and allow plenty of time to get it done.      The first thing to do is decided what... 11/08/2008

Owners of hotels and resorts know how important it is to maintain the outside of their establishment.  It doesn't make a good impression when there is litter and debris all over the parking lot or in front of the building.  Unsightly, overflowing trash cans don't do much for the look of the place either.   Business owners should provide the appropriate trash receptacles where they are needed.  Guests will appreciate a convenient place to throw away their trash on their way in or out of their room.  Remember, they've been traveling, eating fast food in the car and they have trash to throw away when they check in.    When the appropriate container is conveniently placed, guests are more likely to use them, therefore, keeping the parking lot and surrounding area neat and clean.  It is a go... 11/08/2008

Dumpster rentals have become a popular convenience for homeowners who are doing large clean-ups.  Dumpsters are no longer just for commercial or industrial use.    Dumpsters are commonly seen in front of a house that is being renovated or one where owners are cleaning up the yard or organizing their garage or basement.  Dumpster rentals come in handy for disposing of rubbish; that is, garbage that is not food waste.  Rubbish gets sorted at landfills and it's organized by types of trash and its rate of decomposition.    A dumpster rental is the easiest solution for having a lot of trash and rubbish hauled away.  Call your local dumpster rental company to arrange delivery of a dumpster.  Instruct them to place it by the curb, in your driveway, or wherever it is convenient for you.  When t... 11/08/2008

Real Estate Agents - You are invited to another great Michigan Realtor Mastermind Group Event focused on bringing agents together for a positive business building strategy session at Tre Monti for an amazing lunch for only $5.00 - Drew Sygit is picking up the rest! This is a great way to get your current listings in front of other buyer's agents, share your great ideas with the group and hear great ideas from fellow great real estate professionals across Metro Detroit! I am looking to book 8 - 10 agents for this event! Don't forget to bring your current listings, rentals, success stories, and projects! Location: Tre' Monti at 1695 E. Big Beaver - Troy Sponsored by: Drew Sygit of The Lending Edge Please RSVP ASAP! also check out www.michigiganrealtormasterminds.collectivex.com For more i... 11/04/2008

Successful Marketing Strategies- I am not a great fan of the United States Postal Service. Overall there's no doubt in my mind that it is a poorly managed, inefficient, financially troubled operation sadly in need of reform. But in spite of all its faults that system gives you a powerful and effective sales force at a bargain price.Using the postman as your salesman via direct mail advertising is a great bargain and one of the most effective marketing strategies available to most businesses. Direct mail gives the marketer tremendous control over the sales process. You can do direct mail marketing cost effectively in relatively small quantities. You control who gets your advertising and who does not. You can control to a great degree when they get it. You can test and evaluate a promoti... 10/14/2008

Though it might not seem like a major issue, selecting the proper dumpster rental service to meet your needs is very important to any project or waste removal situation. Choosing the wrong company may end up costing you more in the end and can pose major safety risks. But, choosing the right company can save you time, money, and reduce the risk of liability exposure.   Container Size   The amount of waste you produce is important when choosing a container size. What could be worse than ordering a dumpster, having it brought to your site, filling it, and realizing that the container isn't nearly big enough to complete your job? In this case, you must call the company and request another dumpster, costing you more money and wasting time.  Even ordering an excessively large container is un... 09/29/2008

As you know, in business, time is money. Choosing the wrong dumpster rental service may cost you both. The hidden expenses when dealing with some waste removal companies are numerous. Delivery delays, incorrect dumpster sizes, late pick-ups and removal, and contract premiums all cause hidden expenses when renting a dumpster with a company who contracts or out-sources waste removal services.   Delivery Delays   Companies that hire contractors or other waste removal services to conduct deliveries and pick-ups or rent their trash containers often miss delivery deadlines, causing serious delays. Delays in delivery or pick-up mean that your hired laborers sit around all day waiting to fill a dumpster that does not arrive on time. This is wasted labor expense and may add days or even weeks to... 09/29/2008

Safety is a number one concern on construction sites. Liability issues for the dumpster rental service for injury and property damage is another major concern. Typically, maintaining a clean and safe construction site is crucial to preventing injury and dealing with the repercussions of liability cases. Debris removal is a major factor in maintaining a safe, clean environment on a construction site.  Safety  Scraps and garbage materials left lying around the site pose imminent safety risks to anyone stepping foot on the property. Injuries such as trips, falls, punctures, and scrapes occur when unsafe conditions exist. The nature of construction materials put injured parties at risk for infection and tetanus.  Excess Lumber - may cause falls, splinters, & blunt force trauma Drywall mater... 09/23/2008