Lee Morof's (leemorof) Blog

A simple way to save money is to improve your home's energy efficiency rating.  For example, Birmingham homeowners can save up to 9 percent per year on water heating costs simply by installing a water heater jacket. Water heater jackets are easy to install. Here's how you do it : First, before yo...

To refinance a mortgage means to pay off your existing loan and replace it with a new one. There are many reasons why homeowners opt to refinance, from obtaining a lower interest rate, to shortening the term of the loan, to switching mortgage loan types, to tapping into home equity. Each has its ...

MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service. A multiple listing service is a collection of private databases of homes for sale that is used by real estate brokers who agree to share their listings with one another. The databases allow agents to easily share information with ready, willing and able bu...

According to data from RealtyTrac, a national foreclosure-tracking firm, the number of foreclosure filings increased 3 percent in October as compared to September 2012, climbing to 186,455 U.S. properties. RealtyTrac defines a "foreclosure filing" as any foreclosure-related action including a Not...

According to the Federal Reserve's quarterly Senior Loan Officer Survey, it's getting easier to get approved for a home loan. Between July - September 2012, fewer than 6% of banks tightened mortgage guidelines -- the fourth straight quarter that's happened-- and roughly 10% of banks actually loos...

The housing market continues to expand. According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Index, which was released earlier this week, U.S. home prices rose in September for the sixth straight month, climbing 0.3% as compared to the month prior. On an annual basis, values are higher by 3.0%. The Case-Shiller Ind...

There are many reasons to consider downsizing your Southeast Michigan real estate home. Obviously, if the kids have left the nest, or you’re recently widowed or divorced, moving to a smaller home can simplify your life in many ways. But even if the size of your household has not changed, there ar...

Searching for a new Bloomfield Hills real estate home is an exciting prospect for you future, both personally and financially. Not only will you be building family memories within its walls, but you’ll also be building equity that can give you security for investments down the road and eventually...

With the kids settled back in school, Fall brings the promise of a normal routine and cooler weather. Don’t get sucked into autumn’s peaceful pace! It’s even more important than ever to have your Bloomfield Hills home looking its best so that you can sell quickly and be in your new home before th...

Homeowners associations (HOA) are legal corporations formed by a real estate developer to market, to manage, and to sell homes and lots in a residential subdivision.They're most commonly formed for condominiums and planned urban developments (PUDs), a category which includes suburban communities....