Things are certainly popping in Brighton lately. The tentatively named Western House Brewery approved by Brighton Planning Commission for the old Western House Hotel location, AKA the ‘Pink Hotel’, at West Main and First streets.  This should be a great addition to downtown. Final vote by City Council will be September 1st. The Pound Sports Bar continues through construction on the site of the old Singer Press building at West and Main streets, across from the Main Street Martini Bar. Elite Feet opens up downtown.  With the Runnin’ Gear store on Grand River just west of Old US-23, we now have two running stores. Art Van Pure Sleep store opens on West Grand River near Cross Street, in front of Big Apple Bagels. The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce has relocated to the site of th... 08/21/2011

Right now, there are twenty three detached single family homes and twelve condos for sale in this price range.  This search is for the Brighton School District, so while some properties fall within city limits, many are in the surrounding townships.  Ten of the thirty five units are bank-owned (foreclosures) and another eleven are short sales (selling for less than what is owed and the bank will need to approve the sale). Five of the units are in a senior (55+ years old) co-op.  The co-op units are small (950-1005 sq ft) two bedroom, one and a half bath each and three of the four are priced at $23,900-$42,900. Four of the thirty five are price reductions and two are expired listings just returned to the market.  There are seven new listings in this group, and three of them are very nice... 06/25/2011

Brighton enjoyed it's inaugural American Music Festival so much, that it's back again!  Held in the Municipal lot off First and Main Streets, there will be local and national talent providing folk, bluegrass and country music.  Of course, there will be food and beverage tents, as well as the large offering of local restaurants that are within a couple of blocks of walking.  Enjoy a walk on the tridge at the Millpond, or take the kids to the adjacent Imagination Station playground. There's plenty to see and do in Downtown Brighton, including visiting some interesting shops. There are also 'downtown' area business along Grand River Ave and adjacent streets.  Take the kids to 'Oh My Lolli' or take a walking tour of the City's Art displays. For more information, visit the Downtown Brighton ... 06/25/2011

This past weekend I helped out at the Brighton Optimist Club's 'Free Fishing Derby For Kids'.  It was the 25th anniversary of the event and we had a proclamation signed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and some other special activities for the kids.  One was a visit from the Howell Conference and Nature Center's wildlife bus. They brought a screech owl and an opossum for the kids to see, as well as some other activities. The owl was fascinating and I took a lot of pictures of it. Here's one that I think is pretty good. The children were quite taken with these exhibits, as well as those from the Kensington MetroPark Nature Center, who had a large box turtle and garter snake.  Add to that the waterfowl in the pond and the fish that were being caught and it was quite a day for seeing natu... 06/14/2011

The Brighton Optimist Club has been around for 34 years.  For the last 25 years, they've conducted a free fishing derby for the area youth, aged 16 and under.  It started with some Optimists, some kids and some worms. From its humble beginning with about 30 participants, it's grown to a 300-400 kid event.  The entire event is free and includes souvenir photo mock fishing licenses, bait, age group trophies, door prizes, entertainment and food. The really little ones get to try their luck at the L'il Angler booth where a clip on the end of a fishing line is dropped over a partition and they 'catch' a goodie bag full of things.  The Optimists even have a large display tank where some fish swim for a few hours during the event. Big ones, little ones that are especially well colored, even th... 05/26/2011

This past week, Freddie Mac predicted that 2011 will see a 5% increase in home sales over 2010 in its April U.S. Economic Housing Market Outlook.  Wrapped within prose about spring arriving and cherry blossoms blooming,  the basis for this optimistic forecast is the fact that unemployment declined for the 4th straight month, and that real estate employment was up 10,000 jobs since November 2010. Housing starts, which had a very small increase in 2010 levels when compared to 2009, are predicted to slowly gain ground throughout 2011, with a larger jump in 2012. Buyers opting for a 15 year mortgage vs. a 30 year mortgage are able to save about 0.75% on their interest rate, according to bankrate.com, but most homebuyers still opt for the longer 30 year instrument. A homebuyer with a $165,00... 04/17/2011

I went on a listing appointment a few weeks in Dominion subdivision in Brighton MI.  In the last six months three homes have sold in the Dominion subdivision.   They sold for $351,00, $380,000, and $390,000.  My clients home was a little bigger. In the same square mile but in a subdivision across a major road and near a lake the same sized house sold for $450,000.  Would you believe a real estate agent came in and told my clients he could sell their home for $459,000.  And my clients home was in the same condition, and had similar features. Sadly I don't believe it would ever appraise for $459,000.  But yet another agent told them he could get it closed for that price.  So the moral of this story is don't go with the real estate that gives you the highest price unless it is supported by... 04/11/2011

On Saturday, May 7, 2011, the Livingston County Association of Realtors will again have a food drive for Gleaners Community Food Bank. In 2010, at our 8th annual food drive,  we hit 39,000 meals collected!  Our goal this year is 40,000 meals. Drop off points include the Brighton Millpond and the Howell Gazebo, next to the Historic County Courthouse.  In Brighton, you can pull up on Main Street and volunteers will be there to take your food item donations between 9am and 2pm. Suggested items are canned meals, PB&J, macaroni & cheese, cereal, spaghetti and meat sauce, toiletries and laundry detergent.  No products in glass containers, please. You can also make monetary donations. With the food bank's buying power, $1 can actually provide 3 meals! It always makes ME feel better to donate f... 04/09/2011

What s the average cost per Sq Ft for a home in Brighton, Michigan so far in 2011? How does that compare to 2010? What's sold so far in 2011 in the Green Oak and Hartland markets right next to Brighton? What's sold in Brighton so far this year? How does the cost per Sq Ft in Brighton, Michigan compare to that in South Lyon, Michigan? What's the average SEV multiplier that you should use to figure out a ballpark for the market price of your house in Brighton, Michigan? These and other real estate questions about the Brighton, Michigan market can be answered at my Web site -  http://tinyurl.com/dx2nq5 Be in the know, not in the dark. 03/27/2011

The Brighton area real estate market (defined as the 48114 and 48116 zip codes by the Altos Research folks and including Brighton, Brighton Township and Green Oak, plus a small bit of Genoa Township) had a good long run up of median sold home values at the end of last year, followed by a swoon in prices. Now it appears to have found its second wind, with median sold values on the rise again, even as inventory continues to fall. The falling invetory is not unusual, but there are few markets in the area that are seeing rises in median sold home values. That usually means that there are fewer distressed homes in the sales mix, and that's a good thing. So far this year, 56 homes have sold in this area with the price per square foot averaging about $84. The SEV multiplier ia running at 1.538... 03/19/2011

The Brighton, Michigan area market easily extends over 4-5 townships. I track three of those markets - Brighton itself (city and township), plus Green Oak Township and Hartland Township. The other two townships that many would include in the Brighton area market would be Marion and Genoa Townships. Those two market are further west and north, but are natural bedroom suburbs of Brighton. The see what's been selling in Brighton, Green Oak and Hartland Townships, go to my Web siter - www.movetomilford.com and click on the What has sold in the Milford area choice. Some might object to my treatment of these market areas as being part of the Milford market area; but, I think they are and besides, I live and work in Milford, so that's the center of my world.   You can find such things as the a... 03/13/2011

Preview Properties has a Community Service Committee that meets to choose various charities for whom we raise money. Every month is a new community group.  Fundraisers vary, but the most popular is either a breakfast or lunch, pot luck style, where agents and staff bring in a dish, then pay to eat! Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 25th, the beneficiary is the Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency's (OLHSA) 'Walk For Warmth' campaign. And the food theme is 'Chili Cookoff'.  This is a favorite of mine. Not to brag (too much), but I won the last chili cookoff. 1st out of 9 entries was pretty good for me.  Plus I got to rub it in to an agent buddy that is pretty darned proud of his chili. It's all in good humor and of course, the money raised goes to a great cause. I'll be making my special 'S... 01/24/2011

This loan officer was trying to steal home from my client.                                      My single woman home buyer was being robbed by a loan officer.  She was buying a Brighton Lakefront home.  When I first met my buyer I called the loan officer to go over what my buyer needed in sellers concessions.  He told me she would need about 3.5% sellers concessions.  I point blank asked him what the closing costs would be in the beginning.  He had told me there were no points for the loan as my client had great credit. Well tonight the night before closing my buyer got a big surprise.  Her closing costs were much higher.  Some of the things she was telling me made me nervous.  These were some tell tale signs that you should be nervous about a loan officer. You ask for a good faith and ... 06/14/2010

Pine Creek Ridge Subdivision in Brighton Mi is filled with breathtaking views and Brighton Lake Waterfront opportunities!  What we hear quite often is that the setting is what catches people’s attention first and foremost!  The real key is once we are able to get them on the inside of the beautiful homes in Pine Creek Ridge! Once a client is ready to go tour the inside of the homes in Pine Creek, luxury homebuyer’s attention is immediately drawn to some exquisite features such as multiple car garages, 5+ bedrooms, 5+ bathrooms, Gourmet Kitchen’s with Stainless Steel Appliances and Granite Countertops, Amazing Fireplaces, Imported Hard Wood Flooring, Imported and Travertine tiles, Coffered and Trey Ceilings, First Floor Master Suites that will take your breath away, In-Law quarters with... 05/18/2010

I'm sitting here in Brighton Michigan looking out the window at all the people outiside getting their homes ready for Spring to either sell or live in for the coming seasons!!  You know when Spring is in the air, the kids are outside playing and it stays light outside until almost 8:30pm!! How exciting to know that all outside activities like playing on the huge play structure in downtown Brighton are going to be daily activities!!  There are so many great places to go and explore right here in Brighton Michigan!  Kensington Metropark and Huron Meadows Metropark are starting to become full bloom so that walking or biking through any of their trails will be absolutely breathtaking!!  Brighton Michigan offers so many fun family things to do if you just moved into the area!! Click on the f... 04/09/2010

Currently there are 25 Brighton MI water front homes for sale.  Here are the homes that are currently for sale as of 1/10/2010. The average time on the market for these WOODLAND LAKE Brighton Michigan   is 208 days.  The average time on the market for all of these Brighton MI water front homes is only 169 days.     ADDRESS WATER NAME LIST PRICE SQUARE FOOTAGE BEDROOMS BATHS.LAVS LIST DATE BITTEN DR BLAINE 130000 728 2 1 7/22/2009 OAK RIDGE DR 146300 1668 3 2 12/26/2009 RALEIGH DR 179900 1720 3 1.1 11/4/2009 FONRO DR BITTEN LAKE 204900 1728 4 2.1 6/1/2009 WATERSEDGE DR MORAINE LAKE 229000 1567 3 3.1 6/16/2009 LAFOLLETTE DR BITTEN LAKE 229900 1984 4 3.1 12/9/2009 LYON DR LYON 234900 2093 3 2 9/25/2009 PARKLAWN DR SCHOOL LAKE 235000 1885 3 2.1 1/3/2010 PARKLAWN DR 249900 3351 3 2.1 1/5/201... 01/10/2010

It took some time but we finally got the deal closed on the Livingston County water front home.  It was a for sale by owner who picked an attorney out of the yellow pages because the attorney lived close to them.  Boy was that a mistake.                                 It took 2 months to get this Livingston County water front home closed.  Sure it needed propate court approval, but 8 weeks on a cash deal!!!!  I had to call the attorney at least twice a week to keep them moving.  Sadly the attorney always had an excuse why this or that wasn't done.  The only reason it closed this week is because I set the closing and alerted all parties that is was closing today.  Even though the attorney wasn't ready to close it. The attorney had to get the document from the court.  Something he had be... 10/27/2009

Woodland Lake Information Livingston County is an all Sports lake and has about a  309 acres surface area.  The deepest point in Woodland lake is 38 ft.  The Mean Depth is 7.61 ft.   There is no public beach.  There is Michigan DNR public access located off Hilton Rd, but a permit required.   There is parking for about 26 vehicles. There are 6 islands (one is public).  Woodland Lake shore line is about 41,943 feet long.  Woodland lake has relatively good water clarity, you can see down 6 to 8 ft.  There are no wake restrictions that I know of.  Woodland Lake in Livingston County is fed by Ore Creek and two unnamed streams. Woodland Lake is a "L" shaped lake with lots of small coves and bays.  It is the type of lake that I like because when you turn the corner there is more lake to see. ... 05/30/2009

Mission of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® We are a network of successful REALTORS® empowering women to exercise their potential as entrepreneurs and industry leaders. Our Vision Through our influence as successful business professionals, women will effect positive change in the profession and in the broader community. Women's Council has made a world of difference in my career. Becoming President for my local Livingston County Chapter in 2006 enabled me to travel all over the country and meet a network of professional amazing women as well as attend informational seminars that helped me succeed is such a trying market. Anyone that is interested in attending any of our Livingston County Chapter meetings please check us out on the web at www.wcrlivingston.com There you will find our mee... 03/20/2009

Cold Day, Hot Turnout!   Nearly 50 art lovers braved a cold Michigan afternoon to come out to 6020 Wyndam Lane and admire the work of 4 local artists, and the staging work of RE:STYLE. Oh yes, they were also taking in all the great features of this gorgeous house! And The Winner Is... Another big draw was the chance to win an 8-day, 7-night stay in the winner's choice of resort condominiums from all over the world! The lucky winner is from Brighton! Buy the Art, Buy the House, or Buy Both! If you'd like a chance to purchase any of the art, here's who to contact: Featured Artists: Anne Marie Buckman 810-225-9005 AMBuckman.com Linda Dunn 810-229-0835 Kim Isaac 810-523-4729 Kally Walcott 810-220-3253 Or, to buy the house: 6020 Wyndam Lane (Pine Creek) Brighton 48116 MLS# 28165241 $449,900 ... 02/05/2009