Special offer

Traverse City, MI Real Estate News

By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
  The March of Dimes Mission To improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. We carry out this mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives. This morning at 8:30 am over 450 registered walkers started their 5 mile "March For Babies".  This annual event was held at the Grand Traverse Civic Center.  There were many families in attendance that had heart warming stories of how March of Dimes helped them through the challenges of their pre-mature babies early days of live.  There were also families in attendance that were walking in memory of their child who did not survive their pre-mature challenges despite the wonderful support provided by March of Dimes. This event is the largest find raisin...
Comments 1
By Fred Schmidt
(Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors)
Traverse City Michigan Real Estate Sales were strong in March and April of 2009!  There was reported in TAAR MLS 150 closed homes.  Compared with March and April of 2008 that represents approximately a 7% difference.  161 Homes closed in March/April of 2008.  Of those 150 Traverse City Mi Homes that closed this year how many were bank owned or reported as Traverse City foreclosures homes?  49 homes were reported as Traverse City bank owned or foreclosures.  That means that 33% of the closed homes were foreclosures in Traverse City.  For a direct link to see all broker foreclosures in Traverse City MI click here.
Comments 0
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
In a previous blog, I mentioned the box exchange service that I offer to my clients.  The one thing that I forgot to mention was the alternative to those expensive peanut packing products that are out there.  If you have not had the opportunity to stop by and price those little jewels, they are quite priceless.  They would be a great commercial ad for Mastercard because they are priceless.  I cannot even begin to try to rationalize why it costs so much to purchase a bag of Styrofoam peanuts.  I suppose it is simple supply and demand.  I have found an alternative to packing peanuts.  Most of us have a shredder at home and we can put it to good use for our clients.  I recently was packing items in my Arizona home to send out to my home here in Traverse City and ran out of those "wonder pe...
Comments 1
By Jason LaVanture
(www.BlueLaVaMedia.com)
Our new 2009 Exposure Engine is now including our E-Flyer and Smart Phone Tour. The E-Flyer is an HTML email-ready flyer that our customers can easily send out to prospects anytime they wish. You can preview a sample E-Flyer Traverse City Real Estate Flyer. The new Smart Phone tour allows real estate agents and local business owners to carry with them at all times their virtual tour on their cell phones for an on-demand preview. See our new Smart Phone tour TC Cell Phone Tours. Our virtual tour and listing exposure is so far ahead of our competition that you will be amazed at the traffic you're getting when your weekly hit reports come in. We even send hot leads your way as your listings generate questions and comments from interested parties!! The Exposure Engine allows real estate age...
Comments 0
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
The burning question on ever Buyer, Sellerand Realtor's mind is - When will our market stabilize?  If we each had a crystal ball, we could predict that information for the world to hear and see.  Unfortunately, we do not have a crystal ball.  A healthy Real Estate market is one that has no more than 6 months of inventory in it.  Nationally, we currently have approximately 9% of inventory on the market.  So, what does this mean.  It means that we are still in a Buyers market for homes.  In order to maintain a healthy Real Estate market, we must have an equal amount of Buyers who are ready, willing, and able to purchase homes and Sellerswho are willing to sell at market value.  Without both of these critical components, we will have a disconnect in our market.  This is what we are current...
Comments 10
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
Sellers and Listing Agent's Beware   We finally get a contract on our listing and we are very excited to bring it to the seller.  After days of negotiation, we finally have a meeting of the minds.  Our sellers are ecstatic!!!  Then we hold our breath for the inspection period to end to make sure that they buyers do not find anything that they just cannot live with.  The inspection is done and the buyer brings a list of repairs to be done, based on the inspection report that are longer than your arm.  The first thing that most agents do is ask to see the report to verify the repair requests.  I caution each and every one of you to re-think asking for these reports.  Once you and your seller see everything that the inspector just found wrong with your home, you are not obligated to update...
Comments 9
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
Traverse City Michigan Real Estate   Traverse City Michigan Real Estate market is alive and going strong.  Grand Traverse County has had 195 homes sold so far this year with a 94% list price/sale price ratio.  Many of these sales were Foreclosed Properties and Bank Owned Propertieswhich brings great deals for Homebuyers. First Time Homebuyers have an added advantage.  They are able to take advantage of the $8,000 First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit.  Rural Development Loansalso give a benefit to Homebuyers in our area with the ability to purchase a home with No Money Down.  Both of these programs have guidelines that must be followed, so be sure to consult your local Real Estate Expert for further information. Christine Stalsonburg, Realtor 231-944-0854 www.stalsonburg.com www.northernmich...
Comments 2
By Fred Schmidt
(Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors)
Are we at the bottom?  How big is the bottom?  Today's real estate market could be likened to reminiscing about your 3d grade bus driver in that no one knows how "big" (his or her) bottom was.  However, whereas you don't care to know the anatomy of your 3d grade bus driver, you are hoping to foresee and understand the "anatomy" of this unprecedented market low as it relates to buying a home or helping someone buy a home.  There are indications that the market is reaching it's bottom.  This means that home prices may not get any lower.  When you consider that interest rates are at a 50 year low, now is unquestionably and unmistakably the time to "get off the fence".  Foreclosure pricing has also effected the pricing of homes overall.  Now we're seeing non bank owned (regular folks) prici...
Comments 0
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
Brown, Rainbow and Lake Trout, Whitefish, Coho & Chinook Salmon, Perch and Smallmouth Bass are native to the coast of Lake Michigan.  Lake Trout and Salmon are the most commonly fished with Lake Trout being caught from mid May to mid July and salmon from the 1st of July into October.  A fish graph is almost a necessity if you plan to successfully catch lake trout, whitefish and salmon. Lake trout are bottom fish and are typically found in 80 to 120 feet of water, depending on the bottom water temperatures.  Their average weight is 6 to 8 pounds, with some going over 20 pounds. Salmon range from 6 to 15 pounds at the beginning of the season and finishing with weights ranging from 10 to 24 pounds.  The chinook, or king salmon, is the largest salmon in Lake Michigan and last year 35 pound ...
Comments 2
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
Kidz Care Foundation was formed in February of 2009 in Traverse City, MI to insure that infants and children under the age of 5 have healthy start at life.  The foundation provides grants to families who cannot afford immunizations and well child checks for their children.  The primary target population of this foundation is Northern Michigan with focus in the Grand Traverse Region.  Currently we are seeking grant funding as seed money for the foundation. Our children are our future and they deserve the very best start at a healthy life.  Many children in our country, due to no fault of their own, are not receiving timely childhood immunizations and child development assessments.  Immunizations are an extremely important part of a child's first few years of life and can safeguard them a...
Comments 0
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
This is a great piece that Avery has put out on making our offices a little more environmentally friendly.  There are some great ideas here that are easy to implement.  They also have some great templates on their web site for recycle cans, etc. ENJOY   The Office Guide to Going Green Want to do more to help the environment? The workplace offers plenty of opportunities where you and your co-workers can make a difference. Here are some eco-tips on how to easily incorporate going green into your work day: 8:00 AM   Think bright with energy-efficient lights. Consider switching those office lights you turn on in the morning to Energy Star®-qualified bulbs. These bulbs last up to 10 times longer and use about 75% less energy than regular light bulbs. 9:00 AM   Go green with supplies. Recycle...
Comments 0
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
The following article was printed in the Record Eagle by a staff reporter.   Coldwell Banker Schmidt in top 50 list   FROM STAFF REPORTS   TRAVERSE CITY -- The Coldwell Banker Schmidt Family of Companies was listed among the top 50 real estate brokerages in the U.S. in the 2009 RISMedia Power Broker Survey. The firm ranked 46th with 6,672 closed sales units in 2008 among more than 600 respondents in the survey. That made it the third-ranked Coldwell Banker affiliate in the country and the largest in the eastern half of the U.S. The company also made the list of the largest 500 brokers in the country as determined by REALTrends 500, an annual research report. "That we've experienced this kind of growth, and done it outside of the large metro markets in southeast Michigan, is truly humbli...
Comments 2
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
Every day we see another government agency that is facing financial hardship.  Michigan's Department of Natural Resources is no exception.  Over the course of the past five years, this state agency has had to dip into their savings coffers to meet budget demands.  One could criticize the agency for not seeking the publics help and support for alternative funding methods sooner but that would not change the position that they are now in.  Without a significant increase in their revenue, Michigan residents and tourists wanting to vacation in Michigan and enjoy our wonderful park system could be in for an unpleasant surprise. Michigan parks system is over 90 years old and has little updating to its infrastructure.  The general maintenance and infrastructure updating is critical to our park...
Comments 0
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
A Teddy bear Tea will be held on Sunday, April 19th from 1 to 3 pm at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center, located at 322 Sixth St., Traverse City The even twill feature a presentation of the history of the teddy bear and a special tea story time.  Heritage Center brown bears will be available for purchase, and kids can meet the special Heritage bear in person. admission is $5 for adults, $2 for youth, children 3 and under are free. Proceeds will benefit the Grand Traverse Heritage Center.    
Comments 1
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
The temperatures are starting to warm up, the snow is almost completely gone, Spring is just around the corner, flowers are just starting to poke their heads up out of the ground and it is a GREAT time to buy a home in Traverse City, Michigan.  Traverse City, which is located in Northern Michinga is a wonderful area to purchase a primary residence or a second home.  We are starting to see an increase in the market activity as the weather is breaking.  We had a very long winter and we are all very excited about seeing temperatures in the 50's.  The market value on homes as dropped to a point where homes are more affordable for first time home buyers.  This fact combined with the 2009 Federal Tax Credit of $8,000 and the availability of Rural Development loans requiring no money down make...
Comments 1
Do you need a professional level Virtual Tour for one of your listings? We provide interactive floor plan based tours for agents and would love to add you to our site as a featured Realtor for your area. See some samples we did in South Carolina by clicking on the photo below. Once page loads open up a tour by clicking on click to open home.
Comments 0
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
When we are compiling a press release for distribution, there are some simple rules that we can follow to give us an advantage in getting our release published.  A well written press release is a great, free way to garner exposure for your business.  They are much easier to get published than a full story.  Typically, they should be 100 words of less and cover the 5Ws and H of writing (who, what, when, where, why and how).  Every press release that you write should contain 3 critical components:  Newsworthy The press release must have a news angle and not just a self promoting statement of how wonderful you and your business are.  The news angel could include:  starting a new business, hiring a new employee, moving to a new location, achieving a new designation, sponsoring of an upcomin...
Comments 5
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
After reading the post on Back to Basics, it made me take out all of my goal setting materials and get to work on a business plan for the remainder of the year and make this the best six months every.  For anyone out there who may be in the same boat that I am with my goal setting, I have written down some of my guidelines that I use to set my goals and hopefully, it will be beneficial to you.   1)  Decide what you want and be specific about the date that you want to achieve this goal.  Most imprtantly, write it down.  When writing down your goals as if you have already achieved them. 2)  After writing down your goal statement, decide what action steps are needed to achieve this goal.  Break them down into short term and mid term goals. 3)  Incorporate your action steps into your day pl...
Comments 5
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
If you are representing lenders in the sale of their REO, you should take a minute to check with the carrier of your E&O policy to make sure that all of your activities associated with this listing are covered.  If your policy does not cover property management activities you could be operating outside of the coverage of your policy. Some lenders may require in their listings agreements that you provide additional duties that might not be in the normal realm of a listing agents responsibilities.  These additional areas may involve safety inspections, environmental inspections or renovations and clean up of the property.  Many E&O policies specifically state that property management serviced to not include renovation services or analysis or evaluation of, or recommendations concerning sa...
Comments 3
By Cherry Wings Realty, Your Traverse City Michigan Realtor
(Cherry Wings Realty)
If any of you have dealt with REO properties, you are probably well aware that they typically do not come with property disclosure statements from the lender.  This doe snot relieve the lender-seller of their legal obligation to disclose all known defects to a buyer.  The lender-seller is most likely not aware of all of the property's defects.  If the lender is indicating that they will not be providing property disclosure statements, a buyer's broker would advise the buyer to request the property disclosure statements in the offer.  Before the buyer agrees to waive the property disclosure, they should be provided with a blank copy of the disclosure form.  This will enable the buyer to make an informed decision regarding whether or not to waive the property disclosure documents.  The bu...
Comments 2