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Canton Township, MI Real Estate News

By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
So your real estate agent has called you and says your bid is just one of many that the listing agent has received on the Southfield foreclosure.  He says you need to give your highest and best offer. "Highest offer" means highest price.  But highest price doesn't always win. "Best offer" comes into play now.  "Best offer" means the easiest type of offer to close.  "Best offer" means the least number of possible obstacles.  So I am going to list the "best offers" in order. Cash offer with no inspection Cash offer with inspection Conventional mortgage with large down payment with no inspection Conventional mortgage with large downpayment with inspection FHA mortgage with no inspection FHA mortgage with inspection 203K mortgages, or any mortgage that is out of the ordinary.  Banks and lis...
Comments 29
By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
You have your check for the title company for the closing.  You have your picture ID to prove who you are.  You have gone over all the real estate closing documents.  But what happens after the closing?  What should you do? One of the most important things you should do once you take possession of the house is to secure the house.  Go through the house and make sure the windows and doors are locked and secured. Sometimes windows may have been left unlocked.  Or the garage door never secured after moving out.                                                    Then get the locks changed.  You don't know who has a key to the house.  An old girlfriend of the seller may have one.  Real estate agents may have a key.  Many keys are universal when it is a bank owned or HUD property.  Sometimes ...
Comments 1
By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Negotiating is the toughest part of the sales process. You have found the house you like finally.  Now the uncertainty starts.  So much depends on your agent at this point.  His goal is to learn as much about the seller's position as possible while negotiating.  WITHOUT GIVING AWAY YOUR POSITION.   His job is to portray that you are interested in the property, but not dying for it.  That you have interests in other properties, or that you think the property is overpriced.  NOT THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT AT ANY PRICE.  (unless you tell your agent that) But if you are trying to get the sales price down to a reasonable price you can live with.  That's your agent's job to help you achieve that goal. BUT IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE SELLER.  In this market it is so hard sometimes.  So Metro Detroit ...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
IT IS IN WRITING AND SIGNED.  It is just that simple.  This is very important why I like negotiations to go quickly.  If a purchase agreement is not signed by both parties it is not a contract that can be legally enforced.  The courts won't enforce. If you are a Michigan home buyer or a first time home buyer this is important to understand.  It is never a deal even if both sides agree verbally.  It doesn't mean anything.  Let me give you a case in point.  My clients had submitted an offer on a Canton condo via fax.  The seller countered after 4 days via email and text.  My client took two days to counter back.  The seller countered back via text and email after 2 days. My buyer accepted the offer via text. But here comes the trouble.  The seller's agent was on vacation as this was going...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Here is a quick explantion about sump pumps and why they are needed in Canton Michigan homes.   A sump pump is a "newer" building technique.  Most older homes in Detroit don't have them.  If a house is built in an area without a sandy soil they now usually put in a sump pump. When it rains water travels down the sides of the basement walls.  The rain water builds up pressure and looks for cracks or holes to come into the house.  The water is simply looking for the path of least resistance.  Just somewhere to go.  A sump pump is set up as a place for the water to go. Now when they build houses they put a water proofing material on the outside walls.  Then they put a drainage pipe around the base of the basement walls and fill it up with pea gravel.  Then they back fill the basement walls...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Over the past year I have read different blogs on somebody complaining or wondering if they should do this or that.  So here is my re cap>>>>> 1.)  You the listing agent are working a short sale.  You have an offer.  The negotiator comes back and tells you that you need to reduce your commission to get the deal done.     WOULD YOU OR WOULDN'T YOU?  I don't like being told what to do but I would, simply because I work for the seller.  It's my job to get the deal done.  Sure I would love the full 3% but I was always taught something is better than nothing.  If it will seal the deal I will take a little less to get it done. 2.) You get a phone call about your listing.  It is a new listing and somebody wants to see it but they have an agent that is not available.  WOULD YOU OR WOULDN'T YOU ...
Comments 6
By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Here is a little infromation about Canton Township Michigan. Canton SchoolsCanton Township homes are primarily served by the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. Though there are areas served by Wayne-Westland Schools (Walker-Winter Elementary) and Van Buren Schools. Canton ShoppingCanton Township is 30 minutes from Briarwood Mall, 20 minutes from 12 Oaks Mall, and 10 minutes from Laurel Park Place (mall).  Canton has many big box stores like Meijer, Jc Penny, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, Ikea, and Walmart along Ford Rd. There are many stores all along Ford Rd to get what ever you need.Canton styles of HomesCanton Township like many cities in Michigan really started their subdivisions in the 1960 and the 1970s.  Orginally many of Canton's homes were ranchs, colonial, tri -levels and quad le...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
This is a question I received from one my clients the other day.  They are looking to buy a Canton Michigan home.  Basically how the negotiations go depends on how the listing agent priced the home.  There are two main components I believe in a short sale that determine how the negotiations go. Fair market value of the home.  The bank that is selling the property is going to do an appraisal or a BPO on the home.  They are going to look at the fair market value of the home and compare it to your offer.  If your offer is far below the fair market value that the appraiser says it is,  then they may say no to your offer.  The bank considers the market trend in the area (are home values falling)  The bank considers the costs of keeping the property.  The costs of the attorneys fees, the cost...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
A couple of weeks ago one of my first time home buyers was getting close to getting a clear to close on his loan.  I emailed the listing agent on a Monday that we wanted to close on Thursday.  I never got an email back from her at all. The next day I talked to the mortgage loan officer and we determined it probably won't happen Thursday.  I email the listing agent that it wasn't going to happen on Thursday but I would let her know when it could take place. Wednesday about noon I called and emailed the listing agent that we wanted to close on Friday.  Late in the afternoon about 5 the agent called and said it could not happen on Friday because the title company could not do it. I emailed her back and said I couldn't understand in this economy on how they couldn't fit a closing in.  My fi...
Comments 2
By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
I guess the following story about Bank of America refusing to cash a check for a guy who had no arms tells you how good of a community bank they are.  They refused to cash the check because the man couldn't give a thumbprint.  Even though he had two picture ids. http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=112587 Now you wonder why Bank of America is in the shape it is in.  I think they must have this rule book that they have everybody memorize.  And if it isn't in the book then no way it is going to happen.  I just wish they would make the bank manager that refused to cash the check have his arms bound.  So that he couldn't use them and let him try to exist for a week. Maybe he would be a little more compassionate.  Sad that there are people like the manager that are that dumb and...
Comments 3
By Missy Caulk, Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
(Missy Caulk TEAM)
RepairClinic.com is located in Canton, Mi 48118. RepairClinic.com is an online appliance repair and servicing company for parts. The company was started several years ago by Larry Beach. Larry resides in Saline, Mi and was the entrepreneur behind Creative Solutions, software for accounting. If you are a "do it yourself" person and like and have the know how to repair your own appliances you will love this site. And if you are like me and has no clue, then the online help is amazing. They have a fantastic tutorial (Repair Guru) for walking you through what part you need. I have ordered replacement parts for my Jenn Aire cook-top. I had an opportunity to visit and take a tour of their new building a month ago and I was very impressed with the efficiency and the design of the building. Whe...
Comments 28
By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
 I had a young lady call me about selling her Canton condo.  She no longer lived in the area.  She didn't want to sell it three years ago because the Metro Detroit housing market had gone down a little bit.  So they had been renting it for the last three years.  But now they have to sell it. She called me and said they would be glad to sell it for a $110,000.  That way they would only have to pay $20,000 to complete the sale.  We talked about her options including foreclosure, renting, or selling.  She didn't want to let it go into foreclosure.  She was willing to take $20,000 out of her savings to sell it at $100,000. The more we talked about her situation, and her Canton condo.  She told me that there were two condos in her complex that were listed at $105,000.  I told her that the on...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
About this time every year we see lots of Metro Detroit foreclosed homes with mold in them.   This house was a Canton Twp home.   Why we see so many in the spring is because the water pipes burst in the house.  What happens is the homeowners up and leave the house and shut the utilities off.  No heat to keep the pipes warm after a day or two in the Michigan winter the pipes burst.  Many times the banks  don't even know the people have moved out. Sometimes the banks can't even take possession of the house because they think it is still occupied and they have no legal right to the house yet.   So what happens is the pipes burst, and the water runs and runs. What happens next is: boards become saturated floors warp and rise the basement becomes flooded water is absorded up the drywall and ...
Comments 4
By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
One of the most confusing items for first time homebuyers is the escrow  concept.  I recently had a real estate deal fall apart because of a mis-communication between the buyer and the mortgage loan officer.  It wasn't anybodies fault it was just that everybody didn't understand fully what was going on. Here are some articles on escrows so you can understand them better.  What are escrows and mortgage explanations Why do I need escrows Home buyer money checklist - How much money every first time home buyer needs for closing   What is a FHA loan and FHA mortgage explanation If are a first time home buyer there are a lot of things you have never heard of, or seen before.  If you don't understand something give me a call or email me.  Even if you aren't my client I will try to explain what...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
METRO DETROIT WEATHER INFORMATION Here is some information if you have never lived in Michigan and have a Michigan relocation in your future.  This is just a general guide to the area. METRO DETROIT AREA AVERAGE TEMPERATURES  Month                            Average Low       Average High         Average temp  January 17.8°  31.1°    22.9 February 20.0° 34.4° 25.4 March 28.5° 45.2° 35.7 April 38.4° 57.8° 47.3 May 49.4° 70.2° 58.4 June 58.9° 79.0° 67.6 July 63.6° 83.4° 72.3 August 62.2° 81.4° 70.5 September 54.1° 73.7° 63.2 October 42.5° 61.2° 51.2 November 33.5° 47.8° 40.2 December 23.4° 35.9° 28.0      All of the above temperatures is in Fahrenheit.  We have a saying in Michigan wait a minute the weather will change.  We have dramatic weather changes in Michigan.  We can be 6 degrees o...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Join us for first class entertainment at the Village Theater at Cherry Hill, Canton's premiere regional performing arts center, located at 50400 Cherry Hill Road in Canton, MI 48187 The Village Theater at Cherry Hill as several must see productions that are sure to delight and entertain audiences throughout these cold months in Michigan. Get your tickets today at www.canton-mi.org/villagetheater or by calling 734/394-5460. Comedienne Chrissy Burns Will Have You Rolling in the Aisles: Looking for a unique way to celebrate Valetine's Day? Then check out Comedienne Chrissy Burns, along with Comedian Ben Konstantin on Friday, February 13 at 8 p.m. Audiences delight in getting to know Chrissy as she regales them with true stories of dieting, dating and life on the road. As a three-time canc...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
 Canton Township Michigan was the nation's 20th safest municipality on statistics reported to the FBI.  (In the category of municipalities with a population over 75,000 during 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. The designation is based on crime statistics in six categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft.  Canton was one of Michigan's fastest growing communities during the last decade.  During the last two decades it was not unusual to see over 1,000 new  Canton homes being built in a single year.  Michigan home buyers flocked to Canton because of the closeness to the highways and the ease to get to any Metro Detroit city.  I-275 and M-14 are within minutes for any Canton resident.  Ann  Arbor is within 20 minutes via M-14 or Michigan Ave.  Detroit is only ...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Celebrate the Holiday Season in Canton Michigan: The 30th Annual Tree Lighting Event will take place on Wednesday, December 3 at 7pm. The "official Canton" tree will be lit in front of the Summit on the Park, located at 46000 Summit Parkway. Special family festivities will take place both indoors and outside in Heritage Park, from 6-9pm. There will be a large variety of activities, including seasonal entertainment, refreshments, holiday crafts, and more. Pre-registration is not required.Santa Claus Still Wants to Hear From You! Canton Leisure Services has made very special arrangements with the U.S. Post Office and Santa's helpers at the North Pole to make sure your letters get directly to the jolly guy himself. To mail your letters to Santa Claus, just drop them in the North Pole Expre...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Canton MI is the 24th safest community in the United States with Troy ranking 22nd.  Other Michigan communities in the top 50 include Farmington Hills, Ann Arbor, Livonia, and Sterling Heights, . An independent for-profit company has issued its 2007 safest communities list for the United States.  The company utilizes F.B.I. crime statistics to determine its rankings. Over the years, Canton has been in the top 50 on numerous occasions.  Based on statistics reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Canton was the one of the nation's safest municipality with a population over 75,000 during 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.   Creating and maintaining a safe community is a tribute to the staff of Canton's Police Department and the involvement of Canton residents engaging in crime prevention...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Do you come from a rolling hilly country like Pennsylvania, or do you come from a beach area like Myrtle Beach?  Or do like the woods or do you come from the fields of Iowa?  If you are relocating to Michigan from out of state do you want to feel at home. Here is a run down of some of the local cities.  Most of southeastern Michigan is flat.   But there are some hilly areas. Northville MI - rolling terrain.  Some wooded areas and some small lakes and ponds.  Near downtown Northville there are some areas that are secluded and almost like being up north. Livonia MI - flat terrain.  Some wooded lots and some areas backing to creeks. Canton MI - flat terrain.  Used to be farm land. Novi MI - Some rolling hills some flat land.  On the north side of Novi there are some lakes, and ponds. Farmi...
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Canton Township, MI Real Estate Professionals