The renovation on the farmhouse in Saugatuck Township is going swimmingly.  This is the second installment.  If you missed the  first installment, just click here http://activerain.com/blogsview/1508114/saugatuck-mi-farmhouse-renovation-in-progress  To refresh your memory, I represented the owners when they purchased this foreclosed farmhouse on five acres and am now the Owners Representative for the renovation as they have their primary home in another state.  This is so much fun!  What a great job I have! In the last couple of weeks the demolition has been completed, new windows installed on the back porch which is now part of the kitchen and the most wonderful thing has happened - the owners have engaged a fantastic designer.  Probably would have been better to have had the designer ... 03/01/2010

INCREASE YOUR INCOME - Provide your clients with more service than they expect .  They will respond positively  http://activerain.com/blogsview/1429302/saugatuck-real-estate-clients-you-gotta-love-them-and WHEN THEY NEED ADDITONAL SERVICES, PROVIDE THEM!  My clients from out of state recently purchased a foreclosure in Saugatuck Township on five acres.  Now they are remodeling the home. They asked me to act as their owner's representative, visit the job site once a week, take photos and let them know if the renovation was proceeding on time and on budget.  For these services I am paid a percentage of the construction cost. Thought you might like to follow along with this through my blogs. Here is the farmhouse as it looks on Feb 22, 2010.  The exterior will remain essentially the same. ... 02/22/2010

Clients are what keep us in this business!   I recently launched a new website www.saugatuckforeclosure.com that provides clients with a weekly list of foreclosed, short sale, estate sales, and relocation properties.  I asked all the clients who had purchased short sales and foreclosures from me in 2009 to provide me with testimonials for the site. When I asked if Harvey and David would like to comment on my service, I got this by return email. "Sure.   Dee Dee found the perfect foreclosed property that was BELOW OUR BUDGET, and she thoroughly connected us with the community, and brought us chilled water for our viewings in the summer, and sent us her phone number on bookmarks, screwdrivers, rulers, pens, and sure she met inspectors, contractors, and appraisers at the property - and ast... 01/12/2010

This is the weekly update on SAUGAUCK, DOUGLAS AND SAUGATUCK TOWNSHIP FORECLOSURE, SHORT SALE, ESTATES, AND RELOCATION PROPERTIES for the week of January 10, 2010. As of this date there are 15 available properties in the township and the two cities.  These properties range in price from under $60,000 to over $1M.  Interested parties may log on to the new website www.saugatuckforeclosure.com and fill out the contact form to receive the weekly actual list of properties along with photos, addresses, and directions. As of last week, the newspaper reported that the following addition foreclosures have been placed in the cue:  City of Douglas 1, City of Saugatuck 2, Saugatuck Township 1, City of Fennville 2, and Laketown Township 3.  Properties have a redemption period of six to twelve months... 01/10/2010

Great News!  Dee Dee Hanson just launched a new website called www.saugatuckforeclosure.com.  This is an easy way to keep abreast of all the foreclosures, short sales, estate sales, and relocation properties offered in Saugatuck Township.  Dee Dee sold 13 foreclosures to happy clients last year and is ready to help you get your new home.  Testimonials from satisfied clients are also available on the new website. As of January 7th, 2010, there are 241 properties listed on the MLS in Saugatuck, Douglas, and Saugatuck Township.  Of these 13 are either foreclosures, short sales, estate sales or relocation properties.  That comprises about 5% of the listed properties.  This is a small number compared to other markets but a couple of these are great deals.  One Saugatuck foreclosure is less t... 01/08/2010

Recently I have had a mouse living in my garage - at least I thought he was living in my garage.  Yesterday I got in the car to go into my office at Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt in Douglas, Mi.  After I pulled out and shut the garage door and was ready to take off, there he was on my front hood looking at me through the front windshield.  I have to admit that he was really cute.  Anyway, I stopped and got out to move him off the car but he ran down the hole by windshield wiper blades.  So I just took off.  As I was riding down the road, he came out again on the passenger side and sat by the wiper and rode shotgun.  He disappeared down the wiper blade hole when I stopped the car.  When I got to work, I noticed that  he had built a nest on my engine block.  Left the car outside the ga... 01/04/2010

I think there has to be more to this than just that "Bank of America's short sale workers are overworked and inexperienced."  Maybe Bank of America doesn't want to do any short sales.  How about that for an idea?  If Bank of America accepts a short sale, won't that reduce their asset number on their balance sheet?  Granted a foreclosure will reduce the balance sheet by even more BUT NOT RIGHT NOW.  I have had a short sale in with them since September and can't even get a phone number or an email address of anyone to contact.  Bank of America by email  has now decided that everything must be put on an almost un-deciferable website called equator.com.  I have tried to reply to that email but nothing ever happens. I don't know where Bank of American is located but they have left two voice ... 12/28/2009

Come on over to Saugatuck, Mi and walk Oval Beach.  There is always free access to Oval Beach after Labor Day and the room rates are less out of season.  Right now there is a lot of driftwood and fantastic wave action due to the high winds  that recently came in from the West.  THESE COULD BE YOUR FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND.   While you are here, drop by Dee Dee Hanson's office in Douglas on Blue Star Highway near Wiley Road and pick up some maps.  While you are there, you can look at all the Saugatuck real estate listings on the big screen in her office.  Three ways to contact Dee Dee - call Dee Dee at 616-836-8535 or email her at deehans@ameritech.net or visit her website at www.mysaugatuck.com    Dee Dee's blog about at Saugatuck area, Saugatuck real estate, Saugatuck market studies is l... 10/07/2009

The City of Saugatuck is purchasing 171 acres from the Land  Conservancy of West Michigan who is purchasing the land formerly known as Denison South  from Aubrey McClendon for $20 Million Dollars.  The new land will be added to the original Oval Beach and is located between the current  beach and the Kalamazoo River.   It is a somewhat complicated transaction involving $6 Million in donations from various groups and a $12.5 Million Grant to the City of Saugatuck from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.  The grant still has to be awarded but at the meeting today everyone seemed pretty confident that it will be forthcoming at the Board Meeting on Dec 2. If so, the property will close before the end of this year! Once the closing occurs, the land will be leased to the City of Saugat... 10/05/2009

Living in Saugatuck, Mi on the shore of Lake Michigan one of the Great Lakes really puts you in touch with nature.  Lots of wind and waves in the last couple of days.  It has been spectacular !                                                  What is wrong with this picture?   YOU'RE NOT IN IT!     Call Dee Dee Hanson at CB Woodland Schmidt at 616-836-8535 or email her at deehans@ameritech.net and you can correct that situation. Always wanted a place in Saugatuck near Oval Beach?  Now is the time.  Prices have never been better.  Get your place here and you can be here for the wind, waves, and see the seasons change.  See all real estate listings at www.mysaugatuck.com  Also read the rest of the blogs to the right of the little dog. 09/30/2009

The fall colors are starting in Saugatuck, Mi.  Drop everything and get to Saugatuck, Mi this weekend.  The best time to see the colors is in the morning light and the evening light.  Two great places to go are the Douglas Cemetery on Wiley Road.  (Blue Star to the flashing light - Wiley and east to past the overpass for the expressway to the  Douglas CemeteryThis is actually my second favorite cemetery - the first being in Key West, Florida.  This cemetery is maintained beautifully by the Saugatuck Township.  It is full of Maple trees with charming old tombstones.  Another great location to see the colors is the drive from Park Street to Oval Beach down Perryman in Saugatuck.  You only get one fall every year and the best place to spend it is Saugatuck, Mi.  While you are here visit De... 09/25/2009

Just sold my first property directly from a blog.  The client read about foreclosure opportunities in a blog I posted on Activerain and called me.  We spent a lot of time looking until he was really comfortable with the market.  He made an aggressive offer on this property in Saugatuck, Mi.  Home was listed as a short sale in the MLS.  It took us all summer but we finally got bank approval and closed yesterday.  HERE IT IS!  A lovely home with three bedrooms and a finished lower level near Goshorn Lake.  Right near the bike path so he can bike into Saugatuck.  Price - $133,000.  Due to our perseverance and after overcoming numerous hurdles, this was his reward.  The last sale on this home was in excess of $200,000.   Now is the time to get a first or second home in the Saugatuck, Mi are... 09/15/2009

There is a hot market in the Saugatuck area in foreclosures and short sales.  And the owners of properties are pricing their homes TO SELL!  Last week I presented four offers for my buyer clients and three of them were in multiple offer situations!  My clients offers were the ones that were accepted in all three instances.  Cash is King!  Because it is hard to get the banks to perform in anything like a timely fashion and appraisals are an issue, in a multiple offer situation, the smart sellers will often take a lower cash offer that will close in two weeks instead of struggling through the financing with a higher buyer for two months with the possibility that the price will be struck down in the appraisal process anyway. Just to give you a little taste of what has been available in the... 09/03/2009

Have I got a deal for you today!  Wow!  This is FREE - can't get much cheaper than that. The Saugatuck Douglas District Library has FREE MOVIES with FREE POPCORN every other Thursday night either in the lower level of the Library or across the street in the Old School House.  The Library and the schoolhouse are located at the corner of Center and Mixer in Douglas, Mi.  Movies start at 7 PM and are generally group by theme. A new group will be starting August 27th.  These are movies directed by William Wyler and the theme is WILLIAM WYLER'S WOMEN.  The Good Fairy with Margaret Sullavan and Herbert Marshall on August 27th. Jezebel with Bette Davis and Henry Fonda on September 10th. The Letter with Bette Davis and Herbert Marshall on September 24th. Mrs. Miniver with Greer Garson and Walte... 07/30/2009

The first really bad reason  for hiring a real estate agent is that you feel sorry for the agent.  I can't believe it but I hear it over and over again from sellers of property.  They tell me that they had their properties listed with agents who did nothing to market the property and the property never sold.  So I asked, "Why did you choose that agent?"   The client tells me that the agent had given him a sob story about how much the agent needed the business and the client felt sorry for him.  My next questions is, "Would you hire a brain surgeon because you felt sorry for him?"    I don't think so!  So the response is, "This isn't brain surgery."  That's right.  The sale of your home is NOT BRAIN SURGERY.  The sale of your home  is just the sale of your most valuable asset and you ent... 07/29/2009

This market study for this year since January 1 versus last year from January 1 to July 23, 2009 indicates that it is probably the best time to get a home in Saugatuck Township for quite a while.  The number of sales have decreased from last year as has the average price and median price of homes. This year 35 single family homes sold in Saugatuck, Douglas, and Saugatuck Township.  Last year to July 23rd, 43 single family homes sold. Total dollar spend last year were $13,400,000 versus $8,400,000 this year.  Average price last year was $311,000 and this year $240,000. Medium price last year was $280,000 versus $219,000 this year. Last year three of the sales were lake front homes over $1M while this year only one has been. Currently there are 22 Lake Michigan properties available in Sau... 07/23/2009

This may not be the greatest news for sellers but WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BUYERS!  When I ran the numbers earlier this week, there were 89 condos available in the Saugatuck and Douglas Area and fifty of these are ON THE WATER!  In the last twelve months five condos sold and currently there are three pending.  That means we have a ten year supply of condos on the water or an eighteen years supply of condos on and off the water! Absorption for condos in the last twelve months was only 5 condos.  You can do the math.  Hurry over and check out the choices.  There are several in each association so you can have your pick of the litter.   I am very familiar with all the choices having sold one of the five last year and with one of the three pending right now.  If you always wanted to be on th... 06/11/2009

The new exhibit by the Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society is now open in the museum.  Grand opening was last week.  This exhibit is always FREE, FREE, FREE.  The museum is located across the parking area from the stairway to Mt. Baldhead.  The exhibit has photos for past years of Summer fun in Saugatuck and at the beach.  One notable subject of lots of the photos was the donkey, Dynamite. Be sure to see this when you are here.  This exhibit is a quiet, charming place to take the kids or yourself after your exhausting climb of Mt. Baldhead.  It is open daily until Labor Day from noon to 4PM. The Museum is on the Kalamazoo River and you can see the boats go up and down right in front of the museum where you can just sit, photograph, paint, or have a picnic.  To get to the museum take Fe... 05/28/2009

Run, don't walk to the SCA (Saugatuck Center for the Arts) FREE exhibit of the works of Sylvia Randolph.   This exhibit is open to the public from 10 AM to 5 PM during the week and 1-4 on weekends.  Sylvia left us last year after having graced us with her presence for over 100 years. The exhibit includes portraits and landscapes and several unusual fun pieces created by Sylvia and other works created by the Tuesday Artists who met every Tuesday at her home or on location.   Saugatuck is delightful.  Sylvia is delightful.  Here you have a chance to see Saugatuck projected with love and simplicity through her eyes over the eighty year span. I have attended quite a few artist events in the museums of Chicago and New York but have found more enjoyable than this exhibit.  It will be open unt... 05/14/2009

How about a couple of great cheap places to get an excellent lunch when you are visiting the area?  Go over to River Market and get a six inch Italian Sub with all the trimmings for under $5.00.  One of these can be split between two people if you are not very hungry.  The sub includes salami, ham, capacola, provolone, onions, pickles, peppers, tomatoes, olives, and italian dressing on a very fresh bun!   Take it down the street the park to eat while you watch the boats go up and down the Kalamazoo River.  It doesn't get any better than this!  To get to River Market, go to end of Water Street (street west of Butler along the River) to the end of the street on the west side.  They have a lot of other choices for lunch and you can pick up a bottle of wine for your dinner while you are the... 04/23/2009