Average Sale Prices Continue to Climb in Jackson County MI

Saturday Quick Stats January 2014While average sale prices continue to rise, the number of homes sold has dropped.  I believe the weather has something to with that.  It is very hard to sell real estate when you have to hike up a 200 yard driveway with three foot snow drifts to show a $300,000 house.

Hint: Plow your driveway if you want to sell real estate in the winter. Continue Reading →

Highest and Best – The Agony of Dealing with Multiple Offers

Highest and Best OfferIt’s 4:30 am and I just shot an email over to my buyer requesting more documentation for our offer. To my amazement, she responds immediately. Why are we both awake so early on a Friday morning? One word: Stress!! We are both anxious about the offer we wrote on their dream home last week. There is always anxiety during the negotiation process, but when you add the pressure of a multiple offer situation, it makes it 10 times worse. Continue Reading →

Why do I need a Realtor to buy a house?

Why Use A RealtorYou’ve finally made the decision to buy a home, and you know what needs to be done. You need to get pre-approved and choose a Realtor. You probably aren’t sure what you are looking for specifically in an agent, but when you’ve made an expensive purchase in the past (cars, furniture, appliances), you’ve appreciated the salespeople who were knowledgable, personable, and available. These traits are magnified during the home buying process. Why? Because you are about to start a long-term relationship with someone, so you need to make sure you are compatible. It can mean the difference between cruising into the closing room with confidence or feeling like you just rode the Tilt-a-Whirl at the local fair. Continue Reading →