My husband and I attended a surprise birthday party last night, and one of the guests was a fellow Realtor® from a different firm. We spent the evening talking about everything from soccer teams to office pranks when the conversation eventually turned to real estate. He mentioned one of his frustrations is when someone hires him to list a house, asks for his advice, and doesn’t follow it. Then, after six months or longer on the market, the seller decides to switch agents, and that new agent tells the seller the exact same thing, the sellers listen and the house sells instantly. The new agent gets paid, the old agent gets nothing. I can’t tell you how often that happens, and it isn’t fun. Continue Reading →
Jackson Michigan Market Statistics – February 2014
Another month is in the books, and sale prices in Jackson County continue to rise. We may have sold less homes than last year, but the average sale price skyrocketed!
The average sale price is $117,308 for the month of February, with 84 homes sold in the county. Last year 120 homes sold with an average sale price of only $84,343. Continue Reading →
Don’t worry, it’s in there – How To Write An Offer
“How do I write an offer?”
“How do I write an offer?”
This is the question I was asked by a buyer this week after finding the right house. Because they aren’t first time buyers, I was caught off guard because I assumed they had been through the process before and already knew what to do. This got me thinking… just because someone already owns a house, it doesn’t mean they understand the process. Things have changed so much over the years with real estate that a crash course is necessary. So let’s explore how to write an offer and what that entails. Continue Reading →
Chili Cook Off Jackson MI 2014
We had a blast competing in this years annual Jackson Michigan Chili Cook Off. The snow and cold could not keep the crowd away. Congratulations to all the winners below! Continue Reading →
Jerome Michigan Real Estate Video Tour – Lake Leann Home
11933 Dublin Dr Jerome Michigan 49249
Jerome Michigan Real Estate Video Tour
Average Sale Prices Continue to Climb in Jackson County MI
While 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
It’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 →
Ben Latocki opens Grass Lake Real Estate Office
We are excited to announce that we are opening an office in Grass Lake Michigan. Last week we purchased the building at 230 West Michigan Ave in downtown Grass Lake. We are really looking forward to getting the office up and running. Make sure you stop by and say hi! Continue Reading →
FSBO – Jackson MI – 512 S Wisner St Jackson MI 49203
4 beds, 3 baths, 2,700 sqft
$209,900
Lovely, two-story, brick home is located in prestigious southwest Jackson neighborhood. With 2,700 square feet, four separate floors, and four bedrooms and three bathrooms, the house has lots of room for entertainment and/or a family. Continue Reading →
Why do I need a Realtor to buy a house?
You’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 →