Why I Love My Home – Jackson MI Home For Sale with Video

“Dear Buyer,
I have always loved the layout of this home. It has stairs, but you don’t have to tackle so many at once. The rooms are big. The backyard is beautiful. In the summer you can’t see anything behind as the trees provide natural fencing. I have developed a little park in the back with a fire pit and pergola. It makes me feel like I’m in the country. I can sit back in that area and feel like no one can see. It’s very peaceful. It is a wonderful place for children and/or pets. The fenced back yard sold me.

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Jackson MI Average Sale Prices Up 10%

Jackson MI Real Estate Market Up 10%Jackson MI real estate market statistics are in for the first quarter of 2014, and things are looking great.

According to the Jackson Area Association of Realtors, the average sale price has gone up from $92,903 during the first quarter of 2013 to $102,053 during the first quarter of 2014. That is s 9.8% increase in the average sale price. Continue Reading →

Realtors Don’t Quit

Realtors Don't QuitA little over a year ago I hired a personal trainer to help whip me into shape. I meet with him about four times a week, and it’s definitely a team effort to fit that time into my schedule when I work full-time, work a lot of evenings and weekends, have a husband that actually enjoys my company and have young kids that still like having their mom around. What I have found is that not only is he getting my body in shape, but everything else in my life has become better, too. Maybe it’s because when someone pushes you further than you think is ever possible, it opens your mind to what other things you are capable of. I read a quote once that said, “Your mind quits long before your body does.” So true. But if I want to relate this quote to real estate, then it should read, “Your client quits long before your Realtor does.” Continue Reading →

Honestly, Tell Me What I Need to Hear

Truth Builds TrustYears ago when I was a high school teacher, my principal sat me down for my annual review. He listed all the things I did well, but then gently told me that I didn’t seem to have a passion for teaching, that I didn’t appear comfortable or confident in front of the class, and therefore I wasn’t engaging my students. These comments hurt. I cried for days. But then I thought about it, and he was right. I’m sure it was hard for him to tell me Continue Reading →

Why I Love My Home – 205 N Webster Jackson MI

“Dear Home Buyer,

 

I bought this home about a year and a half ago and have really loved living here.  One of the reasons I love this home is the neighborhood.  It is close to a lot of great restaurants, shopping, and the highway.  After looking at many homes in the area, I fell in love with this one because of its open floor plan, and its low maintenance features.  I love the enclosed porch, and all the closet room in the bedrooms. Continue Reading →

Michigan home values rank 7th in the Nation for price increases.

Saturday Quick StatsMichigan home values are increasing.  According to a recent report by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Michigan home values are up an average of 9.43% in the last year.  This puts Michigan in the Top 10 for home value increases.

The top states are those in the West, with Michigan and Minnesota standing out from the rest of the Great Lake States with higher than normal home value increases.

Nevada had the nation’s highest gains at 24.32% over the last year.  West Virginia is at the bottom of the list with -1.78% loss in home values.  It should be noted that West Virginia was the only state in the Country with a loss in home values.  The rest of the Country was all in the positive.   Continue Reading →

Trust a Realtor’s Expertise

Keep Calm - Trust a RealtorMy 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

Jackson Michigan Market StatisticsAnother 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 to 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 →