Real Estate Information Archive

Blog

Displaying blog entries 291-300 of 564

7232 ESSEX, YPSILANTI, MI 48197 - Home for Sale 15 minutes from Ann Arbor Michigan

Saturday, April 23, 2016
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Popular Greene Farms Sub. 4BR/2.5B Home

2 Story with Open floor plan - This neighborhood is minutes from Lincoln schools and close to shopping, restaurants and highway access for an easy commute. This home has over 2200* sq ft of living space with fresh paint and new carpeting throughout.  Just minutes from Ann Arbor, this location is ideal for split commute couples (one working to the east and one going west) and gives you more house for your money than generally found in Ann Arbor itself.  

View Photos and more Listing information by clicking Here

Features Include:

  • Owens Corning Finished Basement w/ Kitchenette
  • Updated Deck w/ Pergola
  • New Carpet and Paint
  • New Privacy Fencing in Backyard
  • 1802 SqFt Upper Finished Space
  • 452 SqFt Lower Finished Space
  • Master Suite w/ Soaking Tub
  • Gas Fireplace
  • 2 Car Attached Garage
  • Hardwood, Ceramic & Carpet Flooring
  • Prepped and Framed for Bath in Basement
  • Club House with Pool
  • Community with Walking Trails, Ponds and Play Areas

​Watch Video - Click the 4 arrows in bottom right corner for Larger Image

 

​See Attached LBP & Seller Disclosure 

* Including Basement Finished Living Area

 

ypsilanti, home, for, sale, houses, broker, realtor, tom, stachler, thomas, mi, school, district, new, listings, property, subdivision

 

 Saline, MI, homes, house, for sale, wooded, broker, property, listed, new, listing, available, tom, stachler, michigan, ann arbor, dexter, washtenaw, county city, limits, high school

Add Comment

March Real Estate Market Update and ReCap

Saturday, April 23, 2016
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

March finished with a nice flourish of activity with pending sales (new contracts written in March) up across all price points compared to last March. The pace of new listings entering the market was still slower than last year for properties under $250,000, putting continued pressure on already scarce For Sale inventories. Clean, well-priced homes are going fast, with 25% of homes selling in 10 days or less and 55% in 30 days or less.

The $250,000-$500,000 markets saw a slight 4.5% rise in inventory but a huge 31% rise in activity. Although sales activity in the over $500,000 luxury Home market increased by 4% over the first quarter of last year, the 11% rise in listing inventory made the market feel slower to many high-end sellers.  

Local supply and demand drives value changes as the statistics in the above chart reflect. Supply and demand can vary dramatically within the different price ranges and markets, affecting appreciation accordingly. First Quarter 2016 value per square foot jumped the most (9% over 1st Quarter 2015) in the Under $150,000 price range, where the inventories are the tightest (15% lower than 2015). For $150,000-$250,000, again with low inventories, values jumped almost 3%.  In the $250,000-$500,000 markets, with inventories rising, values rose just under 2%, and for the over $500,000 markets, with inventories rising over 11%, values were flat.

Buyers

In all price segments, there is a shortage of nicely detailed and updated homes. Again, the great ones go fast and often with multiple offers. Buyers need to be diligent in monitoring new homes as they hit the market, patient in waiting until the right home appears, and ready to jump when it does. The best homes often sell in hours instead of days. To win the race to the deal, buyers need to monitor new listings constantly, and be prepared to write with earnest money deposits and approval letters.

We are often asked how far values have come back from the peak point of 2005/6 in Southeast Michigan.  Using Case-Shiller data we can estimate about how far we have moved over the past 10 years.  Case-Shiller shows we are back to early 2001 values, but since they tend to run 6-8 months behind in their date, we are really closer to late 2001-early 2002, which puts us back to about 85% of peak values.  There are many markets that are back to peak and some lagging behind, but on average, 85% is a good number to use.  It is also interesting to note that we are now back in line with the long-term value trends (the orange dotted line) if values had followed their long-term trend, instead of the roller-coaster ride we all took.

 

Demand for Detailed Homes

Prior to the recession, buyers freely used home equity loans to update kitchens, baths and do other home improvement projects. The recession pulled the plug on the availability of home equity loans for most homeowners. Buyers have fewer freshly updated and decorated homes to choose from. Since most buyers aren’t in a position to qualify for an equity loan when they first buy, the easiest way to finance updated kitchens and baths is to buy a home that already has them. Buyers want it easy and are willing to pay a premium to get that detailed home.

Last year Southeast Michigan broke records for both sold units and sold dollar volume. We are off to an even better start in 2016 with both units and volume. That kind of activity combined with low inventory is a perfect recipe for value growth.

 

Please contact me with any of your real estate needs. I am happy to assist you.

 

 

 

Tom Stachler is a local Ann Arbor area real estate agent, realtor and Broker providing home or house pricing for the markets located in Saline, Dexter, Chelsea, Milan, Ypsilanti MIchigan. Contact him to get price, realty information and new listing updates.   

Add Comment

Prevent Attic Ventilation Problems, mold and mildew in your home

Tuesday, April 19, 2016
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team
 
Many homes have ventilation fans in bathrooms and other locations. It's not uncommon for a Home inspector to discover exhaust fan ducts and dryer vents not terminating where they should be. Many times the issue is not obvious to homeowners without some investigation.

This week's tip will help you to determine if your home's laundry and bathroom ventilation fans and ducts are properly installed.
What is the problem?
The purpose of bathroom vent fans are to move humid air out of the bathroom to assist drying the room after baths or showers and to prevent mold and mildew from accumulating. 
 
Sometimes fans and ducts terminate in attic or crawl spaces. This is a problem because these areas should stay dry to prevent mold and other moisture issues. 
Similarly, gas dryer vents should never terminate indoors as they are also venting gas combustion by-products, such as carbon monoxide.
 
Lint build-up can be a fire hazard and is a significant cause of home fires. The photo to the left was a gas dryer in a 2nd floor laundry room venting to the attic. The proper vent was never installed through the roof.
 
Electric dryers can be vented indoors, but will add additional heat and humidity to your home (which may be desirable in the winter). Be sure to cover the end of the exhaust duct with something (like a knee-high stocking) to collect the lint and clean it periodically to prevent it from clogging if you are venting an electric dryer indoors. There are also ventless dryer models available if venting from your laundry location is problematic.
What can you do?
The best way to ensure your bathroom vent fan or dryer exhaust vent is terminating properly is to follow the entire vent.
 
You may need to access your attic or crawl space for this. 
 
The photo to the left is a bathroom fan with no venting duct installed. Bathroom fan vents should always terminate outside of the home. Vent ducts should be as short as possible with as few bends as possible to work as intended.
 
See our prior tip on Dryer Venting for more information on best practices for dryer duct routing.
We hope these tips have been helpful. Feel free to share it with anyone you think may benefit from it. If you need help finding property or other realty related matters, please do not hesitate to contact us.  View property by clicking on the All MLS Listings link above or get your Home Price at www.MyPrice.guru
 
tom, stachler, real estate, one, broker, realtor, information, ann arbor, saline, inspections, property, best, inspector, houses, homes, realty, for, sale, Rent, Lease, dexter, michigan
Add Comment

The Coming Solar Panel Revolution in Ann Arbor Homes

Friday, April 15, 2016
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

THINKING OF INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS ON YOUR PROPERTY ?

Man installing solar panels © Getty Images
Solar energy installations have increased six fold since 2010.

They say a picture’s worth a thousand words.

So today I’m going to show you three charts that prove the solar energy revolution is coming.  Remember, the key to so many emerging technologies is the fact that they’re getting smaller, faster and cheaper. Those are the results of exponential growth. They’re the driving forces behind everything from quantum computing to the next iPhone.  The same forces are driving the solar industry. Solar energy is getting cheaper. It is becoming more efficient. These trends are accelerating. And that’s leading to rapidly growing numbers of new installations.
:

The price of solar energy

Source: Bloomberg

The price of solar energy has collapsed. That’s led to an explosion of new solar installations.

The reason those trends appear so dramatic is because the numbers go back 40 years. But narrow your focus to the last few years and the trend is the same. Look:

price per watt of electricity generated by solar

The price per watt of electricity generated by solar has more than halved in the last decade. Installations have increased six fold since 2010.

The chart tells the story. Falling prices allow increasing numbers of people to use solar energy as a viable energy source.

And that’s exactly what they’ve been doing:

of new energy installations by sector

These figures are from 2014 (the latest data set available through the Solar Energy Industry Association). What the above chart shows is the percentage of new energy installations coming on stream broken down by sector. Solar energy outstripped every other new supply.

All three charts tell the same story. The trends at work in the solar industry right now are driving it towards a moment of critical mass. In fact, some would say we’ve already hit that point. Consider:

  • Since 2010, Italy has increased its solar capacity by over 410%.
  • In 2014, Germany acquired 6.9% of its entire energy needs from solar.
  • But that’s nothing compared to the USA. Between 2004 and 2014, American capacity increased 40 times over as the chart below proves:

Amont of US energy generate by solar

Source: US Energy Information Administration’s Monthly Energy Review table 7.2a.

And the trend is accelerating. By the end of this year, US capacity is expected to double again.

That’s an increase of 7,900% in just 12 years.

We’re at a critical point. Rapidly improving technology and funding from governments and tech firms worldwide are combining to create the kind of opportunity you have to consider.

How best to take it?

That’s the question that was put to Eoin Treacy, investment director for Exponential Investor (and all our tech related products), earlier in the year.

And he didn’t disappoint. He came up with a series of high potential ways to profit from this story. You’ll find everything you need in this new presentation – just click here to take a look.

It’s well worth your time.  

 

solar, power, installation, panels, ann arbor, michigan, saline, real, estate, homes, houses, condo, information, pricing, plans, products, savings, tom, stachler, real, estate, broker, listings, for, sale, market

Add Comment

Protect Your Family from Asbestos-Contaminated Vermiculite Insulation

Tuesday, March 29, 2016
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Protect Your Family from Asbestos-Contaminated Vermiculite Insulation

This page provides important information on how to protect yourself and your family if you suspect that you might have vermiculite insulation from Libby, Montana.

What is Vermiculite

Vermiculite is a naturally-occurring mineral composed of shiny flakes, resembling mica. When heated to a high temperature, flakes of vermiculite expand as much as 8-30 times their original size. The expanded vermiculite is a light-weight, fire-resistant, and odorless material and has been used in numerous products, including insulation for attics and walls. Sizes of vermiculite products range from very fine particles to large (coarse) pieces nearly an inch long.

Top of Page

Concerns about Asbestos-contaminated Vermiculite Insulation

A mine near Libby, Montana, was the source of over 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the United States from 1919 to 1990. There was also a deposit of asbestos at that mine, so the vermiculite from Libby was contaminated with asbestos. Vermiculite from Libby was used in the majority of vermiculite insulation in the United States and was often sold under the brand name Zonolite. If you have vermiculite insulation in your Home, you should assume this material may be contaminated with asbestos and be aware of steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from exposure to asbestos.

Top of Page

Identifying Insulation That is Made From Vermiculite

Look at the photos on this website and then look at the insulation without disturbing it. Vermiculite insulation is a pebble-like, pour-in product and is usually gray-brown or silver-gold in color.

The following photographs show typical vermiculite insulation.

Typical vermiculite insulation
Vermiculite insulation between attic joists
Vermiculite insulation particle size relative to paper clip
Different sizes of vermiculite particles
Typical vermiculite insulation

You should assume that vermiculite insulation is from Libby and treat the material as if it contained asbestos by not disturbing it or by using a trained professional if it needs to be removed. Since the Libby mine was estimated to be the source of over 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the United States from 1919 to 1990 and vermiculite from Libby was contaminated with asbestos, further testing is not necessary to take the appropriate precautions. While you can hire a trained professional to test your attic for asbestos, this may be expensive and, depending on the methods used, might give you erroneous results. We do not recommend that you open your walls to check for vermiculite.

Top of Page

Risk of Exposure to Asbestos If You Have Vermiculite Insulation

Asbestos causes cancer and other diseases. There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers must be airborne to cause a health risk through inhalation, so the first step is not to disturb the material, which would release more fibers into the air. If you remove or disturb the insulation, it is probable that you may inhale some asbestos fibers - the degree of health risk depends on how much and how often this occurred. If you do not go into your attic, handle, or disturb the insulation, it is likely that you will not be exposed to asbestos fibers from vermiculite insulation.

Also, you need to consider if any disturbance of the insulation - possibly by a contractor doing work in you attic - may result in the fibers being deposited into other areas of your house where an exposure might be possible.

Top of Page

Concerns About Exposure If Your Family Removed or Handled Insulation That Contained Asbestos

It is not possible to say whether your exposure may result in disease. Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung diseases including asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma, and disease may not occur until decades after exposure. The risk of disease increases as the level, duration, and frequency of exposure increases. That risk is made worse by smoking.

If you are concerned about possible exposure, talk to your doctor and consider consulting a physician who specializes in lung diseases, also known as a pulmonologist. For more information on asbestos-related diseases see the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry Web site.

Top of Page

If You Have Vermiculite Insulation

YOU SHOULD ASSUME THE VERMICULITE CONTAINS ASBESTOS AND DO NOT DISTURB IT! Any disturbance could potentially release asbestos fibers into the air. If you absolutely have to go in your attic and it contains vermiculite insulation, you should limit the number of trips you make and shorten the length of those trips in order to help limit your potential exposure.

We recommend that you:

  • Leave vermiculite insulation undisturbed in your attic or in your walls.
  • Do not store boxes or other items in your attic if it contains vermiculite insulation.
  • Do not allow children to play in an attic with vermiculite insulation.
  • Do not attempt to remove the insulation yourself.
  • Hire a professional asbestos contractor if you plan to remodel or conduct renovations that would disturb the vermiculite in your attic or walls to make sure the material is safely handled and/or removed.

Tom can help you find a home free of environmental and other issues using his 25 years of experience as a realty broker and retired builder.  Contact us today or look at the All MLS properties listed above.  

 

tom, stachler, thomas, realtor, broker, real, estate, ann arbor, michigan, saline, ypsilanti, dexter, chelsea, properties, homes, houses, for, sale, Lease, asbestos, hazard, environmental, housing, EPA, limits, information, details, issues, milan, construction, remediation, contractors, pricing, costs, locations

Add Comment

Vogels Locksmith Ann Arbor Scam

Monday, March 7, 2016
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team
Scam Alert - Locksmith Scam
If you use Vogel's Lock and Safe for locksmith work, please be aware that their Google Links have been compromised. People reached through a Google search are posing as Vogel's representatives. Their goal is to gain entry into properties to burglarize the property.  
 
Please call Vogel's directly for service at 734-668-6863 (same number for 100 years). Their service vans will say Vogel's on the side, their employees will be wearing blue, yellow and white shirts with Vogel's on the front. They do not have an after-hours answering service, and do not demand cash or follow customers to the ATM for payment.  
 
Vogel's is a local, family owned Ann Arbor company which provides quality service. They are courteous and make appointments in advance. Be sure to call them directly to arrange for service. 

 

vogels, locksmith, realtor, tom, thomas, stachler, real estate, locks, keys, ann arbor, michigan, saline, dexter, ypsilanti, milan, broker, homes, for sale, Lease, condos, houses, recommendations, inventory, realty, sold, selling, information, lock out

Add Comment

February 2016 Unemployment Rates best since 2006

Monday, March 7, 2016
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Wow - I remember a rate of 10% plus not that Many Years ago !

In great news for the U.S. economy, 242,000 jobs were added in February, with the unemployment rate flat at 4.9 percent, according to recently released Bureau of Labor statistics. This was well above market expectations of 190,000 new jobs, and the lowest unemployment level since May 2008.

According to Economist Jonathan Smoke, the report bodes well for the housing market, which is driven by job creation.

“February’s employment situation report should strengthen consumer confidence,” says Smoke. “Additionally, the strong pace of job creation should lead to continued positive household formation. Combined with substantial pent-up demand for Home purchases, we remain confident we will see the strongest spring Buying season in a decade.”

Its a good time to purchaser real estate with the historic low interest rates adn economic stability.  Contact us today so we can send you an inventory list of properties that fit your criteria or try the "All MLS Listings" link above.  

 

tom, stachler, thomas, unemployment, rates, ann arbor, michigan, united states, us, homes, for sale, houses, saline, dexter, ypsilanti, milan, broker, realtor, information, economy, latest, figurespage1image21704

 

Add Comment

Home Staging Tips to Increase Your Sale Price

Saturday, March 5, 2016
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Home STAGING HELPS MINIMIZE MARKETING DAYS TOO

staged homeIt’s no secret staging can raise the value of a home—in fact, it can boost a sale price by as much as 10 percent. The best staged homes—the ones that garner the full 10—strike the balance between lived-in and never-owned. How can you apply that science when staging your home?

Look no further than model homes, which draw buyers by blending the form-follows-function principle with the preferences of today. To stage your home to that effect:

  1. Remove anything from the room that doesn’t fit the intended purpose of the space, and vice versa. Take televisions out of bedrooms and designate an eating area in the kitchen, for example.
  2. Delineate sections in a room with area rugs, and “float” furniture away from walls and on and around the space. Avoid closing off accessibility by allowing at least three feet of walk-through space around furniture arrangements.
  3. Group solid furnishings, like sectionals or bookcases, with visually lighter pieces, like a glass side table or raised bench, to convey spaciousness over sparseness.
  4. Have at least one light fixture for every 100 square feet of space, especially if your home lacks natural light. Use pure white lamp shades on all light fixtures, and replace any incandescent bulbs with CFLs.
  5. Mix general and task lighting in rooms that see the most traffic. Install lighting between open-air shelving or underneath overhead cabinetry in the kitchen, and place a small lamp on a desk or workspace in a child’s bedroom.
  6. Accessorize sparingly. Display only a handful of books with like-colored bindings in bookcases or shelving units, add one (thriving!) house plant to a side table, or hang one statement piece of artwork (scaled appropriately) over a bed or fireplace.

Click the Contact Tom Link below right and we will email you back the  Link to Our Home Staging Video and more tips.  

 

tom, stachler, thomas, real estate, for sale, for Lease, staging, information, tips, listing, advice, ann arbor, saline, Michigan, dexter, milan, ypsilanti, belleville, chelsea, pinckney, broker, realtor, agent, recommended, leading, popular, homes, houses, condos, marketing

Add Comment

Outlook for Spring 2016 Real Estate Market

Wednesday, February 24, 2016
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

It looks like it might be shaping up to be an interesting spring market. Although the trend of rising inventories is still taking hold, a combination of good weather and continued buyer interest at all price ranges, has kept For Sale inventories lower than we had expected which is good news for sellers. What won't be clear until April or May is whether the increased sales activity for the last 4 months is borrowed business from the spring or a true increase in buyer demand.

Under $250,000 inventories are falling and buyer activity is rising, causing a continued scramble to find a Home to purchase.  Although inventories are rising in the over $250,000 price categories, new contracts are rising faster than new listings, which is keeping the expected inventory jump this winter much less than anticipated.

For the economy in general, economists seem to be pessimistically optimistic. Economic activity is moving forward but at a slow enough pace that it is vulnerable to sudden change in any world activity. With stock prices lower, upper-end markets should slow as well and with stronger home equities, many more sellers will be able to sell, creating more inventory, and potentially slowing appreciation rates, if supply exceeds demand.  All that said, it is also as likely that buyer demand still has some kick left in it, as first time home buyers and as many “boomerang” buyers jump back into the market (see chart below).  So we will simply have to wait and see how the spring market unfolds. It does appear the real estate bulls vastly outnumber the bears in relation to the spring market and 2016 in general. So, with inventories low and demand still strong, those Sellers who may be waiting until spring to put their homes on the market should consider entering the market now.  

To get a feel for how far values have recovered relative to peak values back in 2005/6, here is a chart showing Michigan in comparison to the rest of the country. It shows Michigan back to 92% of peak values, which when adding in the pay-down of mortgages during the past 10 years, puts most Michigan homeowners with more equity than that at the peak.

 

So far it looks like an early spring for both the weather and for real estate activity, so for both buyers and sellers, don't be afraid to jump in now, the water might be still a bit chilly but it is heating up fast!

 

 

Current Mortgage Interest Rates

Conforming

Loan Type Interest Rate APR
5/1 ARM Conforming 3.375% 3.474%
15-yr fixed Conforming 3.250% 3.465%
30-yr fixed Conforming 4.000% 4.103%
FHA 30-yr fixed 4.000% 4.791%
VA 30-yr fixed 3.750% 3.940%

 

Non-Conforming

Loan Type Interest Rate APR
5/1 ARM Non-Conforming 2.625% 3.155%
15-yr fixed Non-Conforming 3.250% 3.324%
30-yr fixed Non-Conforming 3.500% 3.521%
VA 30-yr fixed 3.750% 3.861%
VA 15-yr fixed 3.250% 3.427%

Tom, stachler, thomas, real estate, market, updates, 2016, michigan, broker, ann arbor, saline, dexter, ypsilanti, chelsea, inventory, prices, outlook, realty, realtor, houses, homes, property, for, sale, listings, increase, appreciation, depreciation , mortgage, interest, rates, current, loan

Add Comment

Using your IRA for Real Estate Purchases

Tuesday, February 23, 2016
by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

 

Self-directed IRAs that focus heavily on real estate investments are often referred to as "Real Estate IRAs." With a Real Estate IRA, your retirement funds can invest in all kinds of real estate and real estate-related assets. Explore the most popular real estate investment options for your self-directed IRA:

What Can I Invest In?

These are just a few of your options with a self-directed IRA. The real estate-related investments allowed in these retirement accounts are seemingly endless.

Looking for help with this type of investment, contact us today to get started with finding property and purchasing it rental or flip opportunities.  

 

tom, stachler, thomas, real estate, one, property, income, properties, Home, houses, investment, ira, investing, using, flip, opportunities, saline, ann arbor, dexter, michigan, creative, milan, ypsilanti, michigan

Add Comment

Displaying blog entries 291-300 of 564

Syndication

Categories

Archives