Real Estate Information Archive

Morgan & York 

Fine Wines and Specialty Foods

1928 Packard Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 662-0798

Bakery, specialty deli and wine store with over 1000 different types of wine.  Great place to get picnic lunch package with nice bottle of vino.  

Great expert staff that are eager to help make recommendations. Also check out the cooking clinics.   Tell Tommy York the owner I said Hello.  

Welcome to Ann Arbor, Michigan

Visitors and potential residents should check out this brief video clip for some sites and sounds of Ann Arbor.  We have other Blog Video's about specific and interesting places in Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas that you might like to check out when you get a moment in the "Places & Events" category to the right.  

Looking for Real Estate for purchase or rental?  

Click on the "All MLS Listings" above to get started.  

Questions?  Try our Chat Button at the bottom of any page to reach us quickly or note our contact information above.  We thank you for your consideration and we look forward to meeting you in person.  We specialize in relocating families and making their transition a fun experience and smooth process.

Buying distressed Ann Arbor Area real estate listings is not for the faint of heart or those wanting responses in 24 hours. Navigating through the minefield of a short sale or foreclosure takes time and dedication to find the right deals.
RealtyTrac recently reported that approximately 25 percent of all US transactions in 2010 involved distressed properties.  Bank-owned (REO) and short-sale transactions will continue to be a major part of the real estate experience this year with short sales on the rise at the expense of foreclosures.  Our present distressed property inventory is about 20% of the total inventory in the Ann Arbor Area. Check back or drop me a message for updates.

1. Is your agent trained to handle this business?
How many closed bank owned or short sales has the agent closed; ask for referrals. Do they have a CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert) designation?  selling distressed properties needs skill and dedication. This means the difference between getting a house or not. This means saving thousands of dollars in negotiating or not.

2. Have an attorney review all bank addendums
Many lenders have incorporated language in their contracts that calls for a “blanket indemnification of the lender.” You forfeit your rights, so it is critical that an attorney review all bank documents and indemnification language.

3.  Knowing How to Winterize, and De-Winterize and Access Utilities
If the utilities are on, make sure in the contract that they will remain on for inspections and the house is De-winterized for the whole house inspector. Likewise, with some REO's the buyer may have to pay DTE a turn on charge to get utitilies on.

4.  Know How to Save Money and Protect Yourself 
Make sure contract language states that all contingencies will start when upon receiving signed bank acceptance letter or documents.

Protect yourself by choosing experienced an experienced agent.  I have the CDPE designation and years of experiences and references.  Click here to Find the best foreclosures in Ann Arbor and the rest of Washtenaw, Wayne & Livingston Counties with using this Great Site.

Thinking about listing you Home using the Short Sale Process.  Get started by clicking here

SALES UP: Retail sales rose 0.6 percent in December, the sixth consecutive monthly increase.

YEARLY SALES: For all of 2010, retail sales rose 6.7 percent, the best performance since 1999, although it followed two straight years of falling sales as the country was hit by a severe recession.

2011 OUTLOOK: Economists believe that sales will continue to strengthen in 2011 as consumers start to spend the extra money they will see in their paychecks from the tax cut.

Google has a new beta online application called fusion which allows one to organize data into tables etc online.  Check out this example table providing average Home values for different parts of the country.  Good way of tracking cost of living if moving perhaps?  Click here to see the data.

Dont forget to check out our new real estate search system.  It provides Google aerials, walkscores, zestimates, demographics, school info, distances to popular retailers and more!

Best of luck to you in 2011 !

Japanese automaker Toyota said today that it would spend $50 million over five years to establish an auto safety research center under the umbrella of the Toyota Technical Center, which employs 1,000 workers in York Township and Ann Arbor Township.

Toyota also said the University of Michigan would be one of three "charter partners" in the new Collaborative Safety Research Center, which will involve a collection of universities and outside researchers working together on various safety issues.

The announcement comes a day before media previews at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

It also comes about a year after Toyota came under fire for its handling of a recall crisis in which drivers complained about sudden acceleration issues in some of the automaker's vehicles.

Since the crisis, which Toyota President Akio Toyoda publicly apologized for, the automaker has made a point of highlighting its efforts to emphasize safety in its vehicle development.

The new research center's focus "will include reducing the risk of driver distraction - a growing cause of accidents - and protecting the most vulnerable traffic populations, including children, teens and seniors," Toyota said.

It was not immediately clear how many jobs Toyota plans to add with the new center.

The company also houses at the tech center the $100 million Toyota Research Institute of North America, where scientists and engineers conduct secretive research on advanced automotive technologies. For that project, Toyota said it would hire 65 workers.

The safety research center will also analyze accident data and research on driver behavior to "speed deployment of active safety systems," Toyota said.

"Toyota's new safety research center will work with leading North American universities and other partners on safety projects that benefit the entire industry," Toyoda said in a statement. "Our investment will support collaborative research aiming to reduce driver distraction and increase the safety of vehicles, drivers, passengers and pedestrians."

Chuck Gulash, a senior executive engineer at the Toyota Technical Center, will direct the research center. He said in a statement that Toyota plans to "publish as much of the research as possible" to help improve auto safety overall.

As part of the initiative, Toyota is collaboration with U-M's Transportation Research Institute"to assess the potential benefits of advanced safety systems in a systematic way, combining their expertise in driver behavior, crash data analysis and driver modeling."

"This program will allow leading safety researchers to collaborate on complex issues affecting the most important elements in the automotive safety equation - the drivers and passengers who are also our family, friends and colleagues," UMTRI director Peter Sweatman said in a statement. "With Toyota's continuing support, we will be able to test and disseminate research findings more widely, and to seek a more rapid rate of improvement."

Property values in York Township near Toyota Engineering (west of US23 at Willis Rd) should continue to remain strong and appreciate (now in second year of growth) .  Check out our new property search system above under "All MLS Listings"  

I know I have trouble remembering the rules when I get to these new intersections.  Did you know that if you are in a roundabout and an emergency vehicle approaches you are suppose to wait to pull to the side AFTER quickly clearing or exiting the roundabout?  Here is some more information to review.

When approaching a roundabout, slow down. For multi-lane roundabouts, look for roadside signs and pavement markings to guide you into the appropriate lane. It is important that you be in the correct lane prior to entering the roundabout.

Always stay to the right of the splitter island (either painted or raised). Splitter islands are used to divide directional traffic on the approach to the roundabout.

Be cautious of pedestrians as you approach the crosswalk.

As you approach the yield line, look to your left before entering the roundabout. Vehicles within the roundabout have the right-of-way. Enter the roundabout and merge into the traffic flow once an adequate gap is available.

All movement within the roundabout circulates counterclockwise. Never turn left into the roundabout from the yield line.

When traveling within the roundabout, only stop to avoid a collision. You have the right-of-way over entering traffic.

When approaching the roundabout, avoid traveling at a speed greater than the posted advisory speed.

When circulating within a multilane roundabout, avoid changing lanes.

Give special consideration to trucks, trailers and other large vehicles within a roundabout. Avoid passing or driving adjacent to larger vehicles within a roundabout. Large vehicles need more than one lane to circulate the roundabout.

Sometimes you will encounter a cyclist traveling within the roundabout. Use caution, be courteous, and share the road.

Continue through the roundabout until you reach your exit. Use your turn signal when exiting.

As you exit the roundabout, be aware of pedestrians crossing the roadway.

If an emergency vehicle approaches the roundabout...

Directly behind you just prior to you entering the roundabout (single lane approach); Enter the roundabout and travel to your exit. After exiting the roundabout, immediately maneuver your vehicle to the right side of the road to allow the emergency vehicle to pass you. Do not stop in the roundabout.

On another approach prior to you entering the roundabout; Wait for the emergency vehicle to enter and exit the roundabout before proceeding with your maneuver.

While you are circulating within the roundabout; Exit the roundabout and immediately maneuver your vehicle to the right side of the road to allow the emergency vehicle to pass you. Do not stop in the roundabout.

Looking for Real Estate in or around the Ann Arbor, Michigan area?  For New listing updates, please click here. 

For those of us who have spent any time hanging around Ann Arbor in the summertime, we surely remember the hustle, bustle and excitement surrounding the Ann Arbor Art Fair.  The Art Fair, originally established in 1960, is a combination of four award winning, independently juried art fairs, held simultaneously throughout Ann Arbor.  This year, the annual Art Fair runs between July 20-23, 2011.  The hours on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are from 10am – 9pm and Saturday, from 10am – 6pm.  Visitors in town searching for homes will definitly wish to attend this event.  We suggest you go early at 10am (preferably on Wens) thereby avoiding much of the larger crowds and this will help you see most of the display areas.  The cost for attending this renowned event is free!
            Together, the four fairs attract over 600,000 visitors from across America, and create an amazing outdoor gallery featuring over 1,200 artists.  There are an abundance of things to see and do while spending an afternoon outdoors at the Art Fair.  Activities include learning about and Buying art from the nation’s best artists, lively entertainment, artists’ demonstrations, 4 Imaginations Stations for art activities, more than 150 restaurants, and special sidewalk sales from downtown Ann Arbor to the University of Michigan campus.  You can also check out a complete list of exhibiting artists  and artist applications are available here.  This spectacular event attracts the finest artists producing top quality art work in every price range and is considered to be the largest art fair in the country.
            Transportation to and from the Ann Arbor Art Fair is extremely convenient.  There are several parking structures around campus, including the Maynard Parking Structure which has recently been renovated.  It is generally $10 per day for the parking structures and $5 after 5pm.  There is parking in and around nearby neighborhoods for low cost as well.  If you wish to avoid parking downtown near the Art Fair altogether, there are also shuttle buses that run throughout Ann Arbor.  Parking to catch the shuttle bus is available at Briarwood Mall or Pioneer High School.  The AATA Art Fair Shuttles will run every 10-15 minutes from 9am to 10pm, Wednesday through Friday, and on Saturday from 9am to 7pm.  The fares will be $1.50 each way, and children 7 years old and younger ride free.   Click here for a complete list of maps, parking and bus schedule.  You can visit the Visitors and Conference Bureau for infrmation on lodging, restaurants and more. Don't miss this nationally renowned art exhibit here in town! 

Visitors can check ann arbor real estate prices by clicking on the "All MLS Listings" link above for property listings for sale or Rent.

Ten Ways to Protect Your Child from Cyberbullies

Cyberbullying has quickly turned into a pandemic on the web, causing severe emotional and psychological pain to children. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, over 40% of all teenagers with Internet access have reported being bullied online. 

Cyberbullies seek to terrorize or humiliate perceived enemies and rivals under the cloak of anonymity, and with the proliferation of social media tools and multiple points of connection to the Web, they have an ever-expanding array of opportunities to achieve their goals. This activity presents a daunting challenge to parents who want to ensure their children's safety in today's technology-driven communications environment. Simple tips that worked in the past are fast-becoming ineffective: it's no longer sufficient to block access to specific websites, messaging programs, social networks, or computer use altogether. 

Parents can gain important insights into their children's digital lives by communicating with them about this important topic, and better monitoring their web, email and mobile phone activity. Here are 10 tips for parents to help protect their children from cyberbullies and other online dangers:

1. Start by talking with your children about their online activities and the dangers of cyberbullying - set their expectations by discussing your views on monitoring their Internet and smartphone use

2. Set up Google Alerts to monitor mentions of your children's names on the Web

3. Friend your children on Facebook and monitor their privacy settings so you are able to view their profile and activity

4. In addition to Facebook, cyberbullies use other social networking sites like Twitter to post hateful messages. Familiarize yourself with these sites and set up an account to enable you to routinely search what others are saying about your kids

5. Inform teachers if you suspect your child is being cyberbullied.  Teachers are among the first to notice important changes in children's behavior, and it's possible the bully may be a classmate

6. Consider implementing parental monitoring software on your Home computers and children's smartphones

7. Many school districts also now use computer monitoring software on all classroom computers. Check with your school principal, PTA or school board to ensure these tools are in use at your child's school

8. Prohibit your children from having multiple e-mail addresses, screennames and social networking accounts

9. Prohibit your children from using geolocation tools and apps on Facebook and smartphones

10. Always be observant as your children use electronic communications tools. Changes in habits, such as frequency and timing of use, mood swings and other indicators, could be a sign that your child is being bullied or a target of other online mischief

If you are looking for new real estate listings, try www.shelterquest1.com

As of July 1, 2010, it is illegal in Michigan to text while driving and could result in fines.

The law says that reading, typing, or sending a text or email on any wireless two-way communication device behind the wheel is illegal. This civil infraction carries a first-time $100 fine and $200 in fines for subsequent violations.

To read the full story about the new Michigan Texting Ban, please visit AnnArbor.com at:http://www.annarbor.com/news/michigans-texting-ban-takes-effect-today-will-it-reduce-crashes/

Get new property listings reports at www.shelterquest1.com

In a state suffering from the decline of the auto industry and the loss of manufacturing jobs, Ann Arbor remains an economic and cultural oasis. The city has grown up around the university, which moved to Ann Arbor from Detroit in 1837, shortly after Ann Arbor was founded. A focus on research, technology, arts, and tourism has spared the local economy many of the hardships felt elsewhere in Michigan.

If you live here, it helps to be a Wolverines fan. The roar from Michigan Stadium—which seats more than 100,000 and is known as the Carnegie Hall of sports—resounds through town on football Saturdays in the fall. The games always sell out, drawing fans from around the country. If sports aren't your thing, there are still plenty of other activities, many associated with the university: several museums and galleries, an arboretum, an annual arts fair, an orchestra, and local opera and ballet companies.

The university employs about 16,000 people from all over the Detroit area, plus another 12,000 at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Private-sector employers add to a vibrant white-collar economy largely based on research and technology. Automakers like General Motors and Toyota account for some research jobs; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and companies like General Dynamics and Google provide others. Longtime local companies include Domino's Pizza and Borders.

Ann Arbor has cold, snowy winters, and moisture from nearby Lake Huron and Lake Erie contributes to a high proportion of cloudy days. But summers tend to be warm and comfortable, with highs in the low 70s and nighttime temps in the 50s or 60s. And Ann Arbor—known as "Tree Town"—is one of the greenest, most densely forested residential areas in America.

If you can tolerate cold winters and can afford the slightly above average cost of living, Ann Arbor is a dynamic retirement spot with year-round enticements. Detroit's metropolitan airport is about 40 miles away, with nonstop or one-stop jet service to most big cities, so grandkids can visit—or you can easily flee to the south in the winter.

In addition to the University of Michigan, there are several smaller colleges nearby, including Cleary, Concordia, and Eastern Michigan. Big Ten rival Michigan State is about 65 miles away, in East Lansing.

The University of Michigan Medical Center is one of the top hospitals in the country. There's also a VA hospital in Ann Arbor, and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital is just a few miles away (with some facilities in Ann Arbor itself).

After the University of Michigan, the biggest employers are auto supplier Visteon, General Motors, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Eastern Michigan University, and Borders. Drug aker Pfizer has employed several thousand in the area but is closing its operation.

The median Home price in 2008 was about $206,000, higher than in many surrounding areas. But consider that a sign of a relatively healthy economy: Prices in 2008 fell by a modest 6 percent, a small decline compared with other areas. Much cheaper homes are available in surrounding communities, where builders binged during the housing boom. In 2009 and 2010 both nearby Saline and Ann Arbor realty prices have gone up an average of 3% per year.  

To get real time foreclosure, short sale and other realty listings click here.