Christopher Sevick's (casevick) Blog

Here is a really good article written by Bob Bruss, one of nation's foremost experts and authors in real estate.  It discusses just how there are pitfalls to selling "For Sale By Owner" and even more so in this tough economic market.  It is all the more tempting now to try a for sale by owner due...

Michigan has just enacted a new savings tax break for private forest lands of as small as 20 acres.  Why am I posting this on this forum you ask?  While, that is simple, people have second homes and "up north" cabins that have private forest lands nearby.  In addition, we know that there are peo...

While doing some work this weekend I came across this great article from Inman News on Short Sales.  Each week I receive literally dozens of calls or email about short sales and how the caller or writer needs to sell short due to their home being worth less than they owe.  Upon further questioni...

Is your home carrying too much insurance?  Just this week I was evaluating my family's coverage for auto, home, and life.  While we all know to adjust our auto insurance as our car loses value, do we do the same for our home as the mortgage adjusts?  Given that a considerable amount of your home ...

In this time of increasing property taxes, as I discussed in this post, and lengthening days on the market lots of seller are trying to "do one better" and see what they have to offer to move their home.  In addition, not just the sellers are seeing what they can do, buyers are asking for more al...

As I originally discussed on February 13th, here, short sales, or attempts for them are becoming all the more common as homes are not able to sell for what is owed on them.  I'm beginning to see lenders now realize this and approve them easier, but still far from easily.  However, despite the ab...

    Just last week I was working on a purchase agreement review that was written by a newer local Realtor.  The buyers had contacted me to review the agreement, title work, and condominium documents prior to closing.  The buyers are first time home buyers and moving in from out of state.  While ...

Finally, some possible good news.  I first blogged on February 17th about the possibility that the Michigan Legislature would cap property taxes for the next 18 months on any transfer between March 2007 and September 2008.  To be honest at that time I was skeptical that it would happen due to th...

When I first blogged about this January 15th, I didn't anticipate another one of these auctions to roll around so soon.  On March 17th & 18th the auction firm of Hudson & Marshall, the nation's largest seller of foreclosed property for multiple lenders will be auctioning off 260 Detroit homes va...

I was out today meeting with an elderly client to update his estate plan before he was having minor surgery this week.    Upon opening the storm door to his porch I found that he met me at the front main door.  He indicated that he had heard me come in the storm door.  I stopped for a moment and...