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Renée Donohue~Home Photography
Renee has over 30 years of negotiating, sales and marketing experience to bring to your Western Michigan Real Estate transaction. You only pay for photos you want!
Cell: 702-580-1783
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Real Estate Agent
Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239
Buying or selling a home in the suburbs of Metro Detroit? I know the area well and understand what is happening in our local market. I will work hard to help get you the best deal possible.
Cell: (248)310-6239
Office: (248)406-2976
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All About Michigan Real Estate

By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Homes on Clifford Lake Brighton MichiganClifford Lake in Genoa Township in Livingston County Michigan is also known to some people as Round Lake.  It is a small lake but a nice lake that people have been coming to for decades.  It is not too far from downtown Brighton or Howell.Clifford Lake waterfront homes are on smaller lots. What I mean by that is they do not have wide lake frontage.  The lake frontage is sometimes as small as 50' of lake frontage. There is one home on a lot that is one acre in size, but I do not know of any others that are on lots over an acre in size.  Many of the homes are relatively close together.  This is not a lake if you are looking for space or privacy. The lakefront homes are a mixture of old and newer.  There are quite a few older cottages . (from the 192...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
As I say the further away you get from the City of Detroit the lower the crime rates will be.  As everybody knows low income cities and cities with higher poverty rates have higher crime.  One of the reasons is the residents have very little money and crime is an easy way to get more money, a car, or stuff.  Most of the first ring of cities around the City of Detroit will have a little higher crime rates.  But when you get to the second ring of communities the crime usually drops even more. Let's talk about three safe cities near Detroit.  Let's talk about Is Royal Oak safe ?Royal Oak is in the 71st percentile for safety, meaning 29% of cities are safer and 71% of cities are more dangerous. See the table on nearby places below for nearby cities. The rate of crime in Royal Oak is 19.45 p...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Here are some great lakes in Genessee County Michigan.Byram Lake Fenton MI    132 acres     public     all sports lake     50 feet deep Byram Lake is a spring fed kettle lake that was formed by glaciers thousands of years ago.  The lake was named after early settlers that lived on it's shores.  There is a Byram Lake Association for the home owners.  The shoreline is about 2.443 miles in length.  It is more of a long lake than a round lake.Lake Fenton Fenton MI    845 acres     public     all sports lake     95 feet deep Lake Fenton is a public all sports lake that is about 845 acres in size.  It is a big spring fed lake with 18 acres of islands including Cases's Island and it has a State of Michigan DNR boat launch.  Lake Fenton is a spring-fed “kettle lake,” meaning it was formed after...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Have you narrowed now your search to the Portage Chain of Lakes? This chain has many different names it just depends on who you talk to.  Sometimes it is called the Huron River chain of lakes, the Portage chain of lakes, the Hamburg chain of lakes, the Pinckney chain of lakes.  If you love water and if you would get bored living on a small lake then the Pinckney chain of lakes probably is a good choice.  Every day you can go to a different part of the chain to fish.  You can tube on Portage Lake, or Strawberry Lake, or Portage Lake. These five lakes are all sports lakes. Only on Zukey Lake would you most likely not doing any water sports on because it is shallow, and has sand bars to navigate around.  Ore Lake is the first lake on the Pinckney chain of lakes.  You cannot get to Ore Lake...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Big lakes on the Huron River Chain of Lakes.If you want to buy a waterfront home on a big lake, but cannot find a lake that you like.  You may feel the lakes in Southeast Michigan are too small.  You may get bored on a small lake.  There are alternatives to your dilemma.  Find a lake home on a chain of lakes in Oakland County or Livingston County.  There are also chains of lakes in Genessee County.Today let's talk about the chain of lakes in Livingston County.  We are going to talk about the biggest and most popular chain in Livingston County the Huron River Chain of Lakes.    The lakes in the chain include Little Portage Lake, Big Portage Lake, Base Line Lake, Whitewood Lakes, Zukey Lake, Tamarack Lake, Gallagher Lake, Strawberry Lake and Ore Lake.  What is nice about a chain of lakes ...
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By Robert J. Russell, IRES, ICREA, REBS, GMA, LAS, LUTCF
(Robert J Russell Companies)
Michigan REALTORS are here - the best of the best -Did you make the list?Michigan Best of the Best List
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
If you are moving to the Detroit area you may want to know the better cities that like west of downtown Detroit.  You may work downtown and want an easy drive down I-96.  Your spouse may work in the opposite direction in Ann Arbor and you may want to split the driving time for both of you.  So living west of downtown Detroit may be your best choice rather than living in the northern counties.When I say the four best cities near Detroit in the western suburbs I mean cities that have low crime, good schools, and that are desirable cities to live in.  Usually when you buy a home in a community that has low crime and good schools the housing prices are stable or rising.  That means when it is time for you to sell your home in the future you should be able to get more for the home. Here are ...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Genessee County LakesHere is a list of a few lakes in Genessee County.  Most of these lakes are all sports lakes but there is at least on that is a low speed boating lake.  Many of these lakes are close to Fenton.  Fenton used to be a sleepy quiet town but it has become a place where many home buyers want to live.  It has so many restaurants, coffee shops, stores, bakeries and bars that you will enjoy.  I myself sometimes drive to Fenton just for the food.  What better place to live than on a lake near a town that has everything you need. Byram Lake Byram Lake size                 132 acres All sports lake                       Yes  Wake restrictions                   No   Deepest spot                         50 Feet Deep       Average Depth                      15.9 Feet               ...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Big Lakes in West Bloomfield TownshipHere is a list of the best lakes in West Bloomfield Township.  Many lake home buyers consider big lakes to be the best.  I will not get into the argument whether a bigger lake is better.  I am going to list the 6 biggest lakes in the township.  Save thousands and thousands of dollars when selling your home.  I have some of the lowest home selling commissions.  Why pay full commission to a real estate agent and give away your hard earned money.  Are you willing  to over pay for selling your home?  Give me a text or call today 248-310-6239 to see how much your home is worth and how much you can keep in your pocket. Cass Lake in West Bloomfield MICass Lake is one of the largest lakes in South east Michigan.  It is Oakland County's largest lake at 1280 a...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
If you are considering a move to Metro Detroit Oakland County  is most likely going to be one of the counties you are going to consider.  Whether you are considering the city of Birmingham, or the City of Milford there are many great cities to choose from.  You need a really good real estate agent that knows the local communities and local real estate.  When you visit Oakland County, you'll quickly understand why it consistently ranks among the top counties in the United States for quality of life, business success, and educational advancement. As of the 2020 Census, its population was 1,253,185, making it the second-most populous county in Michigan, behind neighboring Wayne County. The county seat is Pontiac.There are more than 208,000 school-aged children (children aged 6-17) living i...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
5 top lakes in Commerce Township MIToday I am just going to touch on the bigger all sports lakes in Commerce.  Two of the lakes I am going to talk about are in two different cities.  Both Union Lake and Middle Straits Lake lie mostly in West Bloomfield Township but the western tips lie in Commerce Township.  Three of the lakes in Commerce Twp that we are going to talk about today are private lakes.  Again the two public lakes are Union Lake and Middle Straits Lake.   Why pay too much to some real estate agent?  When you sell your home..... keep more of your money and your homes profits by hiring a great realtor with a low commission rate.  Save thousands and thousands of dollars on your real estate commission.  Call Russ today to see how much you can save when listing your home  248-310...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Crime and safety is a big issue for Michigan relocation buyers when they come to look at homes in Metro Detroit.  It does not matter if they live in Michigan already or if they are coming to metro Detroit because of a job offer.  Most home buyers want to live in a town that does not have a lot of crime.  Did you know if you live in a town that has higher crime rate you are going to pay more for car and home owners insurance.  Sometimes for the money you pay extra for insurance in a high crime area you can live in a lower crime area.Here are 6 safe cities in Oakland County MI.  Oakland County is northern suburb of Metro Detroit.  It lies directly north and northwest of downtown Detroit.6 safe cities in suburbs of Detroit Commerce MI West Bloomfield Michigan Royal Oak MI Wixom Michigan Mi...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
I am just going to talk about four really good cities in central Oakland County.  Are they the absolute best of the best....not really but they are very good cities to live in.  They are cities that have low crime, good schools, and overall are nice places to live.The 4 best cities I am going to touch on are  Clarkston Highland Milford White Lake   All of these towns are relatively close to each other.  Clarkston MI what is it likeClarkston is one of those communities that many home buyers would want to live in if they could afford it.  What I mean by that is the real estate values are strong.  It is not a run down community, or a community that will have bargain basement home prices.  I would call it one of Metro Detroit's stronger, more desirable communities.The charm of the downtown ...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
What are the three best communities in Wayne County? Is it Garden City, Livonia, Plymouth, or what community in Wayne County is the best community for you and your family.   Everybody has there own criteria and as a Michigan relocation agent I like to hear from my relocation buyers what they are really looking for.   What are your wants and needs in a home and what do you want the community to have for you?If you are moving to Metro Detroit and and one of the areas you are considering is Wayne County  you may be wondering what are the best places to live in Wayne County are.  What are the best cities to move to in the suburbs of Detroit?  You may be working near the airport, in Ann Arbor, at Ford Motor Company, or downtown Detroit.  Living in Wayne County makes it very easy to get to an...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Waterford is located in Oakland County just west of the City of Pontiac.  Waterford Township is what I would call a middle class community that has both blue collar and white collar workers in it.  Waterford has many starter homes.  You will find hundreds of ranch homes and bungalows that are less than 1200 square feet.  The homes in Waterford Township are usually reasonably priced compared to the Clarkston or West Bloomfield.  The schools are better in Clarkston and West Bloomfield.  Crime is also just a little higher in Waterford.Waterford is in Oakland County, Michigan. It is a popular city that has a population of about 72,000 residents. This city is known as the Lakeland Paradise, because of the 34 lakes it has to offer its residents, businesses and visitors.  There are many beaut...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Here is the latest installment of Russ Ravary's home selling tips on the pro's and con's of putting a lockbox on your home when you list it.  I have strong opinions on this because I believe you are making a huge mistake if you do not put a lockbox on the house.   When selling your home whether it is in Sylvan Lake home, Commerce, or Canton your real estate agent is going to ask you whether you we are going to put a lock box on your home.  My first reaction as your real estate agent is......Yes, you do have to use a lock box when selling your  home!A lock box makes the whole process of selling your Oakland or Wayne County home easier.  A lock box is a basically a padlock with a cavity inside where a key to your home can be placed. My office gives out the combination after they talk to y...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Maceday Lake Homes Waterford MIYou will find just about any type of home you want on Maceday Lake.  There are some small lake cottages/ lake homes that were built during the 1920 -1960's.  They are typical of so many Oakland County Lake homes that were built during that area.  Small bedrooms, small kitchen, one bathroom, and a  small living room.  Usually the kitchen is furthest away from the lake and the bedrooms on the side.  Back in those days most of them were built on crawl spaces or on a slab.  Many times they never built a garage because it was just a weekend getaway place.Ranch style homes on the lake range from 900 square feet to over 3200 square feet. Some of the older ranches and bungalows date back to the 1920's. Colonials and contemporary style homes range from 1800 square ...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
West Bloomfield Michigan relocation relocating to West Bloomfield Michigan because you want to be close to family?  Or you may be considering moving to West Bloomfield Township because of a job transfer?  In my websites I try to give you more information about the community than the average info on the internet.  I want to give you the local flavor of what West Bloomfield is like.  As a local Metro Detroit Realtor I hope to give you a little more about your West Bloomfield relocation.  West Bloomfield Township is a charter township in Oakland County, Michigan.  If you do not know yet Oakland County is metro Detroit's wealthiest county.  West Bloomfield is what I would call a prestigious city.  Home buyers want to live there.  West Bloomfield Township has a population of 64,690. It is lo...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Are you looking for a Michigan realtor that is a lake specialist?  A real estate agent that really knows the local lakes and can tell you which lakes to look at?  Sometimes a lake has different sections with different homes on it.  A good real estate agent that specializes in lake homes and have a big knowledge of SE Michigan Lakes.A good real estate agent that knows about the local lakes in Oakland, Livingston, Wayne, Genessee, and Washtenaw Counties is worth their weight in gold.  You have come to the right place if you need information about the lake.  I have three indepth lake websites that explain all about the lakes and the waterfront homes on them.  The three lake websites are http://www.michiganlakerealestatehomes.com and http://www.oaklandcountylakefronthomesmi.com and http://w...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
Sometimes one of the biggest concerns for lake home buyers is the drive to work and the closeness of all the stores, doctors, banks, dentists that they need.  What is nice about Clarkston area lakes is that I-75 and M-24 are nearby.  So you have easy access to get about any where.  Clarkston Lakes are near to the I-75 corridor and make an easy ride to work whether you are going to downtown Detroit or to Auburn Hills or Troy.  When I talk about Clarkston Lake or Clarkston area lake you have to understand is that many people consider Independence Township Lakes and Springfield Township Lakes are sometimes spoken as "Clarkston".  They may not be in Clarkston proper but their mailing address may be Clarkston or people may just refer to the area as Clarkston. Clarkston Lakes Here are 19 of ...
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By Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239, Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
(Real Estate One)
If you have thought about looking at Commerce homes for sale but you do not know what the community is really like?  Commerce Township has no large shopping area or centralized downtown area.  It has no historic two or three block area with little stores.  There are not a lot of stores right in Commerce except on it's eastern edge. There is lots of stores between M-5 and Haggerty Road which is the east edge of the community.  However Novi's large shopping area at 12 Oaks Mall and the surrounding shopping areas is just a short ride away.  In less than 10 minutes you will find everything you need there.  Of course Commerce MI has stores, banks, restaurants scattered throughout the city.  You will find restaurants, gyms, large chain stores along Haggerty Rd.  You will also find all the dif...
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