Hate to admit it but I was a FISBO.  This means For Sale By Owner to anyone who might not know and yes, I sold my own home.  Let me know what you think of the website I made for my Ann Arbor home soooo close to the Big House.  http://www.apin.com/401/main.htmI'm not sure what is so interesting about the site, the fact that we sold the home in one day (yes, those were the good ole days!) or that I know so much about Orangeberg.  All of these facts help me today, to be the Real Estate professional I am!Karen 09/15/2007

The annual Fall Bus Tour of Ann Arbor proved to be interesting as well as educational.  The Women's Council of Realtor's organized the tour and Ed Shaffron provided us the ins and outs of development in the downtown AA area.  It is truly surprising how many condos and apartments are planned but Ed was informative as well as entertaining.  Interested in the lot across the street from the Y?  Ed gave us the inside scoop that it might have an arts theme to the property in the future.  That would be a great addition to our AA west side.Agree with Ed or not...he stated, "Ann Arbor is 6 square miles surrounded by reality."  It is not an easy sell to attract large chains like Crate & Barrel to AA.   What are your thoughts about downtown AA development and what about our wonderful Dexter and Ch... 09/15/2007

Click Here to search all listings in Michigan with pictures and tours - FREE!When: September 18th, 2007Time: 7:00 pm (6:30 pm - Private Pre Approval)Where: United Bank and Trust355 S. Zeeb RoadAnn Arbor, MI 48103RSVP: 734-216-2172 or Click Here to register onlineLearn The Smart Home Buying Strategies That Will Save You Thousands At The FREE Smart Homebuyer Workshop!Kathy Toth & Teamhttp://www.kathytoth.com 09/14/2007

It's the weekend, so that must mean it is time for some Team366 Real Estate Chats!  Not to be disappointing, we are holding four chats this weekend!  Also on tap this weekend, we are pleased to announce that Mr. Harry Kroth has joined Team366!  So, without further ado, let's introduce Mr. Kroth and his first Real Estate Chat.20300 North Territorial, Chelsea, MI - Sunday, 2 to 4 PMThis four bedroom, three bath ranch in Chelsea simply must be seen to be believed!  The finished walkout lower level adds an additional 1300 square feet of livable space.  Surrounded by towering trees, you'll feel as though you are in the middle of the country.  Stop by on Sunday and say Hi! to Harry.    1216 Grant, Ypsilanti, MI - Sunday, 2 - 4 PM Featured last week as new to the market, this weekend is the fi... 09/14/2007

Click Here to search all listings in Michigan with pictures and tours - FREE!In a challenging real estate market in Ann Arbor, Michigan, you have to have some humor...Enjoy this video! Kathy Toth & Teamhttp://www.kathytoth.com 09/13/2007

If you want to be on national TV show House Hunters for ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, you can be featured on HGTV if you buy a home in the next couple of weeks with Kathy Toth & Team, Ann Arbor, Michigan.The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA) recently conducted an online survey of their members to rate the items they found most annoying when searching for a new home with buyers.Since these real estate companies are always looking out for the buyer's best interest they don't pull any punches. The results of the survey are revealing, surprising, and sometimes downright weird.Here are the top five things exclusive buyer's agents find most annoying when previewing a home:-Broken door locks preventing access to the house.-Pet deposits in the back yard or dirty cat boxes.-Missing l... 09/11/2007

If you want to be on national TV show House Hunters for ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, you can be featured on HGTV if you buy a home in the next couple of weeks with Kathy Toth & Team, Ann Arbor, Michigan.Six Ways to Avoid Home Insurance Snafus - Follow these tips to prevent insurers from charging high policy premiums or canceling your homeowners coverage altogether.Kathy Toth & Teamhttp://www.kathytoth.com 09/06/2007

If you want to be on national TV show House Hunters for ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, you can be featured on HGTV if you buy a home in the next couple of weeks with Kathy Toth & Team, Ann Arbor, Michigan.What do you do if you have purchased a house with an underground oil tank? You may have a newer gas furnace which gives no hint that there was an oil tank. You can examine the sellers disclosure or the tax records may show there was an oil furnace and underground tank at one time. Your inspector may provide insight during the inspection too. Historical information about the site may be collected. Oil company records may be checked for indications of deliveries or of prior tank service or removal. Ground scanning radar may be employed to locate large buried metal objects. Common sense observation... 09/06/2007

If you want to be on national TV show House Hunters for ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, you can be featured on HGTV if you buy a home in the next couple of weeks with Kathy Toth & Team, Ann Arbor, Michigan.NAR Study Confirms: They Come To America - To Buy Homes according to the 2007 NAR Profile of International Home Buying Activity."Just as many U.S. residents are looking overseas for retirement and second homes, people in other countries are considering a home in this country," said Combs. "As international boundaries of homeownership dissolve, Realtors® must stand ready to serve an increasingly diverse and multicultural marketplace." My husband and I went to Panama for a 3 day investment seminar last year to study retirement/investment options abroad through International Living. This is a fabul... 09/05/2007

If you want to be on national TV show House Hunters for ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, you can be featured on HGTV if you buy a home in the next couple of weeks with Kathy Toth & Team, Ann Arbor, Michigan.According to REALTOR.ORG, the introduction of companion bills in the House and Senate gives a big boost to securing tax relief for individuals who must pay tax on any portion of a loan that a lender forgives on a short sale or foreclosure.The Mortgage Cancellation Relief Act of 2007, S. 1394, introduced by Senators Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, and George Voinovich, R-Ohio, among others, would direct the IRS not to count loan forgiveness under a workout as taxable income. The House bill, H.R. 1986, was introduced by Reps. Robert Andrews, D-N.J., and Ron Lewis, R-Kentucky. Timing of consideration ... 09/04/2007

So, I tried something a little different this past Sunday.  In addition to doing the usual real estate chat and turning the open house into an event, I tried to "liveblog" the whole thing.Hectic is about the right word if you are thinking of trying to pull this off, but it was fun.  Maybe I will even be able to add real estate chat visitor's photos in the future.  For now, I will content myself on being able to post a nearly moment by moment account of what happened at this weekend's real estate chat.Check out the post on "the other" blog I administer for my team.With everything that we have done for these clients specifically, they were blown out of the water by our "outside the box" approach to open houses.  The liveblogging was the icing on the cake for them. 08/28/2007

If you want to be on national TV show House Hunters for ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, you can be featured on HGTV if you buy a home in the next couple of weeks with Kathy Toth & Team, Ann Arbor, Michigan.Check out the bucking broncos and the brave Billies and Fillies riding them at the 36th Annual Saline Pro Rodeo. Saturday is "Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night" in support of breast cancer research. Giddy up to the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, Friday through Sunday.Are you tough enough to wear pink to the Saline Pro Rodeo on August 25th? Wear pink to bring awareness and help raise money for breast cancer research. The Saline Pro Rodeo takes place at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds. The 2nd night of the Rodeo, Saturday, Aug. 25, is Pink night. A voluntary donation will be taken and pink items... 08/24/2007

If you want to be on national TV show House Hunters for ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, you can be featured on HGTV if you buy a home in the next couple of weeks with Kathy Toth & Team, Ann Arbor, Michigan.I just read an article from Realty Times on Insurance Policies that applies to our Ann Arbor real estate clientsThe big point was most people don't have enough coverage to protect them from risks they face. Zogby Inernational did a survey of 1,203 renters and home owners. So, when you buy a house through us, we make sure we connect you with an agent we trust to give you a clue report on that property immediately. This will tell you if any claims have been filed on that property. You can then start to ask questions to find the best value. Then as soon as your home passes inspections, we suggest y... 08/23/2007

Last week, we had a Grand Opening of our new office in Ann Arbor, Mi., RE/MAX Platinum - Ann Arbor. It was a celebration and a welcome reception to our new Manager, Gregg Koepp. We actually moved a few months ago but it took awhile to get all the decorating and the furnishing finished. We invited all the agents in our board, 1200 of them, our Board Staff and all the affiliates in our board. Affliates are members of the Ann Arbor Board but are title company people, lenders, stagers, inspectors. The turn out was amazing. I kept thinking about how one day you are doing a transaction with a Realtor and each representing a different client and the next you could be at a board function or party with them. I took many pictures and wanted to share with a little of the spirit that was at the Gra... 08/21/2007

If you want to be on national TV show House Hunters for ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, you can be featured on HGTV if you buy a home in the next couple of weeks with Kathy Toth & Team, Ann Arbor, Michigan.I just felt like sharing this story because summer is ending, the moment is now, make the most of it.                                                                 Daffodil PrincipleSeveral times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over."I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead. "I will come next Tuesday," I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by... 08/19/2007

 Washtenaw Dairy in Ann Arbor, MI is with out a doubt THE best place to get ice-cream. Started in 1934, it is a legend in Ann Arbor, MI. It is owned by two partners Jim Smith and Doug Raba, and many of the employees have been there for 30-40 years. Jim, one of the owners born in 1952, can remember his dad making the ice-cream and milk. Horses use to bring the milk to the dairy in 10 gallon cans and it was homozenized on the spot. In 1976, the volume was too demanding so they sold or "farmed" out their recipes to Stroh's Ice Cream and Prairie Farms, a farmer's co-op to handle the production. Nestled in a neighborhood, known as The Old West Side, it is a landmark and legend in Ann Arbor. The building is NOT remodeled and maintains the ambience of the neighborhood ice-cream parlor of years... 08/19/2007

If you want to be on national TV show House Hunters for ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, you can be featured on HGTV if you buy a home in the next couple of weeks with Kathy Toth & Team, Ann Arbor, Michigan.An E-Neighborhood Report is a detailed 15-30 page report about the neighborhood including recent sales, types of financing, community demographics, types of homes, schools, with student to teacher ratios and address /contact numbers, median house values, average home values, rental rates and types of rentals, and average housing age in the neighborhood, home ownership rates, commute times and more.We also make this informative report available to buyers to compare up to 4 DIFFERENT communities before making an important investment decision.The E-Neighborhood neighborhood analysis is combined wit... 08/16/2007

If you want to be on national TV show House Hunters for ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, you can be featured on HGTV if you buy a home in the next couple of weeks with Kathy Toth & Team, Ann Arbor, Michigan.Good morning,Click Here if you would be interested in the aggregated results, including an analysis of the latest trends in the largest real estate markets, as provided to us by Bank of America - Detroit is on page 34.I hope you find this of interest!Sincerely,Kathy Toth & Team Real EstateOne 555 Briarwood CircleAnn Arbor, MI 48108Office:               734-216-7845       info@kathytoth.comhttp://www.buyannarborhomes.com/Kathy Toth & Teamhttp://www.kathytoth.com/ 08/15/2007

If you want to be on national TV show House Hunters for ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, you can be featured on HGTV if you buy a home in the next couple of weeks with Kathy Toth & Team, Ann Arbor, Michigan.Mortgage Basics: Should You Buy or Rent? - Nearly everyone dreams of owning their own home. But can you afford the house and all of the expenses associated with it?Kathy Toth & Teamhttp://www.kathytoth.com/ 08/14/2007

If you want to be on national TV show House Hunters for ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, you can be featured on HGTV if you buy a home in the next couple of weeks with Kathy Toth & Team, Ann Arbor, Michigan.One of the nice things about our home is we are on Little Portage Lake, which is part of a Chain of Lakes. We can start out and go through the lakes and canals and end up at Zukey Lake Tavern for dinner. We often go tubing, fishing and enjoy plenty of swimming and schmoozing. I love to use our GPS so I can see where we are as compared to where the roads are because it can get confusing. Featured here on our boat is my husband's father, daughter, yours truly, and husband Larry on Big Portage, which is the largest lake comprising 644 acres. Click Here to view a great resource on our various inland... 08/13/2007