Pfizer is leaving Ann Arbor, we have known for that for months. Fine !Now all the Pfizer homes are coming on the market. Pfizer employees were given a 100 loss on sale clause. So if they purchased their home in 2001-2007, they will NOT make money on their house. Pfizer is compensating them for their loss up to 100,000.  Great. Problem is who is helping out the other sellers, who have to compete with homes WAY under market value? I met and did a pre-list appointment with a Pfizer relocating employee who bought their home in 2006 for 439,900.I told them, "you can only get 410-420 tops". I eventually turned down the listing because the relo company would only let me have it for 60 days. Once he takes his buy-out it goes to Prudential Relocation Company that is handling all the Pfizer relo'... 06/02/2007

If you want to be on national TV show House Hunters, you can be featured on HGTV if you buy a home in the next 45 days with us.As you find yourself heavily immersed in the house-hunting mode, you may encounter a situation in which you're torn between two houses. Perhaps you and your spouse each have a favorite, or perhaps you both like two houses equally - or think you do.Making a final decision and determining which house to make an offer on shouldn't be taken lightly. The decision should be made rationally and not guided by emotion.Of course, you may not have the luxury of taking your time on deciding which house you'd like to pursue. You may be in a market in which homes in your price range get snatched up as quickly as they go on the market, perhaps even attracting multiple offers.B... 06/01/2007

Missy Caulk, Ann Arbor real estate specialist, is an e-Pro certified Broker and a graduate of the Real Estate Institute. What this means to you is that when working with Missy Caulk, you can rest assured that you are working with a REALTOR who takes her business seriously. "Modern Technology with Old Fashioned Service" is more than just a catchy motto for her team of real estate professionals; it is the way they do business. Utilizing modern technology keeps Missy on the cutting edge of the modern real estate landscape of Ann Arbor and makes it possible for her to provide quality service in the ways today's internet savvy customers have come to expect when searching for homes for sale in Ann Arbor. The Missy Caulk Team takes their business seriously and it shows.  1/3 of their customer ... 05/30/2007

Ann Arbor Realtor, Missy Caulk   Ann Arbor, Michigan is known for "The Big House", home to the Wolverines and the University of Michigan. Experience also shows that when you're looking to buy your own Ann Arbor big house or your first home the #1 Real Estate Expert in Ann Arbor, Michigan is Missy Caulk, leader of the Missy Caulk real estate team. Missy Caulk's recipe for success includes "providing old fashion service with modern technology" to meet all your Ann Arbor real estate needs.  Missy  and her team have lived and sold real estate in Ann Arbor for the past 25 years so they know more than just Ann Arbor real estate - they know this community.Ann Arbor Real Estate Info Online:Missy Caulk has developed a Ann Arbor real estate website which provides a wealth of information at your f... 05/27/2007

  The Ann Arbor, MI market is is fluctuation. It is changing almost daily. Pricing a home right is THE MOST important thing I do. Mr. and Mrs. Seller, buyers don't care what you "need" to sell. Mr. and Mrs.Seller, It is not wise to "test the market for a month."Mr. and Mrs. Seller, Yes, they can just "make and offer" but they won't.Mr. and Mrs. Seller, The buyer is looking at all the homes in the price range you have priced the home in. Your home just does not compare in that price range.Mr. and Mrs. Seller, Your home is helping to sell the other homes listed in your price range, because it looks like they are getting a good value on the other ones.Mr. and Mrs. Seller, All the marketing of your home will still not sell an over-priced home.Mr.and Mrs. Seller, get it right the first time.... 05/19/2007

Ann Arbor, MI ranks as the 5th best in the 2007 list of top places to live. This a according to Bert Sperling of Sperling's Best Places. The 10 major criteria that Ann Arbor was judged on were: 1) Economy and jobs 2) Cost of living 3) Climate 4) Education 5) Health and health care 6) Crime 7) Transportation 8) Arts and culture 9) Leisure 10) Overall quality of life Bert Sperling and Peter Sander are the authors of the book Cities Ranked and Rated. WOOO HOOO ! Good news for Ann Arbor Real Estate and this is my 100th post. Just for you Maureen McCabe !! 05/09/2007

 Missy Caulk is a Realtor and real estate expert for Ann Arbor Michigan. Missy is a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI) a collection of classes that demonstrate a dedication to being a real estate professional. She has also earned the e-PRO designation which is almost a neccessity these days with nearly 90% of buyers starting their real estate search on the internet. (I am always surprised that more REALTORS haven't taken the e-PRO training.) Missy Caulk has a team of 3 buyers agents to help any buyer with their Ann Arbor real estate needs Here's what some of her satisfied real estate clients had to say:"Missy Caulk and team is family oriented. Also someone always got back to us and kept us up to speed. Missy and Betty were honest and trustworthy people. Presented themselves with co... 05/07/2007

Missy Caulk is the real estate expert for the Ann Arbor, Saline, and Ypsilanti Michigan areas. Missy is in an elite group of Realtors, and holds the following designations, GRI and ePro. Missy's web page actually talks to you. She offers professional services for the buyer and seller alike.Missy will help you search the current listings of Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas. Missy is the expert that will make your real estate transaction a smooth one. Missy believes in building relationships in business so that you will have a Realtor in Ann Arbor for life.Missy offers a full team of "Buyers Agents" that fully understand the market, and what it takes to make your purchase smooth and as stress free as possible. As a buyer Missy offers you the latest listings by email, and enjoys working... 05/07/2007

Looks like our figures are finally showing what we have all seen over that last 6-12 months.  According to CNN.com, http://money.cnn.com/2007/04/24/news/economy/home_sales/index.htm?postversion=2007042410, home sales and prices have dropped.I'm sure there are a number of reasons for the drop such as sub-prime fallout, an over supply of new and existing homes on the market, and a tightening of credit for new borrowers.Regardless, where there are challenges there are opportunites.  What a great time to be in the market for a new home.  Never in my career have I seen buyer's have so much power in the market.If you're in the market for a new home and/or a second home or investment property it could not be a better time for you.  It's time to dust off the old investment property clients and ... 04/24/2007

Sunday's Ann Arbor news spotlights the coming boom in foreclosures to Washtenaw County.  It was thought that Ann Arbor and the surrounding environs was a relative island amongst the pain in the housing market in SE Michigan.  However, every island, no matter how beautiful and idyllic will see some storms and this appears to be ours.The first article in Sunday's paper is about prospective speculators/investors snapping up properties at the courthouse steps.  If you are considering going after foreclosed properties as an investment, the article does not do enough to stress enough the need for detailed due diligence on any property that you are considering.  Truly, the purchases at the courthouse are "Buyer Beware."  The flip side to "Buyer Beware" on courthouse steps purchases is that tho... 04/22/2007

The Ann Arbor school district is looking for more kids.  Compared to last year, the district is down about 200 kids.  This has prompted the school board to look at ways to bump up the revenue stream.  By their own estimates, there are 4,000 kids in Ann Arbor that attend charter or private schools as opposed to the Ann Arbor school system.  This translates into $37.5 Million in new dollars that could come into the district.  While the income stream has been estimated, the district appears to be fuzzy on how much this could cost them in actually educating and teaching these children.Here's the Ann Arbor News article on this topic.  According to the article, the district is facing a nearly $14 Million shortfall over the next few years.  This is in light of the new High School, not yet comp... 04/19/2007

Pfizer or no Pfizer, Plymouth Green Crossings is forging ahead.  Signs that the new development is moving forward can be seen and the infrastructure is beginning to take shape.  This promises to be an exciting addition to northeast Ann Arbor offering trendy loft syle condos above reatil shops to augment the traditional 60's subdivisions.  Plymouth Green Crossings should offer commuters entering town at Plymouth and US23 a nice welcoming landmark.  For more inforamtion on Plymouth Green Crossings visit Piperpartners.com 04/17/2007

No question about it, Ann Arbor home and condo prices have taken a hit. Are we nearing the bottom of the market?  When the news is the worst is when smart money is usually buying.  I am starting to see buyers step in to close some excellent deals.  North East Ann Arbor brick ranch with a full walk out basement for @ $160,000, 2 story Foxfire subdivision house for under $250.  Nice 2 bedroom 1.5 or 2 bath condos in the 120's - with low association fees.  These prices work for people and provide an excellent place to call home with a little room to breath financially as well.  I guess that is the upside of a down market. If you are moving to Ann Arbor with more than a two year time windows there are compelling reasons to purchase a home.  Search Ann Arbor Homes and Condos for sale or emai... 04/16/2007

Well, this could be an interesting year for real estate in Washtenaw County.  What initially looked like a split personality in the market, finally resolved itself in March.  The first quarter of 2007 is behind us and it is safe to say that the market is getting tougher on sellers.Average List Price           Average Sales Price  I don't think much needs to be said about these two charts in conjunction with each other.  From the Big House Data Executive Summary:"The split personality has also resolved itself in the average list prices and sales prices. While list prices jumped in February, March realized a nearly 14.5% decrease in average list price and a nearly 11.5% decrease in average purchase price.Across the market in Washtenaw County, the word is out.  Price fishing will not work.... 04/14/2007

A sad, yet interesting phenomenon has been happening with greater frequency in the realm of real estate.  That's the talk of and acceptance of short sales as a way to sell a home.Short sales, in the "Cliff Notes" version, are the way for sellers to negotiate directly with a bank or note holder the difference in sales price and amount owed on the loan. In other words, a short sale is when a seller realizes that they cannot continue to make payments, cannot get out of the house what they owe in the current market, yet negotiate with the holder of their mortgage note to "forgive" the difference between the loan balance and the sale price of the property.  It is the final option, in many cases, prior to outright foreclosure. Many of the foreclosures that Michigan is seeing is a result of a ... 04/11/2007

The market is heating up!When it comes to the local market, the media  is simply wrong and one-sided.  The truth of the matter is that Spring has sprung and buyers and sellers are at it again!  Homes are selling--sellers are upsizing, downsizing, and relocating, and buyers are flocking to Well-Priced homes, buying them, and moving in.  Yesterday I wrote an offer on a Well-Priced home in a golf course community and two other agents were doing the same.  Believe it or not, multiple offers are still common and Well-Priced homes are selling fast.The truth is that active inventory/sold properties, time-on-the-market, employment forcast, and many other assumptions are used by "experts" to define and "explain" the broader market.  Personally, I couple my markets stats with a "Boots on the Grou... 04/10/2007

So Lansing, in all of its infinite wisdom, decides to blow out the proposal on halting the pop-up tax for eighteen months.  Well, we still have a small thing called the Principal Residence Tax Exemption that could greatly affect your tax bill.  The link will take you to a pdf put out by the State of Michigan explaining the different scenarios for the Principal Residence Exemption. If you are currently under contract to purchase a home, and the sellers have already moved out, or been moved out for some time, check the priniciple residence status or homestead status of the property.  If the property is currently non-homestead (not the seller's principal residence) they are paying a higher tax bill than if it was a homestead property (the seller's principal residence).Here in Ann Arbor tha... 04/03/2007

Last week I had the opportunity to sit in on a luncheon with University of Michigan Economist George Fulton and Google Adword's Grady Burnett.  Both speakers were to the point, witty and frank about the current issues facing the Ann Arbor region. George Fulton's speech can be seen here.  20 years he has been doing this analysis for the Ann Arbor News and every year he has delivered an insightful, frank, yet witty speech.  Remarkable, considering economic numbers are usually the key to curing insomnia!  Now, what would have put this video presentation over the top, for me at least, would have been if they edited in the PPoint Slides George was using.  Here is the pdf of the handouts, and yes, they were the same as what George was referencing in his speech.For the complete post and the Go... 03/28/2007

Click Here to view a survey which shows buyer traffic is slower than expected as of Feb 2007. If you need any other market date, visit http://www.kathytoth.com/ or call 734-669-0337 in Ann Arbor, MI. Home buyers relied less on newspapers and open houses, and turned more to online resources to get home buying information as well as to peruse homes for sale, according to the 2009 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. Ninety percent of home buyers today use the Internet to search for homes, up from the mid-nineties.  Per NAR internet home searchers were more likely to be married couple households, with higher median incomes than those who don’t use the Internet. They also tend to be younger – 37 years of age as opposed to a median of 55 years of age. Again p... 03/21/2007

Yesterday the Ann Arbor News sponsored their annual Outlook 2007 luncheon. First to the good news.....not much but Grady Burnett, Director of online operations at Google spoke and he was very positive. He said they chose Ann Arbor because of the environment of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan. As a graduate of U.M he was hopeful of the economy turning around and their goal to hire 1000 employees within 5 years. They are currently at 50. He said the challenge for us is to " believe things will get better".One of the things I most enjoyed hearing was how Google has a 20% rule..........According to Grady they are suppose to take 20% of their time to come up with new ideas to make the company better. Lots of great ideas are coming from that 20% time, he also said some flop, but you ... 03/21/2007