Novi really started to grow in the late 1980 with many brick colonial and brick ranch's. There are many nice homes in the $200,000 - $400,000 range in Novi. Then there are some subdivisions that even go higher in price range of $600,000 +.  There is even a gated community that has homes over a Million dollars and there are a few estates scattered throughout Novi that sell for over a Million dollars. Jamestowne Green subdivision in Novi Michigan is actually 3 subdivisions and one of the nicest neighborhoods in the area (in my humble opinion). Jamestowne Green subdivision in Novi has approximately 198 homes in it and in 2012 sold 5 homes with an average time on the market of only 5 days. So that shows you how sought after this community of Jamestowne Green subdivision really is. The homes... 02/18/2013

Welcome home to Island Lake of Novi, a luxurious subdivision in Novi, MI. Situated on an exclusive 170-acre lake, Island Lake affords you the kind of lifestyle you've always dreamed of and deserve. Island Lake subdivision in Novi Michigan features homes that will please even the most discerning buyer. From stately waterfront signature homes, elegant executive homes, luxurious estate homes, townhomes and condominiums. The homes are mostly Colonial and Cape Cod style.  Most of the homes have brick exteriors, 3 car garages, 3-4 bedrooms, 2 + bathrooms, basements (some walkout). Square footage of the homes range from 2400 - 5700 square ft.Island Lakes has a 170 acre lake, community club house with fitness center, pool, tennis club, and nature trials. Island Lake subdivison in Novi Michigan ... 02/15/2013

  Have you thought about moving to Novi Michigan? Maybe your job is taking you to Michigan and you have to relocate. Look no further. Heatherwyck subdivision Novi Michigan is a very beautiful place to consider. Heatherwyck subdivision in Novi offers a great locate and close to everything! You will find great shopping at Twelve Oaks Mall, West Oaks Mall and Laurel Park Place. Also nearby you will find numerous dining options, Costco, Lifetime Fitness, Providence Hospital, and many parks and golf courses. Heatherwyck subdivision in Novi Michigan has approximately133 homes in it.  In 2012 this subdivision sold 3 homes with an average time on the market of only 23 days! The homes here at Heatherwyck were built during the years of 1971 -1978.The homes are mostly Colonial, Ranch, Split Level ... 02/14/2013

Greenwood Oaks subdivision Novi Michigan is an abosolutely beautiful neighborhood. That is why I was not surprised to see that there were no homes that sold in Greenwood Oaks subdivision in Novi for the entire year of 2012. So, I checked to see what had sold in 2011 for Greenwood Oaks. Out of approximately 199 homes, only 4 sold in the year 2011, with an average market time of only 36 days! Here's a little more information on Greenwood Oaks subdivision in Novi: Greenwood Oaks subdivision in Novi Michigan is actually 4 subdivisions with one homeowners association. This georgous neighborhood has approximately 119 homes in it.  The homes were built during the years of 1991 -1999. The homes are mostly Colonial and Cape Cod style.  Most of the homes have brick exteriors, 2 & 3 car garages, 3... 02/13/2013

Fairfield Farms subdivision in Novi Michigan has approximately 161 homes in it. Last year 11 homes sold with an average market time of 102 days. These Fairfield Farms subdivision homes range from ranch homes at 1200 to 1800 square feet, colonial homes from 1400 to 2200 square feet and split level homes from 1400 to 2000 square feet. The homes in Fairfield Farms subdivision in Novi are mostly colonial, ranch, or split level style.  Most of the homes have vinyl & brick exteriors, 2 car garages, 3-4 bedrooms, 1 + bathrooms, basements. The homes were built during the years of 1973 -1976. Fairfield Farms subdivision homes are located between 9 and 10 mile roads and between Meadowbrook and Haggerty Roads. I hope this information below gives you an idea of what homes have sold for in Fairfield... 02/08/2013

Have you thought about moving to Novi Michigan? Maybe your job is taking you to Michigan and you have to relocate. Look no further. Dunbarton Pines subdivision in Novi Michigan is a very beautiful place to consider. The homes in Dunbarton Pines Subdivision are mostly Colonial, Tudor, and Cape Cod style.  Most of the homes have brick/vinyl exteriors or brick/wood exteriors, 2 car garages (some 3 car garages), 3-4 bedrooms, 2 + bathrooms, basements. Also, if you want to know how many homes that were sold in Dunbarton Pines subdivision in Novi in the last year, the list below provides that, so you have an idea of what is selling out there. Last year, Dunbarton Pines subdivision in Novi Michigan sold 22 homes, with the average time on the market at only 22 days. The school district for Dunb... 02/07/2013

Chase Farms subdivision is actually 3 subdivisions with one homeowners association. Chase Farms subdivision in Novi also has very nice walking trails through the woods. The association at Chase Farms subdivision in Novi has many scheduled events such as Easter Egg Hunt, bike parade, meet Santa, etc. for the kids and family picnics and other events which makes it a perfect family neighborhood. Chase Farms has approximately 332 homes in it and last year sold a total of 15 homes, with time on the market at 47 days. The homes were built during the years of 1991 -1999. The homes are mostly Colonial and Cape Cod style.  Most of the homes have brick exteriors, 3 car garages, 3-4 bedrooms, 2 + bathrooms, basements (some with walkout). Square footage of the homes range from 2800 - 4300 square ft... 02/05/2013

    Have you thought about moving to Novi Michigan? Maybe your job is taking you to Michigan and you have to relocate. Look no further. Cedarspring Estates subdivision in Novi is a very beautiful place to consider. The homes are mostly Colonial, Ranch, and Split Level style. Most of the homes have brick/wood & brick/vinyl exteriors, 2 car garages, 3-4 bedrooms, 2 + bathrooms, basements and also if you want to know how many homes that were sold in the last year, the list below provides that, so you have an idea of what is selling out there. Cedarspring Estates school district is Novi Community Schools which is one of the best in Oakland County. The location of the subdivision is between 10 and 11 mile roads and between Taft and Novi Roads.   ADDRESS LIST PRICE SALE PRICE DOM SP PER SQFT ... 02/01/2013

Home Selling Tips This quick video gives you some tips in how to sell your home and what to do and what not to do to help sell your home.  If you are thinking of selling your home give me a call on my cell (313) 310-9855.                         08/01/2012

  Welcome to Barclay Estates Novi Michigan Real Estate Web Blog by Robert Jakowinicz.  Barclay Estates is located in Novi Michigan at 9 Mile and Beck Rd.  This area attends Northville Michigan schools even though located in Novi.  There is approximately 90 executive style homes in Barclay Estates built mostly in the late 1990's.  If you are looking for a local Novi Real Estate Agent you have come to the right place visit www.BobandTeena.com anytime for more information.       To your right you will notice the entrance sign to Barclay Estates you will see when entering from 9 Mile Rd.  When you arrive you may feel like your in an executive home area in a borderline country setting.  Barclay Estates is close to anything you would want such as: Maybury State Park, Providence Park Hospital,... 12/02/2010

How has the first time home buyer tax credit helped the market?  I myself think it has been one of the Democrats best success stories.  Obama shined with that one.  I know Republicans and tea party members rabidly hate him,   BUT>>>>>>.  The first time home buyer tax credit did stabilze the housing values in many real estate markets across the country or at least slowed the downward spiral.  I think if you ask any real estate professional you will hear that the tax credit did bring a large number of buyers into the market.  The tax credit created demand.  And I believe the demand in the Metro Detroit housing market was enough to temporarily stabilize the home values. A year ago we had inventories of homes that ranged from 6 months to 2 years.  Gone is that inventory.  Good houses are be... 03/05/2010

Yes FHA is going to reduce sellers concessions from 6% to 3% this spring.  There is no exact time. But if you are a metro Detroit home buyer now might be the time to jump into the real estate market before you have to come up with more money. Let me give you an example of closing costs when buying a metro Detroit home. Average closing costs are about                                      $2200 3 1/2% required downpayment on $100,000 home            $3500  Estimated taxes on some $100,000 homes                      $3600 So on a $100,000 you could need about $10,000 by the time you include inspections and insurance.  Many home buyers don't have that kind of money.  They need sellers concessions - money from the seller to help pay the closing costs.  If you are planning to buy a home this ... 01/24/2010

Heads up Michigan mortgage borrowers this new law isn't in totally in your best interest. As of May 1st all appraisals are supposed to be ordered by the bank.  One item that real estate agents, mortgage bankers, banks, and consumers fail to realize about this new law is: the banks being the only people allowed to order appraisals is the inability to switch banks.  I truly think that this new law will reduce appraisal fraud but there are 5 other things it will do It will put the small appraiser out of business.  There are many small one man operations that don't have ties to banks.  It will reduce the profit margin for them.  Plus the banks will put the squeeze on them to reduce the price of appraisals. It will raise the cost of appraisals for the homeowner.  Banks are going to raise the... 05/02/2009

A big change is coming April 1 for Michigan.  Anybody that is going to sell mortgages, or better put is a Michigan mortgage loan officer will have to have: to be fingerprinted have a criminal background check done (no felony convictions & no convictions for forgery, identity theft too) either have 3 1/2 years mortgage experience or take a required mortgage study course then take a state sponsored test and pass at least 75% of the questions From what I have been told the Michigan Mortgage test is one of the hardest in the nation.  Even experienced loan officers are flunking the test.   The new Michigan mortgage loan officer examination tests the loan officers knowledge of all the mortgage laws such as Reg Z Respa Consumer Protection act This is a great step toward better enforcement of l... 03/13/2009

Do you really want to sell your home? The Metro Detroit real estate home values have been hammered.  Subdivisions like Chase Farms in Novi once had homes selling for over $600,000 have had homes sell for under $300,000.  Even new subdivisions like Steeple Chase in Northville had new homes selling for over $700,000 now has homes selling under $500,000.  Some Metro Detroit cities like Dearborn, Redford, and Westland have homes selling for 50% of what homes sold for a few years ago. When you put your Wayne County or Oakland County home up for sale.  You must price it right! Have your real estate agent pull all the recent solds for your neighborhood, for your area.  Look at the cold hard facts.  It is bad, but you have to accept the truth and list your home at a price where it will sell qu... 03/02/2009

I recently helped my seller sell his Michigan home.  I sat through the closing with some very unhappy Michigan home buyers.  There were very upset at their loan officer.  They had gone through their local Michigan bank. I take an large amount of time trying to explain the loan process to first time home buyers.  I believe a lot of the problem for these first time home buyers is that their loan officer did not explain everything fully.  The first time homebuyer did not understand about pro-rated taxes or how escrows were figured.  They thought every thing had changed and that they were not told about some of the charges. When you get a Michigan mortgage whether you are a first time home buyer or not your Michigan loan officer should go over the HUD Settlement statement with you before ha... 08/09/2008

I think this is what they call the Ben Franklin Close.  If you are comparing 2 or 3 homes put a line down the sheet of paper between each house.  Go through and list all the positives and the negatives about the houses.  By putting down things like "Need to buy appliances" or "no first floor laundry" will help you  distinguish between the houses.   Put dollar amounts down. For example: 123 Main   $179,000                    4859 South    $219,000 Appliances needed                      - $1500 143 sq ft smaller                        - $14300 Needs work                                - $20000 not the layout I want no first floor laundry close to my friends house   So now the 4859 South can be compared  $219,000 - $1500 -$14300 - $20000 =  $183,200 So dollar for dollar both of these house... 07/25/2008

METRO DETROIT REAL ESTATE HOME SALES TIPS Staging your home simply means putting it in the best shape and arranging furniture  and accents to make your home look it's best.  You are putting on a "home show" featuring your home.  So staging is a important part of selling your home.  There are professional stagers that do this for a living.  They work a variety of different ways.  Some do consultations where you pay for there time and suggestions and you do the actual work.  Another way is for them to use your furnishings and accents and them to do the work.  Then the most expensive way is where you rent furniture or buy accents to make your home look better.  The costs for staging vary from company to company.  The cost range from several hundred to several thousand depending on how exte... 05/31/2008

Here are my thoughts after taking 4 home buyers that were relocating to Michigan around last week..  Michigan Home sellers should:Have great photos on the Internet.  People judge your house by the photos.  They won't come in unless it looks inviting.Clean up the house.  The houses all of my buyers liked were uncluttered, and clean.  Pick up the dirty laundry.  Be prepared for showings.Get rid of the smells.  Don't even smoke in the garage.  Don't cook spicy foods or fish.  Those odors sometimes turn off people.  Get rid of the dirty diapers in the house.  We walked out of the houses quicker when they were smelly.Paint the walls and take down the wall paper.  It is a turnoff.  People want homes they can move right into.  My buyers did not have the time or knowledge of who to hire to do t... 03/27/2008

The Ugly Leprechaun or How I put my foot in my mouth.Getting a home ready to sell is important in this Michigan Real estate market.  Homes are taking much longer to sell in the Detroit area.About a year ago a neighbor and friend asked me to list their home.  They asked me to tell them what I thought about the house.    Whenever I list a house I like to go through and tell the people what they should do to help sell the house.  In the Michigan real estate market buyers want to move in, plug in the TV and Fridge, and put their feet up on the couch.  Whether it is a Livonia home or Novi home they want the home to be "move in ready"So I went through the home.  It was a very nice home with oak moldings, updated kitchen etc.  However the home had the 1970, 1980 decorating motif.  Like many of... 03/16/2008