Northern Michigan Real Estate: Michigan

SPRING HOUSING MARKET IS UNDERWAY

GREAT DISCOUNTS FROM HOMES FOR HEROES

Homes For Heroes ® offers large savings to local heroes when buying or selling a home:  A different approach to affordable home ownership

With the Spring housing market underway, Homes For Heroes is gearing up to serve as many Heroes as possible. Homes For Heroes aims to help close the gap between the cost of housing and buyers in the following groups:  military personnel, police officers, firefighters, teachers, first responders and others who serve our community and nation.

Homes For Heroes, is celebrating its eighth year of bringing big savings to everyday heroes.  Inspired by the home-town heroes who serve and protect their communities and our country, a partnership of realtors, mortgage lenders, title company, and other affiliated service providers created Homes For Heroes, Incorporated.  This collaboration of real estate professionals' sole purpose is to offer savings when buying or selling a home.

Homes For Heroes is proud to announce their newest market  affiliates.   Christine Stalsonburg with Exit Realty Paramount is the Realtor Affiliate  and Holly Hack with First Place Bank is the lender affiliate for Grand Traverse, Antrim, Kalkaska, Benzie and Leelanau counties.

While the programs genesis and primary concentration originally was intended to serve the Minnesota real estate market, word of the Homes For Heroes benefits unpredictably spread throughout the country.  With the far-reaching power of the Internet, this small-dedicated local effort spiraled into a growing nationwide program. 

If you would like more information about Homes For Heroes  please call 231-409-4140 or email Christine at  Christine@Stalsonburg.com.

We have all been there, spent hours each week going to networking events to come home with no new contacts and the feeling of "why did I waste my time on that event".  It takes more than jsut being a wall flower in a room full of potential customers. You have to work the room.

1. Show up early and ready to work with your pockets full of business cards
2. Attend with a business associate and split the room, you will reach twice as many people and you can then share your contacts.
3. Make sure that your 30 second commercial is compelling to listen to.  The Little Red Book of Sales Answers by Jeffrey Gitomer is a wonderful source for refining your 30 second commercial.
4. Have your 30 second commercial  refined to a point where you don't stumble over anything when you present it.  This may take a few hundred times of practice in front of the mirror but the results will be well worth the effort put forth.
5. Be happy and positive.  No one wants to be around or do business with Mr. or Ms. doom and gloom.
6. Don't waste your time if the person is not a good prospect.  Disengage with them gracefully and move on.  Remember, your single goal is to make new contacts for potential new clients.
7. Eat early, it is hard to eat and mingle.
8. Leave the drinking up to everyone else.  You will have a distinct advantage of being sober.
9. Make sure you stay until the very end.  The longer you stay at the event, the more contacts you will make.

Event selection is critical in networking.  each week,  your local business journal, newspaper or Chamber of Commerce will publish a list of business events.  Don't forget about the social and cultural events as well, these are great networking possibilities.  Select events that attract customers or people that you want to work with and build your clientele from.

Northern Michigan has always been in a little pocket all of its own.  We tend not to be subjected to most of the doom and gloom that the rest of the state has been experiencing.  Some may ask - Why is that?  Well, I will tell you why.  We have several advantages in our area.

Our region has a fantastic entrepreneurial spirit, better focus on the quality of life and a better workforce.  I believe that these are three key elements to why we will see recovery faster than any other region in Michigan.

In December, Michigan Economic Growth Authority approved a state tax credit for Traverse City's Skilled Manufacturing, Inc.  This created 168 jobs which included 78 new positions.  This credit will allow the company, which previously been primarily focused on the auto industry to now diversity into the aerospace market.  It may only look like a baby step in the grand scheme of our state wide but it is the best news that our state has had in the recent past.

Asbestos Prevention and Healthy Tips for the Home

 The road to owning a home is a wonderful experience, but one that requires new responsibilities. Homes that are newly purchased may require additional remodeling or repairs.

Potential home buyers or those remodeling older homes should be aware homes built before 1980 maintain the chance of containing asbestos. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was used in construction applications for the greater part of the 20th century.

This does not mean you should be afraid because asbestos exposure is easily prevented by taking simple precautions. It should be noted that most asbestos will not pose a threat to your health and safety. Many eco-friendly green insulation options exist which not only provide a safe alternative to asbestos, but can even reduce annual energy costs.

 When asbestos deteriorates and its fibers become airborne, it has the potential of causing severe lung ailments such as mesothelioma (http://www.asbestos.com/) and asbestosis. Physician diagnosis has been a difficult task because mesothelioma symptoms are so similar to other, less serious conditions. The negligence involved with the asbestos scandal has been one of greed and dishonesty. Manufacturers of asbestos were aware of its toxic qualities, but repressed this information from the public. It is tough to accurately gauge mesothelioma statistics (http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/statistics.php) because many cases go unreported.

 If you locate any suspected asbestos, leave it alone. If you are having home renovations, performed, do not panic. In most cases, the best action is no action in regards to asbestos. These inspectors will assess the situation and oversee the work of all contractors involved and determine whether suspicious materials are present.

 However, if removal is necessary, it must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained and licensed to deal with hazardous materials and removal projects.

 With increasing technology and public initiatives, green alternatives exist which allow for an asbestos free environment. These healthy insulation alternatives include cotton fiber, lcynene and cellulose. According to studies performed by manufacturers, the use of cotton fiber can reduce annual energy costs by 25 percent! These options will provide a safe and healthy home, free of any damaging materials.

Recently, congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law. Included in this act were extensions to the tax incentives placed for energy efficiency in 2005, as well as new credits for homeowners who remodel or build using eco-sustainable methods. Some of the measures that are eligible for tax credits include added insulation to walls, ceilings, or other part of the building envelope that meets the 2009 IECC specifications, sealing cracks in the building shell and ducts to reduce heat loss. Storm doors paired with U-factored rated wood doors are also eligible.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day in Northern Michigan.  We had a full day wonderful sunshine.  The Bay was full of incredible turquoise color with the slightest of ripples.  It was a great day to spend your lunch hour watching the peaceful calm of the water.

We are in for some warmer temperatures over the next few days.  You never know, we may even get all of our snow melted by St. Patrick's Day.  I think I see a daffodil sprouting in my garden.

Some say this is foolish thinking because we could get hit with a March/April storm.  Although this may be true, I would rather have thoughts of flowers blooming and warm temperatures.  My glass is always half full.

Much of the history of the Traverse City region is filled with stories of lumberjacks.  The Swedish and Norwegians accounted for most of this industry back in the 1880's.  Some of their favorite treats were thin, odorous sourdough pancakes.  The worse they smelled, the better they liked them.  Others liked "raised cakes"; some wanted cornmeal in the batter; and others liked buck-wheat, especially in the winter because, they explained, buck-wheat was "heatin".  But their favorite treat of all was Vinegar Pie, which was a lumber camp standby.  I am not sure if there is a housewife today who could make one but I will share with you the recipe should you want to venture and try it.

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups boiling water

1/3 cup vinegar

1/3 cup cornstarch

dash of nutmeg

Stir the ingredients together and cook until clear and thick.  Stir half the mixture into three broken egg yolks; combine mixture again; place entire filling back on wood range for one minute, add a tablespoon of butter and pour into a baked shell.  If you wish to be fancy, just in case the girls are going to drop in, make the usual meringue (But lumberjacks were happy to have the pie without the fringe on top).

Traverse City Home Builders Association Expo

Today is the last day of the Traverse City Home Builders Association home expo.  Over 100 vendors are on display at the East Middle School today from 11:00 - 4:00.  There is everything from building your own home to furnishing it.  I attended yesterday and made many wonderful contacts with some great vendors from the area.  This is a great way to get out and visit many local businesses and see just what they do, all under one roof.  Be sure to stop by and support your local Home Builders Association.  There are many great lenders there as well who can give you current pricing on lot loans, construction loans and fixed rate mortgages.  Be sure to stop by the First Place Bank booth, located in the gym and say hi to Holly Hack and the gang. 

Why should you encourage your clients to purcahse a Hmoe Warranty as part of their Real Estate Transaction?

• Lessen your liability
• Reduce after-sale disputes
• Increase your repeat & referral business from satisfied customers
• Financial help with repair costs allows peace of mind for clients
• Home Warranties pick-up where insurance companies leave off
• A home warranty is a highly effective marketing and negotiating tool, particularly helpful when selling older homes.
• Reports indicae that home warranties help sell homes up to 15% faster and can  help obtain 2.2% higher selling price
• Protects against repair and/or replacement on covered systems while the home is on the market
• No cost for basic coverage until the home is sold in most cases.

 REFERRING FRIENDS AND FAMILY

If you have a relationship with a Realtor that you know and trust, share that person's expertise with others that you know.  Many times, consumers are speaking with someone who mentions that they are moving out of state or just out of the area.  Even know they may know a great Realtor that they have worked with in the past, they don't refer them to the person moving because the Realtor does not practice in the area that they are moving to or from.  Consumers never think twice about this and Realtors are constantly asking why?  Let me let you in on a little secret that will help both your friend moving and the Realtor that you have grown to know and love.  Your Realtor can help anyone, anywhere with the purchase or sale of a home.  ALl Realtors have the ability to find, screen and refer a Realtor to someone moving to or from the new area.  This will help the client by assuring that they will get an experienced agent.  Picking an agent out of the phone book or from a web site can sometimes be a scary thing.  Why not trust your friends and family that are re-locating to someone that you already know and trust.

The greatest compliment you can give your Realtor is the referral of your friends and family, weather it is moving across town or across country.

Homes for Heroes

IF YOU HAVE NOT TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PROGRAM FOR YOUR CLIENTS, YOU ARE TRULY MISSING OUT ON A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.

HOMES FOR HEROES IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM THAT WAS STARTED IN 2002 BY A REAL ESTATE COMPANY IN MINNESOTA AND HAS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

THE PROGRAM OFFERS CASH REBATES AND DISCOUNTS TO HEROES WHEN THEY BUY OR SELL A HOME.  REALTOR AND LENDER AFFILIATES RECEIVE LEADS FROM THE HOME OFFICE FOR A HERO THAT IS LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL A HOME.

WE ARE ROLLING OUT THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM TO NORTHERN MICHIGAN MARCH 15TH

HOMES FOR HEROES INCLUDES MILITARY PERSONNEL (ACTIVE AND RETIRED), FIRE AND POLICE, TEACHERS AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL.

CALL TODAY FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HOW HOMES FOR HEROES CAN SAVE YOU THOUSANDS ON YOUR NEXT HOME PURCHASE OR SALE.