Metro Detroit

For Michiganders singing the blues about the local real estate market and declining listing prices, it may ease the pain a bit to know that the lifestyles of the rich and famous are being affected also.  Celebrities are dropping their prices by numbers that I can’t even fathom!!
Take a look:
Suzanne Somers’ Mountainside Estate
Palm Springs, Calif.
Original [...]

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The New Good Faith Estimate: Is it Easier to Understand?
Over the past year the Federal Government has made some sweeping changes to the way mortgage loans are originated, how appraisals are ordered and how and what is disclosed to the consumer. The change I want to address here is a change in what’s known [...]

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There is a lot of misinformation going around about what the impact of a Short Sale is on your credit and whether you can get a new mortgage after short selling a home. Below are the current Guidelines for FHA, and Fannie Mae.
FHA has recently changed their rule so that if a short [...]

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Credit scoring models are a mystery that boggles the mind. There is no way to know exactly how specific changes to your credit report will impact your credit score. We do know the factors that go into calculating the score - 1) Your payment histories 2) Number of accounts [...]

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The homebuyer tax credit has been extremely successful and has really had a positive impact on the real estate market. Hundreds of thousands of homes have been sold as a result of buyers taking advantage of the tax credit. The credit was scheduled to expire on November 30th but has been extended and [...]

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Most Home Stagers agree, however, that Staging encompasses all 12 of these improvement projects, as a good Stager will advise if, and to what extent, these improvements should be undertaken to increase the marketability of the property.

The article can be viewed here:
http://blog.homegain.com/home-improvement/homegain-2009-top-12-home-improvements-survey-results/
I have already had an agent ask if $300 for Home Staging is realistic.  [...]

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From my staging colleague Cindy Bryant, owner of Redesign, Etc. in Houston, TX:
Helping home sellers achieve their goal.
Offers will come faster.
Marketing strategy.
Effective selling technique.
Selling a home for all it’s worth.
Taking a tried and true approach.
Always looking better than the competition.
Get better appraisal values.
Internet photos will show a must see property.
Never giving you a bad first impression.
Gain more exposure with [...]

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After owning a Home Staging business for over 5 years, I think I have heard every possible objection to hiring a Stager, from “I know what needs to be done” to “I don’t want someone touching my stuff”.  The biggest objection by far, however, is the cost.  In this economy, people just don’t have a [...]

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Another agent just made my day with this email:
Hello. A client of mine had requested to see this property, but I noticed it’s pending. I was looking at the listing and felt it necessary to compliment you on your photos. You did a fantastic job with all of the photos-they look wonderful. So many people [...]

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I typically refrain from tooting my own horn, but I am very excited about yesterday’s announcement from Trulia.com, the leading real estate site. Trulia launched it’s new Trulia Mayors program and chose five agents from across the country from the 400,000 agents active on the site, recognizing us as “social media role models [...]

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In February the government amended and improved the first time homebuyer tax credit. Just to refresh your memory:
1) First time homebuyers will receive a federal tax credit of 10% of the cost of the home with a maximum credit of $8,000. You get the credit when you file your tax return for the 2009 [...]

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