Canton Michigan Home Buying

is this posting???

2009-06-05T10:21:00.000-05:00

hello?

Bad electrical work

2009-05-26T10:01:00.000-05:00

I'm out at an inspection today and it isn't a big deal, but this looks
like some typical homeowner wiring.

At least the actual joints are in wirenuts. It would have been a lot
worse if the had just been wrapped together and then electrial taped.

However any electrical joints like this should have been put in an
electrical box.

Orlando

2009-04-21T09:49:00.003-05:00

There are plenty of bad photos in the Multiple Listing System here in Ann Arbor, but, we have to work with these people.

So, I'll share some from a real estate blog in Orlando.

Here is a great one:

A Sunday afternoon with a sewer snake

2009-03-30T11:05:00.002-05:00

In the business of helping home buyers I am often working on Sunday afternoon. When I don't have appointments though, I like to take a Sunday afternoon nap in front of the woodburning fireplace.

Yesterday my life took me in a different direction. You see we live in a ~40 year old home that has a drain line that gets really slow about every five years. It is a drain line for the dishwasher and the laundry, so I'm thinking it is probably laundry lint and maybe ground food that collects in some low spot.

Unfortunately the "low spot" is under our basement floor. So the solution is to auger it out every couple years. And yesterday it was time.

Previously I was able to clear the run with a 25 foot drill mounted auger. But this time I sent that thing all the way out and the drain was still sloooow.

So off to Lowe's to get a 50 foot model (pictured).

Eventually we got the thing to drain fairly well. But, the reason this is interesting to home buyers is:

Most real estate agents that claim to be "buyer agents" don't want to actually tell buyers anything about the houses themselves. Like, disadvantages and advantages of living on a city sewer system vs a well and septic system in the country. Like disadvantages and advantages of a hot water heat system vs a gas forced air.

There were a bunch of discussions on this on a real estate professional forum called activerain.com

Here is a link to one example:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/977305/GENUINE-BUYER-AGENT-SHOULD-KNOW-HOUSES

The majority of the regular real estate agents are afraid to say anything bad about a house!

If you want to buy a Canton Michigan home and you want a real estate agent and company to really represent you, contact us.

Jon Boyd
Broker/Manager
The Home Buyer's Agent of Ann Arbor
http://buyersagentannarbor.com
734 662 6240

Battery backup for sump pump system

2009-03-18T13:23:00.001-05:00

I'm at a home inspection today and the homeowner had installed a
battery back-up for their sump pump system.

Here is a photo. These are a good idea for anyone that depends on a
pump to keep water out of their basement.

Before and After diet photo creating website

2009-02-21T10:39:00.002-05:00

I know what you are thinking - "What does this have to do with real estate???"

Well it doesn't, but I do think it is interesting, and a great example of how the internet can be used to mis-lead people.

The site linked above in the title line helps you make a "before and after" photo where you look like you've lost a lot of weight.

And it is the same technology that is used to create fraudulent pictures for websites that sell diet products.

I hope you enjoy it. Photo fixing site

Jon Boyd
Ann Arbor / Canton real estate buyer's agent

Download Suze Orman financial book for free till the 15th

2009-01-12T10:17:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to pass this on.

Suze Orman is a top financial advisor who has a very informative TV show. (She also recommends home buyers talk to Exclusive Buyer Agents if there are any working in the buyer's area.)

Here is the link:

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081119_tows_bookdownload

(This is courtesy of Oprah, Thank you Oprah!)

Jon Boyd

Broker/Manager, CEBA-Master, CBA, CBR, GRI, e-PRO
The Home Buyer's Agent of Ann Arbor, Inc. 1908 W. Stadium Blvd. Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734-662-6240, 888-566-2693
Helping Home Buyers Locate, Evaluate, and Negotiate
http://www.buyersagentannarbor.com

x

New England man sets his home on fire while melting snow with a blowtorch

2008-12-23T09:41:00.002-05:00

Talk about having a bad day...

This guy was melting snow near his home and set his vinyl siding on fire.

Imagine how he felt as he watched his home start to burn.

Top Michigan Buyer Agents Meet in Florida

2008-11-06T15:36:00.001-05:00

Stefan Scholl and I and a whole bunch of other top Exclusive Buyer
Agents met this week in Orlando for our National Association of
Exclusive Buyer Agents yearly conference.

A lot of sharing on a lot of topics that are crucial to home buyers.

Posted from my iPhone.

On the topic of buyer agents and loan choices ...

2008-10-06T14:31:00.003-05:00

Here is a question to ask a buyer agent you might be interviewing: "How many of your past clients used option ARMS to buy houses?"

The answer should be zero.

Option ARMS were never a good choice because they were too risky. No buyers in our Ann Arbor buyer agent office ever chose an option ARM after we had a frank discussion about the negative aspects.

However based on the number of home buyers that are suffering with them right now it is clear that a lot of those buyers didn't get good advice from their "buyer agent".

Great, Informative Site on Mortgage Fraud and How to Recognize it

2008-08-25T10:34:00.003-05:00

Every few months I try to visit the website called "FlippingFrenzy.com"

It has a lot of good information about mortgage fraud and mortgage officer con-games. (And making sure our buyers avoid them.)

The link above is to a very informative report on a particular purchase / Refinance nightmare.

Here is a part of the article:

Kim’s loan officer had her “sign lots of blank forms” and told her that he had to first “see what we could do and fill those in later.” In real estate fraud forensics, we call this ‘backing into the documents.’ With signed forms (that contain blank fields) in hand, a loan officer is able to manipulate the borrower’s loan documents to fit his commission-related needs.

Kim’s loan officer artificially inflated her income in order to help her qualify for her loan. This of course is against the law.

As noted by Kim above, her loan officer worked with an appraiser to secure an inflated appraisal on Kim’s property, thus allowing her to qualify for a higher loan that translated into a higher commission for the loan officer. Here again, the loan officer and appraiser broke the law.

As Kim already pointed, she was encouraged to borrow her father’s assets, which everyone should know by now is a highly improper way of determining one’s actual worth and ability to repay a loan. Any real estate industry professional that advises someone to borrow or rent assets is more likely than not up to no good.

Her loan officer promised to refinance Kim into a fixed loan within two years. Legally, no one can make that type of promise to a homeowner.

As you read in Kim’s account, when she arrived for the very first closing of her life, she learned that she had been placed into an adjustable rate mortgage that was only fixed for two years. When mortgage brokers and loan officers present the borrower with a product, specifying the terms, and then change the terms just prior to closing, that is called “bait and switch” and it makes the loan highly suspect and questionable.

Ann Arbor as a good neighbor to have

2008-06-28T23:51:00.002-05:00

One of the great things about Canton is that you are half way between the big city life of Detroit and the college town life of Ann Arbor.
Often when we've helped families purchase in Canton they talk about going into Ann Arbor for some of the cultural entertainment (and college football games!).

Here is a video I noticed on another real estate broker's blog that shows some of what Ann Arbor has to offer:

Agency class misses the mark

2008-06-11T12:30:00.001-05:00

Today I'm sitting in a class for real estate agents and brokers on
agency. Unfortunately many of the topics and responses are off the
mark. The most difficult part of agency for buyers and sellers is
designated agency. And when the first hard question came up the
instructor couldn't (didn't want to) answer.

Designated agency is very complicated. Just because agents don't
understand it doesn't mean it isn't real.

Sent from my iPhone

Aldi grocery store coming to Canton

2008-05-14T08:59:00.002-05:00

The Mlive website just ran a story about International Grocery Store chain Aldi and how they are going to be expanding into Canton. The link above goes to the article.

I've read about Aldi and their unique service, I think they will be a great addition to the Ann Arbor, Canton, and Howell retail mix.

Important Inspection Tip for Canton Home Buyers

2008-05-11T12:31:00.003-05:00

This link talks specifically about Ann Arbor home inspections but the advice is super important for anybody buying a home in Southeastern Michigan where the home has synthetic stucco exterior. (Sometimes called Drivit or EIFS or Exterior Insulation Finishing System)

Here again is the link: Canton Home Inspection Issue

How To Buy A Foreclosure Class

2008-04-29T12:45:00.003-05:00

We had another one of our free "How To Buy A Foreclosure" classes last night here in Ann Arbor. Unlike last month, this time we had extra seats.

I could tell that a couple of the buyers who were there were gaining insights about the process. One of the buyers who had actually viewed a number of foreclosed and short-sale homes was clearly much more comfortable with the process when he left.

Since we are active helping Canton area buyers one of the examples discussed in the class was actually a Canton home.

Click on the link above for information about the next class if you are interested.

Home Buying Adventure

2008-04-14T09:50:00.003-05:00

Our office helps buyers in the Canton Michigan area but our main office is physically located in Ann Arbor so we also help a lot of home buyers there.

Last week when I was out evaluating homes in that area we came across a skeleton in the living room of a vacant home.

Not just a skeleton, one dressed in a suite and a top-hat. If you think I'm kidding click on the link above, I snapped a picture.

Aliens in the basement - when I'm previewing a home

2008-03-26T18:33:00.001-05:00

This link goes to an article about the funny things we see when we are showing homes.

(As Exclusive Buyer Agents we only work for buyers so we end up going through a lot of homes.)

In any case I still remember waiting for a buyer neat Beck and Geddes watching a roofer putting shingles on a new home. As I watched I thought something looked a little strange. Then I realized he was putting the shingles on right over the sheathing. (Violating the building code, which requires tar paper.)

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the article.

Planned Health Center Will Help Canton Home Values

2008-03-20T16:42:00.003-05:00

A sight along Beck Road North of Michigan Ave. is in the planning stages for an Oakwood Health Care facility.

If this gets approved and gets rolling they would also approve a new residential development next door.

The key to getting the right deal at the right level of risk here will be timing.

Call our office if you are thinking of buying in the Canton Michigan area. I believe we are the only exclusive buyer's agent who serves that part of Wayne County.

The Home Buyer's Agent of Ann Arbor
734-662-6240

Article on negotiating with a builder

2008-03-17T00:11:00.002-05:00

Here is a great article on negotiating with a builder when you are having a home built.

I actually know about 5 of the top buyer agents from around the country that were interviewed for the story.

One of the great things about being an Exclusive Buyer's Agent

2008-02-14T23:09:00.003-05:00

Regular real estate agents are faced with conflicting loyalties almost every day.

I was speaking to an agent today who lists a lot of foreclosed homes and she was talking about showing those properties to people. Now this is a nice person, but I know she isn't going to be telling those potential buyers what to look for and how to negotiate against her own seller. Even if they are an institution they are a repeat customer. I know she's conflicted.

On the other hand since we are an exclusive buyer agent we only work for home buyers. (Exclusive buyer agents are real estate companies who never list homes and never represent home sellers.) We never have to hold back critical negotiation information from the buyer.

Another example from that same agent. We were helping a buyer buy one of her listings that was a foreclosed home. Our buyer was paying cash. (No loan)

The lender who was selling the home insisted on using their own title company and when we saw the closing documents the title company wanted to charge the buyer $425 for a closing fee. This was completely outrageous. But do you think the listing agent is going to say anything and risk losing this source of business??? Not a chance.

I love helping buyers and being loyal to buyers!

Relocation Company announces bankruptcy

2008-02-09T23:48:00.000-05:00

The nation's fifth largest relocation company, Sirva, filed for bankruptcy in an effort to reorganize last week.

Relocation companies do provide an important service for employees that are relocated by their companies.

And....

They can be really obnoxious to deal with if you are a home buyer.

What Happens to the First Buyers When Developers Stop

2008-02-01T13:41:00.000-05:00

Here is a good article on the challenges faced by buyers of new construction when a builder stops building in the middle of a subdivision.

Remember that real estate does go in cycles.

It is just a challenge working and living in between the peaks and valleys!

I can't count the number of times that I've cautioned buyers about buying in new developments.

That is part of what we do as the largest Exclusive Buyer's Agent in the Western Wayne County area. (We also help people buy in Washtenaw, Western Oakland, and Livingston Couties.But no matter how much homework you do the marketplace has a big impact.

Good article on assessments going up as values fall

2008-01-25T09:33:00.001-05:00

The article linked above from the Detroit Free Press is a good introduction to the nutty real estate tax situation we face now in Michigan with values falling, but some assessments rising.

Negotiating tactic to look out for if you negotiate with a lender buying a foreclosure

2008-01-06T20:32:00.000-05:00

We've seen a new tactic on a couple Ann Arbor negotiations when we've been helping buyers buy foreclosures from out-of-state lenders.

We are thinking we'll start to see this in our Canton area negotiations also.

Click the link above for the story.