Right now as I write this, we are experiencing Lake-effect snow in Southwest Michigan.  Lake-effect snow is a distinctive type of snow that is produced when cooler atmospheric conditions create cold winds which move across long expanses of warmer lake water, such as Lake Michigan.  This then provides energy and picks up water vapor which then freezes and is deposited on the leeward shores, or in the case of Southwest Michigan it is on the Eastern Shores of Lake Michigan.   ‘Leeward' is the direction downwind from the source, which is called ‘Windward'.  The windward side of Lake Michigan is Wisconsin, and it comes down from Canada across the lake.  The same effect can happen over bodies of salt water, and this is sometimes called ‘ocean effect snow', ‘sea effect snow', or even ‘bay effe... 01/06/2011

There are many benefits to owning your own home in Battle Creek, Michigan.   Homeownership promotes a sense of pride for the property, and it usually inspires people to create and make the place their own.  What follows this is also a sense of stronger community, and thus one sees neighborhoods where homeowners take pride in making improvements.  There are also some practical benefits to owning your own home in Battle Creek, Michigan as well.  The most important of all is that it provides a lower cost of living.  How is this?  For one, most real estate is purchased with a mortgage of some kind.  A mortgage has interest, which can remain the same if it is a 30 year fixed rate loan.  The costs that can rise are insurance and taxes.  However when you own a home, you receive the principle r... 01/05/2011

Well the New Year is here, and thus begins my terms as the 2011 President of the Battle Creek Area Association of REALTORS®.  I have searched the Association of Realtors as a volunteer since 2006, working the time in around my business as a full time Realtor in Battle Creek.  I have been the chairman of the Professional Development Committee for the past four years, which directs the education programs offered by the board for the membership.  In this role, I was able to expand the continuing education benefits for our membership, and encourage members to further their education as professionals. I have included a photo here of one of the continuing education classes my committee arranged in 2010 with the Michigan Association of REALTORS® Attorney. I have also served as a member of the ... 01/04/2011

My wife and I go to a coffee shop here in Battle Creek periodically to escape for an hour sometimes and just enjoy some time away from the world.  The coffee shop is one of the national chains, Caribou Coffee.  They have a kind of a different taste in décor, and offer a variety of coffee, latte, teas and mochas and other treats that are different from Starbucks.  This location is new to the area, having opened just over a year or so ago.  It is tucked away next to a convenience store in a high traffic gas station near the Harper Village shopping district.  With some of the hours I keep as a Realtor, coffee is my best friend, especially with how busy I was in December.  The location of this little coffee shop often serves me as a quick meeting place with clients who need to sign some pap... 01/03/2011

Yesterday in Southwest Michigan, we were treated to a display of nature with icy trees in the early morning.  As I drove to go look at a house for a client, I could not help but marvel at the beauty of the crystalline tree branches in sparkling white on either side of the road as I drove by.  I do not think I can capture it all with photos, as they seemed more magical in person when you see them live.  My wife came home from work last night and also commented to me on the icy trees she saw driving to work, and wondered if I had noticed them.  With a back drop of a blue sky, the trees just caught your attention with their sparkle and usual color.  It is common to see snow, and even snow in the trees, but that morning it seemed that Mother Nature was carefully demonstrating her artwork fo... 12/30/2010

ESTABLISHING AND FOLLOWING GOOD CREDIT BEHAVIOR In order to understand credit, one first has to understand what is meant by good credit versus bad credit in the world of mortgage financing. The following are some key areas to understand when trying to establish good credit behavior, as all of these factors have an impact on your overall credit score: PAYMENT HISTORY: A historic review of how payments have been made in the past. 1) A borrower who has never had a late payment on their history is the profile of the ideal risk 2) A borrower that has had isolated late payments displays the ability to recover from possibly difficult situations by taking responsibility for their obligations and bringing them current and keeping them current for an extended period of time. 3) Borrowers who are ... 12/29/2010

Have you ever heard of the term ‘FICO' in reference to credit scoring?  You might be asking yourself, ‘What is a FICO Score?'  A FICO score is a credit score developed by Fair, Isaac & Co. (F.I.CO).  Credit scoring is a method taking criteria from a person's history of spending and bill paying and determining a scale to offer prediction of the likelihood that credit users will pay back the creditors. Fair, Isaac began its pioneering work with credit scoring in the late 1950s and, since then, scoring has become widely accepted by lenders as a reliable means of credit evaluation since the 1980's. A credit score attempts to condense a borrowers' credit history into a single number. Fair, Isaac & Co. and the credit bureaus do not reveal how these scores are computed. The Federal Trade Commi... 12/29/2010

I thought it might be helpful to new homeowners to provide them with a short list of ten things to do once you get the keys to your new home.  Too often some of these points get forgotten in the excitement of finally closing on your new home, so it helps to have a quick reference list. 1) Make sure you switch your utilities into your name immediately following the closing.  Silly as this sounds it is sometimes forgotten. 2) Although the home may already have been left clean by the former owners, you still may want to do some cleaning throughout the whole house.  It is a lot easier to clean certain rooms when there is no furniture in place, so take advantage of this before you start moving things in. 3) Keep your mortgage documents in a secure place in your records.  Specifically put the... 12/29/2010

Exterior replacement projects continue to be the most cost-effective home improvement projects, according to the 2010-11 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report published by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This year nine out of the 10 projects that return the most bang for the buck are improvements to a home's exterior. A steel entry door took the top spot with an estimated 102.1 percent of cost recouped upon resale. That was the only project in this year's report expected to return more than the cost. A new addition to the report - the midrange garage door replacement - is expected to recoup 83.9 percent of its cost. Both projects are relatively small investments, costing around $1,200 each, on average.  Additionally, there is still a home energy credit available if you hurry and ... 12/28/2010

Are we in the Golden Age of affordability? Today's record low mortgage rates and high household incomes have created a very favorable buying environment in terms of affordability. Some might even go so far as to describe this time period as the ‘Golden Age of Affordability' when we look back on it down the road. In fact, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Housing Affordability Index is at an all-time high, since NAR began measuring affordability in 1970.   The higher the index, the more favorable housing affordability becomes; 100 is defined as the point where a median income family has exactly enough income to afford a median-priced home with a 20 percent down payment. The index shows that with a down payment of 20 percent, a median-income family has 184.2 percent of the income... 12/28/2010

Every holiday season, in downtown Battle Creek, Michigan our community generally hosts a festival of lights which includes a parade.  Also included each year are ice sculptures that are carved by local artists in Mill Race Park.  The ice sculptures in downtown Battle Creek are more than just a tradition they are a symbol to many that the holidays are here.  Thus, as you can see many of the carvings are Christmas theme related in some fashion.  This year was no exception.  I went downtown yesterday on Christmas Eve to take these photos, and although there were fewer this year than in recent years, they were very beautiful.  It might amaze some from warmer climates that these sculptures were carved outdoors, two weeks ago, and they are still in perfect condition.  That is because out cons... 12/25/2010

Selling your home quickly in a recession in Battle Creek, Michigan can mean that one has to take some unconventional approaches or change the way one usually thinks about selling a home. When one looks at the steep decline in home values in recent years, it is not hard to realize that this is a completely different market than existed when you most likely bought your home. So how does one answer the question of selling your home quickly in a recession in Battle Creek, Michigan? Obviously, one needs to recognize that it is a buyer’s market. What that means is that there are more homes available, than there are buyers, and thus a qualified home buyer looking at houses has much to choose from. They also cannot help but be inundated with the low prices offered by foreclosures being listed b... 12/19/2010

If you are looking at selling your home, and you own it free and clear, you might consider the option of selling your home on land contract.  There are some distinct advantages to taking this route, and also some points of caution to take into account.  An advantage to selling your home on land contract is that you can often receive a higher market value than expected and earn a greater net from the sale over time from the interest you earn on the sale.  However, there is less cash received from the sale up front, and this may or not be an advantage come tax time.  It would be advisable to consult with your accountant to find out what impact capital gains tax might be on this type of sale. What exactly is a land contract?  A land contract is essentially having you as the seller extendin... 12/15/2010

Horrocks Market in Battle Creek is a unique and original privately owned grocery store near downtown.  It is really more of a Farmers Market with an urban eclectic twist.  The store has grown over the years, and the owners are constantly experimenting with new ideas to make it a consumer buying destination in the area.  Horrocks Market in Battle Creek is more than just a grocery store where you can get freshly made bread, fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, and many other items in their fantastic stock of fresh foods.  Nor is it about their fabulous collection of wine, candy and other culinary delights.  No, Horrocks Market in Battle Creek is much, much more.  At Horrocks Market in Battle Creek you can buy fresh flowers year round, and in the spring, summer and fall they have a tremend... 12/12/2010

Land Contract home sales in Michigan at times reflects about 18% of the annual homes sales across the State.  Land Contract home sales in Michigan are popular because Michigan has favorable laws regarding this type of home sale, and it provides an option for buying a home if your credit standing is in poor condition. A Land Contract (sometimes called a ‘Contract for Deed') is essentially a private sale of a home where a down payment is made, and monthly payments are made to the seller which include interest and principle.  When the contract is fulfilled the seller is legally obligated to transfer the deed to the buyer.  Sounds simple enough doesn't it?  There are many aspects of this that make is a desirable transaction for the buyer, as mentioned above if they have poor credit.  Howeve... 12/12/2010

As I travel around Southwest Michigan, I come across wall murals occasionally.  Wall murals can be found in most any area around Michigan, and sometimes they are very creative and imaginative.  I was in the boardwalk area of downtown Allegan just this past summer on Labor Day weekend, and came across a very interesting one with an American flag theme of sorts.  I have included that here.  I think wall murals in Southwest Michigan can tell a story about the care and culture of an area, and its residents.  Sometimes it is an art theme, and sometimes it is just a picture of what the theme of the store is, like this one on the back of a local bicycle shop in downtown Battle Creek.  This one faces a parking lot and the river near Clara's restaurant in downtown Battle Creek, and it is seen by... 12/11/2010

Snow falling in Battle Creek, Michigan is something that we who live here come to expect.  It is now December 2010, and although we have been somewhat pardoned this season from having snow until now, it is kind of hard to get into the holiday spirit when there is none of the white stuff coming down or on the ground. Snow falling in Battle Creek, Michigan brings about a natural cleanliness to the landscape, and an ambience that is peaceful to behold.  Sure, it is a time that we dig out winter coats from the back of the closet, and scramble to find out boots long stored away since the spring.  Yes, our days are shorter, and the cold weather becomes weary at times, with the gray skies continually hiding the sun.  There is no denying that winter has its own unique brand of harshness that is... 12/08/2010

If you live in the Calhoun County area, you may be considering buying your first home in Battle Creek, Michigan.  The times we are in offer a great opportunity for first time home buyers and the opportunities for buying your first home in Battle Creek could never be better.  Today, few home buyers have the cash savings to buy a home outright, so most need to explore getting approved for a loan to purchase a home.  There are three basic first time home buyer loan programs that I usually recommend for buying your first home in Battle Creek.  First, if you are a veteran, you should take advantage of the Veterans Administration (VA) loan, and it offers 100% financing and a low interest rate, and it allows for the person you are buying the home from to pay up to 4% of the closing costs if yo... 12/05/2010

Foreign buyers who understand the value of U.S. homeownership are taking advantage of the opportunities in today's housing market. The National Association of REALTORS® 2010 Profile of International Home Buying Activity survey revealed that international interest in U.S. real estate is currently driven by the strength of the dollar, the value and desirability of U.S. real estate and the emerging economic recovery. Foreign buyers are estimated to have purchased $66 billion in U.S. property over the past year, which represents 7 percent of the total residential market. Twenty-eight percent of Realtors® reported working with at least one international client in the past year, a significant increase from 23 percent in the 2009 survey. Eighteen percent of all Realtors® were estimated to have... 12/02/2010

The real value of homeownership is sometimes lost in all the media these days. The truth is that homeownership isn’t for everyone. However, for those ready to take on the responsibility, the desire to purchase a house goes much deeper than a dollars-and-cents analysis. Understandably, job security is in the forefront of concerns for many Americans and renting provides relocation flexibility, but most people don’t want to uproot their families and disrupt established friendships by leaving the community they call home. In fact, the typical recent home buyer moved only 19 miles from his or her previous home. According to the 2009 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers survey, buyers most often cite the desire to own a home as the primary reason for their recent purchase. Data from the U.S... 11/30/2010