It’s that time of year again and, like clockwork, the houses are flying onto, and off of, the market. We are seeing new construction on the rise, both month-over-month, and year-over-year, and the explosion of houses on the market has only been outperformed by the explosion of requests for prequalification letters. We’re seeing house values […]

I have had buyers moving everywhere from Southfield to Northville who have called me after a move saying they forgot to factor a moving cost and now are using credit to get by. So whether you are a first time homebuyer considering making the move from renter to homeowner or you are a homeowner looking […]

If you currently own a home, or have ever owned a home in the past, you know that home maintenance costs can kill your monthly budget. They are usually unexpected costs which arise at the worst time, leaving you cursing your home and bad fortune. And because things with your home (think roof, foundation, windows, […]

I think it’s safe to say that we’d all like to be in a situation to retire some day. And that most of us would like that day to come sooner, rather than later. There are a number of ways to do this, but ultimately the smart money is on multiple streams of income. And […]

We have all seen the unprecedented movements in the housing market over the last 7 years. There were estimated depreciations of 20% nationally in 2007 and 18% in 2008, with continuing depreciation for several more years. Then, in 2012, we saw home prices go up as much as 23% in some areas, with similar growth […]

Now that tax day has come and gone, and we have seen the dust settle on our tax returns, it is time to consider how our most recent tax filing will impact our ability to qualify for a mortgage. As strange as it sounds, your ability to qualify for a mortgage could have changed drastically […]

As we discussed on Tuesday, homes which need repairs can often be a great way to get into the house of your dreams in your preferred neighborhood. It can be amazing how far a little work on a house can go as far as the home’s value, and thus what a good deal you can […]

When looking for a new home, it can be tempting to look for a “fixer upper.” These houses are usually offered at a steep discount, allow buyers to get into the neighborhood they want, and can offer some unique customization options. Aside from a custom built new home, these can be the best way to […]

Conventional wisdom dictates that the spring is a seller’s market. Houses show nicely in the spring. The holiday season has passed, tax time is over, and prospective buyers are ready to start shopping. And because we all hype the spring up as the time to buy a house, people come out in droves to buy […]

Many of my clients who are first time homebuyers, or who are coming back to the housing market after a (usually unwanted) hiatus, are curious as to when it makes sense to drop the rental and buy something. There are a number of things to consider as you make this leap, and as the short […]