A new restaurant in the area

May 13, 2012

Kensington Grill entrance

A new restaurant has opened in the Lyon Center shopping area – the Kensington Grill. The Kensington Grill is located at 30712 Lyon Center Dr E, New Hudson, MI 48165. Long time residents of the area would likely describe it as “where the old Chilli’s used to be.”My wife and I sampled the fare there on Saturday night and were very pleased with what we got. The prices are sure to please, too. The restaurant features a full bar and drinks are moderately priced.

As the Grill name might hint at,there is an orientation towards foods that are grilled or barbecued . Even the pizzas are grilled, which gives them a nice crunchy crust.  A wide variety of burgers and sandwiches are backed up by a good list of barbecued items and then quite a few non-barbeque entries, including pasta dishes. There are also a good selection of salads and a varied appetizer Kensington Grillmenus, including fried pickles. If you’re up for it after the meal there are some delicious sounding deserts as well.

The Kensington Grill is a nice addition to the local restaurant scene and just adds to the reputation fo this area as a destination for great dining.

In a twist of fate for me, the owner of the Kensington Grill, Mark Mitra, happened by our table and it turns out that he is an old friend of mine from our days together at Digital EquipmentCorporation in the IT business. He went on to the restaurant business about the time that I was getting out of the IT world, too. He now owns and operates five eateries. I wish him well in this venture. Check it out!

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Posted by Norm Werner

Seeing you seeing me…

May 11, 2012

Sometimes you can’t see yourself clearly until you see yourself through the eyes of others.” (Ellen DeGeneres) from my favorite daily blog – Jack’s Winning Words

The problem for many of us is probably actually being able to see ourselves through the eyes of others. That usually means that someone has taken the time (and risk) to tell you how they see you or something that you have said or done. Most of the time the kind of feedback that we need just goes unsaid and we don’t realize that something that we may have said or done was insensitive or at least not received as we intended. That can be particularly true in real estate where we really don’t have the kind of personal relationships with clients that would allow or encourage them to provide feedback on our behavior.

More than once in my real estate career I’ve heard back later, usually through a mutual acquaintance, that something that I did wasn’t well received by a client. Usually it had to do with appearing to be “pushing” the client to make a decision or seeming to be “taking the other side” in a deal. As I reflected back on those situations I can now see that what I thought was just trying to keep the dal moving along could have been perceived by the clients as pushing them. Real estate transactions are often full of emotions and being sensitive to the emotional needs of clients is something that I have to constantly work on, because it just doesn’t come as naturally to me as it should. I get wrapped up in the process details and lose site of the emotional side sometimes.

The other thing that gets in the way sometimes is logic. There are just lots and lots of places in a real estate deal where logic appears to be trumpeted – again by emotion. Sometimes I realize that I’m almost arguing with clients, especially young, first-time buyers, because I’ve taken the side of logic and they are coming from the emotional side. I have to step back and remind myself that I’m not playing a parental role in the deal, just an advisory role. I need to present them the facts and options without interjecting opinion, especially a parental sounding opinion.

So, as hard as it might be, it is good advice to try to step back every now and then and see yourself as others are seeing you. Sometimes you won’t like what you see, but then you have the opportunity to make corrections and be the person that you hoped you were. Here’s a little ditty to end these thoughts.

If I can understand how others see me,

Maybe I can become the person I’d like to be

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Posted by Norm Werner

Sometimes doing nothing is the best option…

May 9, 2012

There was a story this morning in the Realty Times real estate news feed that I get every day about the California Association of Realtors (CAR) opposition to the new law proposed by the California Attorney General which would make laws out of many of the provisions of the recent class action lawsuit concerning foreclosures (robo-signing and the like were the issues in the suit). In this case, while the CAR applauded the lawsuit and the settlement, it is opposing the new law. The logic is simple – the proposed law would effectively hamstring lenders in any future efforts to foreclose on bad loans and extend too wide of an umbrella of protection over so-called “strategic defaulters” and deadbeats. Another part deals with the eviction process for tenants in foreclosed homes and greatly extends that process. A similar law passed in Nevada and has effectively shut down the foreclosure process there.

Those seem like fair things to put in a law, so why the opposition? It’s that old legislation bug-a-boo – the unintended consequences of seemingly good laws. In this case the fear is that lenders, faced with onerous restrictions on their future ability to take foreclosure action, will shut down lending.  The argument is, “why would lenders take the risks involved in mortgages without the ability to take foreclosure actions at a reasonable cost and within a reasonable timeframe?”

This is probably a classic case of where doing nothing is the best course of action. Unfortunately it is not playing out at the Federal level where doing nothing is the order of the day. It is also playing out right now in California, one of the most liberal and activist states in the union. I suspect that most people might agree that lenders needed to be taken to the woodshed for some of their foreclosure practices; however, the thought of a bunch of legislators (no matter where) trying to figure out and put into law “what is good for us” is just scary.

Please help us all out here and do nothing. Thank you.

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Posted by Norm Werner

Of foreclosures, headlines and distressed sales…

May 8, 2012

The headline of the top story on Page 1 of the Oakland Press today was “Foreclosures Down 45%”.  Of course it was very large type to draw maximum attention to that tidbit of information as a sound bite. The accompanying story talked as much about why the numbers reported by Oakland County are a more accurate reflection of the market that the numbers reported by regional or national groups. Apparently some of those “others” report every event within the foreclosure process as if it was a new foreclosure. That means that the delinquency notice, the Sheriff’s sale and the eviction notice would all be reported as foreclosures – three reported for the price of one. The Oakland County numbers only report the Sheriff’s sale, which is the best indicator that a foreclosure has indeed taken place.

I track and report on real estate sales in 8 local township/city/village markets and I report what I call distressed sales. These are sales recorded in the public records as either a foreclosure (where there was a Sheriff’s sale) or as a short sale (reporting of short sales is required by the local Multi-List Services). I can report that, in general, distressed sales are down; however, there are still a few Townships – West Bloomfield,  Highland and White Lake – that are still showing distressed sales near or above 50% of all sales, so far this year. The Lyon/South Lyon Market is the best in terms of low distressed sales right now.

Below are some distressed sales numbers comparing the most recent full month (April) over the last three years:

Milford – April, 2012 – Total Sales – 12, Distressed Sales – 5 ( 42%),  4 out of the 5 were foreclosures

Milford – April, 2011 – Total Sales – 17, Distressed Sales – 6 (35%), 4 out of the 6 were foreclosures

Milford – April, 2010 – Total Sales – 10, Distressed Sales – 5 (50%), 4 out of the 5 were foreclosures

Highland – April, 2012 – Total Sales – 21, Distressed – 15 (71%), 13 out of the 15 were foreclosures

Highland – April, 2011 – Total Sales – 15, Distressed – 8 (54%), 6 of the 8 were foreclosures

Highland – April, 2010 – Total Sales – 19, Distressed – 15 (79%), 5 out of the 15 were foreclosures

Commerce – April, 2012 – Total Sales – 40, Distressed – 22 (55%), 16 out of the 22 were foreclosures

Commerce – April, 2011 – Total Sales – 51, Distressed – 26 (51%), 22 out of the 26 were foreclosures

Commerce – April, 2010 – Total Sales – 30, Distressed – 21 (70%), 16 out of the 21 were foreclosures

These local market numbers don’t necessarily support the report that foreclosures are down, at least not in these three markets. They are up in Highland and about the same over the three year period in Milford and Commerce.

For data on all of the Townships that I track go to my web site www.movetomilford.com .

There are all sorts of regional and national articles and news reports that spout off numbers, usually in the headlines, that really don’t reflect the local market; so, stick with the reports that you’ll get on my site to be really in-the-know about our local markets.

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Posted by Norm Werner

May Real Estate Sales Stats now available

May 7, 2012

Since this is a new blog site for me, any followers would likely not know that I post sales information on my web site www.movetomilford.com every week.

I track several local township real estate markets in my little corner of SE Michigan – Milford (of course), Highland, Commerce (including Walled Lake and Wolverine Lake), White Lake, Lyon Twp (including South Lyon), and West Bloomfield in Oakland County. I also track Green Oak, Brighton (including the city) and Hartland in Livingston County.

I’m well aware that some of the local papers provide weekly reports on what sold and for how much and that is a part of the story. As Paul Harvey might have said, you should go to the Move To Milford web site for “the rest of the story.”

Of course I report the listed and sold prices for the homes that I track, which are sales above $20,000 in each of the those areas. I also report the percentage of sold vs. listed, the Michigan SEV value and the ratio of sold price vs SEV, plus the days on market, the Sq Footage of the homes and the listed and sold price per Sq. Ft.

Those statistics are all good indicators of the state of the market and become more valuable if you can look at them over time. I provide running Y-T-D statistics for each market and up to three years of history (more for a few of the markets).

In addition there are market absorption reports, up to the minute market charts for things like inventory and days on market and more, all available at my two real estate Web sites – www.movetomilford.com and www.themilfordteam.com Check them out!

If you are in distress financially right now and at your wits end about what to do about your mortgage and your home, please go to another of my web sites – www.MIShortSales.com and read through the material there that discusses short sales as an alternative to foreclosure or bankruptcy.

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Posted by Norm Werner

Doug Killingbeck Memorial Canoe Races coming up soon

May 4, 2012

An impoortant upcoming Community Event

Doug Killingbeck Memorial Canoe Race

Presented By Michigan Canoe Racing Association.

When: Saturday, May 12, 2012.

Time: 12:00pm until 6:00pm.

Where: Milford’s Central Park

This race is in memorial of Doug Killingbeck, who gave his life to help two drowning teenagers. Concessions will be available for purchase at the event with a donation to the Memorial fund. Prize money will be awarded to the top finishers in each Pro class.

Noon – Pro C-1 Race begins; registration opens at 11

3 PM- Pro C-2 Race

Business/ Amateur Class begins at 3:30 pm

Awards follow each race.

The MCRA is also raffling off $400 worth of merchandise

to participating paddlers!

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Posted by Norm Werner

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

May 2, 2012

There are always lots of things to do in the Milford/Highland area of the Huron Valley. Here is a sample of upcoming events that you might want to attend.

May 2 – The Financial Facts Women Need to Know Workshop Part 3: You’ve come a long way…financial freedom (with a mini fashion show) workshop is free of charge.

Time: 12:00 – 1 :00 PM

Location: La Fontaine Automotive Group, 4000 W. Highland Rd (M-59), Highland, MI  48357

Office: 248-748-0101

RSVP – Brenda Oldham at 248-714-5102 or eMail at brenda.oldham@concsultant.com or click here for a registration form

May 5 – Cinco De Mayo Community Dance

Sponsored by Milford Twp Parks & Rec and Carl’s Family YMCA

Time: 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Place: Carl’s Family YMCA, Milford

300 Family Dr, Milford,MI 48381

Call: (248) 685-3020 to register your child

6:45 pm doors open for Kids Fiesta drops offs

7:00 pm a casual group leson of Salsa will start

Click here to see flyer with more information about the Kids Fiesta

May 5 – The Friends of Milford Skate Park will hold a skate event  in Milford’s Central Park from 11 am until 4 pm. Proceeds from the event go towards the project to build a skate park in Milford. For more information on the group and the project, go to www.skatemilford.com.

May 6 – The Huron Valley Community Chorus  presents its 2012 Spring Concert

Time: 4 pm

Location: First Baptist Church of Milford, 133 Detroit St, Milford, MI 48381

For more information call 248-684-5684

May 10 – The Farmers’ Market 2012 Season Kick-off

Time: 3 – 8 pm

Location: E. Liberty Street between Main and Union Streets

For information go to – http://www.milfordfarmersmarket.org/

May 12 – The Milford Garden Club – 2012 Plant & Bake Sale

Time: 9 am unitl 11 am

Location: Johnson Elementary School, 515 General Motors Rd, Milford, MI

Come buy plants from the gardens and baked goods from the kitchens of the members of the Milford Garden Club. For mor on the event and the Milford Garden Club click here.

May 17 – The Rotary Club of Milford presents it’s 2012 Wine and Chocolate Tasting event at Bakers of Milford

Time: 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm

Location: Bakers of Milford, 2025 South Milford Road  Milford, MI 48381

Phone: (248) 685-0505

For complete details and ticket prices click here. Support the Milford Rotary and have  a great time too.

May 19 – Hazardous Waste Collection Day for the Village of Milford and Milford Township residents.

Time: 8 am until 1 pm

Location: The rear of the Milford Civic Center (enter off Mont Eagle). For more information and the rules  about what you can drop off as hazardous waste  go to – Hazardous Waste Day

May 19 – 4th Annual Dogs Playing Poker –

Time: 11:00 am until 2:00 pm

Starts at the Pettibone Creek Powerhouse on W. Liberty St. Off Cabinet on the west side of Main St.

The Dogs Playing Poker event raises funds for the Pet Pantry at Community Sharing.

May 19 – Annual Beautification Plant Sale

Time: 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM

Location: Behind the Senior Center. 209 N. John Street

They will have a wide variety of plants available and will answer questions to ensure you choose the right plant for your yard.

For more information, visit our website: http://highlandbeautification.blogspot.com/

May 20 – Firefighters Association Pancake Breakfast

Time: 8:00 am til noonat the Milford Village Firehouse at 325 West Huron. All you can eat! Tickets are $6.00 for adutls, $5,00 for seniors and $4 for children.

May 28 – Memorial Day Parade

The parade steps off from the American Legion Post 216 at 11:00 am rain or shine. Come say thanks to our veterans. The parade route takes it from the Legion Post on W. Commerce to Main street, then south on Main Street to Central Park where a short post-paraed ceremony honoring fallen heroes is conducted.

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Posted by Norm Werner

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