Summer begins…

May 29, 2012

Memorial Day has historically kicked of the Summer season. I marched in the Memorial Day Parade yesterday and it was great, as usual – huge crowds and great weather. I   also spent much of the weekend getting the flower beds weeded and the last of the flowers planted. I got my little flower bed watering system all fixed up from the hard winter and working again and I got the window air conditioners all in (a consequence of living in a house that was  built in 1885 and is still heated by steam radiators). So, I’m ready to go for the summer ahead.

In the real estate world we are in the prime selling season right now and local statistics show the results – more houses are selling this year than last and the inventory is down to less than 4 months worth of houses in most areas. Prices have also started to come back, but not such that sellers have recovered all the value that was lost in the recent recession – that will take years, if not a decade or more. It’s not unusual to see multiple bids on good homes right now, which again helps drive up the prices.

I’m not sure which group is more frustrated right now – would be home buyers who can’t find what they want on the market or might-be sellers who are still under water on their mortgages and can’t afford to sell. Both groups find the current market unsatisfying. There is a third group of people who are also experiencing frustrations – would be renters/leasers. The lease market is even tighter that the sales market for good houses, because so many displaced families (read that foreclosed) have snapped up the lease inventory. That may start opening up a bit later in the year, because there are likely many who are about to exit their 3 years of real estate foreclosure purgatory and be in the market to buy again.

In the area that I cover I’ve also noticed a good trend back to new-build housing coming onto the market. Many builders who headed for the bomb shelters a few years back are now active again and several failed or stalled developments have taken on new life. That’s a good thing. I also note that many of the builders are offering more affordable models with less frills, which is a reflection of a still fragile economic environment.

I’ve just posted the sales statistics for the areas that I track on a weekly basis – Milford, Highland, White Lake, Commerce, West Bloomfield, South Lyon, Green Oak, Brighton and Hartland – on my Website MoveToMilford.com . Check them out for yourself. There is still weakness and a high rate of distressed sales – foreclosures and short sales – in a few of the markets; however, most are down to much more reasonable distress levels. The averages for cost per square foot are still low when compared to where they were a few years back, so good deals are still to be had. Combine that with historically low mortgage rates and it’s a great time to buy.

So, hey, relax and enjoy the summer. Have a hot dog and a beer. Watch a baseball game. Buy a house. It’s a summer tradition!

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Posted by Norm Werner

Memorial Day in Milford, Michigan

May 28, 2012

Today is the day for one of our three major parades in Milford, Michigan, and the one that my wife likes the best. She likes the Memorial Day Parade the best because it is the most honest and straightforward of all of the parades – no clowns, no politicians, no advertisements for businesses, just a parade of veterans and fly-overs by military and vintage planes. The streets of Milford are lined with thousands of people who clap for the veterans through the whole parade and say “Thank You” as they walk by.

 

I march in this parade every year and it does give me, and I’m sure the other vets, a sence of pride in what we did; no matter whether they were in a war or just served in peacetime. The parade organizer – Joe Silva of the Milford Am Vets tries to line up the vets in chronological order, with WWI and WWII vets first, then Korea and so on, although he does let currently serving military participants go at the head of the parade. My group, the Viet Nam vets is slowly (and sadly) working it’s way towards the head of the parade as fewer and fewer WWI & II anKorean War vets survive to participate.

 

Joe has several jeeps lined up each year to transport those no longer able to walk the parade route. The parade also features military vehicles of various sizes and types and a Scottish bagpipe marching band at the front. There are fly overs by vintage WWII planes and usually some current military jets from Selfridge airbase.

 

The local florist passes out carnations to the children who line the parade route and they then hand them to vets as they walk by. The parade starts off at the Oldenburg VFW Post 216 on Commerce and goes down Main St ending at the War Memorial in Central Park. There is always a brief ceremony following the parade to honor those who have sacrificed their lives in service to their country. Many people who line the streets will have framed pictures of loved ones who have passed and some relatives of vets who are gone actually march in the parade carrying pictures of their lost vets.

 

So look for me out there today. I’ll be in the Viet Nam vets group (I usually try to get near the front of that group). Some vets wear their old uniforms or bits abd pieces of uniforms. I have nothing left from those days that I can still wear, so I’ll just be in civilian clothes. I’ll see you there.

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Posted by Norm Werner

Le Rendez Vous Ribbon Cutting…

May 25, 2012

I went to the Ribbon Cutting ceremony held by the Huron Valley Chamber of Commerc at Le Rendez Vous Wednesday afternoon. Owner Donna Rizk laid out quite a spread for the group that gathered to welcome her to the business community. Treats included roll-up slices of some of her lunch crepes, as well as dessert crepe roll-ups, cupcakes, creampuffs and delicious little petit fours. I’m sure that each delightful treat has a French name that sounds better than how just described them; but, they were all great and that’s what really counts. You really must try Le Rendez Vous for lunch or a brunch sometime.

I’ll be featuring Donna and the bakery/restaurant in a future Featured Business posting. Donna is a French ex-patriot who’s been in the U.S. since about 2005. She brought her love of baking with her and had done quite a bit of  customer order baking for weddings, birthdays and other special events before she decided to open her own place. Le Rendez Vous is located on the south in of the main downtown Milford area at 239 N. Main St. The building has housed a number of businesses, most recently The Sweet Life Bakery. The current set up has the bakery shop in the back of the building (accessed through a side door) and the creperie/restaurant in the front.

So if you’re planning to be in Milford to do a little shopping at one of our fine downtown stores plan on stopping for lunch at Le Rendez Vous. You won’t be sorry. I’ll be you end up taking home a bag of goodies from the bakery, too.

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Posted by Norm Werner

Help needed for playground equipment

May 22, 2012

New playground equipment

In this era of budget cuts and teacher layoffs it is tougher than ever to get funding for things that are considered non-essential – like a place for kids to play safely while on recess.

That’s why the parents and teachers in the PTA at Kurtz Elementary have taken on the project to raise money for new playground equipment to replace the old and non-code compliant equipment that is there now.

The group is asking individuals and local businesses to donate and is promising to place an engraved brick into the hardscape that will  pave the way to the new playground.  For more information on how you can donate to this cause click here. Get your brick on the Kutz walk of fame.

It may seem to some not be as worthy a cause as many other appeals that are in the news these days, but providing the necessary environment to let kids be kids while they are at this level in school is as important as any other aspect of their educational process. They’ll grown up and grow out of the need to play with abandon soon enough. For now, please help the Kurtz PTA and let the kids play.

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Posted by Norm Werner

How’s the market? Test your local market knowledge

May 21, 2012

I just posted the updated sale numbers for May on my Move To Milford web site, but before you rush off to see them, let’s see how good your feel for the market in this area is. Below are a series of questions that can be answered by looking at the stats posted on the Move To Milford site.

1. Match up the market area with its current statistic for distressed home sales and a percentage of overall sales, where “distressed sales” are defined as foreclosed homes and short sales –

Milford   Commerce   White Lake   Highland   West Bloomfield

40%   68%   34%   56%   53%

 

2. Which has the higher average sale price so far in May, Commerce or West Bloomfield?

 

3. Which market has the higher average cost per Sq Ft, White Lake or Highland?

 

4. Which market currently has the shorter median days-on-market (indicating quicker sales), Milford or South Lyon?

Understanding the statistics within a market area that you may be looking in or in which you may be ready to sell can help you make a better offer or help you price you home better to the market.

In general the answer to the Title question for this post is that the market has flipped over to a seller’s market, with many homes receiving multiple bids and prices holding fairly firm at or in many cases above the asking price. There is every indication that the pent up demand that has been building in the market is now showing itself; however, home owners who aer still underwater on their mortgages are holding back from the market causing a shortage of inventory. We are now down to about 4 months supply locally, whereas a 6 months supply would be considered a balanced market.

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Posted by Norm Werner

Your local Chamber of Commerce – an off-line version of LinkedIN

May 18, 2012

I was at a well-attended wine tasting event sponsored by the Milford Rotary Club last night and noticed that I knew about 1/3 of the people there, mainly through my Chamber of Commerce activities. That keyed of the thought that being involved with the Chamber is sort of like an off-line version of LinkedIN. Or maybe, said a different way, social media sites like LinkedIN are really an on-line version so of what people have been doing for a long time in organizations like the Chamber. The social media site allow for a longer reach, but at the sacrifice of the face-to-face time that events like this morning’s Coffee Club gathering provide.

I’ve had an account on LinkedIN almost since it began, although I run hot and cold on how often I visit or what things I participate in on that site. Like Facebook it has grown and morphed quite a bit from its original implementation. I kind of got away from LinkedIN a bit when I started using the ActiveRain site, which is a forum for Realtors.  The relationships that one might forge through LinkedIN, that could do you or your business good, is the same value that one gets at a smaller, more local level out of Chamber of Commerce membership. For some more local business people, like Realtors, plumbers, bankers, local store owners and others the value of the Chamber may be much greater than an account on LinkedIN.

The value of a Chamber membership probably varies quite a bit, based upon how active and how successful the local Chamber of Commerce is, in terms of on-going programs and member support. Here in the Huron Valley Chamber area we are blessed with an extremely creative and active Chamber staff and a very active membership. There are weekly events and networking opportunities sponsored by our Chamber – Ribbon cutting ceremonies at new businesses; Coffee Club gatherings every other Friday at one of the local Chamber-member businesses; after hours social mixers on a monthly basis; local referral groups that meet bi-weekly; and many other events throughout the year. Of course all of the events in the world wouldn’t lead to success unless the Chamber members actually participated and the members of the Huron Valley Chamber do.

I’ll admit to having been complaisantly ignorant of the benefits of the Chamber until a couple of years ago when I started attended Chamber events on behalf of The Digital Document Store, a local company for which I was doing some market development consulting. I joined on my own dime as a Realtor late last year.  The people I’ve met and the relationships that I’ve forged in those two years have been great. Many more people in my market area now know that I’m a Realtor and some have already given me business referrals. Not only that; but, I now know to whom to refer my friends and clients for most of the local goods and services that I get asked about.  I certainly can’t say that about people I’ve met through LinkedIN or ActiveRain or even Facebook.

So, I’ve become an Ambassador for the Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce with the mission to reach out to non-Chamber members and explain the benefits of membership to them. I also get to greet new members and help host some of the Chamber events. It’s a fun way to expand my local network even further. I can wholeheartedly endorse our local Chamber and recommend that you at least check out your local Chamber. You may be pleasantly surprised. Think of it as an off-line version of LinkedIN. Maybe that will help you understand some of its value.

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Posted by Norm Werner

Breaking news – Change of venue for meeting

May 16, 2012

There’s a change in venue for the Milford Historical Society meeting this Thursday, May 17th. The General Membership meeting of the Milford Historical Society will take place this time at the Christ Lutheran Church ay 720 General Motors Rd in Milford. The meeting klicks off with a pot luck dinner at 6:30 followed by a short meeting and a program.

Our May 17th Speaker Ron Rademacher will be here to get us in the “Pure Michigan” mood.  Ron is a author of three books about out of the way places and small towns in our Great Lakes States.  He manages two sites about Michigan and produces a free monthly web magazine.  He does know his Michigan.  His presentation includes color photos, both educational and entertaining (Q & A and chat time will follow).

Come and hear about our lesser-known towns, festivals, unique shops, great food and the people who call Michigan their home sweet home.  Do I hear Road Trip anyone?  Websites to explore on your own without leaving your comfy chair:  www.michiganbackroads.com, www.upnorthmichigan.com and his web magazine:  www.travelinmichigan.com.

Pack your Pot Luck with your favorite Michigan recipes bring your questions to ask Ron and we will see you on Thursday May 17th, 6:30 p.m. Michigan time.

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Posted by Norm Werner

You don’t have to be a relic to enjoy the museum…

May 15, 2012

The Milford HIstorical Museum

The Milford Historical Museum is now open for our 36th season. In honor of our opening the Historical Society will be hosting an open house from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 19th. The museum is located just one block east of Main St. at 124 E. Commerce St in Milford. Come enjoy the museum and then stroll around and shop in downtown Milford or stay for diner at one of our great restaurants.

This family friendly Open House event will allow guests to visit our museum and see display’s depicting Milford over the years. We will also be holding demonstrations inside and outside the museum. On our front lawn you will be able to see candle dipping, woodworking, yarn spinner, basket weaving, and blacksmith demonstrations thru out the day. A tent will be set up allowing visitors to see how Civil war soldiers lived during the war.

Visitors will see demonstrations on candle dipping, wood working, and a blacksmith. Also on hand will be the Huron Valley Numismatic Club that will be able to answer questions from coin collector enthusiastic. Inside the museum hear stories on Milford Civil War Veterans interned at Oak Grove Cemetery and learn customs from the Victorian Era. Hands on demonstration will take place in our log cabin display where kids will be able to make a corn husk doll and in the kitchen see how butter was made. It will be a day full of fun activities for the whole family! Admission to the museum is free and open to all; you do not need to be a member to attention. Join us for a fun filled afternoon!

I’m always amazed when I talk to life-long residents of Milford who admit that they have never been to the Museum. It’s a fun place to visit and is full of interesting bits of Milford’s history. This Open House is a great way to get acquainted with the museum and the kids will surely find interesting and fun things to see and do.

Milford has so many things going on this coming weekend that you could spend the entire day in Milford and have something new to do all day long. Check out the other events at www.movetomilford.com .

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Posted by Norm Werner

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

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