Find your home in Ann Arbor can be pretty easy. Here are some steps:

1. You must be pre-approved for mortgage. Even if you are doing good financially, you must not be too confident. Get a good lender and a broker and sit down and talk so that you can make sure that you can get a financing.  You can get referral from your friends as well. Getting a bad lender will make buying your home a disaster.

2. Work on the budget that you have. Buy a home that is within your budget so that you do not go overboard. Establish the amount that you want to spend on.

3. You must be able to find a good Realtor so that the whole process of buying your property will be a lot easier. It is also a plus factor that you get an experienced Realtor. You can ask your friends referrals or you can search online for a reliable Realtor.

4. Learn the market so that you will know what to do or how to decide when you are presented with options. If you have a better understanding of the market, you will know a good deal from a not-so-good deal.

5. Normally, we want something that we cannot really afford. So it pays to be realistic.

6. Getting automated property email messages is a good method to stay on top of the market. When you have a good and reliable Realtor, pre-approved for a mortgage, and have an understanding of the market, you are now ready to look for your home. You can have your Realtor set you up with an automated email so that when a great deal comes, you will be one of the first to see it.

Find an Ann Arbor Real Estate in the Directory of Ann Arbor, MI.

Home search resources are now available for real estate investors and first-time home buyers in Ann Arbor, MI. This was created by Mark Goedert of Goedert Real Estate. He has put up the website where it is open to the public and there is no more need for the people to register or pay for any license. Anyone can accesss property listings with the complete information. The site also has a mortgage calculator and generate the schedule of amortization payment.

“We also provide useful information to first-time home buyers, including the tax credit and FHA loan limits,” said Goedert. “With this program more families will be eligible to purchase or refinance their home using FHA-insured mortgages.”

If you ar a first time home buyer, you can work with a Goedert Real Estate agent to learn the home buying program that is best suited for you.

Investors who have used the online calculator are deciding to invest since the information provided here has helped a lot in the decision to invest or not.

Goedert Real Estate gas been in the business for 50 years, helping buyers and sellers. “We pride ourselves on being experts in bringing home buyers and home sellers together throughout South East Michigan; no one knows our area better than our team of seasoned brokers and agents,” said Goedert.

Find an Ann Arbor Real Estate and Real Estate Agent in the Directory of Ann Arbor,MI.

The city of Ann Arbor, according to a news release on its website, has received $850,000 grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. This is to fund a Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The said program is new under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program provides targeted emergency assistance and redevelop foreclosed properties that might become sources of abandonment according to city officials.

Jennifer Hall, housing manager for the Office of Community Development, said in the release, “This funding will help revitalize neighborhoods and entire communities dealing with the negative effects of home foreclosure. Redeveloping these properties will help stabilize home values for all homeowners, which is in the best interest of our communities and local economies.”

She added, “The funds will help us address the foreclosure and subprime crises by providing effective tools to protect property and promote affordable housing.”

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2009 instructed HUD to fund the areas with the greatest need based on the foreclosures, subprime mortgages, mortgage delinquencies and defaults. In order to increase the efficiency and affordability of the properties, green energy standards are being required.

Ann Arbor city officials said that the grant can also be used to demolish blighted structures, and offer assistance to low-and moderate income homebuyers whose household incomes are within 120 percent of the area’s median income.

The grant is also helpful in preventing foreclosures in the future by requiring housing counseling and prohibiting predatory lending practices.

Interested homebuyers can register for homebuyer education classes. They may contact the Washtenaw County MSU Extension at 734-997-1678.

Find an Ann Arbor Real Estate Agent in the Directory of Ann Arbor, MI.

Fighting Fiduciary Savings Award was given to Jon Boyd, an Ann Arbor buyer broker. Boyd is helping real estate purchasers in Washtenaw County and home buyers were able to save an average of $72,638.00 during the first quarter of 2009.

Laura Degiovanni, a senior exclusive buyer agent for the company said that the Fighting Fiduciary Award was created as a recognition for helping home buyers save money. She said that Jon was able make some of the home buyers very contented with the efforts he has shown. His knowledge and experience really paid off.

The transactions done were the following:
-first time home buyer purchasing a condominium
-home buyer purchasing a larger Burns Park area home
-a first time buyer purchasing an East Ann Arbor home
-a luxury home buyer purchasing on Ann Arbor’s South side.

The reason why Boyd still enjoys his work even after almost 20 years is because each case is a different one and he enjoys the variety.

The Home Buyer’s Agent real estate company serves the area of Ann Arbor, Michigan as well as other areas which include, Ypsilanti, Brighton, Belleville, Howell, Hartland, South Lyon, Novi, and Farmington Hills. They assist all types of real estate buyers from first timers to luxury home buyers. Success is measures in terms of the money that buyers were able to save.

Boyd said in a statement, “Receiving the Fighting Fiduciary award is a thrill because most of the larger real estate companies in our market no longer provide common law fiduciary services like we do. Most companies these days are limited to designated/dual agency. That seems to remove the teamwork that is critical in optimally serving a buyer.”

“Exclusive buyer agency” means: “A company who only represents home buyers. The company never represents sellers and the company never lists property.” This is according to the definition of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents.

Ann Arbor’s Home Buyer’s Agent is one the largest real estate companies and the oldest Exclusive Buyer’s Agency in Michigan. It has helped many home buyers save a huge amount on their home purchases. Exclusive buyer Agents only represent the home buyers and not the sellers so there is no conflict of interest and the are loyal to the home buyers.

Find an Ann Arbor Real Estate Agent in the Directory of Ann Arbor, MI.

Ann Arbor Police Department said that the cause of several home invasions was the stolen set of master keys that belonged to the Arch Realty Company. The company was formerly known as Wilson White Management. The keys were stolen from the car of an employee which was parked at the Ann Arbor YMCA.

Arch Realty sent a letter to their residents on Wednesday letting them know of the theft. There were reports of missing items without any evidence of forced entry into the house. Arch Realty Company is one of the largest rental property company that is serving Central Campus.

Lt. Myron Blackwell from the Ann Arbor Police Department said that there was a report on home invasion in the 600 block on Packard Street which may be related to the set of stolen keys. Blackwell said that there was no forced entry which leads them to believe that the master keys were used to enter the house. According to an Ann Arbor News article, a digital camera and computer were said to be missing.

The suspects are said to be two black men who drive a dark grey Saturn sedan. They are estimated to be between the 20 to 30 years old.

To prevent any more incidents of home invasions in the Central Campus that is related to the stolen keys, Arch Realty Company will be re-keying all of its properties. Residents will no longer have to be worried.

Find an Ann Arbor Rental, Property / Apartment / Campus Housing in the Directory of Ann Arbor, MI.

Good news for Ann Arbor homeowners! According to the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors, the average sale price of a single-family home the previous month went up more than 8 percent. The average home in Washtenaw County was sold for $236,897 in May as compared to the $217,849 sale in the same time the previous year. It was a big improvement when you compare it to the sales made last April.

However, be warned because this trend does not mean that this is going to be permanent. Nancy Merdzinski, executive officer of the board said that she is wary of announcements made just based after one month of statistics. She said she prefers to see the trend to hold up for a number of months before making pronouncements.

Condos and single-family houses that were sold in May were 23 percent less to 286 as compared to 371 in 2008 of the same period. The first five months of this year sold 1,178 houses or condos in comparison to 1,293 during the same time last year.

Associate broker with Edward Surovell Realtors Alex Milshteyn said, “Still-low supply, from would-be sellers who are waiting out low values, coupled with traditional high spring demand, maybe be helping to bump prices back up.” Milshteyn said that the demand has been strong during the past month. This was based on his observation that after he showed a house on the northeast side of town, an agent came to see the house and then later on, another one came.

Milshteyn also said that the low interest rates are a big help.

We hope that this good news for Ann Arbor homeowners stay for quite a while.

Find an Ann Arbor Real Estate in the Directory of Ann Arbor, MI.

If you have a kid going to the University of Michigan and can afford it, this might be a great way to lower your taxes by renting to your kid and his or her friends for four year.  Investing in rental property can be beneficial to your bottom line and I recommend you at least consider this option if you’re up for it.

These condos are being listed by Savarino Properties and more information about the Geddes Condo Units in Ann Arbor can be found on their site.

Fo more ann arbor real estate agent listings look in the directoryofannarbormi.com

Here’s the scoop!   Ann Arbor Condo at Ashley Terrace.  Featured by Piper Partners, Ann Arbor Real Estate.

All utilities are included. The lease is available beginning in May 2009 or Sept 2009.  You can also sublet the place for this summer 2009 at a discount.  Call the agent or visit the site.  Find out more details about 217 N Ingalls, Ann Arbor, MI .

Renting to own in Ann Arbor

It doesn’t take a genius to see our economy is in turmoil right now. Also, it wouldn’t take one long to see that right now, is the best time to buy. However, some people can’t afford to buy a house right now. That is why a lot of homes are coming on the market as “rent to own.” In other words lease the house!

There are plenty of advantages to renting to own; especially in a downed economy and market. Ann Arbor Michigan Real Estate is a great deal and Michigan is a great place to find that next rent to own home!

Your first advantage would be a low down payment. Many creditors or renters will allow you to have a much smaller down payment, and allow your monthly payments to be applied toward your down payment.

This is great because we essentially got into our current housing bunk because people were getting mortgages with no money down which already pretty much put a strain on their finances.

Your second and greatest option is that you have options. You have the option when your contract is getting ready to expire to either buy, or walk away with no questions asked. It is like being able to test drive your home.

In your contract period you have the option of watching the housing market. If it appreciates your best interest would be to purchase the house seeing as you already have built in equity. On the other hand, if it depreciates you can simply exercise your option to walk away!

All of these scenarios mean you win. And that is a great thing to have. Security doesn’t come standard anymore in today’s economy. So take it while you can get it! Rent to own in Ann Arbor.