Detroit Area Real Estate - Canton | Plymouth | Northville | Livonia - Community News » short sale in canton michigan

Considering buying a foreclosure? A good inspector should be your next investment.

lheraty — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:00:14 +0000

: Distressed House Inspections Are Crucial

Foreclosures, abandoned properties, auctioned properties and other distressed housing results in a glut of seeming bargains in the western Detroit suburbs. Before you buy those bargains be sure you know what you are getting into.

Many of these homes may have had lapses in maintenance or other issues that home buyers must be wary of. Never purchase a home without hiring an inspector to look it over first. Here are some of the problems that you can be on the look out for during the viewing stage, which can cause a buyer significant and costly problems:

Too many homes for sale on the street. Are any boarded up? Always keep an eye on the other houses near the one that you may purchase. They will tell you a lot about your possible future investment.

Outdoor maintenance is often very telling of what is going on “underneath”. If the home you are looking at has straggly foundation plants or broken gutters, what else could be wrong?
Foundation damage is always a major consideration. Check for proper grading and cracks bigger than 1/3 of an inch. Many times this can mean major structural issues.
Strong odors outside and inside almost always indicate something “bad”. Investigate further.
Be on the lookout for flickering lights and always check face plates for heat. This could mean faulty wiring.
Windows with fog or water in between double-paned windows can signify trouble lurking.
Stains and/or saggy walls usually indicate water damage, mildew or mold. An inspector must check for leaks and mold.
Keep your eyes peeled during your tour for pests and rodents. Seeing evidence at this early stage is never a positive sign.

An alternative is houses that are being sold on a short sale. Due to the nature of this type of sale the owner is motivated to keep the house in great condition. You can often find a true bargain and a gem to boot in this situation.

Canton, Michigan’s “Bittinger Team” Are Short Sale Experts!

alsted — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:59:50 +0000

Canton, Michigan home sellers facing foreclosure are being helped using little known short sale strategies developed by the Bittinger Team. All the members of The Bittinger Team have been trained in this specialty and have all achieved the CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert) designation which uniquely qualifies them to help families in this unfortunate situation.

This real estate market has caused unbearable stress and heartache for many local families. A distressed family often makes decisions based on emotion rather than logic and knowledge of the situation they are in.

All of our agents here at The Bittinger Team are here to help you in such distressed situations and ultimately help you fight off foreclosures. The extensive knowledge that we have obtained will greatly benefit the community in which we all live. While experiencing financial distress is extremely difficult for any family, the process of finding a valuable real estate professional compatible with your situation shouldn’t be. The Bittinger Team is committed to helping distressed families find better solutions for their future. With current conditions and our newly acquired CDPE designations, we have all of the essential tools at hand to ensure a lightning speed “Short Sale” allowing for zero balances on mortgages, while saving your credit at the same time. As your CDPE agent, we will explore every option with you and work towards a solid resolution. You have gone through enough, let us help!

It is estimated that most American families can only maintain their current living expenses for sixty (60) days or less when income is interrupted for any reason. This type of distress causes tremendous strain on families. Many people do not even realize that they are distressed, and as a result are finding their homes are in jeopardy. Many learn of Short Sales after it is too late. Eighty percent (80%) of homes in foreclosure today were never even on the market! Did you know that, according to the current conditions, distressed families may qualify for a Short Sale before even missing their first mortgage payment? With our CDPE designation, we not only have the means to easily identify a distressed family, we also have the strong capability to rescue them with our dedicated and knowledgeable professional guidance.

“Distress” can be caused by any of the following:

Unmanageable Debt
Job Loss
Medical Bills
Serious Illness
Incarceration
Divorce
Death
Military Service
Payment Increase and Mortgage Adjustments
Relocation
Reduced Income
Insurance or Tax Increases

While it may not seem like it now, there will come a time where your current financial troubles will pass. Let us fight for you and help you to avoid a devastating financial consequence so many people face today. With the help of The Bittinger Team, no stone will be left unturned!

Rescuing families one home at a time!

The Bittinger Team: (734) 459-2600

Be on the lookout for our next blog “Short Sales vs. Foreclosures” which will answer every question you ever had about the differences!

Positive home sale factors the media ignore.

alsted — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:59:37 +0000

Thumbs up for all the positive things about home sales in Detroit, Michigan suburbs that are not getting reported by the media!

It is true that home sales are at an all time low here in Canton, Plymouth, Northville, Livonia and pretty much all of southeastern Michigan. The media remind us of foreclosures, short sales, and the slowdown in home sales in general almost daily. The mantra is mind numbing, especially if you are a home buyer, seller, or in the real estate sales profession like Noel and I are.

I have always been taught to look on the positive side though and thought I would outline some of the reasons for optimism concerning the present state of affairs in the real estate market. I gathered these statistics concerning home sales in America. Remember these are for the country as a whole but we can expect to see similar results in our market. Also remember our home sale slowdown occurred a year or two prior to the rest of the country. This was due to the slowdown of the Michigan economy that the country did not experience. In fact the slowdown of home sales in the rest of the country is due mainly to the price bubble that occurred due to speculation and easy money as opposed to job losses for example.

The Reasons for Optimism:

During the 2005-2007 correction:

Median household income grew by 5%

> 4 Million jobs were created

> 2 Million Legal Immigrations (4 Million IRS I-10 status)

> U.S. Population grew by 5 Million people

> House prices fell, so affordability is up

> 3 Million Family formations

> Retiring boomers abated sales or purchases

AND — Why an up-turn in late 2008 and early 2009 is likely and by 2010 solid:

> Pent up demand from the correction will work off the inventory

> U.S. population growth by another 5-7 Million people to a total of 315 Million by 2010

> 1 Million + Legal immigrants/year

> X Generation 30 Million

> Y Generation 70 Million

Estimates are that about 100 Million people are growing into home buying age; youngest 20+, oldest early 30’s. It’s estimated that only 5% own a home now.

By 2010, we will likely be in a balanced market. Enough inventory to meet demand; but not at the point where there are not enough listings.

Builders will start to replenish new home supplies as there will be a demand for 129 Million housing units vs. 127 Million now built.

AND — Why is now a good time for buyers to buy?

> 30-year fixed-rate mortgages at 6% on average, they are down from 6.3% a year ago — lower rates mean buyers can afford more

> As a forward-looking factor, mortgage interest rates continue to hover just above the 40-year lows — there is mortgage money available at some of the lowest rates in history

> Excellent homes-for-sale selection, both new and resale

> Great value – homes priced to sell

> More affordable housing and lower monthly payments

> Owning a home offers good tax benefits

> Homes are still a great investment and are increasing in value in most markets

> Build incentives and promotions available

Yes there are reasons to celebrate in what seems to be a down market. Keep in mind these statistics are for the country as a whole but here in the Detroit market we are experiencing a significant increase in sales activity right now. Could it be that we may recover faster than the country as a whole? As I mentioned, we went into a slump at least a year or two ahead of the country. Maybe it’s our turn to lead the country out of this home sale slowdown.

Here’s more evidence of this. Our partner website for searching homes, www.bestmichiganhouses.com , has been registering record traffic. What’s more interesting is the people that have been coming to this site are coming back in record numbers on a daily basis. The return is probably because the site is so user friendly, but it also seems there is so much more interest in finding a home. People are requesting more from the site than they have in the past few months.

Now you may be asking yourself how to take advantage of the surge in home buying interest that is occurring. Our website www.thebittingerteam.com is designed to be a resource site for people interested in buying, selling, and investing in real estate. Although we do have information on our team and how we work, the main function of the site is to provide resources to you the consumer to help you understand all aspects of the real estate market.

Here is an example of how the site can help you. The two buzzwords you hear in the real estate market today are "Foreclosures" and "Short Sales".

The tab labeled "Foreclosure Help" takes you to pages that explain in detail how foreclosures work, how they are different in Michigan as opposed to the other states, online resources for further information, and a wealth of other pages that are being added to further your knowledge of the Foreclosure market.

Similarly the "Short Sale Help" tab takes you to pages concerning Short Sale FAQ’s, the effect short sales have on appraisals, helpful hints to see if you qualify for a short sale, and a host of additional information on the process and what it may mean to you as a buyer or seller.

There are lots of reasons to buy a house right now. With interest rates and house prices so low there is no reason to wait. If you currently own a home and it fulfills all your needs then the best advice is to stay where you are. If however you have been contemplating moving because the home no longer fits your needs, an upgrade to a house that does may make a lot of sense. While you may take a financial hit on your current house you could stand to make a windfall on a bargain you will buy to replace it.

If you would like advice on your situation don’t hesitate to call us at 734-459-2600. We can help you over the phone to decide which way is best for you and your family.

Unheard of Value In Glengarry Village

alsted — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:39:31 +0000

2,500 Sq Ft Colonial at $275.000…This one’s got it all!

Everybody’s looking for a deal …..with the price slashed to $275,000 this is the absolute best value in Glengarry Village in Canton.

Because it is subject to a short sale this 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath colonial in a subdivision that currently commands in the mid $300’s this deal is one you won’t want to pass up. But, unlike other short sales this house is in mint condition and offers all the amenities of a fabulous home including fantastic treed setting.

44823 Glengarry Road, Canton, Michigan

To Enjoy an exterior and interior tour of this home click here: