Livonia, MI

I got through reading a blog about one persons use of the "F" word and another one that was against it. I grew up in the landscaping business which is a mostly male employee business and around contractors. So swearing is nothing new to me.

But it's not about right or wrong but it is about the freedom to say what you say and the ability not to judge others. I think that is one of the biggest problems in the US. We have so many people that are so adamant in their beliefs that they forget

• that other people have Rights
• that they should treat others well
• that they shouldn't hate
• that God (whether it is a Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, or Hindu) wants us to love each other and make the world a better place thru good deeds.

Sometimes that goes out the window from the same religious beliefs. It becomes "OK" to hate gays, or to hate "women who have abortions" or to "hate people" who don't believe the same way they do. Wars and genocide have been committed throughout the centuries for the sake of religion and religious beliefs.

Even here on Active Rain we get people adamant in their beliefs. Some even call and write Active Rain management trying to get the other bloggers rights taken away because of their beliefs. They don't think or want the other person to be able to say or write what they believe.

It's interesting that this blog came up today. You see I got cut off from this guys constant emails and I realized today that he cut me off. He was in my sphere and I had him on my snail mail mailing list. He started emailing me all the usual stuff. But some of the emails and content were borderline racist . He was a "Christian" that went to church every week. But he was prejudiced against certain classes including some immigrants. I ended up sending them to my spam. He was better than the working class.

He got upset with me when I questioned his "religious beliefs" after one of the emails. I guess I don't understand how you hate others yet be a religious person. How can you judge others and determine yourself to be superior? Who is really better? What is great about this whole deal is that I got removed from this guys borderline bigoted emails.

So next time you condemn, or hate somebody based on your beliefs or religion think a little more. I think our role in this world is to make it a better place not a worse place. I think we all need to be a little more tolerant of how other people live, talk, love, and act. It's America. Freedom is what this country is based on.

So you still have the right to hate and condemn others and I won't say anything about it.

Russ Ravary your Livonia real estate agent serving Livingston, Oakland, and Wayne County.

Since it's the beginning of a new week, I thought we'd start off with some good news. Plenty of time for the junk later on.

As I've mentioned a couple of times, inventory in the local Detroit market seems to have leveled off. For those of you who have been following my blogs this will be old news but for newbies here's a quick refresher.

Inventory is the leading indicator of the Real Estate market. Prices are the lagging indicator, simply meaning that prices follow the market. Prices indicate where the market was, not where it is. This is why it's so hard to time a purchase by looking at current prices. By the time prices rise, the market has been in recovery for some time and you missed the bottom.

O.K., since this isn't an economics lesson I'll get on to Real Estate. We look at 3-6 months of inventory as a "normal market". This is where there is enough inventory to allow buyers a choice but not so much that they don't have to buy. Prices should stay relatively stable at this level. More than six months and we have a buyers market. There are a glut of homes and buyers can pick and choose what they want. Less than six months is just the opposite. Buyers have to jump on the first house they see and there will probably be multiple offers. They more than likely have to offer more than asking price. There! That takes care of that.

In recent studies I've conducted of the market show that inventory levels in the Detroit area stabalizing. That means prices should stabalize as well. Here're some examples. The City of Detroit is showing an inventory supply of 5.81 months in June of '09. Contrast that with 20.14 in march of '08 and the difference is amazing. Other towns have had similar stabalization. Livonia showed 15.60 in March of '08 and 6.65 in June of '09. I also have levels for Troy, Novi, Northville Plymouth and other cities, so if you want more detail, give me a call or e-mail and I'll get you the stats.

What all this means to us as consumers is there may be good news on the horizon. It's too early to party in the streets but a small private "whoo-hoo" maybe appropriate. A little hope is a good thing.

Yep, here it is again. Random musings about the week that was and the week that will. And awayyyyyy we go.

What did Tennessee...

Some dear friends of mine are taking a trip to Nashville for a few days. Since much of my family lives about halfway between Nashville and Memphis, I've visited both often. Here're a few thoughts.

I love Nashville. It's very clean, the food is good and the last time I was there there was a guy playing his guitar and singing in an ice cream shop. And for a certified history geek, the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's house is a must see. Yep, if I were Big and Rich I'd be "ridin' up and down Broadway on my old stud Leroy", too.

Still, given the chance I think I'd pick Memphis. It's not as clean, although the cobblestone streets and trolley's are pretty cool. What Memphis has is soul!Between Sun and Staxx records (two early pioneers of Rock and Roll and soul) and the Bar-B-Q, it can't be beat. Beale St. might be a little over rated but you can't get a better meal than at The Rendezvous. If that doesn't suit you you can take cab to Neely's.

I don't want to sound like a travelogue for Memphis but you should try it if you get the chance.

I've attached a little song here by John Hiatt that explains the differences.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwhLdr01c6U

A Lot of Yelling, Not Much Getting Done

There's still a lot of discussion about the disruptions at town hall meetings. I don't think that yelling down your opponent does anything to help your cause so I wish they'd stop. At the same time, calling people who disagree with you and exercise their constitutional right to do so Nazis and un-American is unacceptable. Let's all act like adults and try to come to a solution.

Detroit Market Review

Last week I mentioned that inventory in the local marketis leveling off. This is good news for sellers and the market as a whole. Well last Sunday, no less an authority thanThe Detroit Free Pressagreed with me. O.k. not me specifically, they just said the same thing that I;d been saying for months. Inventory, not price, drives a market. Price is a lagging indicator of inventory. If there are less homes on the market prices will go up. 3-6 months of inventory indicate a normal market.

Inventory has been hovering around 4-5% in Detroit and 6-8% in the surrounding suburbs. Too early to call an end to the down market but good signs all around.

Great Saying of the Week

"A man does not attract that which he wants but that which he is" James Allen, As A Man Thinketh.

Have a great week.

I came up with a great marketing idea for the summer. This year I decided not to plant annual flowers. With the economic times I thought I would buy vegetable plants instead. But I went overboard.

Last fall I had noticed that some ethnic homes whether it was Chinese, Italian, Romanian, or Arabic planted vegetables every where. In the front yard, on the side, wherever there was a spot for a plant they put one.

I live in Livonia and my yard doesn't get a lot of sun so I thought I would do the same thing. I planted in the front yard, in pots, and in the side yard to. The problem is when ever my wife and I went into a nursery or place that had plants we bought one more plant. So now we have about 40 tomato plants. I placed the pots wherever there was sun. I planted my tomato plants, peppers, zucchini, squash, and cucumbers. Then I watered and rapid growed (fertilized) them.

A couple of weeks ago the bounty started to come in. My wife has already canned about 20 jars of dill and sweet pickles. We have given vegetables to the neighbors and friends. And I had planned to give vegetables to clients too.

So this is what I came up with. I put cucumbers and the tomatoes and a few peppers in a nice gift bag. Bought a small bottle at the dollar store and filled it with olive oil. Then got a recipe and put my contact info on the back. And I put a little blurb about my economic stimulus plan and going green and I am giving it away to my clients.

And here is my blurb about the economy

Just another way of thanking my clients and friends for using me and helping me through these tough economic times.

If you have a business this I believe is a high impact gift without a lot of cost. It's the thought that counts.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit Realtor

There are 7 items in a home that every Metro Detroit first time homebuyer should be looking at.

1.) Roof. How old is the roof? How many layers are there? How are the valleys? Are any of the shingles curling or bowed?

2.) Kitchen. Is the kitchen updated? Or is older and needing updating. A kitchen remodeling can cost from $10,000 to $50,000 depending on the size.

3.) Furnace. How old is the furnace? Is it rusted. If it is over 15 to 20 years old it may need to be replaced soon. A furnace can cost over $3500 to replace.

4.) Windows and doors. Are the windows old or newer? It usually costs $5000 or more to replace windows. A large window or a doorwall may cost up to $2000.

5.) Bathrooms. Are they updated. A bathroom remodel can cost from $4000 up to $10,000.

6.) Water Heater. Aren't really expensive but can cost $500 to replace

7.) Basement. Is there water in the basement. Are the walls bowed? A major basement repair can cost up to $10,000.

These are the 7 major items every Metro Detroit first time homebuyer should be looking at. The more of these items that are updated the better it is for you the Metro Detroit first time homebuyer.

If you can get a home with the roof, the windows, the kitchen updated then I think you are doing good. The more completed updates the better off you are.

If you have any questions and you are getting ready to buy a Metro Detroit home feel free to call or email me. info@russRavary.com or (313) 310-9855

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit realtor helping you buy Livonia Real estate or any Wayne, Oakland, or Livingston County home or condo