Novi, MI

Now that is a powerful sentence. Life is not about acquiring things. Many people think success is about being rich. I have a buddy that is a great family man. He is rich. He has risen up from being poor to having lots of money.

But now with the economic situation in Metro Detroit his once thriving business is struggling. It's not his fault. He is doing all the right things. He is making the right business decisions. Yes his business may fail. But he is a rich man.

He is successful at raising a good family. He treats them well. He loves them and takes care of them. He is a model for many fathers. He has coached his kid's sports teams, gone to all their games. Did everything he possible for his kids.

So if his business fails and he has less money.... he still will be a rich man. Because the best things in life are not things. So this holiday season whether you live in the Metro Detroit suburbs or in Waco Texas remember your family, friends and the relationships you have with them is what is most important. What you do for others makes you rich.

When trying to sell your home in this buyers market the key is to appeal to the greatest number of buyers. That is why home stagers and real estate agents tell you to paint your house in neutral colors and have it move in ready.

So lets look at Christmas decorating in that way.

• Does it appeal to the greatest number of buyers as possible?
• Does it turn some buyers off? (that is what you don't want to do at all)
• Does it keep a home buyer from identifying with your house? Remember when you went into the house with all the vegetable wallpaper or the house with pink decorating scheme. It reminded you of your grandmother. It wasn't your style so you didn't like the house.

Some home buyers can't get past the southwest or country decor. Or they don't like the curry smell or the pet smell. YOU HAVE TO APPEAL TO THE GREATEST NUMBER OF HOME BUYERS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO SELL YOUR METRO DETROIT HOME QUICKER AND FOR THE MOST MONEY.

Metro Detroit has become a melting pot of cultures. We have a large Asian population in Ann Arbor and Novi, Dearborn has a large Middle Eastern population. We also have large populations of Hispanic and Indian people.

So you have to remember when you decorate for Christmas that metro Detroit's Jewish, Indian, Muslim population will not identify with your house. Will it stop them from buying your house...... Maybe.

What I would recommend to you is that you keep the Christmas decorations to a minimum. Enough to have a great holiday. I myself love Christmas, Christmas lights. They call me Clark Griswold because I like it so much. Enjoy the holiday the way you see fit. If you chose to put up lights and go overboard, take them down as soon as the holidays are over.

So whether it is Canton real estate or Novi real estate price your home right and get it in the best shape possible to sell. Have a great holiday.

Metro Detroit real estate information

My name is Alan Faitel; I am a licensed Real Estate Broker with the State of Michigan, with over 22 years of active real estate experience. I have bought and sold over 300 homes in the constantly changing real estate market, and I have managed to stumble upon a niche' in every market, no matter how dire the circumstances have appeared to be.

The "new niche" is the Short Sale, which only works in the most dire of economical conditions. This is the way out of foreclosure that creates a great outcome for the lender and the distressed homeowner.

I can get your lender to accept less than you owe on your mortgage, so an investor can buy your home and you can satisfy your lender and avoid having a foreclosure on your credit report.

One of the best things about this solution to foreclosure is that it doesn't cost you anything. You are the one who has to authorize my services, but your lender ultimately pays my fee!

The other cool thing is I find you anther home to purchase with seller financing, like a land contract or rent-to-own (lease option) and you get a great price with a monthly payment of much less than the one you are struggling to make right now.

So, while you are losing your home to an investor who is getting such a great deal, you get to turn around and do the same thing - I will find you another home, at a great deal, and you will continue to live in a home where you have ownership interest.

Visit our site for more information about our foreclosure services at http://www.oaklandmichiganhomes.com

Call Alan at 248-363-0100

Email afaitel@yahoo.com

MSN did an article today about homeowners being in denial about what their house is worth. Here is the link to the article. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27648884

As all of us real estate professionals know that is the toughest part of the job right. There is a big disparity between what the market value of a home and what most homeowners think their home is worth. I go through it weekly with clients and prospective clients.

It sometimes takes a lot of talking, a lot of recent sold homes that we can show the client. The bigger the stack of homes that have sold in their neighborhood, the better the chance the client will come to realization that their home is not worth what it was.

What the client has to realize and come to grips with is their goal. Why are they moving?

• retirement?
• to move closer to grandchildren?
• job?
• downsizing?

The bottom line is: If you want to move you are going to have to sell at that low price somebody offered you. Or they are just going down the street to buy another home just like yours.

Many clients think their home is the "best on the block or neighborhood". I had a friend tell me at a wedding over the weekend that he would be willing to sell his Novi home for $700,000. I am sure he would but unfortunately the highest price house in their neighborhood sold for only $465,000. He said to bring him a buyer. I couldn't or wouldn't even bring a buyer through. There is just too much disparity in real market price and what the homeowner wants. It is a no win situation for the buyer. Either they pay too much, or they fall in love with a home they can't have (or get a mortgage for)

He too is in denial. It is happening all over the Metro Detroit real estate market. It is hard for anybody to believe their home has lost that much value. I find it hard to believe that my home has gone down that much and I'M IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS!!!!

For more on Livonia Real Estate or Metro Detroit Michigan real estate go to my websites or give me a call on my cell (313) 310-9855

Here is the latest Novi real estate update for homes in the $300,000 to $500,000 range that have sold in the last six months.

As you can see there have not been a lot of homes that have sold in the last six months in the City of Novi. The Average time on the market for Novi Homes for sale has been 144 days with some in the higher price range being on the market for 438 days.

Comp and Listing Information Courtesy of Realcomp II Ltd, Properties shown have been listed and sold by various MLS member REALTOR® agents,