Have you really heard the news? We hear all the figures on how bad things and how the market is really in a slump, and look at all the forclosures.

Here are some facts for you. 93% of the workforce is working so that means 7% isn't and the math is easy. It also means that some of the 7% don't want to work and probably some of the 93% don't want to work too!

Michigan has been ranked #5 in the nation for foreclosures but the number of loans failing is 1.77%. Now that means that over 98% of people are paying their mortgages. The interest rates have been edging down again just over a 1/4 point. So what you might say....well look around, for sale signs, bargins, lower prices on homes.

Lenders are eager to write good loans to good people that want to have a home. They are being more careful and you would took if you were lending someone money that will not be paid back for 20-30 years!

If you have a house to sell, what do you have to do? Simple price it right to sell. Homes are selling. I just placed one under contract in 11 days from the listing date. No I did not sell it way below market, no I did not have the seller take a big discount and no this was not the first one.

I was the second agent after the home was listed before and did not sell. I counseled the seller to reduce the price $5000.00 and we put a home warranty on the home. A competitive home was listed across the street but with a much smaller lot. I sold my clients home within $500.00 of the list price! No we did not give the buyers closing cost assitance either.

They had a great home, it needed to be marketed properly. Your home can sell and it will sell if it is marketed by a professional and priced correctly.

Now the other side of the coin is if you sell for less you are going to spend less to get your next home. Right now we have large inventories of homes which means the selection is better and the likelyhood of you finding the home that meets your exact needs is much higher. So call a professional with a written marketing plan. Review the market and find the home of your dreams it is waiting for you to open the door.

So if you watch the news you may not have known 93% of us are working and you may not have known that over 98% of mortgages are being paid on time. That wouldn't sell newspapers or keep you glued to the TV set.

I hope this gives you a little different perspective on the market as of August 15th. We all know why the gloomy forecasts work, but the silver lining sometimes is gold.