Michigan

I'm sure your new purchase in Rudyard MI will be successful at creating a nice home for a new home purchaser...

Thank you for what you do...

Remember, I can refer you to an agent through the Michigan Women's Council of Realtors referral network. Agents that know education leads to better service.

Green for the future...

Angie Ridley, NAR 'green' , EcoBroker Certified

Serving Real Estate needs in Michigan's Oakland, Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties
810 744 4600
Angie@AngieRidley.com
Complete Realty, LLC

I ask that you disregard the severed head below: but did you realize that the Aztecs and their Leader- Montezuma-introduced Chocolate--the 'bitter water drink--from the cacao tree fruit.

When first used as a drink, it appears to have been mixed with the Chilie plant;
which, somehow, disturbs the "Chocolate dreams or desires".





Did you Know:


...that the Spanish conqueror Cortes took the cacao fruit home to Spain



...that Hershey Co. makes 'mini-kisses' for baking-lose the other ingredients & eat
...that there are over 300 chemicals found within chocolate
...that chocolate contains the neurotransmitter-Serotonin--acts as a antidepressant
...that chocolate can produce that sensation equated to the "runners High" experienced by joggers
...that chocolate is high in potassium, magnesium, B1-B2-D-& E
...that chocolate, taken in moderation, can actually help prevent Binge eating that torments dieters
...that scientists are starting to disprove myths about the dangers of consuming chocolate
...that the Eastman Dental Clinic in NY concludes that 'milk chocolate is one snack food--least likely to
contribute to tooth decay--as it contains phosphate plus other minerals.

...that there is a great web site about chocolate: www.chocolatemonthclub.com/chocolatehistory,htm
...that the site: www.prohealth.com lists foods that are high in flavonoids; these are--cocoa beans,
red wine, tea, strawberries, cranberries, apples, peanuts, which bring certain combinations to mind.
...that some studies of chocolate and cardiovascular disease:
www.prohealth.com/library/print.cfm?libid=8326

The articles, papers & studies [in prohealth] were the result of research commissioned by Mars Inc.
and the use of an experimental cocoa supplied by Mars Incorporated.

It is also true that the American Cocoa Research Institute [ACRI] from McLean, Va. has jointly funded research [with Mars Inc.] to try to find the health benefits to use of chocolate. Though original research was for 'flavor' facts, it soon shifted to the health benefits.

The research, by various companies in the food industry, is a responsibility of each such company;
whether this research is the basis for some claims seen in advertising is another item.
The companies in the food industry are investing dollars [some with financial aid] in research of the nutrients & nutritional value.
The public has become more clinical and skeptical of such studies--as the studies in themselves seem to be self-serving--but the starting of such research will bring the independent labs around the world to conduct their own clinical research to confirm or decry food industry research. Where there are confirmations, there are further expansion of large-scale projects.

BUT, all research aside, do we really need the food industry or the FDA to tell us that chocolate has benefits?
I think not, but it is an aid to the 'guilt-gene' with which most of us are born.

If you are a regular Ask the Realtor reader, or know me personally, you have heard my fervent declarations that Northern Michigan in general, and Traverse City in particular, is The Greatest Place on Earth. And I'm not just talking about the real estate.
Well, word is getting out.
CNN/Money magazine has recently named Traverse City Number 3 of the 25 Best Places to Retire in the United States.
Residents enjoy miles of sandy beaches on both the Great Lake and many smaller ones. But this place is no backwater. Munson Medical Center is ranked among the 100 top hospitals in the country, and the area is a hotbed for the arts. The Traverse City Film Festival draws film buffs from around the country, the Dennos Museum Center houses one of the largest collections of Inuit art, and the nearby Interlochen Center for the Arts hosts hundreds of concerts, art exhibits, and theatrical and dance productions each year.
They don't even touch on the four seasons of outdoor recreation available; the fantastic boating, golfing, biking, sailing, skiing, hunting, fishing, swimming, or hiking. The strong local school systems and the low crime rate aren't even touched upon. There is no mention about the healthy religious communities that grace our area, nor the continued local investments preserving natural public spaces. And how about our fantastic food?!
Actually, Money magazine is only the most recent publication to highlight the Grand Traverse area. Traverse City made the NY Times' list ranking the Top 100 Places to Retire. USA WEEKEND's MoneySmart magazine mentions Traverse City in its Top 5 Places to Retire. So does U.S. News & World Report - twice - in their Ten Great Places to Retire for Wine Lovers and Ten Affordable Places to Retire compilations.
Field & Stream magazine lists Traverse City as the 3rd Best Fishing Town in America, saying, "Between May and October, there is no consistently better place to be fishing in America than Traverse City, Michigan." And that was before the World-Record Brown Trout and pending World-Record Musky was caught in the area this year!
Fly Rod & Reel lists Traverse City in their Top 12 Fly-Fishing Retirement Towns. Forbes magazine lists Traverse City among the top Cheap Places to Live Rich (2006). TopRetirements.com highlights Traverse City, as does Relocate-America.com. Even the AARP lists TC as one of the Best Places to Live if You're 50+.
Now I am admittedly biased. My beautiful wife and I are both natives of Traverse City, and now our three kids are too. I would put Traverse City up against any place as a Top Place to Raise a Family.
Plus, the Grand Traverse area is currently one of the best bets for real estate investment in the United States. Prices are still very affordable compared to other markets around the country of similar caliber, and Traverse City continues to enjoy insulation from the most severe economic difficulties that threaten much of the rest of our state.
MSNBC's Today Show recently highlighted the Top 12 Emerging Real Estate Markets, and Saginaw, Lansing, and Grand Rapids all made that list. A quick review of the market data shows Traverse City to be considerably stronger than any of those three Michigan areas. If you watch the video clip closely and review the figures, many of the other "emerging" markets have simply stopped plummeting so rapidly, whereas the Michigan markets are actually showing marked signs of growth.
CNN/Money Magazine's recent recognition of Traverse City is sure to boost some local egos (besides my own), but more importantly it is a reaffirmation of what many of us have grown to know in our bones. Traverse City is a first-class community to call home, with many of the benefits and amenities of much larger metropolitan areas, but without many of the difficulties faced by most major cities in America.
I can get as frustrated by the changes wrought by the influx of new residents to our area as the next person, but the bottom line is that when compared with almost everywhere else, Traverse City is an outstanding place to live, work, recreate, raise a family, or retire. The Grand Traverse area boasts high-caliber professionals in almost every category that you generally don't find in a community of this size - from doctors to teachers, accountants to florists - considering it is a hundred miles to the nearest "metropolitan area." And that says nothing about all of the other benefits of culture and community that we enjoy on a daily basis.
Next time you are driving along the Grandview Parkway, take a moment to gaze out over the Grand Traverse Bay and be thankful for whatever decision or destiny has brought you to The Greatest Place on Earth.
There, I said it again...
All the best,

Mike Gaines, Licensed real estate agent
Century 21 - Northland
m: (231) 883-7441
o: (231) 929-7900 x 32
f: (231) 929-2780

em: MikeGaines@C21Northland.com
w: GrandTraverseAreaRealEstate.com

Office address:
3337 S. Airport Rd. West, Suite 2
Traverse City, MI 49684

Finally a market snapshot which is all Ann Arbor areas combined. This chart shows that Ann Arbor residential asking prices compared to January last year are up 26 percent and sold prices are down by 37 percent.

So bottom line, the Ann Arbor market is stabilizing. Downward pressure is exerted by foreclosures and short sales. Again Ann Arbor homes are affordable, choices are abundant and low interest rate financing is available.

We all want to know when the market will turn around, so we are tracking the Ann Arbor Real Estate Market activity monthly. Pete Hendershot of Affinity Valuation Group, LLC says, the market bottomed. For your Ann Arbor Area home value, click here.

Ann Arbor Board of Realtors organizes our data by search areas by boundaries and schools as pictured. We do a ton of business with people who are relocating to Ann Arbor, usually coming to work for University of Michigan. Many have never been here. It’s always our pleasure to help others discover this gorgeous city and to show the different areas of Ann Arbor, each having a different feel. It’s important to find the place that feels like home to you. For last month’s data, see Ann Arbor Area Real Estate Statistics Charted Last Month.

Neighborhoods are unique so you knowing up to date Ann Arbor Real Estate information about specific areas and trends could be helpful. The Ann Arbor Board breaks down our Ann Arbor Real Estate into the areas in the map. Trend lines from Affinity Valuation Group, LLC help us determine the Ann Arbor Real Estate Market direction. For all areas in Ann Arbor, the average sold price per square feet are trending up slightly over the last 12 months; great news! Finally, if we look at data since Jan 2009, the average sales price per square feet inched up.

As far as Ann Arbor market statistics go, the number of houses for sale this January compared to last year are down 5 percent and sold homes are down 19 percent. The trend line confirms shrinking inventory.

Median prices of those homes for sale are up 8 percent and those sold are up 19 percent when comparing this January to last year. The gap between the asking prices and sold prices is narrowing per the trend lines, showing that the market is becoming more stable.

Thanks for the Source: Affinity Valuation Group, LLC.

Map areas for the MLS below.

Ann Arbor Real Estate, Kathy Toth & Team is excited to offer you FREE automated email information on the Market Value of your Washtenaw County home.This will help you learn your home’s up-to-date market value, complete with comparable properties in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area, including addresses, selling prices and photos. Cutting edge internet system that emails directly to you! It’s FREE, Simple and Dependable. No Obligation! JUST FILL IN THE FORM.

Speak with Kathy’s Team today to find out what your Ann Arbor home is worth! Experience red carpet treatment by calling us at (734) 669-0337 or emailing us at Info@KathyToth.com, Keller Williams Ann Arbor Market Center.

For a full report of all Area Market Statistics for Ann Arbor and surrounding area click here!

Click here to search Ann Arbor Real Estate using our complimentary Ann Arbor Real Estate MLS Search service. Alternatively please contact Kathy Toth and the team if you need more specific assistance in your Ann Arbor Real Estate needs.

Kathy Toth and Team
www.KathyToth.com
Keller Williams Realty

Search Area 88 Ann Arbor Downtown/Burns Park, south of the University and walkable neighborhood.

There are 27 (vs.18 last month) active Ann Arbor homes in area Burns Park for sale ranging from $159,900 to $1,995,000 and average list price of $475,792 and list price per square feet of $220.47. The homes offered for sale range in size from 702 square feet to 4,130 square feet.

The average sold price per square feet trend is up per Affinity Valuation Group, LLC in Downtown/Burns Park, and south of the University.

There are 42 (same as last month) sold Ann Arbor homes in Burns Park this year with bedrooms ranging from 2 to 6 and baths from 1 to 4 with list prices ranging from $179,900 to $1,350,000. Sold prices from range from $180,100 to $1,150,000. Average sold price is $447,005. Average sold price per square feet is $200.86 and the average sold price per list price is now at 95 percent (same as last month).

The number of homes for sale compared to January of last year is up 15 percent and the nubmer of homes sold are the same. Actually the number of houses on the market over the last 12 months is down slightly, good news that inventory is shrinking.

Median price of homes for sale is up 6 percent and prices of sold homes is up 102 percent compared to January last year.

Schools are Eberwhite, Bach and usually Burns Park for elementary schools. The middle schools are Tappan and Slauson depending on location, along with Pioneer High School. Burn Park is in the center of the map.

For a full report of all Area Market Statistics for Ann Arbor and surrounding area click here!

Click here to search Ann Arbor Real Estate using our complimentary Ann Arbor Real Estate MLS Search service. Alternatively please contact Kathy Toth and the team if you need more specific assistance in your Ann Arbor Real Estate needs.

Kathy Toth and Team
www.KathyToth.com
Keller Williams Realty