Chesterfield Township, MI

It appears that the Township of Chesterfield
(Macomb County MI) has decided to get in to the "buy a foreclosure - sell it for a profit" business.

The Macomb Daily has reported that Chesterfield Township has purchased two foreclosed properties and is going to auction them, hopefully for a profit. (One of these properties is said to be a vacant lot in a condominium complex. Now
who is going to purchase that from them?)

It was interesting to read the comments section of the article. It appears that most people believe the same thing that I do: Governments should not be in the real
estate business.



I wish the time and money spent by governement would be directed at helping people avoid foreclosure and creating jobs instead of buying properties and flipping them. (How's the Hope for Homeowners Program working for people in your area? In mine: Not so much.)

~Kris Wales~ A partner for your real estate needs in Macomb County MI

Want to chat about Macomb County MI real estate?

Please join me in welcoming Don & Trish Schmitt to Michigan.




In early September of 2008 I received a phone call from Don Schmitt and we had the first
of many nice long chats. He and his wife Trish were ready to relocate from their home of
many years in Buffalo NY and come to Michigan to be close to their daughter in their retirement
years. (Their daughter is also expecting their first grandchild!) Who said that those of us not
under 50 don't read blogs or use the Internet? Shh! Don't tell me that, or Don & Trish!

During our first phone chat Don told me that he found my website via a web search, and
consequently found the link to my blog. He and Trish read articles that I had written
and in Dons words said "We should give her a call."

I wish I could put into words how much that first phone call meant to me. Meeting Don & Trish
and being a part of their dream to be close to their daughter has been exciting and fulfilling.

From the first time we met we enjoyed each others company immensely. Finding their new home,
helping them find a wonderful mortgage representative here in Michigan, being there for their home inspection and finally the celebration of closing on their new home was one of the most enjoyable
processes that I've been a part of.

Not only was I able to make sure that they were taken care of here and ensure that their home
buying process was as stress free and smooth as possible, but my husband and I now have new
friends.

Don & Trish moved in to their Chesterfield Township home in time for a Christmas celebration with
their daughter and son-in-law and have settled in nicely. I know we are going to enjoy the coming
years with them and treasure the new friendship that we have made - all due to the power of the
Internet and blogging. Without this we wouldn't have found each other.


~Kris Wales~ A Macomb County MI real estate agent - Ask me about buyers agency.

The Scenario: You live in one of the communities in Macomb County MI. You are considering putting your home up for sale and are planning on interviewing several real estate agents.

The agents come to your home to view it and talk with you about your needs, and towards the end of the interview they pull out their paperwork and/or laptop to show you exactly what has been happening in your local area. (Please be sure the information is localized - your subdivision and neighboring ones, your school district, etc.)

You also have a chance to ask questions of them: Where do you get your information? How accurate is the data? One more important question is often overlooked: Does your data include homes being offered for lease?

Here is why that question is so important: One of the reports that real estate professionals use is the latest Multilist data showing how many homes have sold, average days on the market, and average sales price. A problem with the accuracy of the average sales price of homes in your localized area is that the leased homes (homes that were rented) is included in the total data.

An example: 18 homes sold in Chesterfield Township during the month of November, 2008 according to the data provided by Mirealsource™. The average sales price is being reported this morning to be $144,407.

However, when I pull up the detailed information 2 of the 18 homes being reported as sold, were actually homes that were leased for $1200 and $1450 respectively. This clearly will throw the reported average sales price out of whack. Stripping those rental prices out of the report shows a more accurate reporting:

16 homes sold in Chesterfield Township MI during the month of November 2008 with an average sales price being $162,292. (Sellers concessions to the buyer in form of closing costs paid, or credits given for repairs are included in this sold data. Stripping this information is another post entirely!)

When I am looking at raw hard data for my clients I take into account what is being reported: “Sold” and “Lease” data. Please be sure your real estate professional is doing the same thing for you. Ask him/her to give you the facts based upon what is truly “sold” (unless of course you are renting out your home and need that specific data!)

~Kris Wales~

A partner for your real estate needs - Macomb County MI real estate agent

This is the season to become reflective, and to give thanks for our many blessings in life. As it is for many of us, this past year has brought changes and challenges to not only our business but to our personal lives.

I am grateful, and thankful for the health and well being of my family and friends first and foremost.

A debt of gratitude is owed also to the men and women of our armed forces who have not been with their own families this year so that I could be with mine. Saying thank you to all of you will never be enough.

A heartfelt thank you also is given to the wonderful people I have met this year who became not only clients, but dear friends. Each and every person that I encountered this year has brought joy to me on a personal level.

May tomorrow and each day bring all of you joy, much love, and peace to your hearts.

~Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours~

**Photo taken by Kris Wales Saturday, November 1st 2008 while driving through SANG - Selfridge Air National Guard base in Harrison Township MI. This is a view (color enhanced) of the golf course on the base - Mulligans.**

...the signs can come down now.

Goodness, they were blocking the
gorgeous view of the orange cones!

The above photo was taken this past Saturday along
23 Mile road in Chesterfield Township. The same road
that was supposed to be done with construction by
November 1st...