About Berrien County, MI

Alright, this year is off to a SLOW start. I had foot surgery on December 30th and have spent the last four weeks healing. I am pleased to say that I am getting cranky, restless and bored, a sure sign that healing is near complete. I am not rushing it mind you, the weather here in SouthWestern Michigan has been fierce brutal and WHITE, piles and piles of white snow that somehow looks pretty from my windows! I have been able to keep up with the business that I had/have, (even managed to list a new home and put an old listing under contract in January with a laid up old REALTOR, ME!)but I am anxious and excited to soon stir my pot! I need to get cooking again. I am grateful that I have been inspired educated and motivated by many REALTOR friends across the Active Rain network that encourage me to put one foot in front of the other, literally! I have new tools for my tool box thanks to many ideas I have been bookmarking, saving and preparing to implement. Look out community, I am well rested and ready for action. My new attiutude, and resolve are DETERMINED!

"I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."

Martha Washington

The Sunset Coast of Southwestern Michigan is on the MOVE. Improve Your Move. Call Doreen Johan for all you Real Estate Needs. 269-449-9897 www.johanrealestate.com RE/MAX Sunset Coast

It’s often said that English is considered one of the more difficult languages to learn because so many words tend to have multiple meanings depending on the context. With that in mind, how would one define the word “luxury” in a Lake Michigan real estate context?

People generally associate luxury with a premium price tag and this is by no means an incorrect assumption. Chances are if you’re paying a princely sum for Lake Michigan real estate--especially in today’s market—then you’re investing in something that’s mighty luxurious. But isn’t there more to the term “luxury” than its numerical value?

For example, couldn’t the peace, quiet and security of neighborhoods in and around Lake Michigan be considered a luxury itself? After all, there are people who live in neighborhoods that haven’t been well maintained or are near busy highways that deter from a serene experience. And if there is one thing we all know when it comes to finding the perfect home, a pleasant surrounding and security are two major factors in determining how happy you are wherever you choose to live.

But then again, couldn’t the luxury of Lake Michigan real estate also be something completely intangible, something more of a state of mind maybe? It’s safe to say that luxury may just be the privilege of having a roof over your head or perhaps having the “luxury” of spending moments with friends who matter, family you care about, amiable neighbors, and enjoying years of priceless memories in Lake Michigan which are themselves a luxury of sorts.

Fresh, relevent content should be your first priority when thinking about how to get your real estate web site to rank higher in searches. I've found that one of the best ways to accomplish this, while providing your readers with the content they want most (latest mls listings) is to setup a Hotsheet page for each city or neighborhood in your market. With the right IDX feed, this can easily be accomplished. My Hotsheets are built using a feed from Realtygenerator. Simply build a page for your top 5 markets, and use your IDX feed to create automatically updating Hotsheet pages and you will soon be ranked number 1 for any search in that market. Good luck. Re-post from my personal blog.

Agents... How many times has this happened to you???

This past Tuesday in Michigan we had a huge snow storm. I had appointments to show 7 houses all called and confirmed on Monday. Tuesday Morning came and met the client at our office to get all the buyers agency contracts etc filled out and signed. as we headed out to the first listing at 10 45 am we got to the first stop and low and behold no driveway plowed no side walk shoveled nothing. so I being smart and thinking ahead threw a snow shovel into the back of my car just for these instances. yes I have learned from the past. I shoveled out a path for my client and my self to get to the house safely. we then proceeded to go to the next listing amazing once again nothing cleared or shovel it hasn't snowed since 8 that morning al the Realtors were called and confirmed the appointments.

out of the 7 listings, only 3 were cleared of snow for myself and my client. thankfully my shovel came in handy and it made myself look good.

Dose this sound familar???

With That time of the year here we need to start preparing for these events, by keeping the supplies in your car just like your tool kit you will be ready for those unexpected or expected snow storms that we in the upper mid west and eastern states are used to.

just a word of advise for us agents who live in the snow regions of the us. if you know you are going to have a showing on a house and it snows the night before or morning of the showing please please inform your selles to properly clean the drive way side walk etc this not only makes it safer for everyone but makes your house look more cared for. if you have a vacant or seasonal home arrange for plowing to be taken care of or go to the listing your self and clear the snow yourself or have a neighbor kid do it its worth the 20.00 or so

if your showing a house be prepared for the worse. bring a shovel gloves etc be prepared to clear a path yourself and not make your client trudge threw the snow like an Eskimo.

just simple things that are often over looked

As a general rule only recognized legal entities can hold title to Michigan real estate. Title is most commonly held by:

• Natural Persons
• Corporations
• Limited Liability Companies
• Partnerships
• Trusts

How can "Title" be held and conveyed?

Tenants in Common - Unless otherwise recited in deed, two or more persons who hold title to real estate together are presumed to hold title as tenants in common.

Joint Tenancy - Is created by a conveyance to two or more persons simply as "joint tenants" or as "joint tenants and not as tenants in common".

Joint Tenancy with Full Right to Survivorship- A deed to two or more persons, "as joint tenants with right to survivorship" or as "joint tenants and to the survivor" or some variance thereof, creates a joint life estate in all the grantees with a contingent remainder in fee to the survivor.

Tenancy by the Entireties- A deed to two person, who are in fact husband and wife, creates a tenancy by the entireties, unless a contrary intent expressed in the deed.

Click here to read more on how Title can be conveyed and held