Flint, MI

I was just looking at headlines on CNN:

Yesterday: Homes Sales Up.

Today: Historic Slide in Values.

If you practice real estate in Southeast MI you have seen both of these for months. I started digging and putting together tons of data, still trying to put it all together but here are some nuggets.

Average Sales price in Genesee County last year was $73,418.00 in 2005 if was $129,760.00

60% of sales in Genesse County Q4 were foreclosures.

The last time the average sales price in Genesee County was $73,000? Late 1992.

The total volume of sales in Genesee County (the number that sales commissions and tax revenue are based on) fell over 50% from 2005 ( $734,964,635) to 2008 ($350,057,254).

Now it is easy to look at Flint and say yes job losses drop values...how about some Jewels of Michigan

Rochester/Rochester Hills; the data I have suggests that the average sales price dropped from $321,541 to $250,170 and price per sq foot from $139 to $105.

What I call the 'Brown House" report (homes built after 2000) shows price peaking in 2006 at $159 per sq foot and dropping to $120 in 2008. Prices $472,000 to $374,539.

Even Birmingham MI has showed a great deal of price softening, the lowest priced home in 2005 was a sale for $119,000 that the listing agent indicated was a short sale. In 2008 there were 20 sales less than this with foreclosure selling in the $70,000 range. Rough data on the high end of the market (homes over 4000 sq ft) indicates a drop in price per sq ft of around $90 but B'Ham is one of those towns that like the throw $1 sales prices in the MLS, so I will have to go back to the deeds...ugh! ( I love a guy that drives a Maserati, D&G sunglasses, and a honker watch but wants to be descreet about the price of his home!)

These are some big drops in a two year period of time, but not near the 20% Case Shiller reported for Detroit. Those numbers are far out of whack because when an inner city repo falls from $20,000 to $5,000 (which is the norm anymore) that 75% drop drives the other numbers out of whack.

It is also no suprise sales numbers were up in December, there seems to be a large number of cash buyers especially for the lowest priced homes. Q4 in Genesee county actually had an average sales price of $61,959.00.

Energy Star Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL): These bulbs use 75% less energy and heat than regular bulbs. These bulbs can save you approximately $30.00 per bulb over the lifetime of each light. Remember, these bulbs last 10 times longer too.
These bulbs contain mercury. CFL's should not be thrown in garbage. CFL's should be dropped at a recycle location designed for these bulbs.

Tubular Lighting, Natural Lighting: Nice size for smaller areas. Light starts from the sky and ends in your home. This is done with reflective material. Personally I have a hall that the light stays on all day. I frequently turn the switch off, when I install this product, my Consumers bill should go down tremendously from this one act.
Installation is key. Professional installation is recommended due to the sealing. This unit must be sealed right to prevent heat loss and cool air loss in summer.

Do you leave your charging devices plugged in when not in use? Every glowing red light is costing you $$. Idea: simply put all charging plugs on one electrical strip, when in use, turn strip on, then off. Every penny counts!

Fireplace: is the opening totally covered?

Do you have electrical covers on all your outlets? Air can escape and enter through the any opening.

Water: Put a 2 liter plastic soda bottle filled with water in toilet water holding tank. This will save water and well pump use which equals $$. Have a water bill, imagine the savings. Test this, you may not need less than 2 liters, most tanks need 3 gallons to flush properly.

Test your tank with food coloring; if the food coloring leaks in the bowl, you have a leak.

For more water saving ideas: click here...

More hints to come...

Angie Ridley

Active Residential Listings: 6,332 -- Foreclosures:^[1] 935 / 14.8% -- Short Sales: 714 / 11.3%
Active Residential Listings in Genesee County: 4,939 -- Foreclosures:^[1] 691 / 14.0% -- Short Sales: 596 / 12.1%
Active Listings: Multi-Family: 119 -- Vacant Land: 1,669 -- Commercial: 451
Active Listings in Genesee County: Multi-Family:107 -- Vacant Land: 1,150 -- Commercial: 357

Residential Listings Activated Last 7 Days: 236 -- 1 Year Ago: 215 -- 2 Years Ago: 196
Multi-Family Listings Activated Last 7 Days: 0 -- 1 Year Ago: 2 -- 2 Years Ago: 8
Vacant Land Listings Activated Last 7 Days: 6 -- 1 Year Ago: 28 -- 2 Years Ago: 23
Commercial Listings Activated Last 7 Days: 6 -- 1 Year Ago: 5 -- 2 Years Ago: 4

Residential Listings Sold Last 7 Days: 41 -- 1 Year Ago: 84 -- 2 Years Ago: 104
Residential Listings Sold Last 30 Days: 467 -- 1 Year Ago: 465 -- 2 Years Ago: 489
Residential Listings Sold Year to Date: 5,490 -- 1 Year Ago: 5,199 -- 2 Years Ago: 5,436
Residential Listings Sold Year to Date in Genesee County: 4,282 -- 1 Year Ago: 4,004 -- 2 Years Ago: 4,415
Multi-Family Listings Sold Last 7 Days: 0
Vacant Land Listings Sold Last 7 Days: 1
Commercial Listings Sold Last 7 Days: 0

Average Listing Price of Active Listings in Genesee County: $134,272 -- Median Listing Price: $109,900
Average Listing Price to Selling Price Ratio in Genesee County Last 7 Days: 81% -- 1 Year Ago: 74% -- 2 Years Ago: 84%
Average Selling Price in Genesee County Last 7 Days: $58,577 -- 1 Year Ago: $80,932 -- 2 Years Ago: $111,625
Average Selling Price in Genesee County Last 30 Days: $61,026 -- 1 Year Ago: $92,228 -- 2 Years Ago: $101,245
Median Selling Price in Genesee County Last 7 Days: $41,450 -- 1 Year Ago: $65,950 -- 2 Years Ago: $89,500
Median Selling Price in Genesee County Last 30 Days: $38,100 -- 1 Year Ago: $75,000 -- 2 Years Ago: $95,500

Average Foreclosure Listing Price of Active Listings in Genesee County: $60,151
Average Foreclosure Selling Price in Genesee County Last 7 Days: $30,889

Statistics Updated: 11/28/2008 2:06PM

BookAShowing.com appointments today: 45 -- Month To Date: 2,507 -- Year To Date: 33,083 -- updated: 11/28/2008 1:56PM

It all starts Thursday Night or should I say Friday morning at 12:01 am. That is when the pros emerge. The shops at Prime Outlets open at 12:01 to get there share of the Black Friday Profit and from what I here they will hit a grand slam by 9 am. I was there for the inaugural event it was off the hook! People everywhere, I was totally outmatched. But I have trained, I am battle tested, I have my scars I can handle the pressure I will shop with the professionals!

Well that is my battle cry but lets be serious a women that served her family turkey in the pop up camper outside with her kids sleeping there as we shop only has that kitty sweatshirt on to play coy, she can and will drop me in heartbeat if I eye the last pair of North Face polar fleece gloves too long. I have seen it happen. As I reach for them the crowd will here "oh NO YOU DIDN'T" and I will feel the wrath. Well browsing is fun too!

I am going to start carb loading, I will let you know how it goes.