Plymouth, MI

Tomorrow Sunday is the last day for the Plymouth Ice Festival in Wayne County Michigan. It was a beautiful day to stroll thru Kellogg Park and look at the ice sculptures.

The weather was a little warm yesterday so the sculptures were cloudy and cracked looking though the newly carved ones looked great.

There were a lot of people out at 10 am in the morning and I am sure downtown Plymouth was packed later in the afternoon and at night.

There were carved fishes, squirrels, snowboarders, skaters and much more.

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Dog sleds. This year they didn't have many huge ice carvings as they have had in the past. But they had more carvings than they have had. Sure the ice wasn't the best because of the warmer weather, but it was fun trying to figure out what the carving was.

If you have nothing to do tomorrow come on down to Plymouth Michigan and enjoy the festival. There are a few arts and crafts booths. And lots of restaurants and bars to get some great food and drink and to warm up. Or you can do a little shopping in all the unique mom and pop stores. Buy local and support people who live in the area.

I hope you have a great time. Russ Ravary your local real estate agent

Hello Michigan seniors there is now new home purchase help from a major mortgage company. It is a new loan product for senior citizens and I think it has multiple applications. it is really for senior citizens that have some money.

I am going to give you some rough examples on this new loan product can help you. This is a general example as they have a specific formula that is based on the seniors age and value of home. But here is a rough idea of how it works.

The new loan product for seniors is a reverse mortgage purchase loan product. Let's say a 65 year old senior citizen wanted to buy a home. And let's say the purchase price is $100,000. They will do a reverse mortgage on the house. If the senior citizen brings a $40,000 down payment to the table the buyer will never have another house payment again.

Basically if the senior citizen (amount needed based on age) brings 40% to the table they can have a home that will never have another payment the rest of their life. It is a pretty good deal. The older the person the less they have to bring to the table.

The situations I think this might be good for are.

1.) Retirees that downsizing. Many Michigan seniors that sell their homes end up with a sizable chunk of cash. They could buy a smaller house with a reverse mortgage and NEVER HAVE A HOUSE PAYMENT AGAIN.

2.) Retirees that need more cash for living. Let's say a retiree is having problems living on the amount they receive each month when they have a house payment. By buying a house with a reverse mortgage they could have a large amount to live on each month. It could GIVE MICHIGAN SENIORS MORE CASH FLOW EACH MONTH.

3.) Michigan seniors that have marginal credit who have money but can't buy the home because of the credit. Even if you have a foreclosure you can buy a home because they don't look at credit history or credit scores. They will pull your credit buy only to check for federal liens against you.

4.) Michigan seniors that have high debt ratios or limited income. Yes you can still buy a home. There is no income verification on the Michigan senior citizens. You have no payment so they don't care about your income or high debts.

If you are a Michigan senior that is looking to buy and any of these situations pertain to you give me a call and I will get you in contact with a person that explain this product in detail to you.

It depend on many different aspects on how much being on a main road reduces the value of the Livonia homeor Plymouth home. Here are some of the vary degrees of being on a main road.

• Is it a major 4 or 5 lane road? Or is it a smaller 2 or 3 lane road? Is it a freeway?
• Is it a busy road with lots of traffic noise?
• Is the road to the side of the house? Are you the first house in the sub?
• Is the back yard facing the road? People with children don't like that many times.
• Is the road blocked by shrubbery or a wall. A house with a "barrier" that blocks the view and gives the security of a solid barrier is best. Homeowners like the security of feeling protected and having a wall or separation from the road.
• Is the front of the house facing the road?
• Is the road a gravel road with lots of dust?
• Is there a hill between the road and the house?

To some people a road doesn't bother them at all. To others with kids it does. One of the biggest things to remember is that a home on a road will be harder to sell in the future. You have a smaller pool of buyers for Plymouth home because some people will not even look at a home on a main road. Whether it is a Livonia home or Plymouth home or any other Detroit suburban home a road does reduce the value.

But should you buy a house on a main road? Sure if you want the house and it fits your needs. The cost reduction because of the road may get you into a home that you could not otherwise afford. It may be the home that meets all of your wants. So don't let a road stop you from buying the home.

So now the question is "How much lower should I bid because of the road?" What makes it a good value now? But my opinion a front facing home to a busy road can decrease the value of a home up to 10% from a similar home with similar amenities in a subdivision.

I hope this helps you.

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Andover Lakes Sub is located in Plymouth Township west of Ridge and South of North Territorial. Plymouth Township has one of the lowest mileage rates in Wayne County

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I stopped into Ironwood Grill one of downtown Plymouth's newest restaurants. Just open three weeks it was pretty full at lunch today.

From outside it looked expensive. I thought it was going to be pricey but it wasn't. It was a medium ranged priced menu. They had ribs, salads, burgers, and wood fired pizzas. I myself just had a burger. I'm a burger type of guy but my doctor says I should be more of a salad type of guy. But let's not digress.

They brought out some fresh bread before the meal. I'm a bread type of guy. I think I learned that from my Italian wife Marianne.

This was the mushroom Swiss burger with seasoned fries. I was going to have the Reuben but I changed my mind at the last minute. I saw a plate of ribs and coleslaw go by and they looked mighty good too. Didn't see a pizza but if they are half as good as the burger you won't go wrong.

If you are a businessman the Ironwood Grill in Plymouth is a place that is classy enough and yet reasonably priced. Also if you want to keep up with the Wings, Lions, Pistons, or Tigers they have enough TVs to see what's happening.

Downtown Plymouth Michiganis lively downtown and a great place to live. Take a stroll in the Kellogg Park after you visit Ironwood Grill.

Feel free to call for location and directions to

Ironwood Grill

840 W. Ann Arbor Trail

Plymouth MI 48170

Telephone Ironwood Grill 734-667-5614

If you are thinking of relocating to Plymouth Michigan feel free to check out my websites for more information or

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