Mike Bowler Sr. CRB, GRI, ePRO, RECS, SRES

The scams and cons are out trying to rent out Realtors listings by running ads on CraigsList and who know where else. They tell the prospective tenant that they are out of the country right now and to fill out an application and send a deposit. I have one of my properties for sale right now that brought me a number of calls from people questioning the legitimacy of the ad. These frauds are dumb enough to only ask about half what the property would rent for, even if it was for lease. Here's an example of how they operate and what to do in the event you're interested.

To report fraud or a scam in the state of Michigan from Lansing to Detroit, contact the Attorney General, the Better Business Bureau or one of the Federal, state or local agencies listed.

Here's a list of safety precautions you can take from http://RentalScams.org who listed these in October of last year.

There are commonalities with all rental scam emails. Below are some tips when dissecting a rental scam email.

1. Does the email start out with Sir / Madam?
2. Are there misspellings in the email?
3. Are there character mistakes in the email? i.e Hello,my nameis Susie.
4. Is there excessive capitalization?
5. Does the email reference God, UK, Cashiers Check, Doctor, Nigeria, Reverend, etc.
6. Is the email from a free email provider. i.e gmail, yahoo, aol, hotmail.
7. Does the email refer to another person or agent?
8. Does the email reference wanting to move in site unseen?

If the email has a majority of these commonalities, then the chances are very good it is a scammer. If you are unsure, it is best to not reply to the email.

Remember to do business with those who are local, have a good reputation and who you can meet personally.

"Expect the Best" Mike

Mike Bowler Sr. ePRO, CRB, GRI, SRES
Coldwell Banker Hubbell Briarwood
1020 S. Creyts Road, Lansing, MI 48917
Phone: 517-492-3400 Fax: 888-832-6203
email: Mike@MikeBowler.com
Website for Clients: MikeBowler.com
Search Listings

The National Association of Home Builders Organization released a new report recently that indicated housing affordability reaching an 18-year high due to low interest rates and pricing. Lansing - East Lansing Michigan was included as one of the most affordable areas topped by Indianapolis. That information comes with local good news that pending and closed sales are also up this week over last year at this time in the greater Lansing real estate market. (See Chart below)

The National Association of Realtors also had a press release last week indicating a strong gain in existing-home sales. These headlines and reports are very welcome and positive signs that there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. "A combination of first-time buyers taking advantage of the housing stimulus tax credit and greatly improved affordability conditions are contributing to higher sales," said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist.

The tax credit provides an outstanding opportunity for homebuyers. A tax credit of up to $8,000 is available for qualified first-time homebuyers purchasing a principal residence before December 1, 2009. Time is running out to meet the deadline for buyers on this program, which ends December 1, 2009, (unless extended.)

Buyers and sellers in the greater Lansing, Michigan real estate market have many new tools, programs and other options available to them, provided they seek the proper guidance before buying a home or marketing a home, and throughout the transaction. Real estate transactions are complex, involve large assets and demand competent representation. Marketing properties, home selection and financing are just a few of the skills today's consumer needs to expect when they select a real estate professional.

"Expect the Best" Mike

Mike Bowler Sr. ePRO, CRB, GRI, SRES
Coldwell Banker Hubbell Briarwood
1020 S. Creyts Road, Lansing, MI 48917
Phone: 517-492-3400 Fax: 888-832-6203
email: Mike@MikeBowler.com
Website for Clients: MikeBowler.com
Search Listings

Wow, we are heading for the autumn season already here in the greater Lansing, Michigan area and have had some great events taking place in our towns and suburban communities all summer. Here's a run down on what's coming up in September for you and your family to take part in. Hope to see you there.

September 9-13 Frontier Days Charlotte
Pioneer-spirited guests will enjoy this annual event featuring one of mid-Michigan's largest parades, a championship rodeo, flea market, more than 250 arts and crafts exhibits, an old-fashioned saloon and more!

September 17-20 Down Home Days Mason
Check out fall colors and join Mason folks for an outdoor concert Thursday, family walk Friday, and Saturday's 150-vendor craft show on the historic Ingham County Courthouse Square and so much more!

September 18-19 Old Town BluesFest Old Town Lansing
Old Town BluesFest is a two-day free festival bringing regional and national blues acts to over 15,000 people. Located in Lansing's historic Old Town and offering galleries, boutiques and vendors of ethnic food, arts and crafts.

September 26 Capital City African American Parade and Heritage Festival
Lansing - The 10th annual parade will take place in downtown Lansing at 11 a.m., followed by a reunion picnic at Ferris Park. Enjoy ethnic foods, craft exhibits, games and more!

The greater Lansing area communities are a great place to live work, and play. I would encourage you to visit the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau throughout the year for additional updated information on our neighborhood events. If you are new to the area and need information on our communities or real estate, feel free to visit my website below.

"Expect the Best" Mike

Mike Bowler Sr. ePRO, CRB, GRI, SRES
Coldwell Banker Hubbell Briarwood
1020 S. Creyts Road, Lansing, MI 48917
Phone: 517-492-3400 Fax: 888-832-6203
email: Mike@MikeBowler.com
Website for Clients: MikeBowler.com
Search Listings

Greater Lansing home sellers have an additional tool available that helps expose their property to more buyers using the iPhone on the go for searching properties. Here's an example of how the application works. In addition to having a Realtor who understands real estate syndication, Internet marketing, and search engine optimization, this should be a requirement sellers should add to their list of expectations when listing their house with an agent.

A Real Estate Professional must meet the needs and expectations of the Connected Consumer. The rules of business are changing in our industry, with nearly 90% of all buyers searching the Internet prior to contacting an agent. It is imperative that practitioners of our business become savvy on what is available to them for marketing real estate.

"Expect the Best" Mike

Mike Bowler Sr. ePRO, CRB, GRI, SRES
Coldwell Banker Hubbell Briarwood
1020 S. Creyts Road, Lansing, MI 48917
Phone: 517-492-3400 Fax: 888-832-6203
email: Mike@MikeBowler.com
Website for Clients: MikeBowler.com
Search Listings

According to a recent article published by RISMedia; nearly half of brokers polled for a Coldwell Banker survey last year found that affordability was the No. 1 concern for first-time buyers, 81% said move-in conditions were very important to these buyers. Only 7% said first-time buyers were looking to purchase fixer-upper homes that they could buy on the cheap and renovate.

That's good reason for sellers in the greater Lansing real estate market to prepare wellto show your home off at it's best when selling. You can do that by making small cosmetic improvements, minor renovations, home staging, competitive pricing, ease of showings, and other small gestures that contribute to a more inviting home tour for potentially interested home buyers.

Fresh paint, chalking, clean fixtures, well landscaped yards and attractive odors go along way in selling a home in today's market. Your home is one of if not the biggest investment in a family's life and should not be taken lightly. Your motivation to sell usually drives everything in a good marketing plan. If you are motivated, then your cooperation increases, and as a result, your property can become much desired.

Home values in the greater Lansing real estate market are showing a lot of volatility in today's market, The key to success is to stand out from the competition. Being competitive includes staging your home to sell, pricing it better than the others, and offering the best value. Motivation usually drives everything.

Buying or selling a home in today's greater Lansing, Michigan real estate market can be complicated without having the proper expertise and guidance throughout the process. Community information - about services, restaurants, parks, things to do, tourist information, local government and issues, buildings, and development projects, are only a few of the many services you should expect from your Realtor. You can obtain additional information on buying and selling at my website.

"Expect the Best" Mike

Mike Bowler Sr. ePRO, CRB, GRI, SRES
Coldwell Banker Hubbell Briarwood
1020 S. Creyts Road, Lansing, MI 48917
Phone: 517-492-3400 Fax: 888-832-6203
email: Mike@MikeBowler.com
Website for Clients: MikeBowler.com
Search Listings