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

You have decided to purchase a home, or are thinking about buying one, in the Greater Lansing real estate market. You'll be joining the ranks of hundreds of families who realize that home ownership offers a number of benefits including building equity as a long tern investment, saving for the future, and creating an environment for your family. When you own your own home, your hard-earned dollars contribute to your mortgage. The equity you earn is yours. Over time, your home will increase in value. Although real estate values shot up about 89% from 2000-2006, they have declined in excess of 30% in some parts of the country over the past couple of years. My point is this: Real Estate is a long term investment, and is also important for the welfare of the entire economic picture.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis; NAR recently reportedthat the total economic impact of a typical home sale in Michigan created income of $38,512.00 on the median priced home of $118,600.00. That figure contributed to furniture, appliances etc to be purchased, and additional people to be put to work, as originators of mortgages, appraisers, home inspectors, and others. This is the key contributing factor to recovery and has been in other economic downturns.

A home is a financial asset and more: it's a place to live and raise children; it's a plan for the future; it's an investment in your community. FHA provides 100 questions and answers for the homebuyer to consider. These questions will help you sort things out and give you some ideas for preparing for the future. I hope you enjoy.

"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

I posted this a few years back, however it's worth another look in today's challenging real estate market. Golf and Real Estate are so much alike. Sometimes you just have to go golfing to clear your mind.

In golf, weather conditions change your game; in real estate market conditions change your approach to business.

In golf, if you want score well you have to have the right equipment. In real estate today the right equipment means being on top of the best technology to provide great pictures, websites, syndication, and communication.

In golf, if a golfer wants to score well, he or she needs to know the course. Do we know our market? The inventory of what's available, schools, amenities, tax rates, transportation etc.

In golf, they say your score depends on 75% mental attitude; you have to have a vision of how the shot is going to turn out or feel the swing. In real estate, we have to believe the results are going to be that new listing or sale. We have to picture the results. "Those who believe they can, and those who believe they can't, are both right.

In golf, you should always play the course, not your opponent. Sometimes we in real estate worry too much about our competition instead of focusing on the services we can provide each buyer or seller.

In golf, we have the drive, the approach, the chip and the putt. We call that activities in real estate, like leads, prospects, open houses, FSBO's, expired listings, relationships, and presentations.

In golf, sometimes the hazards like sand, woods and water can challenge our game. We in real estate experience that with slumps along the way, problem files, challenging sellers, buyers, co-op agents and vendors. However, by chipping out and getting back on course we keep our focus on the end results.

In golf, I know most pros have coaches who may assist the golfer on mental attitude, stroke improvements, and various segments of their game. It's also important in real estate that an agent has a support system. We have managers; staff, systems, tools and many agents today even hire a coach to boost their income and accountability.

In golf, most golf pros practice, drill and rehearse daily to perfect their game. Realtors who want to be pros are also subject to practicing their presentations, scripts and staying on top of marketing techniques to survive in today's world. How can we expect to win customers and clients over to our side if we don't practice, drill and rehearse?

In golf, they call it good edict to replace divots, fix ball marks, treat every player with respect, count all your strokes and use the proper amount of clubs. We in real estate have a great code of ethics provided by NAR that gives us the guidelines and rules to follow. The golden rule goes along way when working with other Realtors to compliment, communicate and look at them as true peers of our industry vs. just competition.

In golf, they keep score and have a handicap. Are you keeping score of your real estate career? What's your handicap? Vision, goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics are what Realtors need to succeed.

If a golfer wants to hit a great shot, they have to keep their head down. IN today's market, I say, Realtors, I say keep your head up.

Some practical things to think about as we prepare for an exciting summer this year in Lansing Michigan real estate, what do you think?

"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

You can visit other real estate agent and broker related articles at PRETEC

Real estate consumers in the greater Lansing area and across the country can now take advantage of a Federal Housing Administration program to allow qualified home buyers to apply the $8,000 tax credit when purchasing a home, reported by NAR in a press release. FHA will now permit its lenders to provide a short-term bridge loan that will let qualified home buyers use the tax credit to either make a larger down payment above the FHA required 3.5 percent, cover closing costs, or buy down their interest rate.

Lansing has shown an increase in sales of 9.8% over last year compared to Michigan 8.55 % increase YTD compared to last year at this time, according to MAR.

A NAR practitioner survey in April showed first-time buyers declined to 40 percent of transactions, implying more repeat buyers are entering the traditional spring home-buying season. It also showed the number of buyers looking at homes has increased 14 percentage points from a year ago. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist said: "This is consistent with our forecast for home sales in the latter part of the year to be 10 to 20 percent higher than the second half of 2008,"

As a home buyer in the greater Lansing area, it's important to start equipping yourself with the tools necessary to make your best purchase. In most businesses, knowledge equals power, and real estate is certainly no exception. Here are 4 free reports I've provided, and I hope you learn a little more about what it takes to make your important purchase a great one.

"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

Home sellers in the greater Lansing area will now have an opportunity to attract additional buyers to buy their home with peace of mind. Adding this program to the Tax Credit for first time homebuyers, the low pricing of homes, and record low interest rates, I would suggest sellers make this part of your marketing plan when selling.

Through the Coldwell Banker Business Advantage program, sellers can now offer a mortgage payment protection plan to homebuyers. This program, available from The Paycheck Guardian, features Job Loss Protection, Accidental Disability Protection, and Accidental Death Protection.

If a seller agrees to purchase the program, then they can include this program as an additional feature on their home listing. The program provides a qualified homebuyer with a monthly benefit of up to $1,500 for 6 months in the event the buyer becomes unemployed. The plan also includes a lump-sum payment for Accidental Death of $10,000.

Program benefits include:
· Peace of Mind Protection - addresses the fear of job loss
· Pays cash benefits directly to the home buyer if their income stops due to job loss or accidental disability
· Covered individual can receive up $1500 per month and a $10,000 lump sum accidental death benefit
· 4 or 6 month benefit plans available
· Differentiates sellers listing from others on the market
· No sign up fees and no premium payment until the home is sold
· Easy internet enrollment after closing

Long and Foster Real Estate Company on the East Coast has been very successful with sellers offering this program for the past 4 months. Margaret Woda, Long and Foster, Crofton Real Estate and one of my fellow Active Rain, Rainmakers, authored a great Blog post back in April on Active Rain .

Home sellers who are thinking of moving up, may have a wonderful window period here for the next six month's to sell their house and buy another one. If you woud like to know the value of your home in today's market, look at your options, or learn more about the above marketing program, feel free to contact me for an appointment.

"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 Right Selling Price Affects Your Bottom Line

When you're selling your home in the greater Lansing, Michigan real estate market, the price you set is a critical factor in the return you'll receive. That's why you need a professional evaluationfrom an experienced Realtor. This person can provide you with an honest assessment of your home, based on several factors including:

Market conditions
Condition of your home
Repairs or improvements
Time frame
In real estate terms, market value is the price at which a particular house, in its current condition, will sell within 30 to 90 days.

If the price of your home is too high, several things could happen:

Limits buyers: Potential buyers may not view your home, because it would be out of their buying range.
Limits showings: Other salespeople may be less reluctant to view your home.
Used as leverage:Other Realtors may use this home to sell against homes that are better priced.
Extended stay on the market: When a home is on the market too long, it may be perceived as defective. Buyers may wonder, "what's wrong," or "why hasn't this sold?"
Lower price: An overpriced home, still on the market beyond the average selling time, could lead a lower selling price: To sell it, you will have to reduce the price, sometimes, several times. In the end, you'll probably get less than if it had been properly priced at the start.
Wasted time and energy: A bank appraisal is most often required to finance a home.

Realtors have known it for years - Well-kept homes, properly priced in the beginning always get you the fast sale for the best price! And that's why you need a professional to assist you in the selling of your home.

Realtors provide sellers invaluable services, and there are many reasons to work with one. A Realtor:

Can give you up-to-date information about the market, prices, financing, terms, and conditions of competing properties
Will market your property to other real estate agents and to the public
Will know when, where, and how to best market your property
Can help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal without compromising your market position
Can help close the sale of your home

As a Realtor who has been in the home selling business since 1978, I provide my clients and customers with consistent, reliable and predictable service, and with a written guarantee. My goal is to provide you with the latest marketing systems, technology and a high level of customer satisfaction to get you happily moved into your new home or to sell your existing home. Our company, Coldwell Banker Hubbell Briarwood has been in business for 40 years. We are the #1 real estate company in the greater Lansing area. With the solid support of the best Franchise, Coldwell Banker, the best company, Hubbell Briarwood Real Estate, and a Realtor committed to meet your needs, like Mike Bowler Sr. you can "Expect the Best."

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