Stonebridge in located on the South side of Ann Arbor and is divided into two school districts, Ann Arbor Public Schools and Saline Area Schools. It is a Planned Urban Development (PUD) with over 650 homes.

Stonebridge features executive homes, golf villas, condos, and single family residential homes.

The Stonebridge Community is surrounded by the Stonebridge Golf Course, designed by Authur Hills. You can book T times on line and check out internet specials, or see a layout of the course all online.

There are currently 27 homes on the market in Stonebridge. Six of the 27 are under contract to purchase. Three in Saline side and three in the Ann Arbor side for schools. There are two homes currently for rent in Stonebridge for a rental price of $2850 and $3000.

All of Stonebridge is located in Pittsfield Township and all of Stonebridge has an Ann Arbor mailing address with a zip code of 48108

Prices are currently ranging in price from 314,000 to 1.2 M in Stonebridge.

Last year between July 1st and December 31, 2007, 33 homes closed in Stonebridge. With the current inventory of 27 available, Stonebridge homes have a low absorption rate. Which means the amount of homes available is equal to the amount that have sold.

There are 11 different associations in Stonebridge, each governed by their own homeowner associations.

Their community web site is available for public viewing.

If you would like to live in a planned community, with golf and great ammenities you have two excellent school districts to decide between, Saline and Ann Arbor.

I took a few photos the other day from a rooftop downtown to show the changes in the Medical Mile. Michiganders know that Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan...but many do not know the heritage of the city.

Grand Rapids Michigan started as a logging town that soon developed into the mecca of wood furniture making. As the automotive industry grew in Detroit so did the furniture manufacturing on this side of the state. Some of the key office furniture manufacturers turned into giants of the industry. Steelcase, Herman Miller and Hayworth are still position as the go to companies in the nation when it comes to office furniture. One of the long gone companies that was huge at the turn of the century Stickley Furniture, their building was on a family post card (on left) from 1909.

On the right is another furniture maker that changed over the years and most would never know they had their beginnings as a major furniture maker. Phoenix Furniture Company down on Monroe Ave.

Of course this was made possible because of the Grand River and logging. Here is a post of the Grand from 1910.

Then came a few investors and they offered millions of dollars from their personal fortunes and some of the old hospital started getting face lifts.

Today we have a city with a blend of the old and certainly the new!

Here is part of the face lift.

I took this photo from the top floor of one of the new enterprise zone tax free condos that have been built. You can see as the city changes we keep some of the old as well but soon it too will give way to developers and once again the city will have a new skyline.

Because of these changes we have a more stable economic environment on the Western side of the state than we do on the Eastern. We certainly have the automotive influences...but we have diversity into other economic areas as well.

I hope you enjoyed walking down the road with me in a little photo time capsule. My family has been in West Michigan for over a 100 years and some of the post cards I will be sharing in the next few months will give us a glimpse at what life used to be a 100 years ago.

If you need a knowledgeable agent to help you sell or buy and you are not working with or currently under contract get me a call......put experience on your side. Call me direct: Gary White 616-821-9375

We invite everyone to visit our open house in Livonia at 14720 Susanna this Sunday, June 22 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

From a new cherry and granite Kitchen to over 700 square feet of finished living space in the lower level, this totally renovated Castle Gardens brick ranch shows like a model home!

Property information -- $192,900
South of 5 Mile/West off Newburgh on Lyndon

Hi my name is Bob Jakowinicz real estate agent serving Westland Michigan. I received 4 calls today, all before Noon, from potential home buyers looking to buy bank foreclosed houses in Westland. So let's take a look at the current real estate market in the area.

What is a bank foreclosed home? Foreclosure is basically the lender taking the house back from the borrower because the borrower defaulted on their obligation by failing to meet agreed upon repayment terms. To learn more follow this link Westland foreclosure information.

Remember the lenders are going to try to get as much of their money back from the house as possible. The lenders do no want the house back in most cases and they are not always in the best condition when they get them back. Once a house is put on the market from the lender, they do it in basically the same way everyone else does. It is listed on the Michigan market with all the other homes. Usually you will see things like (as is sale) (lender to hold EMD)(Bank Owned) to give you a hint it is a bank foreclosure.

To view available Westland houses for sale including most foreclosures follow this link. Westland Michigan Foreclosed houses for sale.

What is a bank short sale? This is basically when the seller of the home owes more than they can sell the house for. If this is the case and the lender agrees to allow this type of sale to happen----We now have a short sale. A short sale can be tougher for many buyer's to deal with, due to the fact they can take much longer for answers to things like: Is the offer accepted? When will we get the paper work? Etc. Etc.

For more information on real estate in Westland Michigan follow the links. WWW.BobandTeena.com and www.WestlandBusyBees.com If you or anyone you know is looking to buy a house in the Westland Michigan area please call or email anytime. (734)578-6561 or email info@BobandTeena.com.

Thanks for your time, Have a Great Day!

Bob Jakowinicz

information deemed reliable but not guaranteed

Centennial Park Meadows Condominiums are located just off 28th Street and Thornapple

River Dr. in Cascade, Michigan. The Condos wrap around Centennial Golf Course

and community. This is a private par 70 golf course has plenty of challenges for golfers

at every level. This community also has a clubhouse and restaurant for golf members.

We have relocated several clients into this community and they find it a wonderful place

to live. Just minutes from 28th Street & Cascade shopping, dining, and amusements, you

are centrally located but tucked away from the bustle of the area for quiet, serene living.

Centennial Park Meadows Condos Residential Real Estate Market Report

June 2008 10 For Sale, 0 Pending, 2 SOLD

Address Status Price Sq Ft Cost/SqFt DOM

3000 Chapshire Dr For Sale 99,900 1246 80.17 86

6305 Greenway Dr For Sale 169,900 1287 132.01 161

6340 Greenway Dr For Sale 199,000 1583 125.71 111

6064 Parview For Sale 229,000 1620 141.35 46

3610 Charlevoix Dr For Sale 239,900 1977 121.34 26

6204 S Gatehouse Dr For Sale 299,900 1694 177.03 9

6245 Heathmoor Ct For Sale 300,000 1954 153.53 104

6125 N Gatehouse Dr For Sale 379,900 2283 166.40 59

6193 S Gatehouse Dr For Sale 749,900 5768 130.01 23

3746 Charlevoix Dr For Sale 210,000 1303 161.16 64

6373 Wainscot Dr SOLD 89,600 1116 80.28 23

3181 Charlevoix Dr SOLD 160,000 1338 119.58 46

If you would like further information about Cascade Homes, please contact your neighborhood

specialist, Terry@TerryWestbrook.com, toll free at 1-888-240-1968 ext 1 Terry Westbrook.com

Terry Westbrook - Five Star Real Estate - Copyright 2008 All rights reserved

photo of Golf Equipment by Bonnie Westbrook

Summer always brings lots of fun to the Greater Lansing Area. With many events in and around the surrounding areas

The class A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, The Lansing Lugnuts, has a full schedule. They provide great entertainment beyond baseball, from the Friday Night Fireworks to Thirsty Thursdays. A night at Oldsmobile Park is great fun for the whole family.

Common Ground Music Festival provides seven nights of live entertainment. Live music and comedy acts are all performed on two stages from July 7^th through July 13^th on the banks of The Grand River at Adado Riverfront Park in downtown Lansing. Acts include Seether, Finger Eleven, REO Speedwagon, Snoop Dog, Kellie Pickler, Lyle Lovett and many more. Don't forget to try some of the many foods and drinks while enjoying the great entertainment.

The Wharton Center offers many plays, musicals, and other acts. Located on Campus of Michigan State University, The Wharton Center offers easy parking in the attached ramp as well as close proximity to many great restaurants.

The areas many golf course offer an array of challenges. From the difficult links style course Eagle Eye to the up north style Timber Ridge. Visit Brookshire Inn & Golf Club in Charming Williamston on Lansing's East side for a round of 18 and some of the areas best Steaks and Ribs.

Lake Lansing in Haslett (I know its strange being named Lake Lansing and located outside of Lansing in Haslett) is a great place to take your family to picnic, play Frisbee or just lay on the beach with a good book.

Potter Park Zoo is relaxed pace zoo. A great place to take kids of all ages as they offer many educational classes for children in the 1^st through 7^th grade.

Lansing a great place to Live

Jeff Thornton
Associate-Broker
Coldwell Banker Hubbell BriarWood
Jeff@JeffThornton.com
517-719-4430

“No, I don’t want that payment” - Home buyers in Michigan are smarter this year. Much smarter, and I'm thrilled to witness it.




I represent many home buyers in my real estate business. I enjoy them, and I am happy as can be finding and showing homes to potential buyers. The interaction between a buyer client and a buyers agent is fun, hectic at times and precious to me. Most days you can find me driving all around Macomb County and the Metro Detroit area viewing homes, taking photos and meeting with buyer clients.

This year I’ve noticed a trend that I am thrilled with: Buyers
are becoming smarter when it comes to their purchase power
and are saying “No, I don’t want that” when it comes to the
mortgage payments quoted in their pre-approval letters. Gone are the days of stretching the mortgage amount to the limit. (The photo on the left aptly describes what used to take place.)

Without exception, each and every home buyer that I’ve encountered this year has purchased a home thousands of dollars under what they are approved for.

Unlike previous years, buyers are considering all factors of their economic situations and realizing that job security isn’t guaranteed to any of us. Many married home buyers are purchasing homes based upon one income only. Gone are the days of using both spouses incomes into the equation when considering how much to finance for a home. If there has been any good to come out of this mortgage mess and depreciation in home values across our state it has been this trend.

Kudos to all the home buyers out there who are being smart and planning their budgets well in advance of their home purchase. Saying NO firmly to an unrealistic mortgage payment and purchasing a home based upon what is comfortably affordable is a trend I hope will continue.

©2008 Kris Wales a Macomb County MI real estate agent - A partner for your real estate needs.

Search for homes using MLS provided data Contact Kris Wales RE/MAX Advantage 1, Inc.


Photo courtesy of Mike Licht NotionsCapital.com via Flickr

Before (the browning that you see in these pictures was caused by a late frost that effected the new growth on these hedges)

As you can see we use tarps to help catch the debris. Our services include cleaning up and hauling away all the debris, so you can enjoy your free time.

After (I also mow the lawn at this property, now if only they would drop their fertilizer company and switch to my services there also as you can clearly see the lawn still needs some help)

Horton's Lawn Care L.L.C. is an insured, residential and commercial lawn care provider specializing in many lawn care services to assist you in the proper care, and maintenance of your lawn. You can have that beautiful, lush, green lawn you have always wanted with our lawn care services that include: aeration, detaching, lawn rolling, re-seeding, fertilization, lawn mowing, weed whipping, edging, hedge trimming, flower, shrub, and tree planting, spring clean ups, fall clean ups, gutter cleaning, landscaping, and snow removal. We currently provide lawn care services in the Genesee County Michigan area primarily in Burton, Davison, Flint, Flushing, Grand Blanc, and Swartz Creek.

For a Free Estimate Call Chris at (810) 877-9655

Let us show you how beautiful your lawn can look.

My buyer clients fell in love with the builder's dream home. How could you not? Every corner was upgraded, literally with crown molding that dropped to an inverted peak in each corner of the den, for example. The ceilings upstairs were 10 feet high. Each bedroom had it's own bathroom tiled in ceramic. Wainscoting detailed the upstairs hall and each room on the first floor. The first floor had elevated ceilings, an impressive entry and a gorgeous breakfast nook with 3 skylights on an angled ceiling. The Kitchen.... granite countertops, of course, hardwood floors and french country cabinets. The backyard deck was built out of concrete blocks with a grill set right into it. This description is so great, it's almost boring right?

The point is, how do you choose the right house? The home they were torn by (originally) was a foreclosure of great value also and about the same price (low 300K). It had everything they asked for, including the 5th bedroom with the finished walk-out basement, extra square footage, set in a quiet family friendly subdivision. This home did not have the fantastic upgrades though. In fact, the knobs were missing from the cabinets in all the rooms; the hardwood floors slightly marred; the painting needed to be redone; the backyard needed a deck. Cosmetic work.

Is this a no-brainer? Not really. Not from the Realtor's standpoint. When a buyer starts to waver between two very similar homes, I present the facts and take a step out of the conversation. Let the emotion color their decision and suggest they sleep on it. Who is going to live in it after all?

Hidden Hills is an established neighborhood of homes off Cascade Road and 30th

Street in Cascade Township, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids. Home construction

started here in the 1960's housing boom in the Forest Hills School District and has

continued through to today. There are new homes still being built in this neighborhood.

Mid-size homes with quality construction are the rule, this suburban subdivision

area has been a desirable place to live in the Grand Rapids home market for

many years.

Median prices for homes in the Forest Hills School District for 2007-2008

were $235,000.

Hidden Hills, Cascade Township Residential Real Estate Market Report

June 2008 ~ 9 For Sale, 1 Pending, 2 SOLD

Address Status Price SqFt Cost/SqFt DOM

7857 Aspenwood For Sale 369,900 2150 172.04 119

7982 30th St For Sale 164,900 1669 98.80 2

3447 Hidden Hills Ave For Sale 169,900 2200 77.22 75

3282 Hidden Hills Ave For Sale 194,900 1512 128.90 51

7764 Kirkwall Dr For Sale 259,900 2212 117.49 7

3400 N.Applecrest Ct For Sale 275,000 2433 113.02 115

7626 Candlewood Dr For Sale 350,000 2856 122.54 132

7575 30th St For Sale 374,900 1920 195.26 146

3122 Torian Ct For Sale 585,000 3000 195.00 107

3082 Torian Ct Pending 485,000 3158 153.57 121

3464 Hidden Hills Ave SOLD 137,900 1734 79.52 13

3510 Hidden Hills Ave SOLD 197,000 2046 96.28 87

If you would like further information about Casscade Homes, please contact your neighborhood

specialist, Terry@TerryWestbrook.com, toll free at 1-888-240-1968 ext 1 Terry Westbrook.com

Terry Westbrook - Five Star Real Estate - Copyright 2008 All rights reserved

photo of Spring Flowering Forsythia by Bonnie Westbrook