H2OME ~ The Blog of Homewaters Real Estate: August 2010

Friday, August 27, 2010

Kalkaska Hunting Show This Week-End

Fall is in the air and in Kalkaska County this week-end you can visit the Hunting Expo to be held at the Kalkaska County Kaliseum located on M-72 just west of Kalkaska. There will be over 100 vendors representing archery, gun and knife dealers; whitetail outfitters; game ranchers; conservation organizations; and much more.

There will also be on Saturday, August 28 starting at 9 a.m. an indoor 10-target archery shoot representing 3 classes - kids age 10-14; hunting; and outlaw. Click full schedule to see dates and times of this special event. Summer is winding down and many sportsmen and women's thoughts are turning to the upcoming hunting season.

Kalkaska County boasts thousands of acres of state land for outdoor recreational and hunting enthusiasts. Many private parcels of land are also available for sale - many of which are adjoining state land. For more information of vacant or waterfront property contact mary@homewaters.net. Or visit www.homewaters.net and spend some time searching our website for available property. Happy Hunting!!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Foreclosure Listings - Weekly Update

For comprehensive information about purchasing a foreclosure listing, HUD home, Homepath (Fannie Mae) listing or any other repo please read my weekly foreclosure blog posts. Each posts includes links to view the available foreclosure listings!!

Click here to read the Harrison, Michigan (Clare County) foreclosure update.

Click here to read the Gladwin, Michigan (Gladwin County) foreclosure update.

Click here to read the Beaverton, Michigan (Gladwin County) foreclosure update.

705 Easton Gladwin Michigan 48624 $49,900

705 Easton Main 705 Easton Gladwin

1992 Singlewide on 10 wooded acres in Gladwin County. 2 BR, 2 Bath. Hardwood floors in living room, separate laundry room. A little elbow grease could go a long way! Storage shed. Land contract terms available. $49,900

705 Easton living room 705 Easton Main

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Are you thinking about making Gladwin County, Michigan your new home? Gladwin County is home to both Wixom Lake and Secord Lake! Are you thinking about taking advantage of the great interest rates and affordable prices to buy your own slice of Northern Michigan Heaven? Contact me today and lets gets started! I know the area very well and I know the market even better! You can call me at 989-429-2600, email me at sonya@sonyaloose.com or visit my website.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

5120 Sandy Run Sears, Michigan $32,000

5120 Sandy Run

Muskegon River! Make this your relaxation headquarters! Level, wooded lot along the Muskegon River. Perfect location to enjoy the great outdoors. Canoe, kayak, tube, or fish the river! Small 2 room rustic cabin is also on the property.

5120 Sandy Run

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Price Reduced @ 219 Lakeview, Beaverton Michigan. Now $109,000!!!

219 lakeview 219 lakeview garage

Extra large brick home in city of Beaverton! 3 BR, 2 BA 1,800 sq ft home is spacious and offers a large kitchen with island, dining room, family and living room with fireplace. Attached 2 car garage and 4+ car detached pole barn with 12' side walls. View of Ross Lake across the street. Home has been well maintained, has built in shelving, drawers and entertainment center. Recent updates complete the package. Move in today!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Rates Remain Low

The economic environment for mortgage rates was little changed this week. Weaker than expected economic data and continued low inflation supported low rates, and investor demand for bonds remained high. As a result, mortgage rates again ended the week a little lower.
As the economic recovery has lost steam recently, investors are closely watching for signs that growth will slow even more. The economic data released during the week was generally weaker than expected. In a sign that the labor market is not improving, Weekly Jobless Claims rose to 500K, the highest level since November 2009. After a series of positive readings, the Philly Fed manufacturing index surprisingly fell to -7.7. Readings below zero indicate a contraction in the sector. Slower economic growth typically leads to less inflationary pressure, which is positive for mortgage rates.
On Tuesday, a conference was held to discuss the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and participants offered a wide range of ideas. While no clear consensus was reached, a few hints emerged about what to expect. Treasury Secretary Geithner suggested that the government should retain a role in providing guarantees for mortgages, but that taxpayers should be exposed to less risk. The Obama administration has announced that it will produce a proposal to address these issues by January 2011. In almost any scenario, changes will be phased in very slowly over a period of many years to avoid disruptions to the housing market
For more information and/or free mortgage advice, please e-mail keith@frontstreetmtg.com.

Tight Lines,

Keith

Friday, August 20, 2010

4455 Ash Court Gladwin, Mi 48624

4455 Ash Court Price Reduced to $129,900

344' of gorgeous Sugar River waterfront! This 3 BR, 2 BA home sits on two large lots on a bend of the river. Small deck overlooking river is the perfect spot to feed the fish or throw your line in. The crystal clear water and sandy bottom make for wonderful swimming as well. Spacious 1528 sq ft home with main floor laundry, dining room to accommodate large family dinners and huge living room with space for a home office. Master bedroom offers an en suite 3/4 bath. Full basement with a workshop, and still plenty of room to finish to your liking. Park like yard offers fruit trees, perennials and an "enchanted" garden with beautiful plantings, fencing, and a water feature from the flowing well. So much to offer!

Foreclosure Listings

Foreclosure Listings - Weekly Update

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

105 ft. of Sandy All Sports East Lake in Kalkaska County

Dramatic price reductions taken on this vacant parcel with 105 feet of frontage and 1.23 acres on East Lake in southern Kalkaska County. East Lake is an all-sports lake located south of Kalkaska. This property is on a paved county maintained road and is a short drive to Kalkaska, Lake City and Traverse City. The water is clean and clear and one end of the lake is wetlands and will never be developed. There are some improvements to the property including a gate at the road, 24x24 garage and electric. This is a unique opportunity to build your dream home or cabin in an excellent recreational area providing easy access to amenities. Price has been reduced to $127,400 and owner is motivated to sell this year. Contact mary@homewaters for more information.

Price Reduction @ 432 Spencer Gladwin, Michigan 48624

432 Spencer, Gladwin Michigan $29,900

Are you ready to get away from it all? This 2 BR, 1 BA home or cottage is move-in ready and includes the furnishings as shown. 624 sq ft Bungalow offers a fireplace in living room, new carpet throughout, functional layout and has been maintained well! Full basement for extra storage, new porches, 3 large lots so plenty of room to build that garage! Smallwood Lake is across the street for the water enthusiasts, state land is a short drive away for hunters, ORV riders and more! What an affordable way to come up north!!

Friday, August 13, 2010

Foreclosure Listings - Weekly Update

5477 Heron Cove Beaverton Michigan $174,900

5477 Heron Cove

149' of Wixom Lake canal front....one lot off the main lake and just around the corner from Pontoon Alley! Cement seawall, 24' of boardwalk, extensive decking with gazebo and hot tub included. 3 BR, 2 BA home with 1,950 sq ft and every room offers a view of the lake! Spacious kitchen with plenty of cupboards, separate dining room overlooking canal, large master bedroom with walk in closet and private bath. Master bedroom offers door wall that leads directly to the hot tub. Huge living room with pellet stove for cozy evenings. Home offers many updates including newer metal roof, central air, windows, well pump and plumbing. 4 car detached garage with workshop area and plenty of storage. Storage shed, and fenced lot. Stove, refrigerator and water softener included. Perfect year round home or seasonal get away....Wixom Lake is an approx 2,000 acre all sports lake, near state land and snowmobile trails. Ski resorts are a short car trip away

5477 Heron Cove

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Price Reduced!

4123 Lakeside Beaverton, Michigan $37,500

Nestled among the trees and framed by beautiful landscaping this 890 sq ft, 1 BR, 1 BA home is such a treasure! Wrought iron gated entrance leads you to a courtyard full of beautiful plantings. Home shows like the pages of Home & Garden magazine with its cheerful colors and warm paint tones. Entrance foyer with large closet, living room with wood burning fireplace and tile hearth. Dining area with vaulted ceilings and sliding door to outdoor patio and covered pergola. Spacious, well equipped kitchen has a large eating bar and stained glass window. 11x13 master bedroom and remodeled 3/4 bath complete the home. The fenced backyard is a lush and peaceful secret oasis with many plantings completing the landscape. What a wonderful place to create memories as your home away from home or perfect for year round living as well. Room to expand home if necessary. Storage shed. Wixom Lake directly across the street!

Kalaska County Little Twin Lake Cottage Price Reduction

Little Twin Lake 4BR/2B home with 45 feet of crystal clean water for quiet and peaceful lakefront enjoyment. Price just reduced $10,000 - seller wants it sold this year. Big Twin Lake right across the road for all-sports activity. This cottage features 1700 square feet of living space with an attached 2 stall garage and walkout mostly finished basement. There is a gentle slope to the waterfront where you will find sandy bottom swimming and great fishing. The cottage is located in the heart of winter fun including skiing and snowmobiling and features include blacktop county maintained road and natural gas. Located in Northeastern Kalkaska County it is easy access from I-75 and is a short drive to Boyne Mountain, Shanty Creek Resort and Blue Bear groomed snowmobile trail is just down the road. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who needs a larger space and is looking to get away from the city for fun and relaxation. Contact mary@homewaters.net for more information.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Some Summer Fun for Homewaters

Last week, some of the agents from Homewaters along with some of our business partners participated in the golf outing for The Traverse Area Association of Realtors. From left to right are Ted Wickman, Homewaters Agent Cheri Wickman, Terry Raven of Charter Title, Dan Smith of Flightpath Creative who does our marketing and web work, Broker and Owner Chad Brown, and Homewaters Agent Susan Hintz. The guys came in with a 10 under, just one stroke away from victory. The ladies joined two other friends of Homewaters and scored just well enough to win the bet they had against the guys! It was great to get out of the office for a little bit of fun together.

Brian Pitser and The Northern Angler getting some press

Our very own agent, Brian Pitser, who also owns The Northern Angler Fly Shop in Traverse City spent some time with well known Fly Fishing Media outfit Beattie Outdoor Productions. Looked like a great day on the water chasing Carp and Smallmouth!!! Click the photo for the full photo set at beattieoutdoorproductions.com

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Price Reduced!! 4261 Charlebois Beaverton Michigan $69,000

4261 Charlebois

4261 Charlebois, Beaverton Michigan $69,00

Roomy 3 BR, 2 BA ranch style house with access to Wixom Lake across the street. Large addition that could be garage or family room as its currently used. Additional pole barn for workshop or extra storage. Take a look and see the possibilities.

Price Reduced!!! 2214 River Ridge, Gladwin Michigan $159,900

2214 river ridge

2214 River Ridge, Gladwin Michigan $159,900

Exceptional describes this 2 BR, 1BA home on all sports Secord Lake. Located on a quiet street with a large lot and panoramic view of the lake. The home offers an open floor plan with a wood stove insert fireplace in living room and two patio doors leading to a relaxing deck with a sunsetter awning. The lot is nicely treed and has low maintenance landscaping. Steel seawall, boat lift and two suspended docks. Extra large garage attached to home via a breezeway with plenty of storage. Home can be sold furnished and turn key including key linens, dishes, patio furniture swing, paddle boat. Escape to the Lake today!

2214 river ridge

Friday, August 6, 2010

Foreclosure Listings - Weekly Update

Price Reduction at 921 Second St Gladwin Michigan

921 second st

921 Second St Gladwin Michigan

MLS #153265

Now $12,900

Nice, level and open .5 acre parcel within the city limits of Gladwin. Older home with smart layout. Perfect spot for building or a remodeling project for the ambitious! Take a look!

Are you thinking about making Gladwin County, Michigan your new home? Gladwin County is home to both Wixom Lake and Secord Lake! Are you thinking about taking advantage of the great interest rates and affordable prices to buy your own slice of Northern Michigan Heaven? Contact me today and lets gets started! I know the area very well and I know the market even better! You can call me at 989-429-2600 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 989-429-2600 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, email me at sonya@sonyaloose.com or visit my website.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Real Estate Market Conditions for July 2010

homewaters

Gladwin County is located in rural Northern Michigan and is conveniently located within 3 hours of Detroit and 2-2.5 hours of Flint and Lansing making it easy to come "Up North" for the weekend. But, we encourage you to stay longer. After visiting Gladwin you will want to spend much more time here! Gladwin, Michigan is an area popular for its scenic lakes (including Wixom Lake and Secord Lake), plentiful state land, quaint parks, Amish communities and down town shopping. Gladwin is primarily a second home/resort community due to the amount of waterfront homes. Gladwin, Michigan has real estate to accommodate every buyer from very affordable cabins to luxurious homes. As a life long resident of Gladwin I know the area well and the real estate market even better!

1441 DOUGLAS

1441 Douglas, Harrison Michigan $165,00 Budd Lake

607 Sixth St

607 Sixth St, Coleman Michigan $79,000

The real estate market conditions in Gladwin, Michigan along with most areas of Michigan, remain challenging, but appear to be improving and stabilizing! A stagnant economy and a lack of qualified buyers remains. However, if you are interested in buying your first home or your vacation home, it is a fabulous time to buy! Interest rates are low for qualified buyers, there is a lot of inventory to choose from and homes are more affordable then they have been in years! There is less available inventory and more buyers in the market now, so don't delay if you are thinking of beginning a search to buy this Summer. Sellers: don't delay any longer as our busy season comes to a close in early to mid-November.

Here are the latest real estate market conditions for Gladwin, Michigan and the surrounding areas of Beaverton, Harrison, Clare, Rhodes, Bentley, Wixom Lake and Secord Lake. June has proven to be a busy month and my personal observations show me a stable market with more buyers actively looking and making purchasing decisions. I had 4 closings in the month of July. I also currently have 7 pendings sales.

The Clare/Gladwin Board of Realtors currently has 1115 homes for sale through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and 108 of those were new to the market in July 2010. The number of new listings is down by 111 listings. Our inventory is still down by about 300-400 listings from last year at this time! The average asking price of the homes currently on the market is $127,096 and the average days on market for those homes has been 277 days. These stats are only slightly different than the last 12 months clarifying my theory that the Gladwin, Michigan real estate market conditions are stable! Residential asking prices range from $6,900 - $2,400,000.

During the month of June we saw 49 homes sell/close in Gladwin, Michigan. This is 2 less than in June. The average asking price was $96,626. The average sales price was $87,494 and the average days on market for these homes was 263 days. The sellers received an average of 91% of their asking price. The average days on market is 6 days less than usual which is positive. The average sales price is up reflecting the waterfront sales this time of year.

77 homes expired from the market unsold in June in Gladwin. The main reason homes don't sell during their listing period is that they were priced incorrectly for the real estate market conditions and or condition of the home. In any market it is imperative that a listing be priced as competitively as possible for its condition in order to have the best chance of selling. To learn more about why homes expire from the market visit this link to a page on my website. If you're thinking about selling your Gladwin area home one very important fact to know about your real estate market conditions is the absorption rate. The absorption rate will tell you how long it will take for the current inventory of homes in Gladwin, Michigan to be absorbed by the market if no other homes come on the market. The absorption rate for July 2010 is 1.9 years! This number has decreased and is working its way to a more balanced market each month. If you want your Gladwin, Michigan area home sold you need to know this number to help you price your home accordingly.

Buy vacant and build new to save $$$$

We've seen a definite trend away from buyers looking for vacant land. Because of this, the prices of vacant waterfront in a lot of the segments we service has fallen off more than the residential market. We have also seen a trend of buyers not wanting to purchase homes that need work or aesthetic updating. This has created a great environment in which to purchase beautiful vacant land and build a new home or cottage. While many people think it's impossible to finance vacant land, that's simply not the case. There are traditional lenders right now that are lending to anyone with decent credit. It usually requires 20% down and the interest rate may be a point higher, but vacant land is a great way to take advantage of today's market prices and have the ability to build your home or cabin down the road. A number of our sellers are also willing to consider Land Contract Terms if you're not interested in seeking traditional financing. We've also come up with a couple of pre-designed cabins that we've had local builders price out that can put you into a brand new place on the water for very reasonable dollars. It will also take a lot of the guess work and stress out of the building process. Here are a couple of cabins with their prices to build.

Charming Cottage style 3 bed, 2 bath with attached garage for $118,150.

3 bed, 1.5 bath bungalow finish built brand new for only $87,950

Here are just a few examples of great parcels we have listed right now that would make wonderful building sites for these or any other home. For around $200,000, it is absolutely possible to buy a great piece of vacant riverfront and build a brand new cottage on it. you'd be ready to fish next year's opener!!!

11.2 acres with 500+' on The Upper Manistee for $114,900

16 acres with 487' on The Manistee near Manton for $179,900

4.5 acres with 200' on The AuSable Holy Water for $117,500

320' on The AuSable River South Branch with a pond for $109,900

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Great new restaurant in Northern Michigan

There's a little spot along M-72 between Grayling and Kalkaska that has been home to a number of restaurants over the years, but I think the newest owners are there to stay! At least I hope so. Shirley's "in the woods" Cafe just opened and I had a chance to stop in for lunch on my way back from Grayling. This is Shirley's second restaurant after seeing great success in their Mancelona location. They've done a terrific job creating a homey atmosphere that immediately lightens the mood. I'm a believer that you can gauge any diner by the Reuben they serve. If that's true, Shirley's is among the best diners I've ever eaten at. Homemade rye bread and even corned beef prepared on site made for an incredible sandwich. Shirley herself wandered through with some samples of other homemade breads and made sure my stay was a warm one. Welcome to the neighborhood, Shirley! If you're in the area on vacation or making your way through, make time for a stop and I think you'll end up finding a new favorite spot in Northern Michigan. click the photo for a recent interview with Shirley done by Traverse Magazine that will give you some insight into the gal who is the heart and soul of the restaurant.

Kathy Lee Raves About Northern Michigan

Granted, this is from an unlikely source, but Kathy Lee Gifford recently took a trip to Northern Michigan and was obviously smitten! It was great to see a gal who I'm sure has travelled the globe speak so passionately about some of the places we tend to take for granted. Thanks for visiting Kathy Lee and thanks for offering a little peak of what Northern Michigan has to offer.