Each year RelocateAmerica searches cities across the country to identify the best places to live. A team conducts research based on nominations as well as issues most important to relocating consumers and homeowners for the upcoming year. For the 2011 list, the team found communities that are well positioned for an economic recovery or already experiencing strong economic recovery. Employment, education, community leadership and overall quality of life are factors that are strongly considered and examined as well.
RelocateAmerica recently published their list of the “Top 100 Places to Live” and Ann Arbor made the list!
A new component has been added this year to give local residents the opportunity to have their say as to what cities are worthy of the TOP10 list. Part of a yearlong initiative, voting will allow local residents and leaders direct input into how their town rates among the other Top 100 Places to Live.
Voting for the TOP10 is open until Sunday, July 31st. Cast your vote now!
Today we are featuring Sheila Shulman’s Ann Arbor Listing – 2126 Woodside Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
What distinctive features set this home apart?
In the heart of Ives Woods is this impeccable 3-bedroom home. With a reconfigured floor plan, this home offers a spacious first floor living area, as well as a wall of closets for additional storage. The lower level has a wonderful office space and an additional area perfect for a play room.
Have there been any recent renovations or upgrades?
This home has been lovingly updated throughout the years. Cherry cabinets and Jennaire cooktop have been updated in the open kitchen. The back yard has a large award winning deck, perfect for entertaining. A new roof was also recently renovated.
What makes the price of this home so great?
The price of this stunning home was recently reduced by $70,000.
If you would like more information about 2126 Woodside Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 or if you are interested in scheduling a showing, please contact Sheila Shulman at (734) 669-5852.
Something interesting has happened in the last couple of weeks. The national media is beginning to change its tune about the health of the housing market. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday there are communities that have already recovered from the housing recession and many others are on their way. We’ve seen significant change in the Ann Arbor area market for well over a year, but were hard-pressed to get the message out when with media was saying the opposite.
The WSJ used 3 criteria to gauge whether the worst is over and recovery has begun. The first factor was employment. With unemployment at 6.2% in April, Ann Arbor is 3 percentage points below the national average, which puts it in a stronger position than several markets spotlighted in the article.
The second yardstick is the rental market. There was a flight to rentals when the recession hit here. That option is rapidly disappearing for many because vacancies have become very difficult to find. This will have the effect of encouraging more people to buy in order to find housing.
Third is the number of foreclosures. A high rate of foreclosures can bring down the value of other homes and create an expectation for buyers that they will find a bargain price. Foreclosure listings have all but disappeared in most of Washtenaw County, signaling a return to a balanced market.
What is happening with prices? It is very difficult to quantify. The federal tax credits of 2010 drove down averages because they created a spring spike in sales in the modestly priced end of the market. Year-to-date statistics are skewed by this anomaly. They are definitely rising in many areas where inventory is low and multiple offer situations are occurring. They are beginning to rise in many other neighborhoods and communities because excess inventory has been absorbed. The upper end of the market is seeing more activity this year than we’ve seen in the last 2 years, although inventory is still high and buyers are expecting to negotiate.
The greater Ann Arbor area is strong in all of the indicators the WSJ considers to be important. At Reinhart, we’ve known for some time that the worst was over. It was only fair, since we were on the leading edge of the housing recession, that we lead the way out of it too. Now a critical mass of pockets around the country is building and the national media is beginning to take notice. In fact, Forbes ran a similar article right after the WSJ’s. Momentum is upward and will gain steam as more areas turn the corner. That’s good news for Washtenaw County.
Today we are featuring Jean Wedemeyer’s Ann Arbor Listing – 1434 Hatcher Crescent, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.
Can you describe the architectural style of the home?
Clean and bright with an open floor plan, this is not your typical ranch style home. There are clerestory windows in the living room and kitchen. These expansive lights, in addition to the skylights, let in an amazing amount of natural light.
Have there been any renovations or upgrades?
This solid 3 bedroom home was built in the 1950s. Since then this home has undergone many improvements. Leading you into this home are new entry doors. The updated kitchen includes stainless steel appliances, new counters, a new backsplash and sink and beautiful hardwood floors which extend throughout the first floor. The basement has been beautifully finished with an amazing second full bathroom with a ceramic tile floor in addition to room set up for a handyman and a huge finished recreation room.
What are the advantages of the location & neighborhood?
This is an active neighborhood with families frequently outside walking, running, and biking. The walk to Wines Elementary and Forsythe Middle School is fast and easy. People love living in Martin Acres and stay for a long duration. Many of the homes in this neighborhood have only had one or two owners.
If you would like more information about 1434 Hatcher Crescent, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 or if you are interested in scheduling a showing, please contact Jean Wedemeyer at (734) 769-3800.
Newsweek studied more than 1,000 of the top high schools across the nation to determine which schools were preforming well above the others in addition to preparing students not only for college, but for life. Saline High School was the only school in Washtenaw County to make the list with their highest ranking yet – 222nd. Among the 16 high schools in Michigan to make the list, Saline High School ranked 4th.
Six metrics were used to rank the top high schools:
- Graduation rate
- College matriculation
- Advanced Placement (AP) tests taken per graduate
- Average SAT/ACT scores
- Average Advance Placement/International Baccalaureate/AICE scores
- Advanced Placement courses offered
According to the Saline-Milan Patch, the Saline Area School district graduated 96% of its students on time and 97% of seniors enroll in college after graduation. In addition, the number of students taking AP courses has doubled from 400 to 800 in just a few years. The recent increase in the number of students taking AP courses is a major contributor to Saline’s recent jump in the ranking.
For the complete list of America’s Best High Schools visit Newsweek.com.
More than 150,000 troops are serving our county overseas, far away from their loved ones and with limited contact. Robbie and Brittany Bergguist, two Massachusetts teens, founded Cell Phones for Soldiers in 2004 as a way to show their appreciation for the men and women who sacrifice so much to serve our county. Since then, Cell Phones for Soldiers has collected more than 7.5 million cell phones and provided military personnel with more than 90 million minutes of pre-paid calling cards.
This year, Cell Phones for Soldiers is calling on all Americans to support the troops by donating old cell phones in order to reach their goal of 50,000. Proceeds collected will be used to purchase calling cards for our troops so they can stay connected with their families.
Our friends at Michigan Commerce Bank have partnered with Cell Phones for Soldiers in an effort to help them reach their goal. Michigan Commerce Bank will be accepting cell phones at their Ann Arbor office, 2950 South State Street, through Monday, July 4th or call Dennis Flamme at (734) 904-4245 by Thursday, June 30 to arrange for pick up.
Founded by Eugene Power, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival is a three-week celebration of performing arts, entertainment and community spirit. An equal partnership between The City of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival has grown tremendously since the first full season in 1984.
Today, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival includes two concurrent programs – one indoors and one outdoors. Top of the Park, held outside, offers free concerts, movies and unique family attractions. The Mainstage series, held indoors, includes ticketed performances of world-class music, dance, theater and comedy.
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival kicks-off tonight with a not-to-be-missed Opening night celebrations. Gather on the lawn of Ingalls Mall to hear musical performances from Ryan Racine and Lucciana Costa in The Grove, followed by the Detroit Party Marching Band. The party will continue with performances by Superdot and local favorite The Sun Messengers. In addition, opening night will included extreme face painting from Body Masterpiece and a 25-foot climbing wall staffed by Planet Rock. The party continues at After Dark @ Top of the Parke with DJ Hardy spinning a mix of pop and disco.
Visit AnnArborSummerFestifal.org for more information about upcoming performances and activities.
We are very excited to welcome The Ryan Team to the Charles Reinhart Company.
Michael and Maryann joined our South Office – 500 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, MI 48108.
Michael and Maryann Ryan come to the real estate business from the world of classical music where communicating and interacting with others is key. They understand how to connect to a vast audience/clientele. In addition to careers in the performing arts, both Michael and Maryann have professional experience in customer service based positions.
Michael and Maryann are raising their newborn and their 7 year old daughter in the Ann Arbor area.
Michael and Maryann Ryan can be reached at (734) 669-6813 or mryan@reinhartrealtors.com.
Figuring out whether you’re ready to buy a house — whether you’re a renter or are aiming to move up or size down — can be a daunting task. But there are signs that will indicate whether you’re ready to take the buying plunge.
- Are you familiar with the market?
A Reinhart agent can provide you with all of the information you need about the market, including neighborhood and school information.
- Do you have the money for a down payment and closing costs?
A down payment, which is a percentage of the value of the property, is determined by the type of mortgage you select. A Loan Officer with Ann Arbor Mortgage can help with your mortgage in addition to estimating how much you need for a down payment as well as your closing costs.
- Do you know how much you can afford?
Freddie Mac says that as a general guide, your monthly mortgage payment should be less than or equal to a percentage of your income, usually about a quarter of your gross monthly income. A Loan Office with Ann Arbor Mortgage will be able to help you determine a price range that you can afford.
- Do you know what additional expenses will come with owning a home?
This includes homeowners’ insurance, utility bills, and maintenance costs — roofing, plumbing, heating and cooling. A Reinhart agent will help you identify an estimate of your additional expenses.
- Is your credit in good shape and do you have an accurate credit report?
Potential lenders will view your credit history — how much debt you’ve accrued, how many accounts you have open, whether your payments are made on time, etc. — to determine whether they’ll give you a loan. You should order a report from www.annualcreditreport.com. Ordering through this site will not affect your credit; however you will not get a credit score without a charge. Using this site as an indicator of how one’s credit may stand is wise, as up to 75% of credit reports are said to contain errors. Contact an Ann Arbor Mortgage Loan Officer to help you navigate through the process.
This orginial blog was posted on Realtor.com by Michele Dawson.
Today we are featuring Robyn Javornisky’s Ypsilanti Listing – 4260 Woodstream Drive, Ypsilanti, MI 48197.
What distinctive features set this home apart?
Extensive landscaping has transformed the look of this 4-bedroom home. Three ponds, two patios and endless perennials have created a beautiful setting surrounding this two-story colonial style home. Inside, this home features an open staircase in the foyer and a spacious great room with a vaulted ceiling. The master suite features cathedral ceilings, a walk-in closet and spa tub.
Have there been any recent renovations or upgrades?
This home was recently freshly painted and new carpet has been installed throughout. The spacious eat-in kitchen was recently upgraded with granite countertops. In addition, a high efficiency furnace and a water heater have been installed as well as all new light fixtures and new window treatments.
What are the advantages of the location & neighborhood?
This home is located in the Ann Arbor School District with the benefit of Pittsfield Township taxes. In close proximity to this home are stores such as Meijer and Target as well as easy access to I-94 and US 23.
If you would like more information about 4260 Woodstream Drive, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 or if you are interested in scheduling a showing, please contact Robyn Javornisky at (734) 678-8075.
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