Ann Arbor Library Among the Best!

Another nice honor we "Ann Arborites" can add to the long and growing list of benefits of living in our great town, is the naming of the Ann Arbor District Library, as one of the top libraries in the country! The study of 7,115 libraries nationwide was based on data for circulation transactions per capita, including checkouts and renewals, visits to library buildings per capita, computer sessions per capita and program attendance per capita.

The top libraries in each category organized by ranges of operating expenses were then assigned five, four or three stars. Of the 7115 libraries evaluated for the report, 256 received the highest possible ranking of five stars. The AADL was one the 10 libraries with a five star ranking in its budget bracket(annual budget of $10million to $30 million) In Michigan, 376 libraries qualified for evaluation, but only two received stars. The other was Canton Public Library, which earned three stars in its budget bracket. For more info on the study go to http://www.libraryjournal.com/

So, way to go AADL for doing such a fine job! You make Ann Arbor a better place to live, work and play.

If you have any questions about relocating to this great city of Ann Arbor or the Washtenaw County area please feel free to contact me at the The Wickland Group Realtors at Keller Williams Realty in Ann Arbor. We'll make it our mission to make your Ann Arbor relocation as stress free as possible because... Your Move Matters To Us!


By Steve Wickland
Jo Mathis of AANews Contributed

First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit Increased!

Did you know that home-ownership if done correctly, can be one of the best investments one can make? Well in case you haven't heard the news-The First-Time Home Buyer Credit has been increased to $8000.00! Combine that with today's LOW interest rates, lots of inventory and motivated sellers, you have quite possibly the best time in decades to finally purchase that home you've been dreaming of.

FIRST TIME HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT SUMMARY

• 1: 1st Time Buyer Credit Expires 12/1/2009
• 2: Credit amount has been increased to $8000.00
• 3: Credit is available for 1st Time Home Buyers only
• 4: Available for home buyers with Adjusted Gross Incomes not exceeding $75,000 and $150,000 on joint return - Phases out above these caps($95,000 and $170,000)
• 5: No repayment of credit for purchases on or after 1/1/2009 and before 12/1/2009
• 6: Single Family-Condo-Co-op-Townhomes used as a principal residence qualify
• 7: If home is sold with first 3 years of purchase, entire amount of credit is *recaptured on sale of property. *2009 purchased homes only
• 8: All changes to Home Buyer Tax Credit are effective as of 1/1/2009

So-GET OUT THERE and MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!
What are you waiting for?

There you have it. If you have any questions regarding this gift from our "Dear Uncle Sam", please feel free to contact us here at the Wickland Group anytime. Or if you have any questions about buying or selling a home in the greater Ann Arbor area, give us a call. We're here to help you every step of the way!


By Steve Wickland

Another Free Meal in Ann Arbor

I was pleasantly surprised last Monday while dining out with my family - The bill was much lower than I anticipated. We noticed that the waitress had not charged us for the two children's meals we had purchased, and asked. Apparently on Monday nights children eat free at The Harvest Moon Cafe!

The restaurant is located in Ypsilanti but is a hop, skip and a jump from Pittsfield Township and the South East corner of Ann Arbor. The restaurant offers some of the best comfort food around, which it calls "homestyle country cooking". Whatever it's called, we have always had excellent food and excellent service, and after finding out that the kids eat FREE on Mondays, we're sure to be back on one Monday night soon!

The Harvest Moon Cafe
5484 West Michigan Avenue
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Phone: (734) 434-8100

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Ann Arbor contact the Wickland Group. Our experienced team of Realtors, marketers and support staff are here to help you with your real estate needs in Ann Arbor and throughout Washtenaw County. Expect only the best customer service and support from the team, taking all of the stress out of your real estate experience!

By Tammy Mayrend

Why Keller Williams Realty is Defying the Market

Having recently joined the Keller Williams Ann Arbor Market Center, I was intrigued by an article in the February 09’ issue of the RIS Media Real Estate magazine; Titled - ‘Defying The Market’.

In an nutshell it went into how even in the current real estate market meltdown, where just about every real estate firm-small, large and in between- reduced their number of offices, Keller Williams actually added five franchises in 2008!

What’s even more amazing is the company actually gave back $32 million in profit sharing to agents-something CEO, Mark Willis, rightly refers to as “a significant achievement.”

One of the secrets to the company’s success and continued growth is its commitment to perseverance and optimism. The front cover of the very successful book ‘Shift’ “Thriving in a Shifting Market” penned by Gary Keller, Dave Jenks and Jay Papason, have these words wriiten on it-“It’s Not the Market-It’s what you do with it.”

This kind of “If it's to be –it's up to me” mind-set is what attracted me to Keller Williams. With Keller Williams, it’s about the agent, not the company. They allow me the freedom to structure my practice as I see fit. The icing on the cake though, is that they have hours upon hours of business growing resources available to me anytime I want to tap into it. I can actually see and hear other KW Mega-Agents from around the country share their business practices, that have propelled them to the top of their professions. This kind of open door policy is unheard of in the real estate industry. Another thing that attracted me to KW is the leadership’s philosophy of 'GOD First-then family and business'.

Well, I could go on and on, but I’ll finish with saying that "if you are self motivated, want the freedom to run your own practice and like the idea of having a great progressive company behind you, that’s constantly looking to empower you, the agent, then you owe it to yourself to check Keller Williams out!"

To hear more about this cutting edge real estate company or regarding the purchase or sale of Ann Arbor Area Real Estate, free to contact me at anytime.


By Steve Wickland

Big Wheels Keep on Turning in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor and bicycles go hand-in-hand, or is that foot-to-pedal? Regardless Ann Arbor, as a green-friendly city, promotes alternative transportation such as riding your bike to work - Even nearby Ypsilanti has jumped on that bandwagon promoting bike-to-work days! Throughout Washtenaw County bicyclists are a common site...

Therefore it should be NO surprise to locals, that the City of Ann Arbor, is considering applying for the League of American Bicyclists' "Bicycle Friendly Community Award". The organization, which is dedicated to promoting bicycling for fun, fitness, and transportation, awards the four-year designation to communities that have made impressive, measurable efforts to integrate bicyclists into the community.

Tonight from 6-8 p.m. at Ann Arbor's City Hall, citizens are invited to attend a public meeting to provide their input. So pedal on over and speak up. Let's get Ann Arbor rolling!

For locations of some of the City of Ann Arbor's best bicycle resources or you have any real estate questions/concerns the Wickland Group can address your needs. Our experienced team of Realtors, marketers and support staff are here to help you with your real estate needs in Ann Arbor and throughout Washtenaw County. Expect only the best customer service and support from the team, taking all of the stress out of your real estate experience!

by Tammy Mayrend

Checklist for the Home Buyer

When buying a home, there is no way to guarantee a "smooth" transition from an approved contract to the settlement table, but doing your part is at least half the job! My grandparents always said to "expect the unexpected" - Learning to expect these minor problems and delays throughout the home buying process can relieve much of your stress!

There are several common causes of postponed settlements in buying a house. Bureaucratic snags such as extensive credit checks and slow home appraisals are some of the many issues that can bog things down. In many cases, there isn't much you or the seller can do but wait.

While you're waiting for the home buying processes to move along though, you should consider the following. While I have don't have extensive real estate buying experience, each of these instances happened to me and may be avoidable for you if you are prepared:

• Apply for homeowners insurance on your new home. Homeowners insurance is a necessary evil; avoid feeling caught in the steel-jaw trap by shopping around.
  
• Get an exact accounting settlement cost, and make sure the money and necessary documents will be with you at closing. Many new home buyers will tell you they were called at the last minute and told to have additional monies ready - This happened to me. So EXPECT more monies will be needed during the home buying process. Just think if you don't need the additional monies for closing you'll receive a nice bonus, and if you do need the money, you'll be much less stressed! On the closing of my first new home I was called just over 30 minutes before closing and told to have an additional $4,500 in a certified check available!
  
• Select a date for the final walk-through of the house you are buying. On the last house my husband and I purchased, we waited to do the final walk-through the day of closing. When we got to the house we immediately noticed things missing, and hidden damages revealed. We almost backed out of the sale, but instead had a wonderful realtor that was able to get us additional monies at closing. I am so happy our real estate agent insisted we not skip that final walk through!
  
• Contact utility companies about starting service in your name. Without this important step you'll likely be sitting in the dark, without water and unable to watch television if you wait to switch all of the utilities until after you move in. While this is extreme, it happens! On the last new home I purchased the seller had the water turned off a week before we moved in, thankfully my husband and I had contacted the utility companies ahead of schedule so we had the water and electricity turned on the day of closing!

Buying a new home can be a challenging process, and we've all heard the horror stories about buying a new home and the challenges in trying to close the deal. Make it easier on yourself by doing your homework and being prepared!

If you have any real estate questions or concerns when buying a home, the Wickland Group can address your needs. Our experienced team of Realtors, marketers and support staff are here to help you with your real estate needs in Ann Arbor and throughout Washtenaw County. Expect only the best customer service and support from the team, taking all of the stress out of your home buying experience!

by Tammy Mayrend

Making The Lives of Ann Arbor's Abandoned Four-Legged Friends Easier

JUST RELEASED

Impacts of the recession in South East Michigan are not felt only by the two-legged creatures, but also by the furry four-legged kind. Every day we hear about more and more animals falling victim to the economic downturn.

• Individuals facing foreclosure can no longer afford proper care and feeding of their animals...
  
• Families move into new homes or apartments where they can no longer keep pets...
  
• Homeowners who have pet emergencies can not cover these budget-busting expenses...
  
• Preventative pet treatments are being postponed as families are slashing their budgets...
  
• And many local animal shelters face overcrowding and under-funding...

In Washtenaw County alone there has been a 75 percent increase over 2008 in the number of animals being surrendered to the humane society. Just what are we to do?

In response, the Wickland Group has begun their Humane Society of Huron Valley emergency donation program. For home buyers and home sellers that work with the team, a cash donation valuing $250 - $500 will be donated to the Humane Society of your choice at the closing of sale.

For details about the program, questions about how the Wickland Group is aiding the local Humane Society or general real estate questions/concerns the Wickland Group can address your needs. Our experienced team of Realtors, marketers and support staff are here to help you with your real estate needs in Ann Arbor and throughout Washtenaw County. Expect only the best customer service and support from the team, taking all of the stress out of your real estate experience!

by Tammy Mayrend

You ought to be in movies!

Attention all you movie star wannabees. Producers for the upcoming film, “Betty Anne Waters”, being made in Ann Arbor are looking for about 150 people to be extras in the film. The extras will be portraying college students. While you don’t have to be a University of Michigan student, you must be between the ages of 18-23. Your big chance to be “discovered” will be on 2/16 & 2/17 on the University campus.

For you future Oscar winners that want to get involved in the shoot, you can apply online to: BAWstudents@realstylesonline.com. You need to send a photo, name, birthdate and a phone number. Oh, don’t quit your day job just yet. There is no pay for these roles-sorry…...

Oh yea, the movie! It will star Hillary Swank( mmmmm...) and is about the true story of Betty Anne Waters, who struggled against all odds to clear her brother of a murder conviction. yawn……zzzzzzzzzz....

If you have questions regarding what's happening in Ann Arbor, your Ann Arbor Area home, have any real estate questions/concerns the Wickland Group can address your needs. Our experienced team of Realtors, marketers and support staff are here to help you with your real estate needs in Ann Arbor and throughout Washtenaw County. Expect only the best customer service and support from the team, taking all of the stress out of your real estate experience!

By Steve Wickland

"Check Out" Your FREE Family Adventure Pass

As it was a rainy, dreary day in Ypsilanti Township yesterday, I decided to take my kids to the 1:30 PM story time. Typically we like to linger in the library for a while after the stories. We'll check things out, look at new books and movies, and we always look at opportunities for the family - I'll say it, I like inexpensive or (ah-hem) preferably FREE activities, and our public library often offers up great resources!

On our way out, I noticed a small, colorful booklet laying on the counter. I was intrigued so I picked it up. It said "CHECK OUT A MUSEUM" - OK I'll bite, what was did it mean...

Reading further I found that my family could get FREE passes to many local museums around Metro Detroit allowing for two to four admissions! That's right, take a deep breath, it read FREE - And the way to get your passes, is to check them out at your local library!

So stop by the Ypsilanti District Library, the Ann Arbor District Library, the Saline District Library or the Dexter District Library and ask to reserve your Museum Adventure Pass today! I hate to say it, but I ALMOST kept this little secret to myself... I don't want too much competition for this great resource. I plan on checking the Museum Adventure Pass from the Ypsilanti District Library soon...

Some of the great museums included in this year's program include:

Arts & Scraps
Automotive Hall of Fame
Detroit Children’s Museum
Howell Nature Center
University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History
Ypsilanti Historical Museum
Cranbrook Institute of Science
Ford Rouge Factory Tour

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Ann Arbor, or general questions about the area, contact the Wickland Group. Our experienced team of Realtors, marketers and support staff are here to help you with your real estate needs in Ann Arbor and throughout Washtenaw County. Expect only the best customer service and support from the team, taking all of the stress out of your real estate experience!


by Tammy Mayrend

Pedal-Powered Taxis in Ann Arbor! Lookout!!

OMG! Pedicabs in downtown Ann Arbor!? Yep-it’s a distinct possibility if a few Ann Arborites get their way. It’s not enough that driving through downtown isn’t already hairy enough, what with having to watch out for I-Pod connected pedestrians, cyclists (who think they own the road) and city busses merging in and out of traffic. Now, we may have to slam on the brakes for these people-powered taxis.

The only cities in Michigan that currently have pedicabs in operation are Grand Rapids and Mackinaw Island. They’re also very popular in New York City. Well we ain’t no New York City, but I can see them catching on here in Ann Arbor.

Supposedly, there would be no fee to ride in one these open-air taxis. They would be supported by advertising and sponsorships. As for the actual pedal-pushers, it’s assumed they would be college aged kids. The cabs themselves have 20 something low gears and are easy to pedal. I don’t know about the “easy to pedal” part. I remember one hot August day on Mackinaw Island, pulling my 2 kids around in one of these contraptions and almost having a coronary. But then again, I’m far from being a college-aged kid!

My guess is one day soon, we downtown drivers, will have one more distraction (i.e. Pedicabs) to worry about crashing into. Oh well, that’s life in the big city!

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Ann Arbor contact the Wickland Group. Our experienced team of Realtors, marketers and support staff are here to help you with your real estate needs in Ann Arbor and throughout Washtenaw County. Expect only the best customer service and support from the team, taking all of the stress out of your real estate experience!

By Steve Wickland

Get the Scoop at This Award Winning Ypsilanti Township Business

This past weekend, I took my children to Hershey's Ice Cream in Ypsilanti Township. They have a GREAT deal for kids under 18 - sign up for the Hershey birthday club to receive a FREE hand-dipped ice cream cone on your birthday! What is better than free ice cream?

This wasn't just any scoop of ice cream either, Hershey's kids birthday cones look more like the typical double-scoop cone, they were HUGE. My kids couldn't even eat it all in one setting.

Hershey's Ice Cream and the Blue Spoon Grill have been in Ypsilanti Township for several years now. They have won many awards for their great food and ice cream and feature a menu that boasts more than 114 flavors of ice cream, smoothies, burgers, Chicago style hot dogs, chicken strips, and more! One can argue that they serve up some of the best ice crfeam in Ypsilanti Township and even the larger metro area - They were even nominated to be on the WDIV 4 THE BEST list as one of the Detroit area's best local businesses!

Summer or winter it's a great alternative to other fast food options in the township, stop by and see for yourself. Don't forget to sign your children up for the Hershey's Ice Cream birthday club too, so that they can receive their yummy FREE ice cream cone in the month of their birthday!

Hershey's Ice Cream & Blue Spoon Grill

2072 Whittaker Rd.

Ypsilanti, MI 48197

(734) 485-4070

If you want to know more about the Ann Arbor and surrounding area contact the Wickland Group today. We'll be happy to help you with questions about the area.


by Tammy Mayrend

New Eatery in Plymouth Crossing

I L-O-V-E sushi so I was excited to hear about a new sushi restaurant opening in Northeast Ann Arbor.

UMI Sushi is located in Plymouth Green Crossings right next to Sweetwaters Cafe. It is a quaint space seating 45 guests. It's warm decor of yellows, browns and oranges is a feast for the eyes while the restaurants food, bento boxes and a sushi bar in the back, are sure to be a feast for the stomach - Stop by and check it out!


by Tammy Mayrend

1000's of jobs slated for Michigan?

Another possible bright spot on the horizon for Michigan is the announced partnering of the state of Michigan and Michigan International Speedway to establish a testing ground for the next generation connected vehicle technologies. If all goes well, this collaboration could create 10,000 jobs plus in the state, according to Dave Cole, chairman of Ann Arbor based, Center for Automotive Research.

The speedway in Brooklyn, 30 minutes southwest of Ann Arbor, will be used as a proving ground for technologies that will allow cars to communicate wirelessly both with each other and with infrastructure imbedded in the road. This “bleeding edge” technology already is offered on a few production vehicles in the form of lane-departure (fancy word for weaving) and blind- spot detection systems. This technology could greatly reduce crash related fatalities and improve traffic flow. Yea! No more traffic jams!

Seriously, this is exactly the type of high tech industry this great state desperately needs. If this connected vehicle technology comes to fruition, with its highly educated work force and the 2 great universities (University of Michigan & Eastern Michigan University) as added resources, Ann Arbor should benefit greatly, as suppliers and after-market technology companies, look to profit from the latest in the evolution of the auto.

If this collaboration becomes a reality, the Brooklyn facility, would be the first cooperative wireless testing facility in the nation. Wouldn't it be great to be first for something this cutting edge for a change, instead of the negative firsts, Michigan has been known for lately? Yes, it would indeed!

If you have questions regarding your Ann Arbor Area home, have other real estate questions or concerns, the Wickland Group can address your needs. Our experienced team of Realtors, marketers and support staff are here to help you with your real estate needs in Ann Arbor and throughout Washtenaw and Wayne Counties. Expect only the best customer service and support from the team, taking all of the stress out of your real estate experience!

By Steve Wickland

Taking Advantage of Declining Mortgage Rates

Earlier in January, mortgage rates fell to an average of 4.89 percent sparking a wave of refinancing applications. Although the rates have risen slightly since then, interest in refinancing home mortgages has remained high. While lower rates may mean larger savings to the borrower, not everyone can take advantage of the situation.

Despite very attractive rates, homeowners need to thoroughly analyze their financial position before determining to refinance their mortgage. A question a borrower needs to consider is?

• Is your mortgage rate is a full percentage point or more higher than current rates? If your rate is at or above 6 percent, then it is a good time to think about a refi.
  
• What type of loan are you trying to refinance? Jumbo loans, for example, are much more difficult and costly to home-owners and thus may not net the same savings.
  
• What are the associated transaction fees the lender is charging? Higher fees mean fewer saving to the borrower. Consider the amount of time it will take you recoup the fees when considering a refinance on your mortgage.

Here are four things a consumer needs to understand to refinance their home mortgage in today’s market:

Your FICO Score - While 720 is still considered a good credit-score, it may not be good enough for to obtain the best rates. Don’t worry though, if you don’t have this score you can still refinance, it may just be at a higher interest rate.

Equity in Your Home – Having enough equity in your home right now can be a major sticking point. Unfortunately most homeowners are underwater, meaning the value of their home is less than they owe. Consider having a minimum 3 percent of home equity before refinancing.

Mortgage Fees – There are typically three options for paying for associated mortgage fees and how a borrower pays for fees may change the outcome of refinancing your loan:

• Pay the fees up front.
• Tack the fees onto the principal of the mortgage.
• Opting for a higher interest rate instead of paying the fees.

The key is to chat with your mortgage lender about structuring the fee payment so that it makes the most economic sense for you.

In addition to a solid credit score, enough home equity and consideration of the mortgage fees, borrowers will also need to be able to fully document their income in order to qualify for refinancing. Whatever you choose to do though, remember to be patient with the mortgage refining process; Refinancing your home during this significant period of industry downsizing will take time.

If you have questions with refinancing your Ann Arbor home, or other real estate questions or concerns, the Wickland Group can address your needs. Our experienced team of Realtors, marketers and support staff is here to help you with your real estate needs in Ann Arbor and throughout Washtenaw County. Expect only the best customer service and support from the team, taking all of the stress out of your real estate experience!


by Tammy Mayrened

Ypsilanti Relocation?

Thinking of relocating to Ypsilanti Michigan? Check out this great video sponsored by the City of Ypsilanti about the area real estate offerings.

There are a diverse number of Ypsilanti real estate offerings for any home buyer; Whether it is a historic downtown home, downtown loft condo or other area homes for sale, there is something for everyone. Ypsilanti also offers perspective investment home buyers many rental property options. To see a list of current properties on the MLS listing for Ypsilanti visit the Wickland Group website.

Ypsilanti is located west of Ann Arbor and is convenient to all major expressways leading to downtown Detroit and Metro airport. It is an affordable, historic Michigan city, the all of the warmth of a bygone era.

If you have any questions about buying a house in Ypsilanti, selling your Ypsilanti home, relocating to Ypsilanti or you have any Ypsilanti real estate questions, please contact the Wickland Group. Our experienced team of Realtors, marketers and support staff is here to help you with your real estate needs in Ann Arbor and throughout Washtenaw County. Expect only the best customer service and support from the team, taking all of the stress out of your real estate experience!


by Tammy Mayrend

The Shrinking American Dream

I just read an article in USA Today, that reads home buyers are trending towards smaller homes. That's just great! After I just increased the size of my home by a couple of thousand feet!

According to the National Association of Home Builders, the average size of a new single family home went from 1750 square feet in 1978 to 2479' in 2007. That trend however, is starting to reverse itself. Census data shows that new homes started in the 3rd quarter of 2008 averaged 2438 square feet, down from 2629 square feet in the 2nd quarter of the 08' There have been slight dips before the article goes on to say, but this latest dip was much steeper and is likely to hold even after the economy bounces back.

The reasons for this trend are pretty clear:
1:The economy is the big factor. When a two income family experiences a job loss they're forced to downsize or look at a smaller new home than originally planned.

2:Tighter credit has made it more difficult to get the so called Jumbo loans for the McMansions. A buyer who may have qualified for a year or two ago for a large mortgage is out of luck now.

3:Larger homes are more expensive to maintain. Home values may be falling, but anyone that has opened their gas or electric bill lately can quickly see the utility costs aren't following suit.

4:And the days of a big home being a status symbol are long gone. Just like the big gas-guzzling SUV's they're considered wasteful and enviromentally unfriendly-you know the whole carbon footprint debate. Thanks Al Gore!

Well, I don't know if I totally buy into these findings. To be sure, I think some new home buyers and existing home buyers are probably trending towards smaller homes, but there's still the desire to have the biggest and best house in the neighborhood. They're still status driven people out there-Thank God.
So, don't write the big homes off just yet. Not until I unload mine first. that is!

If you have any questions regarding the purchase or the sale of a home in the Ann Arbor area please contact Steve Wickland at the Wickland Group. My experienced team of real estate professionals are ready to help you with all of your real estate needs in Ann Arbor and throughout Washtenaw county. Expect only the best service and customer support from my team, taking all of the stress out of your real estate experience


By Steve Wickland

From Rendering to Reality: U of M's Stephen M Ross School of Business

The new wing at the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business opened it's doors recently to rave reviews. Its spacious, lush interior spaces and environmentally sensitive building methods make this 90,000 square foot, 6 story building a true Ann Arbor gem.

To view more images and to learn more about the new building, visit the University's website.

If you have any questions about Ann Arbor Michigan, selling a home in Ann Arbor, buying in Ann Arbor or the surrounding areas, or real estate options for student living while attending U of M, contact the Wickland Group. Our experienced team of Realtors, marketers and support staff is here to help you with your real estate needs throughout Washtenaw County. We look forward to meeting you!

Images courtesy of the University of Michigan. To view more images of the Stephen M. Ross School of Business please visit the University's website.