Michigan's Real Estate Blog.

Home inspections have always been an integral part of buying a home, but a new and notable trend is changing up the process for sellers. Many sellers are electing to have what is called a pre-listing home inspection. Historically, the home inspection has generally been the purview of the buyer who enlists a third party…

Many home buyers who are purchasing a newly constructed home don’t know if they should use a real estate agent or not. There is a lot to the process of purchasing a home, as each transaction presents a different set of circumstances. New construction homes present their own set of details and things to pay…

The joy of finding just the right home can sometimes be accompanied by that creeping feeling of apprehension when it comes to obtaining a mortgage. It seems everyone knows someone that experienced a rough road when they purchased a home, and more often than not, the experience involves mistakes, delays, and confusion in the mortgage…

Curb appeal is real estate slang for the outward appearance of a piece of real estate. The termappeals to the aesthetic, or visual, attractiveness of a property as viewed by a prospectivebuyer. Improving curb appeal can positively influence your home’s value and marketability, allwith a good return on the cost. And, ultimately, it can lead…

Upsizing your house is a little more involved than opting for the large drink and fry. The appeal of more space can be quite alluring, especially when you are crammed into a tiny space that just no longer does the job. If you are thinking about upsizing your home, then you may want to consider…

Finding it impossible to locate a rental in Detroit or other areas of Michigan? Many people arehaving the same problem. With the median price of homes in July 2021 in Southeast Michigan being at around $260,000, it’s a good time to shift focus and turn to purchasing your own home. The benefits of owningyour own…

If you have paid any attention to the real estate world lately, then you have probably heard the term “seller’s market” tossed around. 2020 became the year the housing market significantly changed. And, if the first half of 2021 is any guide, it looks like 2021 will continue the current cycle. Detroit is no exception…

For a conventional mortgage, paying any less than 20% down will very likely result in private mortgage insurance (PMI) becoming a requirement for your loan to close. PMI ultimately exists to protect the lender from a borrower defaulting on a mortgage in a particularly precarious situation, where the home may be worth very near the…

Many people are confused about the difference between their interest rate and annual percentage rate (APR). While both rates do relate to the total cost of your mortgage, each calculation comes from a distinct set of inputs. It is important to comprehend the differencebetween an advertised rate and how your APR may diverge, even significantly,…

While some lenders provide for other creative charges at times, this is a list of the most commonclosing costs. The list is by no means exhaustive, but it will provide you with an idea of thetraditional costs associated with a mortgage. As you can see, these charges come from thecombination of providers necessary to make…