Ah Michigan. The weather will be breaking soon, tulips popping and birds singing. It’s time for those of us thinking of selling our homes to do the famous dance: The Spring Spruce Up!

The best place to start is with a plan of action and assignments for every member of the family:

Saturday for the guys: Dad and son, attack the garage. Afterwards, they are rewarded with a night of yummies and action movies.

Saturday for the girls: Mom and daughter, attack the clutter in the house, dust and hit the cobwebs. Afterwards, they are rewarded by going to a jewelry party.

Sunday for the girls: Mom and daughter hit all the closets, straightening and cleaning them along the way. Finish by vacuuming the floors.

Sunday for the guys: It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s raining, so the guys dive into the basement to categorize stuff and put it in bins. Then they hit the cobwebs.

Afterwards, everyone goes out for dinner and a movie.

If you make the project fun and family oriented, the tasks are easy to accomplish. Plan one month in advance before putting your home on the market. Since the entire family benefits from moving to a new home, so too must the entire family pitch in to help prepare home number one for the sale!

Consider this: Take lots pictures and make time to reminisce about stories related to the old homestead. After all, your home has been good to you, and your children will remember special things about it for the rest of their lives. Buyers love to hear stories about your home. It gives them the warm and fuzzies!

For more tips on doing the Spring Spruce Up dance, feel free to email me, Jeannie Sample, at HomeCoach@hotmail.com.

Macomb County has experienced no natural disaster, no terrorist attack, but residents have been hit by an economic disaster that is no less devastating. With the automobile industry and other manufacturing businesses reeling from overseas competition, job cutbacks and layoffs are eroding the local economies. Homeowners have been able to weather the storm for some time by borrowing against the equity in their homes, but even these hidden stores of wealth are beginning to run out. Without jobs and with no or lousy health insurance, the average citizen has less disposable income, and the effects are rippling through other businesses.

No doubt about it, Macomb County is in a crisis. The question is how do we recover from this crisis and return Macomb County to the thriving metropolitan area we know it can be?

The first step is to change our collective attitude. Negative, defeatist thinking has never led to improvement, and complacency has only gotten us into this mess. We need to develop and nurture a positive, can-do attitude in all of the citizens of Macomb County, young and old. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìLocation, location, location,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù is the mantra for success in real estate, but the mantra for success in our community is ?¢‚Ǩ?ìpositive, positive, positive.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù People who have no faith have to see to believe. People with faith know that they must believe in order to see. To have any hope at achieving success, we have to first believe in it.

In this slumping Michigan economy and in the real estate market that I love, however, having a positive attitude doesn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t seem to be sufficient in and of itself. A positive attitude doesn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t create jobs, make homes easier to sell, or pay the mortgage. Some suggest that Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner simply cut back?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùdownsize. Well, that?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s certainly good in theory, but when homeowners discover that they can?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t get enough for their home to pay off the mortgage, that option is quickly off the table. The only good coming out of all this is that the decline in housing prices will make housing more affordable for the average Joe or Joan, but that?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s little consolation right now, particularly to anyone who?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s making a living in the real estate business.

The solution, it seems, requires a community effort?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùsome grass-roots economic activism. Politicians need to encourage new business startups to tap into the local pools of talent and begin generating some well-paying jobs. We need to provide education to enable our citizens to compete in the global economy. We need to tighten our fiscal belts to keep from going belly up, but loosen them enough to keep cash flowing through local businesses and organizations. Most of all, we need to stay put and work together.

As far as offering specific solutions to recover from the current crisis, I have little to say, but I can offer some general guidelines for the housing industry. From what I have observed over the past several years, I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve realized that our industry is often a cutthroat every-man-for-himself business. Real estate professionals as well and lenders have been more motivated by their own self-interests than by any commitment to build a healthy and thriving industry. Tempting homeowners with risky, interest-only loans and adjustable-rate mortgages, lenders have encouraged homeowners to strip their homes of the equity needed to secure those homes during tough economic times. Real estate professionals have contributed to the problem as well through inflated appraisals, shady contracts, back door deals, and encouraging buyers to purchase more house than they can afford.

Given the current crises, we need to stop measuring success by our own bottom lines and invest in doing what?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s best for the long-term health of our communities and the real estate industry. We must constantly remind ourselves that what?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s best for the homeowner and for our neighbors is what?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s best for us. We need to act with integrity. Times of crises test the soul and character. In these times, we need to be true to our souls and act with integrity. Our lives and the collective lives of all residents of Macomb County depend on it.

The recent trend in the Michigan housing market has prompted those of us who care to ask the question ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú how did so many homeowners get so upside down in their homes? I suppose this question has a three part answer?¢‚Ǩ¬¶the declining market, the foolish homeowner, and the crazy mortgage/lending industry.

The declining market is out of the average homeowner?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s hands. We find ourselves having to place our faith in our legislature to keep our economy strong and in businesses to continue to invest in Michigan. Placing our faith in either, as of late, seems foolhardy at best, and certifiably insane at worst. The two groups of people we are forced to rely on are on opposite sides of the Grand Canyon without a bridge?¢‚Ǩ¬¶or even materials to build one.

The foolish homeowner problem almost always exists. Homeowners always believe their house is worth thousands more than it actually is. Just ask them, and you?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ll see. If a house has sold within a 4-mile radius of their house for $200,000, their house miraculously is the mirror image of that house and is suddenly worth $200,000 or more. After all, their house has a 2 1/2-car garage and that house only had a 2-car garage.

Based on their irrational exuberance built into the self-assessed values of their own homes, homeowners began using their homes as ATMs to cash out all of the equity in their homes. In some cases, they even cashed out more equity than they had built up in their homes. All they needed to justify it was a job, the notion that the house ?¢‚Ǩ?ìaround the corner?¢‚Ǩ¬ù sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and that housing values would continue to rise indefinitely.

The more people I talk to overwhelmingly point their fingers at the crazy lending institutions that loaned marginal borrowers unbelievable amounts of money. I hear it every day how insane it was for a lender to loan 100% or in some cases more than 100% of the value of the house, interest only, 3-5 year ARMs, with a debt-to-income ratio nearing 50%. What did the lending institution think would happen when (as every market eventually does) the Michigan housing market hit a bump in the road? Check that, what did they think would happen when the market even thought about a bump in the road, let alone what the market is doing right now in Michigan?

More and more I see homeowners who (partly to blame) took out these crazy loans, and more unbelievably I see lenders who issued them. The mortgage industry literally bit the hand that was feeding them, and in some cases they ate the whole arm. By setting homeowners up for almost certain failure, the industry didn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t do anyone, especially themselves, any favors. In record numbers, Michigan homeowners are unable to sell their homes for what they owe. In record numbers, Michigan homeowners are unable to refinance their homes because of lack of equity. In record numbers, Michigan homeowners are staring escalating interest rates in the face as their ARMs mature. In record numbers, Michigan homeowners are simply walking away from their homes, no longer able to afford them. In record numbers, Michigan homeowners are filing bankruptcy or losing their homes in foreclosure. In record numbers, Michigan homes are sitting vacant ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú for sale as a bank-owned or REO property. And in record numbers, lending institutions are seeing the fantastic profits realized during the lending boom, slowly melt away.

Only now are people questioning the loans that were given and the criteria used to issue them. The people I talk to are blaming the lenders most of all. They argue that the lending institution, even if not ethically bound not to issue some of these loans, should not have issued them purely for profit. The ?¢‚Ǩ?ìlend to anyone?¢‚Ǩ¬ù policy of some organizations has served only to turn a slumping Michigan housing market into one that appears to have jumped from the plane without a parachute. What I hear the most is that ?¢‚Ǩ?ìthey should have known better.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù Lenders made obtaining loan approval for huge loans as easy as getting a credit card. The caveat always used to be ?¢‚Ǩ?ìbuyer beware,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù but it seems now that it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s become ?¢‚Ǩ?ìborrower beware.”

I keep hearing that ?¢‚Ǩ?ìWe?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re Michiganders, and Michiganders always find a way to survive,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù but to do that we need to hold our businesses, legislators, lenders, and even ourselves to a higher standard; we need to make wise decisions; and we need to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and move on. We need to practice a little more fiscal responsibility and realize that deficit spending on any level is irresponsible and dangerous.

Fair warning to those ready to buy a home in Macomb County (MI). Once you and your loved one have gone giddy about your dream home, there’s always the signing process to get through.

Now, either right before or most commonly right after you sign the papers you will sense something zap you from the very pen you just used. This horrible feeling will travel up your arm and drain all the blood from your face. Your mouth will drop open and suddenly you will say, ?¢‚Ǩ?ìWHAT HAVE I DONE?!?¢‚Ǩ¬ù Sometimes the sensation lurks in your system, like a dreaded disease, and doesn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t hit you until 3:00 a.m. in the morning of the next day.

Those of us in real estate call this ?¢‚Ǩ?ìBuyer?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Remorse?¢‚Ǩ¬ù There are other symptoms that we recognize. The classic is the blood draining out of your face until you?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re as white as a marshmallow, no matter what race you are! I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve seen people break out into a sweat, literally start shaking, even look as if they are going to be ill. They push away from the table, drop their mouth open and men are the worse! They pace, they stammer, they get the deer in the headlight look like no other.

It is curable though. In fact, I just cured it for you! Once you know what it is, you will recognize it and it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s diffused. When you wake up at 3:00 in the morning, you will know why you are tearing the sheets. So go back to bed, don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t call the sales rep in the middle of the night, and know you made the best decision you could make. If you follow the tips in my ?¢‚Ǩ?ìHOME BUYERS TOOLKIT?¢‚Ǩ¬ù before you even look for a home, the dreaded Buyer?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Remorse won?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t even hit you!

As you might have imagined, I have tons of tips for homebuyers and sellers. I would be happy to help anyone with their real estate needs in Macomb County, Oakland County (MI) or any other counties surrounding or in the Detroit Metro area. Contact me (Jeannie Sample) at HomeCoach at hotmail dot com or (810) 614-2120.

So you have decided to move your family. Thousands of people, all over Southeastern Michigan, start this process by turning their computers on and surfing the net for a home.

However, before you spend hours muddling through hundreds of homes for sale, let?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s take a look at an effective plan of attack. This can save you thousands of dollars and help you avoid costly mistakes. The tough times in Michigan are critical to your outcome, but there is a way!

• It is vital to search for a good lending institution. No, they are not all alike! This is your first call before the hunt begins. Call three mortgage companies or banks and give them an idea of what you are looking to spend. By law, they must give you a GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE of what you closing costs and rate will be. Often times, internet-financing companies and some companies attempt to do a bait and switch on your fees. In other words, the closing costs appear attractively low but by the time you get to the closing, they are substantially higher. Make sure you get your GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE! Shop and compare apples to apples with each bank and then decide on what program is best for you. There are thousands of mortgage programs available. There are even programs for buying a home that needs updating and they give you the money to update the home!
• You already have a home and equity is vital for the down payment on your next home. Forget that I am a Realtor, seriously, and heed my advice. In today?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s very difficult times for Michigan, you have to be EXACT and STRATEGIC in your home selling plans. The reason that there are so many homes on the market in Michigan and sitting well over a year is what I call: THE LACK OF THE REAL ESTATE REALITY CHECK! Here is what you need to have YOUR REALITY CHECK and sell your home within a reasonable amount of time:

1. The FBI is investigating appraisal fraud in Michigan, as we speak, in Michigan! What does this have to do with you? Plenty! Appraisers are terrified of being caught, so they have squeezed down their appraisal parameters. In other words, appraisers were able to bend a bit when it came to the bank appraisal done when your home sold. They used comparative SOLD homes up to one-year back and were flexible with square footage, condition etc. Now, appraisers are so nervous about their accuracy that they only go back a few months of SOLD homes and they had better be the exact same footage. With Michigan?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s housing market dropping in dollars by the month, this is going to hurt your wallet. Pay $250 and get an accurate appraisal done on your home. Find out what its worth BEFORE you get your heart set on a new home. Number two will give you another accurate barometer of what your home is worth.
2. OK, we know you don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t want to hire a Realtor, but call one! They have the information you need! When I say call them, call an experienced full time agent who lives and breathes real estate. Make sure they know your community and what is going on with the market conditions TODAY, not six months ago. The Michigan market is highly volatile right now and you need someone with a pulse on the current conditions.
3. Here is the most important REALITY CHECK I can give you. When looking at the homes in your area and trying to find good comparables, the SOLD homes are the only ones that count! If Brenda down the street has her house for sale at $200,000, it doesn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t mean her home or your home is worth that! She hasn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t received the sold sign yet! I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve seen entire neighborhoods selling their homes at outrageous prices for the times we are in. Take a look at the homes for sale for only two reasons: what they are selling for and the DOM or Days on the Market. If Brenda has had her house on the market for 156 days at $200,000, she is asking too much for her home! Look carefully at the solds, at your square footage, in your same condition, in your neighborhood no farther than a one-mile radius, preferably less. Now take a good swallow of your favorite strong drink, gulp and that is what your home is worth in Michigan in these tough times.

Stay tuned for secret tips for finding the right home without searching for months and looking at dumps!