Sunday, January 25, 2009

You're Invited to a Very Special Presentation from the MML.


If you refuse to participate in this recession, and have made the commitment to keep and grow your business in Michigan, this presentation is for you.

Rob Ferrari of the Michigan Municipal League will join us for a Special Hour of Power, where he will outline what is being done on a local level to grow Michigans economy.

The MML is VERY interested in the efforts that Local Entrepreneurs (like us) make to help the local and state economies.

The Michigan Municipal League is the one clear voice for Michigan communities. Through advocacy at the state and federal level, they proactively represent municipalities to help them sustain highly livable, desirable, and unique places within the state. We create and offer our members services and events that range from traditional to cutting edge, in order to help educate and inspire them to remain focused on their passion for the area they represent. They are a non-profit. They act with the fervor of entrepreneurs. Their people are dynamic, energetic and highly approachable, passionately and aggressively pushing change for better communities.

PLEASE RSVP if you would like to attend. Seating is limited. We look forward to seeing you on the 5th.

Michigan Municipal League Presentation
Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 6PM
Huron Valley Financial
2395 Oak Valley Dr. #200
Ann Arbor, MI

This event is Sponsored by:
Huron Valley Financial
The Bundesen Team at Real Estate One
A2 Biz Insights Professional Development
Ann Arbor Power Network
Washtenaw Real Estate Investors

Thursday, January 15, 2009

. . .and another thing about your homes value

If you're contemplating placing your home on the market this year, and think that remodeling projects will increase it's value, please study carefully the table.

A scant two to three years ago, it was well worth the expense at completing rehab projects, but as house values have shrunk, so have the returns on remodeling jobs when it comes time to sell. This table outlines which projects bring the best return.

Project

Percent of Cost Recouped

Percentage Drop Since 2005

Replace Siding

80.7%

-15%

Minor Kitchen Remodel

79.5%

-19%

Window Replacement

77.7%

-12%

Major Kitchen Remodel

76.0%

-9%

Bathroom Remodel

74.6%

-28%

Deck Addition

73.7%

-17%

Monday, January 12, 2009

5,000 New Jobs in the next 2 Years Predicted in Washtenaw County

In its annual economic report, the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations of the University of Michigan, reported that the positive momentum from Washtenaw’s knowledge-based and health-related sectors dominate, providing for a gain of 2,000 jobs in 2009 and 3,000 in 2010.

Economically, the community has held on to jobs because of its diversity.Two quotes from the report:

“It is a tribute to the underlying resiliency of the Washtenaw County [where Ann Arbor lies] economy that the job hit overall was not much harder. One sector that has come to the rescue in these times is health care, both private and public."

"Ann Arbor's promise is rooted in its endowments of a world-class research university and a well-educated populace. The region does have to weather its immediate problems, but it does not have to change its essence to thrive in the economy of the future. Washtenaw County is already out front on this."





Saturday, January 10, 2009

December 2008 Ann Arbor Home Sales Report

It's not a pretty picture. Ann Arbor Single Family Home average sales prices are down by almost 30% from November 2007, and the Year To Date comparison shows 15.6% average sales price decline, or 1.3% per month.

Here are the latest statistics from the Ann Arbor Board of Realtors. These numbers are for Single Family Homes (SFH) Residential, and do not include condominiums:

SFH Listings in December 2007: 442
SFH Listings in December 2008: 409
Decrease: 7.5%

SFH Listings Y.T.D. 2007: 11,131
SFH Listings Y.T.D. 2008: 8,529
Decrease: 23.4%

SFH Sales December 2007: 224
SFH Sales November 2008: 216
Decrease: 3.6%

SFH Sales Y.T.D. 2007: 3,062
SFH Sales Y.T.D. 2008: 3,082
Increase: 0.006%

SFH Avg. Days on Market Dec. 2007: 81
SFH Avg. Days on Market Dec. 2008: 73

SFH Avg. Days on Market Y.T.D. 2007: 77
SFH Avg. Days on Market Y.T.D. 2008: 80

SFH Avg. Sales Price Dec. 2007: $244,897
SFH Avg. Sales Price Nov. 2008: $173,343
Decrease: 29.3%

SFH Avg. Sales Price Y.T.D. 2007: $250,286
SFH Avg. Sales Price Y.T.D. 2008: $211,342
Decrease: 15.6%