Reasons To Be Thankful About Lansing Michigan & Why It's A Great Place to Buy Real Estate

My son Matt wrote these items up on what the greater Lansing area should be thankful for this Thanksgiving. There are several great reasons here that should make anyone want to buy a house in the greater Lansing area:

· I Believe in Greater Lansing ~ Do you?

· Our Community is bursting with Opportunities and Possibilities.

· 93 % of greater Lansing’s work force is WORKING!

· Over 4700 properties have SOLD year to date with Local REALTORS®

· There has NEVER been a better time to invest in Real Estate.

· The largest selection of homes in years is a major benefit for the Buyers.
· Interest rates are remaining VERY favorable.

· Low income and first-time Home Buyer programs are available.

· The Dream of Home Ownership is the fabric of our culture.

· Programs are in place to help homeowners keep their homes.

· $6 Million Federal Boost Set Aside for Lansing Neighborhoods

· Our performing arts and cultural centers are alive and well and growing.

· We are Green with outdoor sports, excellent parks and nature centers.

· Our Museums are wonderful family time opportunities.

· CATA was awarded #ONE public transportation in North America

· Lansing is the only region in the world with two new auto plants.

· The most technologically advanced plants in the world are producing some of the hottest and best vehicles in the country.

· GM owns an additional 700+ acres in Delta Township for the future.

· GM has the potential and opportunities to be a world leader again.

· The State of Michigan Government is in our front yard.

· Michigan State University is a community treasure and world leader.

· The Spartans beat U of M this year and are going to a choice bowl game.

· Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the country.

· Sparrow Health Systems is growing, building and healing at a record pace.

· Ingham Regional recently constructed a state-of-the-art Heart Center.

· Our Community has become a model leader in Health Care.

· Technology and Biotechnology companies are expanding in greater Lansing.

· Major Insurance companies (headquarters) are expanding.

· We have the largest cluster of Insurance companies in the country.

· Financial Leaders and Service growth is occurring all over the region.
· People are still transferring every day into our area from around the country.

· Lansing was awarded “top ten” best tasting water in America.

· Community support and fundraising remain very high. We Care!

· We have proactive and enthusiastic Leaders in Regional Development.

· The Capital Area is one of Michigan’s growth trend communities and is

an important player in Michigan’s economic recovery.

· Lansing is receiving national attention for being VERY affordable.

· Greater Lansing is an excellent place to live, to raise a family, and to work.

· www.capitalgainsmedia.com is an excellent local resource for good news.

· I’m Thankful for Greater Lansing ~ Are You?

Matthew M. Bowler

Happy Thanksgiving to You and Your Families, Mike

Mike Bowler Sr. ePRO, CRB, GRI, SRES
Coldwell Banker Hubbell Briarwood
1020 S. Creyts Road, Lansing, MI 48917
Phone: 517-492-3400 Fax: 888-832-6203
email: Mike@MikeBowler.com
Search Homes around the Greater Lansing Area

The Video That Made Me Cry - Christian the Lion | Thank Goodness It's Monday

Love comes in many fashions - hope you enjoy. Mike

more about "The Video That Made Me Cry - Christia...", posted with vodpod

I've Got the Real Estate Blues

Frankie lee has a great song to share here, that is so true. His humor, lyrics, and wittiness will make you smile at our current problems and challenges. Hope you enjoy.

more about "I've Got the Real Estate Blues", posted with vodpod

"The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be"

"The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be". Paul Valery He is best known as a French poet who made the above statement and contributed much to society. Those of us in the real estate business, mortgage business or consumers attempting to sell their homes can relate to this quote. Real estate is not what it used be, and probably never will be. These are certainly challenging times for everyone. Regardless of where I go, what I read, or listen to, it seems to ring with the negativity that comes with mediocrity. Are we as a nation wailing in our own self pity, or are we going to be part of the solution. Real estate markets are just that, real estate markets. There is no such thing as a good market and a bad market, it's just a market. Supply and demand have always controlled the price of housing.

Now, granted it does not help having troubled financial institutions, politicians talking out of both sides of the mouth, or funny money be created by our Government. Between these fiascoes and the media consistently driving bad news down our throats 24 hours a day, it is challenging to stay positive. I can assure you one thing, that is, from 2000 to 2006 when home prices were going through the roof, mortgages were provided to anyone who could fog a mirror, and homes were having two and three offers written on them, no one complained. You can go back in history and see a similar pattern in the 70's. 80's and 90's. Yes the future is not what it used to be, however, it does resemble the past.

I have a sign that hangs above my desk, that I am in the habit of reading each and everyday. It says: "Tough Times Never Last, Tough People Do!" quoted off a Book title written by, Robert H. Schuller back in the 80's. Another little reminder that I have hanging there is a sign that says, "I must do the most productive thing possible at every given moment". Tom Hopkins. Tommy was an inspiration to my real estate business and life in general back in the early eighties and still is today. When interest rates were 18% people thought the sky was falling, however we survived.

You may ask, who this post is meant for? It's meant for all of us. If we want to make this world a better place to live, we need to start at home. We need to go help a friend, neighbor, or shelter down the street. We need to share our experiences, our smile, and our attitude with others. We need to get out of our own head and be of service to other people. I believe, that our world will change, when we do. What do you think?

Inventory of New Homes at Low, Could Be Good News for Other Sellers

I received this post today from The Mortgage Guys, in Lansing Michigan. They keep me posted on a daily basis of the current financial market conditions, interest rates and to either lock in the rates or float. This is good service for home buyers and sellers in the greater Lansing area to have access to search homes on my site and get solid financial information from my contacts in our concierge department. Thanks Don for another great update.

In August, home builders broke ground on the fewest number of homes since January 1991.

It was the 16th straight month in which Housing Starts declined.

But, although the press labels these statistics indicative of a recession, home sellers nationwide quietly applaud them.

With fewer new homes coming on the market, home sellers are finding that there's less competition for buyers, helping them to command higher prices for their homes.

It's Supply and Demand in its most basic form.

But that's not all that home buyers have to worry about. The most recent Existing Home Sales report showed an increase in sales nationwide, plus a reduction in the number of single-family homes for sale.

Again, Supply and Demand. Good for sellers, bad for buyers.

However, we should keep in mind that real estate is local. What we see in national and regional trends are not as important as what's happening in your town, your neighborhood, and your street. But, if we learn one thing from the chart above, it's this: builders are rational.

If homes won't sell, builders will stop building them. And, sooner or later, the market -- and home prices -- will catch up.

(Image courtesy: The Wall Street Journal)

"Expect the Best" Mike

Selling Your Home in the Greater Lansing Real Estate Market? Here Are 10 Keys

Find the key to getting the most exposure for your real estate in the greater Lansing real estate market by talking to your agent about their Internet marketing plan for your house. The following questions, if answered properly will get your home the most exposure, which will generate traffic and interest. Top priority of course is pricing your home competitively based on recent sales.

1. Do you have a personal website, that syndicates out to other sites on the web?
2. What are those additional sites that my home will be marketed on?
3. If what fashion will you drive traffic to these sites?
4. Will you use keywords, pinging programs and social networking sites?
5. Will you post my house on a real estate Blog with links back to my property on your site?
6. Will you use a program like SawItOnLine to build ads for Craig's List and other media's?
7. Are you using a smart phone with instant email to respond fast to buyer inquiries?
8. Will you post my house on major Portals like Trulia, Realtor.com & Zillow?
9. Do you have marketing plans to talk about the amenities of my community?
10. Will you keep me abreast to all marketing, activity and communication by email?

If you would like to learn more about marketing your home in today's challenging real estate market, by getting the best exposure, feel free to contact me or visit my website today!

"Expect the Best" Mike