According to the 2007 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers from National Association of Realtors, the top five sources of down payment money follows:

1.        Savings
2.        Proceeds from the sale of a primary residence
3.        Gift from Relatives or Friends
4.        Sale from Stocks or Bonds
5.        Equity from Residence (continue to own)

I was surprised to learn that 73% of first time buyers are using money they had saved to come up with their down payment on a home.  We see many of our clients as first time home buyers as a result of attending the seminars.

Per the study, 43% of repeat buyers will use money from savings to at least help partially cover the down payment of their new home. Many people get proceeds from sale of primary residence.

For more information on what  how you can buy a home, go to the buyer section for Special Reports and see the Home Buyer Steps.  Also be sure to check when our next First Time Home Buyer Seminar is with free pre-approval.  If you need to get your credit under control, let our lenders help you step by step, like fitness training for your wallet.

Nationally the median down payment by first-time buyers was 4 percent, up from 2 percent in 2007; the number purchasing with no money down fell from 45 percent in 2007 to 34 percent in the current survey. “The study covers transactions through the middle of 2008, so we can assume the down payment numbers have shifted recently because credit tightened and no-down payment loans all but disappeared around the close of the survey,” Lawrence Yun, Chief NAR economist, explained.

Of first-time buyers who made a down payment, 69 percent used savings and 26 percent received a gift from a friend or relative, typically from their parents. Another 7 percent received a loan from a relative or friend, while 16 percent tapped into a 401(k) fund, stocks or bonds. Ninety-two percent chose a fixed-rate mortgage.

Remember to tell any one looking to buy a home about our…

ANN ARBOR HOME BUYING SEMINAR
January 20th at 6:30 pm

Click here to search all Ann Arbor area Michigan homes
and condos with pictures and tours - FREE!

Kathy Toth and Team

www.KathyToth.com
Keller Williams Realty

ann arbor homes

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Savvy Michigan homeowners are battling all-time-high energy costs by incorporating building techniques to make their homes more energy efficient. As more people begin to struggle to meet rising utility costs, these practices are expected to grow in popularity.

Just as current Ann Arbor homeowners are renovating with energy savings in mind, new home builders are seeing increased demand for green buildings and energy-efficient homes.

Here are some ideas for how you can reduce your energy consumption – and costs – this winter by selecting building materials and appliances that promise to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

1. Use Highly Rated Energy-Star Appliances: This is not a new idea, but as costs rise, Ann Arbor real estate buyers are looking at the yellow energy-consumption tags on new appliances more seriously. Retailers know that buyers are paying more attention to the higher-rated appliances, and this could lead to more advertising and discounts for such products.
2. Consider How You Heat Your Water: Most homes have a traditional tank-style water heater. However, with rising heating costs, this practice may change. Other options for heating water in your home include solar heating and tankless water heaters.
   ~Solar water heating requires a significant upfront investment, but once it is installed you no longer need to pay for heating the water. Installation includes a pump, plumbing through which the water circulates for exposure to the sun, and possibly large glass tanks for storing the hot water.
   ~A tankless water heater has no storage tank and the water is heated as you need it. Heating water on demand is much less expensive than heating water and storing it until it is needed.
3. Supplement Your Electricity: Installing photovoltaic roof shingles instead of standard asphalt shingles lets you use the sun’s energy to generate supplemental electricity for your home. A wire is pulled from each shingle and connected to the home’s power grid. You might not be able to generate enough electricity to meet all your needs, but with rising costs, every bit of savings can be a huge help during the middle of our freezing Michigan winters.
   ~If you are considering a new roof or you are building a home, consider using this roofing material to decrease your utility bills.
4. Consider Your Home’s Placement: If your home was built 50 or more years ago, it probably is already more energy efficient than most new homes. This is because central air-conditioning was not prevalent in the past. To keep homes cool in the summer, windows were located strategically for cross-drafts. Also, the largest windows were designed to receive the morning sun, thereby helping to heat the home.   As energy prices declined, many homes were built without these considerations. However, today’s builders are beginning to return to traditional building practices in order to have more energy-efficient homes.
5. Consider Your Window Treatments: Whether you live in a new or old home, or are building your home, you can control your window treatments. What you put on your windows can make a serious different in your home’s heating and cooling costs. Light- and heat-filtering blinds and heavy draperies may significantly reduce the need for continuous air-conditioning.

Hopefully, this information has given you some ideas for countering rising energy costs. By using one or more of these suggestions, you can make your Michigan home more energy efficient. If you decide to sell your home in the future, these updates may make your home more attractive to buyers.

The US Department of Energy has a very informative website which includes a Consumer’s Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.  There is a ton of great information available.

Related Links
See What Ann Arbor is Doing to GO GREEN | Click here
Ann Arbor Green Building Continues on Downtown Projects

BusinessWeek teamed up with OnBoard Informatics, provider of real estate analysis, to create a list of each state’s best affordable towns for raising children. Factors in the analysis were:

• school performance
• affordability
• safety
• cost of living
• air quality
• job growth
• racial diversity
• parks
• ball fields
• zoos
• recreation centers
• museums
• theaters

Among the top ranked were:

1. Mount Prospect, IL
2. Phoenix, AZ
3. Columbus, OH
4. Our Very Own Ann Arbor, MI
5. Huntsville, AL
6. Lexington, KY.

Also mentioned was that Ann Arbor is the most kid-and cost-friendly city in Michigan. The Web site establishes it as one of the best college towns in the United States for its acres of parks, galleries, museums, restaurants, boutiques and seven gold courses. It reported our population as: 118,194 and median household income as: $87,061.

Just click for more local community and school information on Ann Arbor, Brighton, Michigan International Speedway, Chelsea, Dexter, Grass Lake Community Tour, Manchester, Pinckney, Saline, Stockbridge, Ypsilanti.

We love our area and welcome newcomers with open arms. For Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County videos visit my YouTube.   GO BLUE!

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FREE MLS Search - View Current Homes for Sale Search the local Ann Arbor MLS and find the homes for sale in your desired area. Stop looking through 3 different papers, get the whole Ann Arbor homes list here for FREE. Plus receive daily updates via email, for any new listings. All for FREE - no strings attached!

Find Out  the Value of Your Ann Arbor Home Get an over the net estimate of how much your Ann Arbor home is worth - FREE! We search the local MLS, along with data the public does not have access to, and find out how much your home is worth in current market conditions.

Did you ever think you are in your box and you need to get out?  Maybe you are in your box and don’t know you are stuck.  There is a whole world of music out there that you might have not heard.

Just take a 2 minute look at this Japanese water fall to get a fresh perspective on water and the messages you see. Are you thinking out of the box?

Inside The Box

Thinking inside the box means accepting the status quo. Charles H. Duell, Director of the US Patent Office, said, “Everything that can be invented has been invented.”  In 1899,he was in the box!

Outside the Box

Thinking outside the box requires questioning; different thinking and leaving the comfort zone:

• Willingness to take new perspectives with day-to-day work.
• Openness to do different things and to do things differently.
• Focusing on the value of finding new ideas and acting on them.
• Striving to create value in new ways.
• Listening to others.
• Supporting and respecting others when they come up with new ideas.

Have you found some unique negotiating techniques? Let me know if this was interesting.

TRICK-OR-TREATING MAY TAKE PLACE IN ANN ARBOR NEIGHBORHOODS
ON FRIDAY, OCT. 31, 2008, BETWEEN 5 AND 8 P.M.

Halloween is the children’s night for tricks and treats … ghosts and goblins … haunts and horrors. Unfortunately, some of the horrors are all too real. Every year, on Halloween, many children suffer from auto accidents, fire injuries, falls, cuts, bruises or poisoned treats. Be aware and be informed so your children can have a safe, enjoyable Halloween. Supervise your children’s evening, and stay in neighborhoods that are well-lit and familiar. Here are more precautions to help keep your Halloween happy.

RISKY ROADWAYS
• Children become careless from excitement and may run into the road.
• Dusk is the time of poorest visibility for drivers. Try to Trick or Treat while it is still daylight.
• Choose a costume that is easy to walk in, easy to see out of and can be seen by car drivers.
• If the Trick or Treating lasts into the night, wear a light colored costume.
• Use reflective tape on the costume for additional visibility.

DANGEROUS DRESS
• Loose costumes, oversized bags or unsafe shoes can cause falls or accidents.
• Masks reduce vision.
• Sharp or pointed toy weapons are unsafe.
• If wearing a mask, choose one that is cool, comfortable and easy to see out of. Take
off the mask before crossing the street. Better yet, wear make-up instead of a mask.

FRIGHTFUL FLAMES
• Billowing costumes are dangerous around an open flame.
• Flowing false-hair wigs are unsafe around candles.
• Wigs and costumes should be of non-flammable materials.
• Use a flashlight. It makes children more visible and lights their way.

TREACHEROUS TREATS
• It’s sad, but true, that some people wish to cause harm. Treats must be checked for potential poisoning or unsafe objects.
• Unpackaged items such as popcorn or small candies should be DISCARDED.
• Candy with loose or torn wrappings should be DISCARDED.
• If you should discover anything wrong with the “TREATS” brought home, report it to law enforcement so that other parents may be warned and the people responsible caught. In Ann Arbor, call police services at 734.994.2911.

We could all use something positive.

“Ghosting” is a fun Halloween tradition of doing something nice for your neighbors and friends. In the spirit of “paying it forward”, everyone needs more positive touches in their life. In our current world filled with constant negative news, Ghosting It Forward is an effort to spread some positive touches to neighbors locally or friends virtually. Whether it is an anonymous note of thanks to your neighbor, a bunch of flowers, a bar of chocolate, an inspirational book or movie, or just a smiley face, Ghosting It Forward will energize people who send and receive the positive touches. To join us in “Ghosting It Forward”.

I have done this before in Ann Arbor, Michigan and watched the delight in the recipients face; just find instructions and you can get started “Ghosting It Forward”.

No tricks, just all Good Treats.

You’ve Been Ghosted!
Keep Ghosting It Forward!

The Phantom ghost has come around
To leave you goodies I see you have found.
If you do not wish a curse to fall
Continue this greeting, this ghostly call.
First, post this ghost where it can be seen
On a door or window until Halloween.
This will keep ghosts from visiting again
Be sure to participate, if you don’t it’s a shame…
Make three treats, three ghosts, three notes - just like this.
Take them to three neighbors who may have been missed.
Don’t let them see you, be sneaky, no doubt.
Check back to be sure that they put their ghost out.
You don’t have much time to act, so be fast!
Leave treats at homes where no ghost has passed!
Deliver after dark, when there’s barely a light…
Ring a doorbell and run, then stay out of sight!!!
And last but not least, come join in the season.
Don’t worry, be happy, you’ll need no good reason.
Be scary, have fun and try not to be seen
And share in the spirit of this
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

MySpace Ghost Animations provided by MySpaceAnimations.com

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Click here to search all Ann Arbor area Michigan homes
and condos with pictures and tours - FREE!

What I want to know from buyers, is what kind of content do you like?
We invite you to comment.

Dexter Cider Mill, located at 3685 Central, Dexter, MI 48130 on the Huron River is the stop to take for tasting wine from Sandhill Crane Vineyards hailing from 4724 Walz Road, Jackson, MI 49201, Phone (517) 764-0679. They are Open 7 Days A Week (April 1 - December 31) Monday - Saturday 11-6 and Sunday Noon-6.  Click here to view a MAP of the location.

Wine Tasting and wine making is a fun past time for many people.  I am very fond of Napa Valley trips.  We have some nice wine tours in Leelanau, too, that we highly suggest, near our place at The Homestead Resort.   The video below is a snippet of tasting.

My friends have been to the Sandhill Crane Vineyard, but I have not have had the pleasure yet.  The wine I tasted here is Traminette: “2006 Dry Traminette - Silver Medals - 2007 Taster’s Guild Int’l. Competition & 2005 Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition; 2006 & 2007 Jefferson Cup Invitational - Certificate of American Merit award. Floral notes on the nose, with hints of pear, melon, and tropical fruits, and a dry, crisp citrusy finish”….per their website at Sandhill Crane Vineyard.

I love the fall in Michigan and am happy to tour newcomers to our area.  If you know any one relocating or moving, call us for up to date Ann Arbor or Dexter real estate market and community information. Dexter Cider Mill, owned by Marty and Nancy Steinhauer as a family business for 23 years. The cider mill has been owned and operated there since 1886.

Related Links - Visit some of my other favorite places
Visit Zingermans | Click here
Zingerman’s constantly strives to be better

Grand Traverse Pie Company | Click here
The menu is varied, the fare light

Cupcake Station | Click here
The best is the red velvet cake

Listen to this song by www.SharingHope.tv

I bet you know some one who has had or has breast cancer.  We are in search of knowledge, support, and the cure.  Below is a synopsis or resources that are worth looking at.  The U of M  Cancer Center has a library which is a great help.  You can check out most things for 2 weeks.  One book I found helpful was "Show Me" from Penn State.

Hope starts with each of us.  I have a personal interest and I am a supporter.
 

You can view or download DBCC’s Suggested Breast Cancer Resources here (Requires Adobe Acrobat).   Here are some other websites that may be of interest:

I am certain of our future here in Washtenaw County.  We are better off than other areas of our state.  Our employment rate is better, our foreclosure rate is better and our prognosis is good. 

The Ann Arbor real estate market is coming close to the bottom.  The only problem with the bottom is knowing when it hits.  Usually it becomes evident when it has turned around and you miss the very bottom. 

The interest rates are still fantastic.  There are some investment properties that are huge deals.  See some of these duplexes in Chelsea, MI for example 

Stop by our ANN ARBOR HOME BUYER SEMINAR on Oct 28th to invest in some great deals.

Related Links
Foreclosure Deals | Click here
           View this weeks bank owned properties

Generating Positive Cash Flow | Click here
           Real estate as a viable investment option?

Ann Arbor Real Estate Investments | Click here
          How to increase your odds of making it successful

Click here to search all Ann Arbor area Michigan homes and condos with pictures and tours - FREE!