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!

Larry Carlton, guitar idol, played at Mega Camp for Keller Williams before he left for Japan.  What a guitar legend and treasure to us all.  I just picked a video from his site,  mr335.tv, to include so you get an idea of the caliber of musician he really is.

Hands on Museum? It’s in Kerrytown.

Zingerman’s? Yep, that’s Kerrytown too.

Kerrytown Market and Shops owner Joe O’Neal made a conscious decision to rent space to locally-owned businesses – to choose a Sweetwater’s over a Starbucks – for example. It’s just one of those things that has helped preserve the historic neighborhood’s unique character.

The Kerrytown District is part of what used to be an African-American neighborhood, and Relyea says its history includes a lot of Underground Railroad activity.

Relyea opened the Kerrytown Concert House in 1984, converting the pre-Civil War house, one of the oldest in the neighborhood, into a 100-sea performance venue, with teaching space upstairs. The Concert House hosts everything from theater groups to kids’ piano recitals to an avant garde jazz festival in October.

Lest you doubt that there’s always something interesting going on in Kerrytown, on August 21 the Kerrytown District Association sponsored “Nash Bash”– a mini country music festival complete with beer, barbecue and performers from Nashville. Nash Bash was rounded out by “Trunk-A-Palooza,” a garage sale where people sold things out of their car trunks.

I love to take a break from the Ann Arbor Real Estate Market to explore the unique shops and grab a bite to eat; I invite you to explore and let me know what your favorite is.