Detroit was once a thriving metropolitan area where people from the South flocked by the thousands for the outstanding automotive jobs, good schools, and affordable housing. In fact, my own mother-in-law as a newlywed lived there once with her husband who was fresh out of the Korean War and ready to work in order to support his family.
Like that once happy relationship, the love affair with Detroit began to go sour when the car jobs began fading away. As factory after factory closed down, the housing market also began drying up. Today when you hear about houses you can get that are nearly free, it's Detroit, Michigan where many are found.
So really, no house is really free unless it's inherited or someone has just dumb luck. But in Detroit, there's currently a duplex available that has over 2500 square feet, five bedrooms, and two baths with a starting bid of just under $5,000. Now THAT is a real estate deal!
In 2009, 877 homes sold in February in Detroit, but in 2010, they dropped just over 23 percent when only 671 homes sold. The average price in February 2009 was $11,557 for a house. This is a bright spot for the city because in 2010, the average price increased almost 17 percent to $13,514. Perhaps the market value of homes is increasing – certainly good news for Michigan home owners. The good news for buyers in the market is that prices still remain incredibly affordable!
Along with affordable homes, Detroit entertainment is wonderful for people with a sense of humor. Entertainers like Home Improvement's Tim Allen, Comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Howie Mandell, and Talk-Show Host Chelsea Handler are some of the headliners who keep visitors and residents laughing.
If you just want to relax while in the Motor City, you might consider a river cruise on the Detroit Princess. The boat offers a 2 1/2 hour ride and can include a meal if you choose to dine. Otherwise, car museums are a huge attraction for the city, as well as the Motown Museum where the music of the 50's and 60’s helped make America renowned for blending rhythm and blues with rock and roll.
Detroit remains an entertainment mecca where people can still afford home ownership!
Michigan Mortgage Rates - Compare mortgage rates for Michigan to stay on top of the average home value, market value changes, mortgage rates and more in Michigan at Banks.com.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Lincoln Park is Worth Every Penny
With a reputation as one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the nation, Lincoln Park in Chicago, Illinois is well worth every penny paid for real estate in this upscale area.
The Chicago River borders the west side of Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan is the neighbor on the East side. Covering just over three miles, Lincoln Park’s single family residences average about $700,000 and condominiums are available for $325,000 and up.
Real estate is diverse in Lincoln Park – both if you are looking to buy or looking seeking a rental property. Buyers seek affordability and modern features, along with parking spaces, rooftop gardens, and swimming pools. Renters find affordability in studio apartments which start in the $700 range. The more upscale units trumpet their close proximity to the subway, boutique restaurants and lake or river views.
Boutiques are plentiful in Lincoln Park. While retail ranges from French clothes, fancy shoes, and funky decor, one of the most popular stores is The White Elephant Resale Shop on N. Lincoln Avenue that has products ranging from bicycles and musical instruments to household items and designer clothing.
If you prefer entertainment to shopping, Lincoln Park is the home of the famous The Second City where comedy and improve have thrilled audiences for more than 50 years. With shows running seven nights a week, the laughter is contagious. When you are in a more serious mood, however, the Steppenwolf Theater features many of today's most prominent actors who not only headline plays, but are also active in directing, playwriting, filmmaking, and textual adaptation.
Once your shopping or evening out is complete, it may be time to sit down and enjoy a Chicago-style pizza at the Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Company. Try to hold off dinner until after the meal-time rush before you venture in, though, so your wait for this delicious pizza won't be as long. For dessert, go to Molly's Cupcakes on N. Clark Street and taste one of the wide variety of cupcakes available.
Lincoln Park in Chicago, Illinois is more than a place to settle down, it's a way of life that will keep you there!
Illinois Mortgage Rates - Compare mortgage rates for Illinois to stay on top of the average home value, market value changes, mortgage rates and more in Illinois at Banks.com.
The Chicago River borders the west side of Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan is the neighbor on the East side. Covering just over three miles, Lincoln Park’s single family residences average about $700,000 and condominiums are available for $325,000 and up.
Real estate is diverse in Lincoln Park – both if you are looking to buy or looking seeking a rental property. Buyers seek affordability and modern features, along with parking spaces, rooftop gardens, and swimming pools. Renters find affordability in studio apartments which start in the $700 range. The more upscale units trumpet their close proximity to the subway, boutique restaurants and lake or river views.
Boutiques are plentiful in Lincoln Park. While retail ranges from French clothes, fancy shoes, and funky decor, one of the most popular stores is The White Elephant Resale Shop on N. Lincoln Avenue that has products ranging from bicycles and musical instruments to household items and designer clothing.
If you prefer entertainment to shopping, Lincoln Park is the home of the famous The Second City where comedy and improve have thrilled audiences for more than 50 years. With shows running seven nights a week, the laughter is contagious. When you are in a more serious mood, however, the Steppenwolf Theater features many of today's most prominent actors who not only headline plays, but are also active in directing, playwriting, filmmaking, and textual adaptation.
Once your shopping or evening out is complete, it may be time to sit down and enjoy a Chicago-style pizza at the Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Company. Try to hold off dinner until after the meal-time rush before you venture in, though, so your wait for this delicious pizza won't be as long. For dessert, go to Molly's Cupcakes on N. Clark Street and taste one of the wide variety of cupcakes available.
Lincoln Park in Chicago, Illinois is more than a place to settle down, it's a way of life that will keep you there!
Illinois Mortgage Rates - Compare mortgage rates for Illinois to stay on top of the average home value, market value changes, mortgage rates and more in Illinois at Banks.com.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Kansas Real Estate is Affordable
Kansas possibly offers the most affordable real estate in the U.S. - homes that are built strong and located in communities built for the sturdy. In fact, residents have long been of good stock, able to defend themselves, their homes, and their jobs. Early in the history of Lincoln County, an armed man was shot dead by the cashier of the Sylvan State Bank after attempting a robbery. His two accomplices escaped by horseback, never to be seen again.
Kansas is filled with tales like this and dozens of sites of interest. President Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth hid out in a hole in Concordia, there's a space-themed indoor swimming pool in Hutchinson, and you can see a concrete teepee in Lawrence.
Like the teepee, homes in Kansas are built to last. Many feature wood trim, hardwood floors, and are incredibly affordable. For example, one house with almost 2000 square feet, three bedrooms, two baths and a bonus room sits on a large lot with shade trees. It's priced at an incredible $68,000
In Dodge City, you can find a $200,000 piece of real estate with almost 4,000 square feet, three bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, and a plush yard that features a wooden bridge over a gorgeous water feature.
If your taste runs toward land big enough to house a horse ranch with six concreted stalls, along with a tac room, pond, greenhouse, and safe room is available in Benton, Kansas. This gorgeous piece of real estate sits on 40 acres of manicured lawn and some wooded acreage, and is available for just over a half million dollars.
If you'd prefer to participate in a sport less tame than horsemanship, the sunflower state is wide open for outdoorsmen. Sylvan Grove is an area that's renowned for great hunting and fishing because a 9,000 acre lake is located on the Wilson River. With 100 miles of shoreline, the lake is just 10-minutes from town. The area is also famous for its magnificent sandstone, used by early settlers to build fences and even a nearby well-known double-arched bridge that evokes a sense of longing for bygone days.
The best part of Kansas is you don't have to long for the simple life anymore. If you come for a visit, you may fall in love with this affordable, natural state and choose to live here.
If you try to live or pick a land property in Kansas, you should know the mortgage rates across it. A mortgage calculator is a very good and helpful tool to use. Kansas mortgage rates may vary but just try to compare the rates from some of the most reputable lenders across Kansas area.
Kansas is filled with tales like this and dozens of sites of interest. President Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth hid out in a hole in Concordia, there's a space-themed indoor swimming pool in Hutchinson, and you can see a concrete teepee in Lawrence.
Like the teepee, homes in Kansas are built to last. Many feature wood trim, hardwood floors, and are incredibly affordable. For example, one house with almost 2000 square feet, three bedrooms, two baths and a bonus room sits on a large lot with shade trees. It's priced at an incredible $68,000
In Dodge City, you can find a $200,000 piece of real estate with almost 4,000 square feet, three bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, and a plush yard that features a wooden bridge over a gorgeous water feature.
If your taste runs toward land big enough to house a horse ranch with six concreted stalls, along with a tac room, pond, greenhouse, and safe room is available in Benton, Kansas. This gorgeous piece of real estate sits on 40 acres of manicured lawn and some wooded acreage, and is available for just over a half million dollars.
If you'd prefer to participate in a sport less tame than horsemanship, the sunflower state is wide open for outdoorsmen. Sylvan Grove is an area that's renowned for great hunting and fishing because a 9,000 acre lake is located on the Wilson River. With 100 miles of shoreline, the lake is just 10-minutes from town. The area is also famous for its magnificent sandstone, used by early settlers to build fences and even a nearby well-known double-arched bridge that evokes a sense of longing for bygone days.
The best part of Kansas is you don't have to long for the simple life anymore. If you come for a visit, you may fall in love with this affordable, natural state and choose to live here.
If you try to live or pick a land property in Kansas, you should know the mortgage rates across it. A mortgage calculator is a very good and helpful tool to use. Kansas mortgage rates may vary but just try to compare the rates from some of the most reputable lenders across Kansas area.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Fields of Waving Tall Grass
Several years ago, I traveled with my boss to Overland Park, Kansas to provide staffing for a conference of state money officials. We landed in Kansas City, Missouri and had our map printed from Mapquest clutched in our hands to find our way to this prairie community.
We hopped on a bypass from the airport which apparently goes right through some major conservation areas, including what I believe may have been about a hundred miles of the famous tall grass you find in this amazing prairie state. After about 10 minutes of driving through this natural area, my boss started yelling, "You got the wrong directions! We'll never find our way out of here!" It was like a reverse Wizard of Oz moment when we wanted to find our way out of being lost in the Kansas prairie and back to where we knew there was bottled water and shopping malls.
We finally emerged from the wilderness and drove right to our modern-day hotel, none the worse for the wear. What we learned is that Kansas really does have a slice of prairie life – just like you'd imagine from the movies and books. We also learned it is a hub for the arts, gaming, and entertainment communities – very family friendly, but also attractive to young professionals.
Housing is a little high in Overland Park, with prices averaging about $240,000. But at these prices, you'll find real estate with a lot of square footage, plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms, and a fairly low foreclosure rate. In fact, there are only 33 foreclosures now listed on Zillow.com alongside the more than 1,500 homes currently available.
Having the foreclosure rate low helps real estate hold its value in the neighborhoods throughout the area. When foreclosure rates are high, all homes lose value as they are sold at lower prices, which in turn bring the prices of other homes down with them. In addition, the low foreclosure rate also keeps homes occupied – vacant homes attract vandalism as windows get broken, spray paint abounds, and grass grows tall. The irony is sweet that in Overland Park, Kansas and its famed Tall Grass prairie heritage, tall grass in single family residences is rare indeed.
If you try to live or pick a land property in Kansas, you should know the mortgage rates across it. A mortgage calculator is a very good and helpful tool to use. Kansas mortgage rates may vary but just try to compare the rates from some of the most reputable lenders across Kansas area.
We hopped on a bypass from the airport which apparently goes right through some major conservation areas, including what I believe may have been about a hundred miles of the famous tall grass you find in this amazing prairie state. After about 10 minutes of driving through this natural area, my boss started yelling, "You got the wrong directions! We'll never find our way out of here!" It was like a reverse Wizard of Oz moment when we wanted to find our way out of being lost in the Kansas prairie and back to where we knew there was bottled water and shopping malls.
We finally emerged from the wilderness and drove right to our modern-day hotel, none the worse for the wear. What we learned is that Kansas really does have a slice of prairie life – just like you'd imagine from the movies and books. We also learned it is a hub for the arts, gaming, and entertainment communities – very family friendly, but also attractive to young professionals.
Housing is a little high in Overland Park, with prices averaging about $240,000. But at these prices, you'll find real estate with a lot of square footage, plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms, and a fairly low foreclosure rate. In fact, there are only 33 foreclosures now listed on Zillow.com alongside the more than 1,500 homes currently available.
Having the foreclosure rate low helps real estate hold its value in the neighborhoods throughout the area. When foreclosure rates are high, all homes lose value as they are sold at lower prices, which in turn bring the prices of other homes down with them. In addition, the low foreclosure rate also keeps homes occupied – vacant homes attract vandalism as windows get broken, spray paint abounds, and grass grows tall. The irony is sweet that in Overland Park, Kansas and its famed Tall Grass prairie heritage, tall grass in single family residences is rare indeed.
If you try to live or pick a land property in Kansas, you should know the mortgage rates across it. A mortgage calculator is a very good and helpful tool to use. Kansas mortgage rates may vary but just try to compare the rates from some of the most reputable lenders across Kansas area.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Treasure Hunting in Colorado
In the early days of Colorado history, mining for gold was dangerous, hard work although it often sounded glamorous and tempted many. Perhaps the allure of get-rich-quick possibilities still resonates because in Colorado, treasure hunting is big fun and a favorite pastime!
My favorite of the many hunts that you find at the site www.coloradotreasurehunting.com is one that involves real estate! Called The Old House Treasure Hunt, participants are told to count the windows and doors of a rickety old house whose floorboards are questionable, and then it directs the hunters to more hiking, measuring, and searching. Once you take your photo at the old house and all of the hunt sites, you can claim your $100 prize.
If all this exercise and sweating sounds like a bit much for you, there's an easier way to find treasure in Colorado. In Colorado Springs, a home with nearly 2400 square feet, four bedrooms, and three baths is available for $169,000. The location? Treasure Trail. The split-level home could use some updating, but the joy in a remodel project like this is it’s located in a town rich with the history of the old west.
Colorado Springs is located at the base of Pike's Peak in the southern part of the Rocky Mountains. In addition to the amazing scenery, people seeking real estate in this area may also have a leg-up on job prospects. Located nearby is the famous NORAD – the North American Aerospace Defense Command – where the nation's missile defense system is coordinated.
Between tourism, defense jobs, and the high-tech emphasis, people moving to Colorado Springs will need to save somewhat to afford to buy a house. Home listing prices average just over $300,000, but the actual sales prices are around $180,000. The variety of real estate from which to choose is good – from new construction homes available in the low $200's to upscale houses with amazing city and mountain views.
Find and compare bank and mortgage rates in the Colorado area from some of the most reputable lenders. Colorado Mortgage Rates
If you have a hankering for fresh mountain air and are in the mood to sing John Denver songs, give Colorado Springs some serious consideration!
My favorite of the many hunts that you find at the site www.coloradotreasurehunting.com is one that involves real estate! Called The Old House Treasure Hunt, participants are told to count the windows and doors of a rickety old house whose floorboards are questionable, and then it directs the hunters to more hiking, measuring, and searching. Once you take your photo at the old house and all of the hunt sites, you can claim your $100 prize.
If all this exercise and sweating sounds like a bit much for you, there's an easier way to find treasure in Colorado. In Colorado Springs, a home with nearly 2400 square feet, four bedrooms, and three baths is available for $169,000. The location? Treasure Trail. The split-level home could use some updating, but the joy in a remodel project like this is it’s located in a town rich with the history of the old west.
Colorado Springs is located at the base of Pike's Peak in the southern part of the Rocky Mountains. In addition to the amazing scenery, people seeking real estate in this area may also have a leg-up on job prospects. Located nearby is the famous NORAD – the North American Aerospace Defense Command – where the nation's missile defense system is coordinated.
Between tourism, defense jobs, and the high-tech emphasis, people moving to Colorado Springs will need to save somewhat to afford to buy a house. Home listing prices average just over $300,000, but the actual sales prices are around $180,000. The variety of real estate from which to choose is good – from new construction homes available in the low $200's to upscale houses with amazing city and mountain views.
Find and compare bank and mortgage rates in the Colorado area from some of the most reputable lenders. Colorado Mortgage Rates
If you have a hankering for fresh mountain air and are in the mood to sing John Denver songs, give Colorado Springs some serious consideration!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
The Real Estate of Virginia, Based Solely on the Brim Factor!
Virginia is a state brimming with history, political savvy, wonderful attractions, great food, and fantastic real estate. There is no shortage of real estate stories about each of these diverse topics, so here are my favorites! History
One of the most intriguing pieces of historical real estate was owned by one of our founders, Thomas Jefferson. The author of the Declaration of Independence inherited a large estate from his father and built his famous home, Monticello. Jefferson inherited slaves, but freed very few. Those given their freedom the children of famous Sally Hemings, mother to six of Jefferson's children. In Charlottesville where Monticello is located, affordable homes abound, with hundreds of homes available in the $100,000 to $150,000 price range.
Political Savvy
One of the smartest members of Congress is Eric Cantor, house minority whip. As the member who manages the legislative program of his party, it's easy to imagine that he lives in Richmond - just a quick train ride to the Capitol in Washington, D.C. In Richmond, real estate can move quickly since it's also the state capitol where turnover can come in waves. With more than 500 homes currently on the market in the affordable $100,000 to $150,000 price range, homes range from fixer-uppers to those nicely remodeled and move-in ready. Prices are currently rising in Richmond, so sellers must be feeling very optimistic.
Compare mortgage rates for Virginia to stay on top of the average home value, market value changes, mortgage rates and more in Virginia at Banks.com.
Wonderful Attractions
Virginia Beach is one of the loveliest stretches of ocean beauty on the East Coast. Visitors may choose from a variety of beaches to visit, plus they could also go on whale watching excursions, go fishing, or boating. Real estate prices do run high thanks to the great location, but also because of nearby military bases, including Ft. Story and the Naval Station Oceana. If you want to live on the ocean, however, be prepared to pay big. Oceanfront prices average well over a half million, so you'll have to go to the interior land to find real estate below $290,000.
Great Food
The Red Panda Restaurant is one of the most popular Chinese dining experiences in the state of Virginia. With locations in Winchester, Manassas, and Harrisonburg, the variety of food served is as delightful as the variety of real estate in these towns. You can get my favorite Chicken Lo Mein for $6.25 … a fair price for great food. Just as affordable are the homes in Manassas where commuters to Washington, D.C. often buy because of the lower prices.
Fantastic Real Estate
My favorite real estate pick in Virginia today is a four-bedroom, 1850 square foot new construction home in Newport News, Virginia. Priced at $86 per square foot, this great buy is available for $159,900. You can find it by searching trulia.com.
Virginia mortgage rates, home buying tools, average home value, real estate market trends
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