If you feel like you’re being drenched by utility bills, you may be looking for ways to cut your monthly costs. While utilities like internet and cable TV may seem like obvious targets, your water bill can also run much higher than necessary. Missing water bill payments could also eventually hurt your credit score. While most utilities don’t report on-time payments to the credit bureaus, many will report accounts that have gone into default or collections, which will cause your scores to take a hit. The... read more

The 2020 housing market looks to remain positive as strong economic growth and low mortgage rates contribute to upward movement, while rising demand and short supply will increase competition. Let’s take a closer look at the local real estate market here in the great state of Michigan.The average sales price of homes in mid-Michigan’s Greater Lansing area has risen 7.4% from $168,053 to $180,537 in December 2019. As of last month, the number of available homes for sale is in the Greater Lansing market c... read more

With a massive 6,100 square foot home overlooking 37 acres of natural beauty, there are few listings in Southeast Michigan that offer extensive access to the great outdoors within a short drive of downtown Ann Arbor like 3882 Meadow Lane in Lodi Township.“What they tried to do is sort of blend the inside out, so that in every room you basically get to see the 37 acres,” said Howard Watts, who is listing the home for The Gerbstadt Team with Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel. “You’ve got something n... read more

If you are on the fence about selling your home during the holiday season, jump up and get that "For Sale" sign out because we have 10 good reasons why it is a great time to sell your home! 1. Good Supply of Buyers The buyers that are looking for homes during the holidays are serious buyers. They are not people just looking to see what ideas they can come up with to do in their home. 2. Less Competition There is less competition for your home since there are less homes on the market during this time. That could mak... read more

Tweaking your decor each season can be a great way to keep your home feeling current and satisfy your urge to nest, without blowing your budget on big-ticket items. The problem? Each year retailers roll out tons of new seasonally inspired decor that begs to be brought home — and loading up on too much season-specific stuff is a sure way to blow your budget and overstuff your storage. To strike the right balance, aim to build up an arsenal of go-to pieces that feel special yet can work in several different way... read more