One of our newest single family residential communities, Ashford Manor, is ideally located in Delta Township, providing lower property taxes, sewer, water, underground utilities, streetlights and sidewalks plus convenient access to GM complexes, the Lansing Mall and a broad array of restaurants and entertainment venues, and . . . the benefit of Grand Ledge Schools.

Grand Ledge Public Schools is known for its distinguished student achievement and exemplary delivery of quality educational programs. The total enrollment in the district is 6811.Ashford Manor features beautifully landscaped entryways, a common area with pond and wider home sites that easily accommodate larger homes with 3 car garages. Combine the great location and larger home sites with very affordable pricing and you will want to call Ashford Manor home.

Visit the Open house Model on Saturday’s and Sunday’s from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. each weekend except holidays.

Eastbrook Homes has been offering Michigan home buyers exceptional neighborhoods and artfully planned communities for over forty years  Experience allows them to bring best practices and technologies to every home they build.

Eastbrook Homes is a leading Energy Star builder in the state of Michigan, and is also a member of Green Built Michigan and an Eliant National award winner.
If you’re looking for incomparable value, inspiring choices and extraordinary service, Eastbrook Homes builds the best choice.

Mike Bowler Sr. ePRO, CRB, GRI, SRES
Coldwell Banker Hubbell Briarwood
One of 25 Most Connected Professionals in Real Estate

Inman News Top 50 Most Influential Online

1020 S Creyts Rd. Lansing, MI 48917

517-492-3400 mike@mikebowler.com
Website for Consumers: www.mikebowler.com

In todays market it’s important to have your Realtor that understands text messaging, email response within a short period of time, and even communicate by Twitter Direct message, or SMS. Most generation X and Y consumers use the tools of the 21st century that have been hitting the market as fast as most Realtors can keep up.

Marketing homes has also changed for the better with Social Media Tools, Blogs, Virtual Flyers and syndication of listings to numerous portals available to the eConsumer. Here’s an example below.

Here’s a wonderful opportunity for the right home buyer to beat the clock on Home Buyer Tax Credit and still own a brand new home. Send me a TEXT Message (517-755-8168) and I’ll meet you at the property for a private showing. Tour this home here.

Lot’s of great news for Greater Lansing Real Estate Market and the Tri-County Area has been the buzz for the past month or so, with signs that home selling may get a big shot in the arm this winter producing a strong 2010 for buyers and sellers.  Seller’s who want to get the jump on selling their house should begin early to meet that Home Buyer Tax Credit date of May 1st, 2010. Buyer’s should also start soon for obtaining the best interest rates in nearly 40 years and locking those rates down.

Here’s some of that positive news hitting the streets and if you dig deeper, you’ll see there’s more to come.

General Motors Corp. plans to add a Denali version of its GMC Acadia crossover next year.The vehicle will be added to the line of the Lansing Delta Township assembly plant, which builds the current line of Acadias and the Buick Enclave and will start producing the Chevrolet Traverse crossover early in 2010.

Wisconsin-based Franklin Energy has opened an office in Lansing’s Old Town to handle four energy savings programs for the Lansing Board of Water and Light (BWL)

More than 400 General Motors Corp. workers are set to transfer from an idled Tennessee site to the Lansing Delta Township assembly plant.

The Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) is using $1.7 million in federal funds to determine how to improve public transportation through the region’s main business corridor.

The Accident Fund is tearing down the North Grand Ramp Extension over Grand Avenue in Downtown Lansing as part of its $182 million redevelopment of the Ottawa Power Station.

LEAP Inc. The Lansing Economic Area Partnership released a 10-year regional strategic plan to improve the region by attracting and retaining talent, supporting business and entrepreneurship and creating a sense of place, among other things.

Buying or selling a home in today’s greater Lansing, Michigan real estate market can be complicated without having the proper expertise and guidance throughout the process. Community information - about service - restaurants, services, parks, things to do, local government and development projects, are only a few of the many services you should expect from your Realtor. Visit my website for additional information on preparing for buying and selling a home in the Greater Lansing Real Estate Market.

“Expect the Best” Mike 

The Greater Lansing Area has much to offer home buyers relocating into the area. One of my favorite family attractions is the Impression 5 Science Center. Capital Gains of Lansing put together a nice clip about the Impression 5 below.

Impression 5 is a hands-on learning environment that challenges its visitors to experience, discover, and explore the world in which they live. Impression 5 achieves this by producing hands-on exhibits and participatory programs. Hope you enjoy.

–>Buying or selling a home in today’s greater Lansing, Michigan real estate market can be complicated without having the proper expertise and guidance throughout the process. Community information - about service - restaurants, services, parks, things to do, local government and development projects, are only a few of the many services you should expect from your Realtor. Visit http://mikebowler.com for tips that will assist you.

“Expect the Best” 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 
Website for Clients: MikeBowler.com
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Lansing Michigan Real Estate News, Events & Market Updates Come Fast These Days. Keeping up with the real estate market is a full time job plus some, with all the changes coming down the pike. Here’s a sample below from Realtor.org of news that comes across my iPhone and computer on a pretty consistent basis. In addition to national news, events, and new systems being introduced it is a must for REALTORS today, to stay on top of all these important issues.

Delinquent Mortgages Reach Record Levels
The percentage of mortgages in some state of foreclosure has hit a new high, but housing experts still see brighter days ahead.

Housing at Its Most Affordable in Years
The typical U.S. family could afford more than two-thirds of all homes sold during the third quarter of this year.

15-Year Rate Hits Record Low
The average rate for 15-year mortgages dipped to a new bottom this week, and the 30-year rate approached its record low as well.

Lansing, Michigan real estate news, events, and changes naturally comes first over national news, however most of this trickles down to the local level. A good example of that would be the Home Buyer Tax Credit that was extended recently. FHA loan limits being expanded, and recent changes in the appraisal process for loans.

Marketing properties, home selection and financing are just a few of the skills today’s consumer looks for when they select a real estate professional. If you have questions about buying, selling, or investing in the Greater Lansing real estate market, feel free to contact me.

“Expect the Best” 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
Website for Clients: MikeBowler.com
Search Listings

Delta Township and Greater Lansing, Michigan area homeowners will be thrilled to hear that the new buyer tax creit will include move up buyers. Senate negotiators reached a tentative deal to extend a tax credit for first-time home buyers, but its passage remains uncertain.

The agreement would extend the existing credit for first-time home buyers, worth up to $8,000, while offering a new credit of up to $6,500 for some existing homeowners, Senate aides said. The reduced credit would be available to all home buyers who have been in their current residence for a consecutive five-year period in the past eight years.

The new provisions are aimed at broadening availability of the credit beyond first-time buyers and giving the weakened real-estate market a bigger boost while preventing real-estate investors from benefiting.

Many property experts have cited the credit as a reason for signs of recovery in the housing market in recent months. But that recovery was somewhat undercut by the September drop in new-home sales reported Wednesday.

The credit would be extended from its current expiration date of Dec. 1 to all contracts entered into by April 30, and closed before July 1. It is expected that income limits on people claiming the credit would be increased to $125,000 for singles and $250,000 for couples, from the current $75,000 and $150,000, aides said. The credit phases out for people making more than those amounts.

This is great news for both buyers and sellers and should assure an increase in activity throughout the winter months. If you have questions, I can assist you with any of your real estate, neighborhood, or community questions about the Greater Lansing area  including:  Buying, Selling or investing in Delhi Township, Holt, Delta Township, Grand Ledge, Dewitt, Mason, Dimondale, Haslett, Okemos, East Lansing or Bath.

“Expect the Best” 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
Website for Clients: MikeBowler.com
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Google WAVE has been an interesting opportunity up to this point and will benefit the real estate industry. I have been fortunate enough to get chosen for the beta test and have a couple Twitter sidekicks help me muddle my way through the confusion up to this point, however, I need to find the time to learn more.

Anytime something new comes out, it takes time, experimentation, and actually using the program to get into a comfort zone and begin to get the most of the program. WAVE is certainly no exception and still has some bugs to get worked out. Will WAVE be the next email to replace the traditional email systems that are pushing 40 years old, I think so.

Here’s Three key points from Google that explain what it is and how it will work plus a short video:

1. A wave is equal parts conversation and document. People can communicate and work together with richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.

2. A wave is shared. Any participant can reply anywhere in the message, edit the content and add participants at any point in the process. Then playback lets anyone rewind the wave to see who said what and when.

3. A wave is live. With live transmission as you type, participants on a wave can have faster conversations, see edits and interact with extensions in real-time.

Cheryl Johnson, has posted some great material on Active Rain about the WAVE ad how it will benefit the real estate industry and find your way around. I would suggest you check it out and applying for your chance to get it or ask someone to invite you. (Sorry, my invites are gone)

“Expect the Best” Mike

Gutting a property for its copper pipes — a crime that has spread across the United States as the economy slows and homes stand empty and vulnerable, takes in Lansing Michigan also.  I recently had a listing victimized by those nasty thieves. I appears to  be something taking place primarily on vacant homes. It’s a shame that people are so desperate to steal copper piping.

Ben Edsall Turn-Key Properties LLC, Kansas City Investment Property wrote a nice post sometime back that goes into more detail on ActiveRain.

Reauters also broke a story saying: Similar stories are unfolding nationwide as a glut of home foreclosures coincides with record highs in the price of copper and other metals.

Real estate brokers and local authorities say once-proud homes coast-to-coast are being stripped for copper, aluminum, and brass by thieves. Much of it ends up with scrap metal traders who say nearly all copper gets shipped overseas, much of it to China and India.Secure your vacant home with good locks, lots of lights, security systems and signs that will scare off thieves or at least make them think twice about burglarizing your vacant house. Also having alert neighbors who will keep their eye open for any strange visitors.“Expect the Best” Mike

Wondering what to do in the Greater Lansing Michigan area as temperatures cool down. Here’s 5 items to add to your list and wonderful events for enjoying time with the entire family.

The Talbert and Leota Abrams Planetarium, located on the Michigan State University Campus, offers a variety of planetarium shows to the public–preschool through senior citizens.Fridays and Saturdays 8:00 P.M. Sundays 4:00 P.M.
International Year of Astronomy (IYA 2009) featuring: The Amazing Telescope, Two Small Pieces of Glass.

Impression 5 Museum is a hands-on learning environment that challenges its visitors to experience, discover, and explore the world in which they live. They achieve this by producing hands-on exhibits and participatory programs. Here’s a great opportunity to experiment with the exhibits! Ask questions and try things out to learn more of what science is all about! Fun for the entire family. Visit Mon-Fri: 10am - 5pm, Sat: 10am - 7pm, Sun: 12pm - 5pm

Visit our State Capital Building - Tours of the public areas and the House and Senate galleries are available every half hour. Tours are offered from 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. The Capitol is closed on Sunday and state holidays. Here’s a handy guide to get you started on a walking tour of the Capital Building:

Boarshead Theater- Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, November 25 - December 20, 2009
A holiday classic for all who see it!

Delta Township: Breakfast and Lunch with Santa Claus. This special event will include either a breakfast or lunch buffet, a special gift for each child, a Christmas craft activity and of course our special visitor. Saturday December 12, 2009

This list is no way complete with all the great communities, events, and places to visit in and around the greater Lansing Michigan area. You can also visit Lansing.org for many other fun things to do. Lansing is a great place to live, work, and play. Hope you enjoy.

“Expect the Best” Mike

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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 
Website for Clients: MikeBowler.com
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REALTORS, Who Get It, Resent Those Who Don’t Get It!

Over the years I have heard it all, however, in today’s
market our challenges, pet peeves, and complaints amongst our peers have
changed.  Here’s 10 items I can
think of right off the top of my head that continue to grind away at others and
myself, that I communicate with on a daily basis. I’m sure you could add more
to this list, I encourage you to do so.
Please note, that this is a constructive, reasonable list of what I feel would benefit our industry if improved upon.

1. Setting up a showing and finding out it’s pending, but
the agent is waiting to see if it closes. (Waste of everyone’s time, usually a
short sale with bank involved)

2. Listings indicating key box, only to find out it’s a
combo box (Should be outlawed, all should be electronic)

3. Receiving offers on regular homes for sale at low-ball
prices (These are not bank foreclosures and short sale homes).

4. Getting offers with low deposits or that say deposit upon
acceptance (not worth the paper it’s written on)

5. Listings having no pictures or just a few. (All listings
should have a minimum of 12)

6. Agents not using the Doc Box - Forms on-line system
because they haven’t learned how to use it yet. (Eliminates paperwork and saves
time)

7. Showing instructions on line-side says text me at #####
for showings; and you don’t get a response for 2 days. (The best technology is
the technology you use.)

8. You email feedback to an agent on your showing of their
listing, they don’t read their email, and so they call you for feedback.
(Hello, read your email)

9. You email agents to schedule showings and never hear from
them. (Because they don’t read their email or get email on Blackberry or iPhone
to respond quickly)

10. Getting a call from the neighbors that your listing that
was shown by a co-op agent was left unlocked or lights were left on. (Usually
at night, right after you have settled in for the night.)

You may be saying: this comes with the territory.  Maybe it does, and yes, people make
mistakes. However, we have much work ahead of us to get everyone going in the
same direction for new standards of practice and professionalism in our
industry and going green. What are your thoughts?

“Expect the Best” 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
Website for Clients
Website for Agents
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