Thanks Guys!!!

Pictured from left to right

Eric McAuliffe, Adam Gannon, Chris Cosco, Ken Godfrey (NMU Athletic Director),

Chris Forsberg, Zak Green, Josh Cosco, Andrew Short, and Kyle Annelin.

I'd like to thank to my son Josh and his 6 friends for joining me at the NMU Berry Event Center for the first round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association play-offs on March 8th! I had a great time. I've never seen six pizzas disappear so fast!!!

The NMU Wildcats went on to defeat the Michigan State Spartans in their three-game series in the second round of the play-offs and then to a 2-1 win over Notre Dame in the CCHA Third-Place Game on Saturday March 22 at Joe Louis Arena. Great job Cats!!!

National Recognition for Marquette Again...

Outdoor Life Magazine names the city of Marquette as number seven of the 200 Best Places to Live. Recognized as the source for hunting and fishing adventure, the magazine ranked the top towns for hunters and anglers to live. This is what they had to say...

Leading Appeals: Huge diversity of fish, from native brookies to rainbows and lake-run brown trout to steelhead, salmon, lake trout, walleye and pike.

Amenities: Upper Peninsula's largest medical center, Northern Michigan University and thriving retail and arts scene.

Bottom Line: Trout share space with smallmouth in the U.P.'s pristine streams, and more than 100 lakes are accessible within a half-hour of downtown Marquette. The deer opener is like a national holiday here.

One of the best salmon and steelhead towns in the nation is hundreds of miles from the ocean. Just outside this thriving college town in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, anglers cast to surly Chinooks, fight chrome-bright steelhead and play colorful lake-run brown trout. Inland anglers prospect dozens of rivers for trophy brook trout and woodland lakes hold walleye, northern pike, whitefish and crappie. But Marquetters save their vacation time for deer season, when the U.P.'s public land fills with downstaters looking for trophy bucks. Bear, ruffed grouse, ducks, coyotes, rabbits and a growing population of wild turkeys provide plenty of hunter days on the Hiawatha and Ottawa national forests and smaller state parks of the area. "The coolest thing about living here is the public access," says fishing guide Brad Petzke. "I fish hundreds of miles of rivers every year and, because of our liberal stream laws, there are only a few spots you can't access." Fishing is always good in the streams that feed Lake Superior and trophy lake trout are available in the big lake itself.

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF THE TOP 200 TOWNS AND THEIR RANKINGS, CLICK HERE

Lake Superior Sunrise!!!

Although most have Friday, Saturday and Sunday off this week in observance of Good Friday I myself am booked with several showings throughout today and tomorrow. It's great to be busy and I enjoy working with my clients, but I have to admit at 6am this morning as I was dragging a comb across my head and chugging coffee in an effort to revitalize I was feeling a bit uninspired. My wife, son, and "Buddy" the dog were still sound asleep as I left the house and while backing out of the driveway I thought "It's not even light out for crying out loud."

Then I arrived at my office and was met with this view from my office window. Ok - so maybe getting up early and coming to work on a holiday is not so bad after all. Sometimes the world has a way of reminding you how fortunate you are. I hope you and yours have a wonderful Easter.

Marquette County - Real Estate Market Snapshot

Once a quarter I plan to provide a quick "snapshot" of the Marquette County Real Estate Market.

This will include only residential sales that were listed and sold in the North Central MLS in Marquette County. This does not include vacant land, multi-family units, commercial buildings, properties sold for sale by owner or sales outside of Marquette County.

There have been 61 residential sales in Marquette County from Jan. 1, 08 to Mar. 19, 08.

• The average sale price of those residential sales was $128,878.93.
• The average home sold had 3 bedrooms and 2 baths.
• The average square footage was 1,787 sq ft
• The average cost per square foot was $72.75
• The average days on market was 168.

Sales by area...

• Big Bay = 1
• Gwinn = 2
• Ishpeming = 14 *Average Sales Price $70,158.57 ; Price Per Sq. Ft. $45.00
• Marquette = 32 *Average Sales Price $168,339.84 ; Price Per Sq. Ft. $98.81
• Negaunee = 7 *Average Sales Price $101,585.71 ; Price Per Sq. Ft. $52.92
• Palmer = 1
• Republic = 4

*Data maintained by the Upper Peninsula Association of REALTORs or it's MLS is in no way responsible for it's accuracy and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Another Sure Sign of Spring!!!

The Lake Superior 2008 shipping season has begun! The first of this season's Iron Ore freighters has arrived in Marquette. The "Mesabi Miner" made her journey to Marquette from the twin ports of Deluth / Superior. The 1,000 foot self-unloading bulk carrier was originally launched February 14, 1977! She arrived with a load of coal from Midwest Energy Resources to our harbor yesterday.

The U.S. Coast Guard began breaking Lake Superior ice last Tuesday to speed up the process of reopening lanes for the shipping season. The lake ice on the Great Lakes would take weeks to naturally melt, so every year the Coast Guard helps it along by breaking ice 20 to 36 inches thick in order to form shipping lanes with icebreaking tug boats like the Biscayne Bay, a 140 foot tug.

You can view video and photos of the Mesabi Miner at You Tube by clicking on the links below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJyR9XFT3f0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I1vdu_6Rn4

I will continue to be "on the look out" for signs of SPRING and will keep you posted!!!

What a weekend for Marquette Michigan Hockey!!!

Marquette Senior High Hockey Team named Division 1 State Champions after 8 overtimes in the second longest game in U.S. High School Hockey history!!! Michigan High School Athletic Association stops game at 1-1 tie and names both teams co-champions!!! Detroit Free Press Article GO RED!!!
AND...

The Northern Michigan University hockey Wildcats defeated Ohio State 6-1 on Sunday, March 9 to advance to the second round of the CCHA Play-offs!!! GO CATS!!!

Congratulations to both teams. They showed a lot of heart!!!!

Big Weekend Coming Up!!!

The annual U.P. Builder's Show is as sure a sign of spring on its way as crocus sprouting through the snow! With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, Yoopers begin to feel confident that there may only be one more snow storm on the horizon. Cabin fever has set in for many and we begin to look for any sign that winter will give way to spring. And for some they just can't wait, you know the ones; you see them out and about with their Bermuda shorts and a parka on! "It's above freezing - time to pull out the summer gear!" The show also marks the beginning of my busy season as a REALTOR. Home sales pick up in the spring when the snow melts, trees bud, and flowers bloom. In fact the activity has already picked up towards the end of February this year!

Held in the Superior Dome on the campus of Northern Michigan University, the builder's show attracts upwards of 290 vendors and 10,000 guests! It's definitely worth your time to stop in and take a look at the exhibits. (Don't forget to pick up some of the candied almonds while you're there! So Good!) The show also gives me the opportunity to see friends, clients and associates that I may not have seen through the winter and meet new folks as well. Feel free to come visit with me at the show Saturday March 8th between 10am and noon or Sunday March 9th between 11am and 1pm at the RE/MAX booth.

Print Your Dome Map

If you are looking for something more to do this weekend, I will be sponsoring the NMU Wildcat Hockey game Saturday March 8th at 7:35pm at the Berry Event Center. Come out and support the local team in the first round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Playoffs. The NMU Wildcats host Ohio State University in a best-of-three series beginning Friday night. The Wildcats enter the playoffs as the sixth seed while the Buckeyes are the 11th. The winner of the series will advance in the CCHA Playoffs. The playoff series is a rematch of last year’s first round when the two teams battled in Ohio. OSU took the first game 6-2, NMU won the second game in overtime 3-2, and then NMU advanced by winning game three (3-2). It's a great match-up. Tickets are currently on sale at the Superior Dome ticket office, the TCF Bank ticket outlet in the University Center or on-line (http://www.nmu.edu/tickets/). Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to have their season seat and to avoid lines on game day at the Berry Events Center ticket window. My family, friends, and I will be in box suite #1 - feel free to stop by and say "Hello!"& GO CATS!

Moving With Your Pet...

In the summer of 2000 my wife and I made the 3,000 mile journey home to Marquette from Tacoma, Washington where I had been stationed in the Air Force. With all of our worldly possessions in the back, we set off in a huge rented truck. Our family car was towed at the back and our seven year old son Josh and our two year old dog Buddy sat in the cab with us. Talk about spending quality time together!

I remember both Jen and I being worried about Josh, thinking that the transition might be hard on him. What didn't occur to us was that the transition might be hard on Buddy. Josh had no problems at all. He was excited about the big truck, excited about the travel, and excited about seeing Grandma in Marquette. Buddy, on the other hand, became very depressed. In fact he stopped eating the first day of the trip.

Now, if you knew Buddy, you would know that he is what veterinarians like to call a "ravenous eater". What does that mean - well it pretty much means Buddy will eat anything you put in front of him until it is gone. He doesn't recognize when he is full and he doesn't even care if it tastes good. He likes food - this is fitting being a part of the Italian Cosco family! We like our food! So to see Buddy unwilling to eat was quite worrisome.

Buddy continued not acting like himself and not eating for two days. We finally realized that he would eat only if we got down on the floor and fed him by hand and so we did for several days. I'm happy to report that Buddy adjusted to our new home and got back to his normal spunky self about a week later. He is very much a part of our family as I'm sure your pets are a part of yours. So consider these tips when you make your move with your pet.

10 Tips for Moving With Pets

Moving to a new home can be stressful on your pets, but there are many things you can do to make the process as painless as possible. Experts at The Pet Realty Network (www.petrealtynetwork.com) in Naples, Fla., offer these helpful tips for easing the transition and keeping pets safe during the move.

1. Update your pet’s tag. Make sure your pet is wearing a sturdy collar with an identification tag that is labeled with your current contact information. The tag should include your destination location, telephone number, and cell phone number so that you can be reached immediately during the move.

2. Ask for veterinary records. If you’re moving far enough away that you’ll need a new vet, you should ask for a current copy of your pet’s vaccinations. You also can ask for your pet’s medical history to give to your new vet, although that can normally be faxed directly to the new medical-care provider upon request. Depending on your destination, your pet may need additional vaccinations, medications, and health certificates. Have your current vet's phone number handy in case of an emergency, or in case your new vet would like more information about your pet.

3. Keep medications and food on hand. Keep at least one week’s worth of food and medication with you in case of an emergency. Vets can’t write a prescription without a prior doctor/patient relationship, which can cause delays if you need medication right away. You may want to ask for an extra prescription refill before you move. The same preparation should be taken with special therapeutic foods — purchase an extra supply in case you can't find the food right away in your new area.

4. Seclude your pet from chaos. Pets can feel vulnerable on moving day. Keep them in a safe, quiet, well-ventilated place, such as the bathroom, on moving day with a “Do Not Disturb! Pets Inside!” sign posted on the door. There are many light, collapsible travel crates on the market if you choose to buy one. However, make sure your pet is familiar with the new crate before moving day by gradually introducing him or her to the crate before your trip. Be sure the crate is well-ventilated and sturdy enough for stress-chewers; otherwise, a nervous pet could escape.

5. Prepare a first aid kit. First aid is not a substitute for emergency veterinary care, but being prepared and knowing basic first aid could save your pet's life. A few recommended supplies: Your veterinarian's phone number, gauze to wrap wounds or to muzzle your pet, adhesive tape for bandages, non-stick bandages, towels, and hydrogen peroxide (3 percent). You can use a door, board, blanket or floor mat as an emergency stretcher and a soft cloth, rope, necktie, leash, or nylon stocking for an emergency muzzle.

6. Play it safe in the car. It’s best to travel with your dog in a crate; second-best is to use a restraining harness. When it comes to cats, it’s always best for their safety and yours to use a well-ventilated carrier in the car. Secure the crate or carrier with a seat belt and provide your pet with familiar toys. Never keep your pet in the open bed of a truck or the storage area of a moving van. In any season, a pet left alone in a parked vehicle is vulnerable to injury and theft. If you’ll be using overnight lodging, plan ahead by searching for pet-friendly hotels. Have plenty of kitty litter and plastic bags on hand, and keep your pet on its regular diet and eating schedule.

7. Get ready for takeoff. When traveling by air, check with the airline about any pet requirements or restrictions to be sure you’ve prepared your pet for a safe trip. Some airlines will allow pets in the cabin, depending on the animal’s size, but you’ll need to purchase a special airline crate that fits under the seat in front of you. Give yourself plenty of time to work out any arrangements necessary including consulting with your veterinarian and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. If traveling is stressful for your pet, consult your veterinarian about ways that might lessen the stress of travel.

8. Find a new veterinary clinic and emergency hospital. Before you move, ask your vet to recommend a doctor in your new locale. Talk to other pet owners when visiting the new community, and call the state veterinary medical association (VMA) for veterinarians in your location. When choosing a new veterinary hospital, ask for an impromptu tour; kennels should be kept clean at all times, not just when a client’s expected. You may also want to schedule an appointment to meet the vets. Now ask yourself: Are the receptionists, doctors, technicians, and assistants friendly, professional and knowledgeable? Are the office hours and location convenient? Does the clinic offer emergency or specialty services or boarding? If the hospital doesn’t meet your criteria, keep looking until you’re assured that your pet will receive the best possible care.

9. Prep your new home for pets. Pets may be frightened and confused in new surroundings. Upon your arrival at your new home, immediately set out all the familiar and necessary things your pet will need: food, water, medications, bed, litter box, toys, etc. Pack these items in a handy spot so they can be unpacked right away. Keep all external windows and doors closed when your pet is unsupervised, and be cautious of narrow gaps behind or between appliances where nervous pets may try to hide. If your old home is nearby, your pet may try to find a way back there. To be safe, give the new home owners or your former neighbors your phone number and a photo of your pet, and ask them to contact you if your pet is found nearby.

10. Learn more about your new area. Once you find a new veterinarian, ask if there are any local health concerns such as heartworm or Lyme disease, or any vaccinations or medications your pet may require. Also, be aware of any unique laws. For example, there are restrictive breed laws in some cities. Homeowner associations also may have restrictions — perhaps requiring that all dogs are kept on leashes. If you will be moving to a new country, carry an updated rabies vaccination and health certificate. It is very important to contact the Agriculture Department or embassy of the country or state to which you’re traveling to obtain specific information on special documents, quarantine, or costs to bring the animal into the country.

Source: The Pet Realty Network (http://www.petrealtynetwork.com/)

U.P. 200 Sled Dog Championship Feb 15-17...

This is the 19th year for our U.P. 200 and over 15,000 visitors are expected to watch alongside trails reaching from Marquette, through Wetmore, to Grand Marais and back. The event has a start time of 7:10pm tonight from Washington Street in downtown Marquette and will finish throughout the afternoon and evening Sunday the 17th at Marquette’s Lower Harbor.

The 200 is a 12 dog, mid-distance race that consists of 240 miles. The teams start one after another in equal time intervals, competing against the clock rather than directly against one another. This is due to logistic considerations of getting teams of 12 excited sled dogs to the starting line for a clean timed start. There will be 27 mushers this year, 25 male, 2 female, 21 veteran, and 6 rookies from all over the U.S. and Canada.

The teams consist of leader dogs, point dogs, swing dogs, and wheel dogs. The lead dog is literally the leader of the pack and is very important to the success of the team. The wheel dogs are the ones that do the “heavy lifting” of the group, they must be strong enough to pull the sled through the snow. Point dogs are behind the leader dogs and swing dogs between the point and wheel dogs. For all dogs endurance, strength and speed are important traits.

The event is an experience unmatched with local shop keepers providing warm cider, coffee, and snacks and an excitement in the air that is contagious. There’s a “Small Town America” feel to the event with neighbors and strangers huddling closely to see the start (and out of necessity to keep warm). It’s a moment in history as well, being that it is a qualifying race for the Iditarod, which has been called the “Last Great Race on Earth” and has won worldwide acclaim. Definitely worth your time! Come out and have fun!

One side note:
“Jim and Ray” will be playing at the UpFront & Co. from 7 to 11. The duo has become a musical fixture in the Marquette area over the years. In fact my wife and I watched Jim and Ray play at Vango’s Lounge (where they still play every Thursday!) 16 years ago on our very first date. Pop on over for a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” along with other classic tunes from Jimmy Buffet, Simon & Garfunkel, and everyone in between – you won’t be disappointed!

Here's An Idea For Sellers....

There are more homes to choose from in today's market. So how does a seller make their home stand out in the crowd? Put yourself in the buyer's shoes. Ask yourself what would I want to know about this home. And perhaps more importantly, after living here, what is it that I like best about the home. The idea here is to offer honest and relevant information to prospective buyers. Make a short list of items and leave it on the kitchen table where it can be easily found by the agent and buyers as they walk through the home. Warning - please keep it simple. Please do not write a two page essay on why they should purchase your home. Instead just offer a few little kernals of info that will peak a buyer's interest and make them feel "at home."

For Example...

• Where’s the school bus stop. What's the best place to get a pizza.
• If there's something that they can't see now, but will enjoy later tell them about it. For example if it's winter, tell them about the lilac bush that blooms in the backyard in the summer.
• Is there a little park or ice cream shop around the corner that makes a great family walk?
• If there is a time of day or time of year that your backyard looks best tell them about it and if you have one leave a photo, i.e. sunset from the front deck, fall colors in the back yard, etc.
• Do you have bird feeders? Tell them what birds visit Goldfinches, Grosbeaks, Chickadees?
• Do you have other wildlife visit on occasion - leave a photo of the deer in the woods behind the house.
• Do you have a favorite room or feature of the house. Tell them it's your favorite and why, i.e. We love to sit and read the paper Sunday morning in the sun room, or we've really enjoyed having the big deck for family barbeques.

Pointing out these features will make your home stick out in a buyer's mind when they are seeing 10 different homes in a day.

Another great idea once you've sold your home is to leave a "Helpful Hints" list on the counter for when the new homeowners move in. This list might include...

• When does the trash collector come.
• Appliance manuals, copies of receipts, and contact info for repair services, warranty info.
• The location of the water main and its on/off valves.
• The location of the well, the depth and gallons per minute it produces.
• The location of the septic system and information who last cleaned it and when.
• Age of the roof, warranty information, and what company installed it.
• The names of the service people you've used, including that of your plumber and your heating/air conditioning service.

Your buyers will appreciate the added effort both before and after the sale!

Selling your home? A little time now may save you a lot of time later...

What You Can Do to Prepare Your Home for Sale...

These are only recommendations, not requirements; however what you do now to prep your home may save you a lot of time and hassle later. It may take seven to ten days to accomplish these tasks and some may be work intensive, but it may mean the difference between selling your home fast and at top dollar or having your home sit on the market for an unnecessarily extended period of time.

De-Clutter: We all collect an amazing amount of "things". If you don’t need it, why not donate it to your local St. Vincent’s or Goodwill store. The general rule is “If you haven't used it in over a year, you probably don't need it.” Remove all books and knickknacks from bookcases and shelves and box them up. Clean off everything on kitchen counters. Leave only a few nice looking items on each surface. The idea here is - you will eventually be packing this stuff up for your move anyway – why not get a head-start.

Take Your Personality Out of the Home: Pack up any personal photographs and children’s art projects, trophies, awards. Buyers tend to be easily distracted by such items. Curiosity gets the best of them and suddenly they are looking for clues as to what the current owners are like instead of paying attention to the home itself. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls. Please pack up your favorite sports memorabilia collection, porcelain doll collection, model airplane collection, collectable glassware, etc.. What is treasure to one may be seen as clutter to another.

If Needed - Rent a Storage Unit: Do you have a lot of furniture? Or is your furniture rather large for the room it is in. Many homes show better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that obstruct paths and walkways and put them in storage. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to let the buyer know what the room’s intended purpose is. You want your home to have a light and airy appeal. Too much furniture in any room gives the room a heavy feel.

Remove/Replace favorite Items: Remember – What a buyer never sees, they can’t ask you to include in the sale. If you painstakingly sewed your curtains by hand, box them up and replace them with some economical linen curtains from your local discount store. If the chandelier in the entry is an heirloom, take it down and replace it with an economical one from your local home store. Remove and pack such items if necessary, but you must replace them, or it will look as though the home has been looted.

Make Minor Repairs: Replace cracked tiles, patch holes in drywall, replace burned out light bulbs, replace torn screens or broken windows, re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks, fix leaky faucets, fix doors that don't close properly and drawers that jam, etc. Now is the time to do any project that you’ve been meaning to do but haven’t gotten around to. These small details will make prospective buyers worry that the home has not been maintained well.

Make the House Sparkle! Wash windows inside and out, spray down sidewalks, clean out cobwebs, polish chrome faucets and mirrors, clean out the refrigerator, vacuum (vacuum before each showing if possible), mop floors, dust furniture, ceiling fans and light fixtures, replace or just remove worn bathroom & kitchen rugs.

Pretend You Are a Choosy Buyer: This is the BEST TIP! Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you? Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a new buyer. Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense. Consider repainting any room that screams pink little girl’s room, or lime green kitchen. You want your home to appeal to the masses. Neutral colors - light tan, light beige are good ideas, other colors can be used - just remember that they should be subtle. Have you been considering replacing your worn bedspread or that torn lampshade? Now is the time to do it. Hang up fresh towels and put fresh soaps or potpourri in the bathrooms.

Clean and air out any musty smelling areas: Odors are a no-no. If you are a smoker consider smoking on the back deck or front porch instead of in the home. This has become such an issue in recent years that some buyers will only look at homes that are currently owned by non-smokers. If you can, opt for airing out vs. masking a smell. If a buyer walks in a home and is hit by a wall of rosy smelling room deodorizer - they will assume you are trying to cover something up.

Last but Not Least - Curb Appeal, Curb Appeal, Curb Appeal: Remember! For every one person that will walk through your home, there may be 10 to 20 that drive by just to take a peak. Don’t open yourself up to the drive-by buyer who won’t take the time to look at the interior of a home if they don’t like the exterior. Keep the sidewalks cleared, mow the lawn, paint window trim, plant yellow flowers or group several planted flower pots together. Yellow is said to evoke a buying emotion - and Marigolds are inexpensive. Trim your bushes, and make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.

I know it's a long list, but it's a proven methodology. Do the work before you list and save yourself time and money later.

Mortgage Rates fall to near 4 YEAR LOW...

As a buyer, you couldn't ask for a better set of circumstances. In most markets the inventory of homes is up which means that you have a larger group of homes to choose from, many sellers are motivated so there are some good deals out there, and the interest rates are low. It's looking like a very good time to find a home and lock in a fixed rate.

Freddie Mac reports that interest on 30-year, fixed loans fell for the fourth straight week, landing at their lowest level in nearly four years.

Economists say mortgage rates averaged 5.48 percent for the week ended Jan. 24 -- down from 5.69 percent a week ago -- because of the latest reports about the economy and because the
Federal Reserve made its biggest cut in 20 years to a key interest rate. Freddie Mac also reports that rates on 15-year mortgages declined to 4.95 percent from 5.21 percent, rates on five-year adjustable-rate mortgages dropped to 5.13 percent from 5.4 percent, and rates on one-year ARMs slipped to 4.99 percent from 5.26 percent.

Ok - you are ready to buy a home - now what...

I know this takes all the fun out of beginning the home buying process, but all the better to get this part out of the way...

What's the first thing you should do when you are ready to buy a home?
Get preapproved by your lender.

I know what you are thinking - boring - paper work - no fun -but this is really a great idea and it can go a long way towards achieving your ultimate goal of finding the right home in a reasonable time frame.

Your lender will help you to know exactly what your price range is which will help narrow the field of homes for you and your agent to review. Not to mention - there is nothing worse than finding the exact home you want and then finding out that the bank will not finance it's dollar amount.

The process is fairly simple and can typically be done over the phone. First if you don't already have a lender that you've worked with I would recommend that you ask friends and family who they have used in the past for their home loans. Word of mouth is usually a great way to find a good local lender. Bank or Mortgage Broker is no matter - just make sure it's someone with a good reputation for good service. Once you've decided who you would like to work with make sure you have all your ducks in a row. You will need your social security number, current address and any former addresses over a 5 year period, name, address, phone of current employer, 2 months bank statements, & 2 most recent income check stubs. This will usually do the trick. If you are self employed you may need copy of two years tax returns. Be informed about current rates, ask how much closing costs are and ask if you are being charged any points (a point 1% of the total loan amount) to reduce the rate. All of this should be offered to you on a Good Faith Estimate (GFE).

Once this part is done you can move on to the fun part - finding your new home!

Let's get started!

Click on the link below to print your own Wants Vs. Needs Worksheet offered by Freddie Mac. It's a great form to forward to your Realtor so that they know exactly what you are looking for right away. I think it also gives spouses the opportunity to talk and agree on what's important to each of them. It takes a lot of the guess work out and is a useful tool.

Wants Vs. Needs

How many services are FREE these days...

Recently I met a young couple who had contacted me to arrange a time to see one of my properties. We met at the home, walked through it, talked for a while about what they liked and disliked, and then made our way to our vehicles to say goodbye. At that point, I offered to send them a list via email of current listings meeting their criteria. They explained that they preferred not to work with any one real estate agent and that they would look on their own and contact the specific listing agents to see properties that caught their eye.

I wanted to address this strategy via the blog, because I think many people (especially first time home buyers) may not realize the pros and cons of using one specific Buyer's Agent.

First and foremost, a buyer's agent works with their buyer, for their buyer, and in their buyer's best interest to find a home. They get to know their client, get a feel for what their client wants, and then is on the hunt for a home that meets their needs. The agent knows immediately when a home hits the market and can inform their buyer right away. When buyer's choose to look for themselves they typically use a homes guide, or Internet service. These are great resources but the information within can be a week to even a month old by the time it is published and/or circulated putting the buyer at a disadvantage to other buyers who are using their own agent.

Secondly, it is one of very few professional services that I can think of that is typically 100% free. The Real Estate Agents's commission is customarily paid by the seller as a percentage of the sales price. A buyer benefits from the real estate agent's time, attention, and expertise and the seller foots the bill. You can't get much better than that.

Third, many buyers are under the impression that a real estate agent can only show them what is currently listed by them or with their real estate company. Almost all offices everywhere are entered into a reciprocal agreement via their local MLS (Multiple Listing Service) where by each agent has access to info and can show any listing on the MLS.

So the long and the short of it is ... Finding one buyer's agent that you like and feel comfortable with is a win - win situation. No negatives - only positives.

Here's a post note - let's say you choose a buyer's agent, you look at several homes, and in the end you fall in love with a home that happens to be your agent's listing. In this case your agent can act under a "Dual Agency Contract" and represent both you and the seller and thereby act in the best interest of both parties.

It's Cold Outside! Brrrrrrrrr!

Ok - It is with heavy heart that I sit down to type this posting. The Packers lost to the Giants last night in what was the third coldest NFL game ever played (wind chill around 25 below 0). I could go on and on about what happened and what should have happened, but since I feel a bit like a kid who just got pulled out of a candy store, I've decided it's best to just buck up and move on! So what does a disheartened Packer fan do with his free time for the next few weeks?

Well if you are a Golf fan, as I am, take comfort in knowing that the Golf season has begun and the Buick Invitational will be televised from Torrey Pines next weekend with Woods and Mickelson battling it out for the first time this season.

Also there is a huge amount of outdoor fun to be had in the next few weeks. It is supposed to warm up by the end of the week so get out there and have some fun. Here are some ideas...

While decidedly a spectator sport, it's definitely spine-tingling watching skiers fly for hundreds of feet. The Upper Peninsula's ski jumping history is synonymous with Suicide Hill, established in 1925 at Copper Peak, in Ishpeming, Mich., also home to the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. The world's tallest constructed ski jump, the fabled hill is home to the Ishpeming Ski Club, the oldest active ski jumping club in the United States. The club hosts a SuperTour ski jumping event Feb. 13, and the hill hosts the 2008 USSA Chevrolet Junior Olympics Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined, Feb. 26-March 1.

The Noquemanon ski marathon is this Friday and Saturday January 25th and 26th. Over 1,000 skiers from all over the United States and Canada participate in the annual freestyle (skate) and classic point-to-point race. The ever-growing Noquemanon Ski Marathon offers cross-country skiers a spectacular trek through the wilderness of Marquette County. It starts in Ishpeming at and finishes at the world's largest wooden domed stadium, the Superior Dome.

The Michigan Ice Fest at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising showcases the chilly thrills of ice climbing along Lake Superior's sandstone bluffs. "A majority of our visitors have never climbed before," says Bill Thompson, organizer of the 25-year-old festival (Feb. 1-3 this year) and owner of Downwind Sports. "There's a good energy because not only are people trying the sport for the first time but we have the world's best climbers here to learn from."

Also coming up are the UP 200 Sled Dog Championship and the Big Bay Fishing Derby, both of which are an experience unmatched.

So if you are a disappointed Packer or Lion fan and you need something to get your mind off your woes - get out there and have some winter fun. There's always next year. :-/

Mortgage Rates Officially Hit a 2.5 Year Low

30-Year Mortgages Hit Lowest Rates Since 2005
Long-term mortgage rates remain in a downward pattern, registering the third consecutive week of decline.

According to Freddie Mac's numbers, average interest on 30-year fixed loans settled the week at 5.69 percent—the lowest level since July 2005. Other rate declines include:
15-year fixed mortgages slipped to 5.21 percent from 5.43 percent a week ago.
5-year adjustable-rate average retreated to 5.4 percent from 5.63 percent.
1-year ARMs fell to 5.26 percent from 5.37 percent..

This may be a good time to refinance your home. Call your lender and see if you can do a cost free refinance (make sure they are not rolling the costs into your loan). Many lenders will do refinances at little or no cost in order to retain their current clients. Or if you have a home equity line that is adjustable - now may be a good time to roll it in with your 1st mortgage in order to fix the rate on both. Just a thought.

The 1st of Many!

Hello and Welcome!
I am hoping this posting will be the first of many designed to inform and entertain folks that are interested in the Upper Peninsula & Real Estate. For my first posting I have some exciting news. This week the Weather Channel named the U.P. as one of the top ten Winter Family Getaways. They had this to say...

"On center stage at the UP is Ottawa National Forest, rimmed by countless, well-maintained state lands like Porcupine Mountains State Park and Copper Country State Forest. Skiing and snowshoeing here takes you up gentle slopes and down through peaceful valleys. You'll see meadows, lakes, streams and waterfalls, which form spectacular ice sculptures in wintertime. Trails and backcountry are equally littered with deer, fox and snowshoe hare tracks, among others. Hours of fun can be had with the kids learning to distinguish one set of animal tracks from another, finding patterns, and imagining how the animals live their days foraging and frolicking, munching bark and other snowy-weather fare."

This is only the most recent in a long list of accolades that we've received in the last few years.

Sherman’s Travel named Michigan’s Upper Peninsula one of the top ten global summer vacation destinations in 2006.

Men’s Journal, 2006, named the Upper Peninsula one of the best places to buy vacation property.

Author John Villani named Marquette one of America’s 100 Best Art Towns in 2005.

Bike Magazine rated Marquette in the top five best places to mountain bike in the country in 2003 and 2005.

On June 14th, 2003, the National Civic League announced Marquette County, Michigan, as one of ten All-America Cities at the 54th Annual All-America City Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The All-America City Award is a 54-year-old program of the National Civic League recognizing civic excellence, and it annually honors 10 communities that best exemplify the spirit of grassroots citizen involvement.

On April 12th, 2004 MarquetteCounty was named one of the 30 Most Livable Communities in USA Today by the Partners for Livable Communities, a non-profit group that identifies what it calls the nation's most livable places every decade.

How lucky we are to live in an area that offers so much!!!