All About North Shore Condos

North Shore Condos is a great place to live or visit. It can be a wonderful income if you choose to buy a property and use it as a rental for vacationers. It can also be a fabulous place to live like one all of the time. With amazing lake views and many conveniences, this is a place to consider either for income or as a home.

What North Shores Condos Has to Offer

Choose from studio apartments or one or two bedroom units. Many of the units are directly on the Lake with private patios. You can choose units for renting that are fully furnished and may come with queen beds, two twins and even a sleeper sofa. The kitchens are modern and fully furnished with an oven, microwave, refrigerator and dishwasher. Relax at home with HDTV and cable or work at home with wireless internet.

The amenities that come with North Shore Condos are first-rate. Enjoy the heated swimming pool or hot tub after a busy day. A community barbeque grill and tables and chairs allow you to entertain or enjoy a meal outside in the main deck and pool area.

Enjoy the Lake Life

Units are tastefully designed with neutral colors to fit most personalities. Large windows allow you to bring the outdoors in and make the space feel even larger. You can also open them up to enjoy the fresh air or use the air conditioning to stay cool during the hot summer.

A tennis court on the property allows you to stay active without leaving home. On-site laundry facilities make this a convenient place for either a week or long-term living. And don't worry about having to drive everywhere; North Shores Condos are within walking distance to the downtown area of South Haven. Enjoy a leisurely stroll for dinner out or to watch the latest release.

Prices have a wide range in the condos based on size, number of bedrooms, and updates within the unit. You can find something to fit in a wide variety of budgets so give me a call if you want to know more about the wonderful North Shore life. Take a look at the North Shore Condos for a fabulous summer retreat or an extra income.

The Benefits of Living in Okemos Michigan

Named by CNN Money as one of the best places to live if you are rich and single, Okemos, Michigan, provides many benefits to those who choose to call this place home. While the rich and single may also enjoy living here, it's great for just about anyone that wants to enjoy a quiet life with plenty of big-city amenities nearby.

A Great Life

Okemos has a population of around 23,000, but it is located just a few miles from East Lansing where you can enjoy an active nightlife or other fun activities. This is also a great location if you enjoy the outdoors. Just hang out at Lake Lansing for boating, fishing or swimming in the summer.

Okemos is part of Meridian Township and is only listed separately for statistical purposes. The median income is $75,736 as of the 2007 estimate. Besides being close to other cities, the area has its own attractions and places of interest. You can visit the Meridian Historical Village if you want to learn about the history of the area. A farmer's market provides interesting items and fresh produce.

Plenty to Do in Okemos

Several parks make a great place to sit and enjoy the scenery or you can visit the Meridian Mall for an afternoon of shopping. If you want delicious food, then visit Spagnuolo's on West Grand River. This Italian restaurant has been voted the 2013 Best Pizza and Best Italian Restaurant in the East Lansing, Okemos, Haslett and Meridian Township areas. People from the city even drive out to Okemos for the great taste of Spagnuolo's.

Okemos has been home to some famous people, including Larry Page, the co-founder of Google who went to Montessori School in the town. Tom Welling, who played Clark Kent in Smallville also has lived here. James Hynes and Susan Jacoby, two notable authors were both from Okemos.

If you are looking for a quiet life with the ability to enjoy an active nightlife or the great outdoors whenever you want, Okemos just might be the place for you. Contact me if you are looking at buying real estate in Okemos and I can help you find the perfect place to begin your new life in this fun town.

Life on the Lake: What a Way to Live

Imagine waking up every morning to the sight of beautiful Lake Lansing, the clear blue water against the bright sunshine. Living right on the lake is a dream for many and Lake Lansing has always drawn people in, right from the early days.

The Early Days

Lake Lansing was first called Pine Lake and was used as grounds for fishing and hunting by the first people in the area, the Indian tribes. With plenty of fish in the lake and wild game in the nearby woods, it was a prime spot to build camps.

The first white settlers to the area were two brothers who were doctors. They purchased 160 acres on the south side of the lake. Over the next several decades other settlers made Pine Lake and the surrounding area their homes.

The 1800s

During the 1800s, the lake became a popular place for recreation. A group of Spiritualists created a camp for the summer that would bring in thousands of people. An auditorium was built that could hold 2000 people. There were many other buildings, including a hotel, dining hall, and Medium House. The camp lost its appeal in the early 1900s. This was when the area transitioned into a fashionable place to reside during the summer months.

The Pine Lake House was built during the 1870s and held a dance hall and other buildings. People would take rides on the lake on steamer boats. The house burned in 1929 and was replaced by a building known as the Dells Ballroom where bands played. The Dells Ballroom was used until 1986 when condos replaced it.

Another popular place on Pine Lake was the Izzer Club, a social club for gentlemen.

The 1900s and Today

Frank Johnson, a local printer, built up land on Hickory Island, a spot that had been platted in 1908. He lived on the island and created Lake Drive. He was also responsible for Sunset Cove, North End Plat, Indian Island, and the Perry Road Addition. He was also the one responsible for the name change to Lake Lansing in 1927.

The lake lost its appeal and became uncared for by the 1960s. It was in the next decade that Lake Lansing saw a revival as the area was cleaned up to attract visitors. Parks were created and today hundreds of thousands of visitors spend time there, many of whom live in Lansing. Today it is once again a wonderful place to live for those who dream of enjoying the Lake year round.

If you want to check out some properties around Lake Lansing, contact me to get started. I can help you achieve your dream of living on the lake all year long.

What Is the Cost of Renting vs. Buying?

This is a question many people begin asking themselves when they first consider a home purchase. They start thinking about the cost of rent versus the equity they could be building in their own home. While buying is the American Dream, it can be hard to know the right time to move from renting to buying. To know which is better for your situation, you have to do some calculations.

What Goes Into the Decision

While there are a lot of factors to consider when deciding to rent or buy, the financial aspect is one of the most important. You can use any one of several calculators online to help you determine which option is better for you financially. However, you should know what information is being used in each choice.

For renting, you not only consider the monthly amount you pay but any renter's insurance and the security deposit you must include. Rent goes up so you have to figure in the cost of rent appreciation over time.

To figure in the cost of buying, you start with the purchase price and include the down payment along with any closing costs you have to pay. Then, you add in the monthly mortgage payment along with property taxes and insurance.

Maintenance is added in while deductions on your taxes for interest and property tax are also calculated. To get a true estimate, you have to figure how long you will be in the home, the price you would get for selling and any closing costs you would pay as a seller.

Several assumptions are used in the calculations such as the mortgage rate, your income tax bracket, and how much the home will appreciate over time. The end result is the total cost of renting or buying over time. While some of the information will require estimating such as future appreciation, it can help you understand your options when you see the numbers in black and white.

An Investment

While buying a home is often an emotional decision, it is also a financial investment in your future. For this reason, it is important to look at facts and figures to help you determine if you are ready to buy and how much you can afford.

If you have decided that now is the time to buy, give me a call and we can get you started on your way to the American Dream.

How to Optimize Your Ad

According to many experts and statistics from the last year, it has become evident that the housing crisis is past and home prices and sales are on the rise. Even in international markets that have been seeing sharp declines, housing seems to be leveling out. Regardless of where your market is located, it is highly likely that your buyers will be using the internet to find their properties.

It is important to optimize your ad campaigns now to take advantage of this year's busy season. Here are a few recommendations to help you get the most traffic to your ads and see greater success in conversions.

1. Use Keywords

Based on a study of keywords for real estate advertisers, there are four areas that should be the focus.

Brand terms

Many advertisers think their own brand will show up in organic listings but this is not always the case. You also don't want your competitor bidding on your brand.

Sales or Rental Terms

It is worth your time to build a large portfolio of all of the variations that come with "for rent" or "for sale." A large percentage of clicks come from these terms coupled with other generic terms.

Generic Terms

Many advertisers overlook general terms such as apartments, real estate, and other very generic words. However, these terms are especially important when you combine them with a targeted area, such as California homes or Boston apartments. This combination helps you reach your targeted audience in the right place. You can specify in your settings that the target is people either in the targeted location, searching for, or viewing information about the targeted location to ensure you don't leave anyone out.

Local Terms

Targeting the correct audience often happens when you use specific location terms. This can take time, but the results are worth it.

2. Know When to Bid

If you are focusing on localized terms for your marketing campaigns, you can adjust the bidding on terms based on peak buying season. For example, in Hawaii the real estate search reaches its peak in January. On the other hand, June is the best month for people looking to buy in Mississippi. Bid on all of the match types to improve your click-through-rate.

Consider placement of the ad to ensure a higher CTR. A recent study showed better results when the ad is on the main search rather than located on the sidebar.

3. Create a Worthy Landing Page

The best ad won't close the deal for you if the landing page is a disappointment. To turn visitors into conversions you need to create an optimal landing page. Here are some features that visitors expect to see:

• Photos- the more, the better as long as they are clear and provide details
• Detailed information about each property that is for sale or rent
• Virtual tours through the homes or apartments
• Maps, especially interactive ones to provide clearer information on location
• Contact information for the real estate agent
• Neighborhood information

These are the most important details to include, but you will also want to add the contract status, as well as information about upcoming houses and recently sold properties.

Ways to Help Your Home Sell Fast

Buyers can look at a dozen or more houses and the one that finally captures their attention is the one they feel a connection with. It's all about emotion – the buyer's, not yours. To help your home stand out and sell faster than the competition, you need to create a space they will fall in love with. Here are some ways you can do that.

Curb Appeal

Begin with sprucing up the inside. Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Clean up first. Cut, trim, weed, and remove clutter.
• Remove extra bushes, trees, flowers, etc. that detract from the landscaping rather than enhancing it.
• Apply fresh mulch to your flower beds to give them a well-maintained look.
• Power-wash your house, the driveway, walkway, and deck or patio.
• Paint the front door.
• Buy a welcome mat and other decorative items for your porch or front entry.
• Placed potted flowers or plants by your front door.
• Clean windows.
• Make sure house numbers are easy to read from the street.

If your house looks dated, consider painting the exterior. While this can be quite a job, it can make the biggest impact.

The Inside Matters, Too

If buyers drive by the house and like the first impression, they will probably want to come inside. As the seller, you have to stop looking at your home as the place you live and begin to see it as a product that you are selling. Here are some tips to help you do that.

• Make sure the lights work, the doorbell works, and nothing squeaks or creaks.
• Pick up clutter and personal items.
• Keep closets clean and organized even if it means packing some of your stuff away. You want to give the impression that you have plenty of storage, not that you have to use every square inch to fit everything in.

Look at Every Room

• Go through every room to see if you have too much furniture or pieces that look old or outdated. Move anything out that makes the room feel awkward or small.
• Clean carpets or have them replaced.
• Clean or refinish wood floors.
• Clean or paint ceilings and walls.
• Paint if you do not have neutral colors on the walls.
• Have blinds and curtains open during the day.
• Leave plenty of lights on if your house is being shown at night. Use larger-watt bulbs to make a room feel brighter and bigger.
• Get rid of pet odors.
• Clean off counters, shelves, and tables to make a room look more spacious.

Update Areas Where Needed

A house that you have been in a long time often has that lived-in look. Buyers want to feel that the place they are buying is brand new. Here are some ways you can make your house feel like new.

• Update hardware.
• Paint kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
• Buy a new shower curtain.
• Replace caulk and clean the grout.
• Don't forget the garage and other "hidden" areas. Nothing is secret during a showing.

If you want to get a feel for how a house should look, visit some other homes for sale during open houses. It may help you see your home in a new light and get it ready to sell fast. If you are ready to start selling your home, give me a call at 517-853-6259 or send an email to rbuffington@tomieraines.com.