Hawk Nest – A Great East Lansing Community for an Active Lifestyle

If you’re looking for one of the best new constructions in East Lansing, Hawk Nest might be just what you’re looking for.

Hawk Nest is a friendly, active, and diverse neighborhood located in north East Lansing, Michigan. The community was built by Mayberry Homes starting in 2003 and has over 300 single-site condominiums.

The centerpiece Hawk Nest’s active culture is the 20-acre Hawk Nest Park, which is run by the city of East Lansing. The park has playground equipment, a walking path, picnic shelter, and lots of open space.

For walkers, runners, and bikers, the Northern Tier Trail runs along the north and east sides of Hawk Nest, giving residents a perfect place to get their workouts in. Some residents even use the trail to bike to downtown East Lansing.

If you’re a golfer, the highly-rated 9-hole Falcon Golf Course borders Hawk Nest to the north, and the 27-hole Hawk Hollow Course is just a two minute drive from the from the neighborhood’s main entrance.

For dog-lovers, in addition to Hawk Nest Park, Northern Tail Dog Park is a two-acre, double-gated, off-leash dog park enjoyed by many of Hawk’ Nest residents. Northern Tail is located just north of the East Lansing Softball Complex along the Northern Tier Trail, less than two miles from Hawk Nest.

There’s also no shortage of great food nearby, including the popular Jimmy’s Pub, Lou and Harry’s Sports Bar and Grill, and Maru Sushi & Grill.

If you’re looking for a home for you and your family, Hawk Nest is very nice neighborhood, especially if you live an active lifestyle.

To research properties for sale in the neighborhood, use the Advanced Search tool at myrealtorrob.com. Enter East Lansing as your city and Hawk Nest for the subdivision to see everything that’s available.

I do a lot of work in the area and would be happy to show you around any time you’re available. Just give me a call at 517-853-6259 or send an email to rbuffington@tomieraines.com.

Glencairn: An East Lansing Neighborhood with Much to Offer

Glencairn is one of my favorite East Lansing neighborhoods, especially for anyone who works at or attends Michigan State University.

Glencairn Neighborhood in East Lansing

Located a few blocks north of MSU, Glencairn is far enough away that you’re not caught up in the “on-campus” activities, but it’s still close enough that I often see residents walking to and from campus, weather permitting of course.

The neighborhood is bounded by West Saginaw Street to the north, Abbot Road to the east, and West Grand River Avenue to the south.

It is home of the highly-rated Glencairn Elementary School and just a few blocks from East Lansing High School, which produced seven 2013 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, two National Achievement Scholarship semifinalists, and the 2013 Div. 2 state champion boys soccer team.

Most of the homes in Glencairn were built in the 1920s. Here’s a link to the Glencairn Neighborhood Association, which has a PDF of an original investment brochure for the neighborhood from 1926.

Today, Glencairn has a wide variety of building styles, from condos to traditional ranch homes. The variety means there is also a wide variety of real estate prices for properties. There are condos that can sell for less than $100,000, while the largest properties can go for $750,000 or more.

That means, whatever your place in life, if you’re looking for a really nice neighborhood, Glencairn might be great place for you to consider.

And if you’re looking for investment property, I can help you find a great property and help you find one of the many graduate students who rent property in the neighborhood during their studies at MSU.

I am very familiar with Glencairn and the surrounding area and would be happy to show you around the neighborhood. Just call me at 517-853-6259, or send an email to rbuffington@tomieraines.com.

To research properties in and around this area, use the Advanced Search tool at myrealtorrob.com. Enter East Lansing as your city and Glencairn for the subdivision. That will give you a list of everything that’s currently available.
 

Real Estate Inventory for July

According to realtor.com, real estate inventory has increased from May to June. Although inventory is still off about 7.3%, but the number of listings is still up 4.3% from May to June.

Inman news explains the increase in inventory by stating "real estate observers have speculated that home price gains might spur more homeowners to put their properties up for sale- and for builders to break ground on more new homes." However, this increase could also simply be a normal seasonal increase.

If you have been thinking about putting your home for sale, and are wondering if now it the right time for you, start by visiting my website.

Real estate industry observers have speculated that home price gains might spur more homeowners to put their properties up for sale — and for builders to break ground on more new homes. - See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/07/15/inventory-shortage-eases/#sthash.8w4mtetd.dpuf

Real estate industry observers have speculated that home price gains might spur more homeowners to put their properties up for sale — and for builders to break ground on more new homes. - See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/07/15/inventory-shortage-eases/#sthash.8w4mtetd.dpufreal ests

Real estate industry observers have speculated that home price gains might spur more homeowners to put their properties up for sale — and for builders to break ground on more new homes. - See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/07/15/inventory-shortage-eases/#sthash.8w4mtetd.dpuf

Real estate industry observers have speculated that home price gains might spur more homeowners to put their properties up for sale — and for builders to break ground on more new homes. - See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/07/15/inventory-shortage-eases/#sthash.8w4mtetd.dpuf

How to Keep Good Tenants

Taken from Personal Real Estate Investor Magazine

Between leasing fees, cleaning costs and lost rent, you lose money when you lose a tenant, so you want to keep good tenants as long as you can. Here are five tips that will help you retain good tenants once you find them:

Be Responsive: “I can’t overemphasize how important it is to be responsive,” says Kevin Conlon, co-founder of Meridian Pacific Properties. “If the A/C isn’t working, it’s an emergency. Anything related to the comfort of the tenant is an emergency. Get out there. Everything else needs to be handled as quickly as possible.”

Listen: Tenants want to be heard. You don’t have to agree with what they say, and you certainly shouldn’t bend the rules for them, but you need to listen to them, even when they’re angry. Conlon suggests looking for those interactions as an opportunity to solve their problem, if you can. Good tenants will appreciate your efforts.

Inspect the property: Regular inspections can actually help you retain tenants. Not only do inspections help you identify which tenants are doing a good job maintaining the property and which ones are not, inspections can also alert you to issues that bother the tenant but not enough to call you. By fixing these minor issues, you gain a lot of good will with the tenant.

Reward them: Let tenants know they’re appreciated. Once a year, maybe before Thanksgiving or Christmas, send a $25 gift card with a note. “You do something like that, and it goes a long way in developing a good relationship.” Conlon says.

Don’t raise the rent: If you want to keep a tenant, don’t raise the rent. Tenants don’t understand- or care- that your taxes, insurance, or other expenses increased last year. They don’t even necessarily care that the market rate has gone up. “All they know is they are paying more and not getting anything extra,” says investor Aimee Elizabeth. “They will instantly start looking for a new place to live.”

Big Changes in Real Estate Sales

by Debbie Barnett, president and owner of Tomie Raines, Inc.

     "Unit sales in greater Lansing were up 15.5 percent in 2012 and more units were sold than any year in the last seven. We have had three straight years of unit growth. Average prices were up by nearly 3.8 percent which was the highest since 2007, however the average was almost 31 percent lower than 2006. The absorption rate, which is a measurement of the current housing supply divided by the current rate of sales expressed in months of supply, dropped to 4.9 months which was the first finish below six months in many years. Demand is beginning to exceed supply in many price categories.
     "So what is the solution for this inventory shortage?
     "Home owners who have a need for more space, a better neighborhood, or a better quality home need to understand that selling their current home for less than their desired price will be more than offset by the discounted price on the home they will be moving up to. They can take advantage of the current high demand by first time buyers and investors and move to a home where the price is more attractive to a small buyer pool. Before mortgage rates rise, move up buyers can lock in an attractive rate on a higher priced home and reduce the cost of home ownership for years. This category of seller is expected to be more than 75 percent of residential sales this year.
     "Home owners who are candidates for a short sale need to act while mortgage forgiveness remains non-taxable for the rest of 2013. Even though such a transaction will result in a blemish on their credit, by acting now they may be able to re-enter the home buying market in as little as two years.
     "I think 2013 is going to be a good year for sales of residential real estate and if the demand and the supply of inventory align, it could be a great year. Regardless, whether you are a buyer or seller, now may be the time to make your move and take advantage of the market movement. Consulting with a professional REALTOR®  with a thorough understanding of the market dynamics should be the first step."

Searching for Homes Online

Most people looking to buy a home today will start their search online. Buyers can search from the privacy of their own home, and do their searching on their own time, which is especially helpful for those beginning their home search. But some ways of searching are better than others. Here are some tips to make the most out of searching for homes online.

1. Know where sites like Trulia and Zillow are feeding in from for the location you are looking to buy in. In some locations like Chicago and Boston, Trulia feeds in from the MLS, which will have very accurate listings. However, in other locations, third party sites like these are not connected to the MLS, and can have gaps in homes that are available. Up to 36% of properties listed on their site have been found to be no longer for sale. This can be discouraging, finding a home that meets your needs, using time to look into it, and then finding out the property is gone.

2. Realtor.com, (which just underwent a redesign to make it more consumer-centric) will feed from the MLS, making its posts very likely to be accurate and complete.

3. Realtors' consumer facing websites (like mine, for example), are updated by the Realtors working with the properties, and are usually kept accurate as well. Also, many Realtors' sites will allow you to find any properties on the MLS in your preferred area as well. You can also find other neat features, with ways to compare locations, and find out great things about the area from those currently working in it.

I would love the opportunity to work with you to find your next home. Start your search today on my website.


Sources: Inman1, Inman2, Inman3, Inman4

4 Qualities to Highlight when selling your home

1. Materials: If your home’s finishes include materials that your agent feels are particularly desired by buyers in your area, you might want to call those materials out in your home’s listing. Counter tops, flooring, and architectural details can all be appealing to buyers with the right materials. 

2. The properties best features: Think about what your house offers that other homes in your area don't. What makes you love your house can also be what helps sell it. Make sure you are talking up your homes best features.

3. Floor plan: People want to know what living in the space is like. If it has an open floor plan, describe its light and open. If it has several levels, it might be great for a family with kids who need their own space. Its important to be accurate with these descriptions. Don't describe it as something its not. If you aren't sure how to describe it, consider letting the pictures do the talking.


4. Nearby amenities: If your home is close to conveniences, make sure to talk about it. Schools, restaurants, activities, parks and shops close to your home can all help sell it. Consider giving exact distances to certain locations, as phrases like "walking distance" can mean different things to different people, as well as excluding some house hunters.

I would love to help you to sell your home. For more information or to contact me, check out my website.