This includes Birmingham Bloomfield Hills in the Mid West Section

You can see from the statistics quoted here that sales are slower but it sure doesn’t show the gloom and doom or huge drop in value that some writers are talking about. These are hard fact from what I consider a very informed source.

REAL Trends, the nation’s leading source of trends and analysis on the residential real estate services industry, is launching a new report on the housing market, the REAL Trends Housing Market Report. This new report tracks actual housing sales from real estate brokerage firms from every state in the nation and compares current month activity with the same month one year earlier. The total sales base being tracked represents over 35 percent of all reported housing sales completed by brokerage firms and will be reported each month. 

With winter here to stay make sure your faucets don't FREEZE

Now that freezing temperatures are here to stay Realtors are winterizing their vacant homes. That process made me think about what you should do for the home you are living in right now.

The most common problem we see at this time of year is caused when homeowners forget to remove garden hoses from exterior faucets and to turn off the water supply inside the house. Once this is done you need to open the outside faucet and allow the water to drain. If you can’t shut off the water inside the home you need to stop by the hardware store and pick up an insulated cover for each outside faucet.

You can find them on line at Aubuchon Hardware.

A Seller in Birmingham is considering removing home from the marketplace until Spring

The question of taking a home off the market until spring is fairly common around the holiday season. Many sellers think that there are not enough buyers looking during the holidays to make it worth the time and energy to keep the home on the market.

If you’re thinking this is not the "BEST" you are right. Sales generally peak in March and April of the year. But the Winter holidays are not the slowest time of the year. Normally, August is the slowest month!  So what does all this mean to you if you’re trying to sell a home?

It means that if you are truly interested in selling your home there is never a reason to leave your home off the market. A very successful Realtor friend of mine always has her best month in December. Why? Because she works to make it happen and anyone looking at this time of the year is REALLY sincere about buying.

What does this mean to you if you’re thinking of taking your home off the market for the Holiday? DON’T

No matter what - we all have lots to be Thankful about!

I started to write this last night and thanks to a computer’s normal behavior the whole thing trashed and now here I am starting from scratch again. Let’s try one more time.

Last night both of my children (both in their 30’s) were headed home for the holiday and I was sitting here writing this blog with my wife/partner sitting next to me on the couch. Reflecting on last night and the interesting day we have had today I can truly say it doesn’t get much better.’

Today, we deep fried a turkey for the first time.  While this may sound simple, safely deep frying a turkey (i.e. not starting an oil fire or blowing up the garage) involved a 6′ ladder, 5 gallons of peanut oil, a homemade pulley system, 3 men and a dog (Kathie and my daughter happily watched from inside in front of the fireplace).  The clear key to success is careful planning and simple common sense and, I’m happy to report, we all enjoyed a wonderfully moist, flavorful turkey (and as my daughter exclaimed in shock, not at all greasy!).  

Even though Michigan has had a difficult economy this year and the TV chefs have grossly overestimated the time needed to deep fry a turkey, we have tons to say thanks for!

For the dinner I’ve just finished, for the family I’ve shared the meal with and for every soldier who has ever served our country and for those serving today I am truly thankful!

Bless each and every one of you and may you also enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving.

Phil Seaver will tell Birmingham Resident what they need to know about foreclosures.

The Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber is hosting a FREE seminar entitled, “Understanding Foreclosure: Keeping Your American Dream Alive,” on Wednesday, November 14 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Seaholm High School in Birmingham.

Look no further for the opinions of the candidates for Birmingham City Commissioner

The Public Policy Steering Committee of the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber conducted an electronic candidate forum for the November 6th election. Please click on the links below to review the candidates’ responses to the following issues:

Birmingham City Commission
▪ Birmingham City Manager
▪ Local and State Economy
▪ Shain and Barnum Parks
▪ Birmingham Politics

Birmingham Public Schools Board of Education
▪ Funding  
▪ Strategic Plan
▪ Service Sharing

Birmingham Library Board
▪ Operations  
▪ Future Plans
▪ Unique Attributes

Be sure to vote on Tuesday, November 6th.

When should we change our clocks?

Birmingham Bloomfield Community Information

Barnum Park planning begins with a series of community forums

Planning for Barnum Park begins with a series of community forums, the first of which is set for Nov. 7. The full schedule is on the city’s website. Members of the community should get involved in planning for this park. With costs running more than $10 million for Barnum Park we think everyone should be involved in its planning.

Meet the Candidates Tonight, Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 PM

Tonight, Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m., the League of Women Voters will hold a Birmingham City Commission candidates forum at the Community House. You will have the opportunity to get all your questions answered by the candidates. Don’t miss the meeting but if you do watch for the rerun on Comcast.