The all new web site that is maximized for surfing northern Michigan listings from your iPhone, Blackberry and other mobile device smartphones is a click away.

Just think, you and other folks are very active and need information when you are not at your laptop or desktop PC. When you have a few minutes just pull out your mobile device and search for your favorite listing.

Ken has made it easy to find the property you are dreaming of. You can search by:

• MLS number
• Address
• Minimum price or Maximum price
• City
• County
• Waterfront
• Listing type: Residential, Commercial, Land

Best of all is you can do your searches when you have a minute or two. So much time is wasted waiting for appointments, getting the car fixed, and other time wasting events.

My new web mobile web site is not an abbreviated site. Each listing has loads of useful info such as price, address, lot size, room size, amenities to name just a few. When you have found the dream property you are interested in click on the quick link phone number or contact at the top or bottom of the web page for direct access to Ken Carlson.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Please let me know if you like the new web site and if you have any suggestions.

Information contained herein is not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice.

needs to consider getting into the market sooner rather than later! From my point of view the interest rates are at the best offerings that we have seen in decades.

If there is magic in the world, it's found on waterfront property!

Today the national average rate for a 30 year was 4.79% for qualified borrowers. Here is a real life example: You find that lakefront dream home offered at $500,000. It will be your second home to vacation at and retire at. The bank will ask for a premium because this is a second home, so now your rate in this illustration will be 5.29%. You will be borrowing $400,000 with a 20% down mortgage. This will make your monthly principal and interest payment  $2219.

Now is the time to buy real estate. The GOLD buying ads on the TV are taking a lot of time to convince you that gold is the cure all for your money for investment. The best time to buy any investment is when the price is low, that IS NOT the case with gold as gold is at all time highs right now. However, Real Estate is at all time lows with interest rates low also. The best investment of all time has been and will be real estate.

Now if you have CASH you are even in the best position to buy. When offers are made offering the seller a faster closing date because you won’t be adding additional time to obtain a mortgage.

I have been very busy this winter showing lakefront homes. The people that are looking recognize that the inventory is depressing prices and it is a great time to shop.

I you need additional lakefront info look at the LINKS section of my web site and if you don’t find what you are looking for contact me, I specialize in waterfront issues and consulting.

Do you need SOLD information on Higgins or Houghton Lake? Just go to my home page and look for the FREE DOWNLOAD arrow for 2009 data.

Property taxes are a cost that will need to be reviewed before you make your final decision to buy that dream home. In Roscommon County we are seeing downward trends in the SEVs. The SEV is the value that you as a buyer will use as your taxable value for calculating your taxes according to state law. This is very good news. Some lakefront owners around Roscommon Counties lakes are seeing 10% and more reductions in  their SEVs since assessment notices started arriving last week in mail boxes.

Disclaimer: Information contained herein is not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice.

2 Bedroom, 1 full bath, 1 car garage with 1296 square feet of living space and a great view of the lake from the family room. Backup generator, workshop in garage, partially furnished, large deck and the taxes are reasonable!

Click here to see the Visual Tour

Disclaimer: Information contained herein is not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice. Price information is derived from the Paul Bunyan MLS Inc.

JoAnn suggested to me that the main bath in our house needed to be redecorated and the kitchen needed fresh paint soon. January and February are great months to get these projects done before the snow starts melting next month and you want to get outdoors!

The fact is that redecorating is a great equity builder in your home and it ’s not a budget breaker, so get to the store and get started, we all know we can’t do enough these days to boost our home equity.  We completed both projects for just over $200 and that included a visit to Saint Vincents resale shop to pick a few table and wall decorations to make the look of the room pop!

So, show your spouse you care and that is what love and Real Estate are all about.

More Valuable Project Information Coming Soon

In the coming days I will bring you the details for a great spring outdoor project that will build equity in your property and it’s one of the best return on investment on all the possible projects you can do. I will give you the suggested project cost with and without labor.

Please plan on returning to my web site on a regular basis for all kinds of good information, and if you don’t find the answer on the web site, contact me for a reply.

Remember to listen to Real Estate Today Radio  each weekend when the new episode is on!  You can find the listen button on my web site Home page.

Starting at $132,000 the lowest price paid for waterfront property selling on Higgins Lake, it was located in the American Legion area of the lake. The lakefront unit was on the market for 117 days before selling and was listed at $159,000.

This is the story of how just about anyone wanting to have lakefront access to Higgins Lake can make it affordable. Higgins Lake is one of the most desirable lakes in the midwest. Most people think that Higgins Lake is out of reach because in past years prices have been very high. There still are some high asking prices but some prices have come down over 30% during the past 3 years.

Higgins Lake From A 1200 Feet

Finishing at $785,000 326 Lakeshore Dr sold after being on the market for 530 days. Listed at $899,000 you can see that even the most expensive Higgins Lakefront property took a hit with having to reduce  the price.

Some of the 19 properties that have sold may have been on the market and taken off the market before the property was put back on the market and SOLD. Therefore the days on the market and listing price may not tell the overall story of the properties listing and sales history. Please contact Ken for a personal consultation to verify if the sales info you are interested in needs further interpretation.

For your personal copy of all 19 properties that SOLD during 2009 contact Ken with your email address and Ken will send it to you.

Disclaimer: Information contained herein is not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice. Sold info is derived from the Paul Bunyan MLS Inc.

Be sure to click on the “Play” button on the my Home page. Great instant informative information about how to understand today’s market place. Now, kick back while you surf  my web site and listen to “Real Estate Today Radio.” New episodes of the radio program play each weekend.

Up to date info on financing, remodeling, curb appeal, cost verses sale return on investment. Do you want to feel at  home in the real estate market place? Real Estate Today Radio will help you become at ease and familiar with what you need to be doing to invest in your homes equity, or invest in that dream property. Are you ready to look for that second home for your family vacation and future retirement? Stay tuned to the ”Radio” on Ken’s web site for the innovative ideas that will put you in control of your real estate destiny.

Need more info about northern Michigan’s real estate market performance and direction, call Ken now at 989.240.0970 for you personal consultation.

Disclaimer: Information contained herein is not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice.

50 feet of beautiful Houghton Lake frontage  with sandy bottom with westerly view sunsets. Home has 1200 square feet of living space with 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, deck and conveniently located just north of Prudenville.

Happy Buyers On Houghton Lakes East Bay

 Disclaimer: Information contained herein is not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice. Sales info is derived from the Paul Bunyan MLS Inc.

North Branch Ausable River North of Lovells

With 150 feet of frontage on the world renowned North Branch of the Ausable river, recreational seeking families are investing in northern Michigan waterfront real estate. The property is located north of Lovells on a portion of the North Branch that has great trout fishing and a deep secluded lot.

The house has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths with jet tub in main level area, upscale wood work, upscale appliances, gas  fireplace and covered porch. The upstairs dormers face south and let in loads of warm sunshine and light. With a 2 car garage and 1570 SF of living space this riverfront property is sure to please the new owners.

10235 Twin Bridge Road

There are other nice waterfront properties for sale. Now is the time to find the recreational real estate of your dreams and make the purchase as mortgage interest rates are still at all time lows!

Disclaimer: Information contained herein is not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice. Sold information was derived from the Paul Bunyan MLS Inc.

Happy New Year to you and I hope you have a safe and prosperous year ahead. The 2009 real estate market was a year of continued foreclosures with loads of property available to interested buyer’s. Sales were steady with seller’s discounting prices to come into line with market values being soft. Some have called the current market conditions a major correction, others have called it giving away your property. I see at some place in the middle. The good times of no end to property appreciation could not be sustained indefinitely. As seller’s some are waiting the soft economic times out and others are jumping in with both feet and selling for discounted prices. The great thing about America is, that you can decide what works best for you and your situation. Remember, do not become frightened by the changing times. Rather, use these times to find out how you can capitalize your position in the the biggest bear real estate market in decades!

Buyer’s are in the best position they have been in for decades! If you have been in the market looking this past year, do continue. The days ahead will have the potential for golden opportunities. The perfect storm as been brewing for financially responsible people. Here are the basic ingredients for your successful purchase in 2010!

* Continued large inventory of listings which will continue to drive down prices.
* The “Shadow” inventory of Bank Owned Properties (REOs) that has not been put on the market yet. This inventory has the potential to be approximately 25% of the total foreclosure market!
* Additional  buyer purchasing power with the lowest interest rates in decades.
* It makes sense to invest your cash in real estate when bank CDs and money markets are at ugly low returns.
* Real estate taxes are starting to drop after 2-3 years of sales prices forcing assessors to adjust assessments.
In summary, don’t wait to long. This type of opportunity may not be offered again in your life time. For detailed consultation on northern Michigan real estate opportunities contact me today.

Again, Happy New Year! 

]]> http://www.kencarlsonrealty.com/real-estate-tips/grayling-real-estate-market-report.html/feed