I won an iPad at the 2011 NAR Convention in Anaheim, CA

was there for a period of 5 days.  During the conference I attended valuable educational sessions to help me in my business as a Realtor, but also learned some unique insight into national trends and conditions with Real Estate in regards the ecomony.

The NAR Convention in Anaheim, CA 2011

Also as part of the convention, I took part in the expo center that is held at every convention, and was introduced to products and services from all over the world to better my job as a Realtor.

The city of Anaheim is the home of the Disneyland theme park, so there are some very nice convention centers, restaurants and hotels in the area.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the convention, and even won a brand new iPad 2 in the expo center in a contest!  I hope to be able to attend next year when the convention moves to Orlando, Florida.  Another Disney community, and another great convention center I hear.

Having served are President of the Battle Creek Area Association of Realtors in 2011, I was priviledged to be able to represent my local association at both the State and National levels the last two year.  Attending the convention is part of the term of service.  It has been a great adventure and one of the many milestones in my career as a local Realtor in Battle Creek, Michigan.

“… who knew the pilgrims liked football so much …” ~ John Caponera

I think that says enough, and then I found this one:

“Thanksgiving is the day when … my mom, after six Bloody Marys, looks at the turkey and goes: ‘Here kitty, kitty’” ~ David Letterman

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday, and in writing this I hope I can look back on this post after seeing a Detroit Lions win on Thanksgiving, for the first time in 7 years.  Go Lions!

Wishing the Detroit Lions the best of luck on Thanksgiving Day 2011

What is a Certified Residential Specialist in Battle Creek?  A Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) is a REALTOR® that has earned this certification from the Counsel of Residential Specialists by completing a rigorous course of advanced training on Real Estate, and by meeting significant experience requirements.

It’s a rare combination that makes a Certified Residential Specialist more than just another Real Estate agent.  It’s the ability to make a real difference in the purchase or sale of a home that places them among the best in the business.  When you work with a Certified Residential Specialist in Battle Creek, or anywhere, you will experience the difference for yourself in terms of service and professionalism.

As a Certified Residential Specialist in Battle Creek, Michigan I strive to make each experience with buying a home an enjoyable and successful experience for all involved.  In addition, since becoming a Certified Residential Specialist in Battle Creek, Michigan, I have continued to constantly educate myself as a REALTOR® and stay on top of changes in the industry that can affect my buyers and sellers.  The Michigan State requirements for continuing education for a REALTOR® at present are just 18 hours per three year period.

In the last three year period, I logged well over 110 hours of voluntary training related to the industry, and many hundreds of more hours that did not get counted, but were important to my education as a professional.  If you want to find out more about what a Certified Residential Specialist is, you can visit the website: www.crs.com or contact me directly about your real estate needs at: 269-441-8182 or through my website at: www.michaeldelaware.com.

Low interest rates make now the best time to buy!

Home prices were considerably lower in 1981, but mortgage rates were a staggering 18 percent. Today’s prices are higher, but because of these record low mortgage rates, monthly payment obligations are significantly reduced.

In the local Battle Creek market, the popular loan programs of FHA, VA and USDA Rural Develop remain.  These government loan programs offer first time home buyers a chance, despite what one hears in the media, to buy with little or no money down.  The underwriting guidelines make it difficult for some buyers with difficult credit histories, but for the most part, a prospective homebuyer with a sound job, decent credit scores and some cash reserves can buy a home in today’s market.

The opportunities for getting a good deal on a home still runs strong.  Buying a home at this time could be said to be the best time in history when one combines the advantages of the low interest rates, and low home prices.  There is also still a ready abundance of available homes for purchase, and the deals are still out there.

If you are considering making that important step towards homeownership, give me a call at 269-441-8182 and I help you start on your way in the Battle Creek or Calhoun County market place.  Buying a home does not have to be a daunting task, and as a Realtor, I work with people to take them through the steps necessary to arrive at their goal.  Now is a great time to buy!

I attended many learning sessions at the NAR Convention in Anaheim, CA this year.

I recently returned from attending the National Association of Realtors Convention 2011 in Anaheim, CA.  I was there for four days, and took a variety of educational sessions, and interacted with numerous Realtors from all over the country, as well as explored the large expo that is part of the event each year.

This was my second time in attendence at the NAR convention, last year it was held in New Orleans.  It amazes me how my industry changes in many areas from year to year, and on some levels stays the same.  There was one session I attended covering the economy.  It was clear that the impact of the current leadership in Washington, D.C. has left this nation under a blanket of uncertainty from month to month, week to week.

The impact is indicated in many consumer statistics, as well as national lending practices, etc.  I do not claim to be an economist, or have a full grip on all that is happening on a national level, so do not misunderstand me.  I can only relay what I have observed

Here I am at the NAR Convention 2011.

from interacting with many people all over the country over the past several years, and it appears that everyone is waiting for a storm to pass.

This ‘waiting’ is reflected in the stagnant economy.  Perhaps 2012 will be larger than anyone will ever consider right now.  Certainly a national election coming will make for an interesting year.

Regardless, I found the educational sessions at this years convention to be extremely enlightening.  I particularly enjoyed the technology classes I attended, and wish I had been able to make more of them.  I will look forward to going again next year.

When we are talking about Turkeys in Battle Creek, wecannot forget to mention 'Turkeyville'.

Let’s talk turkey for a minute, shall we?  Being that this is the season for turkey dinners across the USA, I thought I would discuss the turkey for this blog post.  Just outside Battle Creek, Michigan, North of Marshall we have the locally owned and operated ‘Cornwell’s Turkeyville Farm and Restaurant’ where you can go enjoy some good food (usually turkey related) all year long. 

In fact they are open for Thanksgiving, and guess what they are serving?  That’s right: Turkey.  So when we are talking turkey, it is hard not to wander on over to Turkeyville, which is a great place for the kids too. 

Turkeyville boasts an incredible ice cream shop, hay rides for the kids, eclectic gift shop and a dinner theatre.  So if you just do not want to cook your turkey this year, consider taking the family to Turkeyville.

Turkeys are nervous in November...

Okay, so what if you want to cook your turkey, and do not want to buy one general grocery store chain ones with 8% injected hormones and juices?  Well, I discovered an awesome place online where you can go to get a turkey from a turkey farm.  There are organic, and pasture fed turkeys and many other varieties.  The best thing is you can punch in your location in the country, find your turkey and place your order right online, and a farm raised turkey will be shipped directly to you!  Pretty cool huh?  Here is the website address: www.localharvest.org. 

Now before all of you late Thanksgiving turkey buyers start scrambling with this good news, I should prepare you.  Most of the local farms are sold out, and you won’t have enough time to get it before the big day in this year.  However there is hope for perhaps your Christmas dinner.  You will also find that this site is a great resource all year round for farm grown goods.  My wife and I have a few local farms we get organic vegetables and eggs throughout the year. 

Now, some of you might be asking, what about a little history of turkey and Thanksgiving in this turkey talk?  Okay, here some little tidbits.  Did you know that the early pilgrims did supposedly hold a feast at Plymouth plantation, Massachusetts in 1621, but their common name for turkey was all inclusive any wild fowl they shot?  That’s right!  There could very well have been duck or geese instead of the ol’ turkey at that original feast.  

Do you know which President officially proclaimed the first Thanksgiving holiday?  As President, on October 3, 1789,

Turkey is a favorite at Thanksgiving for millions of Americans...

George Washington issued a proclamation and created the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the national government of the United States of America. 

The date and holiday was changed by several Presidents over the years, including Adams and Lincoln.  It was not until December 26, 1941, however, that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill into law officially making Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November. 

So how did you enjoy this episode of turkey talk?

Marshall, Michigan is a great community in Calhoun County.

Buying a home in Marshall, Michigan is to become part of a wonderful community that has a strong pride of ownership throughout.  Marshall, Michigan is the County seat for Calhoun County, and according to the 2000 U.S. Census has a population of 7459 people. 

The homes in Marshall, Michigan are a mix of many eras of history, and a great many of them are well preserved.  My impression of this community is that they tend to take very good care of their homes.  So buying a home in Marshall, Michigan is a good move for long term property values. 

One of the exciting features about buying a home in Marshall, Michigan is that the entire community qualifies for the USDA Rural Development single family loan program as a rural community.  So you can buy a home right near downtown if you wish, and still be able to use the Rural Development loan program which allows a buyer to obtain 100% financing on their loan. 

Few loan programs today offer this, and this one also carries with it a competitive low interest rate as well.  The Marshall

Marshall Michigan offers carriage rides in the downtown area.

community has many other qualities that make buying a home there a desirable goal.  There is a nice walking path along the river, well maintained city parks, a historic downtown full of great shops, the County fairgrounds, and the high school football team won the Michigan State Championship in 2009.

The downtown area also holds festivals and parades throughout the year, which offer a lot of interesting things for the family, which is another great aspect of buying a home in Marshall, Michigan. There are even some new construction homes in Marshall. 

For more information on buying a home in Marshall, Michigan, visit my website at: www.michaeldelaware.com or call me directly at: 269-441-8182.  I can send you listings of available properties in Marshall through your email.  I look forward to working with you on finding your home.

Marshall, Michigan has a unique downtown with a lot of speciality shops.