If you haven't figured it out yet I'm a numbers guy. I have to keep my finger on the pulse of Lansing MI's Real Estate market so I can help people make the best possible decision of when to sell or buy based on the current conditions in the market. 

So every month I review what we call "Absorption Rates"what does this mean to you? This is very simply the total months of inventory we currently have available in each price range based on how many are selling. So this month we looked back at the same time period from 2009 and compared it to today's current amount of inventory. 

I hope everyone in Mid Michigan has had a great week. I was looking over the statistics from last week to see where things stood and as you can see things are still a little hard to predict on a week to week basis. Its  important though to stay tuned in as we are fully into our busiest time of the year.

Ingham County which has been seeing consistent decline in average sales price had some great sales last week and a huge jump in the overall average to over $127,000. Nice work Ingham County!

Eaton County which has been relatively stable throughout the first quarter of the year experienced a nice spike last month up to just over $113,000 but was back in the 90's last week where it has been throughout the year.

Clinton County has been our star performer thus far averaging right at the $140,000 mark and fell off a little last week with units sold being down as well as sales prices with a few inexpensive foreclosures dragging down the overall average to just under $115,000. 

We here at The Robert Dowding Group have had a great last 30 days selling over 80% of our listing inventory. We are always looking for more people to help achieve their home buying goals and would love the opportunity to help anyone you know. If you know of someone looking to buy or sell be sure to let them know we are here to help.

Thank you, 

Robert Dowding

The Robert Dowding Group at Keller Williams Realty will be holding a public open house on March 18, 2012 for one of our 3 great listings in Grovenburg Farms of Holt Michigan. Plan on coming out to view this great home from 1:00-3:00. 

5945 Cartago - Lansing, MI

• 3 Bedrooms (including a master suite)
• 1532 Square feet
• 2 full baths
• Full partially finished basement with egress, large rec-room two additional rooms and storage
• Formal dining or Office
• Deck and a treed private back yard.

Not the one for you?                                                                                                                               Stop by our website and start your search for a new home today!

"Homes By Email" be the first to know when that new listings hits the market, sign up NOW!

http://www.midmichiganhouses.com

Thinking about selling? Request a CMA and find out what you home is worth in todays market.

http://www.midmichiganhomevalues.com

​

Office 517.853.6390 ~ 3100 West Rd Bldg 1 Ste 210, East Lansing, MI 48823 ~ Fax 866.206.5926

​Your 2011 Year End Market Report

One of Holt Michigan's best and most consistent neighborhoods is the area bordered by I96 to the North,Holt Rd to the South, Grovenberg to the West and Washington to the East. As there are numerous small neighborhoods within this area I have defined it generally as the "Chisholm Hills Area." 

Within this neighborhood there is a wide range of construction, size, style and age. I have worked a lot in the area throughout my career and in the past year. As I currently have two listings in the area 2188 Aspenwood and 5920 Cartago (one under contract) I thought I would offer an overview of the entire area for the past year. The residents of this area will receive this in the mail as well. 

I'm often asked if this is a good time to buy a home. Some clients are concerned that home prices may fall further than they have already. They are assuming that the best course of action is to wait for the bottom in the market and then buy. The problem with this approach is that you don't know where the bottom is until you see it in the rear view mirror, meaning until you've missed it!

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability. Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows. Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates go up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life. It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone." To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.