Everyone wants to know. It’s off to a good start. Both listings and sales are up year-to-date over the same time period in 2009. These are Reinhart statistics and they’re very impressive even with February numbers incomplete.

Listings are up 23%
Sales are up 47%
Average sale price is up nearly 10%

There are several factors contributing to the recent surge. The first-time homebuyer credit (up to $8,000) has brought many people into the market who don’t have homes to sell. This influx of buyers is reducing the inventory of homes for sale and stabilizing prices in many areas. Moderately priced homes are selling briskly and are seeing multiple offers in some cases. Foreclosure inventory is down for the time being, as lenders adapt to new strategies to delay or avoid the need to foreclose. Another factor is the current homebuyer credit (up to $6,500), which is motivating people who need to move, but have been waiting on the sidelines for fear they’d have trouble selling their current homes. Both of these significant credits require a signed sales agreement by April 30.

What will happen after these credits expire? Of course, no one knows, and all of our crystal balls have been broken for some time. But there are plenty of signs we’re on the up-slope again. We still have historically low interest rates and consumer confidence has improved slightly. The mood in Michigan is decidedly better as years of negativity are being replaced by words of encouragement from the media and businesses. Michigan’s natural and educational resources can’t be duplicated anywhere else in the country. Desperation breeds real change, and we’ve begun that phase.

Marsha Volchoff
Vice President, Operations
mvolchoff@reinhartrealtors.com

Ann Arbor Mortage Company is pleased to announce the addition of Mary Adams to their staff as a Loan Officer.

Mary has been in the mortgage and real estate industries since 1971. She has sold real estate, been a construction project manager and has extensive experience in originating FHA, VA, Conventional and MSHDA financing. She has received numerous top production achievement awards. She has served on Ann Arbor Board of Realtor committees and is the chair of the Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse Restoration Project.

Ann Arbor Mortgage has been is business since 1996 and offers conventional, FHA, VA, USDA Rural Home and jumbo residential mortgages through its Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Grand Rapids offices.

The need is constant and the gratification is instant. On Friday, February 19, 2010, agents and staff of the Charles Reinhart Company will roll up their sleeves for a worthwhile cause – the 2nd Annual Reinhart Blood Drive. They will answer the call to “take an hour to help save a life”. Ed Ridha, this years Blood Drive Chair says, “Nine days until our blood drive and we are well on our way to surpassing our ambitious goal of 31 pints! For fourteen years I have been proud to work for the top real estate company in Washtenaw county. This is another example of the positive attitude and character which surrounds Reinhart.”

Top 10 reasons to donate blood:

You will get free juice and cookies.
You will weigh less–one pint less when you leave than when you came in.
It’s easy and convenient–it only takes about an hour, and you can make the donation at a donor center, or at one of the many Red Cross mobile blood drives.
It’s something you can spare–most people have blood to spare…and yet there is not enough to go around.
Nobody can ask you to do heavy lifting as long as you have the bandage on. You can wear it for as long as you like. It’s your badge of honor.
You will walk a little taller afterwards. You will feel good about yourself.
You will be helping to ensure blood is there when you or someone close to you may need it. Most people don’t think they’ll ever need blood, but many do.
It’s something you can do on equal footing with the rich and famous–blood is something money can’t buy–only something one person can give to another.
You will be someone’s hero–you may give a newborn, a child, a mother or a father, a brother or a sister another chance at life. In fact, you may save up to 3 lives with just one donation.
It’s the right thing to do.

We encourage you to call your local Red Cross chapter and answer the call to help save a life.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Fry
The Charles Reinhart Company, Realtors
jfry@reinhartrealtors.com

WHEN: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 7-8 PM
COST: Free and open to the public
LOCATION: St. Francis School Library, 2250 Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, Michigan
DETAILS: We are bringing in a panel of Ann Arbor’s top Real Estate Experts to answer your questions in regard to buying or selling real estate!

PANEL MEMBERS:
Tammi & Richard Ebenhoeh, REALTORS®, from Charles Reinhart Company Realtors
Rick Jarzembowski, REALTOR®, from Charles Reinhart Company Realtors
Kitty Rose, Vice President, from Liberty Title
Christi Rice, Short Sale Specialist, from Liberty Title
Rhonda Chmelar, Vice President, from Money Source Financial Services

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please call Tammi Ebenhoeh @ 734-276-4663 or send an email to RealEstateSeminar@TammiEbenhoeh.com

Real Estate Questions & Answers Link
Printable Flyer

Hope to see you there!

Tammi Ebenhoeh

The Charles Reinhart Company Realtors
734-276-4663
Tammi@TammiEbenhoeh.com

Jackie Wright and I attended the Encore Theatre opening night performance in Dexter last night.
It was wonderful and I would like to get the word out.

The $25.00 ticket price is well worth it, and the performance will have you laughing out loud, both because of the skill of the actors and the “SPELLING BEE” play. We highly recommend you go see it.

Encore Theatre information.

Alice Roderick
aroderick@reinhartrealtors.com

In the big picture, it will help the local/state/national economies. On a personal level, there are a lot of strong reasons to act now. We believe that many of the necessary components are in place now for win-win transactions for buyers and sellers. The $8,000 tax credit for first time buyers has been extended. That’s nice and may help the market some, but it’s been in place for nearly a year, so it’s not news. What is news is a $6,500 credit for existing homeowners (and previous owners). Anyone who currently owns or has owned a home for 5 consecutive years within the previous 8 years is eligible. There are income restrictions for eligibility ($125,000 for an individual, $225,000 joint income), but that makes most people eligible. Unfortunately, this credit passed by Congress in November is not widely known about, and it is a short-term opportunity. To take advantage of it, a buyer needs to have their new home under contract by April 30, 2010, and own and occupy it by June 30, 2010.

There are other positive factors in play for buyers and sellers. On the buyers side, it’s still a “Buyers Market.” Prices have stabilized in most local markets, but have not begun to rise yet. Sellers have been suffering depression amidst lots of negative news. Yes, prices are down, but they have mostly stabilized. In many areas and price ranges there has actually been a shortage of good homes for sale. Properly priced Ann Arbor homes are selling! And for sellers who desire a larger or smaller home, there is the new $6,500 credit for a limited time. Furthermore, the much talked about avalanche of foreclosure properties and short sales has greatly subsided.

In short, conditions are better today than they have been in a long time to put together a winning transaction to meet a consumer’s changing needs. Ann Arbor will lead the state’s recovery and an improved real estate market here is a key component. At Reinhart, we would love to help you reach your goals!

David Lutton, President
Charles Reinhart Company Realtors

The 14th annual coat drive has come to a close and the final numbers are in.  We have distributed an astounding 1065 coats to 21 area agencies.  That far exceeds the 775 coats delivered last year!  THANK YOU to all the wonderful people who donated, the agents who tirelessly washed, collected and distributed the coats, the dry cleaners who cleaned them free of charge, and to United Way and Lands End/Sears for their generous contributions.

A special thanks to our coat drive leaders – Susan Schmunk, Nadine Alpern, Carolyn Knaggs, Lisa Jaworski-Ridha, Susan Underwood, Margaret Delaney, Susan Gates-Pollack, Cathy Alfaro, Todd Lands, Greg Uihlein, Sandy Goetz, Rick Taylor, Martha Smith, Nancy Jenkins, Robyn Javornisky, Laurie Buys, Maria Wade, Danya Hallsell and Bill Miller and the participating Dry Cleaners -  Capitol Cleaners in Saline, Chelsea Cleaners, Gold Bond Cleaners- Ann Arbor,  1 hour Martinizing- Ann Arbor and Michigan Cleaners- Ann Arbor.

Warming hearts and making a difference! 

Needs in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County are greater than ever this year for those struggling to make ends meet. Everyone understands when people must give less than usual because we’re all affected by the economy. But the agents and staff at Reinhart actually did the opposite. It began with the Coat Drive, which collected more coats than the previous year, helping to support numerous local agencies that distribute them to those in need. Next, we held a food drive Food Gatherers in early December. Then the individual Reinhart offices adopted a record number of families to supply with Christmas gifts and food.

Our next project is a blood drive for the American Red Cross on February 19.

We’re very proud of the men and women of Reinhart. All of our charitable activities are suggested, supported and made possible by their efforts. They go above and beyond to support the people of our community every day.

Marsha Volchoff
Vice President

With more than 35 years of experience in relocation services, Reinhart provides full service to renters.
Reinhart can assist renters interested in apartment community living, as well as those interested in renting single-family homes.

Apartment Rentals
Reinhart’s RentFAST staff, who are members of the Relocation Department, assist renters looking for apartments in apartment complexes throughout the greater Ann Arbor area. The RentFAST team identifies your complete housing needs including location, price, amenities, and timeframe. Next, RentFAST does a market search, resulting in a set of available options for you to review. These options are presented to you via e-mail, fax, or hard copy, according to your preference. Through personal follow-up, RentFAST learns which of the options you are interested in pursuing, then sets appointments for you at each of those locations. RentFAST will then provide you with a complete itinerary and directions from property to property. These steps are big time-savers and guarantees that when you arrive at the community, the leasing agent is fully informed about your specific needs and will be prepared to address them. If you are unable to make the tour on your own, arrangements can be made for RentFAST staff to take you on the tour. For this service, the fee is $200 for a half-day, and $450 for a full-day tour.
After the appointments, RentFAST follows up again. If assistance is needed in finalizing arrangements with a particular property, that is provided. Sometimes a new search is needed, with different parameters. In any event, RentFAST stays on the case until you have identified a community that suits you and the lease has been signed.

RentFAST also assists with temporary living, working with a number of providers of corporate apartments. In addition, RentFAST has the capability of putting together extremely competitive corporate housing options through its contacts with leasing agents and furniture and home ware providers.

The services provided by RentFAST are offered at no cost to you or your employing company (except when providing the tour, as noted above). RentFAST is compensated by the apartment communities, following the signing of the lease. This arrangement has no impact on your opportunity to participate in whatever specials may be currently offered. RentFAST provides area landlords with highly qualified leads, much better prospects than the walk-ins leasing agents receive, and accordingly RentFAST’s services are highly valued by landlords. RentFAST represents more than 150 properties in Washtenaw and western Wayne Counties. Follow-up surveys are sent to clients at the close of each transaction; responses have been overwhelmingly favorable throughout RentFAST’s twelve year history.

Single-family Home Rentals
Through its Commercial Real Estate division, Reinhart provides property management services to owners of income properties throughout Washtenaw County. Four property managers handle approximately 200 single-family residences and condominiums for these owners. At any one time, there are a number of these rentals available to you, and the property managers are happy to assist in meeting with and showing properties to you. There is no charge for the services of the property managers.

Jennifer Fry
The Charles Reinhart Company, Realtors
jfry@reinhartrealtors.com

On Friday, November 21, 2009 we were surprised by a very generous donation to our 14th Annual Coat drive by United Way and Lands End! The Big Warm Up is a national coat drive being held by Lands End where gently used coats are donated to the Lands End Shop at Sears stores all across the country. All coats will then go into the community where they were received. We received 55 mens, womens and childrens coats.

I had the pleasure of being able to personally deliver three coats to a family in need. We received a call from a woman who had gone in for a doctor’s appointment. Her family physician had noticed that she did not wear a coat in and questioned her. She explained that times were tough and she was saving up to buy her daughter and grand daughter a coat. He told her to call The Charles Reinhart Company to see if they would be willing to help out as he had heard about our coat drive. That same evening, we delivered 3 beautiful coats, one of which was for her three year old grand daughter. When her grand daughter saw her new coat, her face lit up and she immediately put it on. Warming hearts and making a difference – one coat at a time.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Fry
The Charles Reinhart Company, Realtors
jfry@reinhartrealtors.com