2011 March YTD Sales Stats

 

I have calculated the updated 2011 year-to-date (1st quarter) recent home sales data and market sales trends for Leelanau County and have posted the information above. The home sales statistics compare housing sold in Leelanau County from January 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011 to the same time period in 2010 and 2009. This includes the townships of Bingham, Centerville, Cleveland, Elmwood, Empire, Glen Arbor, Kasson, Leelanau, Leland, Solon, Suttons Bay, and the City of Traverse City within Leelanau County.

As you can see from the housing data, 2011 residential real estate sold in Leelanau County is already well ahead of 2010 and 2009 numbers in terms of average selling price, median sale price, houses sold, and total residential sales volume. Volume sold in Leelanau County is up 73% over 2009 at this time and houses sold has increased over 35%!

This report is based upon sales information obtained from the Traverse Area Multiple Listing Service from 2009-2011. Undisclosed sales are not included in the data. This is for basic review purposes only. All attempts for accuracy have been made but cannot be guaranteed.

-Jonathan Oltersdorf, Oltersdorf Realty, LLC

2011 March YTD Sales Data

 I have calculated the updated 2011 year-to-date (1st quarter) recent home sales data and market sales trends for Traverse City / Grand Traverse County and have posted the information above. The home sales statistics compare housing sold in Grand Traverse County from January 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011 to the same time period in 2010 and 2009. This includes the townships of Acme, Blair, East Bay, Fife Lake, Garfield, Grant, Green Lake, Long Lake, Mayfield, Paradise, Peninsula, Union, Whitewater, and the City of Traverse City.

As you can see from the housing data, 2011 residential real estate sold in Grand Traverse County is very similar to 2010 in terms of average selling price, median sale price, houses sold, and total residential sales volume.

This report is based upon sales information obtained from the Traverse Area Multiple Listing Service from 2009-2011. Undisclosed sales are not included in the data. This is for basic review purposes only. All attempts for accuracy have been made but cannot be guaranteed.

-Jonathan Oltersdorf, Oltersdorf Realty, LLC

2010 Leelanau County Census Data

2010 Leelanau County Census Data

The 2010 census data has been released for all Michigan counties, townships, and cities. Leelanau County reported a 2.8% increase in residents from 2000-2010.

Resident Population

2000

2010

 % Change
       

Leelanau County

21,119

21,708

2.8%

Bingham township

2,425

2,497

3.0%  

Centerville township

1,095

1,274

16.3%  

Cleveland township

1,040

1,031

-0.9%  

Elmwood charter township

4,264

4,503

5.6%  

Empire township

1,085

1,182

8.9%  

Glen Arbor township

788

859

9.0%  

Kasson township

1,577

1,609

2.0%  

Leelanau township

2,143

2,027

-5.4%  

Leland township

2,029

2,043

0.7%  

Solon township

1,542

1,509

-2.1%  

Suttons Bay township

2,982

2,982

0.0%  

Traverse City City (pt.)

149

192

28.9%  


The above information above was posted on http://www.michigan.gov  and was pulled directly from the census data on 3/23/11. Every attempt for accuracy has been made but cannot be guaranteed.

Please visit http://www.michigan.gov/cgi/0,1607,7-158-54534-252541--,00.html  to download the full census data directly from the State of Michigan’s website.

2010 Grand Traverse County Census Data

2010 Grand Traverse County Census Data

The 2010 census data has been released for all Michigan counties, townships, and cities. Grand Traverse County gained the third most residents in Michigan from 2000-2010.
 

Resident Population

2000

2010

 % Change
       

Grand Traverse County

77,655

86,986

12.0%

Acme township

4,361

4,375

0.3%  

Blair township

6,455

8,209

27.2%  

East Bay township

9,919

10,663

7.5%  

Fife Lake township

1,517

2,791

84.0%  

Garfield charter township

13,841

16,256

17.4%  

Grant township

947

1,066

12.6%  

Green Lake township

5,009

5,784

15.5%  

Long Lake township

7,648

8,662

13.3%  

Mayfield township

1,263

1,550

22.7%  

Paradise township

4,192

4,713

12.4%  

Peninsula township

5,265

5,433

3.2%  

Traverse City City (pt.)

14,383

14,482

0.7%  

Union township

417

405

-2.9%  

Whitewater township

2,438

2,597

6.5%  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




The above information above was posted on http://www.michigan.gov  and was pulled directly from the census data on 3/23/11. Every attempt for accuracy has been made but cannot be guaranteed.

Please visit http://www.michigan.gov/cgi/0,1607,7-158-54534-252541--,00.html  to download the full census data directly from the State of Michigan’s website.

Simple Tips For Better Home Showings

Simple Tips for Better Home Showings

  

Is your house currently for sale but you aren't seeing the results you would like?
Do you want to sell your Traverse City or Leelanau County, Michigan home in 2011?

1. Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too.

2. Wash your windows and screens. This will help get more light into the interior of the home.

3. Keep everything extra clean. A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well-cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator. Polish your doorknobs and address numbers. It’s worth hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.

4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows to air out the house. Potpourri or scented candles will help.

5. Brighten your rooms. Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned-out bulbs in closets. Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of neutral color paint.

6. Don’t disregard minor repairs. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well-maintained.

7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters. For added curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch holes. Repair any holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9. Add a touch of color in the living room.  A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room. Buy new accent pillows for the sofa.

10. Buy a flowering plant and put it near a window you pass by frequently.

11. Make centerpieces for your tables. Use brightly colored fruit or flowers.

12. Set the scene. Set the table with fancy dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help buyers picture living there. For example, in the basement you might display a chess game in progress.

13. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light. Show off the view if you have one.

14. Accentuate the fireplace. Lay fresh logs in the fireplace or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.

15. Make the bathrooms feel luxurious. Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and fancy guest soaps. Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of sight.

16. Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that’s not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (ideally in the basement), and let the real estate practitioner know where they’ll be to eliminate surprises.

17. Lock up valuables, jewelry, and money. While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing or open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.

18. Leave the home. It’s usually best if the sellers are not at home. It’s awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.

Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine (REALTOR.org/realtormag) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score

5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score

If you are considering buying a home within Leelanau County or the Traverse City area in the next couple years you need to start thinking about your credit score! Your credit score will impact the interest rate that you will receive on your loan!

Credit scores range between 300 and 850, with scores above 620 considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. 723 is the median score in the U.S., but you can expect good mortgage interest rates at the 720 to 760 level and up.The following factors affect your score:

1. Your payment history. Did you pay your credit card obligations on time? If they were late, then how late? Bankruptcy filing, liens, and collection activity also impact your history.

2. How much you owe.  If you owe a great deal of money on numerous accounts, it can indicate that you are overextended. However, it’s a good thing if you have a good proportion of balances to total credit limits.

3. The length of your credit history. In general, the longer you have had accounts opened, the better. The average consumer's oldest obligation is 14 years old, indicating that he or she has been managing credit for some time, according to Fair Isaac Corp., and only one in 20 consumers have credit histories shorter than 2 years.

4. How much new credit you have. New credit, either installment payments or new credit cards, are considered more risky, even if you pay them promptly.

5. The types of credit you use. Generally, it’s desirable to have more than one type of credit — installment loans, credit cards, and a mortgage, for example.

For more on evaluating and understanding your credit score, visit www.myfico.com.

SOLD 3-1-11 12582 E Hendryx Dr, Suttons Bay, MI 49682 – 155’ Sandy West Grand Traverse Bay

12582 E Hendryx Dr, Suttons Bay, MI 49682
155' of sandy frontage on West Grand Traverse Bay
SOLD By Oltersdorf Realty, LLC 3-1-11
Asking Price: $800,000

Hendryx Dr is located on the finest stretch of beach between Northport and Traverse City.  This historic estate, built in 1893 offers 6 bedrooms, 3 ½ baths, and 4043 square feet including a separate apartment in-law suite with fireplace. Relax on 155’ of rare deep sandy private beach frontage on West Grand Traverse Bay!

  

Sold 2-22-11 - 8860 E Donner Rd - Traverse City, MI

8860 E Donner Rd - Traverse City, MI 49684
10.00 Acres in Leelanau County
SOLD By Oltersdorf Realty, LLC 2-22-11
Asking Price: $98,000

10.00 acres of beautiful gradually rolling Leelanau County countryside located conveniently between Suttons Bay and Traverse City.  

Photo courtesy of Century 21 Northland. 

Crestwood Dr, Suttons Bay, MI SOLD

Crestwood Dr - Suttons Bay
Leelanau County,MI 49682
Sold 1-28-11

Rare Acreage Opportunity! This amazing 17 acres building site of mature hardwoods and pines in Suttons Bay Township offers a serene and private setting to build your year round or vacation home! Wonderful rural neighborhood minutes to the Village of Suttons Bay!

 

Listing and Selling office: OLTERSDORF REALTY, LLC

Oltersdorf Realty, LLC
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Phone: (231)271-7777
E-Mail: RealEstate@Oltersdorf.com

2010 Traverse Area Home Sales Data

FIVE COUNTY AREA
Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Antrim, Kalkaska
(click on each graph to view a larger image)




The 2010 home sales statistics for Traverse City’s five county region is now available and charted for you above. This data comprises of all reported sales to the Traverse City Area Association of Realtors for existing home sales and new construction home sales within Grand Traverse County, Leelanau County, Benzie County, Antrim County, and Kalkaska County from 2002 through 2010. Overall 2010 was a very good year for real estate sales within our region considering the health of the Michigan economy as well as the uncertainty of the national economy. Our tourist heavy region remains a bright spot as one of the top destinations in the Midwest. Although prices have remained flat, home buyers were supported by the first time home buyer credit in the spring and record low interest rates through the fall. We also saw a large increase in upper end waterfront home sales in 2010 (a vital segment of our market) after a below average 2009. Vacant land sales have yet to see significant gains (not included in this data) due in large part to the affordability and vast supply of existing homes still on the market. As existing home supply continues to slowly decrease, look for vacant land sales to start to increase and prices to gradually rise, hopefully by mid 2011.

In 2010 we saw a 2% increase in total residential units sold over 2009. More importantly, we saw a 6% increase in average sales price and a 5.1% increase in median sales price over 2009. Median sales price is often the most common used figure to determine the overall real estate market health of any specific region. Here at Oltersdorf Realty, LLC we are fortunate to have had a very successful winter so far and all indications point towards a 2011 with increased sales volume! Please do not hesitate to contact us regarding current status of the Traverse City – Leelanau County real estate market!

Oltersdorf Realty, LLC
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Phone: (231)271-7777
E-Mail: RealEstate@Oltersdorf.com

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This representation is based in whole, or in part, on data supplied by the Traverse Area Association of REALTORS® or its Multiple Listing Service for the period January 2002 through December 31, 2010. Neither the Association nor its Multiple Listing Service guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Any market data maintained by the Association or its Multiple Listing Service does not necessarily include information on listings not published at the request of the seller, listings of brokers who are not members of the Association or Multiple Listing Service, unlisted properties, or rental properties.

2010 Leelanau County Building Permits

 

The Leelanau County Building Department is reporting that 451 permits were issued in 2010 at an estimated value of $28,913,028. That is an increase of 21% in total permits over 2009 and a 6.4% jump in estimate value. Below you will find a chart totaling permits and estimated values of construction within Leelanau County from 2008 through 2010. Local area builders are very optimistic that the worst of the construction slowdown in Leelanau County is behind us and the trend will continue through 2011.

 

Check back often as we will post the year end 2010 Leelanau and Grand Traverse County real estate sales data within the next several weeks. This report will provide median and average sales price, total houses sold, and total volume sold for 2010 and previous years for each county!


Oltersdorf Realty, LLC

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Phone: (231) 271-7777

Email: RealEstate@Oltersdorf.com

 

2010-11 Real Estate Trends - Cost of Remodeling

2010-11 Real Estate Trends

Below you will find the home remodeling projects that bring the greatest cost recovered at resale based on a recent national study. Are you planning on a small remodel of your house in 2011 in the Traverse City, Grand Traverse, or Leelanau County area? Are you a home owner who is thinking about selling in a couple of years? A recent study indicates that the projects that will net you the greatest return on your costs are all about first impressions! Below you will find the national averages on each project.

PROJECT 1: Entry Door Replacement (Steel)
Cost $1,218
Resale value $1,243
Cost recouped 102.1%
National averages

PROJECT 2: Garage Door Replacement
Cost $1,291
Resale value $1,083
Cost recouped 83.9%
National averages

PROJECT 3: Siding Replacement
(Fiber Cement)
Cost $13,382
Resale value $10,707
Cost recouped 80.0%
National averages

PROJECT 4: Kitchen Remodel (Minor)
Cost $21,695
Resale value $15,790
Cost recouped 72.8%
National averages

PROJECT 5: Deck Addition (Wood)
Cost $10,973
Resale value $7,986
Cost recouped 72.8%
National averages

For the full article and additional information please visit the following link:
http://www.realtor.org/rmohome_and_design/articles/2011/1101_costvsvalue

Oltersdorf Realty, LLC
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Email: RealEstate@Oltersdorf.com
(231)271-7777

5267 N Leland Ridge Dr, Leland, MI SOLD

 

5267 N Leland Ridge Dr, Leland, MI 49654
Sold 1-7-11

Beautiful Leland, Michigan custom home offering 184 feet of private & sandy Lake Michigan shoreline with sunset water views of North & South Manitou Inlands, located in a secluded Leelanau County location!

 

Photos courtesy of Venture Properties. Selling agent: Vicky Oltersdorf

Oltersdorf Realty, LLC
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Email: RealEstate@Oltersdorf.com
(231)271-7777

Who sells the most real estate in Leelanau County?

Are you planning on buying or selling Leelanau County real estate in 2011?

Experience counts!

Nobody has sold more real estate in Leelanau County within the last 5 years! Oltersdorf Realty, LLC has sold over 51 million dollars of real estate volume in Leelanau County (representing buyers and sellers) and over 155 sales sides (homes, vacant, and commercial) within that time span! That’s over 32% more volume and 30% more than the next closest agent! Our detailed marketing strategy provides as much, if not more exposure than those “big name” real estate firms. Our listings are not only found on every major real estate website nationwide but we provide a much more in depth marketing packet for prospective purchasers than any other agent. Take a look at a sample marketing packet HERE! Call today to schedule an appointment! Now is the time to prepare your house to sell in 2011!

Sincerely,

Vicky & Jonathan Oltersdorf
Oltersdorf Realty, LLC
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(231)271-7777
Email: RealEstate@Oltersdorf.com

2561 S Lake Leelanau Dr, Lake Leelanau - SOLD

 

 
2561 S Lake Leelanau Dr, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653
Sold 12-22-10

Hobbyists Delight! This 7.5 acre partially wooded parcel enjoys hilltop sunset water views of South Lake Leelanau, land division options, and a wonderful 30 ft x 42 ft Morton Pole building complete with electricity, two 15 ft x 12 ft doors, concrete flooring, electric service, fruit trees, irrigation system and a 4 inch well . Ideal Bingham township location on a paved county maintained road just minutes from Traverse City!


Oltersdorf Realty, LLC
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Email: RealEstate@Oltersdorf.com
(231)271-7777

102 Broadway - Suttons Bay

 

102 Broadway, Suttons Bay, MI 49682
 
Sold 12-22-10
 
This Premier Landmark Commercial Building is situated in a high profile corner location within the Central Business District of the year-round community of Suttons Bay! An exceptional investment with quality long term tenants, this 9,800+ sq ft building offers 5 commercial units, extra storage space and on site parking! This listing is for the real estate only; current tenants include the US Postal Service, 45th Parallel Café, Candy World, and Gusto.

 

 

 

For Sale By Owner?

Are you thinking about trying to sell your house by owner in Traverse City – Leelanau County – or the Grand Traverse Area? Financial guru Dave Ramsey explains why he doesn’t recommend selling your home buy owner. Check out his podcast here:

http://www.daveramsey.com/index.cfm?event=askdave/&intContentItemId=118273

If you are considering selling your home by owner, what do you have to lose by contacting Oltersdorf Realty LLC? We would be more than happy to sit down with you for a no obligation presentation on what our marketing campaign can do for you. Study after study has proven that a high volume full time professional can sell your property faster and for more money than you can FSBO (for sale by owner). Oltersdorf Realty, LLC continues to be ranked in the top 1% of all Traverse City Area Association of Realtors year after year. No one has a more detailed and complete marketing strategy aimed at reaching the highest number of potential home buyers. Experience counts!

If you are determined to only sell your home or property yourself, please contact us to let us know that you have put your real estate on the market! We are constantly in contact with potential buyers and our goal is always to find our clients the right home, including houses and property for sale by owner!

Oltersdorf Realty, LLC
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E-mail: realestate@oltersdorf.com
Phone: 231-271-7777