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Random thoughts about anything Marquette
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The sky is not falling!
Peckin'
The saddest thing I ever did see
Was a woodpecker peckin' at a plastic tree.
He looks at me, and "Friend," says he,
"Things ain't as sweet as they used to be."
Shel Silverstein
A Light in the Attic
I was interviewed by Tv6 last week regarding lake front homes; try as I might I could not find a real positive note other than it is a "great time to buy”! We have sold ½ as many lake front homes this year compared to each of the three previous years. That statistic drove home the fact that our market is not the same as it used to be.
BUT
Dr. Ferrarini also commented on the fact that when people are faced with harder times they tend to not give as much to charity. But I think Marquette County can buck national trends there as well. So please join me Sunday evening at the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum for our first annual Home Party Palooza.
Home Party Palooza!
Please join us Sunday between 6 and 8pm to shop at all your favorite home party vendors in one place on one night.
Pampered Chef, Silpada, Home America, Premiere Jewelry, Mary Kay, Discovery Toys, Creative Memories, Party Lite, Tastefully Simple, Northern Art Glass and MORE!!!
The vendors and more will all be gathered at the children’s museum for your shopping convenience.
All of the participating vendors are making donations the
UP Children's Museum based on the nights sales and orders.
Bring friends.
Raffle prizes, snacks and fun!
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Posted: 12:02 PM, Nov. 13, 2008 |
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8 Web Sites You Need to Know
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Franklin P. Jones quotes (AmericanBusinessman, 1887-1929)
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I grew up in a family that was told to look it up when we didn’t know the answer to something. In my house a question is invariably met with the answer “Google It.” But I do have several go-to web sites for answers to many questions and I am pleased to share my top 8 links today.
1) For information on any property in the City of Marquette I use the website Marquette City for property information you click on Resident services and then property information look up. From there you can find out who is in a neighborhood you may be looking at, how long a home has been owned by the homeowner or what someone paid for a home.
2) To find out what your potential property taxes may be I use Michigan.gov which has a great property tax calculator.
5) Marquette County is a detailed website for Marquette County maps trails and information.
6) Michigan Gazetteer has profiles of 3,059 Michigan cities, towns & neighborhoods. Cultural features, nature information, maps and much more.
7) For any information you need about Marquette Area Public Schools check out MAPS Website.
8) And your number one go-to web site should be StephanieSells.com for all things Real Estate and Marquette information!!!! |
Posted: 9:01 AM, Nov. 6, 2008 |
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Halloween, Time Change & Voting
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Happy Halloween!!!!
Happy Daylight Savings Time!!!
Happy Election Day!!
That pretty much sums up everything going on
in the next couple of days!
Halloween has gotten out of control over the last couple of years but I will never grow tired of seeing the little kids dressed up and smiling in the elementary school parades. Another great place to both trick or treat and costume watch is Downtown Marquette. Businesses in Downtown Marquette sponsor trick or treating from 3-5pm. I think it is a great time to go because the kids can see other kids in costumes before it gets dark. Marquette City does not have set trick or treating hours but many communities do. WLUC TV6 has the complete list. One interesting fact I learned when I called the police department today is that my son was right, there is a city curfew of 10pm for kids 17 and under.
Sunday, November 2nd is the day to turn your clocks back an hour, and replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. After a long weekend of Halloween activities, the extra hour of sleep will be needed!
Halloween Trick-or-Treaters
Through 2006, Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. ended a few days before Halloween (October 31). Children’s pedestrian deaths are four times higher on Halloween than on any other night of the year. A new law to extend DST to the first Sunday in November took effect in 2007, with the purpose of providing trick-or-treaters more light and therefore more safety from traffic accidents. For decades, candy manufacturers lobbied for a Daylight Saving Time extension to Halloween, as many of the young trick-or-treaters gathering candy are not allowed out after dark, and thus an added hour of light means a big holiday treat for the candy industry. Anecdotally, the 2007 switch may not have had much effect, as it appeared that children simply waited until dark to go trick-or-treating.
Voter Turnout in Elections
Through 2006, the Daylight Saving Time period has closed on the last Sunday October, about a week before Election Day, which is held the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The extension of Daylight Saving Time into November has been proposed as a way to encourage greater voter participation, the theory being that more people would go to the polls if it was still light when they returned home from work. The U.S. law taking effect in 2007 pushes the end of Daylight Saving Time to the first Sunday in November. In some years (2010, 2021, 2027, and 2032), this will fall after Election Day, giving researchers the opportunity to gauge its effect on voter turnout.
If you do not know your voting location, just check out the Marquette County Clerk webpage for all locations. For any other voting questions the Web Voter Information Center for Michigan has a ton of valuable information. And remember vote early (and often!).
Last but not least I just looked at the menu for Kareem’s Coastal Cuisine (formerly New York Deli & Italian Place) and it looks exciting. Lunch is along the lines of the previous menu but dinners are all new! I am not sure which dinner I want to try first Fish tacos or Ravioli with one of the many interesting fillings on the menu. Gourmet Burgers and Kareem’s Crock Pot Meals “one bowl with many flavors” look great as well. If you get there before I do let me know what you think. |
Posted: 10:26 AM, Oct. 30, 2008 |
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Bring on Winter!
Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”
John Ruskin
(English Writer and Critic of art, architecture, and society, 1819-1900)
When the first snow happens before Halloween I get nervous about the winter. But today’s snow is very pretty, as long as it doesn’t stick around!
But with snow comes the winter parking ban, which in Marquette begins Nov.1st. The Marquette City website says;
Winter Parking Ban
Marquette City residents, NMU students, and visitors are reminded the city's winter parking ban will be in effect beginning November 1st. The winter parking ban requires owners of vehicles to find off-street parking between the hours of 1:00 am and 6:00 am each night.
The winter parking ban will be in effect from November 1st to April 1st. The fine for violating the parking ban is $50.00.
Marquette residents are encouraged to find alternate off-street parking before the parking ban goes into effect.
Some people may say that winter is not the time to buy a new home BUT I say this winter may be a great opportunity to buy a home. I am seeing motivated sellers who are offering to pay 2 months mortgage, throw in snow blowers and are generally doing what they have to do to get their home sold. River Valley Bank wants to help buyers sort out fact from fiction and are holding a buyer event. If buying a home in the next 12 months is something you are considering then join me at River Valley Bank Thursday evening.
You know every detail about the new home
You want to buy...
Now get the specifics on financing your dream
Now is the Time to Buy
Market Update
Free Credit Report * Rent vs. Buy *
Prequalifying Process
Thursday, October 30th, 2008
1140 West Washington St.
5:30pm -7:00pm
Refreshments Provided
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Posted: 11:00 AM, Oct. 27, 2008 |
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Positive motivation!
"The challenge is in the moment,
the time is always now."
James Baldwin (1924–1987)
Novelist and essayist
"When nothing is sure, everything
is possible."
Margaret Drabble (1939 – )
English novelist
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
British prime minister during WWII
"In the middle of difficulty
lies opportunity."
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
German-born physicist
I just needed to share my positive energy with a few quotes. Okay I will admit I could not decide which was the most uplifting and positive! My advice for an antidote to all the pessimistic, doom & gloom talk in the media is to go for a walk!
Soak in the lovely fall colors and
appreciate the fact that we do not have
snow on the ground yet!
So turn of the TV, the radio and yes the computer and go outside and just breathe! |
Posted: 8:26 AM, Oct. 9, 2008 |
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Rainbows & Tailgating!
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“And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.”
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I dragged my lazy butt to the gym this morning and was rewarded with a lovely rainbow over the city. How lucky am I? Then my mom sends me pictures of the rainbow they saw over Lake Superior last night, so I take it as a sign and see some positive in the world. I have listings that are getting showings, and that is a good thing. I still say right now is a great time to buy.
Todays quote also mentions a parade which is a great reminder to check out NMU's homecoming parade Friday at 5:30. NMU has also started to allow tailgating at the football games check here for rules and the school policy. NMU is hosting many fun events this weekend.
Continuing in the football theme, Marquette County Youth Football has its last outdoor games of the season this weekend at MSHS football field. There are teams playing from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm. If you have never seen 5th-8th grade kids play football, it is a treat. They may not be great but they sure have a lot of heart! It costs nothing to stop in and support these kids so stop by!
And in the Tailgate theme, the YMCA is holding a Tailgate Dinner & Dance & Auction Saturday, October 11th at the YMCA.
“Please join us for an evening of casual fun.
A tailgate party leading up to the Packer Skybox raffle drawing, dinner & dancing.”
Tickets are only $15.00 per person.
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Posted: 9:29 AM, Oct. 2, 2008 |
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Positive about Marquette County Future
If you know me, you know my glass is always half full. But I will admit that the continual media bombardment of doom and gloom has started to empty my glass. But after spending a few days in Detroit (no I will never like or be positive about the city of Detroit) at the Michigan Association of REALTORS® annual convention, I was pleased to be among so many positive people. Instead of a gloom and doom attitude, most of the attendees and speakers were excited about the positive attributes that Michigan has.
This week in Marquette, I have seen several purchase agreements written on commercial properties. Along with the hint (or some days scream) of fall in the air, there is a sense of anticipation of an economy turning in the right direction. In doing my research, I spoke with Dale Hemmila District Manager—Public Affairs
Cliffs Michigan Mining Company and I felt mypositive outlook grow. This is what the company says about pellet production.
“In addition to the capital investment, maximizing pellet production will increase Michigan employment. Projections call for adding approximately 375 new employees. This plan also means retention of the current Empire workforce of approximately 550 employees. That is a total of approximately 925 jobs, which will be created or retained with the implementation of this plan”
The company is also involved with biomass fuel.
“Renewafuel, a subsidiary of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (NYSE: CLF) announced today its plans to build a next-generation biomass fuel production facility at the Telkite Technology Park located at Sawyer Airport near Marquette, Michigan. At full production the plant could produce 150,000 tons per year of high-energy, low-emission biofuel cubes from a composite of sustainably collected wood and agricultural feedstocks including wood waste, corn stalks, grasses and energy crops.”
So if you know any engineers who want to live in Marquette County they have a place to apply!
My question to you today is what do you see as the most positive aspect in Marquette’s economy? |
Posted: 11:20 AM, Sep. 25, 2008 |
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The Interest Rates are falling...the interest rates are falling!
"Don't just stand there,
Make it happen."
Lee Iacocca (1924 –)
Former president and CEO of Chrysler Corporation
Interest Rates are falling…Interest Rates are falling
In speaking to a local lender, interest rates were under 6% for a 30 year fixed mortgage yesterday BUT the rates are changing moment by moment. If you interested in buying now may be the time to commit to a home and lock in a rate. There are a decent number of homes on the market. According to UPAR MLS there are 98 single family homes available in Marquette alone. Buy a home now in time to celebrate the holidays in your new home!
It seems that there are so many things to do every weekend in Marquette but I want to highlight 3 of them today;
Sunday, September 14 October 5 November 2 12:30 – 4 p.m.
We invite you to join us in our SKY ROOM, overlooking Lake Superior, for a traditional “High Tea,” serving a selection of herbal, organic and classic teas, accompanied with scones with Devonshire cream and preserves, finger sandwiches, sweets and more! Please call 315-8103 to make your reservation. We are also offering private teas for birthday parties, bridal luncheons, and any special occasion. For a private party booking, please contact Kim Ketola, Catering Sales Manager, at 315-8146.
I will say that 2 weeks ago I was invited to test drive the new High Tea and was amazed at what High Tea actually is. This is a great chance to relax in a lovely setting, drink amazing loose tea brewed at your table and eat wonderful food.
2) The Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum is proud to announce another unique adult event:
From Your Walls to Mine––A Previously Owned Original Art Sale and Cabaret
Sunday, September 14 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Harbor Ballroom of the Landmark Inn in downtown Marquette
Hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, original art and exceptional Cabaret performers to include Bobby Glenn Brown. Tickets are $5 per person and they are available at the Children’s Museum and at the door the night of the event.
Call (906) 226-3911 for more information.
All proceeds will benefit the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum.
3) September 17-20—Vertigo Theatre Company presents: “Rabbit Hole” by David Lindsay-Abaire, a 2005 Pulitzer Prize Winner. At 7:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theater on the Campus of Northern Michigan University. Tickets are $10.00 each and on sale at the Marquette Arts and Culture Center in advance or at the door. For more information please call 228-0472.
If you attend any of these events please take the time to post your review of the event and if you know of anything you would like me to share just shoot me an email Blog@StephanieSells.com |
Posted: 10:51 AM, Sep. 11, 2008 |
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Doors of Marquette Poster
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| "Teachers open the door, but you must enter for yourself" Chinese Proverb "What Doors Will I Open For You?" Stephanie Jones |
| Can you believe it; I found a quote that combines doors & school! Yes, I am excited that school starts on Tuesday. Nothing quite says the end of summer like school shopping and the Marquette Area Blues Society Blues Fest in Mattson Lower Harbor Park all weekend. The Blues Fest is a great way to sound out the summer on a blues note! Ringside Fitness has another great way to signal that summer is over and it is time to get back to work with their Labor Day Body Pump & RPM classes. Stop in all day for any of these new classes whether you are a member or not. Call Ringside 226-7600 for class times. And finally, I am so pleased to announce that our poster is in! Carol Brady and I are doing a fundraiser poster for the Marquette County History Museum. With the help of Wendy Hill Manson at Tranquil Images and Bilan Nelson at MediaBox we are offering “Doors of Marquette” posters. One 24x36 Poster is $10.00, 6 posters are $50.00 and 13 posters are $100.00. Shoot me an email doors@StephanieSells.com or give me a call 906-362-3823 to order yours. We can deliver posters locally or they can be picked up at Select Realty. Shipping and Handling is $15.00 for out of the area. In order to better serve the Marquette County community and fulfill its Mission, the Museum has decided to undertake a Capital Campaign to finance the purchase and renovation of a new facility in downtown Marquette. This new museum will allow for the continual growth of the collection and provide a place for community gatherings and state-of-the-art exhibits. Won’t you buy a "Doors Of Marquette" poster and join Carol & me in contributing to this capital campaign!
Posted: 8:59 AM, Aug. 28, 2008 |
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Back to School
Top Ten Back to School Quotes
— Mohandas Gandhi
— Will Durant
— Albert Einstein
— Mark Twain
— Lao Tzu
— Malcolm Forbes
— W. Edwards Deming
— Elbert Hubbard
— Alvin Toffler
— Pete Seeger
Aww nothing quite compares with NMU students descending like locusts back to our fair city. The traffic, the poor… ok, unfamiliar drivers, the lines at Shopko, Target and the like, the beer sales, the students have come back for better or worse. I like to think of it as a kaleidoscope of fresh young faces. Ok I would like to think that but mostly I just grit my teeth as they pull out in front of me on Third Street! I know they are great for our economy…right?
But if the NMU students are back it must mean that it is the weekend for Marquette Rotary West Seafood Fest a classic end of summer tradition enjoyed by locals, students and their families. This year they will be having a car show all Saturday. Clam Chowder anyone?
NMU has a great program for kids 8th grade and below who like sports. I know I am signing Mitchell up for the NMU Young Wildcat Club. Membership is open to children of all ages. The cost to join is $10 per child and once you become a member you will receive:
- Official Young Wildcat Club T-shirt
- Official Young Wildcat Club membership card
- Free admission to the following NMU home, regular season events:
- Football
- Volleyball
- Women's Basketball
- Men's Basketball
- Select hockey games (schedule of free hockey games will be released soon)
- Soccer
- Swimming and Diving
- Track and Field
- Cross County Running
- Nordic Skiing
- Golf
- Monthly e-mail newsletters and updates
- Birthday card from Wildcat Willy
- Invitations to special events:
- Autograph sessions
- Meet the Team events
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Posted: 11:31 AM, Aug. 21, 2008 |
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Why I hate Febreze and Love the New York Times
Why I hate Febreze
And Love the New York Times
Ok I will start with the New York Times; on August 11th they profiled our little old Marquette County Fair in a recent article This Land - Where the Competition Is Stiff but Sweet - NYTimes.com. I will admit to not reading the New York Times but NMU’s awesome Alumni Association published this in their newsletter and now I am sharing it with you. It is such a treat to see your friend’s name (Andi Goriesky) in print in the New York Times!
I hate Febreze! I am sorry to pick on one product, but I must say it is completely overused in homes that are for sale. I understand the umm distinctive smells that some homes might have, but when a home owner thinks they are covering it up with Febreze, it seems to just make it worse. So my first piece of advice is to clean a home completely. You just don’t know what may have died under the couch. The second easy way out is to run a lemon or lime through the disposal. But my latest find is Fresh Wave a product that I saw on the Today Show July 2, 2008. I found it online but didn’t do anything until I saw it locally at the Touch of Finland. I bought both the Fresh Wave small spray and a 16 oz. gel pack. I have access to a vacant home that didn’t smell quite right, so I placed the gel pack in the home and the odor diminished. I do think for a whole home, I would get 2 packs. I used the spray in my own home with great results! What I like about the product is that you get a fresh smell, not a chemical or perfume smell, and it seems to remove odor not just cover it up.
If you try it let me know what you think.
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Posted: 10:56 AM, Aug. 14, 2008 |
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What a Weekend!!!!
That quote seems particularly apt in August when weekends are at a premium. This weekend in particular is jammed packed with interesting things to do and that isn’t even counting, weddings, family and personal commitments! I just want to share a few of the events that look interesting this weekend. 2008 Marquette County Fair started yesterday and if you only go for the Croatian Chicken it is worth the drive to the fairgrounds. Marquette Beautification & Restoration Committee, Inc. is holding the Garden Extravaganza Inaugural Garden Conference Saturday at NMU.
But the big weekend event is downtown in the Lower Harbor, Marquette’s first Pirate Festival. Tour the Tall Ship Madeline which arrives complete with attacking Pirates Friday evening around 6 pm. This is also a great opportunity to tour the Maritime Museum and the Lighthouse or see “Walk the Plank: A Pirate Inspired Art Exhibition” at Marquette Arts and Culture Center and Peter White Public Library. Check out the complete schedule of events online at Pirate Festival.
What is your favorite Summer Olympic Sport?
What ever your weekend entails please just make it safe!
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Posted: 9:37 AM, Aug. 7, 2008 |
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10 Tips to take the stress out of Real Estate
When I have the time I read as many blogs as I can. Switching up between Real Estate blogs and foodie blogs, I am in awe of the amazing writers on the web. Julie Woodward-Trenker is a Chicago REALTOR who posts a great Blog for the consumer and I am reprinting this post from her Blog with her permission. Thanks Julie!
Take the Stress Out of Home buying
Buying a home should be fun, not stressful. As you look for your dream home, keep in mind these tips for making the process as peaceful as possible.
1. Find a real estate agent who you connect with. Home buying is not only a big financial commitment, but also an emotional one. It’s critical that the REALTOR® you chose is both highly skilled and a good fit with your personality.
2. Remember, there’s no “right” time to buy, just as there’s no perfect time to sell. If you find a home now, don’t try to second-guess interest rates or the housing market by waiting longer — you risk losing out on the home of your dreams. The housing market usually doesn’t change fast enough to make that much difference in price, and a good home won’t stay on the market long.
3. Don’t ask for too many opinions. It’s natural to want reassurance for such a big decision, but too many ideas from too many people will make it much harder to make a decision. Focus on the wants and needs of your immediate family — the people who will be living in the home.
4. Accept that no house is ever perfect. If it’s in the right location, the yard may be a bit smaller than you had hoped. The kitchen may be perfect, but the roof needs repair. Make a list of your top priorities and focus in on things that are most important to you. Let the minor ones go.
5. Don’t try to be a killer negotiator. Negotiation is definitely a part of the real estate process, but trying to “win” by getting an extra-low price or by refusing to budge on your offer may cost you the home you love. Negotiation is give and take.
6. Remember your home doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Don’t get so caught up in the physical aspects of the house itself — room size, kitchen, etc. — that you forget about important issues as noise level, location to amenities, and other aspects that also have a big impact on your quality of life.
7. Plan ahead. Don’t wait until you’ve found a home and made an offer to get approved for a mortgage, investigate home insurance, and consider a schedule for moving. Presenting an offer contingent on a lot of unresolved issues will make your bid much less attractive to sellers.
8. Factor in maintenance and repair costs in your post-home buying budget. Even if you buy a new home, there will be costs. Don’t leave yourself short and let your home deteriorate.
9. Accept that a little buyer’s remorse is inevitable and will probably pass. Buying a home, especially for the first time, is a big financial commitment. But it also yields big benefits. Don’t lose sight of why you wanted to buy a home and what made you fall in love with the property you purchased.
10. Choose a home first because you love it; then think about appreciation. While U.S. homes have appreciated an average of 5.4 percent annually over from 1998 to 2002, a home’s most important role is to serve as a comfortable, safe place to live.
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Posted: 6:51 AM, Jul. 31, 2008 |
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What is up with real estate and the weekend?
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“Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath.”
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Michael Caine
(Internationally successful British motion picture actor, b.1933)
Finally a day with sunshine! I love this quote because I think it fits well with our current real estate market. Calm to the outside but we are working hard behind the scenes to get homes sold. In the press we continually hear that real estate market is bad but I did a limited absorption rate study and was pleased with the results. According to Pat Zaby absorption rate measures the time it takes for a home to sell. “Competition in the market place affects the sales price of a home. If the demand is constant and the supply is low, the price can increase. On the other hand, if the demand is declining and the supply is constant or increasing, the price will go down.
Five to six months of market time is considered to support a healthy inventory of property. If the market time is less than that, the shortage of property can cause the price to go up. If it is more than that, the glut of properties can cause the price to go down.” According UPAR MLS statistics for the city of Marquette in the 100,000-300,000 price range we have a 7 month supply of listings. Just a little more than a balanced market.
On the local weekend watch we have one of Marquette’s busiest weekends coming up with the ever popular Art on the Rocks which is celebrating its 50th year, and The Outback Art Fair. Both fairs are easily accessible if you park at Lakeview Arena and walk over to Picnic Rocks or take the shuttle out to Presque Isle. To add to these Saturday and Sunday events don’t forget about Downtown Marquette’s Blueberry Festival Summer Youth Talent Show and Blueberry Dance Festival. Which takes place at the commons building.
All the downtown stores are ready for you, including the grand reopening of the beloved Donkers Candy Store and Soda Fountain. Tom Vear and company have been working in overdrive to be ready for you to check out the “return to the past” renovations. Let me know what you think of the project!
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Posted: 12:59 PM, Jul. 24, 2008 |
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Ethics in Real Estate
Today I am going to touch on a few of the articles that I think the consumer needs to know. First and foremost we are to protect and promote our clients’ interests while treating all parties honestly. We must make sure all agreements are put into writing and the parties understand all agreements. A client is someone with whom a REALTOR has a contract, Buyer, Seller, or any other service. A customer has no contract for services with a REALTOR. When a customer calls an office they often just want information but we are bound by our Code of Ethics to ask if they are working with another agent. It is unethical to intrude on another agent’s client.
When I was President of UPAR for 2 years I was amazed at how many people would rather complain, not bothering to file an ethics complaint. It is a relatively simple procedure and unethical agents do face penalties that may include fines or expulsion. The hearing process is private but I can report that hearings do happen.
On a much lighter note…Have you heard the new radio station in Marquette? It is 100.3 The Point and it plays classic rock for 52 minutes out of every hour. Now I tried to find information on the web but I could not find any contact information, so I do not know if this station will always have limited or no commercials but I love it! This is the music I listened to when I was growing up and I never stopped loving it! I am a lite classic rock junkie. If anyone knows more about this station let me know. |
Posted: 11:53 AM, Jul. 17, 2008 |
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What's to Love About Marquette
Why do you love Marquette? I was just enjoying WMQT-Q107 radio personality Jim Koski’s list of 107 Things to Love about Marquette County. This list really rocks! I must agree with them all but I must admit one of my favorite places is not on his list…CAMP. For me it is a small place on Lake Superior close to Marquette. But it seems that everyone either has a “camp” or has access to one. We are so lucky to have the ability to escape without having to drive for hours. Our amazing number of lakes makes this possible, for Jim Koski it is Big Shag Lake for others it is the Basin or Big Bay. According to Jeff at The DNR there are 170 or so publicly accessible lakes in Marquette County. He also gave me the MI HomeTownLocator website which says that we have 11 reservoirs and 319 lakes. Isn’t that amazing? This website has a Marquette, Michigan MI Community Profile that is a great source for information about Michigan Cities and Counties. I can think of many more reasons to Love Marquette, can you? If everyone sends me their reason for loving Marquette we can top Jims list of 107 reasons! Another aspect of Marquette that I love is a willingness to work together. Tonight River Valley Bank is hosting an Inced!ble Home Tour. Agents from all the Real Estate Companies are holding a grand total of 54 Open Houses tonight from 5:30 to 7:30. The Mining Journal has the complete list either click The Mining Journal link or see it in the paper. As a community we are working together to get the message out that it is a great time to buy a home. From 7:30-9:00 River Valley Bank (in front of Shopko) will be open for refreshments and pre-approvals. They are even offering a $300.00 coupon towards closing costs. Tonight’s tour is just one example of how well Marquette people work together to promote great things in our community! I sent out my latest Recipe which is a great Mexican Pulled Pork that you cook in the slow cooker. For those who did not receive it in the mail email me recipe@StephanieSells.com to be included in future mailings. I love this recipe because it is so easy and know people are making it because I got a call from a friend at Econo Foods who wasn’t sure what Chipotle Sauce to buy so here is the one I use Bufalo Chipotle Hot Sauce I promise it is not too hot! Please post your recipe reviews on the blog. |
Posted: 12:06 PM, Jul. 10, 2008 |
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It's 4th of July Time!
Happy 4Th of July
I truly am a Fourth of July geek. I love the parades, fireworks and running in to people you may only see once a year. As long as the weather is decent (and AccuWeather.com says it should be nice) and everyone is safe I think it can be the most fun holiday! The Exchange Clubs Annual Food Fest is always fun and the time for everything in Marquette can be found by clicking Marquette Michigan July 4th. Other Marquette County events are listed at Fourth of July.
This is also a time to say thanks and be grateful for what we have. I read a piece from Tim Connor today called It’s Time and I thought it would be a good time to share it with you.
It’s time,
-To let go of our differences and embrace our similarities.
-To stop judging others based on our unique values and beliefs.
-To accept that we are all in this together – we will survive or perish together.
-To love rather than hate.
-To accept others in spite of their color, race, gender, their beliefs or where they are from.
-To care more about our universal survival than our personal agendas.
-To share rather than hoard.
-To use the gifts we were given by God for others and not just ourselves.
-To build bridges rather than walls.
-To reach out rather than hold back.
-To let go of prejudices no matter how small and insignificant.
-To come together rather than continue our separateness.
-To let go of pettiness and look deep inside for compassion.
-To put aside our own needs at the expense of others.
-To erase greed and all its negative consequences.
-To take care of our home – Earth – rather than continue to abuse it.
-To see beyond our own personal struggles to see that others are worse off.
-To love our neighbors more than ourselves.
-To set aside our need for wealth, power and fame and realize that it is all worthless in a world dominated by pain, strife, fear, disease, hunger and misery.
-To release our selfishness and replace it with hope and faith.
It’s no longer just about you or me but US and US is - ALL -of US regardless of our race, nationality, gender, age or religion.
It’s time to do your part before it’s too late for all of US.
Tim Connor, CSP World renowned Speaker, Trainer and best selling author of 67 titles, Box 397, Davidson, N.C. 28036 USA, 704-895-1230 (voice) - 704-895-1231 (fax) - tim@timconnor.com (email) - www.timconnor.com (Website)
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Posted: 11:05 AM, Jul. 3, 2008 |
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Service Clubs
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Donald Rumsfeld -American Secretary of Defense
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Public Service…2 words that you either embrace or cause you to run. But I believe that community involvement is one of the cornerstones of a strong community. In Marquette there are many strong service organizations, but the membership numbers are small compared to the impact the various clubs have. Imagine the summer without the upcoming 4th of July Food Fest run by the Marquette County Exchange Club or the 25 years of Seafood Fest sponsored by Marquette West Rotary .
Service clubs have a tremendous impact upon our community and as I age out of Marquette Michigan Jaycees which donated over 25,000 back into the community through the Softball Tournament to benefit Special Olympics and the Celebrity Art Auction to benefit the UP Children’s Museum I am pleased to see that there are so many other groups I can join (after taking a year off). So regardless of your Club affiliation, The Rotary Club, MARQUETTE BREAKFAST ROTARY, the above Rotary West, Exchange Club or any of other local service clubs my message to anyone who is not involved is to pick a club, get involved and help make our community even stronger.
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Posted: 11:29 AM, Jun. 26, 2008 |
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Day of Lists
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“One of the secrets of getting more done is to make a TO DO List every day, keep it visible, and use it as a guide to action as you go through the day.”
Jean de La Fontaine French Poet 1621-1695
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I know this may make me a dork, but I do believe one of the secrets to success is making lists and crosing things off once they are done.I have great list notepads if you would like one just give me a call.228-2772
Six steps to maximize your energy dollars.
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Service Heat & Air Systems once a year. Now is a great time to have your heating system serviced even though some of us still have the furnace on.
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Change your air filters - forced air systems or bleed your radiators - hot water systems, once a month.
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Calibrate your thermostat for accuracy. Install a programmable thermostat if you do not already have one. I promise it is an easy do it yourself project, I even did it in my own home.
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Check doors and windows for drafts. As important when using AC as it is when heating.
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Shade windows from afternoon sun. I know we haven’t seen much sun but we will….I hope.
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Set water heater at 120 degrees.
Now in anticipation of warmer, sunnier weather I would like to share with you some of Marquette’s al fresco eating opportunities, and in the spirit of the day I will put them into a list...in alphabetical order!
Marquette’s Outdoor Dining
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Border Grill- both the Washington & McClellan locations
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Fat Boyz- Downtown Trowbridge (Ontario St.)
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L’Attitude- Waterfront with a sidewalk view of the Lower Harbor
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Portside Inn- Downtown Washington Street
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Tommy’s MQT Family Restaurant- on corner of US 41 & McClellan
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There are 13 places to enjoy dining al fresco and I am fairly certain we will have 13 nice days between now and Labor Day so take 1 restaurant a week and enjoy the great outdoors! |
Posted: 1:04 PM, Jun. 12, 2008 |
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Summer Season
Weather is a great metaphor for life - sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, and there's nothing much you can do about it but carry an umbrella.
~Pepper Giardino
Being a child at home alone in the summer is a high-risk occupation. If you call your mother at work thirteen times an hour, she can hurt you.
~Erma Bombeck
So I could not decide on just one quote this week and since I was out of town at a funeral last week I decided to share 2! The first quote is instead of a long rant about our lousy weather. All I will say is that this is great weather for going to work! I think I am going to plan on playing hooky the first day that is sunny and 75…who will to join me? The second quote is in honor of the end of the school year and the start of the never ending cry of “entertain me”. There are many fun things for kids to do this summer. Summer Camp at the YMCA of Marquette County is fun for the younger set as are the various activities at UP Children's Museum. For older kids there are fewer options. HOTplate - Paint Your Own Pottery! is holding summer camps every Tuesday June 17th through August 12th. It is great way to stimulate their creative sides. Call HotPlate for more details. For the sporty kids Ringside Fitness has a 4 week All Sport Strength and Conditioning camp 3 days a week. If you have any other great ideas to keep kids busy this summer please post them on my Blog!
I was asked this week what the best month for real estate is, and my answer is always that we have a 12 month selling season. To back that up, I did a little digging and found the numbers for 2007. May, June and August were the highest months of closings which mean they probably went under contract 30 days earlier. June was the highest month for closings with only 7.4% of the year’s closings. When you take the year by quarters the UPAR MLS data shows that 16.8% of the closings happen in the first quarter; 32.2% in the second quarter; 28.2% in the third quarter and fourth quarter holiday season sees 22.6% of the years closings. So the best time to buy or sell a home is when you are ready!
I am getting ready to send out my next recipe card and am looking to you for my next recipe. I am looking for a healthy main dish for the summer. Anyone who has a great recipe for me to try can email it to blog@StephanieSells.com. If you do not already receive my recipe postcards just send your home address and I will add you to the mailing list.
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Posted: 1:28 PM, Jun. 5, 2008 |
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