You won’t find one of these at Best Buy
Yes, that is a wall mounted AM/FM Stereo Clock Radio/8 Track Stereo Player
They couldn’t even have imagined
While looking at a plat of the Village of Honor online, I noticed the stamp from the Auditor General’s office (circled below.) When the deputy auditor stamped that, I’m sure they had no sense that someone would be looking at their signature 115 years later. Much less that I would be doing so without actually possessing a paper copy of the document.
What are you doing today that will live on, in some small or large way, for the next hundred years?
Want to do some looking on your own? Here’s a link to Michigan’s Statewide Search for Subdivision Plats
HVCC (Home Valuation Code of Conduct) causes dysfunction… again
Yep, it’s happened again.  An appraiser working out of his area (only slightly) has confounded me with an appraisal.  This on a bank owned property I have listed.  The seller had it appraised on September 25 2009 (what, 4.5 months ago?) and it came it at $47,000.  I thought that was a bit high, and since the seller wanted to be aggressive, we took it on the market at $34,000.
New appraisal? Â $28,000.
The appraiser discounted listings that sold 3 months ago by 5%, indicating he believes the market to be declining at an annual rate of around 20%. Â That may be in his market area, but in the TAAR MLS, the 4 month average sale price trend is 3.07% to the positive.
Rush Hour in Northwest Michigan
When leaving a new listing of a gorgeous 25 acre estate on the Betsie River yesterday, I came upon a traffic jam… of sorts.
It’s Friday?!
Just realized that Friday isn’t a big deal to me any more.
When I had a “regular” job I looked forward to this day and the end of the work week.
Why am I not as excited about Fridays? Â The answer is two sides to the same coin:
Because now my work week doesn’t end, meaning I don’t check out, disengage and take enough time away from work.
Because now my work week doesn’t end, meaning  I love and believe in the value of my work
Are there times when I long for the simpler days when I could walk away from my job at the end of the day? Â Of course. Â But each choice has trade offs, and so far I’m ahead in this bargain.
Here’s a little classic Friday music from The Cure
Living where you play
The beauty of living where many come to play, is that the playground is in your back yard. That’s life in Northwest Michigan.
I left my office just before six tonight for my usual 7 minute commute home. After a couple minutes visiting with my family I changed into snow gear and headed outside. Within 5 minutes I was on the snowmobile trails near Beulah.
Now I’m in Thompsonville at Geno’s Sports Bar and Grille, waiting on what are rumored to be the best ribs around. More on that later.
Sometimes it pays to brave the elements
Today was a cold, icy, nasty day. Like 15 degrees and 15 mph winds, yielding sub-zero wind chills. And I had several hilltop properties to look out. Since tomorrow is supposed to be worse than today, I added some layers and headed out into the elements. The first parcel sits on a north facing ridge, overlooking Long Lake, and when the snow isn’t flying, Sleeping Bear Dunes in the distance. A trot up the ridge and some photos showed me what I needed to know- a hike down to the waters (ices) edge will have to wait.
Next a stop at a wooded lot with shared access to Crystal Lake. Again here, snow obscured any possible distant lake views. On to the  last pair of lots, which sit on the bluff overlooking Crystal Lake. As I stepped out of my car, the wind slapped my face, and my eyes began watering almost instantly. By the time I walked down the lots, tears were streaming and being caught in the wind.  Those that ended up on my glasses quickly turned to little salty icicles.
I snapped a couple of quick photos, and was about to turn my back on the wind, when a quick tear in the clouds let a stream of sunlight through to the lakes surface. Thank God for small reminders of life’s beauty.
Breaking through heavy clouds, sunshine makes its way to the icy waters
Video regarding Northwest Michigan Real Estate
Featuring an interview with Ken Schmidt, CEO, Coldwell Banker Schmidt Family of Companies
Posted via email from Matt’s posterous
Perfect Day
Started out this beautiful day showing a 65 acre parcel near Benzonia. Toured my clients via snowmobile.
Then back to the office to write an offer on this parcel. Now I’m stopping at East Shore Market in Beulah for the worlds most perfect sandwich, the Judy. Then I’m on the way to Traverse City for a closing with a first time home buyer. Meanwhile we’ve got a mail out closing coming back on a luxury home in Crystal Downs, on Lake Michigan. Isn’t life grand?Posted via email from Matt’s posterous
