What is it like to live in a 900 home community with golf course, swimming pool, parks, club house with dining and events?  Listen as one Loch Alpine home owner describes what she thinks about living in the wonderful area of Loch Alpine in video below.

Loch Alpine Subdivision

The area of Loch Alpine is located just north of Ann Arbor, minutes from Dexter schools.   This wonderful area features 2 small lakes, parks, organized community events, and includes the Lore Newsletter.

Loch Alpine subdivision is 10 miles from Ann Arbor, but the community’s setting – unique homes along winding roads, amid rolling hills, mature trees and lakes – has a distinct away-from-it-all feel. Dexter industrialist William Blakely  bought and platted the 650-acre property in the 1920s. He built the roads, stone bridges, and a sewage plant, envisioning a community accessible by train for people from Chicago and Detroit.

When the stock market crashed in 1929, Blakely stopped work on the project, and though the railroad still runs past Loch Alpine’s southern end, no station was ever built there. Blakely died in 1934 and his son, Malcolm, had a clubhouse and 18-hole golf course built on the property in 1935. Developers from Detroit eventually bought the property and started building houses in the mid-1950s. Nona Credille and her husband bought theirs in 1958, attracted by the idea of living in the country, yet having water and sewer service, which is still provided by the Loch Alpine Sanitary Authority of Scio and Webster Twp.

The Credilles live on the road that runs over the dam between Bridgeway Lake, and it’s lower counterpart, Greennook Lake. Nona, chair of the subdivision’s lakes board, tests the water for e-coli during swimming season and spearheads the battle against the northern milfoil growth encouraged by lawn fertilizers and agricultural fertilizers that flow to the lakes via Boyden Creek.
The Ann Arbor Country Club and its golf course take up roughly a third of Loch Alpine’s 650 or so acres. The club, with its pool and competitive swim program, is a hub for Loch Alpine residents.

In 2003 the Ann Arbor Country Club and Loch Alpine’s 450 families paid a special assessment to cover the $895,000 cost of dredging both lakes to deepen them and get rid of the silt that encourages week growth. Residents, including the country club, also pay an annual assessment (about $600 per lot) to cover road repairs, expenses related to the two 10-acre lakes and the community’s two parks, and social events like the Fourth of July fireworks.

What more could you want right in your backyard? Come check out what Loch Alpine has to offer you and your family and get the ultimate guide to Loch Alpine by contacting the expert real estate professionals of Kathy Toth & Team.

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Ann Arbor Loch Alpine neighbors have a lot to be proud of.  Watch this video from top Ann Arbor Real Estate Expert……..

Ann Arbor Country Club

With about 180 members divided evenly between swim-only, golf-only and full memberships, the Ann Arbor Country Club welcomes everyone from active families to business members and their associates. The pool and clubhouse were both renovated in 2001 to better meet members’ needs.

Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the club’s competition length pool has a diving well and space for lap and recreational swimming, plus a zero-entry area that gives young non-swimmers a place to enjoy the water - safe from deep water but right next to the big pool. At the height of the summer the pool’s open from 10 a.m.-dusk, with at least two (and often several more) lifeguards on-site.

The club sponsors a very competitive swim team, the Ann Arbor Country Club Dolphins, which competes in the Washtenaw Interclub Swim Conference. The clubhouse has showers and changing rooms, and the snack bar is situated close to the pool and to the golf course’s fist tee. It’s got your basic hamburgers, hot dogs and wraps, but snack bar diners can also order from the dining room menu and enjoy their meal poolside.

Introductory memberships (2008 rates) run $1,800 for swim-only, $2,800 for golf-only and $3,800 for a full membership. After the introductory year, members buy an equity share of the club for $2,800 (which can be paid over six years) monthly dues are $205 individual/$260 family for a swim membership, $299/$393 for golf only and $325/$431 for full membership. Junior members (households with at least one adult 35 or under) get a 40 percent discount on dues. Tennis privileges are part of the swim and full memberships. There’s also a business membership, which lets an equity member add up to four business associates at $100 each, plus monthly dues.

The club started offering neighborhood dining memberships in 2008 and quickly accumulated more than 200 dining members who, for a $20 annual fee, can eat in the dining room or snack bar and pay by cash or Visa. The clubhouse can handle groups of anywhere from 20-170 and sees everything from birthday parties and wedding receptions to business retreats and fundraisers. The pool’s also available for private parties. You don’t have to be a member to rent the facilities, but rentals do have to be approved by the board, so it helps to have a sponsor.

What more could you want right in your backyard? Come check out what Loch Alpine has to offer you and your family and get the ultimate guide to Loch Alpine by contacting the expert real estate professionals of Kathy Toth & Team.

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Keller Williams Realty

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Ann Arbor Jim Racine, Superintendent, is interviewed about the Ann Arbor Country Club golf course situated in the heart of the Loch Alpine subdivision.  This 18-hole course both picturesque and challenging to play is a par-72 course design of 6,420 yards.

For more club information:
4699 E. Loch Alpine Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48103
phone: 734-426-4693
email: info@annarborcc.com

The club is very active in junior golf. The Junior Golf program at AACC has grown from 15 to 150 players and he has significantly increased participation in Club events through promotion of team and family activities.

The Club Golf Professional is Frank McAuliffe, III. Frank is a Class A PGA Member. The course is an optional membership to the 900 community home owners.

The Ann Arbor Country Club’s 6450-yard, par 72 golf course winds through the glacially sculpted hills of Loch Alpine, a subdivision community 10 miles northwest of Ann Arbor. The course is pretty lightly used, so getting a tee time is no problem and you can play 18 holes in under four hours.

At 543 yards (468 from the blue tees), the second hole is the longest one on the course, but No.6 is the most memorable, says club professional Frank McAuliffe.  A 328-yard par-4, it requires golfers to negotiate two creeks, then hit a green that sits at the top of a 30-40-foot slope. McAuliffe teaches teaches lessons, offers guidance in the club’s fully-stocked pro shop and directs the junior golf program, which is about 100-golfers strong and has graduated several players into college golf programs.

All members get unlimited golf with no greens fees along with the opportunity to host events, play in leagues, scrambles and mixers. Golfers can rent carts (cart fees do apply) or walk the course and experience its many elevation changes firsthand.

The country club offers golf-only (as well as full and swim-only) memberships for equity members, newcomers, young members and businesses. An introductory golf membership is $2,800 and includes unlimited golf for family members and guests, plus five pool visits at guest rates.  Equity members pay $299 a month for an individual golf membership or $393 a month for a family golf membership. Junior members (available if one adult member of the household is 35 or younger) get a 40 percent discount on monthly dues, and business members can add up to four associates for just $100 each, plus monthly dues. There’s also a neighborhood dining membership ($20 annual fee) that gives nearby residents dining room privileges and makes their kids eligible for the youth golf program.

For information about this subdivision and homes around the Ann Arbor area in Washtenaw County, call Kathy Toth and Team: 734-669-0337. We would love to give you the ultimate guide to Ann Arbor home buying in Loch Alpine and direct you to Dexter Schools movie and other community videos in Ann Arbor Real Estate video library.

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According to the 2007 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers from National Association of Realtors, the top five sources of down payment money follows:

1.        Savings
2.        Proceeds from the sale of a primary residence
3.        Gift from Relatives or Friends
4.        Sale from Stocks or Bonds
5.        Equity from Residence (continue to own)

I was surprised to learn that 73% of first time buyers are using money they had saved to come up with their down payment on a home.  We see many of our clients as first time home buyers as a result of attending the seminars.

Per the study, 43% of repeat buyers will use money from savings to at least help partially cover the down payment of their new home. Many people get proceeds from sale of primary residence.

For more information on what  how you can buy a home, go to the buyer section for Special Reports and see the Home Buyer Steps.  Also be sure to check when our next First Time Home Buyer Seminar is with free pre-approval.  If you need to get your credit under control, let our lenders help you step by step, like fitness training for your wallet.

Nationally the median down payment by first-time buyers was 4 percent, up from 2 percent in 2007; the number purchasing with no money down fell from 45 percent in 2007 to 34 percent in the current survey. “The study covers transactions through the middle of 2008, so we can assume the down payment numbers have shifted recently because credit tightened and no-down payment loans all but disappeared around the close of the survey,” Lawrence Yun, Chief NAR economist, explained.

Of first-time buyers who made a down payment, 69 percent used savings and 26 percent received a gift from a friend or relative, typically from their parents. Another 7 percent received a loan from a relative or friend, while 16 percent tapped into a 401(k) fund, stocks or bonds. Ninety-two percent chose a fixed-rate mortgage.

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Remember to tell any one looking to buy a home about our…

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Help us locate ALL the fairy doors in Ann Arbor  

 

With all the bad news, let’s have some fun in Ann Arbor with fairies, OK?

 

 

 

 

 

Shelo/Shevel Gallery

The Ark

Peaceable Kingdom

Ann Arbor District Library

Red Shoes Company

Jefferson Market

Lakewood Elementary

Nicola’s Books

Goblin Door

ISR stairwell fairy door:

2nd Ward Building

Fairies of Brighton

Kay Wilson DDS:

 

 

Do you believe in Fairies?  Are there other doors we are missing? Let us know so we can update the legend. info@KathyToth.com

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and condos with pictures and tours - FREE!

  

Kathy Toth and Team

www.KathyToth.com

Keller Williams Realty

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Kathy Toth and Team
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Keller Williams Realty

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If you are having trouble with your house payments, don’t give up and assume you have to go to foreclosure.  See video below: 

 

 

200 N. Main St., Suite 200
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
Phone: 734-222-6600
Fax: 734-222-6632

If a work out is not available, and if short sales are the best option for you, then we can help you move in that direction.  Short sales are where the borrower shorts the bank the full amount owed and the debt is discharged. Let’s explore the possibility of a short sale for your property, avoid foreclosure, and potentially save your credit rating.

You need an experienced agent to assist you.  This is no time to fool around.  Don’t hire any REALTOR.  Like anything, hire experience.  There is no replacement for success and results.  We are aligned with experts including Ron Garber, Indy Mac Consultant, to get your home pre-approved.  What that means is we work quickly to get a response from the loss mitigator to give us their bottom line for acceptance.  The bank gets the house off their books, the seller does not go to foreclosure and the buyer gets a deal. Be sure to ask your agent, “How many short sales have you closed?  How many short sales that you listed have not closed?”

 

Life is not all lemonade, so let’s try to take the lemons you have and make some lemonade.  If you know someone who wants to buy distressed homes; these are updated weekly.  

 

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Ann Arbor was recently named number seven on a list of best digital cities (Pop. 75,000 to 124,999) by e.Repulic’s Center for Digital Government and Digital Communities Magazine.  Awards go to the cities that use technology to create a seamless environment between local government and constituents.  The city was ranked for its online services (at city website www.a2gov.org) including:

TRAKiT - featuring online access to development reviews and building inspections

GovDelivery - an email notification service providing information about road or lane closures, general news and other notables

Citizen Request System - a tool allowing citizens to request city repairs such as parks maintenance, pothole and street light repair. 

The cities placing in Ann Arbor’s population category were:

• 1st City of Roanoke, VA
• 2nd City of Independence, MO
• 2nd City of West Palm Beach, FL
• 3rd City of Richardson, TX
• 3rd City of Santa Monica, CA
• 4th City of Arvada, CO
• 5th City of Orem, UT
• 6th City of Lawrence, KS
• 7th City of Ann Arbor, MI
• 7th City of Westminster, CO
• 8th City of Boulder, CO
• 9th City of Lee’s Summit, MO
• 10th City of Pueblo, CO

According to the Executive Director for Digital Government, Cathilea Robinett,”Cities are incorporating newer technologies such as Webcasting, podcasts and blogs while continuing to use IT to enhance delivery options for citizens and businesses.”  This is good news considering budgetary challenges.

FREE MLS Search - View Current Homes for Sale Search the local Ann Arbor MLS and find the homes for sale in your desired area. Stop looking through 3 different papers, get the whole Ann Arbor homes list here for FREE. Plus receive daily updates via email, for any new listings. All for FREE - no strings attached!

Find Out  the Value of Your Ann Arbor Home Get an over the net estimate of how much your Ann Arbor home is worth - FREE! We search the local MLS, along with data the public does not have access to, and find out how much your home is worth in current market conditions.

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Kathy Toth and Team
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Keller Williams Realty

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Kathy Toth of Keller Williams Realty presents:
The Ann Arbor Real Estate Podcast

November 2008

This month’s edition covers Ann Arbor real estate market activity and then we discuss four proven strategies for getting the most out of today’s market!

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This data is from the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors

• Unit sales were up 31% over last year.
• Median sales price is down almost 16% from Oct 07 vs. 08 or an average drop of 1.06% per month.
  Condo and residential sales always drop because of seasonality at this time of the year.

Condo Listings in October   :  Decrease: 13.7%
October 2007: 169
October 2008: 146

Condo Listings Year To Date  :  Decrease: 17.6%
Y.T.D. 2007: 2,421
Y.T.D. 2008: 1,753

Condo Sales in October :  Increase: 31%
October 2007: 42
October 2008: 55

Condo Sales Year To Date  :  Decrease: 7.4%
Y.T.D. 2007: 574
Y.T.D. 2008: 532

Condo Average Days on Market October
October 2007: 90
October 2008: 115

Condo Average Days on Market Year To Date
Y.T.D. 2007: 86
Y.T.D. 2008: 165
Condos are taking much longer to sell this year

Condo Median Sales Price October  :  Decrease: 15.9%
October 2007: $160,500
October 2008: $135,000

Condo Median Sales Price Year To Date  :  Decrease: 10.6%
Y.T.D. 2007: $159,000
Y.T.D. 2008: $142,250
Condos prices have dropped

The data above reflects the sales of foreclosures and short sales bringing down prices.  To see different pockets and neighborhood data, CONTACT US for specifics and Ann Arbor micro market knowledge.

We have the resources to give you THE advantage.  Call our Ann Arbor Buyers Agents to discuss further and then look at our Frequently Asked Questions.  Waiting on the sidelines may cost if rates go up.

Check out residential historical graphs of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, average prices and days on market.

Look at the full report from the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In spite of all the doom and gloom you may be hearing we are still helping families move and we are here to take care of you and your friends Info@KathyToth.com

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Savvy Michigan homeowners are battling all-time-high energy costs by incorporating building techniques to make their homes more energy efficient. As more people begin to struggle to meet rising utility costs, these practices are expected to grow in popularity.

Just as current Ann Arbor homeowners are renovating with energy savings in mind, new home builders are seeing increased demand for green buildings and energy-efficient homes.

Here are some ideas for how you can reduce your energy consumption – and costs – this winter by selecting building materials and appliances that promise to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

1. Use Highly Rated Energy-Star Appliances: This is not a new idea, but as costs rise, Ann Arbor real estate buyers are looking at the yellow energy-consumption tags on new appliances more seriously. Retailers know that buyers are paying more attention to the higher-rated appliances, and this could lead to more advertising and discounts for such products.
2. Consider How You Heat Your Water: Most homes have a traditional tank-style water heater. However, with rising heating costs, this practice may change. Other options for heating water in your home include solar heating and tankless water heaters.
   ~Solar water heating requires a significant upfront investment, but once it is installed you no longer need to pay for heating the water. Installation includes a pump, plumbing through which the water circulates for exposure to the sun, and possibly large glass tanks for storing the hot water.
   ~A tankless water heater has no storage tank and the water is heated as you need it. Heating water on demand is much less expensive than heating water and storing it until it is needed.
3. Supplement Your Electricity: Installing photovoltaic roof shingles instead of standard asphalt shingles lets you use the sun’s energy to generate supplemental electricity for your home. A wire is pulled from each shingle and connected to the home’s power grid. You might not be able to generate enough electricity to meet all your needs, but with rising costs, every bit of savings can be a huge help during the middle of our freezing Michigan winters.
   ~If you are considering a new roof or you are building a home, consider using this roofing material to decrease your utility bills.
4. Consider Your Home’s Placement: If your home was built 50 or more years ago, it probably is already more energy efficient than most new homes. This is because central air-conditioning was not prevalent in the past. To keep homes cool in the summer, windows were located strategically for cross-drafts. Also, the largest windows were designed to receive the morning sun, thereby helping to heat the home.   As energy prices declined, many homes were built without these considerations. However, today’s builders are beginning to return to traditional building practices in order to have more energy-efficient homes.
5. Consider Your Window Treatments: Whether you live in a new or old home, or are building your home, you can control your window treatments. What you put on your windows can make a serious different in your home’s heating and cooling costs. Light- and heat-filtering blinds and heavy draperies may significantly reduce the need for continuous air-conditioning.

Hopefully, this information has given you some ideas for countering rising energy costs. By using one or more of these suggestions, you can make your Michigan home more energy efficient. If you decide to sell your home in the future, these updates may make your home more attractive to buyers.

The US Department of Energy has a very informative website which includes a Consumer’s Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.  There is a ton of great information available.

Related Links
See What Ann Arbor is Doing to GO GREEN | Click here
Ann Arbor Green Building Continues on Downtown Projects

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Kathy Toth and Team
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Keller Williams Realty

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BusinessWeek teamed up with OnBoard Informatics, provider of real estate analysis, to create a list of each state’s best affordable towns for raising children. Factors in the analysis were:

• school performance
• affordability
• safety
• cost of living
• air quality
• job growth
• racial diversity
• parks
• ball fields
• zoos
• recreation centers
• museums
• theaters

Among the top ranked were:

1. Mount Prospect, IL
2. Phoenix, AZ
3. Columbus, OH
4. Our Very Own Ann Arbor, MI
5. Huntsville, AL
6. Lexington, KY.

Also mentioned was that Ann Arbor is the most kid-and cost-friendly city in Michigan. The Web site establishes it as one of the best college towns in the United States for its acres of parks, galleries, museums, restaurants, boutiques and seven gold courses. It reported our population as: 118,194 and median household income as: $87,061.

Just click for more local community and school information on Ann Arbor, Brighton, Michigan International Speedway, Chelsea, Dexter, Grass Lake Community Tour, Manchester, Pinckney, Saline, Stockbridge, Ypsilanti.

We love our area and welcome newcomers with open arms. For Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County videos visit my YouTube.   GO BLUE!

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FREE MLS Search - View Current Homes for Sale Search the local Ann Arbor MLS and find the homes for sale in your desired area. Stop looking through 3 different papers, get the whole Ann Arbor homes list here for FREE. Plus receive daily updates via email, for any new listings. All for FREE - no strings attached!

Find Out  the Value of Your Ann Arbor Home Get an over the net estimate of how much your Ann Arbor home is worth - FREE! We search the local MLS, along with data the public does not have access to, and find out how much your home is worth in current market conditions.

Click here to search all Ann Arbor area Michigan homes and condos with pictures and tours - FREE!

Kathy Toth and Team
www.KathyToth.com
Keller Williams Realty

What I want to know from buyers, is what kind of content do you like?
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