- Real Estate News & Listings Presented By RE/MAX Home Sale Services

Northville Township Adopts Flood Plan

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT

A new flood plan ordinance has been introduced for Northville Township. The flood plan ordinance will help locals obtain insurance for commercial and residential properties prone to flooding. The ordinance is meant to ease the challenges flood area residents face while providing them with access to necessary compensation in the event of a catastrophe.

An enforcing agency made up of Northville Township’s building officials will designate regulated flood hazard areas under the provisions in the state construction code. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been updating the National Flood Insurance Program’s flood rate maps, which evaluate residential and commercial properties to determine their flood risk and whether flood insurance is required. The overall idea of the ordinance is to help those in flood-prone areas who would otherwise be unable to obtain insurance.

FEMA has asked Northville Township to adopt the flood plan ordinance based on their latest map assessment, according to Don Weaver, public service director of Northville Township. The new areas included in the flood plan ordinance are along Johnson Creek in the Arcadia Ridge subdivision and Northville Road and the Middle River Rouge. The Arcadia Ridge subdivision was surveyed for the flood plan before it was developed. Weaver stated that homeowners in Arcadia Ridge should already be apprised of the designation, and that residents along Northville Road and the Middle River Rouge have known about potential flooding as well.

The updated assessment does not reflect any changed circumstances, including previously unknown flood areas and/or emerging vulnerable properties. Rather, the flood plan ordinance reflects existing flood-prone areas.

24177 Brentwood Court, Novi 48374

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:22 GMT

Set the Stage For a Grand Entrance! Stunning 2 story w/curved staircase, formal living room, formal dining room, chef’s delight kitchen w/granite, double oven, oversized center island, eat-in-nook, hardwood floor, family room w/vaulted ceiling, gas fireplace, library, 4 season sunroom w/vaulted ceiling, granite in all baths, master suite w/vaulted ceiling, WIC, glamour bath w/his/hers sinks, sep tub/shower, bonus room/5^th bedroom, finished lower level perfect for entertaining, deck, patio, hot tub, 3 ½ car garage, fenced yd, newer carpet, furnace, AC, roof, siding, driveway and much more!

24 Hour Recorded Hotline, 1-800-882-2817, Code 4472

3373 Brooklyn, Canton 4818

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:44:39 GMT

The Search is Over! Brand new to the market pristine beauty w/2 story foyer, formal living/dining room, spacious kitchen w/center island, eat-in-nook, all appliances stay, hardwood floor, 22x15 family room w/gas fireplace, newer carpet, master suite w/vaulted ceiling, glamour bath w/separate tub/shower, WIC, neutral décor, finished lower level perfect for aupair/inlaw suite w/5^th bedroom & private bath. 2 tier deck, side entry garage. Run don’t walk!

24 Hour Recorded Hotline, 1-800-882-2817, Code 4462

Homes for Sale in Northville, Michigan

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT

Northville, Michigan is a lovely historic town of around 6,000. Located west of the Detroit metro area, Northville is known for its rolling hills, Victorian architecture, pedestrian-friendly downtown, and award-winning school district. Northville is just a half-hour from Detroit and 25 minutes from Ann Arbor. Named for being north of the town of Plymouth, Northville’s first colonial-era settlers arrived in the early part of the 19^th century. It was primarily a mill town, part of Plymouth Township, and where Mill Race Historical Village is located today.

By mid-century, Northville had a bustling commercial district that included a tavern, tailor, blacksmith, cobbler, and doctor, as well as a schoolhouse. Henry Ford purchased a factory in Northville – the Northville Valve Plant – which operated until 1981. By the early twentieth-century, a theater and racing track had opened, and in 1955 Northville was incorporated. Today, Northville’s major employers are Northville Public Schools, Northville Downs, and Shopping Center Market. In addition, the area serves as a bedroom community for the Detroit metro area. Northville downtown hosts art walks, a farmer’s market, and a beloved annual Victorian festival.

Many homes for sale in Northville have retained their historic character and charm. Real estate here includes historic homes built before the 1930s, newer homes built in the tradition of the Queen Anne era, modern ranch homes, and nicely appointed condos. Abbey Knoll, Northville Estates, Northville Commons, Lakes of Northville, and Maple Hill have homes for sale from $150,000 to $300,000. Arcadia Ridge, Brooklane Ridge, Brookstone Village, Cascades of Northville, North Beack Woods, Parkstone, Pheasant Hills, Quail Ridge, Ravines of Northville, and Steeplechase neighborhoods have homes from the $300,000s and up. Stonewater and Woods of Edenberry have homes for sale in Northville from $500,000, Tuscany Reserve from $600,000, Oaks from $700,000. The neighborhoods of Oaks, Fox Hollow, and Bellagio include luxury estates from $700,000 and up. Northville’s condominiums range from $100,000 to $400,000 and include Blue Heron Pointe, Country Club Village, Hickory Creek, Lairdhaven, The Villas at Northville Hills, and Woodlands of Northville.

Whether you are looking for a 4-bedroom, 2-bath Victorian with lots of privacy or a 1-bedroom condo within walking distance to great shops and restaurants, Michele Safford can help you navigate the diverse selection of homes for sale in Northville. Michele is well versed in Northville’s real estate market, and understands the importance of finding the right fit for your lifestyle.

4983 Arbor Ct., West Bloomfield 48324

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:03:02 GMT

Simply sensational! Brand new to the market this inviting beauty w/ 2 story foyer w/ curved staircase, formal living room, dining room, extensive molding throughout, 2 story family room w/ granite surround fireplace, bridge, gourmet kitchen, custom backsplash, granite, island, 2-way fireplace, sitting area, eat-in nook, hardwood floor, library, master suite w/ trey ceiling, inviting glamour bath w/ sep jetted tub/shower, his/her WIC, newly painted inside/out, new carpet, lower level prepped for finishing, evergreens for privacy on wrap around deck/patio. Commission split 50/50 if reduced by 3^rd party. Buyer to pay $495 compliance fee.

24 Hour Recorded Hotline, 1-800-882-2817, Code 4452

39507 Country Lane Dr., Novi 48375

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:34:27 GMT

Create A Lasting Impression! Picture perfect, freshly painted thru-out. Formal dinign room, kitchen w/ceramic backsplash, new dishwasher, stunning great room w/gas fireplace, master suite w/private dressing area, vaulted ceiling, balcony, new bath w/travertine counter, walk in closet, 2^nd bedroom w/private bath, finished lower level w/3^rd bedroom/library, new carpet, skylight, updated light fixtures & recessed lights thru-out. Premium location w/tree buffer for privacy. One look and it’s SOLD!

24 Hour Recorded Hotline, 1-800-882-2817, Code 4442

28612 Flanders, Warren 48088

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:46:07 GMT

Style, Quality, Value! Unbelievable with updates galore, foyer with new ceramic tile, formail living room, hardwood floors through-out, bath with double sinks, new kitchen, granite, custom cabinets, travertine custom backsplash, eat-in-nook, open to spacious family room with vaulted ceiling and fireplace, doorwall to covered patio, new powder room, finished lower level with bedroom/office, fenced yard for privacy. New furnace and much more. Commission split 50/50 if reduced by 3rd party. Buyer to pay $495 compliance fee.

24 Hour Recorded Hotline 1.800.882.2817

Code 4422

4455 Quebec, Brighton 48116

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:32:14 GMT

Make Your Move Quick! Enjoy Oak Pointe Country Club living. Pristine beauty with over 3000 sq. ft., vaulted ceilings throughout, 2-story foyer, 2-story great room w/fireplace, library, formal dining room, kitchen w/42” cabinets w/crown molding, ceramic backsplash, center island, hardwood floor, all appliances stay, eat-in nook, stunning first floor master suite w/private doorwall to deck, his/hers WIC, glamour bath w/sep tub/shower, finished lower level w/game room, bedroom, bath, wet bar, perfect for in-law/aupair suite, master pines for year-round privacy & seclusion, cul-de-sac setting.

24 Hour Recorded Hotline 1.800.882.2817

Code 4432

850 Hidden Pine, Bloomfield 48304

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:00:56 GMT

The Search is Over! Hilltop beauty w/over $150k in custom upgrades! Must see inside to appreciate. Formal dining room w/extensive molding, library w/French doors, great room w/fireplace and wet bar, new kitchen w/custom cherry cabinets, double oven, cooktop, center island, new powder room, oversized bedrooms, spectacular master suite w/new glamour bath w/his/hers closets, sep tub/shower, finished lower level, private & secluded ½ acre, cul-de-sac setting w/extensive brick paver patio for entertaining, 3-car side-entry garage and much more!

24 Hour Recorded Hotline 1.800.882.2817

Code 4412

29220 DUFTY, SOUTHFIELD 48034

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:22:55 GMT

JUST REDUCED!! A Rare Opportunity! Bargain of the century... One acre lot zoned "attached single family RT" for 3+ units. Great investment return on building, close to city conveniences, sewer and water at street. Buyer to verify building specifications with City of Southfield.

29939 CLUB HOUSE LN, FARMINGTON HILLS 48334

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:22:55 GMT

Simply Sensational! Open the front door to your dream home, updates galore boasts this pristine 2-story w/library w/French doors, custom built-in bookshelves, hardwood floor, formal dining room w/wet bar, formal living room w/crown molding, gourmet kitchen w/snack bar, cooktop, custom backsplash, under cabinet lighting, family room w/built-in entertainment center, fireplace w/marble surround, new powder room, new bath, master suite w/built-in art alcove, gas fireplace, his/her walk-in closets, custom glamour bath w/sep tub/shower, custom tile, brick paver patio, fenced yd for privacy & seclusion, oversized 3-car garage. One look and it’s sold! Run, don’t walk!

24 Hour Recorded Hotline, 1-800-882-2817, Code 4402

17745 NORBORNE, REDFORD TWP 48240

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:19:22 GMT

What are you waiting for? Brand new to the market w/updates galore, brick Ranch, 2 bath ranch w/formal living room, dining room, kitchen w/breakfast bar, newer finished lower level w/fireplace, great for entertaining, fenced yard, patio, 2 car garage, run don't walk! Commission split 50/50 if reduced by 3rd party. Buyer to pay $495 compliance fee.

Giving Back This Holiday Season

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:00:00 GMT

In this post-Black Friday season, it seems like everyone’s plotting the most cost-effective ways to ‘give’ to their loved ones; where’s the best sale for that Blu-ray player your dad wants? How about that sale on Louis Vuitton purses, for your sister? Yet, not everyone in the Novi community is focused solely on giving back to their loved ones. In fact, some are looking to spread the holiday cheer a bit further out than their own homes.

Novi Middle School teacher Peter Cemate is one of those people. According to writer Nathan Mueller’s article on Hometownlife.com, Cemate has used his hunting spoils from the last four deer hunting seasons not to keep his own winter pantry stocked, but to help out the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit. He was even able to rope some of his coworkers into the food-gathering effort, and, as a group, they’ve managed to donate nearly 160 pounds of venison and 1,000 pounds of food.

Cemate isn’t the only Novi resident who’s been tapping into their inner Santa. In fact, according to Cemate, many of the school district kitchens will donate excess food to emergency food suppliers, like Capuchin. Joanne Clements, the director of food services in the Novi School District, said that before break, all food that will expire while the students are off is donated either to Cemate or to Forgotten Harvest, another Detroit food provider. Joanne went on to say that it’s better “to feed people than to feed trash cans.”

The great thing about having a community hero it that he or she can inspire the rest of us to be heroes, too—and that’s exactly what we’re seeing here, with Cemate’s example. So don’t throw away the leftovers, or extra canned goods you picked up by accident; contact one of the programs (or Cemate himself!) and give a bit back to the rest of the community this holiday season.

Community Spotlight: Family and Style Meet in Elle Salon

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 03:00:00 GMT

What do you want in your hometown? Do you want posh downtown locations, where you can indulge in a bit of chic, current culture? Shopping centers and concert venues where you can see or hear something new and exciting every so often?

Or would you rather have that close-knit feel, where neighbors all know each other by name, and life happens at its own, natural pace? Where you know everyone walking down the street?

What if it didn’t have to be a choice between one or the other?

Novi is, in many ways, a city that is the perfect compromise between both cultures, and the newly-opened Elle Salon is the perfect example of this fusion. Operated by siblings Marina Bojaj and Gjoni Comaj, the salon is a sleek, high-end establishment—but it’s still very much a family-operated business, with no real desire to stray from its roots.

In fact, according to Comaj, that’s exactly the point. In a recent Hometown Life article, Comaj said that their business strategy is “all about making people feel comfortable. There’s no snootiness, and you feel like you’re walking into your own home. It’s ‘house-meets-salon,’ and very family-oriented.” As if to emphasize this point, relatives and family members of the siblings are constantly stopping in to the salon, making it seem as though, if it’s not their customers’ house, at least the salon closely resemble the siblings’ own respective homes.

Both owners have worked as hair stylists in the Novi area for a number of years, and they bring their extensive experience to Elle. The salon offers a full-range of services, including haircuts, coloring, treatments, esthetics, and even eyebrow extensions.

It’s always nice to have the options to live in a town with a splash of high-end culture, but it’s even better when everyone in town is also like an extension of your own family. And that’s exactly what Elle represents; familiar, neighborly posh.

Community Spotlight: Northville Raises Money For Kids Against Hunger

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:00:00 GMT

With the sudden, early reminder of winter, it’s the perfect time for a hot bowl of soup—and that’s exactly what volunteers are serving tomorrow, between 4 and 7 pm in Northville High School.

According to Nancy Kelsey’s article on Patch.com, the soup dinner will follow a day spent packing food to be sent out to those in need, both within the United States and without. Volunteers from Northville will be working alongside volunteers from Detroit and Hamtramck to pack thousands of food bags, each containing rice and soy that will be given to children around the world. It’s a great opportunity, both for the hungry and for the kids participating, as they’ll be working with kids they might never have met otherwise. According to event organizer Dottie Garrity, kids will be “working together, problem-solving, to benefit other children around the world.” The hope is that, in doing so, kids will learn to make connections with other communities that may even last a lifetime.

Yet, there’s no doubt that some lives will be changed. Kids Against Hunger, the organization behind the soup dinner, has packaged and sent nearly 410,000 bags of food to hungry children around the world since the organization’s founding in 2005, all in their effort to help reduce world hunger. The organization is dedicated to helping children, both abroad and at home; echoing Dottie Garrity’s sentiments, the organization’s website describes its mission as to teach kids “to help people around the world…and [also] around the corner.”

Few communities can boast the kind of dedication to civic duty that Northville can, and that’s what makes it such a wonderful place to raise a family. Community leaders are dedicated to espousing notions of global citizenship to the next generation, all in an effort to raise a more engaged community that looks beyond the neighborhood to the wide world beyond.

Northville's Hazardous Waste Day - And A Brief Word About Toxix Waste

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:00:00 GMT

Several weeks ago, I wrote a post on Novi’s hazardous waste day and how it provided Novi residents an outlet to safely—and inexpensively—get rid of any household materials that might not be safe to leave around for the dog or kids to poke into. This month, it’s the Northville community’s turn to get rid of its trash; starting at 8 am tomorrow morning, the Wayne County Department of Public Services will be picking up household hazardous waste materials at 122000 Beech Daly Road in Redford, MI, so don’t miss this chance to safely, and environmentally, dispose of all those empty paint cans and antifreeze containers. Not sure if something will be accepted? There’s a handy online flyer detailing all of the items that will be accepted, along with those that won’t be. Be sure to check it out before loading up your car!

It’s probably safe to say that every homeowner wants to live in a clean, safe neighborhood, and hazardous waste disposal programs—such as the one in Wayne County—ensure that our communities remain clean. However, it also takes some effort on the homeowner’s part, too; according to a statement by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, our day-to-day actions have a lot more impact on the environment than we imagine—it’s not just chemical companies poisoning our water systems! Everyday mistakes like improper waste disposal and littering can leave lingering effects far beyond what we might imagine, so here are some tips, courtesy of SEMCOG, to keep in mind when cleaning up the house after a major renovation or move:

Always make sure that toxic substances are identifiable. That means storing them in their original containers, and making sure that the labels are conspicuous.
Keep toxic materials in cool, dry places, away from curious little hands or paws.
Only purchase as much of a toxic material as you need, and consider using less-toxic alternatives. SEMCOG suggests using vinegar and water instead of window cleaner, for example.
Always dispose properly at a toxic waste center on collection day. Never throw toxic materials out in the trash or sink.

By keeping these tips in mind, we can ensure our communities remain clean for the generations to come. And don’t forget to stop by Redford Toxic Waste Center tomorrow, between 8am and 2pm!

Novi Hosts the Great Lakes Art Fair

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:00:00 GMT

The Midwest’s bi-annual Great Lakes Art Fair is just around the corner. This weekend, October 14-16, more than 200 booths of fine arts and crafts will fill the Suburban Financial Showplace in Novi. Upon entry, an anticipated turnout of 12,000 attendees will find an elaborate Grand Garden Gallery, spotlighting numerous works from selected artists.

The Fair will feature a vast array of activities for both adults and children, including a Town Spa, which will be located on the show floor. Vision’s Spa Salon—one of the event sponsors—will offer patrons “luxurious treatments such as messages, make-up applications, manicures, pedicures, and hair treatments,” according to the Fair’s main website.

The bistro-style Marketplace Café will be positioned at the center of the floor, a convenient central location that will be handy when attendees start getting hunger pangs. In addition, Generation Art Displays will be showcased across the floor: local school districts will contribute elementary, middle, and high school students’ artworks to the Fair. This is a great way for students to show off their talents for a wider audience. Art activities will also be offered for children who are present at the Fair.

The Main Stage will be utilized for a daily fashion show and various performances put on by local music groups. Clothing and jewelry from the Fair’s numerous artists will be exhibited here. One of the greatest aspects of the Fair is said to be the Artist Demonstrations: original artwork will be crafted on-site by dozens of artists. So, be sure to stop by and observe as jewelry, glass, ceramics, and other materials are configured into professional works of art right before your eyes!

For dates, times, and admission rates, please visit the event’s website: www.GreatLakesArtFair.com.

Should I Buy a Home Now?

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:14:00 GMT

I'm often asked if this is a good time to buy a home. Some clients are concerned that home prices may fall further than they have already. They are assuming that the best course of action is to wait for the bottom in the market and then buy. The problem with this approach is that you don't know where the bottom is until you see it in the rear view mirror, meaning until you've missed it!

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability. Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows. Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life. It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone." To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.