Metro Detroit

NEWSLETTER: APRIL 2024

April 14, 2024

NAR YOU SERIOUS

OUR THOUGHTS ON THE (POTENTIAL) SETTLEMENT

Last Month the National Association of Realtors (NAR) settled the commission’s lawsuit, then promptly sat back and did nothing to control the messaging. An unnecessary amount of confusion has followed since.

Understandably, this left people with more questions than answers.

We had some thoughts about it (as we do), so we took to the blog for your reading pleasure.

You can see the full post here, but for the sake of our April 2024 newsletter, we’ve condensed it into a few thoughts:

• Sellers are being billed as the winners, but we see institutional investors as the ones who may have come out on top; the settlement took the focus off the corporate landlords who have helped decimate inventory (leading to prices rising more than $100K in just a couple of years), by leading people to believe that a 1-2% reduction in real estate commissions is the real fix. It isn’t.

• Buyers will likely suffer the most due to the settlement, but don’t overlook the real estate portals like Zillow, Redfin, etc; these companies made insane amounts of money funneling leads to everyone except the listing agent, by tricking users into contacting the agent who bought the ad space, instead of the actual agent on the listing. All of that is about to change and Wall Street seems to know what’s coming.

• In the new home construction world, the compensation builders offer Realtors has always fluctuated with the market; they pay buyer agents less when the market is strong, and more when it is weak. We expect it to be business as usual moving forward.

Of course, the settlement still needs to be approved, so stay tuned – we will continue to share our thoughts as the details evolve.

In the meantime, if you have questions about the settlement, the real estate market in general, or anything related to new homes, we are here and happy to chat about it – let’s connect!

Pictured above: Settlement, schmettlement – skip resale and have Kensington Family Homes build you this!

CURRENT LISTINGS

OUR NEW CONSTRUCTION COLLECTION

LOT #15 | WHISPERING RIDGE ESTATES

This home is complete and MOVE-IN READY! Featuring 3 bed/2.5 bath/2,459 sqft, and a 2-car garage, 1933 Camrose Court is nestled on a corner lot in the intimate, Whispering Ridge Estates neighborhood. This open-concept floorplan offers views of protected wetlands and is surrounded by a charming variety of homes thanks to several different home builders leaving their unique mark on the streetscape.

Featuring an all-brick exterior, luxurious interior finishes abound, including upgraded Merilatt cabinets throughout with soft-close drawers; 6” engineered flooring; quartz countertops throughout; GE stainless steel kitchen package with a gas range, refrigerator, and more, as well as chimney hood + backsplash; 9′ ceilings throughout with a 12′ ceiling + gas fireplace with surround and mantle in the great room; step ceilings in the spacious foyer and owner’s suite.

Beautifully tiled bathrooms and a coveted 5′ stand-alone tub pair with a spacious walk-in closet in the owner’s suite; upgraded Moen plumbing packages are featured throughout; a 1st-floor laundry with a sink and cabinet sit adjacent to the mudroom, with a custom storage bench; 8′ entry door greets guests; 8’10” basement walls allow for a higher basement ceiling.

CLICK FOR MLS DETAILS

Located near Benstein & Glengary in Commerce, Whispering Ridge Estates is in one of the few sections of the township that doesn’t require navigating 2-lane roads while winding around every lake in Oakland County, resulting in commute times that range from 30 min to the Donner Party. Yay! Connect with us for the details!

4272 TUPPER LAKE DRIVE | LINDEN

Located near the shores of Lake Ponemah and nestled on the banks of the Shiawassee River, this 2,059 sqft ranch offers 3 bed/2.5 bath and a 3-car garage.

Built by Kensington Family Homes, this home features designer finishes throughout, a large Chef’s Kitchen that includes a gas cooktop, stainless steel hood, double oven, and microwave, surrounding an oversized island that is perfect for casual dining or entertaining.

The home pictured is of the same plan built elsewhere; this home is currently under construction and should be complete this summer!

Connect with us (if you’re already working with us), or reach out to Julie directly for the details.

UPTOWN VILLAGE | MILFORD

Sure, there’s another notable development getting a lot of attention in the Milford area at the moment, but this quaint new development by Kensington Family Homes puts you a little closer to the heart of Milford.

Located on the north side of Downtown Milford in Uptown Village, these well-appointed 2-3 bed/2.5-3.5 bath townhomes are a short walk to one of Metro Detroit’s most coveted historical downtowns, with rows of shops and restaurants that are steeped in the authenticity that comes with nearly two centuries of cultivation.

Only a small offering of these townhomes will be built, so act soon; connect with us (if you’re already working with us), or reach out to Julie directly for the details.

OUR NOT NEW (BUT NEW TO YOU) COLLECTION

All of our current re-sale listings are under contract – YAY!

IN OTHER RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION NEWS…

NEIGHBORHOOD UPDATES

Hickory Creek by Lombardo Homes opened last week, offering homes on estate-sized lots in South Lyon from the $630s. Located on the south side of 11 Mile and east of Milford Road, this neighborhood offers decent access to amenities and I-96.

Pulte Homes currently has 50 spec homes and condos/townhomes available across Metro Detroit, at various stages of construction – including many that are complete. If you’re looking for new construction but don’t have a timeline that would accommodate a new build, this is an avenue we should pursue.

Infinity Homes announced that Woodland Shores in Brighton would be opening in early spring. Located on Woodland Lake (pictured above), seemingly with some of the homes backing to the 290-acre all-sports lake, we are very curious to see the product and pricing when released; a new neighborhood on a lake this size is very rare.

Robertson Brothers Homes has begun online registration for two new neighborhoods coming soon to Detroit; townhomes in Woodbridge, and a mid-rise condo building in Brush Park. Both are expected to start in the $300s.

CLAWSON FLATS | CLAWSON

The Clawson Planning Commission is moving plans for the old PNC building on Main Street onto city council, after approving a new PUD for the site. The new 3-story building will include roughly 60 rental units and, if we may, this is a good time to point out there are currently no plans for new condo projects – for purchase – in Royal Oak, Clawson, Berkley, Ferndale, etc., at the moment. Or in the works. We understand it’s easier to secure financing for rental developments at the moment, but come on builder/developer friends; there are still plenty of people who want to purchase – not rent – a condo in this area. We know this because people keep telling us they want to purchase – not rent – a condo in this area… [read more]

BUILDERS: DON’T JUST LIST YOUR HOMES…

GET THEM IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT BUYERS!

Our website caters exclusively to new-home-specific buyers, so in addition to the usual audiences found on the MLS, Zillow, etc., we also bring you local buyers searching specifically for new homes, by creating original, organic content, and pairing it with a social media strategy that guides prospects directly to your listing; and we do it for less than what resale agents charge.

If you’re already working with a client and they have a house to sell, we can help with that as well – using our knowledge of the construction process, to help prevent any issues with timing, etc., when we list their home.

Get in touch to find out how we can sell your homes (and your client’s home), and save everyone money in the process.

Also… if you like what you’ve seen in our April 2024 newsletter, connect with us to find out how your homes can be featured in future newsletters!

AGENTS: BECOME AN EXPERT…

WE ARE THE HOME FOR NEW HOME SPECIALISTS!

Join us. We are growing our national network of New Home Experts® agents across the United States and beyond.

If you are a builders sales rep looking for something different, or an agent/broker with a masterful level of experience selling or building new construction homes in your local market, we want to talk.

Set your business apart from competitors by focusing on this lucrative real estate sector; one that most other agents are either afraid of, intimidated by, or both.

Interested? Let’s chat about the life of an “expert” and if it’s the right path for your career.

CLIENTS: WE LOVED WORKING WITH YOU!

…AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS WELL.

(at least, the ones who are like you)

Our clients mean the world to us, and watching their dreams turn into reality is what keeps us going. We appreciate all of you, and would love the opportunity to help your friends, family, and co-workers as well.

If anyone you refer to us builds, buys, or lists a home with a New Home Experts agent from now until the end of 2024, we will send you a $100 Amazon gift card to show our appreciation.

Call, email, or just send them our way – we’ll take it from there.

And of course, if YOU decide to build, buy, or list with us again, the same offer applies to you.

CONTACT US

Questions about your new home search? Call or email us today – we look forward to hearing from you! Not ready for that kind of commitment? Check out our new-home-specific-search and email us incognito. Use a name like Emma Rhoids. We’ll never know it’s you…