Just got engaged? Congratulations. Truly — this is one of the most exciting seasons of life, and I love seeing couples step into it. And if you're here because I handed you my card at a bridal show, or because you Googled me after, I want you to know: you are in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. I'm Leslie E. Martin, a real estate agent serving all of Metro Detroit. I work with...

Most buyers sit down with a lender and wait to be told what they qualify for. But what lenders know, and what buyers rarely think to ask, can make a real difference in what you can borrow, what you actually pay at closing, and whether you walk into this process set up to win or scrambling to catch up. I sat down with Vincent Newsome, home loan advisor at National Mortgage Funding in Troy, Michigan, for...

Most real estate agents are professionals who genuinely want to get you to the closing table. But there are things that don't always make it into the conversation; some because they're uncomfortable to say, some because they're simply not in the agent's best financial interest to bring up, and some because agents assume you already know. You don't have to go into this blind. Here are the ten things I...

I sat down with William Marx, General Manager at Title WRX Agency in Royal Oak, Michigan, for a conversation that I think every buyer, seller, and real estate professional in Metro Detroit needs to hear. Title insurance is one of those things that shows up on every closing statement, yet very few people fully understand what it does, why it matters, or what's actually happening behind the scenes between...

Most Metro Detroit homeowners start their selling journey the same way:They type their address into a site like Zillow, Redfin, or another online valuation tool. But before you enter your address one more time, there is something you need to know that could save you from a very expensive mistake. Because the number you are getting from those sites is not the number that actually matters. Every...

Thinking about selling your home in the Metro Detroit area in the next three months? With the right preparation, you can maximize your sale price, attract more buyers, and sell faster. Whether your home is in Birmingham, Northville, Plymouth, or anywhere across Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb Counties, these are the exact strategies I would use to boost your home’s value before listing. These steps are...

What Metro Detroit Homeowners Need to Know About the 2026 Cash Buyer Rule If you are buying or selling a home in Metro Detroit, a major federal change is coming that may affect how all cash offers work, especially when LLCs or trusts are involved. Starting March 1, 2026, a new rule from the U.S. Treasury FinCEN office will require additional reporting for certain cash transactions. This update...

Most homeowners think they know what the standard metro Detroit Realtor commission is until they decide to sell their home and discover the number they have in their head does not match the reality of the current market. And in 2026, that gap is wider than ever. This article breaks down what the average Realtor commission looks like right now in Metro Detroit, what has changed, what has not, and why...

Are you asking yourself how mortgage rates impact your home affordability in Metro Detroit or whether you should wait to buy a home? You are not alone. Mortgage rates directly influence how much you can afford, what your monthly payment will be, and the competitive landscape for both buyers and sellers in today’s market. In this article, I sit down with mortgage expert Vincent Newsome to explain in...

Before the next housing market shift becomes obvious, the most important question to ask isn’t what the market will do — it’s whether you’re positioned to benefit when it does. As a Metro Detroit real estate agent, I’ve spent years helping buyers and sellers navigate changing housing markets across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. In this series-closing post, I’m breaking down who...