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...

If you’re watching mortgage rates closely and wondering what you should do before mortgage rates drop, you’re already ahead of most buyers and sellers. In the Metro Detroit real estate market, rate drops don’t just create opportunity, they create competition. Buyers who prepare early tend to win. Sellers who understand what rate movement does to demand tend to net more. I’m Leslie Martin, a...

If you’re asking what happens if mortgage rates drop, you’re not alone, and the answer matters if you’re buying or selling a home in Metro Detroit. I’m Leslie Martin, a Realtor® serving buyers and sellers across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, and this is one of the most common questions I’m hearing right now. Mortgage rates influence affordability, competition, and timing, but they...

Should I Buy a Home Now or Wait? Short answer: it depends, but not on headlines. If you’ve found yourself asking “Should I buy a home now, or should I wait?” you’re not alone. This is one of the most frequently searched real estate questions on Google, YouTube, and AI tools especially among Metro Detroit buyers trying to make sense of today’s market. In this guide, I’ll walk you...

If you’ve been watching the housing market and thinking something feels different lately, you’re not wrong. Across the country, analysts are calling 2026 the start of a housing market reset; not a crash, not a boom, but a shift toward balance. As a Metro Detroit Realtor, I’m seeing this reset show up very differently here than in many national headlines. In Southeast Michigan, the market is...

Once you go under contract on a home, most buyers and sellers assume the hardest part is behind them. In reality, this is the phase where real estate transactions are most likely to fall apart if expectations are not set properly. If you are buying or selling a home in Metro Detroit, understanding what actually happens after a contract is signed can help you stay calm, make better decisions, and avoid...

What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know Before Signing a Contract Before you fall in love with a house, or before you accept an offer on your home, there is one part of the contract that can make or break the entire deal: contingencies. They are often misunderstood, sometimes feared, and frequently glossed over. But when you understand how contingencies actually work, you make better decisions and...

What does contingent status mean in metro Detroit area real estate? A contingent home listing in metro Detroit indicates that a seller has accepted an offer, but the sale depends on certain conditions—called contingencies—being met before the deal can officially close. These contingencies often include home inspections, financing approvals, or the sale of the buyer’s current property. For...