Selling a Home

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 next three months? With the right preparation, you can maximize your sale price, attract more buyers, and sell faster. Whether your home is in Gibraltar, Flat Rock, Rockwood, Trenton, Woodhaven, Grosse Ile, or anywhere else across Metro Detroit, these are the exact strategies I would use to boost your home's value before listing. These steps are cost effective,...

Most homeowners think they know what the standard 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. This article breaks down what the average Realtor commission looks like right now in Metro Detroit, what has changed, what has not, and why focusing only on the percentage can be one of the most...

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 Metro Detroit. In this series closing post, I'm breaking down who actually wins during a housing market...

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 E. Martin, a Metro...

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 E. Martin, a Realtor® serving buyers and sellers across Metro Detroit, and this is one of the most common questions I'm hearing right now. Mortgage rates influence affordability, competition, and timing, but they don't affect the housing market...

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...

You've probably heard it before: real estate is emotional. But here's what most agents don't say. It's also strategic. Selling your home isn't about tossing it on the MLS and hoping for the best. It's about preparation, positioning, and performance. If you're looking for the best real estate agent in Metro Detroit, here's exactly how I help sellers move quickly, get top dollar, and enjoy a stress...

You accepted an offer, cleared inspection, and made it through the appraisal. For most sellers, that feels like the finish line. It is not. The closing process for home sellers in Metro Detroit runs 30 to 45 days after an accepted offer, and it involves more moving parts than most people expect. Documents have to be prepared, signed, and recorded. Your mortgage payoff has to be calculated to the day....