Saint Joseph Statues and Real Estate Sales

Everyone’s heard about the Saint Joseph statue helping to get your house sold quicker, right?  It’s funny, but I get asked about this on a fairly regular basis.  So if you’re curious, about the Saint Joseph statue story and selling your house, read on.

Joseph, the husband of Mary and the father (or perhaps step-father) of Jesus – there’s that immaculate conception thing – is said to be the patron saint of family, home and yes, house-hunting.  That’s why his statue gets buried.  In some cases, Saint Jude – the patron saint of lost causes – might be more appropriate, but this post is about Saint Joseph.

But how to bury the statue?  Most accounts agree that the statue should be buried upside down.  Why? It’s believed that the statue will work extra hard to get out of the ground and back into the house, making it sell quicker.  Popular locations are: 1) next to the ‘For Sale’ sign; 2) burying it 3 feet from the back of the house; 3) burying it as close to the front door as possible.

Some say that the statue should be facing away from the house, others maintain that it should face the house you’re trying to sell.  There’s also a contingent that swear that the upside down figure should face the direction in which you want to move.  And once the home sells, the statue should be dug up. Many find a place of honor for it in their new home.

My recommendation?  If you decide to do this, bury the Saint Joseph statue upside down, facing the house, within three feet of the foundation.  Bury it deep enough to totally cover it, and have a few inches of soil above it. That location should keep it a flower bed, with easy to work soil, and also make it easy to find after the sale, especially if you line it up with a window frame, outdoor spigot, or some other such landmark.

And there are also house-selling prayers to Saint Joseph that people believe will make the difference. 

Even if you’re not Catholic, don’t let that put you off!  There are accounts from many, including a woman of Jewish heritage who practices Buddhism, and even atheists, that say this has worked for them, too.  There are plenty of stories of real estate agents covertly burying a Saint Joseph statue to help along a tough sale, as well. 

Do you have a Saint Joseph story about a home sale that you want to share?  Leave it in the remarks section of this blog.

courtesy of Sira Anamwong/freedigitalphotos.net

January Is National Radon Action Month

Radon is an odorless and colorless radioactive gas.  It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.  It enters through cracks in basement or slab floors, sump pump openings and crawlspaces and can become concentrated enough to surpass safe levels.  The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) estimates that 40% of Livingston County homes have elevated radon levels.

The good news is that it is easy to test for and not so hard to get rid of, either.  This month (right through 1/31/16) the Livingston County Department of Public Health (LCDPH) is offering free short-term testing kits,  You can pick them up at the Environmental Health Division office, 2300 East Grand River, Howell 48843, corner of Chilson and Grand River.   If you live in a county other than Livingston, call your local public health department to see if they're offering free kits this month, too.  If not, you can buy radon test kits at most hardware and home improvement stores.

When I work with home buyers, I always strongly recommend that they have a radon inspection, especially if the house has a finished basement. Take advantage of this great offer from the LCDPH and get your kit for free.  For more info about radon, go to www.Michigan.gov/deqradon.

To get great real estate news and information, home improvement tips, and some fun real estate articles, visit and like my facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MichiganRE.

Howell Market Update Week of Jan 18 2016

The active inventory is down, at 261 units, not surprising for this time of year.  In the last 7 days 9 properties sold at an average of $106/sq ft.  That's a bit low, but still within the typical $100-$125/sq ft this market sees. Of course, new construction, lakefront properties and luxury homes will be more.  In the last 7 days, 20 new listings hit the market, pretty good for mid-January.

Rentals in the MLS are at 10, also a bit low. Remember that there's no central site for rental properties. Apartments and many property management companies do their own marketing, and some landlords do their own on craigslist, too.

There are plenty of rental units around Howell, and the apartment competition is pretty good.  See my short video here.  To see my regular updates, home maintenance and decorating tips, and other interesting real estate news, follow and like my facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MichiganRE.

Howell Market Update Jan 04 2016

This week's report shows 265 units available through the MLS. Lower than typical, but not unexpected at this time of year.  In the last 7 days there were 8 new listings on the market and 15 sold - a little more than I expected.  I think there was a lot of push to get sales in for the 2015 tax season!

The 15 sales averaged $194,448 each, or $109/sq ft - right on target for Howell.  Note that lakefront homes, new construction and homes on larger parcels will command a premium from this figure.  Watch the market update video at:   https://youtu.be/026Tc3B3L34

The MLS shows 11 rental units (homes and condos), but Howell has a lot of apartments that are not reflected in this number. Generally, apartment rents are much more competitive and a great way for renters to save for that home down payment.

Analysis:  

Buyers - yes inventory is down, but work with a full-time real estate pro that can get you into properties quickly and you'll be successful.  The lower your price range, the shorter the inventory. $200,000 and under needs quicker action than $400,000 and higher.  Consult your LOCAL agent about these market dynamics.

Sellers - DO NOT WAIT FOR SPRING.  Let me repeat that.  DO NOT WAIT FOR SPRING.  You have much lower competition right now and buyers tend to be more motivated this time of year, too.  Call me to find out about my 'Marketing Edge' program to get your home sold quickly or watch my facebook page for regular real estate news, tips and updates.

South Lyon Real Estate Update 01-03-16

Here's a brief update on the South Lyon real estate market. The video is under 2 minutes in length,

Current inventory is 217 units (detached single family residences or SFRs, and condos).  In the last 7 days there were 6 new listings, and 10 solds.  The solds averaged out at around $125/sq ft of living space.

Understand that there is a lot of new construction in the townships surrounding the City of South Lyon and that new construction is going to be more expensive - especially if you want to build a ranch home.

The South Lyon area is primarily in Oakland County but also goes into southeast Livingston and northeast Washtenaw counties.  Right now there are 9 rentals in South Lyon recorded in the multilist system, but this won't include apartments or properties run by management companies or even private landlords using yard signs and craigslist.  Unfortunately, there's no single place to look for rentals as there is for homes.

Be careful if you're renting.  There are scams out there.  Be sure you're dealing with the property owner.