Howell Melon Festival – August 14-16th

Get ready to have some fun!  Howell’s Melon Festival starts tomorrow!  The Melon Run features a 5K/10K, a 1 mile run, a Tot Trot and a Mascot Dash – a 100 yard out and back course by mascots sponsored by local businesses.

There’s a Bike Ride, live entertainment, children’s events, a fine arts show, car show, steam train rides, and more.  Check out the full roster of events at http://www.howellmelonfestival.com/and come out and visit Downtown Howell.

And if you're looking to purchase a home in Howell, give me a call!

image courtesy of Howell Melon Festival

Brighton & Howell Upcoming Events - Week of July 6th

Wow! There's a lot going on locally in the next week or so.

Let's be musical first.  Howell's Concerts at the Courthouse on Friday, July 10th, 7pm will feature the Rhythm Society Orchestra.  This 15 piece group has won the Big Three Battle of the Bands 7 times, including this year. This is a free, family-oriented and pet-friendly event on the lawn of the Historic County Courthouse on Grand River in Downtown Howell.  Bring your lawn chairs.  Hosted by the Livingston Arts Council and the Historic Howell Opera House. Free.

Switch over to Brighton on Sunday, July 12th at 7pm for the Kiwanis Gazebo Concert.  This date will feature the Whatabouts & the Whoevers, a 60's girl group band. Pre-show at 6:30pm, FREE, food available, no dogs allowed.  Main Street in Downtown Brighton at the Millpond. Note that Main Street parking is reserved for classic car parking only.

How about the eats, you ask?  Glad you did!  A Taste of Brighton is running Friday & Saturday, July 11-12, from 10am to 10pm.  Street performers, family fun zone, arts & crafts, wine & beer gardens - and of course, GREAT FOOD!  Voted one of Michigan's Best Festivals by Detroit A List. Crack the bank vault combo at the State Bank Safe Booth and win $10,000.  Hey, it's worth a shot. More info here.

And don't forget the local Farmers' Markets.  Brighton has its market on Saturdays from 8am-1pm in the Municipal Lot off First Street, by the Municipal Building.  Hartland's is also Saturday, 9am-2pm at the Old Hartland HS, on M-59 just west of US-23.

Howell's Farmers' Market is Sunday, 9am-2pm, on State & Clinton Streets, next to the Historic Courthouse. And so is the Green Oak Farmers & Community Market, at 11299 Grand River, 48116 - at Alan Drive (between US-23 and Pleasant Valley Rd). They're open 10am-3pm.

Fowlerville has a Farmers Market, too. Wednesdays at the parking lot of the Village Office, 2pm-7pm.

If you can't find anything to do the weekend after the Holiday, it's not our fault.

Howell Farmers’ Market Opens May 4th

Late Season Offerings at Howell Farmers' Market

The Howell Farmers’ Market will open May 4^th.  On this second most important ‘opening day’ (after that of the Detroit Tigers, of course), there will be horse-drawn wagon rides along with the crafts, herbs, baked goods and garden plants – all from local vendors.

The Farmers’ Market is located adjacent to the Historic Livingston County Courthouse, generally the area around State and Clinton Streets in downtown.  Visit from 9am to 2 pm every Sunday from May 4^th through the end of October.  Market goods shift along with the harvest, but there’s always something good there.

While in town, check out the renovated War Memorial (corner of Grand River and State), take a walk down to the Heart of Michigan store on Grand River near Walnut, take some interesting pictures of the Opera House (still under restoration), or stop in for a wine sample at Main Street Winery.  There are plenty of great shops and restaurants to keep you busy.

Photo courtesy of Robert Smith

Livingston County Real Estate Market

The good news is that I've been so busy that I've let my blogging fall off.  The bad news is that I've let my blogging fall off. 

Generally speaking, the housing market is finally looking up!  I know you've been reading that the number of sales is down - and that's true.  But they're down because we have such a shallow inventory.  Almost every home that I've listed in the last 9 months or so has gone under contract within 15-25 days, had multiple offers and sold for above list price.  Short sales aren't included as they take longer and have special problems for many potential buyers.

The days on market (DOM), is flat compared to last year, but average sales prices are up almost 9% for single family homes and a whopping 46% for condos. Vacant land sales have jumped, and there's a lot of new builds happening in the South Lyon area. All the while we're at extreme lows for mortgage interest rates, too.

Things are also happening with commercial properties.  Downtown Brighton is bursting at the seams.  Good luck finding a space there!  Downtown Howell has some interesting things going on, too, and there's no doubt that the Opera House project has helped a lot.  Watch for a full-fledged comeback there, soon. There are plenty of commercial spaces on major business routes in the surrounding townships, though, some in very high traffic areas.

I'm working with numerous buyers that can't find a house they want. Many of our showings get cancelled because the house goes under contract before we can get into it.  Still, it's an exciting time to be in Real Estate. 

If you have specific questions, please drop me an email or give me a call.  And I'm really looking for listings.  If you know somebody that is considering selling their home, please ask them to give me a call.