Ann Arbor Real Estate Talk

Schools open in Michigan the day after Labor Day. That would be on September 2nd of this year. Several years ago the Michigan Legislature made it mandatory to start school the day after Labor Day. This decision was made to help with tourism in the state.

Now, if you have high school children, you know that reality is school starts in early August. Why? That is when football practice starts, soccer starts, marching band starts.

Then you have all the Southern Schools that have already gone back in mid-August. I have no clue but I wonder how much tourism really occurs in Michigan in August.

One thing for sure, children of all ages will be studying this year, is the Presidential Election. Here is a fun, educational video on how Presidents are elected in the U.S. You might want to refer back to it.

Lee Lefever produces these and I have to say I just love them. You can see all his videos on YouTube or on his own site the Common Craft Blog. He is known for producing complicated subjects in Plain English.

I have a feeling my husband who teaches high school will be using this one this year.

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Michigan homeowners need to be aware of the new law that went in to effect for homeowners who have moved and have not been able to sell their home in Michigan.

The law is called PA 96 of 2008, and it is a huge tax break for people in Michigan that expands the Principal Residence Exemption on unsold homes. If you live in Michigan, and own a home you are allowed to claim one house for a primary home exemption.

Now the legislature has allowed you keep two exemptions “if” you move from one home in Michigan to another one and are still trying to sell the previous home. The home must be vacant and for sale.

Some of the requirements are:

•1)      The home owner must file a Conditional Rescission of Principal Residence Exemption form #4540. This is a live document and you can fill it out on line and email it.

•2)      The bill was NOT passed until April and the deadline was May 1^st. It was a narrow opportunity to get the message out. So now the legislature has extended the deadline and you can file and appeal with your communities board of review.

•3)      The appeal will only be for 2008, and you will need to file each year until your home sells. Currently the tax savings on the Principal Residence Exemption is for 3 years.

•4)      For more information you can check out the Michigan Department of the Treasury.

Although the government, passed this law for homeowners in Michigan to be able to move up and keep the housing market moving, as a Realtor is also helps when buyers are looking at homes. If they are choosing between 2 homes and one home is homesteaded and one is not it makes a huge difference in the new buyers payments until they can file for the May 1^st deadline.

Here is an example in Ann Arbor Michigan for a home priced at $ 270,000. A home without the homestead exemption would have taxed of $ 7989.00 and a home with the homestead exemption would have taxes of $6236.00.

If this is not the size of the home you are purchasing you can go to the Michigan Property Tax estimator and put in the price home you are purchasing. Make sure you do ½ the sales price.

Any questions contact:

Missy Caulk 734-821-0757 or email (preferred) missy at missycaulk dot com.

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Thought I would have some fun tonight by having you take this short quiz, on what is the best way to get your home sold in Ann Arbor or anywhere throughout Washtenaw County.


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The Saline Varsity Football team is gearing up for the Big Day Prep Showdown IV on Friday, August 29th.

This day of football extravaganza will take place at EMU’s Rynerson Stadium beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The SALINE Hornets will play the premier game at 8 p.m. against Ann Arbor Pioneer.

The Saline vs. Pioneer has turned into a great rivalry. In the past 8 years Saline has played Pioneer 10 times, going 5-5. The Hornets are currently on a 3 game winning streak.

For more information on the Big Day Prep Showdown, visit Big Day Prep Show Down web site.

Tickets can be purchased the following ways:

1. Visit the athletic office at Saline High School. The athletic office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. until noon, and then 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

2. Tickets can be bought at the Blue/Gold Intra-Squad Scrimmage on Saturday, August 16th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hornet Stadium.

3. Tickets can be bought at the four-team game (with Novi, Dearborn and Livonia Franklin) scrimmage in Hornet Stadium on Thursday, August 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

4. Tickets can also be purchased in front of Busch’s and TCF Bank from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on August 9th, 16th, and 23rd.

Advance tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for students. The tickets will be $10 the day of the event.  (Saline Area Schools does retain a portion of the advanced ticket sales.)

This is an exciting day, with games among ALL our area high schools being played throughout the day at Eastern Michigan University.

Let’s all show up and cheer the 2008 Saline Hornets to victory.

This is my first year without either of football player of cheerleader so I’m a little sad, but it will still be fun!

For more information on Saline Athletics click here.

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Today, August 17^th the Saline Area Schools Preservation Foundation will hold an old fashion ice cream social at the Weber Blaess School.

The Weber Blaess School is a one room school house that was restored in 2004. It was the former school house of students from Saline and Lodi Township. Each year different classes of elementary children at Saline Area Schools get to visit the school and see what it was like to attend school in a one room school house.

This Sunday, August 17th, students will experience the re-enactment of a typical day in one room school house, even using the McGuffey Readers and slateboards. The games kids played at recess, like hopscotch, graces will also be played.

Along with the fun events will be a Silent Auction fundraiser that will start at 1:00. Things to auction off include: a ride on the Saline Fire truck during the annual Christmas Parade, handmade quilts, shadow a Saline Police officer for day, cakes and cookie from Benny’s bakery and an antique cart donated former State Representative Margaret O’Connor.

The Saline Area Fire Department will be there to demonstrate how fires were put out in the 1800’s by transporting water to extinguish the blazes.

Ladies walking ar ound with parasols, home-made ice cream and lots of fun for the day.

All the funds raised will go to the Saline Area Schools Historical Preservation Foundation which was founded in 2001, for the sole purpose of maintaining the history of Saline Area Schools with an emphasis on the Weber Blaess School house.

The Weber Blaess School is located at 520 Woodland Dr, in Saline, MI.

For more information call 734-429-5922

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