Great news for Ann Arbor!

The AARP just published a study that they did about the healthiest cities for seniors. They used 20 measures of vitality. They looked at the physical aspects of the communities, as well as the health and habits of their residents and determined that Ann Arbor is the best U.S. city for seniors! There are also so many things to do in this town to keep people happy. I think it's a great city for people of all ages, and I appreciate the nod of recognition from AARP. Here's the link to the article if you'd like to read more.

http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/healthiest_hometowns.html

Townie Party

One of the things that I love about Ann Arbor is that there are always plenty of things to do. Actually, in the summer, it seems there are TOO MANY things to do! I sometimes lament that I don't have more time to spend on my deck, relaxing, in the summer...but it's because there are so many events that are irresistible. Last night was the annual "Townie Party", which is scheduled the Monday before the Art Fair begins. It's sort of a last hurrah before we are deluged with out-of-towners. A stage is set up on a downtown street and several bands played for us. It was a beautiful evening to hang out on a blanket and listen to music. There were also many ways for children to be entertained. My son began by collecting all of the free stuff. Two frisbees were among the goodies, so we proceeded to play frisbee in front of Hill Auditorium. There were also arts and crafts choices, and of course, balloons. Now the artists are busy getting their booths set up for opening day tomorrow. If you are an Annarborite, most likely you either love or hate Art Fair. We often hear "It's not art, and it's not fair!" I am in the love it camp. It's always exciting to see people rolling in and to check out the art (and people!). The thermometer inevitably climbs to 90 degrees or more for the 4 days of the fair and thunderstorms make it all the more thrilling. I hope to see you all there!

Market Statistics

The Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors recently released the market stats for June. The good news for sellers is that the number of listings are down 28% from this time last year. The good news for buyers is that home and condo prices are now as low as they were in 2000. So, it is still an excellent time to buy a home! Interest rates have gone up slightly in recent weeks. but they are still very good. If you have been waiting for the "perfect" time to buy, I would have to say that you should not wait any longer! We continue to see some serious competition for certain listings, with multiple offers above list price, but even in those situations buyers are getting good deals. If you haven't yet, choose a realtor who is an expert in the area in which you'd like to buy and get started. Contact me today for a consultation!