Sandi Smith announces candidacy for Ann Arbor City Council!

My Broker just announced that she will run for City Council. I couldn't be more pleased! Here's the press release:

COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER WILL RUN FOR 1ST WARD SEAT
Democrat Sandi Smith has announced her candidacy for the Ann Arbor City Council in the 1st Ward, which covers much of downtown, as well as northern and northwestern Ann Arbor. Smith is challenging Councilmember Ron Suarez in the August Democratic Primary.
“The 1st Ward needs effective leadership that will strive to sustain what’s so great about Ann Arbor,” said Smith. “We need strong local businesses. We need to sustain our neighborhoods, our environment and our community.”
Smith cited several issues she will address as the 1st Ward’s Councilmember, including encouraging sustainable development to keep the downtown vibrant, promoting historic preservation to enhance 1st Ward neighborhoods, and a responsible City budget that emphasizes core services.
Smith, a 27-year resident of the Ann Arbor area, has a long record of community service, including:
• Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors governing Board of Directors (1996-1999)• Downtown Development Authority (2004-present; Chair, 2006-2007);• Washtenaw Rainbow Action Project Board of Directors (1996-2000);• Greenway Taskforce Member (2005-2006)• Community Security & Public Space Task Force (2006)• Task Force on Sustainable Revenue for Affordable Housing (current)
Smith has already been endorsed by leaders throughout the Ann Arbor community. "Sandi's commitment to the city is well demonstrated through her involvement on city boards and task forces. This experience will be a huge asset to the city and residents in the 1st Ward and will enable her to hit the ground running upon taking office this fall. I'm honored to be serving as treasurer of her campaign." said Jennifer Hall, vice-chair of the DDA board and Greenbelt Advisory Commission and 1st Ward resident.
“I’m proud to support Sandi for City Council,” said Keith Orr, co-owner of the Aut Bar in Kerrytown who, along with his partner, Martin Contreras, has endorsed Smith. “She will turn progressive values into action and be a Councilmember of whom we can be proud.”
Leah Gunn, Washtenaw County Commissioner and DDA Board Member, had this to say about Sandi: "I have worked closely with Sandi Smith on the Board of the Ann Arbor DDA, and I find her to be a thoughtful, conscientious and astute person. She knows how to get along with a variety of people, working to arrive at consensus with complex issues. I believe that these qualities would serve her well on City Council."
"As a 1st Ward resident, I know firsthand Sandi's commitment to progressive action and her strong work ethic. She will make an outstanding Councilmember" said Phillis Englebert, 1st Ward resident, community activist, and author.
Smith and her partner, Linda Lombardini, live near downtown Ann Arbor. Together, they own and manage Trillium Real Estate. Smith was named the 2007-2008 Realtor of the Year by the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors.
“I believe my experience as a small business owner and a community activist with a record of progressive accomplishments makes me uniquely qualified to best serve the 1st Ward,” said Smith.
Smith plans an aggressive grassroots campaign.
“People make Ann Arbor special, so my campaign will focus on talking with and listening to the people of the 1st Ward.

For more info, please see her web site at http://annarborites.com .

New listing!

This is a wonderful 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath colonial! It's located on a cul-de-sac in a quiet subdivision with great highway access. Ann Arbor schools and low Pittsfield township taxes. It is ready for you to move in and is priced to sell at $224,900!

Do you want to buy a house but you don't have money for a down payment?

You may qualify for help! I attended a great training today, given by Washtenaw Housing Education Partners. I learned about many programs that may be able to help you buy a home in the Ann Arbor area. I am now certified to help people buy a home through these programs, including Washtenaw County IDA Savings Match, MSHDA Down Payment Assistance, American Dream Down Payment Initiative (ADDI), Ann Arbor Down Payment Assistance Program, USDA Rural Development Program and more. These are great programs that just may help your dream of homeownership come true! Feel free to contact me for further information.

March real estate market data

The Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS released the market statistics for March. The stats show that the market in Washtenaw County is stabilizing. The average list and sale prices are almost identical to March 2007. One of the most striking factors reported is that the number of listings has decreased from 1621 (3/07) to 1207 (3/08). This is excellent news for people trying to sell their homes. According to the National Association of REALTORS, "Little change is expected in existing-home sales over the next few months, before improving notably during the second half of the year." I am excited about the improved outlook for my profession and for my clients!

Are you considering buying a house that has non-homestead taxes?

There are many homes for sale that are currently vacant. That often means that the sellers have already purchased another home. If that is the case, then it is likely that the taxes on the house for sale are non-homestead. Non-homesteaded property is taxed at a much higher rate than homes that are homesteaded (used as a primary residence). If you are considering buying one of these homes, rest assured, the taxes will be converted to homestead if you plan to use it as your primary residence. However, you may have to pay them for a while. The deadline for conversion from non-homestead to homestead for summer taxes is May 1st. If you want to avoid paying those extra taxes, write up that sales agreement now and ask for a close date of May1st or sooner!

Arbor Day Celebration!

April 25 11:00am to 2:00pm
Trillium Real Estate and Living Space Builders First Annual Arbor Day Celebration at Bandemer Park!
In celebration of Arbor Day, Trillium and Living Space will be planting 100 trees in Bandemer Park, with the help of the Adopt a Park program at the City of Ann Arbor. The trees will counter the environmental impact of our businesses on the Earth. They will also act as a carbon offset and be a biomass replacement for the lumber used in building new homes. Come and help - all are welcome! Snacks provided.

Great new legislation!

Governor Granholm signed House Bill 4215 (now Act 96 of 2008) yesterday. This will be a huge relief for a certain segment of homeowners who have had to move elsewhere in the state, but have been unable to sell their first house. The owners will be allowed to maintain their principal resident status (and thus pay much more reasonable property taxes) for three years on both homes if the following criteria are met:

*the property is not occupied,
*the property is for sale
*the property is not leased or available for lease
*the property is not used for any business or commercial purpose

With the current economy and the many people struggling to avoid foreclosure, this is very good news.

April Fools!

Ann Arbor has a great new tradition to celebrate April Fools. It is called Festifools and it is a wonderful collaboration of artists and volunteers that come together to create art for everyone to enjoy. It culminated yesterday, in the form of a parade of large papier-mache puppets who marched and danced on Main Street. It was a lovely day and there was quite a crowd there to enjoy the festivities. This was the second annual Festifools celebration and, judging by the positive reviews (i.e. smiles in the crowd), I am certain that this is a tradition that will last. My favorite puppet was a beautiful woman playing the cello (or is she the cello?!). My nine year old son LOVED the hot dog with the pig's head. (Must have been a vegetarian that created that one, eh?) It is always a pleasure to attend events downtown for which the streets are closed. We should do this more often! Check out the web site at http://festifools.org/