I was not surprised this went under contract in less than 30 days.

Listed at just shy of $5,000,000 this Lakeside, MI home went under contract in just a few weeks. This was not a Lake Michigan lakefront estate. No beach frontage. No deeded beach access. Not even …

Short-Term Rental Investing in Southwest Michigan

What Buyers Need to Know Before They Buy in Harbor Country

About 60 to 90 minutes from Chicago, Southwest Michigan has quietly become one of the most sought-after second-home and short-term rental markets in the Midwest.

On the surface, the opportunity looks simple. Buy …

Why Buyer’s Brokers Dominate Southwest Michigan’s Vacation Home Market—and Why Sellers Should Pay Attention

Here’s the deal: in Southwest Michigan’s vacation home market, the vast majority of homes aren’t sold directly by listing agents—they’re sold with the help of savvy Buyer’s Brokers. And that’s not just important for buyers—it’s a …

Tax Avoidance: How to Use Vacation Homes, IRAs, S-Corps, and More to Slash Your Tax Bill

Owning a vacation home is not just a personal asset; it can be a powerful tool for tax planning. With careful use of tax strategies related to rental income, retirement accounts, business structures, and …

Things I’ve Done

As a buyer’s agent, I’m working solely for the buyer—no split loyalties here. I do what it takes to protect my clients and get them the best deal possible. These are actions I’ve taken on behalf of buyers that a seller’s agent simply can’t or won’t do …

Today, I received the following message from the Southwest Michigan Board of REALTORS:

"Last week I reported around 17 vacant on-market homes were being broken into in St. Joseph Twp.  I was given an update that there have been several more now outreaching into the City of St. Joseph …

Market Conditions Are Only One Piece of the Puzzle

While it’s true that market conditions, such as pricing and buyer demand, play a critical role in the successful sale of a property, they are not the only factors. Intangible elements, such as the behavior of your agent, showing restrictions, and …

When selling your home, ensure your agent offers strong incentives to all buyer’s agents. If your agent boasts of selling a high percentage of their own listings, they may be discouraging other agents from showing the property.