May 2021 – Page 4 of 4 – Michigan Real Estate News

Black-Owned Commercial Real Estate Firm Adds Diversity

May 3, 2021/in Detroit /by Tracy Willis

The commercial real estate industry is historically homogeneous, populated largely by white men in the executive ranks, even in a city like Detroit, where the population is more than 80 percent Black. The Greenwood Commercial Real Estate Group adds some diversity to the homogeny. The firm is named for the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, commonly called Black Wall Street and at one time a thriving Black economic hub before it was destroyed in 1921 after the arrest of a young Black man for the purported “assault” of a 17-year-old white girl. James Pitts, head of the Atlanta office of Greenwood, believes that Greenwood CRE will help Black real estate professionals break into commercial real estate.

Virtual Evictions Threaten Constitutional Rights

May 3, 2021/in National /by Tracy Willis

Across the country, eviction hearings have moved to the computer because public officials don’t want to risk exposure to sick tenants arriving for court appointments. Lawyers have seen virtual eviction hearings that take as little as 30 seconds. Tenants often don’t have access to computers and have to dial into the hearings with their phones. Many courts only accept documentation online, and tenants who try to submit their records in-person are turned away. Many argue that tenants’ due process rights are violated by the technological and financial barriers of the eviction proceedings.

Property Line Dispute “Reeks” Havoc

May 3, 2021/in SE Michigan /by Tracy Willis

A property line dispute in Lodi Township, in Washtenaw County, has taken protest to new heights. A farmer has constructed what he calls a “compost fence” to mark his property line. The fence is built of cow manure, and the stench overwhelms rental tenant Wayne Lambarth’s home near the property line. Despite complaints, local officials say there’s nothing they can do because it’s on the farmer’s property.

Plante Moran Consolidates Offices

May 3, 2021/in SE Michigan /by Tracy Willis

In an effort to unite two separate offices under the same roof, Plante Moran shuttered its owned 125,000-square-foot office at 27400 Northwestern Highway and is leasing 8 floors in the Southfield Town Center in addition to the four it currently occupies at that location. The accounting, tax advisory, real estate and wealth management firm will occupy the first through 12th floors of the 32-story 3000 Town Center tower. The move will relocate 550 Victor Center building employees to the Southfield Town Center.

Home Buyers Need Creativity in Today’s Market

May 3, 2021/1 Comment/in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Northern Michigan, SE Michigan, Western Michigan /by Tracy Willis

It’s a home seller’s dream come true. With parts of Michigan down to just a one-month supply of housing inventory, buyers need to get creative with their home-buying strategies. Realtors offer advice like positioning yourself to be the backup offer on sale-pending homes. Often the deals are to good to be true and fall through. Getting your backup offer in is like putting your foot in the door. Some buyers are making creative offers that include payer other buyers to take their offers off the table. Making sure you have a realtor who is well-experienced with getting offers accepted and showings scheduled, even virtually if necessary, can make a huge difference in your success.