Michigan Locations

Hundreds of Metro Detroiters At Risk For Eviction

Detroit tenants behind on their rent because of coronavirus pandemic hardships are no longer protected from eviction, according to Detroit’s 36th District Court. After the CDC’s eviction moratorium was deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Detroit court declined to issue its own moratorium. Hundreds of renters are at immediate risk of eviction. According to census data, 28% of metro Detroit renters and home owners are behind on their rent or mortgage. Organizations and agencies continue to work on connecting tenants with COVID Emergency Rental Assistance funds.

Buying a Home Is The Less Expensive Option in Metro Detroit

According to data from Realtor.com, it’s 14.1% cheaper to buy a home in metro Detroit than it is to rent. Other data suggests that it’s 17.1% less expensive. Detroit lands in 10th place on a list of places where buying a home is more affordable than renting one. The president of RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan suggest that those numbers don’t consider the other costs associated with owning a home. Low rental inventory and high rental demand, low rental turnover, and low mortgage interest rates have contributed to the trend.

Metro Detroit Home Purchases Decline

According to data from RE/MAX, home purchases in metro Detroit had the fourth largest decline in the country. RE/MAX surveyed metro areas, and Detroit had a 19.6 percent decrease in closed homes in July. Factors that likely contributed to the decline include Michigan’s coronavirus-related lockdown that lifted in June last year, creating a backlog of pending sales that exploded into July. This lifted that month’s 2020 total. Buyers are exercising more caution and questioning the prudence of paying more than the asking price. Add the recent weather and flooding into the picture and potential buyers hesitating while flood-damaged homes are fixed. Limited inventory is also a contributing factor.

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Novi Residents Protest Childcare Center

A plan to transform an existing golf clubhouse in the northwest corner of the city into a learning center is facing stiff opposition from area neighborhoods. The learning center would accommodate between 125-175 children on a daily basis, exceeding the zoning allowance. Hundreds sent letters to the city opposing the project, and many attended the January 26 planning commission meeting. The plan would also convert the nine-hole golf course into open green space. Residents are concerned about traffic, especially during drop-off and pick-up times. The residential properties and the clubhouse share the same road connector. The attorney for the petitioner says the traffic will actually be less intensive than a bar, restaurant or golf course. Commissioners voted to recommend a denial to the city council.

Overtaxed Detroit Homeowners Wait for Reparations

Over-assessed Detroit homeowners are waiting for compensation from the city. Between 2010 and 2016, the city of Detroit overtaxed homeowners by at least $600 million. Detroit City Council President and the Coalition for Property Tax Justice have set forth a tentative plan for compensation and restoration of residents’ dignity. The illegal overassessments led to 100,000 Detroiters losing their homes when they should not have. The state constitution states that property can not be assessed at more than 50% of its market value, and yet the city assessed 55%-85% of its property in violation of that law. There are four categories of residents that are eligible for compensation if they owned and occupied a home that was overtaxed between 2009 and 2020. Depending on the category residents fall under, a variety of compensation options are available to fit their individual needs.

Former GM Transmission Plant to be Redeveloped

NorthPoint Development, the owner of the former General Motors Transmission plant in Warren has a $180 million plan to redevelop the site. The plan is expected to bring 1.4 million-square feet of new industrial space, as well as 600 jobs. According to Warren Mayor James Fouts, the development is a good idea for the city. The company will house multiple tenants on the site. It will make improvements to parking, green space and storm water management. Site jobs will pay at least $15 per hour. This project is just one of many that NorthPoint Development has underway in the Detroit area.

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