The "Northern Michigan Tip Book" category of our real estate blog provides a wealth of information and insider tips on living in the Northern Michigan area. From the best local restaurants to hidden gems for outdoor recreation, this category offers a comprehensive guide to the region.

If you are considering buying or selling a property in Northern Michigan, our "Tip Book" can provide you with valuable insights into the lifestyle and culture of this stunning area.

So you’ve found your dream home and you want to start the mortgage process to make things official. There are two options for buyers when it comes time to secure their local mortgage lender: either go with a mortgage broker or get a loan from a bank. Many homeowners will tell you exactly what they think the right choice is and while their opinions may be valid, they are often biased by their own past experiences. (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

To find out which option is best for your personal needs, continue reading as we look at what it’s like to work with a mortgage broker versus bank:

WHAT IS A MORTGAGE LENDER?

A mortgage lender refers to a bank or other financial institution that specializes…

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Homeowners should know what is generally covered before submitting a claim. However, all too often a claim is denied or homeowners find out that coverage is surprisingly lacking. Those that have been subject to floods have often found far too late that food damage is not covered in a standard policy. This is why it is important to learn more about home insurance. Depending on the area and typical weather conditions, homeowners may want to expand their coverage to avoid a potential issue. What are some of the common home insurance issues? (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a financial advisor before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

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Chances are good that robotics, drone imagery, and digitized collaboration will play a large part in the design and construction of future homes and business structures, and a variety of other construction improvements may not be far behind. (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

Already, there is some evidence that buildings of the future may be constructed of "self-healing materials" and that plant-based component will create new design and energy flexibility. Tomorrow's built environment may not resemble today's buildings any more than the great stone structures of the past have anything in common with today's steel and glass high-rises. (Click here to see all Northern Michigan Waterfront Lifestyle…

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You finally found the perfect Northern Michigan home.

The house checks all your boxes: it is the right style and size, has an entertaining kitchen, and even boasts an awesome master bedroom. To make things even better, your offer was accepted by the homeowner. Congratulations!

You’re one step closer to owning your first home. (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

The next step in your home buying journey is the home inspection. The job of a home inspector is to provide interested homebuyers an unbiased report about the utility and safety of the home they are preparing to purchase. (Click here to see all Northern Michigan Waterfront Lifestyle Homes for Sale)

While a home inspection is not required, it is highly…

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Compared to previous generations, millennials have been cautious to enter the real estate market. Coming of age right at the most spectacular housing boom and bust in modern history—the 2008 Recession—made for a generation of observant and media-savvy homebuyers. But the tide is finally turning. (Click here to see all Northern Michigan Waterfront Lifestyle Homes for Sale)

Based on recent data from Nationwide Mortgages, 66.1% of Millennials report that they plan to buy a home in the next 5 years. Are you ready for this dynamic demographic of a homebuyer?

It’s good news for the real estate world that 65.3% of millennials associate home buying with achieving the American Dream. That’s more than any other generation! Millennials put a high…

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Everyone Is Investing In Real Estate

Seemingly, there is a tremendous amount of "rookie" investors jumping on the bandwagon trying to make a profit after losing big in the stock market. I meet them all the time, and many are making big mistakes! (Click here to see all Northern Michigan Waterfront Lifestyle Homes for Sale)

Mistake #1: Stock Market Approach

You'd think after losing $7 trillion in the stock market, people would have learned! Nope, they are making the same mistake, which is assuming that what happened yesterday will happen tomorrow. Nine of ten new investors I meet say they are interested in real estate because they saw someone else make money from the rapid appreciation of the market over the last few years. (Click here to see…

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In a hurry to sell your Northern Michigan property? Most families know that conducting a few renovations is optimal for selling a home quickly and for the above market expectations. But knowing which changes to make is where many of us feel at a loss. To save you time and money, we’ve put together a checklist of the house renovations that you should prioritize. These are the most consistent and easiest to implement tasks that can significantly drive up the allure of most properties. (Click here to see all Northern Michigan Waterfront Lifestyle Homes for Sale)

Your real estate agent will be responsible for marketing your home, but you can also take a few steps to make your home one of the most desirable in the Northern Michigan real estate…

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It’s easy to forget that the technology we use every day once only existed in the imaginations of quirky sci-fi writers. Now, these innovations appear in our everyday lives and continue to change the way our communities, cities, and jobs appear and function. (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

With so many inventions changing the way we live, shop, work, and play, it isn’t a surprise to learn that our homes are also evolving to keep up with these emerging technologies. When houses are outfitted with some of the latest and greatest innovations, we call these houses “smart homes.”

Smart technology – whether in your phone, car or home – is about automation. Home automation alleviates household…

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One of the best uses of a limited liability company (LLC) is a vehicle for families to pool their money together to invest alongside one another. The benefits of a family pooling their money through a limited liability company come mostly from the power of an LLC operating agreement. The family LLC can invest in everything from stocks, bonds, and real estate to mutual funds and start-up businesses. (Click here to see all Northern Michigan Waterfront Lifestyle Homes for Sale)

LLC Operating Agreement 
An LLC operating agreement can be written with all kinds of provisions. For example, the operating agreement could forbid individual family members from selling their shares of the limited liability company without the permission of all other…

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When forming a limited liability company for the purpose of starting a small business or pooling investment assets, the three most popular choices are to incorporate the LLC in your home state, form a Nevada LLC, or form a Delaware LLC. This brief overview will explain the reasons the third option, a Delaware LLC, might be a great choice to hold a family operating company, real estate portfolio, or securities such as stocks and bonds. (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

The Benefits of a Delaware LLC 

There are several benefits to forming a Delaware LLC for a family business, investment pool, or other assets. You don’t have to do business in Delaware to form a Delaware LLC because the…

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