Welcome to the SoldByCaleb Real Estate Blog, featuring Michigan real estate tips, local market trends, home maintenance guides, and buyer and seller resources. Stay informed with expert insights designed to help you navigate the Michigan housing market with confidence.
Real Estate Agency Basics
Who does your real estate agent actually represent? Learn the difference between buyer's agents, listing agents, agency disclosures, and representation agreements so you know who's working for whom when buying or selling a home in Michigan.
Home Inspection Basics: What Does a Home Inspection Really Tell You?
What does a home inspector actually check, and what might they miss? Learn the seven essentials of home inspections, from major systems and inspection reports to specialized testing and what happens when problems are found.
Property Survey Basics: Boundaries, Corners, and Easements
Is your fence really on your property line? Learn how property surveys identify boundaries, corners, easements, and other important details Michigan buyers and homeowners should understand.
Purchase Agreement Basics: 11 Things to Understand Before You Sign
A home purchase agreement involves much more than price. Discover 11 important terms Michigan buyers and sellers should understand before signing, including earnest money, inspections, financing, appraisals, and closing.
Home Plumbing Basics: What Buyers and Homeowners Should Know
What's behind your walls? Learn the basics of home plumbing, including copper, PEX, galvanized pipes, drains, water heaters, and warning signs buyers and homeowners should recognize.
Buying Vacant Land to Build a Home: What You Need to Know Before Purchasing
Thinking about buying vacant land to build your dream home? Before purchasing, make sure the property can accommodate your plans. Learn what Michigan buyers should investigate, including zoning, surveys, perc tests, septic systems, wells, utilities, wetlands, driveway access, financing, and the true cost of building.
Home Foundation Basics: 5 Types of Foundations Michigan Buyers Should Know
What's underneath your house? From full basements and crawl spaces to concrete slabs and pier and beam construction, learn how five common foundation types compare, their advantages and disadvantages, and what Michigan homebuyers should watch for during an inspection.
Whole-House Generator Basics
A whole-house generator can keep important home systems running during a power outage, but there's more to understand than simply having backup electricity. Learn how standby generators work, what they can power, installation costs, maintenance requirements and what Michigan buyers should check when purchasing a home with one.
Buying a House With Land in Michigan? 7 Things You Should Know
Thinking about buying a home with acreage in Michigan? There's more to consider than the house and the number of acres. Learn seven important things about property boundaries, zoning, usable land, wells and septic systems, private roads, maintenance and property value before buying.
7 Title Problems That Can Delay a Michigan Home Closing, and How They're Resolved
A title problem can delay a Michigan home sale, but it doesn't always mean the deal is over. Learn about seven common title issues, including unpaid mortgages, property tax liens, estate complications, missing signatures and deed errors, along with practical ways buyers and sellers can resolve them before closing.
Do You Need a Certificate of Occupancy Inspection to Sell Your Michigan Home?
Selling a home in Metro Detroit? Depending on the city, you may need a Certificate of Occupancy, Certificate of Approval or other municipal inspection before the sale. Here are seven local examples, what happens if repairs are required, and the options sellers may have.
What Does “As Is” Actually Mean When Buying a Michigan Home?
A Michigan listing says the home is being sold “AS IS.” But did you know your purchase agreement may already say you are accepting the property in its as is present condition, subject to inspection contingencies? Here is what “AS IS” in the listing remarks is really telling buyers, and why it does not automatically mean no inspection.
What Actually Stays With a House When You Sell It in Michigan?
You sold the house, but can you take the chandelier? What about the TV mount, refrigerator, Ring doorbell, bathroom mirror or backyard playset? Here is how fixtures and personal property are handled in a Michigan home sale, and the simple step buyers and sellers can take to avoid surprises at closing.
Michigan Property Tax Uncapping Explained: When Taxes Reset and When They Don't
Buying, inheriting or transferring a Michigan home can affect its taxable value. Learn how property tax uncapping works, when taxes may reset, which transfers may qualify for exemptions, and why buyers should not assume the seller’s current tax bill will become theirs.
How Do You Price a House When There's Nothing Else Like It?
A $2.1 million Frank Lloyd Wright home in Michigan raises an interesting real estate question: How do you determine market value when there is almost nothing else like it?
What Should You Inspect Before Buying an Older Michigan Home?
Buying an older Michigan home? Age alone doesn't make a house a bad investment. Here are 10 areas buyers should investigate, from the sewer line and foundation to electrical, plumbing, HVAC, drainage and previous remodeling.
Buying a Home With a Septic System? Here's What Buyers Should Know
Buying a home with a septic system requires some additional due diligence. Learn how septic inspections work, what buyers should check, warning signs to watch for, and why requirements can vary by county in Michigan.
What Happens When a Home Appraisal Comes in Low?
A home appraisal below the purchase price doesn't automatically mean the deal is over. Here's how appraisal gaps work and what buyers and sellers may be able to do next.
Your Home Doesn't Have to Be Updated to Show Well
An outdated home doesn't necessarily need an expensive remodel before selling. Deep cleaning, decluttering and a few simple improvements can help buyers see the home's condition, space and potential instead of focusing on its age.
Renovate or Move? Before You Put $100,000 Into Your Metro Detroit Home, Run the Numbers
A major renovation can transform your home, but it may not return every dollar at resale. Here's what Metro Detroit homeowners should consider before deciding whether to renovate or move.