HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Have a safe and happy New Year from all of us at Newport Estates!  We'll see you here next year.

Share your New Years resolutions here with us!

MORE MICHIGAN JOBS FOR 2011

Recently I've posted a number of companies that are growing here in Michigan and creating additional jobs. 

Here's another company to check out.

A CHANCE TO WORK WITH GEORGE CLOONEY IN THE MOTOR CITY

For those of you who get star struck; here's your chance to work with George Clooney as a movie extra.

Check out this story at Mlive.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas from Newport Estates!

We'll see you again on Monday.  Have a great holiday!

WIND TURBINES COMING TO SAGINAW

It's nice to see stories about alternative energy that will create jobs while saving our valuable resources.

Check out this story from detnews.com.

MORE GOOD NEWS FOR AUTO MAKERS

AP photo file from Mlive.com

I'm always in search of some good news for Michigan and I love to hear about increases in auto sales. 

Check out the full story from Mlive.com

THE BUSIEST MAIL DAY OF THE YEAR.

Today is the busiest mail day of the year, but the unexpected part is that the busiest location is right here in Michigan.

Check out the full story here from freep.com.

SECRET SANTA

It's always nice to hear tales of generosity, especially in these difficult economical times.  Check out this story about a local Metro Detroit Secret Santa.

This story is from freep.com.

THE FREE PRESS BUILDING LOFTS

The building, at 321 W. Lafayette in downtown Detroit, could house lofts and office and retail space.

(ED HAUN/Detroit Free Press)

What a great building for this type of project......it looks like construction could start as early as 2011 for lofts, offices, and retail.  Check out the full story here at freep.com. 

MORE JOBS FOR MICHIGAN

Any time I see a story about more jobs coming to Michigan it makes me happy.  I grew up in a household where my mother was a stay at home mom and my dad supported the family as a Ford Motor Company employee for 36 years until he retired.  For me, it's nice to see jobs slowly returning to the auto industry here in the Metro Detroit area.

Check out this story from Mlive.com.

WHY ARE THE ROADS SO ICY?

The roads have been terrible these last few days and everyone I've talked with is wondering where all the salt trucks are???  This video should clear up why the roads are so icy right now, however, it still doesn't really answer where the salt trucks have been hiding.

Click on Detroit Video

FIRST BIG SNOW OF THE YEAR



AP Photo | Detroit Free Press
Snow falls over saplings on Belle Isle in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010.

It looks like winter has arrived here in the Metro Detroit area.  Every year I dread the snow, but yet I'm still here in Michigan.  I ask myself the same question every year.......why?

I'd love to hear your feedback about Michigan winters.....do you love them or hate them?

MORE HIRING NEWS

Bank CFO's are talking about the number of employees they will need to hire for the coming year of 2011. 

Check out this Today Show link for the full story.

GOOD NEWS FOR MICHIGAN!

It's nice to see an article about Michigan being able to create hundreds jobs. 

Check out this article from the Detroit News online.

Let us know what you think.

A GREAT TIME TO BUY!

Even though mortgage rates showed a slight increase they are still very low, making it a great time to buy!  Check out our website for more information Newport Estates.

FREE LAND

I've seen articles posted recently showing free land in rural areas of the country and came across this article that was in the Wall Street Journal in September 2010. 

Check out this article, I'll be curious to see if this works for Muskegon.

BI-WEEKLY MORTGAGE PAYMENTS

People are always looking for a way to shorten the term of their existing mortgage and save money in the long run.  Bi-weekly mortgage payments are a less painful route to go and the savings can really add up for homeowners.

Check out this article on Bi-weekly mortgages from an MSN blog.

MORTGAGE TRENDS

Not a day goes by that mortgage rates aren't in the news in one way or another, however, we're seeing a good trend with rates continuing to fall.  For anyone building a home, buying an existing home or re-financing this is a great thing.

Check out this article from MSN Money - 5 year-end mortgage trends to watch now.

Feel free to share your mortgage stories here.

HAPPY HANUKKAH!

Happy Hanukkah!

THE OLD FARMER'S ALMANAC

I woke this morning to a dusting of snow on the deck this first day of December.  It made me think about The Old Farmer's Almanac for some reason.  Even though I've lived here in Michigan my entire life, I'm not a fan of winter or snow.  The snow flurries prompted me to look and see what the trusty almanac had to say about the weather in the Metro Detroit area for the month of December.

The Old Farmer's Almanac weather predictions are as follows for Metro Detroit:
December 2010: temperature 29 ° (avg.); precipitation 4" (0.5" below avg. east, 2.5" above west); Dec 1-7: Sunny, then rain, mild; Dec 8-14: Rain and snow showers, seasonable; Dec 15-18: Rain to snow, mild; Dec 19-23: Snow showers, then sunny, warm; Dec 24-28: T-storms, then sunny, mild; Dec 29-31: Rain to snow, turning cold.

"BUY MICHIGAN NOW"

As a follow up to yesterday's post, I came across an article in Freep.com talking about the "Buy Michigan Now" campaign.  It's nice to see the momentum that this is gaining.  I've noticed myself that many of the grocery stores have flagged the items on their shelves that are made in Michigan.  This has been a great way to raise awareness of the products made here in our own state.

I'd love to hear what you think.  Do you buy products made here in Michigan now more than in the past? 

TAKE THE $10 BUCK PLEDGE

“Shop local, buy local.” seems to be household buzz phrase in Michigan for well over a year now.   I love the fact that if every household in Michigan spent $10 a week on Michigan products we would keep more than $40 million each week circulating in Michigan’s economy.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Newport Estates would like to wish you a healthy and happy Thanksgiving Day.
We'll see you again on Monday!

THANKSGIVING TRADITION



It's that time of year again; time for the annual America's Thanksgiving Parade tomorrow morning. 

As a child many of us watched the Thanksgiving Parade on television while our mother's prepared Thanksgiving dinner for the family.  My brother and I were always glued to the TV waiting for our favorite characters in the parade while the house was filled with that wonderful aroma of roasted turkey.  For many years that my Aunt would come and take us to the parade while my parents stayed home and prepared dinner for an early evening Thanksgiving feast for the entire family.  We would wake up really early to drive downtown in search of the best spot to view the parade from with our thermos filled with hot chocolate, lawn chairs and blankets in tow.  We would usually be bundled up with so many layers of clothing that there was no chance of being cold, even on the coldest of Michigan's Thanksgiving mornings.

ENERGY SAVING TIPS

From time to time I read different energy saving tips and I've really noticed some savings myself from doing just a handful of these items in my own home.  Check out the Michigan Gas Utilities list of energy saving tips and start saving for yourself.

IMMEDIATE OCCUPANY MODEL HOME

This beautiful model home won't last long at only $174,800!  Visit our website for complete details under Quick Close Homes.

 

 

The Jefferson II is 1560 sq. ft. colonial

Three bedrooms, two and 1/2 baths with full basement and two car garage.

 

 

It's all included!

• Egress Window In Basement
• 3 Piece Rough Plumbing In The Basement For A Full Bath
• Ejector Crock Prep
• Direct Vent Gas Fireplace
• Cathedral Ceiling in Master Bedroom
• Cathedral Ceiling in Kitchen/ Nook
• Dimensional Shingles and Premium Elevation
• Second Floor Laundry
• Recess Lighting and Ceiling Fan Preps
• Bay in Nook
• Ceramic in Kitchen/ Nook, Powder Room and Foyer
• Upgraded Kitchen Cabinets and Counter top Nosing
• Premium Carpet and 8lb Pad
• Appliance Package
• Custom Paint and Window Treatments
• Sod, Sprinkler and Landscape Package
• Perimeter Lot on Detention Pond
• and Much, Much More... 

MORTGAGE RATES DROP AGAIN

To quote the Detroit News article regarding the current 30 year fixed rate "That's the lowest on records dating back to 1971".  This is great news for home buyers and home owners alike; whether you're in the market for a home or just want to re-finance.

Check out the complete story at The Detroit News online.

TEST YOUR CFL SMARTS!

Test your CFL Smarts!
WIN a $100 gift card from The Home Depot
Must enter by December 3, 2010

Click below for details....

Good Luck!

NEWPORT ESTATES UNIQUE LEASE-TO-OWN OPTION

Newport Estates understands how difficult saving for a down payment can be.  That's why we've come up with a painless solution to save for that down payment while enjoying the new home that you've always dreamed of.  No more throwing rent out the window month after month with our lease-to-own option.  In years past there were some rent-to-own options out there, but in most cases that meant settling for a home that wasn't your dream home or even close.

Allow me to briefly explain our unique lease-to-own option:

• You start by visiting our sales office and deciding on which floor plan best fits your lifestyle, needs and budget.
• Once you've decided on your floor plan, it's time to select your lot.
• Now the fun starts when you begin to customize your new home by picking all of your own personalized selections at our design center. 
• Once these steps are completed, it's time to break ground on your new home.
• Before you know it we'll be finished building and it will be time for you to move into your newly leased home. 
• Each month your lease payment will be credited towards your down payment and before you know it you'll be closing on your new home.  The best part is that you'll already be living there.

Stop into our sales office or call 734-586-2300 for complete details regarding lease-to-own.  We'd love to hear your feedback regarding lease-to-own.