The superb blog 1293

Every once in a while, a client sends me a link to a mega mansion and says, half joking, “So what would it cost to live like this in Michigan?” Michigan happens to have one of the country’s largest historic homes, and it sits in the same general region as very normal 1,500 to 2,000 square foot colonials in places like Southfield. Putting those side by side might sound silly, but it is actually a useful way to understand what you really get for your money, how far your sa

If you ask ten people what the most expensive part of building a house is, you will usually hear ten different answers. Land. Lumber. Labor. Kitchens. None of them are completely wrong, but in Southfield, Michigan right now, one piece of the puzzle consistently drives the budget more than anything else. It is the structure and systems of the house, taken together, that dominate what you pay. That includes the foundation, framing, roofing, windows, and the big mechanical

Buying a one million dollar home in Southfield is no longer a far‑fetched move reserved only for surgeons and CEOs. I work with plenty of professionals in tech, healthcare, auto, and small business who get there with careful planning and a serious strategy, not a windfall. The key hurdle is always the same: that intimidating 20 percent down payment. On a $1,000,000 purchase, 20 percent is $200,000. That number scares people into one of two mistakes: either they give

Most of the Southfield retirees I work with have the same reaction when they first hear about a “$6,000 senior tax credit” in Michigan: curiosity, followed by confusion. They have heard a neighbor say, “My CPA got me a $6,000 senior credit this year,” but no one can point to a clear, one-line explanation in the tax booklet. The honest answer is that Michigan does not have a single, official program literally titled “$6,000 Senior Tax Credit.” Instead, older homeowners an