As you consider buying a home or waterfront property in Boyne City, Boyne Falls, East Jordan, Petoskey, Walloon Lake, Ironton, Charlevoix or Ellsworth, feel free to call or E-mail one of the agents at Pat O'Brien and Associates. We truly love these areas ourselves, and are committed to helping you find the perfect fit for you. Our dedicated staff will help you walk through the whole exciting process, leaving you with a great new piece of real estate as well as peace of mind. We promise to use all of our resources to protect your interests, eliminate the hassles and confusion, and make your experience trouble-free!
You have already discovered the beauty of Northern Michigan. You drive away at the end of a vacation, and your heart stays on the beaches of Lake Charlevoix. A certain scent in the early spring air beckons you north…
Let Pat O’Brien and Associates help you make the dream of owning a home or cottage in the Boyne area a reality. Weather you are looking for waterfront, residential or lakefront access real estate in Boyne City, Boyne Falls, East Jordan, Walloon Lake, Ellsworth, or Charlevoix we can make your dreams come true! Make your next trip up north a journey home. We look forward to welcoming you to our community and helping you find the perfect house to come home to.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Area Lenders
There are many Home loan lenders in the Boyne City and Lake Charlevoix area. This list represents only some of the lenders in the area. The best advice we can offer in buying a home or waterfront property in the Lake Charlevoix area is to get pre-approved for a home loan before you actually start searching for your new home. The success rate of people who get pre-approved for a home loan is substantially higher than those who didn't. And don't forget Pat O'Brien & Associates is ready to answer any questions you may have about finding the right home in the Lake Charlevoix area.
Boyne City
American Home Mortgage: 231-582-6124
Bay Winds Federal Credit Union: 231-582-6107
Chase: 231-582-6595
Citizen’s Bank: 231-582-3300
Goldkey Mortgage: 231-549-3200
Great Lakes Mortgage Co.: 231-582-1600
Hli Mortgage: 231-582-7440
Huntington Bank: 231-582-1232
Northwood Mortgage: 231-582-6440
East Jordan
Bay Winds Federal Credit Union: 231-536-3220
Charlevoix State Bank: 231-536-5511
Mortgage North: 231-536-9980
Charlevoix
Citizen’s Bank: 231-547-3350
GMAC Mortgage: 231-237-0292
Independent Bank: 231-547-2672
Northwestern Bank: 231-547-6561
Van Dyk Mortgage Corp.: 231-547-1858
Petoskey
Access Mortgage and Financial: 231-439-9503
Advanced Innovative Mortgage: 231-348-0868
Bank of Northern Michigan: 231-348-1765
Client Mortgage: 231-487-0221
Compass Financial Services: 231-347-7500
Fifth Third Bank: 231-439-8554
Great Lakes Mortgage Company: 800-804-0924
Lakewood Home Finance: 231-348-8740
Prime Financial Group: 231-487-0200
Republic Bank: 231-347-0290
Boyne City
American Home Mortgage: 231-582-6124
Bay Winds Federal Credit Union: 231-582-6107
Chase: 231-582-6595
Citizen’s Bank: 231-582-3300
Goldkey Mortgage: 231-549-3200
Great Lakes Mortgage Co.: 231-582-1600
Hli Mortgage: 231-582-7440
Huntington Bank: 231-582-1232
Northwood Mortgage: 231-582-6440
East Jordan
Bay Winds Federal Credit Union: 231-536-3220
Charlevoix State Bank: 231-536-5511
Mortgage North: 231-536-9980
Charlevoix
Citizen’s Bank: 231-547-3350
GMAC Mortgage: 231-237-0292
Independent Bank: 231-547-2672
Northwestern Bank: 231-547-6561
Van Dyk Mortgage Corp.: 231-547-1858
Petoskey
Access Mortgage and Financial: 231-439-9503
Advanced Innovative Mortgage: 231-348-0868
Bank of Northern Michigan: 231-348-1765
Client Mortgage: 231-487-0221
Compass Financial Services: 231-347-7500
Fifth Third Bank: 231-439-8554
Great Lakes Mortgage Company: 800-804-0924
Lakewood Home Finance: 231-348-8740
Prime Financial Group: 231-487-0200
Republic Bank: 231-347-0290
How to Choose a REALTOR®
Not all agents or brokers are REALTORS® -- there is a difference.
An agent is bound by certain legal obligations. Traditionally, these common-law obligations are to: Put the client's interests above anyone else's; Keep the client's information confidential; Obey the client's lawful instructions; Report to the client anything that would be useful; and Account to the client for any money involved.
NOTE: A REALTOR® is held to an even higher standard of conduct under the NAR’s Code of Ethics. In recent years, state laws have been passed setting up various duties for different types of agents. As you start working with a REALTOR®, ask for a clear explanation of your state's current regulations, so that you will know where you stand on these important matters.
The difference between a buyer's and a seller's broker
Suppose you sign an offer to buy a home for $150,000. You really want the property and there's a chance other offers are coming in, so you tell the broker that "We'll go up to $160,000 if we have to. But of course don't tell that to the seller." If you're dealing with a seller's agent, he or she may be duty-bound to tell the seller that important fact. In most states, the seller's agent doesn't have any duty of confidentiality toward you. Honest treatment might require that the agent warn you that "I must convey to the seller anything that would be useful so don't tell me anything you wouldn't tell the seller."
TIP: If you're dealing with seller's agents, it’s a good idea to keep confidential information to yourself. These days many home buyers prefer instead to hire a buyer's broker, one who owes the full range of duties, including confidentiality and obedience, to the buyer. A buyer's broker is often paid by the seller, regardless of the agency relationship.
How to evaluate an agent
In making your decision to work with an agent, there are certain questions you should ask when evaluating a potential agent. The first question you should ask is whether the agent is a REALTOR® . You should then ask:
Does the agent have an active real estate license in good standing? To find this information, you can check with your state’s governing agency.
Does the agent belong to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and/or a reliable online home buyer’s search service? Multiple Listing Services are cooperative information networks of REALTORS® that provide descriptions of most of the houses for sale in a particular region.
Is real estate their full-time career?
What real estate designations does the agent hold?
Which party is he or she representing--you or the seller? This discussion is supposed to occur early on, at "first serious contact" with you. The agent should discuss your state's particular definitions of agency, so you'll know where you stand.
In exchange for your commitment, how will the agent help you accomplish your goals? Show you homes that meet your requirements and provide you with a list of the properties he or she is showing you?
Copyright National Association of REALTORS®, reprinted with permission
As a prerequisite to selling real estate, a person must be licensed by the state in which they work, either as an agent/salesperson or as a broker. Before a license is issued, minimum standards for education, examinations and experience, which are determined on a state by state basis, must be met. After receiving a real estate license, most agents go on to join their local board or association of REALTORS® and the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, the world's largest professional trade association. They can then call themselves REALTORS®.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics (which in many cases goes beyond state law). In most areas, it is the REALTOR® who shares information on the homes they are marketing, through a Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Working with a REALTOR® who belongs to an MLS will give you access to the greatest number of homes.
Using an agent and the obligations that are owed to youAn agent is bound by certain legal obligations. Traditionally, these common-law obligations are to: Put the client's interests above anyone else's; Keep the client's information confidential; Obey the client's lawful instructions; Report to the client anything that would be useful; and Account to the client for any money involved.
NOTE: A REALTOR® is held to an even higher standard of conduct under the NAR’s Code of Ethics. In recent years, state laws have been passed setting up various duties for different types of agents. As you start working with a REALTOR®, ask for a clear explanation of your state's current regulations, so that you will know where you stand on these important matters.
The difference between a buyer's and a seller's broker
Suppose you sign an offer to buy a home for $150,000. You really want the property and there's a chance other offers are coming in, so you tell the broker that "We'll go up to $160,000 if we have to. But of course don't tell that to the seller." If you're dealing with a seller's agent, he or she may be duty-bound to tell the seller that important fact. In most states, the seller's agent doesn't have any duty of confidentiality toward you. Honest treatment might require that the agent warn you that "I must convey to the seller anything that would be useful so don't tell me anything you wouldn't tell the seller."
TIP: If you're dealing with seller's agents, it’s a good idea to keep confidential information to yourself. These days many home buyers prefer instead to hire a buyer's broker, one who owes the full range of duties, including confidentiality and obedience, to the buyer. A buyer's broker is often paid by the seller, regardless of the agency relationship.
How to evaluate an agent
In making your decision to work with an agent, there are certain questions you should ask when evaluating a potential agent. The first question you should ask is whether the agent is a REALTOR® . You should then ask:
Does the agent have an active real estate license in good standing? To find this information, you can check with your state’s governing agency.
Does the agent belong to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and/or a reliable online home buyer’s search service? Multiple Listing Services are cooperative information networks of REALTORS® that provide descriptions of most of the houses for sale in a particular region.
Is real estate their full-time career?
What real estate designations does the agent hold?
Which party is he or she representing--you or the seller? This discussion is supposed to occur early on, at "first serious contact" with you. The agent should discuss your state's particular definitions of agency, so you'll know where you stand.
In exchange for your commitment, how will the agent help you accomplish your goals? Show you homes that meet your requirements and provide you with a list of the properties he or she is showing you?
Copyright National Association of REALTORS®, reprinted with permission
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