Home Buying and Selling 101

Home Buying and Selling 101 Home Buying & Selling 101™ hosts free seminars with a variety of trusted professionals covering every stage of buying and selling a home. Education first.

Transparency always.

06/05/2026

Downsizing sounds simple until you actually start.
Then comes the questions. Do I sell first or buy first? What will I owe in taxes? How do I know what my home is worth in today’s market? What do I do with the money?
Most people answer these in the wrong order and it costs them. We laid out the exact sequence that protects your finances and makes the whole process significantly less overwhelming.
Save this. Share it with someone who has been putting this off because they do not know where to begin.

Most long term homeowners selling in Detroit qualify for a significant federal tax exclusion on their profit.Most of the...
06/04/2026

Most long term homeowners selling in Detroit qualify for a significant federal tax exclusion on their profit.
Most of them find out about it too late to take full advantage of it.
The Section 121 Exclusion protects up to $250,000 in profit for single sellers and $500,000 for married couples. But the details around cost basis, improvement receipts, timing and what happens when your gain exceeds the limit require a real conversation with the right people before you sign anything.
We broke it down completely so you walk into this process knowing exactly where you stand.
Save this. It could be worth more than you think.

06/03/2026

Downsizing is not just about finding a smaller home.
It is about finding the right home for the next chapter. And for most people thinking about that move, the choice comes down to two options: a low maintenance condo or a single storey ranch.
Both have real advantages. Both have costs most people do not factor in until after they have already committed.
We broke down exactly how to think through the decision — financially, practically and for the long term.
Save this. Share it with someone navigating this decision right now.

06/01/2026

Selling a home you have lived in for decades is not like any other real estate transaction.
The numbers are bigger. The emotions are real. And the decisions you make — on pricing, taxes, timing and what comes next — have consequences that follow you for years.
We put together an honest guide for long term homeowners thinking about selling. What the capital gains exclusion actually means for you. How to price a home you are attached to. And what to do with the proceeds before you spend a single dollar.
Save this. Share it with someone who has been in their home for decades and is finally thinking about what comes next.

05/31/2026

Most Detroit buyers find out about the NEZ abatement after they have already closed.
By then it is too late to apply.
The Neighborhood Enterprise Zone program can reduce your annual property tax bill by up to 20% if your home is in a qualifying district and you apply before closing. It is one of the most valuable programs available to Detroit home buyers and one of the least talked about.
We broke it down simply so you know exactly what to look for and what to do before you sign anything.
Save this. Share it with anyone buying in Detroit this year.

05/29/2026

Fresh kitchen. New floors. Recessed lighting. Looks perfect on Zillow.
But in Detroit, some of the most beautifully flipped homes are hiding the most expensive problems. Water damage behind new drywall. K**b and tube wiring behind new fixtures. No permits pulled for any of it.
We walked through exactly what a Certified Master Inspector looks for in a flipped Detroit home so you know what questions to ask before you fall for the finishes.
Save this before you tour your next flip.

05/27/2026

Every home in your budget needs work. And you do not have the cash to fix it on top of a down payment.
This is one of the most common situations Detroit buyers face. And most of them do not know there is a loan designed specifically for it.
The FHA 203k bundles your purchase price and renovation costs into one mortgage. One payment. One approval. Your home built the way you actually want it.
Save this. It might completely change what you think you can afford.
(Source: HUD.gov, 2026)

05/26/2026

If you have spent decades in your Detroit home and are finally thinking about downsizing, the tax question is probably the first thing stopping you.
Here is the honest answer. The IRS gives long term homeowners up to $250,000 in tax free profit if you are single and up to $500,000 if you are married. It is called the Section 121 Exclusion and most people who have owned their home for years qualify.
But the details matter. And getting them wrong is expensive.
We broke it down simply so you know exactly where you stand before you make any decisions.
Save this. Share it with someone who has been in their home for years and is thinking about what comes next.

05/24/2026

Yes. The grants are real. No, most buyers never use them.
Michigan has programs specifically designed to help first time buyers get into a home with significantly less out of pocket. MSHDA offers up to $10,000 in down payment assistance. The First Generation DPA adds even more for those who qualify.
But here is the thing. You have to know they exist, know if you qualify and work with the right lender who actually knows how to use them.
We broke down both programs step by step so you walk in informed.
Save this. It could be worth thousands.
(Source: MSHDA.michigan.gov)

05/22/2026

One of the most common questions we hear from Detroit buyers after they close.
My taxes are nothing like what the listing showed. What happened?
Tax uncapping is real, it is legal and it catches almost every first time buyer off guard. Because nobody explains it until it is too late.
We broke down exactly how it works, why it happens and what you can do about it before you buy.
Save this. It might be the most important thing you read before making an offer in Detroit.

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