Detroit Real Estate

Russ was kind and helpful. We had not bought a house in over 40 years so we had no idea what was in store for us.

After reading the testimonials on Russ's website, we gave him a call.  We'd had a bad experience with a previous realtor, so we were cautious.  But it turned out to be one of the best decisions we ever made.

He answered all our questions and even worked around our schedules to show us houses.  As busy as Russ can be, he always returned our calls.

Even when we decided to put the search on hold for almost a year, Russ waited patiently for us to be ready. He told us that when we were ready again, he'd be ready to help.

Bottom line, Russ is a very good realtor who goes above and beyond what you expect. Thank you Russ for everything! We and our dogs love our new home!

Frank and Maria E. Botello

I was tempted one too many times in the last day.  I have been on a diet now since the beginning of January.  I have gone through a couple of day stay in the hospital for kidney stones but stuck to my diet.  Last night I was tempted my sister and brother in law to go out to dinner.  But thank goodness they are much older than me.  You know how those old folks are they have to eat by 5:30.  Unfortunately we called at 5:00. 

They had already eaten down at Lafayette Coney Island.  So I was safe for another day on my diet.

But today I crashed.  My diet died.  I was tempted twice in 24 hours.  Today one of my clients that owns a Italian Bakery brought me Cannolis for me and my wife. 

                                       Cannoli's from Italia Bakery  (313) 846-4600

                                       5717 Schaefer Rd, Dearborn, MI 48126

 I gave up I needed good food.  So I am off the diet and back to eating great food.  And those Cannolis from Italia Bakery were delicious.  My wife loved them and she's full blooded Italian.  She doesn't pass many cannolis, but she really liked these.

I'm back to eating great dinners from my wife Marianne.  I hate diets!!!

I just read another post about blogging and they labeled one of them "SPINACH POSTS"    It came to mind that I am one year clean!  Yep I have made it one year without the dreaded kidney stones.  For two years in a row I have gotten kidney stones.  Last year I had to have them surgically removed.  That was painful.  I never want to go through that ever again.

But last year they explained what I needed to do.  How to change my diet.  Now that was tough.  It seemed I had to give up everything I loved.  I was just really starting to love chocolate.  For years I didn't eat a lot of chocolate but I was eating chocolate every week the last couple of years.  I used to love it when we didn't get a lot of trick or treaters.  I got the leftover candy bars.  But they have taken all of that away from me. And I love strawberries.  Strawberry shakes, strawberry shortcake, strawberry margaritas.  Give me strawberries any way and I will eat them.  But they build kidney stones.  No more strawberry margaritas.

And my wife is Italian.  I was finally starting to enjoy eating handmade meat and spinach raviolis.  They take hours to make them and we scarfed them up on New Years Day.  We eat dozens of those handmade ravs on New Years Day.  But spinach is off the charts on what not to eat when you have kidney stones.  Another favorite food taken away from me.

 They say you can eat everything in moderation and if you drink lots of water.  But after the second time of having kidney stones I am being extremely cautious.  I was in extreme pain for 36 hours until they surgically removed those kidney stones last year.

But I am one year clean and happy as can be.  So my advice to you is to enjoy the food and drink while you can until the doctor says you can't have that anymore.

Enjoy life while you can.

Usually every year we put lots of flats of annual flowers around our yard.  Begonias, impatiens, Gerber daisies, and all sorts of geraniums.  We spend over well over $300 on flowers.  With this economy I told my wife that we weren't going to do that this year.  We are planting veggies.

I'm having a great year with helping lots of Metro Detroit first time home buyers find great bargain homes.  But.....Detroit's economy is very rocky right now with GM and Chrysler on the bankruptcy time table.  So many auto workers, construction workers, and suppliers are on the ropes.  I honestly don't know where the economy will go.  I don't know what the Metro Detroit real estate market will be like next spring.  What next year will bring.  It has never been like this.  You can't bank on making the same money you did this year next year. 

So I told my wife that instead of flowers we were going to plant vegetables in the flower beds.  ( I love my wife she goes along with most of my ideas no matter what)  I kid of got this idea from some of the ethnic clients I have.  They plant their vegetables everywhere.  Front yard, back yard, in between the bushes, on the sides of the house.  Everywhere!

Over the last two weekends I have planted over 20 tomato plants, lots of onions, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, and even a few peas.  I am pretty excited about our change this year.  My wife is Italian and a great cook.  So she won't have to buy tomatoes to can for spaghetti sauce this year. 

 And we will have lots of tomatoes and cucumbers for

•         the tomato and cucumber salad she makes
•         bruschetta
•         tomato and cream cheese on bagels

I have even thought about what I will do with the excess!  I think I am going to have my wife type up the recipes for me.  Then I am going to put the ingredients in a gift bag and deliver them to my clients, friends, and neighbors.  Who knows I may be able to give some to a food bank too.  Or a somebody that is unemployed.

Somehow I think I planted way too many tomatoes but that is the gardener in me.  My wife and I are always addicted to buy one more different plant.   I think we have about 6 different types of tomatoes, and about 10 different types of peppers.  I even have tomato plants in the big pots that usually overflow with flowers.

Alright everybody I need ideas and recipes from active rain on what else I can do with my future harvest.

But we are looking forward to harvest time.  I just looked out the door and they haven't grown a bit since I  looked out 5 minutes ago.  Gotta go.... I have to rapid gro everything right now.   

Have a great night 

Russ Ravary Your Metro Detroit real estate

I recently helped a young family find a lease home.  They wanted to be close to their other family members.  We were lucky and were able to find them a home right down the street.  It was a very nice home that had been remodeled so it could sell quickly.    But after the seller did all the updates they needed too much money for the home.  So they had to rent it out.  And my clients decided to lease it out.  This is a little note that my client sent me via Facebook.  It was a nice easter present.

just wanted to let u know we are mostly all moved in and love the house. I get to see my baby niece when ever I want.

It's wonderful! Never thought I would be so happy in a smaller home but I am. Enjoy your weekend and Happy Easter!

                                                                                               Cheryl