I grew up downriver in Allen Park, MI. My education was like most of Michigan people, I applied for an in state college. Working to pay my way through college I worked at a variety of jobs to pay the bills. Some of them were pouring basement walls (lots of digging), instructor at Vic Tanny's, landscaping (more digging), working at General Motors Ypsilanti Hydromatic Transmission Plant (working at a machine that drilled 7 different holes in a part).
After going to Michigan State University for two years I decided to enjoy life and backpacked around Europe with some friends (back then it was Europe on $10 a day). In order to finish paying for college on my own, I joined the military and served as a parachute packer for the Special Forces and an infantryman with the 82nd Airborne for 4 years. While in the military I took night classes and graduated with a BA in Business from a small southern college. I met a Southern gal while in the military. We married and for a few years we lived in a hundred year old home on her fathers tobacco farm. I learned how to prime tobacco, raised a couple crops of watermelons on my own. Just think I could have been a gentlemen farmer raising tobacco but things turned out differently.
Fortunately my life took a great turn when I met my wife Marianne seventeen years ago. She slowed me down, settled me down, and gave me a purpose in life. She was just diagnosed with breast cancer at the time. We have gone through the battles of cancer and life together trying to put a positive light on what is handed to us while enjoying life with family and friends. She is full blooded Italian, who loves to cook so it is hard for me to stay slim. Like most parents we have tried to give Ryan more than we had. We sent him to Catholic Central, watching him play football and now he is off to college.
What matters most to you is that I have seven years of experience in the real estate and mortgage field. I have worked with Chase Manhattan Bank helping mortgage brokers structure loans and submit them the right way. I have closed over $100,000,000 of loans in that period and helped many people into homes. I have negotiated some good prices for homes and helped quite a few first time home buyers get their first home. But I am also proud that I have stopped some sales by getting a good inspector, and helped people take a step back when the house they wanted to buy was overpriced. I am the one that will give you the information, the comparables that you can make a sound decision.
My philosophy is be honest to people, give people good service, to charge a little less than your competitor because you will get more referrals and loyal customers. It all comes around to you. Over the years quite a few of my clients have become more than clients they have become friends. I hope that I can earn your trust and friendship.
Russ Ravary
Thanks RussRuss 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 http://www.detroitmichiganrealestatehomes.com/005280 Posted on Mar 09, 2010 @ 3:55 pm by russ.ravary - View Profile
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Well today I crashedI 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!!! http://www.detroitmichiganrealestatehomes.com/0051F8 Posted on Jan 31, 2010 @ 8:39 pm by russ.ravary - View Profile
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Whew made it another year!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.
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.
http://www.detroitmichiganrealestatehomes.com/004B08 Posted on Jul 09, 2009 @ 9:39 pm by russ.ravary - View Profile
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Livonia gardens and the Metro Detroit economyUsually 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
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 http://www.detroitmichiganrealestatehomes.com/004DF7 Posted on May 25, 2009 @ 11:02 pm by russ.ravary - View Profile
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Getting a thank you from a client is one of the nicest things that can happen to meI 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 http://www.detroitmichiganrealestatehomes.com/004BCF Posted on Apr 12, 2009 @ 11:37 pm by russ.ravary - View Profile
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