Detroit Real Estate

Yes I am going to walk for the cure again.  Last year I walked in San Diego and this year I am walking in Washington DC. 

Every too many people die from various cancers! Cancer research is the only way we are going to find a cure.  I'm walking in the 3 day for the cure in Washington DC in September.  I'm hoping that 50 people that read my blogs will donate.  I know you are anonymus out there, but I need your help. 

 I would like to raise a lot more money than the minimum $23000.  I will do the 20 miles a day for 3 days.  I will do the hours of training.  I'll walk in the rain or the heat.  But I NEED YOUR HELP WITH DONATIONS.  I can't donate it all.  With your support of money we can help find a cure.

 Sure I'm just walking for breast cancer, but discovery of new drugs and chemo therapies once discovered are shared and tried against the other types of cancer.  Once somebody makes a break thru in curing one cancer I believe other cures for lung, pancreatic, colon, brain cancers will follow.

Katie and her blisters!

 My wife Marianne died of breast cancer last year, but she got to live longer because of break thrus in new drugs.  I want to pay back and pay forward so somebodies elses mother, sister, aunt or friend gets to live longer because of a new treatment.

I'm putting my time, and my money behind the effort to find a cure.  NOW I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP AND DONATE A FEW DOLLARS.  You can donate $10, $20, $25, $50, $100, or $200.  Any amount helps!!!

It poured on us for 2 days last year in San Diego, but supporters were out there and we completed the 60 miles through some bad conditions.  It flooded the camp one night.

 Donate today by going to  http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2011/WashingtonDCEvent2011?px=5369300&pg=personal&fr_id=1623

or go to the http://the3day.org and click on donate and find my name  Russ Ravary

I thank you for all the ladies that are going to benefit from your generosity!

Donate today!!! 

PS I'm going to have to post this every week until I get 50 of my blog readers to donate.   So please help me help others.  Thanks and have a great day!!!!

As a real estate agent we sometimes see people buy homes in areas that are declining.  We sometimes see people pay over list price and over pay for a home.  We sometimes see people buy homes that are money pits or below average condition.  What do you expect your real estate agent to do?

This is what I do.  I explain what the situation is.  I can't let my clients buy a home with out them knowing the full situation, but at the same time I won't be a deal killer for my clients. I am not going to live in the house.  They are.  It is my client's choice to buy the home.

But it is my obligation to provide my clients with the comps to show what the comparable sales have been.  If they are relocation buyers It is my obligation to get them demographic and school information.  It is the clients choice where they live.  Sometimes my clients are limited to an area because of the cost of homes.  Sometimes they have family living in the area.

As a real estate agent I can't steer any client to any particular city or area because I think it is better.  All I can do is to provide information and the resources for my clients to make their decision.  It may not be the decision I would make.  It may not be the best financial decision according to me.  But it is their home.  It's where they are going to live, not me.

So long as they are happy with their decision and their home then it is the right decision.  So no I don't keep my mouth shut.  I get them the information they need.  It's my job! 

The holidays are a great time of the year.  But now they are ending and how do you extend that holiday spirit through out the year?  The only way we can do it is by all of us doing things a little differently in the upcoming year? 

After my wife Marianne's death this year I had a lot of time reflecting on her and my life.  Reflecting about our life is something most people don't get to do very often because we are so busy making a living and keeping up with the every day running around.  Usually we you do is because of a death or life changing event.  So take the time today and think about what you want to give back to this world.  What print do you want to leave in Michigan?

I know somebody that she calls herself a bitch, and I know a guy that says he is an #s%h@le.  That's not something to be proud of.  If you know you are going down that road you can try to change.  I guess I would rather be known as the nice guy or the sweet lady. 

What does our life really mean?  What will be your impact on the world, the city, or some child?  No we all can't be inventors of some great new fangled device, or somebody that comes up with a life saving medical cure.  But we can impact the world by being just a better person.

Simple things like:

• doing a few coins in a charity box
• being nice to the other person you are dealing with
• going out of your way for a client and spending more time with a client even though the deal is small.  Do a small deal now and then to help a poor first time home buyer out.  Sure you don't make enough to cover your gas sometimes, but you helped them with their first home.  That's a good thing
• being extra nice to the person behind a service desk or counter
• Open a door, smile a little more, pay for the person's coffee behind you at the drive thru window
• Help a friend with an home improvement project
• doing something beyond nice
• sending a happy birthday card or taking a cake to somebody that is lonely
• Take an senior to a doctors appointment....I'm sure you have a friend that needs help with a sick loved on
• Give Blood
• inviting somebody over for dinner that is single or alone at this moment
• Raise money for a charity
• Get involved with the Lions Club, Rotary, Salvation Army, Chamber of Commerce, Knights of Columbus, Good fellows, or any charitable organization.  Give 3 or 4 hours a month 
• have a neighbor that's sick.... bring them food or help them out around the house
• sit and listen to a friends problems even though it bores you to death
• give a few dollars to some charity

Doing a little thing once a month 12 times a year will make the world a little better place.

Because in the end what do you want your death notice to say............. just a person that worked at______ for 30 years ..... or somebody that made a difference in somebody else's life because there's more to live than just making money to live.

You have the choice whether to be that cranky old person that is sour on life, or the happy person.... it's your choice....

Whatever road you chose may 2011 be one of the best years of your life.

I am catching up tonight on things I have done in the last few days.  But between Christmas shopping, working and attending closings, and doing these 12 days of Christmas has kept me from writing about them.

Today I went down to Allen Park to get my favorite strudel.  I went down and picked up 7 apple, cherry and cheese strudels.  The strudel shop I stopped at is the Hungarian Strudel shop on Park Avenue.

So I took the strudels and delivered to some older ladies that are more or less homebound.  I shared something I loved with somebody that couldn't go out and get it.  So my challenge to you is who do you know that would like good food.  Take the time and deliver something good to them.  And sit and talk for a few minutes.  They will love that.

So have a great day and try it out.

Chirstmas is about giving so this is the third part of my series on giving.  I am running behind on my days of Christmas.  But yesterday I thought I would donate some time for bell ringing for the Salvation Army.  I signed up to volunteer and went out and rang the bell in front of Macy's for a few hours.

My post for the night!

 Salvation Army does some great things:

Community and Fellowship

• Kroc Centers
• Youth Camps
• Recreation

Rebuilding Lives

• Disaster Relief
• Prisoner Rehabilitation
• Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
• Fight Human Trafficking

Comfort and Support

• Christmas Charity
• Elderly Services
• Community Cares Ministries
  

 So if you are passing by a red kettle this holiday season, drop in what you can.  They even will take your change.  Thanks in advance from the Salvation Army.

You can also donate your time by ringing the bell or they have many other volunteer  opportunities at the http://www.salvationarmyusa.org