MacFacts 04: Know what to ask your Real Estate Agent

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Title Tidbits - Principle Residence

Michigan homeowners need to be aware of the law that exists to provide tax savings to anyone who has a home for sale but has purchased another home. You can claim both properties as your Principle Residence and receive Homestead millage. This law went into effect for homeowners in 2008, as relief for Michigan home sellers who have moved and have not been able to sell their home in Michigan.


The law is called PA 96 of 2008, and it is a HUGE tax break for people in Michigan that expands the Principal Residence Exemption on unsold homes. If you live in Michigan, and own a home you are allowed to claim one house for a primary homestead exemption. Non-Homestead Tax millage is 18 mills higher than Homestead, that is approximately 30% higher.

The home must be vacant and on the market for sale. You can claim this exemption by filing a Conditional Recission of Principal Residence Exemption form every year for a maximum of 3 years. Other provisions apply. Contact us for more details.

Building Blocks

A brief look at architecture as it has evolved over time.


The English Cottage

1. Timeframe: 1623-1630. These were the first permanent home of the settlers
2. Building Materials: posts, wood bean frame, thin wall studs and roof rafters, twigs, mud, woven grass
3. Structure: To make the frame, four sturdy posts were spaced evenly out with wood beams notched and pegged together on top. Studs and roof rafters were then notched into the frame. Walls were made of woven twigs and insulated with mud. Hand split and later, pit sawn, wood clapboards were nailed into place. The roof was steep and made of thatched grass or reeds and offered protection from rain and snow. Stone fireplaces, with stick chimneys, were built in these one room structures. Windows were small and few to prevent heat loss. A variation of this home would be using equal sized beams for the entirety of the structure with twigs and mud used for walls. However, the wooden beams were left exposed. This is known as half-timbering.

MacFacts 04: Beat the Banks

Peter MacIntyre feature:

Title Tidbits - Deeds

Quitclaim Deed

A quitclaim deed is a legal document that allows the owner (grantor) of real property to sign over all ownership interest to another party (grantee). The Grantor makes no warranties that the property is free of debt or other ownership. An example of when to use this is when transferring property within a family or in the event of a divorce and one party no longer has interest in the property.

Warranty Deed

A warranty deed assures the grantee that the grantor (owner) does in fact own the property and has full rights to sell it. In this type transaction, with a proper title search performed, it will be known if there are any liens, mortgages, or other claims to the property before closing. This is most typical type of deed, although is not used when purchasing a bank owned property.

Special Warranty Deed

In a special warranty deed the grantor gives ownership of real property with a limited number of assurances. One assurance is that the grantor has in fact received title. The second is that the title was clear of defects while they owned the property. They warrant nothing prior to their taking title. This type of deed is typically used when purchasing a bank owned property.

Building Blocks

A brief look at architecture as it has evolved over time.

The Wigwam

1.  Timeframe:  1600’s

2.  Building Materials:  Bent wood poles and Bark

3.  Structure:  These one room structures, with a opening for smoke, were constructed with bent saplings and bark.  The young trees were buried and bent to make an arched frame.  Birch bark could be layered on top to make a roof.  Cedar bark was then shingled on the sides.

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