Possibly moving to Traverse City (Marshall, Kalkaska: environment, apartment complex, trip)

[Rapunzll]

I work in local tourism, and let me tell you, there are areas on the bay that have suffered from low water levels for quite a long time. Sure it is cyclical and will eventually change, but who knows when that will happen. When my kids were still in elementary school, we would go out to the lighthouse on old mission and the kids could walk out incredibly far without the water even being up to their knees. It is even worse now and my youngest is now 26! The worst areas however are on the SE corner of East Bay.

[Rapunzll]

Wait a minute, I'm seeing this stuff about buyers agents and it's always been my understanding that any agent can be a buyers agent, but it normally requires a written agreement.

[Jswee]

Originally Posted by Rapunzll

Wait a minute, I'm seeing this stuff about buyers agents and it's always been my understanding that any agent can be a buyers agent, but it normally requires a written agreement.

Any agent can be a Buyers agent unless they are trying to sell their own listing, where they also represent the Seller and then they must act as a disclosed dual agent. Exclusive Buyers Agents, who only work with buyers in a representational capacity, are different than regular agents who are acting as a buyers agent on a transaction to transaction basis. Not representing Sellers avoids any potential conflict of interest and insures that the Exclusive Buyers Broker is never in a situation where their loyalty is divided between two parties.

Rapunzil, you are correct that there should be a written agreement signed by both the consumer and the Broker. This written contract offers protection to the Buyer in that it expressly establishes the fiduciary duties that the Buyers Broker owes to his Client. If I was a consumer I would be very suspect of any Buyer's Broker who was not willing to sign an Exclusive agency agreement.

And Larry, I hate to break it to you but you are not the only Exclusive Buyers Agent in Traverse City and you know it.

[gatorlady]

T.C. and Leelanau CO (Empire) were my homes for 15 yrs. I would love to be there today, but am in Central FL, because my husband is in Commercial Construction. I don't think MI even has a law regarding fire sprinkler protection in it's commercial buildings yet. I miss the small town atmosphere and the hills as everything here is LARGE and flat, not a winding road to be found. When MI does pass a law for fire protection for it's schools, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, etc, we'll be back.

[Larry Raspbury]

I'm not going get into a debate about exclusive buyer agency.
Go to
National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents | NAEBA
Directory of Exclusive Buyers Agents for Home and Real Estate Buyers 08/17/07
The Buyers Agent, Exclusive Buyer Representation
Real Estate Exclusive Buyer Agents American Directory
No time to list them all.
Any company that never lists property and never works for the seller agrees with me.

If there is an agent in Traverse City who NEVER WORKS FOR ANY SELLER AT ANY TIME, I will stop calling myself the ONLY EXCLUSIVE BUYER AGNET.
Larry Raspbury
Traverse City's ONLY
Exclusive Buyer Agent
Service NOT Sales
Please go to;
Traverse City Michigan - Traverse City Homes and Real Estate For Sale - Traverse City's Exclusive Buyer Agent - tcbuyeragent@charter.net
Larry@TraverseCityBuyerAgent.com
Broker/Owner
Paradigm Realty
(866) 995-8856

[Jswee]

Hey Larry,

You might want to read the sticky at the top and abide by the forum rules regarding self promotion and posting of advertising links. People come here to have their questions answered not to be subjected to advertising. Give it a rest.

When you have a better understanding of what representation means, what fiduciary duties are and the difference between working with and for individual consumers then we can continue to have a discussion about the definition of an Exclusive Buyer's Agent. I don't work for Sellers any more than you do when you sell a FSBO. So unless you don't sell FSBO's as a Buyer's Agent, and if you don't you are not serving your Clients very well, your definition of exclusivity borders on the hypocritical.

Now maybe we should drop this silly little sidebar argument and get back to helping people who have questions about Traverse City.

[Larry Raspbury]

I agree, whoever you are, (Jim) but I didn't bring it up, you did.
I was personally attacked.
And although your argument is week and petty, I won't go on like you just did.
Better things to do.
If you want to talk, call.
I won't back to this forum.
231-995-8856

[skiernut]

Traverse City is a beautiful area and has some wonderful things to do. I lived there for many years and took advantage of much of the things it has to offer. It has changed from the little town I moved to in 1976, now it has many of the ammenities of Grand Rapids, along with the noise and conjestion. I would consider living in town if at all possible. You can kind of pretend the growth does not exist. Walking is wonderful, biking even better and you can attend all the fun events downtown without even moving your car. There even is a fairly good transit system (BATA) to move from one part of town to another. The Commons is a renaissance zone so one can live in town and escape some taxes. Taxes are less there than many major cities and they even plow the sidewalks along with the streets. You better like winter though, they can be long but learn to cross country ski and the winter will suddenly become short!

Schools are wonderful, my kids went there and they competed in some of the hardest schools in the country. And as it is still a small system, you get that rural designation which does not hurt in diversity and admissions.

Best of luck in your decision, there are some large accounting firms in TC and I know of some people who were recently hired...

[hersbear]

Traverse City is beautiful in the summer; lots of rolling hills and forests. It is kind of isolated, though, and you really have to like winter to live there. There are some art galleries, though, and housing is actually very close to the national average, but there are also a lot of expensive homes. It's pretty conservative, too. Moderator cut: URL removed

[PhxGal07]

This message if for Peter B,

I am thinking of relocating some time in the future to Traverse City or surrounding areas. What are my chances of getting a job as a legal secretary. You mentioned your wife is a legal secretary so I would like to know how long it took her to get a job. Any advice is appreciated!