Everyone knows that Michigan residents love their football, and Northville is no exception. Whether you watch for the game or the ads, or just watch the Puppybowl, joining in on the Super Bowl weekend festivities is a beloved tradition. So what kinds of Superbowl events do Northville locals have to look forward to next weekend?

The Super 5K Road Race in nearby Novi is a great way to get a workout before the serious Super Bowl snacking begins. Participants must register beforehand and the first 1500 finishers will receive a free pint glass. More info here: http://www.runsuperbowl.com/

Northville Masons are invited to the Superbowl viewing party at the Northville Masonic Temple on February 5th. More info here: http://northvillemasonic.com/?ai1ec_event=super-bowl-party&instance_id=

Brick’s of Northville is having its first ever, annual Super Bowl party: http://brickscalendar.com/calendar/view/238

A Super Bowl party is a great way to break in a new home, build rapport with your neighbors, or get to know your new community as a patron of its local restaurants and bars. Whether you’re a sports fan or not, the chance to hang out, eat a lot of food, and enjoy the company of others is a good enough reason to celebrate. What are your Super Bowl plans? Do you know of any other events happening in Northville this weekend?

(image credit: vigilantsports.com )

Those of us lucky enough to have the flexibility to head to warmer climates during Michigan’s colder months are mobilizing right about now, as ice and snow make their late entrance this winter. Some leave before Christmas, bypassing any possibility of cold weather, but since the end of 2011 was unseasonably warm, the need to flee was not as pressing this past year.

As the unpleasant part of winter moves in, thoughts of spring break and Floridian timeshares are in the air. But don’t forget to take care of things at home before you take off, or you could receive a very unpleasant homecoming.

Before you leave, there are a couple of steps you can take to make sure your home is secure no matter what kind of weather rolls through while you’re out of town:

A common problem is frozen pipes, which can lead to pipes cracking or bursting. The best way to protect your pipes is to have them insulated, which you can either do yourself or hire a professional to do for you. According to Family Home Security, another precaution to take is shutting off the valve to any outdoor faucets you have.

Designate a neighbor or trusted friend in the area to whom you can give a house key, so they can check up on your home regularly while you’re gone. This person can water your plants, run your faucets regularly to help prevent pipe damage, check windows and doors to make sure they’re locked and sealed securely, turn on the lights periodically to dissuade thieves from trying to take advantage of an empty home, and check on your security system for you, if you have one.

Another detail to attend to is the state of your external windows and doors. You’ll want to make sure you don’t have any cracks or improperly-applied sealant that can lead to drafts. And you’ll want to make sure everything locks securely–you don’t want to leave your home vulnerable to thieves or small animals.

If you have a home security system, check in with the security company to let them know when you’ll be gone, for how long, and whether or not you’ll have someone checking up on your home for you. Also make sure that they have up-to-date contact information, so if they need to contact you while you’re out of town, they can do so.

If you have a chimney, make sure the flue is securely closed, and installing a cover on the top of your chimney is also a good move if you have time.

These are only a handful of the things you should be considering when planning to leave your home unoccupied in the winter, so be sure you do a little more research (and give yourself plenty of time to get everything done before you skip town.) Here are a few places where you can start:
Bob Vila
The Daily Green–19 Easy Home Winterization Projects
Better Homes And Gardens–Winterizing Houses For Extended Absences

Recent news about the state of our state has had a couple of silver linings: most notably, that those moving into Michigan were balancing out the numbers of people leaving for other states in 2011. Though the sentiment is widespread that Michigan is one of the states struggling the hardest to come back from the economic recession, Lizzy Alfs at AnnArbor.com writes that “Along with Iowa and South Dakota, Michigan is also only one of three Midwestern states classified as balanced.”

Indeed, Michigan has its fair share of obstacles to overcome, but things are looking up. This year is the first in many where Michigan has revenue growth to work with for next year’s budget, according to this article from the Detroit Free Press. Experts quoted in the article note that unemployment is set to decrease, and economic recovery to continue at a slow but steady pace. Other news shows us that agricultural property values are also increasing statewide, and that home prices are set to stabilize overall this year. Three Michigan cities have also made a list of cities in the nation where new home building numbers are rebounding. So it’s fair to say that Michiganders can be cautiously optimistic about 2012.

Those of us who have lived here for any significant amount of time know that Michigan is a great place to call home, unpredictable weather aside. Cities like Northville, safe and culturally-rich, can be found all over the state, each unique in its own way. The balancing of those leaving our state and those coming in is a good indicator that Michigan is getting back on its feet with plenty to offer those who live here.

What’s the biggest indicator of progress you’ve seen in your Michigan community?

It’s no secret that Northville prides itself on both its history and its success at preserving it. Northville’s historic Mill Race Village district has no lack of visitors, and is one of the city’s points of pride and centers for cultural events.

Image courtesy of northville.patch.com

You may have seen the Patch.com article from earlier this week, about the publication titled Northville: The Ideal Suburban Village. The pamphlet, printed by the Eagle Steam Printing & Engraving Company, features detailed illustrations of life in Northville in the 1890’s. It’s interesting to see how the city has changed and developed since then, and how our perspectives of that change have changed, as well.

Restored Victorian homes dot Northville’s residential areas, and one glance at the downtown area (iron lamp posts, brick roads and sidewalks, and historic storefronts) tells you that Northville is a town that knows its past. This past year, many Michigan cities concentrated on building their downtown images, hoping to convey the town’s character through their preserved history, unique shops, and community activities. As time goes on, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see towns putting much more effort into preserving what makes them unique and different from other areas, both to attract tourism and to preserve their heritage.

Fortunately, Northville has never had any difficulty in either of those areas. Northville community members have always shown a vested interest in keeping the past alive, and the town welcomes many visitors each year. Once in a while, it’s nice to see new reminders of the past, and learn more about where we’ve come from.

Whether you see the New Year as a time to start fresh on new endeavors or not, you can take advantage of the momentum of your holiday hustle and bustle to get started on some projects around the home.

Since recent years have brought widespread financial pressure, it makes sense that many homeowners will be focusing on saving money and getting their finances order this year. Utilities—especially in the wintertime in Michigan—make up a formidable chunk of the budget. So it makes sense that many homeowners will be re-evaluating their energy usage this year: how efficient are your appliances? How much electricity do you use each month, and how much do you really need? Are you wasting power (and money) due to drafts? There are a few ways you can answer these questions:

• Some homeowners are investing in getting energy audits or smart meters to monitor and moderate their energy usage.
• Others are trading in old, energy-sucking appliances for newer efficient models. A recent Harris Interactive survey cited in this article found that 49% of responders said they would spend more money on a new, energy-efficient appliance if its use meant they could save money over time.
• Check your windows and doors to make sure they are properly sealed. If you have cracks, you’re probably losing heat, driving up your bills. Poorly-installed insulation could also be a culprit.

Homeowners trying to cut costs aren’t the only ones making resolutions. Home buyers are also gearing up for their new year, organizing their financial affairs to prepare for a streamlined buying process, getting pre-approvals for loans, laying out the year’s budget and navigating a real estate environment where sellers may be reluctant to negotiate amid falling home prices. In turn, home sellers may find themselves reinvigorated, putting in the time it takes to spruce up their homes so they’re in top selling shape.

As a homeowner, buyer, or seller, what are your biggest real estate goals this year?