Exploring the Most Overpriced City in Michigan

Рет қаралды 10,395

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 65

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

Explore the Birmingham real estate market here: bit.ly/BirminghamMichigan ✅I'll help you buy, sell, build, or invest in Metro Detroit Michigan: www.movingmi.com/INFO/KZbin

@selectooldave 3 ай бұрын

Property taxes are insane as well.

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

They're not that bad. Southfield, Oak Park and bunch of other cities are worse. If you bought a 500k house in Southfield, you’d have to pay over 15k/year in taxes. That's the same amount you’d pay in Birmingham for a 800k house 🤯

@sheneedsme 26 күн бұрын

The 2 water heaters with a backup sump pump were a nice touch. You are right about LVL on the basement floors only.

@ATLcentury334 3 ай бұрын

Birmingham has always been Birmingham. It has never changed, and always looked like a bustling little suburb of metro Detroit. I grew up in Ferndale, 5 miles to the south on Woodward Ave. When I got my first job while in high school, I thought Birmingham would be a good choice to start. I began working at B. Siegel in the center of town. It was a specialty women’s clothing store. I worked Thursday, Friday evening and all day Saturday as a porter, restocking sales desks, emptying garbage, cleaning bathrooms and running errands. It was fun for a first job. I also met one of my best friends. We were the same age, and she worked part time after school as well. She worked in accessories. We met in the fall of 1979. When I was attending a local college in 1982, I ran into a bit of trouble, my folks found out I was gay and threw me out. I went to live with a boyfriend which didn’t work out well, I needed work right away. He suggested I apply at the many expensive restaurants in town. There was Mid Town Cafe’, Phonecia, 220 Merrill Street, Machus Sly Fox, but I was hired at Punchinello’s. It was a small bistro type restaurant open lunch and dinner. I got on friendly enough with the staff and ended up living with another waiter in his dumpy rental house on Stanley St. Now it’s one of those $1,000,000.00 homes. I found most of the clientele insufferable, but there were a handful of gems who made everthing entertaining. Speaking of entertaining, Punchinello’s was a block away from The Townsend Inn, an upscale hotel that catered to wealthy guests. Whenever a famous actor who was appearing at the Birmingham Theater was in town, or for an appearance they stayed at The Townsend. I had the pleasure of taking care of Andy Warhol, Liza Minnelli, Mercedes McCambridge, Kenny Loggins, and Margaret Whiting. There were many more and they were all wonderful. I worked there for roughly 10 years. It was getting more difficult in the early 90’s. The owner was unpredictable at best, and the local clientele with new money were the finger snapping type, whatever you did for them, it was never enough. It was tough to leave, but my boyfriend told me to leave. He knew I wasn’t happy. I gave my 2 weeks notice and the owner said “let’s make it 1 week”. I said sure, thanks for nothing. Maybe a year later my boyfriend and I were at the Townsend for dinner. A couple who were old customers from Punchinello’s saw me and asked us to join them. We sat and talked over drinks. I asked if they still dined at the restaurant. They said not really. It was just too sad there anymore. The following spring brown paper was taped to all the windows. “CLOSED FOR REMODELING” the signs said. Several weeks later the restaurant equipment auction was announced. My boyfriend and I walked by and peeked through the windows. It looked depressing. I’m glad I left before the ship sank. Every so often when we’re in town from our home here in Atlanta, we’ll drive through Birmingham. Now it looks like any other city where the women have their noses in the air. At least we have our memories, and a drawer full of Punchinello’s match books.

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

I love everything about this comment! Hearing stories about how these cities were is one of my favorite things about this channel. Thank you for sharing!

@kevinklaiman1748 3 ай бұрын

Love your content Paul! Downtown Farmington is still the best for the parks, downtown area, markets and people!!

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

I'd agree and a lot of new businesses are moving into the downtown area! Prices are going to skyrocket in Farmington & Farmington Hills in the next few years as more people figure that out 😀

@YouTubeExpertZesan 3 ай бұрын

Great video! I learned a lot.

@sheneedsme 26 күн бұрын

I live one short block to Shane Park and the Townsend Hotel. I built my house for $1million cash 8 years ago and it just bank appraised for $1.85 million and mine is the smallest house I have built as a local builder who has built dozens of houses in Birmingham. Vacant lots (with old houses that will be demolished) cost over a million close to town. One of my clients paid $1.9 million for a lot. People I built house for $2million 10-15 years ago are selling them for $4-5million and I am building new houses for them in town as they “downsize” to 4,500 square feet. Great schools, parks and you call walk to everything. I’m never moving.

@OrlandoPropertyAdvisor 3 ай бұрын

Grew up here in the 90’s and it was hella expensive then too! Looks picturesque ❤

@nancybathe9391 3 ай бұрын

I agree--it IS way overpriced. I lived in Birmingham in late 70's-80's. Liked it much better then. Shops were a mix of expensive and affordable Shops--there was even a Kresge downtown. Shane park hosted a carnival every June. Fast-forward a couple decades and all the original smaller, affordable houses on the east side of Woodward near Lincoln were all getting bought up and replaced by much larger, modern houses and wrecked the look of the neighborhoods.

@sheneedsme 26 күн бұрын

I lived by Quarton Lake and built many houses in that neighborhood and it’s a great family area. I know every street in this video and the ones on Lake Park and Lake Side are especially nice. That Bloomingdale house looks good on Northlawn but a bit too far from town for me. I’d rather have a smaller house in the heart of downtown if you can find a lot which is the hard part.

@annettesurfer 3 ай бұрын

I'm a fan of Lehto's Law on YT and I recall he mentioned how he grew up in Birmingham MI, which sadly for me, such a beautiful affluent community with fantastic schools wasn’t part of my upbringing. $329K (cheapest on Zillow for Birmingham) for 922 sq ft and $3,376 property tax are numbers similar to the Ann Arbor area, which has Michigan Medicine and U of M going for it, whereas Birmingham offers the closeness of the dream cruise. I’d have to win the lottery before giving any serious consideration toward relocating to either area but your videos are keeping the dream alive. Thanks!

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! I was on Lehto's Law a while back. The taxes you see listed on sites like Zillow are incorrect. The real taxes on that 330k Birmingham house would be $6,379/year if you live in it or $8,502 if it's owned as a non-primary or rental. The same house in Ann Arbor would run you $8,542/$11,108 - (I made a whole video about Michigan property taxes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6Pbdphjgbusf7s )

@SpencerDidWhat 3 ай бұрын

Paul, what is the fascination in Michigan with detached garages? It seems like most of the houses you show have a detached garage. I get why the older houses are like that, but even that newer one at 18:26 has that. Is it a fire code thing? Do people up there like to walk through snow , rain and sleet to crank a key in a lock to get to their car? Maybe you've explained it and I just missed that video.

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

People in Michigan actually prefer attached garages but most of the cities with small lots (also some of the most desirable areas) can't fit an attached 2+ car garage. No one here wants an attached 1 car garage because we all own two or more cars.

@SpencerDidWhat 3 ай бұрын

@@PaulWolfert Ok, makes sense. Thanks.

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

@@SpencerDidWhat you're welcome! Thanks for watching!

@BIGGEOFF40 3 ай бұрын

Hey Paul, if they're concerned about you taking off your shoes then they are missing the point of your awesome videos brother. Keep doing what you do and I'll keep watching. Shoes or no shoes. 👍🏾

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

Thank you!! Appreciate the support. Thanks for watching 😀

@michaelmaas5544 3 ай бұрын

I work for a builder in Birmingham that was at the forefront of tearing down the old houses and building “bigfoot” houses in the ‘90s. I hated framing on those tiny lots but it paid well. Moved on to work for one of the best custom builders and building on some of the most prestigious homes in Birmingham and surrounding area. I however can’t agree about it being the most overpriced city in America. Many city far out due it, I was recently in Park City Utah and toured a condo that was asking just under $3500 a sf.

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

That's wild! What builder are you working for now? Would love to check out some of the work! Birmingham definitely isn't the most expensive city in America - the article just says our real estate is the most "overvalued/overpriced"

@michaelmaas5544 3 ай бұрын

@@PaulWolfert Park City really is wild. I worked Thomas Sebold & Associates until I retired several years ago. I now spend time between Traverse city and Vero Beach. I’ve always believed it’s not overpriced if someone buys it.

@tamarackmi9195 3 ай бұрын

Wow Unbelievable how nice Where are the homeless🤔Thank you for the tour😊

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

There's one guy in the video.

@carolynngrubb 3 ай бұрын

It can't be more overpriced more than Trenton, Mi. taxes for a 1325 sq, ft. house is around four thousand four hundred dollars these homes are built in 1950's, they are taxing the seniors out of their homes, it's outrageous for Wayne County!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

Taxes in Michigan are based on taxable value, not the sq/ft and Trenton is definitely not the worst. I made a video explaining how our taxes work: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6Pbdphjgbusf7ssi=q79iv0n5ZWf3fMlj

@OSS976 3 ай бұрын

Birmingham is much worse lol

@Atwater20 16 күн бұрын

You're paying for an ultra-low crime rate, one of the safest cities in the country. No murders and in other categories of crime, Birmingham has one-tenth to one-hundredth of the national average crime rate per thousand people.

@PaulWolfert 15 күн бұрын

Yep - it's one of my favorite cities. I love it too.

@stilllife4u 19 күн бұрын

Rvery place in the counrty should nice like this . And be afordable .

@frenchis19 4 күн бұрын

Did you see Jones n Jenna furniture store : that's my niece

@willmallory9085 3 ай бұрын

I'm surprised! What's the major job industry in Birmingham???

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

There really isn't a specific job industry IN Birmingham. Most residents work from home, are retired, own their own business, or work outside of the city. Most of my clients are in tech.

@frenchis19 4 күн бұрын

Gross point is blown up n ann arbor

@maryellenbeale2188 3 ай бұрын

The okder homes have much more character and charm

@tpolerex7282 3 ай бұрын

Interesting area that I’ve never heard about. Mostly solid architecture (I’m one) from the modest vintage homes to the new builds with more than a couple “aspirational” McMansion-leaning piles. The downtown looks great. It shows how a well designed and run community can prosper without geographic gems or substantial employment centers. I’m in a $2M vintage cottage on a 5k sf lot in San Diego so can commiserate with crazy RE values.

@doogie812 2 күн бұрын

The hoidy toidy toilet makes it worth $1,000,000.00... NOT!

@stevevlahos1 3 ай бұрын

Birmingham is awesome. You pay for the city ambiance. The homes are overpriced, but as they say….. location, location, location. That master bedroom in the second home was sick.

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

Agreed! It's the perfect location and the city is amazing.

@TheDann65 Ай бұрын

Lots of "snooty" people in Birmingham, and if they see you dont live there then you are looked down upon.

@XxAces15xX Күн бұрын

As Jeremy Clackston would say: "Ah yes, Buuur-Ming_Ummm"

@PaulWolfert Күн бұрын

Hahaha. I can hear his voice. He'd love all the cars!

@graceonline320 Ай бұрын

But why would someone want to buy where it is overpriced???

@PaulWolfert Ай бұрын

Because Birmingham is the "total package" - it has everything people want so it's "worth it"

@dontezfromdet 3 ай бұрын

Sheesh!

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

It's pricey!

@uriahmancill9852 15 күн бұрын

❤

@CTCDetroit 3 ай бұрын

Birmingham has an aura of pretentious sbobbery.

@darrollcubit3870 3 ай бұрын

This man is dislusional, this dump doesn't hold a candle to San Diego such as : Rancho Santa Fe ,Delmar, La Jolla, La Costa, in addition to Santa Barbara CA median price for a home 2.5 million, Montecito CA , Apperton Valley CA , this man needs to get off of the potent drugs

@PaulWolfert 3 ай бұрын

😂 I didn't say "it's better than San Diego" - I said the average price is higher. The video is just to help people decide if Birmingham is worth the price.

@sheneedsme 26 күн бұрын

Just means California is ridiculously overpriced. Calling Birmingham a “dump” is so obnoxious and totally incorrect.