Livingston Reporting - page 263

Choosing The Right Fence Material For Your Home

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Choosing a fence for your home is not something that should be considered lightly. It is a key element in the visual appeal of your home’s exterior design. Take into consideration the privacy and level of security you desire as well when selecting a fence for your home and landscape.  A fence that is installed properly is an element that ever homeowner wants.  Below are some styles to consider when looking into fences for your home.  Don’t only consider the look, privacy level or level of security but consider the maintenance levels and benefits to each type of material in fencing.

Aluminum Fencing

Aluminum fencing is one of the most durable, maintenance free, aesthetically pleasing materials available on the market.  It is also one of the most convenient materials to order and install as well.  Aluminum fencing comes in many several styles and colors to choose from.  It is definitely one of the most desirable options in fencing.

Wood Fencing

Wood fencing is a popular choice when considering a fence.  It offers a great deal of privacy given the different height panels available in wooden fencing.  Wood offers the benefit of being affordable and attractive.  Wooden fences offer a warm, welcoming feel to your home without necessarily breaking the bank.  If taken care of properly a wood fence can last a lifetime.

Vinyl Fencing

Vinyl fencing is in a category of all of its own.  It is not only affordable but nearly four times more flexible and is five times studier than wooden fence.  Another benefit of vinyl fence is that it is basically maintenance free.  With its strong resistance to paint, graffiti and unwanted stains will not settle in ensuring the fence stays looking as new as the day it was installed.  All you need to clean and maintain vinyl is some soap and water; it will look as good as new.  Vinyl may be a bit more expensive to install at first upfront but given the lifespan and maintenance free nature it is a popular option over cheaper fence materials.

Chain Link Fencing

Chain link doesn’t do much for privacy or aesthetics but it does keep pets and children in the yard and outsiders out.  The major benefit of chain link fencing is the cost and that it is durable and fairly maintenance free.  With a bit of creativity and smart landscaping chain link fencing can be made into something beautiful and cut the neighbors view off a bit.

SAC Fence Michigan offers a variety of electronic entry gates, access control entry systems and fence options for homeowners to choose from.  You will find a variety of fencing options online at http://www.sacfencemi.com/.

SAC Fence

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Spring Landscaping Tips

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Spring is here!  With that comes the prospect of a thick, beautiful, lush lawn.  Every homeowner can have a lush lawn.  If you are too busy to maintain your own lawn hiring a landscape contractor is affordable and the results are something you can enjoy all throughout the summer.

Aerating

Both your lawn and garden need aeration.  This is especially true in during the spring season.  The process of aeration is one in which air is circulated through the lawn and is mixed with or dissolved in a liquid or substance.  Special equipment is used to aerate landscape.  The soil must be punctured with spikes to remove bits of cores of the soil from the ground, this is called core aeration. This process helps restore your lawns health.

Aeration improves the health of the grass at the root.  Winter weather dries out your lawn out which is why it is so important to create an environment where liquid is allowed to soak deep into the root system.  This process can be difficult and expensive therefore should be performed by a landscape professional if at all possible.

Dethatching

Thatch is the organic material that builds up over the grass bed throughout the year.  Your lawn should be dethatched at the beginning of spring.  It is necessary to remove the debris to create a solid base of healthy grass.  The dead materials compresses over the winter so a specialized tool to dethatch is used to remove the material and make room for healthy growth.  Most lawns need a small amount of thatching along with aeration to do away with disease causing agents that live within the organic material build up.

Weeding

Weeding is one of the jobs no one really loves.  The first time you weed should be after the snow thaws.  When spring comes weeds have built up and are at the most abundant they will be throughout the year.  Be sure when weeding that you take time to pull the root of the weed out.  After you remove the weeds dispose of them.  Never compost the weeds or keep them on your property as that will result in further seed distribution.

Mulching

Mulch is a simple method for caring for your flower beds and landscape.  Mulching is the process of distributing a small layer of wood chips to an area that has an area of soil.  Mulch is usually organic and includes healthy peat moss, bark chips, wood chips, straw mulch and organic materials.  Mulch helps to conserve moisture, improve fertility, reduce the growth of weeds and enhance the visual appeal.

Fertilizing

The spring and fall seasons are the perfect time to fertilize your lawn.  Fertilization is important as it provides nutrition’s to the grass root system.  It is important to feed the roots with a thin layer of compost and natural fertilizers, such as manure, will nourish your grass and plants to create a healthy landscape.

CBA Outdoor Services is a local landscape design firm offering services, including landscaping and landscape design, throughout Livingston and Wayne Counties.  For more information on the services they offer to both commercial and residential clients look online at http://cbaoutdoors.com/.

CBA Outdoor Services

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Should You Buy A Home Or Rent One

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

There are many things that need to be taken into consideration when you are thinking about buying or renting a home.  Forget asking friends and family because they are biased in giving advice.  Even though renting may have been a good option for them it may not be for you.  It is crucial to consider where you are, what you want and the economy as it stands currently.  Below you will find some questions to ask yourself when coming to an end decision in the great debate between buying to renting a home.

1)      Ask yourself how long you plan on being there?

If you aren’t planning on staying in your home for more than a few years it may not be a good option to purchase a home.  Consider your job situation.  Are you planning on being promoted?  With the promotion will you be required to relocate to a new work location that will require you to move?  No one can predict a housing bubble.

There are no guarantees that the value of your home will increase significantly in just a few years of ownership.  Often times the market can see a decline.  If you plan on living in your home for more than a few years you will be able to sit these ups and downs in the market out.  However if you will faced with a move in a few years you make end up selling at a loss.  Buying a home is a gamble if you aren’t looking to stay put for more than a few years.

2)      What will be the total costs associated with owning the home?

When buying a home take into consideration all of the costs associated with the process and compare them to the costs of renting.  You will also need to consider the possibility of market increase or decline within your equation to consider if you will lose money, break even or profit on the endeavor.  Consider the taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, mortgage payment, interest costs and anything other amount of money that will go into the home.  Average this amount out amongst the number of months you plan on living in the home you will get the monthly amount it will cost you to live in your home.  Then consider the following question.

3)      What are the total costs associated with renting the home?

To compare you need to take into the cost of your rent payment, insurance, utilities and other expenses associated with renting a home or an apartment.  Once this is added up through the same process that you applied above you will have a comparison on which to base your monthly outlay.  This financial difference will give you an understanding on where you will be further ahead with renting or buying.

The difficult part will be knowing what the value of the home you are renting or buying will be at when you need to move.  Will it be astronomical to buy a home after renting for a few years? Will your home have doubled in price in a few years when you go to sell?  This element is based off of past averages so it is a rough estimate at best.

4)      Are you ready for the responsibility that comes with home ownership?

This is only something you can answer.  Owning a home is a big deal but then so is renting a home.  In both situations you need to upkeep the property, pay your bills and create a space that is your own.  To do this there will be some expense involved.  The main difference between owning and renting is this; when renting you are not building equity however someone else is paying for the major repairs while when buying you are more likely than not building equity and have the expense of repairs that come up.

Only you and you alone know whether buying or renting is the right decision.  Most often buying a home is advantageous over renting especially if you plan on staying in the home for more than a few years.

C21 Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor out of Pinckney, Michigan serving homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell and Pinckney.  More information can be found at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

C21 Lady of the Lakes

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Choosing A Real Estate Agent To Sell Your Home

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Have you decided you need to sell your home?  Are you relocating to a new area for a new job?  Are you downsizing now that your children are out of the house and off to college?  Are you retiring and looking to move to an ideal retirement location?  Whatever the reason you have chosen to move it is time to sell your much beloved home.  Most of us do not have experience selling our own homes this is why we look to hire a real estate agent to list our home.

The first and most important step in selling your home is to choose the right selling agent.  No matter the home you must find an agent that specializes in selling it.  If you have a luxury home it is best to work with a seller that is accustomed to selling luxury homes.  Selling a home on the water requires a selling agent familiar with selling homes in recreational settings.  Homes that are within a golf community require a selling agent familiar with golf courses and recreational areas throughout the area.  Selling a home within a community subdivision; it requires a realtor with knowledge of the areas different subdivisions.

Here are two important tips to consider when hiring an agent to list and sell your home.

Find An Agent Who Is Friendly

You make know many area realtors that know the area and you believe would be perfect to sell your home.  The problem lies within the problem that comes from mixing business with pleasure.  Be careful when considering a realtor you know on a personal basis.  Better than working with someone only because you know them find someone who is friendly and involved within the area.  Choose someone who is reputable and well respected in your community.

Prepare an interview and make sure that all of the realtors you are considering are asked the same questions in order to keep them all on an even playing field.  All of the listing agents should understand exactly what you expect as a seller as well.  Find an agent who is friendly, responds well with the community, is reputable and fully is committed to working with your expectations as a seller.

Find An Agent Who Is Knowledgeable

Depending on the type of home you are selling your agent should fully understand that sector within the real estate community.  For instance, if you are trying to sell your waterfront home it is pertinent that you choose a selling agent familiar with selling lakefront homes as well as the recreational package that comes with living on water.

Check with the realtor about data that supports the market value of your home including absorption rates and the time frame at which it could potentially take them to sell your home.  If the agent is unwilling or not able to give you an honest home appraisal considering the current market conditions they are most likely not the agent you are looking for.

Choosing the right agent to sell your home can turn a hectic, long term process into one that is simple and quick.

C21 Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere Realtor out of Pinckney, Michigan serving homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell and Pinckney.  More information can be found at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

C21 Lady of the Lakes

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Selecting Reconditioned Electrical Components

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

There are times when we are all looking to save a little money but don’t want to sacrifice on quality.  This dilemma is what surrounds many of us in our everyday lives including at work, especially in industrial settings.  In an industrial or commercial setting you aren’t only looking to save money on the parts to ensure the machines run efficiently but you are also looking for parts that are accessible and can be brought in quickly to reduce downtime.  This is where refurbished and reconditioned electrical components come into play.  Many times companies find original parts difficult to find for out of date machinery.

Purchasing reconditioned components allow older machines to run longer without the expense of replacement. The question is how does a service manager in an industrial setting go about finding a reputable company to purchase reconditioned electrical components from?  What should they look for when purchasing refurbished components and will the purchased part be as reliable as purchasing a new electrical component?

The first detail that you should examine when looking to develop a relationship with a supplier of refurbished components is what type of warranty is offered.  Never purchase a reconditioned part without a warranty.  Reputable suppliers will offer a warranty on their products.  Warranties differ from company to company.  Establish a relationship with an electrical component distributor and work out the details of your account.  One of these may be establishing a warranty specific to your needs. You will never know what can be contracted until you ask.

Check into the cost savings with refurbished components.  Check out the price of the reconditioned component verse the cost of a new electrical product.  The price of the refurbished electrical product will be lower than a new part. What you must decide is the price difference worth the associated risks of purchasing an electrical product that has been refurbished.

If you are still unsure about purchasing reconditioned electrical products consider talking with someone from the company to discuss their reconditioning process.  Understanding the process in which each product under goes as it is reconditioned may make you feel less timid to consider purchasing refurbished components.  It is crucial that the company fixes the initial defect and that the product functions as well as a new one will.  As a consumer you need to understand that the scuffs and dents that cover the outside are not an important part of the refurbishing process.  Ignore the outside and concern yourself with what is happening inside that will save you money and run your electrical equipment.

Saving money is one of the top priorities of any company.  Being smart about it is crucial to avoid losses from an unnecessary downtime.  One way this can be accomplished is by purchasing quality refurbished electrical products from a reputable reconditioning company.  Most electrical companies sell both new and refurbished electrical products to ensure that downtime is minimal for their customers.

J&P Electrical is a full service electrical equipment company.  At J&P, we supply contractors, end users and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned and obsolete electrical equipment. Contact us today at https://jpelectricalcompany.com for all of your bus plug, circuit breaker, switchboard, fuses, disconnects and more.

J & P Electrical Company

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Understanding Electrical Components Used In Industrial Settings

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Without working every day with electrical components most people remain clueless about what the function of each individual product is.  Industrial settings are the most common situation which you would run in to needing to know about all of the different functions of electrical products.  Below you will find detailed.

Resistors

The most common component to every circuit you will come in contact with is a resistor.  A resistor is a small part that is used to create electrical resistance within the circuit.  The resistor allows a specific amount of resistance within the electronic circuit.  This element of the circuit controls the flow of current and lowers the voltage that flows through.  Without the use of resistors the electrical products that we use today would not be functional or safe.  The resistor’s qualities make it essential for the usefulness of electrical products.

Capacitors

The second most common component after the resistor is a capacitor.  The capacitor is used to store electrical charges temporarily offering a great value to the efficiency of all the products for which it is used.

When considering how a capacitor works think of it as a battery.  The difference is that a capacitor does not create electrons it only stores them.  There are a variety of capacitors including the following:

Air which is usually a capacitor used in radio tuning circuits.

Commonly used for circuits in which a timer is required, Mylar is used in clocks, an alarms or counters.

A terrific capacitor in high voltage applications is glass.

Used as a capacitor in high frequency applications such as antennas, x-rays and MRI machines is ceramic.

Diodes

A diode is a component that allows the electrical current to flow in one single direction. The device has two ends known as anode and cathode.  The diode only works when the current flows through and the positive voltage is utilized.

Transistors

Transistors are used to control the electrical voltage.  They help electricity flow between the two ends and allow electrical devices to keep functioning properly.  Transistors are popular with people as it is incredibly useful when needing to control the electrical voltage that is being sent.

Several electronic components work together in the creation of electronic boards including capacitors, resistors, diodes and transistors.  Other integrated boards use these components as well.  It is crucial that detailed information is gone through before reaching out to distributors.  Without digging through individual details of each component and understanding the value of each sector on its own as well as when used together you would find yourself with so many wholesale electronic component distributors.

J&P Electrical is a full service electrical equipment company.  At J&P, we supply contractors, end users and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned and obsolete electrical equipment. Contact us today at https://jpelectricalcompany.com for all of your bus plug, circuit breaker, switchboard, fuses, disconnects and more.

J & P Electrical Company

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Designing A Label To Speak For Your Product

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Every business is unique.  Each product under their brand is distinctive and is meant to draw people to make a purchase.  How does a brand, established or not, get you to purchase their products?  If you have never tasted or sampled the product how are you as a consumer supposed to know if the product is something that you will use and enjoy?  The answer is your not.

The products label is of utmost importance to your product.  Your label needs to be designed to draw attention to your product and prompt a purchase.  The product label remains one of the key pieces within the marketing mix.  Choose a label manufacturer that will help you get consumer to choose your product over the competition.  Below are some key elements to look for when selecting a labeling company to work with.

Experience

The company you choose to hire for your company’s label should have extensive knowledge in both layout and design.  A good label manufacturer will understand that different label options work better on certain products then others.  The material of the label used is important as is the way in which the design appears on the product.  An experienced label company will take into consideration temperature extremes that the product will go through, the surface material of the product and the shape of the package when creating your label.  An experienced label manufacturer will be able to quickly put out fires and resolve issues that may not be anticipated previously.  With experience the product label will exceed your expectations.

Visual Appeal

An eye catching label is so important to your products appeal.  The colors should be crisp and contrast well with one another.  Anything that distinguishes your brand should be emphasized so that they are prominent and stand out.  The text and images on the label should all properly align on each label.

Consistency

Each and every time you place an order for labels they should be consistent with the very first order ever placed.  The color and size of the label should match as well as the thickness of the label roll.  This allows your equipment to easily recognize the label and apply it as previously done.  The direction the labels come off the roll and how tight the label are wound on the core all should be consistent.  A reputable product label manufacturer will have consistency in all aspects of labeling.

Printing Options

Work with a product label manufacturer that offers a selection in printing options.  This means that they offer different coatings, die settings, sizes and a variety of label materials.  It also accounts for using a variety of adhesives and options such as foil stamping, embossing, lamination and thermal paper.  Having options ensures you will a unique label for your product.

Customer Service

Communication is important in order to satisfactorily complete a job.  Be sure the company that you are working with to design and manufacture your product label offers you excellent customer service.  You need to be kept in the loop of changes in manufacturing or design and above all deadlines should be consistently met.  When you need to talk with someone regarding your order you should be met with friendly, helpful customer service.

Your label markets your product when you aren’t there to speak for it.  Find a label firm that is truly devoted to working with you not just for you.

At Anchor Printing, we take pride in offering our clients cut & stack labeling, pressure sensitive labels, roll-fed labeling, shrink sleeves as well as flexible packaging options. Contact us today at http://anchorprinting.com for all of your product label design, printing and packaging needs.

Anchor Printing

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Common Computer Repair and Maintenance Needs

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Our current environment is surrounded with technology.  Computers are everywhere!  Our phones are computers, refrigerators have computers that can order food directly from grocery stores and work places network together so that projects that are being done on one system are shared throughout in real time.  When the technology breaks down productivity slows to a crawl.  This is just one of the many reasons that you need to have an I.T. specialist on speed dial.

Computer repair comes in many forms, from corporate I.T. to residential computer repair; all machines can run into problems.  If your computer system or network is feeling underperforming there are a bunch of things that could be on inside of it.  Below are three of the top computer repair issues that can interfere with your computer’s ability to perform.

The most common issue with computers is that they become infected.  Even when running up to date anti-virus protection on your computer a virus can infect your network.  More and more people are using the World Wide Web.   With that in mind consider the amount of files that are unknowingly downloaded that are infected.  Spyware, malware and computer viruses have been around since the beginning of the computer age.  They are created to destroy and damage files while slowing your system down and violating your privacy.  If you suspect that your computer has been infected it is crucial to get your system in to a computer repair center.  There the virus can be removed; infected files deleted and updated antivirus protection installed.

Another common issue in the world of technology is a computer unit that will not properly boot up. This may be one of the scariest issues to have happen with your computer as retrieving the files stored on the system may not be possible.  The hope when a computer is not booting properly is that your power supply has failed.  This is a best case scenario. Otherwise a bigger issue may be present, one way or another computer failing to boot need to be brought in for repair immediately.

If you find your computer running slowly it is crucial to have the system looked at by a computer repair specialist.  Computers, like cars, need to be maintained and tuned up to keep running properly.  When a system is slow it may mean a number of things.  One thing that often occurs is that several unnecessary programs and tool bars have been unknowingly installed which in turn uses available memory up slowing the system.

Computers Plus Service, in Brighton Michigan, provides a wide range of valuable services for residential computer repair as well as a variety of commercial computer services to the entire Livingston County area including Howell, Brighton and the surrounding areas.  You can find out more about the services offered by CPS at http://www.cpsmi.com.

Creative Programs and Systems

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Selecting The Right Mortgage For Your New Home Purchase

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

It is the dream of most Americans to own their own home.  There is something special about buying a home especially your first.  With the purchase of a home comes endless possibility.  The space is yours and therefore can be manipulated in any manner you desire.  Your desires can be fulfilled through home improvements, renovations and landscape design.  The one thing that occurred within the past few years is that the ability to purchase a home has become harder.  There are more stringent restrictions on being approved for a mortgage.  This is largely due to the crisis that was created with the housing bubble a decade ago.  Home prices were largely inflated, home loans were given out without a lot of discretion and people were buying homes that were not necessarily qualified.

In order to be sure you are ready for the financial commitment of owning a home and taking on a mortgage it is important to consider a few things.  Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you are really ready to own a home.

The first question to ask yourself is why it is you would like to purchase a home.  This question will also help to determine the type of mortgage you will qualify for as well.  What is your plan for the house?  Is the purpose of purchasing the home so that you can rent it out and use the income to subsidize your income?  Are you looking for a long term investment?  Are you looking for a home that you can move into, live comfortably and do home improvements to increase the homes equity and then sell the home for profit? Are you looking for a home to settle down in for an extended period of time?  These questions will help to determine if you should apply for a fixed rate, ARM, FHA or another type of mortgage. If you have been in the military you may qualify for a VA loan.

Next it is wise to understand exactly what you can afford.  Many people found that the home loan they were preapproved for above the amount in which they could actually afford on a monthly basis.  This is part of the reason we ended up in a housing crisis.  Many people could not continue to make the large mortgage payments they were approved for and therefore ended up in foreclosure.  Take into account your income to debt ratio along with a safety net that you would like to have for savings each month.  This will help ensure that you purchase a home in which the monthly payment is affordable and within where you feel comfortable not where the banks feel comfortable at.  Be sure to account for hidden costs as well as utilities, taxes and insurance.

The point at which you are in your life as well as your five year plan should be considered as well.  Both can affect the type of mortgage you should look into getting if you decide to buy a home.  Perform a cost analysis to determine if buying or renting is a better option for you.  Buying is always better if you the growth in equity and expenses of owning outweigh the expenses that come with renting.

Cross Country Mortgage in Brighton, Michigan provide mortgage services for clients including new home loans, refinancing, reversed mortgages, new purchase home mortgages and home equity loans to the entire Livingston County area including Brighton, Howell and Livingston County. Cross Country Mortgage Brighton, MI at http://brightoncrosscountry.com/.

Brighton Cross Country Mortgage

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Important Decisions When Choosing A Mortgage Lender

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Choosing a mortgage lender is important.  Many people don’t understand just how crucial the lender can be to helping you find the right mortgage for your new home.  Each lender is unique and offers different options; the fate of your home loan application is in their hands.  Some lenders tend to be more strict than others complying to the rules fully while others are a bit more lenient and work around issues that other lenders may not.   Here are some financial tips to consider when looking for a lender to service your home mortgage needs.

  • Before you go looking for a mortgage lender know exactly what you are looking for.  Determine what type of home loan that you think would work best for your situation.  Are you looking to purchase your first home?   You may consider a loan with special rates for first time home buyers.  A good mortgage lender will tell you all of the loans you qualify for and will show you which option works best for your situation.  They will then let you decide which you believe is in your best interest.
  • Look into the different mortgage rates that are currently available. This can be done online or in person with a lender.  The more you know before you begin looking for a mortgage and a lender the better prepared you will be to make a thorough decision.
  • Different types of lenders have their advantages and disadvantages.  Some mortgage lenders actually lend their own money while other lenders will broker your mortgage out to a variety of lenders and look for the best option for your home loan.
  • Compare the fees that are charged between lenders.  Ask about upfront costs, closing costs and any hidden fees that are tied into the principal of the mortgage.  Avoid rolling last minute costs into your principal loan amount as the interest that you pay on that small amount of principal can really add up over time.
  • Talk to the referrals of the companies you are leaning towards working with to find a mortgage for you and your home.  Ask for pre-approvals as well while you are shopping for a home loan.  Between talking with referrals and considering the various pre-approvals you have been given you will most likely have narrowed down your choice of mortgage lenders to just a few if not the one.  If you are stuck with a decision narrowed down to two lenders talk with your real estate agent.  They may have past experience working with the different lenders in the past and be able to help you decide.

Choosing a mortgage lender is an important process of buying a home.  Between hiring an agent to represent you in buying your home and hiring a lender to finance your new home you have a lot of decisions to make.  A lot of buying and financing a home comes down to your gut reaction as well.  Trust yourself and your research; both will lead you exactly where you need to be.

Cross Country Mortgage in Brighton, Michigan provide mortgage services for clients including new home loans, refinancing, reversed mortgages, new purchase home mortgages and home equity loans to the entire Livingston County area including Brighton, Howell and Livingston County. Cross Country Mortgage Brighton, MI at http://brightoncrosscountry.com/.

Brighton Cross Country Mortgage

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