Homebuyers aren’t nding much to choose from this spring

BY NICK MANES

e red lights appear to be ashing when it comes to housing inventory in metro Detroit — and throughout the country for that matter.

e normal frantic spring buying season in Michigan is somewhat muted thus far, as demand for homes remains high, but houses on the market are hard to come by, according to two recent reports, released separately by Troy brokerage Re/Max of Southeast Michigan and Farmington Hills-based Realcomp.

While both reports cover somewhat di erent geographies and therefore have slightly di erent numbers, they tell a similar story: Home sales declined by between 12% and 25% from March to April while the median sales price ticked up.

Meanwhile, there’s well under two months of housing inventory. A “balanced” market would have six months of homes available for sale.

While the numbers spell out a bleak scenario, Realtors — ever the optimistic bunch — do nd bright spots.

“We are seeing fairly stable home prices this spring which is bene cial to buyers,” Jeanette Schneider, president of Re/Max locally, said in a statement. “Many buyers are looking past interest rates and focused on nding a home that meets their needs and what they can a ord. For those considering selling, demand for properties remains high and most sellers can anticipate to sell their home relatively quickly.”

So why so few homes available for sale?

For starters, some two-thirds of Americans have primary mortgages at interest rates below 4%, locking them in “golden handcu s,” according to a report this month in the Wall Street Journal, citing data from mortgage data company Black

Knight.

Meanwhile, data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that nationwide, residential construction has remained largely at for the last ve years.

So what’s the outlook for an in ux of new inventory for eager buyers?

To Realtor Frank Locricchio, there are some possibilities on the hori- zon. Some of that could come in the form of foreclosures, according to Locricchio, broker and owner with Realty Executives Home Towne, a Southeast Michigan residential brokerage with o ces in Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair and Wayne counties. e Realtor added that he does not believe values are likely to come down much, but there’s a perception that the present o ers an opportunity to unlock top dollar.

Foreclosure activity in the U.S. has been muted since 2010 at the tailend of the Great Recession when some 2.23% of all homes fell into foreclosure, according to data from ATTOM Data Solutions.

Foreclosures, however, more than doubled from 2021 to 2022 with 0.23% of homes falling into foreclosure.

Additionally, Locricchio acknowledged that while some homeowners may be reluctant to sell due to their current low mortgage rate, some will still need or desire to do so.

“I think the sellers that are coming out now maybe get scared that (home) values aren’t going to stay as high as they are,” he said. “So they want to capitalize on getting the best they can for their property.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors, slammed the latest interest rate hike as “unnecessary” and said it’s likely to only continue the dearth of available housing.

“We have to stop the bleeding before improvement takes place,” Yun said in a news release this week. “We need to get more inventory, and the long-term solution is more home building.”

Buyers or sellers market?

From a national perspective, sellers are again firmly in the driver’s seat, according to a Zillow report this week.

“Buyers are back on the hunt for houses in what is typically the hottest time of year, thanks to a normal seasonal surge in demand around the end of the school year and some help from slightly lower mortgage rates,” stated Jeff Tucker, senior economist at the Seattle-based residential brokerage and data firm. “Unfortunately, many potential sellers have ghosted the market this spring, concentrating buyer demand on the few listings that do come to market and fueling price growth, especially for more affordable and well-presented houses.”

But in Southeast Michigan, things remain more balanced at the moment, according to Schneider, the Re/Max executive.

“Despite a drop in home sales from March, home prices went up and that is due to a lack of homes for sale,” Schneider said in release. “Additional inventory would be helpful, but current conditions offer opportunities for both buyers and sellers.”

Contact: nmanes@crain.com; (313) 446-1626; @nickrmanes

Behavioral Health leaders are executives, allied health workers, physicians, social workers and other professionals who provide high-quality, whole-person care by collaborating with governments, health care agencies and other nonpro ts. ey work with integrated care teams to provide services to people with issues related to mental health, substance use and developmental disabilities. And they advocate within industry groups and local and state government and support their communities through volunteerism.

Brian Ahmedani, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Health Policy & Health

Services Research, Director of Research, Behavioral Health Services, Senior Scientist

Henry Ford Health

Dr. Brian Ahmedani is an expert in suicide prevention whose ndings have changed how the nation conducts suicide risk screenings. He oversees Henry Ford’s Center for Health Policy and Health Research Services and leads its Behavioral Health Department.

He manages more than 150 professionals, mentors medical students and oversees the grant writing team responsible for garnering over $100 million in currently funded research projects.

“ rough his research, which spans global populations, he is bringing hope to those a ected by suicide,” said Catherine Frank, M.D., chair of Henry Ford Health’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Services. His biggest career win has been his work with the Zero Suicide model and other prevention programs that have signi cantly reduced suicide attempts and deaths.

In addition, Ahmedani serves as co-director of MI Mind, a collaboration with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, where he studies and addresses suicide prevention practices around the state. He’s also chair of the state’s suicide prevention commission.

Freddie Burton Jr.

Chief Judge

Wayne County Probate Court is follows his 2018 launch, with a fellow judge, of the Wayne County Jail Mental Health Initiative to “divert” felons from jail and into treatment.

In 2021, Judge Freddie Burton Jr. created the Behavioral Health Unit at Wayne County Probate Court, the rst of its kind in Michigan. He established the unit to help individuals struggling with legal and mental health challenges receive treatment and support, which, in turn, minimizes their encounters with law enforcement and reduces hospital visits. He also created accountability measures to keep recipients on track.

“I applaud the tireless e orts made by Chief Judge Burton to understand and connect community mental health and jail systems so they can work together on nding solutions to improve a person’s quality of life,” said Eric Doeh, president and CEO of Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network.

Burton is chair of the Flinn Foundation, which strives to improve the quality, scope, and delivery of mental health services in the state. He is also a lifetime NAACP member and a longtime Urban League member.

Colleen Allen, Ph.D. President

and CEO

Autism Alliance of Michigan

“(Dr.) Colleen Allen has led us from the humble beginnings of getting insurance coverage for individuals with autism to launching the MiNavigator program, helping thousands of families ( nd) a path forward, and even starting a hiring company to employ those on the spectrum,” said MotorCity Casino Hotel President Bruce Dall.

MiNavigator provides professional consultation and access to resources for families. Allen was also key to creating Upbound at Work, which supports companies and job seekers with autism.

She manages a $5.6 million operating budget and 39 employees. rough advocacy and education, her team provides support and opportunities to individuals with autism and their families.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed Allen to the Michigan Autism Council and Protect Michigan Commission. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan appointed her to serve on the city’s Workforce Development Board.

Additionally, Allen sits on the Incompass Michigan, Detroit Public Television and Roeper School boards.

Brad Casemore CEO

Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health

Under Brad Casemore’s leadership, Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health dramatically increased Medicaid enrollee customer satisfaction and employee engagement scores and became the rst community mental health entity of its kind to achieve Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organization Accreditation status from the National Committee on Quality Assurance.

Casemore oversees a $335 million budget and 65 team members who serve over 205,000 members. He is a member of Michigan’s Mental Health Diversion Council and holds a leadership role on the Michigan Opioid Advisory Commission. In 2022, Casemore was a panelist for the House Democrats’ Mental Health Listening Tour.

“In addition to administering one of Michigan’s highest achieving behavioral health entities, Brad has been a tireless leader in shaping public policy for all community mental health organizations across Michigan, as well as the development of regional and statewide performance improvement initiatives,” said Varnum LLP Partner Sarah Wixson.

Faten Bazzi Director of Behavioral Health

Arab American and Chaldean Council

Under Faten Bazzi’s leadership, the Arab American and Chaldean Council achieved the highest score in 30 years from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. She also secured a two-year federal grant to help pregnant Afghan refugees access health care and provide psychoeducational workshops and emotional wellness services.

A licensed psychologist, Bazzi manages her own casework along with more than 60 clinical and support professionals in four locations. ACC provides case management, outreach services, behavioral and health care clinics, and home-based services.

“Faten is responsible for one of the most proli c Behavioral Health programs in the state. She has developed a reputation for excellence, compassion, and quality, and despite shortages of licensed clinicians, has built a 60-person team,” said ACC President and CEO Haifa Fakhouri.

Gregory Dalack, M.D. Chair of the Department of Psychiatry Michigan Medicine

Dr. Gregory Dalack has a long and distinguished career researching and treating chronic and persistent mental illnesses. He has studied the relationship between nicotine addiction, smoking cessation interventions and schizophrenia and is a leading expert in the metabolic e ects of second-generation anti-psychotic medications.

Dalack is responsible for a $59 million budget, 140 psychiatrists and psychologists and more than 1,000 clinicians, researchers, educators and support sta .

Under his leadership and in partnership with others, Michigan Medicine established collaborative care behavioral health programs within adult primary care clinics and is implementing them in its pediatric and obstetric practices. Dalack is also advocating for collaborative care practices throughout the state.

Dalack is a past president of the American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry and former treasurer of the American Psychiatric Association.

Zachariah Booker CEO and Co-Founder

Mentavi

Zachariah Booker rebranded ADHD Online to Mentavi with nancial support from multiple funding partners. During the transition, he assembled a new leadership group and led the e ort to increase the company’s patient base to more than 140,000 from 60,000 in less than two years.

At the same time, he prepared his team for the end of the COVID Public Health Emergency, developing numerous contingency plans to ensure organizational stability. He also lessened wait time for patients seeking diagnosis and treatment from seven months to less than three days.

“What Zach has accomplished through Mentavi is inspiring. Not only has he built one of the fastest growing companies in Michigan, but he has also improved the lives of countless people struggling with behavioral health challenges,” said Diana Callaghan, managing director of Endeavor Great Lakes. Booker manages over $40 million in revenue and 50 corporate team members and serves as the primary management contact for more than 125 doctors nationally.

Charletta Dennis, M.D. Medical Director Priority Health

roughout her career, Dr. Charletta Dennis has treated patients needing inpatient and outpatient treatment, residential care and hospitalization. Her behavioral health expertise includes schizophrenia, substance use disorder, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety.

“Dr. Dennis is a tremendous asset to her team, our organization and our members. She leads by example and fosters an environment of care and compassion in her daily work,” said James Forshee, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical o cer at Priority Health.

Dennis supports all departments as the only sta psychiatrist for $7 billion Priority Health. e health plan has 1.3 million members. She is responsible for initial casework to ensure members receive appropriate care and conducts peer reviews to determine the type of mental health services that patients need.

Because of Dennis’ e orts, Priority Health increased the number of enrolled behavioral health providers by 72% in less than a year. She was key to Priority partnering with MDLive to provide behavioral health-related telehealth services to members.

METHODOLOGY: The honorees featured in this Notable Leaders in Behavioral Health report were nominated by their peers, companies or family members. Crain’s Detroit Business editors selected nominated honorees based on their career accomplishments, track record of success in their eld and contributions to their industry and community, as outlined in the detailed eligibility forms. Special Projects Editor Leslie D. Green, lgreen@crain.com, managed this Notables Leaders in Behavioral Health report, and Mike Scott wrote the honoree pro les based on the nomination forms. Crain’s Detroit Business is accepting Notable Leaders in Energy nominations until June 2, 2023. For questions about how to nominate someone for this or a future Notable award program, visit our Nomination Page or email notablesdetroit@crain.com.

Eric

Doeh

President and CEO

Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network

Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network has added numerous services and nearly doubled in size under Eric Doeh’s leadership.

DWIHN, which provides behavioral health, substance use and disability-related services, is building a crisis care center in Detroit’s New Center and a regional behavioral health campus in South eld. A third crisis care center is planned for Downriver.

Doeh oversees 470 employees and 370 providers, serving about 75,000 Wayne County residents. He established a plan to subsidize health care coverage for DWIHN employees, saving sta from a 30% increase in health care costs. He also led the initiative to provide retention payments to sta and providers and disburse an additional $4.7 million to providers as part of an overtime plan.

Doeh belongs to Michigan’s Mental Health Diversion Council and Crisis Intervention Team Stakeholder Committee.

“Eric is a great leader and partner in the work to expand mental and behavioral health services, especially to underserved populations,” said Boji Group CEO Ron Boji.

Mark Eastburg, Ph.D. President and CEO Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services has more than 1,500 employees serving 50,000 people and generates more than $170 million in patient revenue.

In 2022, Dr. Mark Eastburg was instrumental in forming the Collaborative for Behavioral Health and the Pediatric Behavioral Health Center of Excellence with Corewell Health. e initiatives seek to improve access, lower costs and alleviate barriers to getting care.

He established the Pine Rest/MSU Psychiatry Residency & Fellowships program, created a Psychiatric Urgent Care Center and increased telehealth visits from 100 to over 6,000 over the last three years.

Eastburg serves on the Michigan Hospital Association board and the Participating Hospital Agreement advisory committee.

Marla Gresham

Chief Nurse for Mental Health Detroit Veterans Administration Medical Center

Marla Gresham manages 105 employees and is a highly regarded advocate for the behavioral health industry and clinicians. She helped design and open the V.A. Medical Center’s 50-bed residential treatment program, which helps integrate veterans dealing with mental health, substance use, homelessness and other issues into the community. She also mentors nurses and prepares them for positions in leadership.

“Marla is a beacon of light for veterans seeking behavioral health services. Her passion for nursing and behavioral health, combined with over 30 years of experience, makes her a force to be reckoned with,” said Bridget Leonard, CEO of Bridget Leonard Enterprises LLC.

Gresham is a member of Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. She also co-owns Gresham Logistics, which provides free business services to small business owners.

Lenora Hardy-Foster President and CEO Judson Center

Since joining Judson Center in 2016, Lenora Hardy-Foster has doubled the agency’s operating budget to $30 million and expanded its reach to ve Michigan counties.

e organization now has more than 400 employees and serves roughly 12,000 children, adults and families annually.

She also expanded Judson Center’s services by adding support for autism, foster care, adoption and residents with disabilities. Her successes include securing $700,000 in grants for the organization’s Family Health Clinic in Warren, developing a partnership with MedNetOne for clinician and nursing sta support and being designated a Michigan Certi ed Community Behavioral Health Clinic, along it to receive funding to expand opioid use disorder and school-based programming.

“Simply put, Lenora is amazing. She is tireless. She is dynamic,” said Kevin Johns, a Clayton & McKervey PC shareholder.

In addition, Hardy-Foster serves on several boards, including the Michigan Federation for Children and Families, Incompass Michigan, JARC and University of Detroit Mercy College of Business Administration.

Felicity Harper, M.D. Professor of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine

Associate Center Director of Population Sciences, Karmanos Cancer Institute

As a clinician-researcher, Dr. Felicity Harper collaborates with patient advocacy groups and other organizations to develop and implement evidence-based interventions. She led the Cancer Intervention Strategic Research Initiative to “reduce cancer health disparities in medically underserved populations (rural, urban homeless, and African American community).”

Harper, who leads a team of investigators and researchers, has garnered more than $6 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.

“Dr. Harper devotes herself, her research program and her clinical practice to improving the lives of patients with cancer,” said Lauren Hamel, associate professor, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute.

Gloria Harrington

Chief Department Administrator — Department of Psychiatry University of

Michigan Health

Gloria Harrington is responsible for a $70 million budget, more than 370 faculty and sta and more than 150 research-related grants each year.

“From leading the nancial recovery plan to supporting department mission strategic goals and the devotion to faculty and sta professional development, Gloria remains a leadership inspiration while displaying thoughtfulness, courage, humility and professionalism,” said Michigan Medicine Administrative Manager Kenneth Ester Jr.

Harrington led the psychiatric emergency department through nancial recovery without layo s and negotiated 24/7 department sta ng to align with other essential hospital services. And she obtained funding to create a professional development program for employees and worked with the Eisenberg Family Depression Center to create a biobank that studies genetic variants tied to mental illness.

She also supports the Michigan Child and Collaborative Care program that o ers psychiatric support to providers.

David Harris, M.D. Medical Director New Oakland Family Centers

Dr. David Harris directly manages 17 psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners and guides New Oakland Family Centers’ role in providing more than 8,000 individual points of care. Last year, he personally provided care for 1,300 patients, many of them at-risk and underserved youth with unique needs.

Harris volunteers his time with community mental health organizations and certi ed community behavioral health clinics around the state. He is a highly sought-after speaker on behavioral health expansion e orts for community groups and professional organizations.

“Whether speaking to a U.S. senator or a troubled youth who needs his care, (Dr. Harris) brings the same quality of respect, concern, and approachability. We are so very fortunate to have him as a leader of our organization,” said New Oakland Family Centers President and CEO Kevin Sendi.

Erik Hutchison Director of Care Management, Co-Chair of Behavioral Health CCP Corewell Health

Erik Hutchison leads 80 people. He secured funding for the behavioral health clinical care program and developed an expedited care model for behavioral health patients at all Corewell Health East emergency departments. e model increased e ciency and productivity, reduced the need for psychiatric consults and the time patients spent in the Farmington Hills emergency center, and sped up the con rmation of patient treatment. Further, he secured a $200,000 Flinn Foundation grant to bridge the gap in outpatient psychotherapy care and adjusted the sta ng model to ensure his department was fully sta ed. Hutchison also provides pro-bono clinical services through his outpatient psychotherapy clinic and free haircuts for low-income neighbors.

Subodh Jain, M.D.

Division Chief of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine

Corewell Health

Dr. Subodh Jain is responsible for 70 psychiatrists, advanced practitioners, psychologists, psychotherapists, addiction medicine physicians, and 50 additional team members employed at Corewell Health’s psychiatry and behavioral medicine divisions at Corewell Health and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. He also manages behavioral health programming at 11 hospitals and 120 outpatient sites. By building strategic relationships, Jain raised millions of dollars in funding for a state-of-the-art medical and psychiatric unit at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and a pediatrics behavioral health center of excellence in partnership with Pine Rest.

In addition, he is an adjunct faculty member at Michigan State University and chair of the state’s Psychiatry Beds Workgroup.

“His extensive publication and presentation history con rm that the medical community looks to Dr. Jain as a leader in the eld of child and adolescent psychiatry,” said Network 180 Executive Director William Ward.