Special offer

Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate News

By Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375, Real Estate Services You can Trust!
(Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions")
Really, www.LetsSayThanks.com is the place to go to say thanks to the troops. What could be better?    Go to this web site and pick out a card from one of the kids and send it!  It's that easy.  The front of the website pictured above, they retain all rights, but you can use it with just a few clicks.    www.LetsSayThanks.com I can remember being away from home during Christmas, birthdays, family members passing and wondering if anyone noticed I was gone. Their families notice, let them know we do too!  We have ways of thanking them for our freedom. Thanks for taking the time.  Happy Holidays!  
Comments 4
By Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375, Real Estate Services You can Trust!
(Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions")
You may never have considered staging your home to sell faster.  The staging methods have proven to attract buyers and higher priced offers for a staged home. The words curb appeal, declutter, impersonalize, open spaces, the rule of threes, color charts, organize all give each of us the idea that staging requires work.  If you only view staging as work, you won't realize the extra profits staging can bring you!  Staging has shown sellers an increased average sell price and faster sale!  With professional help you can have a consultation on what you need to do or have your home staged professionally. Many articles have been written on staging by non-professionals or researchers without actual training or experience.  Staging requires the coordination of the stager, real estate agent and ...
Comments 2
By Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375, Real Estate Services You can Trust!
(Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions")
Unemployment Benefits are getting ready to run out for many.  Some unemployment benefits exhaust just before Christmas and others will see the end of their unemployment checks at the beginning of the New Year. Many homeowners have been holding on by a thread to make ends meet and keep their homes.  This may be the last straw for many homeowners.  The supplemental income from unemployment isn't much yet for some it was barely enough to pay the mortgage and buy groceries.  With the end of the unemployment benefits, food and family become more important than the home they struggled to save. Some homeowners have not thought about mortgage modification but should do so immediately before falling behind in mortgage payments.  Others are so underwater (owe more than home is worth) they must se...
Comments 3
By Terry & Bonnie Westbrook, Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re
(Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner)
Forest Hills Michigan Neighborhood Real Estate Market Reports - Oct 2010 Forest Hills Michigan is a community defined by its school system.  The Forest Hills Schools are award winning schools on the east side of Greater Grand Rapids.  Many parents buy homes here  to give their children a great education.  There are 3 high schools, 2 Middle schools, and many local elementary schools in the district.       We report Real Estate stats on many of the most popular neighborhoods in Forest Hills. If you check our web site, there is a history of neighborhood Real  Estate Market Reports.   The October 2010 Neighborhood Real Estate Reports:  Watermark Residences Clements Mill Homes    
Comments 0
By Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375, Real Estate Services You can Trust!
(Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions")
Living in the Grand Rapids Real Estate Market has given me some big advantages as a Real Estate Professional. I am able to see more homes, have listing and selling information at my fingertips, see the dynamics that impact the real estate market with-in the Grand Rapids area. This data will help buyers and sellers with monthly information specific to Grand Rapids neighborhoods using a "Free" Market Statistics Trend Analysis as a guide. This will provide key market data for sellers and buyers; of course you should still get the valued insight of a career real estate professional for more detailed information. The "Free" Grand Rapids Real Estate Market Trends data will help you see the activity and patterns of sales, listings and pending homes with-in your selling area. To find these "Fre...
Comments 0
By Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375, Real Estate Services You can Trust!
(Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions")
Living in the Forest Hills Real Estate Market has given me some advantages as a Real Estate Professional. I am able to see more homes, have listing and selling information at my fingertips, see the dynamics that impact the real estate market with-in the Forest Hills area. This data will help buyers and sellers with monthly information specific to the Forest Hills neighborhood area through a "Free" Market Statistics Trend Analysis. This will provide key market data for sellers and buyers; of course you should still get the valued insight of a career real estate professional for more detailed information. The "Free" Forest Hills Real Estate Market Trends data will help you see the activity and patterns of sales, listings and pending homes with-in your selling area. To find these "Free" re...
Comments 0
By Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375, Real Estate Services You can Trust!
(Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions")
Property Values are as subjective as your tax bill. Appraisers will tell you each looks at the property differently even with guidelines there still is latitude or judgments in value being made. So what is a home owner to do when preparing to sell?  Seller want to know property values to establish a sell price.  Buyers want to know property values when making an offer to purchase. Here is something that will give you some guidance.  Realtor's® are bound by an oath (code of ethics) taken as part of their membership in the National Association of Realtor's.   In Article 1, Standards of Practice 1-3 "Realtors®, attempting to secure a listing, shall not deliberately mislead the owner as to market value." The key word is Realtor's®.  Not everyone is a Reator® even though they have a real est...
Comments 6
================================== This is a problem that exists in 60% of all Michigan homes -- check out how much water is pulled out of the walls of this house. If this water is left in it can seriously damage the foundation of the property.....
Comments 0
By Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375, Real Estate Services You can Trust!
(Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions")
Today you can use Print-It Technology to help make better real estate decisions. Look at printing a color brochure so you have all the details of a property.  If you are a seller is a online color brochure available to buyers? Is a map available for buyers?  Mapquest and Google Maps can lead buyers to a seller's doorstep.  Buyer's do not always want a a viewing appointment until they see the property for themselves from the street. Another key to selling and buying is virtual tours.  You can print a link to share with family and friends if you are a buyer.  Buyers can get help evaluating a purchase by sending the tour link.  Sellers can sell faster with tours that show their homes features and values to buyers. So when you consider Buying or Selling, look at the technology tools you are...
Comments 0
By Mary Kent, Grand Rapids to the Lake Shore
(Five Star Real Estate )
Exploring the Short Sale from Start to Finish. What sellers and buyers need to know: Considering a short sale and not sure where to start? You should speak to a non profit home counselor or a trusted real estate professional that has earned the National Association of REALTORS SFR Certification.  Look out for the following: Beware of any person or organization that asks you to pay a fee in exchange for housing counseling services or modification of a delinquent loan. Do not pay - walk away! Beware of anyone who says they can "save" your home if you sign or transfer over the deed to your house. Do not sign over the deed to your property to any organization or individual unless you are working directly with your mortgage company to forgive your debt. Never submit your mortgage payments t...
Comments 5
By Terry & Bonnie Westbrook, Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re
(Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner)
  Grand Rapids Michigan Top Best Buy Homes October 2010 This is our blog list of the Top Best Buy Grand Rapids Houses to buy based on price/square foot.  Price per square foot is a great leveler.  If two similar homes are listed at similar prices, their price per square foot should be similar and it should reflect the interior finish of the home. For example, if it has crystal chandeliers, marble tile, a new kitchen, this would be more value per square foot than a home that still has the 1980’s decor and/or is in derelict condition. Please note that this list can change daily as some homes sell, prices are adjusted and other homes come on the market.   Our October 2010 Top Best Buy Homes Reports are out:   Caledonia Michigan Top Best Buy Homes   East Grand Rapids Top Best Buy Homes    F...
Comments 0
By Matt Listro, Your Credit Repair Expert
(National Credit Fixers - Matt Listro)
Credit Repair in Michigan National Credit Fixers: 330 Roberts Street Suite 402 East Hartford CT 06108 phone: 860-282-6181. National Credit Fixers boasts of 14 years experience repairing low FICO scores. Whether your credit has been damaged by a foreclosure, bankruptcy, slow credit, collections, judgments, repossessions, etc. we can help. We are the experts in credit restoration and credit repair. We have helped numerous residents of Michigan and are experts in Michigan credit repair. When people realize that their credit isn't so good they don't know who to turn to or even where to start.  Well look no further, at National Credit Fixers we personalize every credit repair strategy so you get the best possible results.  Say no to automated systems and call centers and get to know who is f...
Comments 0
By Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375, Real Estate Services You can Trust!
(Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions")
Today, in these difficult economic times, making choices between which bill to pay and your food budget may be like having no choice at all. We can do something to help families come up with a more economical way to feed their families and meet their budgets at the same time with some creative meal choices.  Meals that help meet nutritional needs and budget are not easy. We have a family of Real Estate agents that go through the same budget issues.  We can help with our low cost all time favorite meals that extend budgets and meet nutrition needs. I found a couple links that do this very thing. I would like anyone that has a great recipe to post it.  I will compile the recipes and re-post a link for everyone to download and post on their own website.  Of course you will be credited with...
Comments 5
By Ryan Ogle, Relationships. Opportunities. Wealth.
(Blu House Properties)
    The chart below gives a month-by-month analysis of Grand Rapids real estate sales and listings from 2009 and thus far in 2010.  And despite all the dismal forecasting in the news, the Grand Rapids real estate market isn't as far behind from last year's sales as one might think. At the end of September 2010, Grand Rapids home sales were up from 2009's sales at the end of the third quarter. If the trend can continue into the forth quarter, which will largely be impacted due to the foreclosure moratorium still in effect with some lenders such as Wells Fargo,  Realtors will be in a good position for a strong start in 2011. And the sales trend is not only in West Michigan, it's throughout the country.  From CNNMoney.com with Anally Cents reporting: "Sales of previously owned homes rose 1...
Comments 0
By Ryan Ogle, Relationships. Opportunities. Wealth.
(Blu House Properties)
It's that time of year to get outside to enjoy the plentiful Autumn offerings. It's also that time of year to get ready to get scared with Halloween. The best way to get into the mood for October 31st is by visiting a haunted house, and there are multiple locations for haunted houses in Grand Rapids. Thanks to GRNow.com for the perfect Halloween Guide to West Michigan. Below you'll find information on all the Haunted Houses in Grand Rapids. For additional activities like corn mazes, cider mills and pumpkin patches, be sure to check out http://www.grnow.com/halloween/     The Haunt - One of West Michigan's best-known haunted attractions celebrates its 10th year with five terrifying attractions: The Haunt, The Dark Maze, Claustrophobia, Clown Asylum 3-D and The 2010 Haunt Dancers. Indoors...
Comments 1
By Terry & Bonnie Westbrook, Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re
(Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner)
   Halloween Fun – Grand Rapids Michigan Halloween is one of the most exciting holidays as a child.  What costume to wear?  Where will we go Trick or Treating? Can my friends go?  How much candy will I get?  Can I eat it tonight? It is still exciting as an adult, to see all the little ones in their  Halloween costumes skipping from house to house with excitement.  Yes, I am in disguise with our little Yorkie helping me answer the door on a past Halloween.  We like to get into the spirit for Trick-or-Treaters.   With all the excitement of costumes and candy, it is helpful to remember some basic safety tips.            Hope your Halloween is Safe, Spooky and FUN! Have a plan –know where to go, how long, and stick to it Accompany your children, if too young to go alone Safety in numbers – ...
Comments 3
By Terry & Bonnie Westbrook, Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re
(Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner)
Foto Friday - ArtPrize 2010 Winner Grand Rapids Michigan This is the ArtPrize 2010 entry that won the most public votes for first prize of $250,000. It is a drawing called Cavalry 1921 that took the local artist, Chris Porter, over 800 hours to complete.  Our photo does not do this artwork justice, it really should be seen in person to appreciate the size and detail.     You still have time to see it before it is gone.  It will be showing at the Grand Rapids Art Museum until the end of the year.  This weekend at GRAM is "Centennial Celebration" and entry fees are $1.00.  ArtPrize is over until next year, parking is back to normal, and I'm sure the restaurants & bars will have room.  So go on down and check it out.
Comments 5
By Terry & Bonnie Westbrook, Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re
(Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner)
Forest Hills Michigan Top Best Buy Homes Sept 2010 Forest Hills Michigan Top Best Buy Forest Hills Homes (Ada-Cascade) to buy, based on price per square foot for September 2010.  The homes listed below might need updating with new carpeting, paint, and kitchen–bath redos at a minimum to bring them to current market standards.   These homes might need major repair work done, such as new roofs, new plumbing, electrical & other major mechanicals. The total square footage is noted here, although only the main floors are used to figure price per square foot, not the basement, even if finished. Please note: This list can change daily as some homes sell, prices are adjusted and other homes come on the market. Top Best Buy Homes – Forest Hills Michigan  September 2010  23 properties The lowest...
Comments 0
By Michelle Gordon, Finding Your Place
(JH Realty Partners)
Grand Rapids, Michigan never ceases to amaze me.  My family and I have lived here since 2001.  We moved here two weeks before 9/11.   The way this community reaches out to help each other is like no other place I have ever lived.   I remember just where I was when the reports of the bombing of 9/11 hit the TV, not knowing hardly anyone in town.... I was scared and nervous.  However my new neighbors came over and checked on me, and together we worked through it. Michigan is in the top 10 for foreclosures, and many jobs have been lost.   Since 9/11 many people in this community have experienced loss of some kind. It has been hard for many.     But for the last 2 years, A guy named Rick DeVos, son of a very wealthy family in the area, had an idea.  He wanted to have the largest money prize...
Comments 6