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Grand Rapids, MI
Homeowners who are unable to sell their homes have often welcomed the opportunity to have some income from a property while waiting for the market to rebound. For some potential home buyers, this arrangement afforded the opportunity to improve their credit scores and in some cases have a portion of their rent accrue towards a down payment when the option was eventually excercised. However, there are some potential risks that home buyers should be aware of when considering if this type of sitatution is appropriate for any home they intend to eventually purchase. A few of these issues were covered by Keith Jarrett, a title representative with LandAmerica/Lawyers Title when he visited our office during a recent Monday morning agent meeting. Here are some things that buyers should consider when considering a Lease to Purchase Option. 1. Make Sure You Check the Titlework While it is true that you are not purchasing the home just yet, a title search can bring to your attention some issues which may affect your ability to purchase the home in the future. Here are some of them:
2. Read the Legal News If you're paying rent on a home you intend to purchase, it is a shock to be informed that the property is in foreclosure because the owner has not paid the mortgage company. I have had buyers call my office in near panic when they found a foreclosure notice posted on their door. If the home that you are renting is foreclosed upon, you may need to contact an attorney to explore your options. 3. Ask to Examine the Underlying Mortgage For some buyers, the ability to have a land contract rather than a simple lease with option to purchase is preferable. Be careful. Most mortgages today do NOT allow for land contracts. If a land contract is put in place, it can trigger what is know as the 'due on sale' clause. In this case, the lender may call in the entire mortgage within a short period of time, such as within 30 days. Don't place yourself in a situation which could leave you out on the street because you inadvertently participated in an illegal transaction. 4. Inquire about the Value of the Equity A new ruling just handed down over the past week requires home owners who are renting their homes so they can purchase another one, to have 25-30% equity stake in their current home or be able to qualify for the New Mortgage with both mortgage payments. If you're buying a home in which the seller's intention is to move, make sure that they can afford to. If they can't guess who won't have a roof over their heads? If you are considering a Lease with an Option to Purchase, please feel free to contact Audu Real Estate if you live in the West Michigan area. Our agents will be happy to review your situation and give you the benefit of our professional counsel. Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved Image of row houses by Lola Audu Related Links: 5 Reasons Why the Financial Crisis of 2008 will Force Us to Grow Up What Happens When the Landlord Changes the Locks? Renting Vs Owning Virtual Real Estate. What! My Taxes Increased While My Home Value Went Down? "Lola, I tell you...the guy looked like Mr. Santa Claus!" Why Chasing Down the Market May Be A Bitter Pill to Swallow...
Sometimes it's easy to forget how young America really is. Our nation is so vibrant and full of promise that optimism sometimes hinders a mature grasp of reality. America is the land of the Free and the Brave, the nation in which cowboys ride into the sun speckled range and Rocky Balboa, though bruised and bloodied, always manages to win the sparring match in the end.
The fact that America has been able to do this so successfully is a testament to her relative youthful vigor amongst the sisterhood of nation states. When you look at ancient civilizations in Africa, the Middle East and the Far East, you appreciate the fact that a few hundred years is youthful against a backdrop of many centuries. In some ways we're like teenagers; not really believing that certain types of mistakes have the capacity to change us on a fundamental level. A teenager may experiment with drugs and sex not realizing that the wrong needle or partner could fundamentally cost him or her their life. Teenagers are young and naive enough to be willing to roll the dice and hope that they can get away with it. However, the dice of life is unpredictable. And youth rarely calculates the odds of a catastrophe. The recklessness which has precipitated the crisis on Wall Street is a reminder of the fact that our collective actions can have ramifications far beyond our limited perspective. The thing about experience is that it forces you to grow up. A kid who impregnates his girlfriend becomes a father by default...readiness for the responsibility is not the criteria...the ability to have sex is. In recent years, our ability to access easy and abundantly available credit has been about Availability, not Responsibility. Through every crisis, our country has learned something and we'll learn some lessons this time too. That's guaranteed. The real issue is if we'll learn the lessons which we need to learn to help us to mature and grow up. Here are 5 Lessons Which I hope that this crisis will force us to grapple with. 1. Using Credit for Disposable Items Never Makes Sense I'll never forget the exact moment I saw someone whip out a credit card to pay for a grocery purchase! It was about 15 years ago and prior to that time, most stores in my area only allowed cash or checks. I remember wondering WHY someone would be buying groceries which would be gone in a week with a credit card on which the balance could last for years. I remember discussing this with an associate who told me that it was merely a matter of convenience; most people would pay off their card at the end of the month and furthermore this action could accrue points to be used towards the gain of free stuff. That was such a crock. Whether it was groceries or meals in a restaurant, the vast majority of us are still paying for meals we ate a long, long, time ago. Meals which have long exited our systems. 2. If you can't Pay For it...A Credit Card does not change that fact There's a type of security which comes with having a plastic magic wand in ones wallet. I didn't know how strong this power was until I tore up my credit cards in my early twenties. As I prepared to walk out the door, I realized that I was nervous and shaky...I didn't have the security of my cards. That was a huge wake up call for me and it changed my life. I realized that I had believed a lie in thinking that just because I could charge something meant that I could afford it. So, not true. 3. Creative Accounting does not make a big Fat Zero disappear Asset valuation became a game of pretense that was so extraordinary that in the last stages of our demise, we began to totally imagine it. Just imagine you make...X Dollars. Just imagine you're worth X amount. If you say so, we'll believe you. In fact our bankers started imagining with us and giving us money which we could not prove that we could repay. Imagining things is a great childhood game. Grown ups deal with reality. Less fun, but far safer when it comes to financial well being. 4. Consequences are Real and Don't go away Quickly The thing about a Consequence is that it tends to stick around. That's not necessarily a bad thing if one understands that the reason that Consequences exist is to teach us the Lessons of Life. Since youth tends to gloss over important lessons, the message that Consequences are sent to teach us almost always require time and repetition. 5. Being Mature requires having the Courage to take Responsibility for your Mistakes This one may be the hardest lesson to swallow. Watching or listening to any news or media right now is to watch the 'Blame Game' in full swing. Everybody is blaming someone else and pointing fingers. No one seems willing to take responsibility. Witness the specter of a government which refuses to focus on solutions for fear of being blamed for taking action. Immaturity plays out in the world of nations in much the same way that it does in our personal life. We ignore stuff that we need to pay attention to, we hope that it goes away, we continue doing things that we know are not healthy and then try to find anyone to blame but ourselves. The sad truth is that until we come to terms with our actions, we can't move on; we remain mired in the sticky mess as we wallow in self pity. True Maturity means having the courage to say, " I was Wrong, I made a mistake and I will do what I need to do to take care of it." No blame, no finger pointing, no accusing, no hiding...just plain old fashioned transparency. picture is courtesy of respres photostream on flickr Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved Related Posts: Real Estate Blog - Foxes in the Hen House? Examining Credit ... Real Estate Blog - Lessons Learned From the Value of a Penny... Ain't Misbehavin'? How Your Behavior May Affect Your Loan Approval. Real Estate Blog - 5 Important Real Estate Trends To Watch in ... I didn't plan on visiting the Farmers Market on Fulton Street this weekend. In fact, we were on our way to tour the F.L.O.W. Landscaping Project organized by the Women's Council of Realtors; an extraordinary community event in which 10 homes in Grand Rapids were outfitted with new landscaping.
The project was envisioned by Michelle Gordon, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty in Grand Rapids, MI. The vision of Michelle and the Women's Council of Realtors chapter of Grand Rapids, focused on beautifying the yards of some moderate to low income neighborhoods around the city courtesy of the generosity of area landscapers, donors and sponsors. In addition to the gift of Free Landscaping, participants also attended workshops to teach them how to care for their new yards!
So, it was the tour of homes which had me driving past the market and unable to resist, we decided to pop in to see what was going on. When we arrived at noon, the place was packed! We were lucky to find a parking spot. It had been a very long time since I had visited, and the market has certainly grown in popularity. The stands had a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables, fresh bread, some select meats, arts and crafts, spices, health and beauty products and fresh flowers. Talking to local farmers was great. On more than one occasion, I heard merchants say they were selling out of products. The appeal of the fresh market has grown as more people become concerned about environmental issues and supporting the local economy. Did you know that the average product in your grocery store travels over 1000+ miles to get to your table? In addition, several area restaurants, including popular sites like Marie Catribs, the Green Well , GRAM Cafe and Restaurant Bloom also highlight the fact that they strive to serve locally grown produce and food items on their menus.
The Fulton Street Farmers Market is located at 1145 E. Fulton Street, in Grand Rapids, MI. 49503. The Market is the oldest of it's kind in West Michigan, having started in 1922. Permanent stands have been set up in the middle of a parking lot which allows local farmers to back their trucks in and unload their wares. Visitors to the market walk through the middle. What I found especially delightful was the diversity of people...old, young kids and babies, moms and dads, foreigners, black & white...everyone was enjoying the sights, smells and sounds of the market. We were even serenaded by a young guitarist who set up shop just outside the display area which made an interesting experience even more enjoyable.
Fulton Street Farmers Market website... Michelle Gordon's blog...F.L.O.W. Project Coordinator Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved If 2007 was the year I really became engaged by the blogosphere, then 2008 ranks as the year I began to understand the power of connectivity. And..No, they're not the same thing. Although, I must admit, I used to think they were.
Active Rain provided the perfect platform and I embraced everything the community had to offer, rarely venturing out to the wider world. Initially, it was hard to understand how videos, podcasts, pictures and a short 140 bit sentence bite on Twitter could be an integral aspect of relationship building. Afterall, wasn't that what blogging was all about? Well, it is...but, it's not the whole picture. My experiences within the past 12 months have opened up a whole new comprehension of what Social Media and blogging can be about. Effective Relationship Building requires Exposure as well as Connectivity. If you have a great message, but no one understands it or sees it, the Value of the message is greatly diminished. Far too many bloggers in the real estate community are making this mistake. They're not investing the time and effort to ensure that their well crafted messages are seen. For instance, when I started blogging, I totally underestimated the importance of labeling my pictures. In fact, it wasn't until I became an active member of Flickr that I truly began to appreciate the importance of a little identifier known as a tag. I've been amazed to see how properly tagged pictures can land on the first page of an indexed search on Google. I've learned that tagging can be as effective as a blog post in gaining better Search Engine positioning. The next step for me is geotagging my pictures by location. I'll admit that this still presents a little bit of a mental challenge for me as geography was not one of my favorite subjects. But at least I'm getting it. Search Engines don't want to play Hide & Seek to find our data. They want it clearly identified and labeled so that they can do their job which is to provide FOLKS WITH THE INFORMATION they are searching for. Many of us are playing the game of Hide & Seek and don't even know it. We fail to tag our pictures, don't tag our blog posts and give our articles very hard to understand titles. In addition, we have different avatars and sometimes even names for different sites and often forget to complete our profiles when we are instructed to. To compound our evasion tactics, our blogs fail to link to other blogs with a similar focus and our articles don't provide additional related links within our own websites or blogs. Did you know that this type of activity makes it difficult for the Search Engines to give you credit for all the hard work that you're doing? Here are a few simple steps you can take TODAY to stop Playing Hide & Seek With the Search Engines and make it easier for them to find you: 1. Create Relevant Titles! The operative word is Relevant. Cute and funny may be entertaining, but they won't give you much traction. Cute and funny may give you tons of comments on Active Rain but if they're so irrelevant to your topic that the Search Engine Spider has to try to decipher your meaning...expect to be dumped into the heap of forgettable entries sooner rather than later. 2. Create Links to Your Stuff! This is so easy to do. Every expert on SEO here on Active Rain has told us to do this, but most of us never do. It's simply a matter of heading over to your sidebar, clicking on a relevant tag and copying 1,2 or more links to the bottom of your post. It's better to revive your older posts if possible. This gives additional relevance to your material. You should also do this on your website which normally gets even less love than your blog. Internal Linking can be extremely effective in helping Search Engine Spiders to weave your material into the world wide web. 3. Tag, Tag, TAG! Take a second to tag your pictures, your blog posts, your Utterz etc. Anything that allows you to tag should be tagged. No exceptions. Failing to do this is like doing a ton of work and walking away without your payoff! Tagging identifies what you are saying. And no, the Search Engines don't just automatically get it. If you're comfortable with it, I'd highly recommend you begin to Geotag or at least place your ZIP Code in the tag line if you're blogging about something which is real estate related. 4. Build on Consistency! You loose a lot of cache online when you appear as a variety of different persons online. Now, if you're trying to hide the fact that you work in real estate, that's not necessarily a bad thing. But, if on the other hand, you would like to take full advantage of this medium to do more business...the more easily recognizable you are, the better for you. This year, I have been even more impressed by the number of people who are connecting with us online. It's not the wave of the future...this is business today and into the future. 5. Study the Pro Game! I am not an SEO expert, but there are many who are here on Active Rain. I've learned so much from reading their blogs; it has literally transformed my understanding of my profession. Here are some of my Favorite bloggers: Mary McNight, Justin Smith, Jim Cronin, Jeff Turner, Brad Anderson, Barry Hurd, Laurie Manny & Karen Jason, whose extraordinary contribution to this network remains as a well spring of knowledge and insight. Not all these individuals are technical folks; some of them have simply done a remarkable job of translating their success for the rest of us. In every case, I've found their contributions helpful. Check them out! Search Engines really want to know what you're talking about in your articles and online content. Remember, you're the expert. Let's do our own little part to make it easier for them to do their job. This is a case in which a little due diligence can truly go a long way.
Other Related Posts about Blogging & Marketing Real Estate... blogging: Sometimes...A little Grazin' is Great forYour Appetite and Your blog. blogging: On Squid, Squeegees & Squidoos...3 Ways to Squeeze More Money From Your Online Content! blogging: Blog Prospecting....Optimizing the Reach of your Local Real Estate Blog! blogging: What to Do When Google Shows Up for The Interview Before You do!
Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved Picture courtesy of: chris runoff's photostream
Rain storm clouds were another entity altogether and I was drawn to them for different reasons. For one thing, the air smelled different. Rain clouds had a way of changing the atmosphere; darkening the sky and pushing the sun's brilliance out of sight. Rain clouds sometimes formed a grayish sea of density which made it seem as though the sun might never shine again. They also emitted bolts of lightening and thunder which were scary. Sometimes, the rain would pour down for hours and other times, it would release it's moisture through a gentle drizzle. As I grew older, I learned to look at the sky to determine which kind of downpour might be on the horizon. Dark clouds usually indicated an intense encounter with a storm. Which brings me to my thoughts about what is happening in our financial markets right now. I'm hard pressed to remember a time which was fraught by as much angst and naked fear as that which appears to be unfolding on Wall Street and financial markets across the world right now. I watched a news piece on CNN today and as they began to tally the totals for recent bailouts, I was stunned to see how enormous the numbers were. There is scant good news in the forecast right now. But, in my line of work, I'm usually closer to an alternative form of the storm. I'm referring to the financial crisis which is impacting America's homeowners today. During the past two years, we've witnessed the storm clouds up close and personal as individuals and families have faced incredible financial strain and many across West Michigan and the nation have lost their homes. The devastation on a personal level is rarely chronicled during the evening news, but for those of us in the trenches, it's a reality in which we are managing and assisting through the aftermath on a daily basis. Yet, in the midst of every storm there is a message. Storm clouds deliver much needed moisture to nurture and replenish the earth. They renew life with their torrential drenching. And... renewal always follows the drenching, although the soaking is not always pleasant or congenial. And that's why I love Rainbows. Rainbows carry a message as they emerge out of the clouds, often after a dark storm. Have you ever wondered what the colors of a rainbow might mean? I came across this article by Khasmira Ladd in which she shared some fascinating insights into the meaning of rainbow colors:
Violet...a combination of Red & Blue symbolizes love for humanity and a high level of spirituality Indigo...symbolizes infinity, wisdom and self-mastery Blue...is known as the color of divinity Green...symbolizes harmony, growth, balance and good health Yellow...the color of the sun's brilliance, symbolizes energy Orange...is about equilibrium within creative energy and wisdom Red...is the color of enthusiasm and success. Spend some time reflecting on this message. It puts the promise of God to Noah after the flood in a different perspective when you recognize that God chose the colors of the first rainbow as a sign that would reach through the ages and continue to bring hope and comfort to human kind. In closing, I'd like to share a new video musical release with you. The video below is by a musician named Phil Aud. Almost a decade ago, he came to the church we were attending to be the music pastor. Phil is a gifted songwriter as well. He recently released an album called Come May and this song is one of the selections. I wanted to share Phil Aud's music with you because I've enjoyed listening to his compositions. I think you will too. They carry a message which rings clear and true. Be Encouraged. Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved rainbow picture courtesty of linh.ngân on flickr.com
Although, it's exciting to not know exactly who you will be meeting, the experience is fraught with much angst and trepidation for precisely the same reason...you don't know exactly what you'll get when your date shows up in person! Today, online dating has spawned hundreds of thousands of successful unions. However, we all suspect that for every success story, there are oodles of folks who don't have a storybook outcome. We all worry about the potential for this:
These issues are also a concern for millions of consumers who are now going online to select professional services like those provided by members of the real estate community. Data from the National Association of Realtors indicates that more than 80% of all consumers will utilize the Internet as a part of their selection process for choosing an agent and/or home. Selecting the right agent for your specific concerns can make all the difference in the world.
Do You Know if they're the Real Deal? I mean this literally. Make sure you're dealing with a real person or business. Do some checking. It's pretty easy. Here are some suggestions: Contact the local real estate board to inquire about their membership and status. If they indicate they hold certain awards or designations, call or go online to see if they are on the membership roster. Google the physical location/address and if you still have doubts, do a drive by. If things don't check out at this basic level, there's a problem. Are their Products Visible? You'll be hiring a real estate agent to market your home. The disappearing agent who sticks a sign in the yard and NEVER calls is well documented in real estate folklore. But what about the disappearing listing? When the home is placed on the market, it becomes a part of the real estate companys' listing portfolio. Did you know that there is a dramatic difference between the levels of exposure which your home may receive on the Internet? Did you know that your agent's understanding of Search Engine Positioning and Optimization will be key determinants of your exposure? For instance, a good online real estate agent can literally put your home on the map...the google indexing map that is. Imagine being able to say to your friends and family...did you google my home? If you're competing with 50 other homes for sale in your community, this may make all the difference in the world. Do They Know What They're Talking About? Here's the area where the Internet can be of the greatest benefit. While an increasing number of agents and their agencies have websites, these will provide you with only static information about their listings and services. To dig deeper, it's prudent to see if the agent you are considering also writes a blog. Blogging provides a tremendous amount of benefit to the consumer who is in the process of selecting an agent. For starters, it can save you TIME! In reading a good agent blog, you will be able to determine the areas of an agent's expertise, their style with clients, the kinds of transactions they handle, and the way they resolve conflicts and solve problems. Can You Interview them Without Extra Hassle? You'll find that reading an agent's blog is similar to conducting an interview. What's great is that you can e-mail or respond in the comment section if you have any additional questions or would like clarification on certain issues. This type of dialog can be tremendously informative and provides a great platform to become comfortable with someone before hiring them for the job. It's important to hire the right agent to get the job done. Using this simple list will improve your chances of selecting someone who has the skill and personality which will be most in alignment with your specific needs. If you are in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area and are looking for an Online Real Estate Expert, the real estate specialists at Audu Real Estate would be happy to explore how we can assist you. Where Should you be looking? Our listings are advertised in a number of Venues which include: our website, numerous blogs, the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service, the Michigan Association of Realtors NAR (National Association of Realtors), Zillow, Trulia, Real Estate Shows, Google, Yahoo, Oodle, Twitter & Flickr. Contact us to discuss how we can create an Internet marketing strategy which makes sense for you! Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved
Check out these Related Articles for additional information: 11369 starflower drive: Did You Tell Them to....Please Google Their Home? Real Estate Blog - 11 "Quirky" Questions to Ask your Realtor ... real estate advertising: 8 Great Ways to Reinvent the Old Pre-View Home Tour! real estate advertising: The Question That Messed Up My Old Marketing Strategy! marketing: Touch Points...Building Localism into the Communal Landscape! real estate advertising: WHY Ambush Marketing is Gobbling Up The Hottest Real Estate on The Planet! marketing: Creating Captivating Open Houses! *thanks to Susan Deane of Greenridge Real Estate for pointing out the typo & resultant update.
It was a small sign that caught my eye on my way to the Woodland Mall in Grand Rapids, MI. I wondered what it meant...Talking Books? Eventually, my curiosity got the better of me, and I pulled my car into the parking lot of the small strip mall. Although I was an avid lover of books, I had never seen anything like this. Row upon row of audio books on every subject imaginable filled the racks of the store.
But in addition to regular books, the store carried an extraordinary selection of business training materials for sales professionals. I was in the early stages of my real estate career and this was like discovering a gold mine! I loved the fact that you could pay a yearly membership fee and keep books as long as you needed to. The staff are wonderful. On several occasions, conversations with the owners or fellow customers led me to discover books which I would not have been exposed to. Over the years, we have listened to hundreds of hours of books on tape. Many long family vacation trips have flown by as the family became immersed in another John Girsham tale. The name Iskape Audiobookswas adopted after the store moved to its' new location on 3070 28th St. SE in Kentwood, MI 49512. Today, Steve & Dyna Moore manage both locations in Kalamazoo and the Grand Rapids, Mi areas.
The business was a natural fit for Steve because he loves people and he loves books! Today, the store has developed a very loyal following of customers. They are able to buy audio books in many locations, but visit Iskape Audiobooks because of the personal service. During our conversation, I shared with Steve my extraordinary experience with blogging and the way in which it can expand the outreach of a small business. Steve was intrigued with the potential to enhance his service to his clients. Iskape customers are welcomed like friends. It's not unusual to hear individuals greeted by name. Conversations often develop about book recommendations and client business cards for a variety of services occupy space on the front desk. Iskape Audiobooks is not just about renting or purchasing audiobooks, it's about being a part of a community of readers. To encourage listeners to dialog about books and other topics of interest, Steve has launched a website which includes a blog. He's excited to explore how blogging can assist him in his efforts. You can browse, rent or buy audiobook titles from Iskape Audiobooks online or by visiting one of their stores. Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved
Here's what's on my mind. Can we talk? Whenever bankers work on weekends, there's reason to be concerned. For the past couple of weeks, the specter of major announcements about significant entities in the financial world such as the takeover by the Federal Reserve of Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae and the announcement of the pending bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers occurring on Sunday evenings has been unsettling. But, not necessarily only for obvious reasons. The obvious reasons would be that the domino like collapse of major institutions is a serious national crisis. The less obvious reason is that most people who I meet are NOT talking about it. I don't think it's because people don't care. I sense, it's largely because we've lost the ability to think critically about the implications of anything which does not appear to immediately impact our wallets. And, that's what concerns me. This complicated mess that is rapidly unraveling will impact our pocket books in a manner which most of us are unprepared for. And, for a long time. The housing market was simply the first major domino to fall. So, in a sense, those of us in the real estate industry have had the opportunity to have a bird's eye view of the crisis if we are willing to educate ourselves. I found the video clip below about the story of Money. As a little girl, my Father always used to tell me that money was a simple matter...It was all about TRUST. Money is a means of exchange...period. The erosion of TRUST in our society may prove to be the greatest asset devaluation. A monetary system that fails the Integrity Test is in deep trouble. Right now, the integrity of the very foundations of our government is on the line. Did you know that? At a recent company sales meeting, I spent an hour of instruction on the structure of the current financial crisis. When I asked, WHO was responsible for solving the problem, someone answered...the government. My next question was...WHO is the government? The answer is it's WE THE PEOPLE. Do You Know Which President said the statement below? I am a Most Unhappy Man... In 1913, on his deathbed, President Woodrow Wilson was quoted as saying, " "I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated Governments in the civilized world no longer a Government by free opinion, no longer a Government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a Government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men." -Woodrow Wilson, after signing the Federal Reserve into existence
The ground pulsates with rythmic energy. Shrill cries announce it's advancing. Frightened children peek from within the folds of their mothers' skirts. Spell Bound... Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved If you enjoyed this article, Check out these Related Links: grand rapids: The Bubble & Trouble...The Palaver Tree Rumble! inspiration: On Sisterhood, Being A Daughter & What It Means to "Keep A Mother" inspiration: What I Know To Be True... inspiration: Lusting Within Our Hearths...*A Peculiar American Love Affair!
What I appreciate most about being a part of this group is how much I've learned. For instance, I may have missed the advance news regarding the Antiques Show filming in Grand Rapids if it had not been for Bonnie Westbrooks' early alert. And then, I've learned a lot about what's happening in the east side neighborhoods from Terry Westbrook. Michelle Gordon has contributed several quality posts about the the F.L.O.W Project (A project supported by the Womens' Council of Realtors to landscape yards for low income home owners and East Grand Rapids. Gary White has shared a number of stories about Grand Rapids and interesting experiences he has has as a real estate agent. The group has also benefited from articles for our lenders about Financing options available; Tom Vanderwalls' reports a great example of the wealth of knowledge in this regard. Heidi Herbruck has taught us about Staging from a local vantage point & Robert Brown has shared local real estate information, listings and inspiration. These are just a few highlights from the members. The point is that a great Local Group can serve a number of purposes. The Greater Grand Rapids MI Real Estate Group is a place for folks to share their success stories, post a listing or an Open House, talk about the local area or highlight a local event. It's a gathering spot, not just for the real estate world but for the greater community. Today, the group is #2 for the Mid Michigan area on Active Rain. Here's a Sampling of What's on the Local Board of the Greater Grand Rapids MI Real Estate Group Right now...
This group is open to all members of the Active Rain Community, but articles which are posted must reflect information about the local area. It's a great place to network and learn about other professionals across a wide variety of disciplines. I think that this is what Local Groups are supposed to do. Highlight local flavor and the individuals who serve their communities. If you're not involved in a group that serves your local community, I would highly recommend you join one. In addition to the Greater Grand Rapids MI Group, the following groups also serve the Grand Rapids community. If you're in the Grand Rapids or West Michigan area...check them out. Better yet, wherever you are, check out what's happening in your neighborhood and resolve to contribute and make a difference!
Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved If you enjoyed this article, check out these Links to Related Posts on Grand Rapids, MI: grand rapids: 5 Important Real Estate Trends To Watch in Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate in 2008! grand rapids: How to Make Money While You're Waiting For Your House To Sell!
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Lola Audu~Grand Rapids, Michigan Real Estate Grand Rapids, MI More about me… Lola Audu~ Audu Real Estate~ Grand Rapids, MI Broker Office Phone: (616) 791-0511 Email Me
Grand Rapids, Michigan real estate information including houses for sale, rent and home buyer/seller tips. Also includes wisdom and insights from Lola Audu, CRS Associate Broker.
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Over the past 18 months, we've seen a marked increase in the number of clients who are seeking Leases with an Option to purchase the property they are renting after a specified period of time. On the surface this appear to have the potential to be a WIN WIN for all parties to a transaction. 
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It is that irrepressible enthusiasm that gives us the strength to recover in spite of horrifying setbacks and defeats and to will things to go our way even when the deck of cards is stacked against us. 
When I first started blogging about two years ago, it was all about communicating my message and getting a handle on commenting. 
Sky gazing has always fascinated me. As a kid, I'd sometimes just sit outside and imagine different shapes within the clouds. My favorite clouds were the large puff balls that our science teacher told us were cumulus clouds. They usually accompanied bright, sunny days without a hint of rain.
A blind date has got to be one of life's scarier moments! Many of us have been the recipient of this form of 'relationship assistance' at some point in our lives.
Although, there are no guarantees that even your best efforts will yield the results you desire, taking the time to do some preliminary research will greatly enhance your prospects for a successful match. Let's examine some critical aspects which you should consider as you review potential prospects.
Iskape Audiobooks
I recently sat down with Steve Moore, the owner of Iskape to talk about his passion for books and his audiobook business. 
For the past 9 months, I've had the joy of moderating a great Localism Group...
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community. <