Record Sales Increases Recorded for Homes in Grand Rapids, MI ~ January 2008 - 02/29/08 11:52 PM
 
In a press release dated February 29, 2008, the Grand Rapids Board of Realtors announced that sales of existing homes including single family homes, condominiums, and vacation homes rose to record levels in January of 2008.  A total of 996 homes were Sold in January which was an 18.9% increase over the corresponding period of time in 2007 and represented the highest  number of homes sold in the month of January since 2002!
More good news for Grand Rapids was released in the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index report which noted that Grand Rapids is one of the 5 most Affordable … (14 comments)

So, What's in a Name? - 02/29/08 09:56 PM
 
So, What's in a Name?  Well, obviously a lot judging by how often people mess up even relatively simple ones! My name (Lola Audu) has only eight letters, but I've encountered countless variations in pronunciation, enunciation and spelling.  It's not unusual to have someone rename me Lolo or Lulu or Ola.  And the last name...well, I've taken to helping people out.  "It's like the car," I say..."you know, the Audi, except with a U. 
And then, there's the singing.  There must be something about the name Lola which makes songwriters wax poetic.  People hear my name and start to sing...Lola..Lo, Lo, Lo...Lola or … (32 comments)

Discovering The Next New Cool Dwelling Places...The Suburbs Vs. Urban Digs - 02/28/08 12:08 PM
 
Are we on the verge of a transition in thinking about what qualifies as a good home location?  For decades, the dream of American homeownership has often envisioned a home with a white picket fence out in the suburbs.
The article "The Tipping Point...When Poverty Moves to the Suburbs." explored the increasing trend in foreclosures and short sales which has led to many home owners who were once thought to be enjoying the "good life" loosing their homes and enduring great hardship due to devastating economic situations.  For many folks, hard times have turned the dream of "living in the burbs" into a nightmare.
Recently, Jonathan Miller of … (15 comments)

Why Chasing Down the Market May Be A Bitter Pill to Swallow... - 02/26/08 12:02 AM
 
In Grand Rapids, Michigan it's an argument that every real estate agent has heard at least once.  In the opinion of most...one time too many.  It goes something like this.  I'd like to sell my home, but I need (X) amount from it.  I know that you are recommending I list my home for 10 ~15 % Less than (X) but I figure that if buyers are interested, they will make an offer.  I refer to this argument as the decision to Chase Down the Market.
Chasing Down the Market has become a real estate consumer sport.  Homeowners gambling with the odds … (16 comments)

Real Estate Consumers...Are You Treating Them Like Royalty? - 02/25/08 06:47 PM
 
It seems that every year, a new study comes out which highlights WHY real estate commissions should be lower.  The latest one was written by academic researchers from Stanford University. The conclusions were: 
the typical commission paid for the average real estate transaction does not impact the initial price offering for a home or the sale price.  However, the home does tend to sell more quickly.  In the estimation of the researchers, the average Commission of $34,000 (6% was the number quoted) on the average home they researched was too steep a price to pay for the efficiency gained in time.
In a related … (14 comments)

Understanding How Your Unique Seasonal Cycle Can Improve Your Life & Business! - 02/23/08 09:36 PM
 
Cycles of change are a normal part of life.  Day transitions into night, summer transitions into fall and eventually winters' cold spell breaks up to reveal the freshness of spring.  While we accept these cycles as normal in nature, we sometimes ignore the fact that cycles are evident in all aspects of life. 
As I look out my window and observe the snow cover, it's hard to imagine that underneath that frigid white blanket there is active life.  But there is.  It will not be evident for several months, but eventually, the ground will reveal what has been buried for it's own … (28 comments)

Please Join Us! We're Offering Lunch ~ 5108 Canal SW, Grandville ~ OPEN 1-3:30 PM - 02/23/08 10:19 AM
 
We invite you to Join Us!  Today, we're holding and OPEN HOUSE for this home located on 5108 Canal St in Grandville, Mi TODAY!  It's a nice day in Grand Rapids; the weather is cooperating and the sun might even peek through the clouds later on.  The Open House will take place between 1:00 ~3:30 P.M. Today.  You are invited to stop in for some light refreshments.
This home is located in a neighborhood of more expensive homes in which the median price is approximately $200,000!  This home has been completely remodelled inside & includes:  A new roof, newer furnace, carpet, paint, … (5 comments)

Fifth Third River Bank Run~ Grand Rapids, Michigan - 02/23/08 12:44 AM
 
I've always admired the dedication of the long distance runner.  There is something striking and powerful about the endurance that it takes to run miles and miles and still have the stamina to finish strong.  I participated in track & field events all through high-school. I was always a sprinter, so distance running was limited to training and was rarely more than a mile.
Consequently, there's a part of me that wonders what if feels like to run and not be weary. Or at least to run for a long time and actually want to keep on going! Every year, for the last 14 years, … (11 comments)

Pothole Paranoia~ Grand Rapids, MI Drivers Could Win Cash! - 02/23/08 12:05 AM
 
In spite of evidence to the contrary, there are only 2 seasons in Michigan.  Construction Season & Non-Construction Season.  With the snow and ice that make it necessary to heavily salt our roads, the thawing and re-freezing is more than the asphalt can bear.  Thus the breakdown of our road systems which becomes painfully evident to your car during the Non-Construction Season...particularly during winter.
It seems that this year has been particularly bad.  I find myself feeling as though I'm weaving through traffic as I try to avoid some of the biggest Whoppers that I've seen in recent memory.  These potholes are scary. Sometimes … (15 comments)

To Whom It May Concern... - 02/20/08 07:38 PM
 
I met them early one evening several months ago.  They were young, attractive and articulate.  This was going to be their first home and they had questions...lots of them.  They had been referred to me and as we talked about the process and what they could anticipate, I began to appreciate a keen understanding of their shared goals and purpose. Remarkable as they were newly weds who had mastered what many couples fail to achieve after years of married life.
Like all journeys, you can never be quite sure where the road will lead.  We started looking for properties which could double as an investment opportunity.  … (19 comments)

When Jockeying For Position Takes on Another Meaning... - 02/20/08 04:51 PM
 
The title of the Most Important Job I have ever had is: MOM.  It's a job that has delivered the most extraordinary moments in my life as well as some of the most challenging.  Many of you know that this year I have started making contributions to Mothers Fighting For Others, a blog which highlightes situations affecting disadvantaged children in Africa & Asia.  We also explores new and creative ways to Fight for the Rights of Others who do not always have a voice or presence to speak for themselves.  Here's a pre-view to my latest blog below. 
I admit it...I have a tendency … (10 comments)

Desperately Seeking Success (PT 3)...A Conversation About Successful Home Marketing Strategies! - 02/19/08 06:51 PM
 
This is a Series which started with:
*WARNING:  Don't Read This If You Live in North or South Dakota...
Otherwise, for most of us who live in the other 48 States in the Union, this information is pertinent. According to an Associated Press Article two days ago entitled "New Data Reveals Breadth of Housing Slump" 45 States in the United States reported housing price declines...most in the double digits.  With the exception of the aforementioned North & South Dakota, no reporting data was available for Idaho, New Hampshire & Indiana.  Click here to continue reading Part 1
 
And Continued with...Whew...What's that Smell? Part 2
Have you … (12 comments)

Drying Off Isn't A Bad Thing From Time To Time... - 02/18/08 06:12 PM
 
Imagine, if you will, the effects of a long, deliciously hot drenching shower.  The steam rising up creating a sauna like atmosphere. The comforting, soothing sounds of running water draining away the day's minor and major irritations. 
And...the puckered, drying out of skin no longer saoking up moisture, but being drained of it... The pickled wrinkles emerging first on hands and then feet and finally chapping and irritating the very body that it was meant to cleanse.
Too much of a good thing, even when it's pure water has that effect.  It's human nature to want to stay put forever.  But, as I re-discovered today, … (22 comments)

Desperately Seeking Success (PT 2)...A Conversation About Successful Home Marketing Strategies! - 02/16/08 10:48 PM
 
*This blog post is a Part of A Series. You may appreciate Reading Part 1.
Have you ever met someone & thought...after a whiff...Wow, that was more than I needed to know!  It's called BO aka Body Odor.  We all have it; some in a more pronounced fashion than others. The unique chemistry of the human body is an interesting thing. 
Intense scientific research about the power of scent informs billions of dollars of advertising.  Every major fashion magazine employs our olfactory glands in making of the sale whenever we finger the glossy pages and catch of whiff of a variety of fragrance enhancements.
Have you ever … (23 comments)

Desperately Seeking Success (PT 1)...A Conversation About Successful Home Marketing Strategies! - 02/16/08 10:47 PM
 
*WARNING:  Don't Read This If You Live in North or South Dakota...
Otherwise, for most of us who live in the other 48 States in the Union, this information is pertinent. According to an Associated Press Article two days ago entitle "New Data Reveals Breadth of Housing Slump" 45 States in the United States reported housing price declines...most in the double digits.  With the exception of the aforementioned North & South Dakota, no reporting data was available for Idaho, New Hampshire & Indiana. 
This makes the revelation in a recent Newseek article that over 70% of Americans think their homes are appreciating or not … (8 comments)

Real Estate Lessons: "How Instant Service Became a Relic of History" - 02/15/08 09:05 AM
 
I'll always remember my first one.  As a young girl in the mid-seventies, a good family friend brought a large box-like structure to our home and told us it was a new camera.  One that could take a picture and we would be able to see it within minutes.  We all stared at the thing in awe. 
No one in my family owned a personal camera.  When special moments needed to be recorded, we called a photographer.  It was always uncomfortable. And after the posing and primping, you were lucky to get a picture back to you in a couple of weeks.
Our … (25 comments)

What It Means to Truly Listen... - 02/14/08 10:02 PM
 
There's a reason why we have two ears and just one mouth.
A single mouth can easily over-power two perfectly good ears.
It's always easier to talk than to listen.
To listen we must be quiet...with our mouth
And dull the roar from within the heart.
Listening is hard work...
Voices in the mind shout and jostle for attention.
Listening means that I accept that what you are saying right now is more important than...
What I need to say right now,
What I need to say next and...
What I really wish I could say.
Listening helps me to see with my understanding what I cannot observe with my eyes.
When I listen...I don't interrupt
When … (41 comments)

Why Your FICO Credit Score May Be Working Harder Than You Ever Imagined! - 02/13/08 08:03 PM
 
Most of us know Uncle Sam pretty well.  Some of us may be somewhat unfamiliar with with another significant relative in the American monetary landscape...Mr. Fair Isaac. So, here's a quick history lesson. 
Fair Isaac came into being in 1959 as the creation of two brilliant people:  Mr. Bill Fair who was an engineer and Mr. Earl Isaac, a mathematician.  Together they developed a system which was initially designed to help banks and retail stores to calculate how likely their customers were to pay their bills in a timely fashion.  
It was a brilliant concept.  Based on a closely guarded mathematical formula, a three digit number was … (24 comments)

Winter Wonderland or Early Spring...The Weather Can't seem to make up it's mind! - 02/12/08 10:47 PM
We're having the strangest of winters this year in Grand Rapids, MI.  Here's what my yard looked like just a month ago.  I wrote the post below because it was so strange to see green moss growing in the middle of what was supposed to be the dead of winter.
January 16, 2008
Here's a picture of what it looks like in Grand Rapids, Michigan when winter decides to take a hiatus and there's 60 degree weather in the middle of January.
It seems as though the trees are confused.  Why is there green moss up the tree trunks?  Some plants are also wondering … (18 comments)

Innovative Neighborhood Programs Create Opportunities for Grand Rapids, Michigan Home Buyers! - 02/12/08 06:53 PM
 
Recently, I sat down for lunch with an engaging, young mortgage professional, Hillary Kooy, to talk about her involvement with the Garfield Park Development Corporation. The Garfield Park Neighborhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan is  roughly bounded by Cottage Grove Street to the north, 28th Street to the south, Division and Century Streets to the west, and Eastern Avenue to the east.
Garfield Park is an eclectic and diversified neighborhood which is anchored by the historic neighborhood park by the same name.  It's a neighborhood which also supports a number of ethnic and minority communities and businesses.  The Garfield Neighborhood Association is one of Grand Rapids best … (10 comments)

The RendezVous in Black & White Sings Happy Birthday to Fraiche Aire! - 02/11/08 08:24 PM
 
 
A Rendezvous is A Gathering Place where people meet to Celebrate, Learn, Exchange Ideas, Share & Relax
                                  ***************
That Being Said, Today the RendezVous Inhales and Exhales PURE CELEBRATION in honor of the 1 YEAR BIRTHDAY OF of the Fraiche Aire Group!
Who would ever have guessed that EXACTLY this day, one year ago, Fraiche Aire on Active Rain would be launched from a small group of 30 Core Members to grow into what it is today?
Today, we Celebrate 192 Members who have contributed 1791 Posts &  made the  Fraiche Aire Group a place that people desire to stop for just a moment & … (31 comments)

What It Means to Live Within Peace... - 02/09/08 10:59 PM
 
You don't know you've lost Peace until you can't find it.  Sometimes you don't know you've lost Peace because you've never had it. 
Peace is not an absence of challenge or trial.  It is not a promise or guarantee of the avoidance of hardship.  Rather it is the stillness which draws from a deep well spring the knowledge that all that really matters...is well.
Peace is not about being popular or well-liked.  In fact maintaining it will sometimes require doing things which are deemed disagreeable and opposed.  However, Peace cannot be divorced from Truth and the Integrity to live a life which … (16 comments)

How The Nine Big Ideas of Social Media Can Transorm How Real Estate Information is Shared! - 02/09/08 09:29 PM
 
Perhaps the most daunting task facing Multiple Listing Systems (MLS) systems and real estate boards today is issue of Relevancy. It would be misguided to assume that the search of choice for real estate transactions in the future will necessarily be the local real estate MLS.  Unless significant changes are made which combine the best features of expertise and professionalism amongst MLS members with the enhancements available through technology today, the industry may find itself sidelined as the destination of choice for professional real estate information.
Today, I came across a Slideshare show by Frank Meeuwsen entitled "Nine Big Ideas of Social Media."  Meeuwsen essentially details the movement from the static … (14 comments)

I Wouldn't Pay Thousands of Dollars for A Half an Hour of Data Entry Either... - 02/08/08 11:23 PM
 
I don't know if this has ever happened to you, but sometimes a comment turns itself into a blog post.  That's what you get when you blog a lot I guess!  So, I decided I might as well make an honest post out of it. 
The question asked by a potential home seller on Trulia was about Commission...a burning issue in the minds of home owners trying to figure out how to sell their homes these days. 
Here's my answer to the question about:  What's the Average Commission in Grand Rapids, Mi these days?
Dear Concerned Homeowner:
Thanks for your question. Commission is a significant part … (34 comments)

How to Buy A Luxury Downtown Grand Rapids Condo Without A Tax Bill...Call Lola Audu! - 02/08/08 05:07 PM
 
Whether you're driving or walking through downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan...you can't help but feel it. 
It 's the New Energy which is palpable in the heart of the city.  You can witness the resurgence of life in the numerous buildings which have been built or re-furbished in recent years. 
The new energy can be observed in a simple tangible expression of an activity which had diminished and has now returned...the burgeoning expression of "street life".  Witness people walking to various places of business and recreation or streaming from a show at one of the many venues for entertainment.  Grand Rapids is experiencing a rebirth...a renaissance of sorts.
Originally … (8 comments)

Active Rain's Hidden Gems...Discovering Jewel Tones in Michigan! - 02/07/08 07:36 PM
 
I've been noticing some beautiful posts which are popping up all over Active Rain these days.  When, I stopped by Diane Aurit's blog the other day I was delighted to read about her choice for her Hidden Gem on the network, Rocky Turner.
The Hidden Gems project was started by Melissa Grant.  "Hidden Gems in the Rain is the search for talent on Active Rain that is just awaiting discovery or worthy of additional recognition. I know that I will always be grateful for those who noticed some glimpses of fledging talent when I first started blogging. 
I think of Maureen Francis who added my name as an associate before I even … (16 comments)

The Outhouse 500 & Other Uniquely Odd Current Events... - 02/06/08 04:09 PM
 
We live in amazing times. Last night as I watched the results come in from "Super Duper Tuesday," I was thinking about how extraordinary what we are witnessing in America is.  Even the pundits are stymied.  For the first time since Harding...it looks like the next president will be a Senator.
From there the odds become even more fascinating.  The four front runners are a middle aged white woman, a young African American man, an elderly white man and white man from a minority religion.  Then there's a preacher who seemed to come from nowhere and has NO money who is winning votes … (32 comments)

Becoming Armed & Dangerous...The Antidote to the Slippery Slope of Recession Anxieties! - 02/05/08 12:21 PM
 
Within the past 24 hours, I came across two very interesting bits of information.  The first was an informal survey conducted by Ramit Sethi, a recent graduate of Stanford University and co-founder of a Silicon Valley Start-Up.  He was asking people what they were doing to respond to the looming "threat" of an economic recession.  It was fascinating window of insight to the various coping mechanisms for belt tightening when times get tough. Here's the Slideshare show. Update: Unfortunately, the link is not working properly for the embeded show, so here are links to watch it on a different site:
My Real Estate … (51 comments)

Meme, Moi Monday Musings... - 02/04/08 07:15 PM
What's a Meme?  Well, it could be described as a game of virtual tag.  This particular Meme assignment was forwarded to my by Linda Scalan who was tagged by Ginger Wilcox on Active Rain. 
I've already done a Meme for Active Rain and wasn't planning to write another one.  However,  I've decided to write this Meme because of the recent launch of my Grand Rapids Real Estate Musings blog.  Since, this is a cross between a blog carnival (where you visit a number of different blogs ) and a traditional meme...perhaps it could be called a "carnimeme." 
The specific purpose of this Meme is to encourage folks to visit some … (22 comments)

5 Important Real Estate Trends To Watch in Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate in 2008! - 02/02/08 09:50 PM
 
The past 24 months have witnessed some of the most significant Trend Shifts in the real estate marketplace in Grand Rapids, Michigan. These shifts have occurred because of a variety of factors which have ranged from economic issues to emerging new technology. Here's a list of Five Important Real Estate Trends to watch.
1.  Absorption Rates
There has been a significant increase in homes for sale in the Grand Rapids area.  Today, there are almost twice as many homes on the market as there were 4 years ago.  What's most important about this trend is the Absorption Rate. This rate is calculated by determining how many months it would … (13 comments)

When Knowing Your Readers Takes Twittering to a Whole New Level! - 02/01/08 08:52 PM
 
I must admit that the whole Twitter thing is something that I've signed up for, but I've not been on the site very much.  Truth be told...I found it a little perplexing initially. Yes, the application is on my Facebook page too...but until today, I'd paid my twitter account scant attention. However, lately, I keep on bumping into enthusiast on the web who are hailing Twitter as the next New Thing when it comes to transmitting and tracking  your marketing message.
This latest Twitter update was a real surprise.  I had to read it twice when I got this message...
Hi, lolaaudu.MLive - MichiganLive (MLive) is now following your … (19 comments)

Mothers Fighting For Others...An Irresistible Movement! - 02/01/08 03:12 PM
Last year, I was introduced to a blog by an extraordinary woman and mother, Rocky Turner.  Rocky has a passion for children...her own and the children of the world.  She is a fighter...a warring angel who fights for the needs of others.
Active Rainers may be more familiar with Rocky's husband, Jeff Turner who is one of Active Rains' resident tech gurus educating us about all things technical and video related and the owner of the popular Real Estate Shows network.
In her unique way, Rocky affirms what it is to be a human being and to love other people with dignity.  In addition to … (19 comments)

 
Lola Audu~Real Estate Broker/Owner Grand Rapids, Michigan Real Estate (Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate) Rainmaker_large

Lola Audu~Real Estate Broker/Owner Grand Rapids, Michigan Real Estate

Grand Rapids, MI

More about me…

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate

Address: 3659 Alpine NW, Suite 102, Grand Rapids, MI, 49321

Office Phone: (616) 791-0511

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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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