Jason's Blog

Happy Thanksgiving, and Be Thankful

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:07:07 -0800

Boy it has been a while since I have been on Active Rain! I guess that isn't all bad since I have been too busy to post for quite some time. It is on this afternoon prior to a long holiday weekend that I got the chance to breathe, update my profile on Active Rain, and take stock of the past year. What a wild ride!

Blu House is chugging along, sales are good as we got a handle on short sales and taking advantage of the $8000 tax credit. This year I am thankful for my Survival. It was good old fashioned roll up your sleeves and do anything necessary to create activity in this business work ethic that helped me to survive the fallout of the last endeavor. The next few weeks will be filled with business planning, budgeting and training for the upcoming 2010. Our goal needs to be selling as much as possible before the tax credits expire, and figure out where our business will be in the second half of 2010.

I am also thankful for the high energy, hard working, and professional people that I work with. From top to bottom, I have no doubt that everyone at our company has the best interest of Blu House and our clients at heart. Perfection comes through practice and we have gotten so much better and stronger in the past few weeks by practicing our trade of Real Estate.

Finally, I am thankful for the opportunities that await me. With 10 plus years under my belt, I have learned many things, with one always standing out. You must look for and be able recognize opportunity when it is there. Simply sitting and waiting for the phone to ring will kill you in this market. We all know that. What a lot of agents need to learn is that when an opportunity is there, recognize it and seize it! I know slow or busy, there will be opportunities for me to make money in Real Estate in 2010 and beyond.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and keep up the good fight!

Jason

Extreme Makeover Home goes into foreclosure

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:04:00 -0700

Well, its all over the news today. An Atlanta couple who were the recipients of a brand new 5500 square foot home in Atlanta area in 2005 are losing their home to foreclosure. The result of a $450,000 home equity loan that was reportedly used for a construction business that has since failed.

www.ajc.com reports that 1800 volunteers helped build what was at the time the largest home for ABC's show and between the show and the builder, Beazer USA, they raised an additional $250,000 in scholarships, furnishings and included $100,000 for a home maintenance fund.

We recently had a similar problem here in Grand Rapids with a Habitat for Humanity recipient in foreclosure. It is very hard for me to justify people who squander such a valuable gift away. ABC claims they advise the recipient to consult with an advisor to work on finances. Shouldn't somebody record a lien or restrictive covenant that wouldn't allow re-financing, cashout helocs, or re-sale within a certain number of years or at all?

Let me know what you think?

Tall House project Called off

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:06:46 -0700

I read in last night's paper that Tall House Condo's has been called off. The state of the art 9-11 story project on Ottawa Avenue was slated for over 90 condo units.

I'm certain sluggish sales were part of the reason, but more than likely a bank financing the project changed the game. I've heard a lot of rumblings lately about banks changing terms midstream on developers.

Banks have asked for notes due in advance, increased equity in projects and mandatory rate and term re-finances at their discretions. Safety first, but what good does it really do? I don't understand how killing a project for the sake of safety can benefit the bank. In TallHouse's case, they hadn't broken ground, so maybe no harm no foul.

For those of you interested in urban living check out www.47lafayette.com a downtown condo project in Heritage Hill with prices from $124,900. We received our first reservation yesterday, and plan on having all 8 units reserved or sold in a short while.

Peace

Great new home for sale in Kenowa Hills School district

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:23:40 -0700

I've always said some houses you sell for love, and some you sell for money. This is one of my favorite homes I've ever sold, now it is on the market for another buyer to fall in love with. Kenowa Hills Schools, old world charm, tons of living space, a great amount of closet space and all the character you could ask for. This home was built in 1930 by the mason who owned and lived in it. It's got basement with bonus rooms that are concrete walled and have heavy steel doors that would make a great wine cellar!

Listed for $159,900 this three bedroom two bath home has great spacial relationships throughout the home. The living room has bonus space off one side, and a foyer that could be a den! The previous and current owners have taken great care to preserve the original woodwork and hardware, thus perserving period effect of the home.

This fantastic home sits on .7 acres on Kinney Avenue in Walker near but not too close to Remembrance road. The buyer of this home will appreciate all this home has to offer.

New Condominiums in Downtown Grand Rapids!

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:57:39 -0800

Not really a headline, with all the opportunities in Downtown Grand Rapids for condos, but...

This is a very unique that you should not overlook for your buyers. Melissa Allen who just recently joined Avalar Grand Rapids Real Estate and myself will be listing 47 Lafayette, a unique 8 unit condo building feautring 2 bedroom homes that start at $124,900. Units are customizable, with upgraded kitchen packages. Featuring a million dollar view, and nestled amongst some of Heritage Hill's most storied mansions. Formerly know as Hillview Apartments, this retro modern 8 flat was built in the 60's and recently purchased by Plum Ventures to do a condo conversion.

I really feel this fills a niche for the downtown condo market. With it's price point, location, quality of construction, and unique lifestyle, 47 Lafayette is a great place to live. Contact me for a showing today, and stay tuned for more news on 47 Lafayette.

Outstanding home near Ada, Michigan

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:44:18 -0700

Check out this great listing near Ada, MI

Forest Hills Schools

MLS # G603730

Price: $349,900

2445 Honey Creek Ave. NE

Ada, MI 49301

This 'old' farmhouse with its wrap around porch and all the conveniences of new construction is what Grandma would have really wanted. It has extra windows for sunlight, custom hardwood built-ins, white bead board kitchen cabinets, and a large sized mud room and bath. Upstairs there is a master bedroom suite, along with two other bedrooms and bath. The laundry room is on the second floor near the bedrooms! The basement is waiting for you to tell us how to finish-ALLOWANCE available! Close to Egypt Valley, Seidman Park, Cannonsburg Ski Area and many other parks and wildlife areas.

Tremendous House in Byron Center

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:23:10 -0700

Great opportunity in a buyer's market awaits in Byron Center

Incredibly beautiful design in the mold of Frank Lloyd Wright. Not just your ordinary home, contemporary in style. Very open floor plan with 10 foot ceilings on the main floor that make this home an entertainment gem. Beautiful and tasteful woodwork. Very large windows and lots of them for generous natural light. The Living Room features a gas fireplace with tile surround and the laminate floors flow through the Dining Area, Kitchen and Living Room. Gorgeous Cherry Cabinetry in the Kitchen and a very unique snackbar with a solid cement top. Top quality Stainless Steel appliances to remain. A large deck is directly off the Kitchen/Dining room area through beautiful French Doors. Very handy mud room with lockers, bench, and drawers for the ultimate in organization is right off the garage along with the Laundry room and a separate 1/2 Bath. Very well thought out. All four bedrooms are located upstairs. The Master Suite features a private bath with walk in, tiled shower with dual heads and his/hers walk in closets. The walkout basement is waiting for you to finish. Upscale neighborhood, underground sprinkling.

3111 Byron Depot Ct SW Byron Center

MLS #G595061

View this and search all other area listings at www.avalargr.com

Great Listing in Byron Center

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:11:30 -0700

Check out this great listing in Byrong Center.

MLS#: G596261

9455 Ravine Ridge

Incredible executive style 4 bedroom, 4+ bath Multi-Level walkout on 10 acres in one of Caledonia's finest communities. This home has everything you could ask for including central air, central vac, gourmet kitchen, inground pool surrounded by multi-level decks and decorative patios as well as a pool house, professional landscaping with lighting and outdoor speakers. In addition there is also a basketball court, baseball field, putting green, 3 season porch, indoor hot tub, sauna, theatre room, and a separate garage set up as a work out facility. The home has had many updates including roof, furnace and A/C in 2003 and a new fireplace insert that burns corn, wood pellets, cherry pits, etc in order to help keep heating bills down.

the state of mortgage companies in West Michigan

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 05:30:47 -0700

Thought I would chime in on the state of the mortgage business in the area. As many of you have heard, National City is the latest ( and I'm sure not last) to drop a bomb on the West Michigan economy. They are no longer wholesaling home equity lines. This follows the news from American Home Mortgage and Heartwell Mortgage closing up shop due to the downturn in loan activity.

It is quite surprising to me that respected names like National City, Heartwell, and AHM are the ones to announce problems. I always thought it would be the known bottom feeders in the industry that would be the first to go. Does anyone remember CommonPoint?

What this boils down to is necessary market correction. The dot.com industry went through this in the late 90's to early '00s and the wheat separated from the chaffe. Good lenders like National City are becoming more conservative, (and quite frankly may be positioning themselves for a buyout) in their lending practices. A much needed move in my opinion. Easy money has been floating out there for several years and lenders are wising up to it.

The salad days of easy, record pace home sales and quick refis are over. The market will now be driven by life factors for many years to come. What are life factors? Births, deaths, marriages, divorces. Add now to that a record pace of foreclosures and bankruptcy, and there will be buyers and sellers in every market.

Now may be a good time to start watching for good income properties. The biggest slingshot effect that I see are rental rates going up. Why is that? Simple. As lenders tighten their requirements for approval on loans and do away with the no money down, sign and drive programs, marginal credit borrowers will be forced to rent instead of buy. With it still a buyer's market for investment properties, and the potential for rates to rise, cash flow situations will improve.

Investment buyers should prepare themselves however, since the zero down investment property loans are also becoming a thing of the past. 10% down payment will probably become the norm. Portfolio owners should consider talking with a commercial lender to use any equity in current investment properties to bundle everything in to a commercial loan.

Grand Rapids Michigan County Map

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 08:58:38 -0700

The link provided below is a map of the entire state of Michigan and the counties it contains.

This picture is provided by the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors for public tax information by county.

It is helpful when searching West Michigan for Real Estate to know where the counties are if you are unfamiliar.

You can search many different Real Estate Websites by geographical area, but county inormation is important for tax data and socio economic data.

First the Globe Now the Times

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 13:32:34 -0700

Two weeks ago it was the Boston Globe with a nice op ed piece on what a great city Grand Rapids, Mich. is and how the coastal cities could take a cue from the Midwestern cities and what they have to offer. (See my previous blog)

Now, dateline, July 11,2007 in the NY Times has an article on the Health Mecca known as Pill Hill in Grand Rapids. I said it before and I'll say it again. It was just a matter of time. With a depressed residential Real Estate Market, high unemployment and enough good things despite the weather, going on in West Michigan, it is only a matter of time before Fortune 500 companies realize what this area has to offer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/11/realestate/commercial/11hill.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

If I were a CEO, CFO, or on the Board of Directors at a high tech company like Microsoft, or IBM, I would look at this area and say, "Gee I could open a headquarters for half the cost of the west or east coast, get reliable hard working help locally, relocate employees to an area, decrease wages, but at the same time, increase their overall quality of life by providing low cost of living and very affordable real estate. Why shouldn't I?"

Now the reality is currently, for all of the good that the namesakes of all the development and buildings in Grand Rapids, there is one shortfall. The companies, for the most part are privately held. I still maintain Fortune 100 to Fortune 500 investments is still needed to put Grand Rapids on the map. It will come, be patient.

Practice your Real Estate in this market, and be prepared for the windfall when the tide rolls back in.

Rejuvenated Sales Effort for Douglas, MI condos

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 08:42:23 -0700

I would like to announce Avalar Grand Rapids Real Estate newest listings. The Northern Lights Condominium in beautiful Douglas, Michigan. Just minutes from the water and sandy beaches, championship golfing, and world class dining, Northern Lights offers affordable floorplans to fit your budget. Amenities include, pool with clubhouse, wireless internet, and beautiful grounds and common areas. Originally a main drag motel, this condoconversion was designed and built with attention to detail, exquisite furnishings and quality materials.

Prices start at just $139,900 for a studio and range up to $244,900 for a top floor two bedrooms unit.

Please check out www.northern-lights-condos.com for more information

Going Green in Real Estate

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:29:09 -0700

As Kermit the Frog used to say, "It's not easy being green." I am a child of the 80's. Miami Vice, Magnum PI, hair bands, heavy metal, fast cars, fun, excess, Wall Street, and a slight bit of wondering and skepticism about whether the environment was ours to use, or ours to protect. As a product of a blue collar working class family, I went to work in high school, (actually before that) worked through college, and worked after college without the time or money to hike through Europe to "find myself". I never had time for causes and never got behind a movement. So when Global Warming became a topic of the day, I wondered, read, analyzed and still am not sure about it. Climates change on their own, but man has a huge impact on earth now like it or not.

I remember two things from Jr. High Conservation Class. Water will be our most precious resource in the 21st century and overpopulation is the greatest threat to the Earth. It was unfathomable at 12 years old to think that by the time I was looking at 40 the Earth's population would double, and we would be suing corporations over their extraction of our ever prevalant ground water in the elevated swamp we call Michigan. (Not to mention a general tug of war to see who controls a great deal of the Earth's surface freshwater in the Great Lakes.

Roll back the clocks a little to a post 9-11 business world. Real Estate was booming, the economy was struggling to grow and George W enacts a little known law that allows self employed people to right off the entire purchase price of a truck or truck weight vehicle to give the economy some growth. The loophole... as a Realtor, my full size SUV purchased on 12-30-03 was completely tax deductible for my '03 taxes. Great truck, used it to haul consctruction equipment, sat on to of the world, hauled clients around with ease and comfort, and felt like I had "made" it. Only problem? 14 mpg overall and quick call to OPEC everytime I had to fill up.

No big deal, business was booming, clients liked the truck and I sold a few more houses to make the payment and fill her up. I also took advanage of credit cards giving cash back to buy my gas. Enter Hurricane Katrina, speculation of record oil company profits and price gouging at the pump. Temporary price spikes led to mass e-mails of gas outs and boycotts to teach the oil companies a lesson. I would always urge my fellow e-mailers to look at the big picture. Until we reduce consumption and change our habits, prices would remain high no matter what day of the week you bought your gas.

It's now spring of 2007. I have wound down my construction projects, my job has changed and gas is approaching $4.00 per gallon. I am trying to plan my trips to the store, rental units, office, and elsewhere to minimize gas consumption. It's still putting a dent in my wallet. I've finally had enough. I start doing my research, begin shopping around, and finally decide to take the plunge on a hybrid. 2008 Ford Escape AWD. Still roomy to put clients in, capable off road to get me to my favorite fishing hole, and good for the environment with less consumption.

I found out that when I explain to my friends, family and clients why I am doing it, they always agree and say good for you! Here I was worried about what my clients thought about what I drive, but they respect my need to be proactive more.

Bottom line? Going green isn't easy. It cost me money to get rid of my full size SUV. It costs extra to do things in our office like recycling paper and keeping the lights low and the AC high. It costs extra on my flip house to add extra insulation and find environmentally friendly building materials. But it helps. We are not going to quench our thirst for foreign oil overnight. We will never completely eliminate our need for fossil fuels as a modern society. But if we all do 10 things to Reduce Reuse and Recycle. It can't hurt.

I'm a better driver trying to maximize the MPG on my Hybrid. I feel better putting less pollution in the air. I think more about recycling on a daily basis. I'm glad I bit the bullet and tried something new. Next time I get an e-mail to avoid the gas pump on a certain day, I will. Not because I think it will work, but because I probably won't need gas that day anyway! Below are some links to some websites you can use to go Green.

http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/

http://www.hybridcars.com/cars.html

http://powerscorecard.org/reduce_energy.cfm

http://www.cleanerandgreener.org/resources/emission_reductions.htm

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19

It was bound to happen

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 10:26:28 -0700

I got an e-mail from my friend John Seville at First Horizon Home loans today with a link to the story I've quoted below from the Boston Patriot Newspaper. I have been telling everyone for six months, at some point someone is going to take notice of what West Michigan has to offer. The cost of living and fantastic way of life here will not go unnoticed and lead someone to invest in the community. It will not be long before an industry will settle its headquarters here and create the "Boston" type of jobs that make a community the envy of the rest of the country. John's take was all is not negative here and I have to agree! Enjoy a nice compliment from the big city below.

COMMENTARY - AMERICA'S HEARTLAND - Why can't we be more like Grand Rapids?

By JOANN FITZPATRICK

..."Darned right, it is. I was in Grand Rapids, Mich., for a wedding. What I knew about Grand Rapids before going there was that it was the hometown of President Gerald Ford and site of his presidential library and museum. And also the home of Amway, though I and other out-of-town guests had only a vague idea of what Amway sells.

The small talk that predominates at events like this was punctuated repeatedly by wedding guests proclaiming to one another, ‘‘What a nice town, what a surprise!'' Many if not most of the guests flew in from both coasts and interesting places in between, such as Santa Fe. There was elitism to spare but at the same time a willingness to be charmed by a place that truly seems to represent good old-fashioned American values.

If there are surreptitious litter police, they keep themselves well hidden, but the streets of Grand Rapids are as gleaming as the refurbished buildings throughout the downtown. Community pride is everywhere. I couldn't help but compare what I saw to cities and towns back home."

The article goes on to blame the residents of Boston not the government for trash in the streets and other maladies that don't make a good first impression. Having been to Boston recently, I can say that it is not the cleanest city, but by far not the dirtiest I've been to.

..."Downtown Grand Rapids, a city of about 200,000, is a laboratory of urban renewal. Formerly a manufacturing city - home of Kelvinator, for example - it faces a huge challenge in reshaping its economy. The state of Michigan is no help, since its automobile-reliant economy has been in the hopper for years, with more bad news sure to come.

So what is Grand Rapids turning to? Health care. And here is where it could be interesting to Massachusetts. Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids' biggest employer, is creating a cancer center and also expanding its medical research, including a new center for molecular medicine. Michigan State University is moving its medical school to the city. You may say, ‘‘So what?'' But think about all those Boston-area college graduates, our biggest source of human capital, and the cost of living in Massachusetts, and then compare it to Grand Rapids. There you can buy a five-bedroom house in the historic district for $400,000. Yup, $400,000, and you could walk to work, breathe clean air and not worry about litter blowing in your face. And your children could attend a neighborhood school. The historic district, a microcosm of American architectural styles, was rehabilitated decades ago solely because of the efforts of public-spirited citizens."

The cost of living in Grand Rapids and West Michigan is phenominal compared to the east and west coasts. As our technology grows within our region, so will the jobs and more people will come meaning good growth for the Real Estate Market.

Excerpts of the article were credited to:

JoAnn Fitzpatrick, former editorial page editor, can be reached at joannftzptrck@yahoo.com .

Copyright 2007 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Saturday, June 16, 2007

From Hawaii with love

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Fri, 11 May 2007 19:07:44 -0700

I wanted everyone to know that opportunity knocks every day in the real estate business. I chartered a boat out of Lahaina today to do some deep sea fishing. (PLease read my previous blog about why real estate is like fishing.) Our first mate is a young man with wander lust, by the name of Stephen Mundy. He is a well spoken and intelligent guy, who also happens to be a newer Keller Williams Agent. Where is the opportunity you may ask? Well let's count. As I'm riding a boat with no fish, we have quite a time to talk business. I now have a Maui referral partner for my clients to purchase investment or vacation homes. I also now have a contact from another company other than my own that I can recruit to Avalar Real Estate. Now this will not happen overnight, and could never happen, but.... the possibility exists, and that makes all the difference. Please welcome my newest Active Rain recruit, from KW Maui, Stephen Mundy, when he gets signed up .

Tax deductions and Real Estate

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Sun, 06 May 2007 05:28:35 -0700

On the eve of my long awaited trip to Maui, I am sitting here pondering the viability of deducting the expenses associated with taking this trip for Real Estate related purposes. I am going to see friends and former clients get married. My one friend stopped by yesterday and told me his folks were looking for vacant land. Of course they will be at the wedding and will be talking with me there about their real estate needs.

Wondering if this makes this tax deductible. Of course I will always do the necessary stop by a Real Estate office, pick up a catalog, leave a few cards, and pretend to be interested at an open house. However, is this enough? If you have any thoughts comments etc. please weigh in! I'd love to hear your comments.

For several years I always make a habit of investigating the local Real Estate scene looking for good investments, and feel it is okay to write off my trip. I think it is okay. I actually can't wait to see what things are selling for in a different market, especially one as unique as Hawaii. I'll let you know what I find when I get back.

Jason

Thank you Real Estate Community

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Fri, 04 May 2007 06:16:52 -0700

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who attended our office open house yesterday. A special thanks to Andrew Baker of Mercantile Bank for sponsoring the event, and Craig Boening of America's Preferred Home Warranty for supplying a door prize.

Congratulations to Julie Rossio of Keller Williams for correctly guessing $150 for the jar of money
Congratulations to Chris Freeman of Five Star for second place-$50 Celebration Cinema Gift Card
Congratulations to George Keely of Avalar Home Team in Flint for third place- Binoculars

Another thank you to Title Rite, Avalar Corporate Headquarters, Michele T Brown Group, Hastings City Bank, Karen Bouma, Lighthouse Title, and the others who sent the wonderful flowers. (Sorry I am typing this from home and don't have eveyrone in my head that sent them.)

This was truly extraordinary how many people showed up yesterday to learn more about our high tech capabilities, and the Avalar Path to Success.

Thanks again,

Jason Carpenter

Business Manager

Avalar Grand Rapids Real Estate

Double Homestead Exemption Liability

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 14:53:35 -0700

I saw an interesting bit on the GRAR website today that is either new or new to me. It details information about the Homestead Property Tax Exemption for Michigan. As Michigan Realtors know, Michigan law permits property owners to claim a principal residence exemption, otherwise known as Homestead, from taxes by school districts.

Only one exemption may be claimed by a person. The state defines a principal residence as one place where a property owner has his or her true, fixed, and permanent home which continues until another principal residence is established.

Unbeknownst to me, GRAR states that Michigan law requires a property owner rescind his or her principal residence exemption no later that 90 days after the property ceases to be used as his/her principal residence. Failure to do so, can result in a $5 per day fine up to $200.00. In addition, corrected tax bills including penalties and interest can be issued, with a lien being placed on the owner if he/she fails to pay.

GRAR is recommending that any vacant listing an agent is involved with on either side of the transaction, should have proof of recision given to the agent.

This is probably a good thing that we do this. I had a seller a few years ago, list his condo with me in Gaines Township, move to Minnesota to rental living for a year while his condo here took time to sell. Somehow Gaines found out that he changed the address on his Driver's License, and started billing him for non-homestead taxes. So, everyone should be aware that principal residence doesn't even mean the only home you own. It is the place where you live! Not what all seller's want to hear with multiple properties or a vacant home they are trying to sell. Unfortunately for Michigan, May 1 is right around the corner, so Homestead exemption must be claimed by then or even those homes that will be owner occupied after this date will continue to be taxed at the non-Homestead rate for that municipality.

GRAR also recommended calling the MAR Legal hotline at 1-800-522-2820 for further information, or better yet, have your clients consult with an attorney.

Now for the After, NE Grand Rapids Refurbished Home

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 14:21:24 -0700

Okay, Here are the after or almost after photos. We are still in the midst of finishing trim, paint and flooring. cabinets will be in by the middle of May. Enjoy and contact me if you are or have an interested buyer.

As you can see, we've put in a lot of work on this classic two story home. New vinyl siding, new aluminum soffit, and gutters. a new one stall garage, and new porch on the outside. Inside the bathrooms and kitchen will have ceramic tile, a must in my eyes for a quality upgrade. Six inch baseboards, all new plumbing and electric, and to top it off, 3/4" hickory floors throughout the living, dining and family room. Family room will also have a gas fireplace.

New listing! My first Flip house, see before and after

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:15:01 -0700

I just listed my first flip house as it nears completion. I will insert the before photos here, so you can see the progress we've made. I will continue to post new pictures as things become complete.

Fantastic opportunity for like new construction in established quiet city neighborhood. This classic 3 bedroom floor plan has been refurbished from top to bottom. Set for completion by 5/31/07. 3/4' Hickory flooring throughout main floor, jetted tub in large main bath, with separate shower stall. Ceramic tile in kitchen and baths. Buyers with an eye for design will love the 6' baseboards, current paint colors, and attractive kitchen cabinetry. Gas fireplace in family room will add to warmth of this great home. New low-e glass double pane windows throughout, fiberglass insulation and new high quality vinyl siding will keep the heat bills low. 12x16 deck scheduled for back of house with access from new Pella slider in dining room.

BEFORE

After- Coming Soon! Price is $159,900 near Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI just near Fulton Hts.

Rockford Vacant Land

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:05:35 -0700

JUST LISTED! 2.0 Acre Walkout site in Cannon Township in Rockford, Michigan.

Great opportunity to build your dream house with a view in Kent County. Rolling countryside lot East of Rockford on Ten Mile Road. Land has a view to the West that is grand! Your backyard features trees and wildlife. Split is approved with Cannon Township and can be taken at any time.

Why Real Estate Sales is like fishing

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 07:04:45 -0700

Whaaat? How can you say fishing is like selling Real Estate? Easy, in both you spend countless hours prospecting the waters for the big one, catch several small and mid size ones along the way to keep and eat, and if you are like me, sad to leave after a full day of it, and can't wait to get out for more the next day. Now that one run on sentence sums it up, let me digress and give you the details in paragraph form.

Prospecting- Think back to when you were a new agent, and had that first hot lead, that first prospect. Now think back to when you went fishing for the first time. My Dad was the first one to take me fishing, he showed me the ropes. Often helped me bait my hook with a dirty little worm, cast my line, watch the bobber, and set the hook when it went down. When I got to the point where I could do all this on my own, he still kept an eye on me, acted as my coach. But we had a system for catching bluegills on Sugarloaf Lake, and it worked. Basically, I did as I was told and I practiced that and eventually caught fish. My first years in Real Estate were the same way. I did what I was told, and reeled in a few sales. Eventually my Dad, taught me to cast lures, with a different rod and reel and for bass. By this time we were in a boat of our own, with different gear on a different lake. Bigger fish, more often with better tools. With Real Estate, I remember the day I bought my first laptop, digital camera, bought a personal website etc, in the hopes of landing bigger sales more often.

The beauty of prospecting in Real Estate, and why I didn't likely get bored in this business, is you can reinvent yourself every so often in order to get new business. I am learning new ways to fish and progressing all the time. I learned with a worm, a cane pole, a hook and a bobber. A while back after fishing with lures, and a spin cast reel for bass and pike for several years, I took up spinner fishing for trout. I needed waders, a spinning reel, and different lures. Just recently I added to that by trying my hand at fly fishing for trout, and bait fishing for Salmon and Steelhead. Same river, just a different approach for more and bigger fish. Last year I bought my first boat. A 25' big lake boat to troll Lake Michigan for Salmon and Steelhead. I've invested in technology. (The analogy loses a bit here if you account that my boat is almost 30 years old and isn't the "latest" technology.) In Real Estate, I prospected FSBO's and expireds, went to By Referral Only, began investing in websites, to re-invent my focus and to actually maintain focus while selling.

Systems- The key to good fishing and good sales in Real Estate is systems. When I hit the river for a weekend, I have checklist, (sometimes mental). Boots, waders, rod, reel, line, lures, net, vest etc. My Real Estate practice also uses checklists. Listings have their own checklist, prospecting gets scheduled regulary, I account for my income, and so on. If you buy all the fishing gear on the planet, but don't know how to use it and don't prepare to use it properly, the first day of trout season in the cold water and semi darkness, fumbling to tie a not, casting in to the trees and losing big fish will not lead to success.

Practice- A lucky few can hit the water a time or two a year and land a fish. A lucky few (we all know them) can walk in the office twice a month and close a deal. However for longevity in this business, and long term success in fishing, you must practice. Steelhead and salmon fisherpeople always talk about going 2 for 5 or 3 for 7. Landing versus hook ups. You don't ever hear Realtors saying I went 3 for 4 on listing appointments this week. But mentally they are. The more polished and practiced you are in your delivery of a lure or a listing presentation, the better chance you have at success. The more time you spend on the water, the more you learn about when fish bite, where they will bite, what they will bite on. Same is true for Real Estate. There are lifelong students of this industry that go to every seminar, broker open house and free lunch under the sun. But they aren't out their "on the water". I was at a outdoors convention recently and there was a gentleman there who was displaying his hand tied flies. A real work of art. I asked him if they caught fish. He looked at me and said with a straight face, "I don't know, I've never tried catching fish with them before". If you buy or make the greatest listing presentation in the world and never get in front of potential listing clients with it, you will never list a house either.

In closing, let me just say this. There are days I prepare, have practiced and am ready to land the big one, but I mis-step on a log or rock and fall over in the river. It's not fun, but I get up and keep fishing. I've also had a great listing presentation, and not made the sale. But I learn not to step on the floating log again, and I learn from my mistakes in real estate too. That's what keeps me coming back.

First Blog

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:14:36 -0700

Thanks again to Lola Audu and Ethan Dozeman for opening my eyes to the world of blogging. I visit several chat forums sites for my personal life, mostly fishing, and I have a Myspace page, but I never realized the power of blogging until I attented Lola's seminar last week. I truly believe that this is the future of Real Estate. Funny, thing as I started typing this, the phone rang and it was our local newspaper asking if I have had a chance to review their contract and I almost started laughing. See, I am the new business manager at Avalar Grand Rapids Real Estate, and I am now in charge of recruiting, and training agents for our company. In addition, I am also charged with setting up our marketing campaigns.

I can count on one hand the number of results the Sunday paper produced for me from advertising in the past three years. What a waste of money! Now as the manager of this office, I met with the paper to discuss rates and what they could do to increase our business. I had some innovative ideas that would drive traffic to our company website, but it just couldn't be done. Or so they said. They were quick to mention their 5% rate increase this year though.

Anyway, not to get too preachy on my first visit to this, but I am so excited by the opportunities that could arise from this I am going to be challenging each one of my agents to start blogging on this site and others in order to make Avalar Grand Rapids the premier technologically advanced company in Grand Rapids and throughout West Michigan. Thanks again, Lola and Ethan.

Jason

New Real Estate Office Open House

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:46:36 -0700

Grand Rapids Real Estate Office Open House
Thursday May 3rd, 2007 - 3:00PM - 7:00PM
Grand Rapids, MI- Avalar Grand Rapids Real Estate is proud to announce the opening of their second West Michigan Location. Realtor and affiliate members of GRAR are invited to stop by and see our newest location. Avalar Real Estate is a nationally franchised, locally owned and operated Real Estate Firm dedicated to a providing a high tech, low cost environment where agents can grow their Real Estate practice through in-house training and goal oriented accountability programs. Avalar Grand Rapids Real Estate looks forward to seeing you at the open house, or hearing from you for a private and confidential tour.

Dutton investment property

Jason Carpenter (Blu House Properties) — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:14:14 -0700

I have a great investment opportunity in Dutton. This is NOT a bank owned property, but rather an absentee owner that needs to get rid of this house. It is a solid brick multi-level home on almost one acre of land right next to Dutton County Park.

It needs everything cosmetically top to bottom and is in need of a new heat system. There is an old boiler that was not properly winterized and must be replaced with either a new system including the pipes, or a new Gas Forced Air system configured.

The owners have a recent appraisal in its current state minus the boiler issue for $189,000. We have this listed at $150,000. Buyer is motivated! Please contact me if you have any further interest.

Jason