West Michigan Homes for Sale - 05/26/10 11:59 AM
West Michigan Homes for Sale
 
Here are some great homes from sale in West Michigan, brought to you by our great referral network.  These homes are in many cities including Byron Center, Belmont, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Montague, Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Hudsonville, Middleville, Shelby, Rockford, Allendale and Holland to name a few. 
Just click on the picture below to take a look at these homes.

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Lets Stop The Insanity - 05/25/10 01:01 PM
Lets Stop The Insanity
 
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Albert Einstein
This great word was brought up to me today and reminded  me how many times I had presented it to professionals asking for my advice or help.  There are so many instances where this word comes  into play:
 

You are frustrated for not having enough time in the day: do you block out your time or just do things as they come up and try to get the day to day done in between?  do you work on new … (0 comments)

New Group ~ Facebook Fanatics: Please Join! - 05/25/10 10:00 AM

Via Lori Cofer ~ REALTOR® -- Pullman WA Real Estate -- 509-330-0086 (Beasley Realty):
Being a huge Active Rain fan, not to mention an Active Rain addict, I like so many of us found myself a bit lost when we as a community had our recent and thankfully forgotten problems as we moved the servers. During that time I found myself really missing those Active Rainers who have become a daily part of my morning routine.  
 
I plain and simple missed my Active Rain friends.  So....I was drawn to facebook.. See, I was missing your face.... And as I did, … (2 comments)

Build Your Dream Home in Hudsonville, MI - 05/20/10 03:38 PM
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How Handling a Real Estate Transaction is Like Getting Married~HOUSE OR SPOUSE! Getting to the Alter is only the First Step! - 05/19/10 05:44 PM

Via Lake Livingston Real Estate by Deb Brooks:
Does this seem like a strange analogy? It isn't. It follows human nature and the LAW of Nature. What do we love and cherish the most in this life?
1.  Our Higher Power.
2.  Our Spouse.
3.  Our Families.
4.  Our Home that we house our Spouse, our families and pray to our Higher Power in. Right?
Have you ever compared just how close a Real Estate Transaction is to the planning of a marriage? It's amazingly parallel. It's amazingly "fitting like a glove" and if we stray, "IT" could be lost.
"IT" IS … (0 comments)

2 Billion Videos Viewed Daily, Are You Optimizing Video Online? - 05/19/10 05:40 PM
Don't forget the videos!
Via Jeremy Blanton (210 Consulting~ Social Media Advisors):
Yesterday I read an article on Mashable that YouTube recently passed 2 Billion views a day on their network.  YouTube, a company that recently celebrated their 5th birthday has become quite the major component to any businesses online marketing strategy.  Whenever I am doing online consulting with a client regarding their social media marketing strategy, I always try to encourage them to integrate video as a main component of the online marketing strategy.
Next to behemoth search enging Google, YouTube (which is actually owned by Google) is the second most … (0 comments)

What You Should Know about the New GFE and HUD-1 Forms - 05/19/10 05:21 PM
An Agent's take-away on the new GFE and HUD forms
Via Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate ~ 760-840-1360 (RE/MAX Moonlight Beach (CA DRE Lic. # 01490977)):
What You Should Know about the New GFE and HUD-1 Forms   One of the more interesting sessions at NAR on day 2 last week, surprisingly, was a session on RESPA, specifically the new GFE (Good Faith Estimate) and HUD-1 Forms. Phillip Schulman, Esq., conducted the session with plenty of specific things to know and a fair bit of humor. 
The main components of these documents include: 
New GFE (Good Faith Estimate) Controversial YSP (Yield Spread … (0 comments)

Do It Yourself Gardening/Landscaping Idea - 05/11/10 05:44 PM
Very creative, simple way to do some landscaping.
Via Carissa Acker (Real Estate by Design with Keller Williams Realty):
I came across a great idea for gardening in small places.  It also is a great idea for adding to your backyard and landscaping in a very interesting way.  Here is a picture that showcases beautiful gardening using cinder blocks built into a wall.
 

 
A few tips/ideas:
- notice that the plants in the pictures are succulents.  Cinder blocks have a tendency to absorb water and also get very hot, which means that you have to keep whatever you plant in … (0 comments)

Sour Cream Cheesecake - 05/11/10 10:40 AM
I just had to re-blog this as cheesecake is something I can not resist.
Via Gary White~ Grand Rapids Real Estate, FlexIt Realty, a call or click away! (Flexit Realty~Serving West Michigan):
                                                   Sour Cream Cheesecake
Crust
2-1/2 Cups packaged graham cracker crumbs
1/4 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup butter or regular margarine, softened

Filling
5 pkg (8 oz size) soft cream cheese
1-3/4 cups Sugar
3 Tablespoons Flour
1 Tablespoon grated lemon peel
1/4 teaspoon vanila extract
5 … (3 comments)

Why Working Less Hours Increases Your Income - 05/06/10 03:39 PM
There is a big difference between time management and managing your time.  
 
One is about your “calendar” the other is about setting “boundaries”.But first, here are some truths to embrace:
    You’ll never be caught up with your work/business (believe me I have tried and it is just not possible)     There are no “real estate business” emergencies (no one will die if the loan doesn't close today)     Working less will increase your business (I know this sounds crazy) Once you adopt this mindset, here are some boundaries to consider setting up for yourself.
    Use the first hour … (10 comments)

Are you Familiar with the Loan Quality Initiative? - 05/06/10 02:36 PM
New Rule Makes for Bumpy Ride to the Closing Table
This is really BIG news; new rule from Fannie Mae called the Loan Quality Initiative (LQI)!
What it means is that in addition to “underwriting conditions” that may be required from the underwriter to close the loan, the loan must now be  “audited” by a quality control person to double-check the underwriter.  Yes, the loan will be "underwritten" twice—and not at the same time either! Here are some of the things they’ll be checking for:    Borrower Identify        Income Calculations        Employment    Source of Assets        Appraisal Review             MI CoverageWhile … (0 comments)

Short Sales: Ask Your Agent - 05/05/10 11:49 AM
Short Sales: 8 Top Questions to Ask a Listing Agent
If you’ve sold a short sale within the last year or two, you know how difficult and  time consuming it can be—especially if you are working with the buyer.  And then, you have the lender, who has to keep re-verifying info and updating credit reports and appraisals!  Whew!  If you are working with a listing agent who does not have experience in working with short sales—you’re either in for a wild ride—or a frustrated (or lost) buyer.  Here are some questions to ask the listing agent—before you submit a contract! 
At … (2 comments)

Beautiful home in Grandvile, MI: 5651 Koster - 05/05/10 11:26 AM
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Me

Katrina Cole

East Grand Rapids, MI

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Success Mortgage Partners- Real Estate/Marketing

Address: Grand Rapids, MI, 49506

Office Phone: (616) 920-1937

Cell Phone: (616) 350-5515

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Bringing the important financial news to you in words that we can all understand from the professionals you trust. Throw out the lingo and know the facts. Take some time to learn some new marketing strategies and new technology with our featured posts. It is not about what and how much you know, it is how you choose to share and utilize that knowledge. Katrina Cole; taking your from invisible to Visible!
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