Grand Rapids Real Estate is My Real Job - Terry Westbrook

Ada MI Farmer's Market Open in September

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 21:19:47 -0700

Ada MI Farmer's Market Open in September

Every Tuesday in September, the 4th, 11th, 18th, and the 25th, the Farmer's Market

in Ada Michigan will be open and running as usual.

The harvest is peaking in the month of September, so check out the outstanding

produce in Ada. Featuring Music in the Market at 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm. with

jazz, bluegrass, and fok music for your enjoyment.

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The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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Grand Rapids Jazz at the Zoo - Monday Nights 2012

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 04:33:24 -0700

Grand Rapids Jazz at the Zoo – Monday Nights 2012

Begins Monday June 4, 2012 runs through August 16

From 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the The John Ball Park Band Shell

The West Michigan Jazz Society will be featuring local bands

and talent Monday nights. Free admission, although the hat

is passed for donations. The West Michigan Jazz Society is

trying to keep this tradition going for the 12th year.

So, grab a blanket, food, or purchase food at the event, and

enjoy local jazz at its best.

Summer 2012 Jazz at the Zoo:

June 4 – 2 Jazz Bands & E.Kentwood HS Jazz Combo

June 11 - The Beltline Big Band

June 18 – Groupo Aye

June 25 -The Tom Hagen Quartet featuring Rick Reuther

July 2 – Mark Kahny Band features Boogie Woogie Babies

July 9 – Petra Von Nuis Quartet w/Andy Brown

July 16 – Mary Rademacher Reed w/ The Midtown Horns

July 23 – Edye Evans Hyde w/ Terry Lower Quartet

July 30 – Evidence and Orquestra Tradicion

August 6 – The Family led by Nick Ayoub

August 13 – Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra led by Tim Froncek

Syndicated from Grand Rapids Real Estate Blog

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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Another Amazing Real Estate Tale from Grand Rapids Michigan

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:58:18 -0700

Another Amazing Real Estate Tale from Grand Rapids Michigan

I have a story to tell you, about a house that wouldn't sell.

This is a true story but the names and places will be omitted

so that no home sellers are injured. This won't be a new story

for anyone in the real estate business for the last 4-5 years.

But apparently, people in the consumer selling arena still

aren't familiar with the facts of home selling these days.

There was a VERY NICE home in a VERY NICE neighborhood

ina VERY NICE community near you. The community has ex-

cellent schools, low home inventory, and lots of people who

would like to live there. The home owners listed their VERY

NICE home with a local company and waited.

BUT, the home didn't sell.

And it didn't sell.

I am sure the original listing agent suggested a price decrease.

Well, wouldn't you? But they got a different agent, a friend in their

church group had just enterd the real estate business. They were

sure that the new agent would be able to sell the home at

their price. She was so nice.

And it didn't sell.

So they got a different real estate agent again.

The sellers knew that a really big company with lots of agents

to sell their home would make all the difference and they could

get the price they wanted. The new agent was recommended by

a neighbor. But they had their price in mind, they were firm.

And it didn't sell.

So they interviewed 3 agents and hired the one with the best

marketing program. Their home was exposed to every venue

on the internet and to some they never had heard of. This was

going to work this time, even with their original price. They had

a marketing genius!

And it didn't sell.

They had lots of showings. In fact, when the phone rang, the

lady of the house cringed because she was tired of preparing

their home for showings with no offer. It was so discouraging.

But their agent said, "You just never know, this might be "the one"."

They got an offer. It was below what they were asking by about

12%. Should they be insulted? Should they consider this offer?

Their agent had been asking for a price decrease. Was this a

reasonable offer? Their home had been on the market for

almost 3 1/2 years at the same price. But they had put so much

money into it.

To protect the innocent, and move the story along, the Listing Agent

was finally able to negotiate the offer acceptance.

And the home sold.

Moral of the Story: Home prices will flucuate on what buyers

feel the home is worth. Buy a home to live in and enjoy but

when it is time to sell, the current market will dictate the price.

Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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Grand Rapids Michigan First Quarter 2012 East Suburban Real Estate Market Reports

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:51:52 -0700

Grand Rapids Michigan First Quarter 2012 East Suburban Real Estate Market Reports

The following suburban market reports cover the first quarter real estate

activity in each Grand Rapids area. Some local areas are holding their value

better than others. All areas are still seeing some price erosion, though a

much smaller percentage than previously.

If you are considering selling your home, we recommend listing as soon as

possible. The nation's largest banks still have foreclosure inventory

that has not hit the marketplace. These estimated 4 million homes will be

put on the market sometime in 2012.

We would be happy to give you an idea of what your home is worth today.

Give Terry a call at 1-888-240-1968 ext 0.

Lowell Michigan Real Estate Market Report Jan - Mar 2012

Rockford Michigan Real Estate Market Report Jan - Mar 2012

Caledonia Michigan Real Estate Market Report Jan-Mar 2012

East Grand Rapids Michigan Real Estate Market Report

Forest Hills Michigan Real Estate Market Report

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

________________________________________________________

Top 5 Things to Do Before You List Your Home

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 07:20:49 -0700

Top 5 Things to Do Before You List Your Home

You have decided to move. Now, your focus turns to selling

your existing home. Not easy in this economic climate and

with fussy buyers rejecting your home by online browsing,

before they even step a foot into it.

Your top priority should be to make your home look spotlessly

clean. Cleaning your home top to bottom will make the biggest return

in home selling price, a whopping 592% of the cost of cleaning,

according to HomeGain. This means de-cluttering closets and storage

areas, carpeting, cleaning light fixtures, fans, and appliances until

they sparkle. Animal odors, smoking, and food odors will turn off

potential buyers as soon as they walk in the door. Those plug-in

fragrances won’t fool buyers, either.

Lightening and brightening your home is second on the list.

This means painting over dreary or stained walls with a fresh coat

of paint and replacing burnt out light bulbs. If you have dark rooms

in your home, purchase some floor lamps to light up the area.

Home Staging is the third most important item you can do.

If you have too much furniture, or overly large furniture, it makes

your home look crowded. If you have collections and

accumulations of stuff, it doesn’t look like there will room for the

new buyers furnishings. Remember: Less is More, more room for

the new buyers home furnishings.

Landscaping in the yard is the fourth largest payback for sellers

compared to cost. Take time to refresh bark in beds, trim overgrown

branches and foundation plantings; new buyers don’t want to move

in with a project list. A pot of fresh flowers by the front door is also

a sign that you are proud of your home and take good care of it.

Electrical and plumbing repair is crucial to the new buyer.

Take care of any issues because they will probably show up

on the inspection and that just gives buyers a chance to

bargain your home price down. Most common is tub and shower

caulking that looks moldy. Get it replaced with new caulk. If

you have been considering upgrading your electrical system,

buyers will appreciate this as one more thing they don’t have

to do.

If you do these things, buyers will be more comfortable in

purchasing your home. And why not enjoy the improvements

while you wait for the right buyer to come along?

SEARCH FOR GRAND RAPIDS HOMES

syndicated from www.GrandRapids-RealEstate.com

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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We Don't Want to List Your Over Priced Home

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 09:15:43 -0800

We Do Not Want to List Your Over Priced Home

Some sellers don’t understand the current real estate market.

They have fuzzy visions of listing their home: flocks of eager buyers will

ascend to their level of home ownership and buy an overpriced house.

They believe in the words of comic Judy Tenuta, “ It can happen! “

I hate to have to break the news to many optimistic sellers BUT

– it ain’t gonna happen! Buyers with adequate funds have researched

their area market. They are probably working with a seasoned agent

who has helped to educate them about the local market. If you are

overpriced by any amount, buyers just don’t look at your home seriously.

We recently made a listing presentation to a seller that had his home

for sale for over a year by another agent. An overpriced year, overpriced

by about 1/3 of current value, so not even close. Results: the seller had

1 showing in a year.

We had a heart-to-financial-heart talk and we gave him the facts.

Even if he found someone dumb enough to pay what he was asking, it

would not close because the home would not appraise for even close to

his price. He argued that someone with cash could buy it. In our experience,

people with that kind of cash are not careless with their money.

We encouraged this seller to get an appraisal so he could make a

decision about selling for market price. This information came as a shock.

Sadly, the reality of a home’s worth today is a shock in many cases.

The seller wanted to know why his former agent hadn’t explained this to him.

Yes, we were curious, too.

We do not want to list your over priced house. We read industry experts

and they predict further price erosions later this year. Whether this

happens or not, sellers should get an independent appraisal if there is any

question about their home’s value.

Syndicated from Grand Rapids Real Estaet Blog

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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Foreclosures Costly for Your Neighborhood & Community

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 07:04:55 -0800

Foreclosures Costly for Your Neighborhood & Community

You might think that a foreclosure or short sale of a home in your

neighborhood doesn’t affect you. It is a shame for those people but what

does it have to do with you? Plenty, it turns out, if you plan on moving

in the next few years. According to the U.S. government’s website about

the National Mortgage Settlement with major banks, it can affect your

bottom line tremendously.

When a house is subject to foreclosure, it creates a ripple effect

that lowers the value of nearby single-family homes and other properties.

In 2009 the Center for Responsible Lending projected that homeowners

living near foreclosed properties, on average, would lose $7,200 in property

value, and projected a four-year increase in losses to $20,300 per household.

No one who owns a home is safe from this reversal of real estate values.

We have seen this play out in wealthy suburbia and lower priced homes, where

it hits financially vulnerable households. Homes that were selling for $100,000

a few years ago are now priced at $80,000 – $60,000, or considerably less.

We have heard that investors are being offered homes grouped in tens in some

areas, that are priced below $10,000 each. The effect on neighborhoods is

sobering. In fact, it traps homeowners in homes that they can’t sell. Their only

options are short sales or foreclosure to get out from under their mortgage on

a home that isn’t worth what they are paying for it.

Because we have been watching this train wreck in our local neighborhoods

for awhile now, we are optimistically awaiting the outcome of the National Mortgage

Settlement. This could bring financial relief to millions of homeowners

by lowering their monthly payments. Many Michigan households that teeter on

the edge of a financial precipice are waiting for relief……….Will they get it?

Originally published at Grand Rapids Real Estate.com

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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Don't Leave Home Without A Home Valuables Video

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:58:51 -0800

Don't Leave Home Without A Home Valuables Video

Recently I was reading about a rash of robberies in our area that were focusing

on grabbing jewelry and other small items that can be sold for quick cash.

Home invasions seem to be an easy way for criminals to get fast cash.

With the rise in precious metals and the cash for gold stores in every town

it makes it easy to convert jewelry to cash. If you are planning an extended

time away from home, this gives thieves an open opportunity.

No one wants to think they might be robbed. But preparation for a home burglary

is key to helping police with descriptions of the items stolen. You also will need

to prove your losses to your insurance company. It makes sense to have some

kind of permanent record of valuables with a photo and brief description.

My suggestion is to pick a day and document your valuables. Then put the record

of your inventory in a safe place, such as a safe deposit box, a relative's home,

or off-site location. So if the worst happens and a home invasion or disaster

strikes, your record is not destroyed.

Police and insurance companies recommend a narrated video of each room in

the house, including the basement and garage, describing individual items that

are of value. Next, still photos of valuable items such as china, silver, jewelry

collections, are invaluable proof to the insurance company of exactly what you

had. Once completed, add a brief description to the photo. Many small items

can be forgotten until years later if you are just trusting your memory.

This sounds like a big task. But well worth the effort, especially if you have a loss

and have to prove ownership. Now, to follow my own advice; Where is our video

camera?

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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Forest Hills Michigan Neighborhood Real Estate Market Reports Jan-Dec 2011

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:37:55 -0800

Forest Hills Michigan Neighborhood Real Estate Market Reports Jan-Dec 2011

The 2011 Market Reports for Forest Hills suburbs of Grand Rapids

are linked below. Some areas went down in activity, some went up, some

stayed relatively the same.

Which proves the maxim, all real estate is local. These are local Forest Hills

neighborhood reports, so they will give an overall picture of what has happened

in these spe cific Forest Hills areas. If you want to know what is happening in your

neighborhood, just give us a call.

Adacroft Commons Market Report

Adatowne Market Report

Adawoods Market Report

Caravelle Village Market Report

Cascade Springs Market Report

Catamount Market Report

Centennial Park Condos Market Report

Clements Mill Market Report

East Village Market Report

Forest Hills Gardens Market Report

Greentree Estates Market Report

Thornapple River Dr/Burger Dr Market Report

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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HUD Good Neighbor Next Door Home Sales Program

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:17:47 -0800

HUD Good Neighbor Next Door Home Sales Program

This HUD program is available to a select group:

Law enforcement officers
Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade teachers
Firefighters
Emergency medical technicians

These buyers are offered a discount of 50% from the list price of a HUD home.

The buyer must remain in the home for 36 months and be your sole residence.

The program is being offered in certain areas, revitalization areas, are listed

only for sales through the Good Neighbor Next Door Sales program for purchase

through the program for five days.

HUD requires that you sign a second mortgage and note for the discount amount.

No interest or payments are required on this "silent second" provided that you

fulfill the three-year occupancy requirement.

The number of properties available is limited and the list of available properties

changes weekly. To learn more, go to Good Neighbor Next Door.

Originally published at Grand Rapids Real Estate Blog

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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Ada Township Michigan Christmas Tree Recycling

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:54:36 -0800

Ada Township Michigan Christmas Tree Recycling

Once again, Ada Township offers recycling for natural Christmas trees

for its residents. They can be dropped off at the back parking lot of Ada

Township Park until Monday January 13th, 2011.

The trees will be recycled into wood chips for use in the park.

Please remove any decorations, wires, strings, ribbons or other items

that might interfere with a chipper.

Please no wreaths or garlands.

SEARCH FOR ADA MI HOMES

This article first appeared at Grand Rapids Real Estate Blog

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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Grand Rapids Michigan November 2011 Sales Stats

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:09:35 -0800

Grand Rapids Michigan November 2011 Sales Stats

The November home sales statistics are in and the news looks good.

Sales are up in November across the board in all price ranges.

The price range that has seen the most activity is $100,00 – $ 139,999;

almost 1 in 5 homes sold in November 2011 were in this price category,

with overall highs ranging over $1 million and lows under $ 19,000.

The Grand Rapids housing market has 24.6% fewer listings year-to-date

than last year. This means shrinking inventory for buyers and good news for

sellers.

The Average Home Sales Price is up from 2010 by about 3%; from $ 118,217

to $121,920. In our opinion, this increase is caused by the REO’s and foreclosure

sales numbers are down and more banks are embracing short sales.

Please note these prices are averages for the whole Grand Rapids market.

If you would like to know what prices are in your neighborhood, give Terry a call.

SEARCH GRAND RAPIDS HOMES

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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Real Estate Myth #7: Waiting for Spring to Sell Your Home Will Get You More Money

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:39:39 -0800

Real Estate Myth #7: Waiting for Spring to Sell Your Home Will Get You More Money

The old adage that told sellers to wait until the improved spring market

to put their home up for sale is just that – an old saw. And not true today.

Buyers tend to favor the spring and early summer market to move but this time

around, it could be costly for both buyers and sellers.

If you haven’t been following real estate news, yes, I know, it starts

to become blah, blah, blah, after awhile; then you might be unaware of the

shadow inventory. All the experts agree, this 4 million+ housing inventory

of foreclosed and about-to-be foreclosed homes is weighing the market down

right now—and we have 45 more months of inventory to work through.

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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Forest Hills and East Grand Rapids Schools on AP District Honor Roll

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:38:22 -0800

Forest Hills and East Grand Rapids Schools on AP District Honor Roll

East Grand Rapids and Forest Hills Public Schools merited placement on

College Board’s second annual report. This report names schools that have

had significant gains in advanced placement access and student performance.

Nationwide, only 367 public schools were on the list this year. To earn a

place, schools must increase the student count enrolled in advance placement

coursework while maintaining or increasing the percentage of students

earning scores of 3 or higher on AP exams.

Since 2009, East Grand Rapids High School has increased their student

participation in AP classes from 183 to 257, offering 13 different AP classes

to high school students. Forest Hills District increased their number of students

from 630 in 2009, to 774 in 2011.

SEARCH FOR EAST GRAND RAPIDS HOMES

East Grand Rapids Photos

SEARCH FOR FOREST HILLS HOMES

Forest Hills Schools Photos

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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Roselle Park Improvement Plans Announced

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 10:13:30 -0800

Roselle Park Improvement Plans Announced

Future improvements to the popular Roselle Park in Ada Township

have been set. The Master Plan calls for a new main entrance,

a Resource Center that will hold 75 people for meetings, a kitchen,

a veranda, restrooms, and adjacent parking. Trails and boardwalk

would be extended into the park from this new building near the

new entrance across from Michigan Street. Additional future

enhancements will be an Adventure Playground and a Picnic Area

for large groups.

Most of these future improvements are waiting for funding through

grants, memorial gifts, and donations by local individuals and service

groups. If you are interested in donating funds, a tree or bench in

memorandum, contact Mark Fitzpatrick, Ada Director of Parks at

616-676-9520 or email him at mfitzpatrick@adatownshipmi.com.

SEARCH FOR ADA HOMES

Roselle Park Photos

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

________________________________________________________

Is Pricing Stalling Home Sales?

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:32:09 -0800

Is Pricing Stalling Home Sales?

Recent Survey Results:

87% of buyers by survey want a “no fixes” home

67% of buyers think homes are overpriced

77% of sellers have their home overpriced

No one thinks our Grand Rapids housing market is as normal

as it used to be. But many disagree on why. Most Sellers think

their home is worth more than it really is. And most Buyers

think the home of their dreams will be available at fire sale prices.

How do the two sides ever come together to engage in a home sale?

Each of these positions has a grain of truth. The seller’s home

may well have been worth 25-40% more just a few short years

ago. In fact, if they bought at the height of the market, they

will most likely not be able to sell their home for what they paid.

This can be painful and lots of potential sellers are stalled from

selling because they cannot make up the difference between

their mortgage and the home’s probable selling price.

Today’s Buyers are savvy and know what homes are going for

in the neighborhoods they want to live in. Most buyers do research

for 4-12 months before purchasing. But they shouldn’t take an overall

estimate of home sales, like Zillow’s Zestimate to really nail down the

purchase price of their dream home. If there are any Short Sale or

Foreclosed Homes included in the mix, they will usually sell for much

less than a traditional home in good condition, and for good reason.

Not many neighborhoods today have homes that have not been

in either a short sale or a bank foreclosure. Major repairs on these homes

are usually required and may need to be completed before occupancy.

Since most Buyers want a NO FIXES home, this means they will likely

have to pay the market price for the home of their dreams, and the

Seller will have to sell at market pricing.

This is where the art of negotiation by your REALTOR comes in.

Negotiating a 10% difference in price can take some time for both parties

to come to an agreement. Don’t be mistaken, expert negotiating skills

are paramount to getting a home sale closed.

Syndicated from Grand Rapids Real Estate Blog

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

________________________________________________________

Grand Rapids Michigan Oct 2011 Best Buy Suburban Real Estate Market Reports

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:38:28 -0800

Grand Rapids Michigan Oct 2011 Best Buy Suburban Real Estate Market Reports

Every month we search the West Michigan MLS for the best buys in each of

the suburban areas we cover extensively. These reports are based on cost

per square foot, a logical way to approach the cost of home buying.

Lowell Michigan Top Best Buy Homes Oct 2011

East Grand Rapids Michigan Top Best Buy Homes Oct 2011

Forest Hills Michigan Top Best Buy Homes Oct 2011

Kentwood Michigan Top Best Buy Homes Oct 2011

Caledonia Michigan Top Best Buy Homes Oct 2011

Rockford Michigan Top Best Home Buys Oct 2011

If you have an interest in a Top Best Buy Home, please contact me.

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

________________________________________________________

Foto Friday - Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club Arcadia Michigan

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 11:43:26 -0700

Foto Friday: Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club Arcadia Michigan

This photo slideshow takes you on a little trip to northern Michigan

on a gorgeous fall day in early October. The spectacular scenic links at

Arcadia Bluffs was our challenge for the day.

Thanks for going on a trip to Arcadia Bluffs with us. Michigan and golf

are great companions, as you can see.

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

________________________________________________________

Grand Rapids Michigan Third Quarter 2011 Suburban Real Estate Market Reports

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:58:00 -0700

Grand Rapids Michigan Third Quarter 2011 Suburban Real Estate Market Reports

The following suburban market reports cover the third quarter real estate

activity in each Grand Rapids area. Some local areas are holding their value

better than others. All areas are still seeing some price erosion, though a

small percentage.

If you are considering selling your home, we recommend listing as soon as

possible. The nation's largest banks still have foreclosure inventory

that has not hit the marketplace. These estimated 4 million homes will be

put on the market starting in January of 2012.

We would be happy to give you an idea of what your home is worth today.

Give Terry a call at 1-888-240-1968 ext 0.

Caledonia Michigan Real Estate Report

East Grand Rapids Michigan Real Estate Report

Forest Hills Michigan Real Estate Report

Kentwood Michigan Real Estate Report

Lowell Michigan Real Estate Report

Rockford Michigan Real Estate Report

_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

________________________________________________________

Ada Michigan Roselle Park Fall Festival Oct 1 2011

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:49:49 -0700

Ada Michigan Roselle Park Fall Festival Oct 1 2011

Saturday, October 1st, 2011 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m
1010 Grand River Drive, Ada MI 49301

A free day of fall festivities in a natural nature preserve.

All are invited to one of Ada Townships favorite parks –a free event!!

Come out to enjoy live music, good food, exhibitors’ tent, a native

plant sale, family activities, games, live birds of prey and much more!

Grand Rapids ArtPrize 2011 in Full Swing

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:50:13 -0700

Grand Rapids ArtPrize 2011 in Full Swing

What do encyclopedia pages, twine, horsehair, firecrackers,

paper-cuts and aged bronze all have in common? ArtPrize 2011, of course.

We previewed a few of the ArtPrize 2011 installations at the Grand

Rapids Art Museum last Sunday and have included a few photos of the

diverse entries displayed.

This piece is made from steel and encyclopedia pages. I knew I shouldn’t

have got rid of that old set of World Books.

This unusual piece is made from twine. Ditto above statement.

Even bronze woman and I have a pose in common.

Many unusual materials were used to recreate this replica

of a war rug. Did you guess firecrackers?

Horsehair, grapevine, and a hand hewn wheel comprise

the elements of this entry.

The depth and intricacy of these paper sheets has to be seen to

be appreciated. I had difficulty with paper snowflakes!

Don’t miss ArtPrize 2011 this year! It started on Wed Sept 21

and runs through October 9th. These and about 1500 other pieces

that will stretch your imagination are waiting for you to view and vote.

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The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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Foto Friday - Wyoming Michigan 2011 Classic Car Show

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:07:25 -0700

Wyoming Michigan 2011 Classic Car Show

If you are of a certain age, these classic cars shown at the Classic Car Show

in Wyoming Michigan on July 24, 2011 at the Resurrection Life Church will

bring back lots of memories.

I really appreciated the details on this classic car from the 1950’s. I recall

those white interiors and the fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror.

The drive in restaurant tray with the food really brought back our younger

days. We used to get strawberry pie from Big Boy’s on Pearl St

delivered by car hop! Can you remember those days??

If you would like to see more photos from the Classic Car Show in Wyoming,

check out our Flickr Set.

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The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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Forest Hills Michigan Schools Rank Top in Nation 2011

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 10:38:54 -0700

Forest Hills Michigan Schools Rank Top in Nation 2011

The new school rankings are out and several local schools made

the best of the best list. Forest Hills had 3 schools in the top 99th % of

schools, Ada Elementary, 5/6 Central Woodlands and Goodwillie

Environmental.

Grand Rapids also had 3 schools place in the ranking, City Middle High,

John Ball Park Zoo School and Blandford Nature Center School.

East Grand Rapids had K-5 Wealthy place in the ranking.

SEARCH FOR FOREST HILLS HOMES

SEARCH FOR EAST GRAND RAPIDS HOMES

SEARCH FOR GRAND RAPIDS HOMES

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The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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Forest Hills Public Schools Resolve $9.5 Million Budget 2011 Shortfall

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:42:56 -0700

Forest Hills Public Schools Resolve $9.5 Million Budget 2011 Shortfall

Budget woes for school districts are not news for communities today,

as the monetary belt tightens for school districts all over the United States.

But the Grand Rapids Forest Hills Public School District has done a great

job of planning ahead AND getting concessions from their teaching and

support staff. The recent budget shortfall was lessened by a $7.5

million voluntary decrease in staff and teaching compensation alterations.

The other $2 million will come from the district’s strategic reserves.

Good schools are valued by the people who live in the community

and Forest Hills has been ranked the number one school district in Kent

County by Grand Rapids Magazine.

SEARCH FOR FOREST HILLS HOMES

Foto Friday - Grand Haven Idyll

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:19:35 -0700

Foto Friday – Grand Haven Idyll

Summertime in West Michigan is magical, if you are paying attention.

Our good friends, John and Betsy were celebrating good news by taking a

few days of camping at Grand Haven State Park. They asked us out for

a walk along the boardwalk and a bite to eat at Snug Harbor.

We jumped at the chance to see the big lake [that’s what the locals call it],

we haven’t been there at all this summer.

And shame on us, as you can see by the lovely sunset we experienced.

We had our lawn chairs parked on the beach on a perfect summer evening,

soaking up the atmosphere. It doesn’t get much better than this.

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_____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry 616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

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