Pat Vredevoogd Combs's (patvredevoogd) Blog

Closings are a good thing! But what is a Closing exactly? One of the questions I get asked all the time by both Buyers and Sellers is:  "I'm always hearing about a CLOSING - what is it?" Here are 5 things you should know about closings: 1.  What is a closing? A closing in the State of Michigan is...

OK - so Michigan has a little winter now and again.  It also has an awesome summer, spring and fall that will rival some of the "one season only" states that call themselves retirement communities.     OK - so I'm prejudiced - I was born and raised here and love Michigan.  The winters are pristi...

How cool it is to see so much excitement and energy generated here in Grand Rapids, MI with Artprize.  Artprize is an Art competition with huge monetary prizes but with judging by the public on line.  A very community based free flowing competition with art as the centerpiece. I was walking aroun...

I'm not sure what has happened to the general civility in the real estate marketplace - but along with my 401K it seems to have diminished considerably. Here is my wish-list for all agents that we work with as we bring buyers and sellers together here in the Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate Marketpla...

Well March Madness is going on in the Grand Rapids Real Estate market just like it is happening on the Basketball Courts right now. It is a mixed story - there are winners and there are losers in this market just as there are on the basketball courts. The big winners today are the buyers who can ...

The past few weeks have been very interesting in the real estate markets here in the Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area. A lot of negative publicity has been the talk of the town, yet many are watching patiently for Washington to take the lead and put together a stimulus package which should have som...

I often hear from my fellow REALTORS across the warm part of the country - they wonder how on earth we can actually show homes, hold open houses - and help buyers and sellers - when it is snowing in Michigan! Here are the secrets: Everyone dresses warm (not too many home visits in shorts and flip...

Along with some new snowfall peeks the sun! Along with all the negative news that is overwhelming us lately comes some rays of positive news and hope! Grand Rapids is a great place to live in and invest in. It is the beacon of positiveness in a state where negative news has become the norm. It is...