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Today Show showcases West Michigan as one of Nation's Best Buys!

By Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375

Managing Real Estate Broker with Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions"

September 21, 2007 09:35 AM

The midwest housing market one of the Nations best buys.

The Today show with Matt Lauer hosted a segment reporting the Midwest as one of the nations most reasonable places to live and purchase homes in the current market.

Further showcased was Grand Rapids, Michigan in a feature outlining home values. I have provided a link to the segment so you can view the segment that aired this morning

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20874580/

This is a video link provided to the public by msnbc. The link is there material and may not be copied without specific permission from msnbc.

The segment outlines several areas of the country and gives very good examples of how the Midwest housing market fairs compared to the rest of the country with a focus on Grand Rapids, Michigan and other key markets.

I thought you would find this interesting considering the information is hot off the press...today.

Let me know your thoughts.

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Brian Block

RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President - McLean, VA

Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate

Gary, I know that Grand Rapids is 150 miles or so across the state, but I'd be interested in learning how you are being affected there by the awful conditions in the Detroit market that we keep hearing about in the national statistics concerning job attrition, unemployment, etc.

Sep 21, 2007 09:44 AM

Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375

Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI

Real Estate Services You can Trust!

Hi Brian, we have segments of our market that contribute to the automotive industry. West Michigan has a much more diverse economy than the Southeast side of the state. Folks here tend to be more conservative. Now with all that said we have the some of the same problems of over inventory, foreclosures, unemployment and schools struggling with budgets as everywhere else. We have some very good opportunities to buy homes that are real values. We also have a very large concentration of medical facilities that help raise the mean income and keeps the higher end and mid range homes in demand.

It all comes down to the same thing Brian, marketing, exposure and price. I felt the Today Show segment would help people realize the opportunities they have in their own backyard! Our unemployment rate hovers around 5.5-6%. We have media influences that are using Realty-Trac for foreclosure information instead of MLS statistics. It has been reported that Realty-Trac double reports segments of the foreclosure market increasing the percentages which make opportunities in foreclosures falsely inflated. Let me know if this answered your questions. Thanks for the comments Brian.

Sep 21, 2007 10:02 AM

Daniel Sundberg

Crystal Springs Real Estate - Kentwood, MI

I about soiled myself when I saw that on the "Today Show." West Michigan has always been an area with plenty of affordable housing, as well as being an area that always provided sound investments. And to Brian's comments, the problems in Eastern Michigan has had some effect on West Michigan to the tune of a few hundred jobs, but West Michigan was exploding in the medical field, and has always had a fairly stable furniture business.

Sep 21, 2007 10:22 AM

Randy Lyon

Kettley and Company - Oswego, IL

Gary, The western part of Michigan has long been Chicago's weekend getaway secret. A great placed to go on a 2,3 or 4 day weekend. The second home market is driven partly by the city folks here in the Chicago area. Glad to see the national recognition.

Sep 21, 2007 10:38 AM

Kris Wales

Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI

Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI

Woooo Hoooo!! FINALLY some positive reporting for Michigan. Gary, shout this out loud and often.

Sep 21, 2007 09:43 PM

Hi Daniel, I thought the water heater would have taken care of your pants! Thanks for adding to the comments.

Sep 22, 2007 03:06 AM

Hi Randy, I was real aware of the Chicago connection. I grew up in old town near Lincoln Park. That is how I migrated to Michigan. We still have some great values in Michigan and I use advertising in the Chicago market to sell some of the lake and other properties available. Since the drive is a few hours and all expressway to West Michigan is is a great way of relaxing for a few days at a time. Thanks for commenting on that Randy.

Sep 22, 2007 03:10 AM

Hi Kris, not everyone caught the segment, including myself....but adding the link lets people see what real values are available in Michigan. Have you been able to take off the bullet proof vest yet over your other post? Thanks for the comments Kris.

Sep 22, 2007 03:13 AM

Gary, I didn't have to put the vest on. Thankfully it wasn't as bad as I thought it may get with that post :-)

I've saved the link on that MSN segment. It was one "bright" spot of news we've had nationally for our state, I want to preserve it. Thanks again for posting it, I would have missed it if you hadn't.

Sep 22, 2007 11:54 PM

Hi Kris, glad you were able to catch it. I am also happy that people realized the intent of your post. Have a great day....off to my open house this afternoon. Thanks for the reply Kris.

Sep 23, 2007 01:21 AM

Today Show showcases West Michigan as one of Nation's Best Buys!

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