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Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate News

By Buzz Holtvluwer
(Standale Lumber and Interiors)
The Grand Rapids Home Builders Association is hosting a free GREEN seminar this Saturday, May 19 from 10:30 - Noon. The topic for the seminar is : Building A Green Home. The GR HBA is featuring four experts explaining what it takes to build a green home - from concept to completion.Reservations are required. Email: homes@hbaggr.com or phone 800-305-2021 x249This is a great opportunity for anyone who is exploring the Green Build idea in Michigan.The 2007 Spring Parade of Homes begins May 25 and features 8 green homes.
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By Lola Audu, Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!
(Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate)
Spring is in the Air in West Michigan.  Gardens are beginning to blossom into riotous color.  A variety of Parks & Gardens are beginning to Open.  Here's  a Selection of some of the luscious Beauty that is Blooming in Grand Rapids, MI & the Local West Michigan area. Starting May 5th  and continuing for one glorious week, Six Million Tulips will command center stage at the Tulip Time Festival in Holland, Michigan.  This is a wonderful time to get out with the family and enjoy this gorgeous array of flowers.  The Festival has become the Nation's Fifth Largest Annual  Festival & draws almost 750,000visitors yearly.  It is also an educational opportunity as the Dutch Heritage of West Michigan is celebrated with thousands of youngsters in Dutch costume joining in the Kinderparade, and more t...
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By Robert L. Brown, Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic
(www.mrbrownsellsgr.com)
We've seen low rates out there and less then desirable credit from some of our Buyer's. Now the aftermath of this is what we have now. It saddens me to watch people lose the "American Dream". Who is truly to blame for this? The buyer ,realtor and the mortgage lender. They have equal culpability in the process. Some realtors and lenders will lead the client astray just to make a dollar. People do have to take responsibility for what they do. I'm not excusing anyone. If you don't understand then ask someone you trust before you embark on the deal. ALWAYS get your information before you make the decision.
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By Tammy Stone, "Eco-Green" Agent in West Michigan
(Prudential Preferred Realtors)
It's really no secret that Michigan's economy has seen better days.  Truth be told, we have some of the highest foreclosure rates, many people have lost their jobs and talk can be dismal.  I prefer to be an optimist and focus on the positive.  When you start concentrating on the great things, everything turns around.As far as the housing market is concerned, it still is a buyer's market and YES, there are buyers that are buying.  I believe that the area that is seeing some of the best growth is the downtown Grand Rapids area.  Great things are going on in downtown Grand Rapids.  In fact, Grand Rapids even made the USA Today paper in which they discussed how the development projects (condos etc...) and how the growth in the medical and education fields is helping to get the greater Grand...
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By Tammy Stone, "Eco-Green" Agent in West Michigan
(Prudential Preferred Realtors)
Being a long time resident in Grand Rapids, I marvel at all the changes that have been made.  Downtown Grand Rapids specifically has seen the best of the changes and the people are flocking to the city.  And why not, with the development of all the condos - urban and luxury and the "Health Hill" as USA Today called it in their article, Grand Rapids is a vibrant city.  Although it doesn't compare to the big cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle... it definitely is a mini version of big city life.City life has its benefits.  Most people that move into downtown Grand Rapids enjoy the fact that the city never really sleeps.  The region's entertainment and culture are located in the heart of the city.  In fact, that's what most people love - the uniqueness of the shops and restaurants an...
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By Mary Kent, Grand Rapids to the Lake Shore
(Five Star Real Estate )
 Spring is here and Downtown Grand Rapids and surrounding areas offer several festivals during any given weekend in the spring, summer and fall. These events offer a great time for all to get out and take part in our community happenings. The major festival in Grand Rapids called "Festival" is a three-day arts celebration in June that initiates the summer season.   http://www.festivalofthearts.org/Festival of the Arts Downtown Grand Rapids June 1,2, & 3 2007 Other Festivals in Downtown and surrounding areas: Eastown Street FairCottage Bar Chili Cook offGerman IrishItalianMexican/Latino  PolishSoul  Email mkent@greenridge.comwww.kentcountyhome.com  
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By Lola Audu, Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!
(Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate)
 It's interesting how disparate dots sometimes connect in real estate transactions.  Two of my most unusual transactions involved improbable situations.  Several years ago, Chris, a young man barely turned 18 approached me because he had heard I sold real estate.  No one wanted to take the kid seriously, and I could tell that he was bracing himself for the same brush off from me. When, I told him that I was willing to work with him, his face lit up with excitement!  A couple of months later, he bought his first home and a couple of years later sold it for $24,000 in profit!  It was Chris' mom, Sue who told me about Willie.  She worked with Willie in an Automobile Used Car Sales Lot.  Willie was one of the sales persons on the team.  She indicated that she had told the folks at work abou...
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By Ethan Dozeman, Real Estate in Grand Rapids
(Realty Executives Platinum Group)
This is a fellow Grand Rapids, MI Family that needs our help!! Ron Bullis and family. Many of you know about my personal story concerning my daughter Ella Aveline Bullis.  For those who do not:  Ella Aveline Bullis (click here to see pictures) was born at 27 weeks gestation weighing 2lbs. 6oz and measuring 13in long.  My wife's pregnancy was indeed complicated as she spent over 10 weeks on complete bed-rest (complete bed-rest means that my wife did not leave the bed, she was flat on her back for the entire time), most of which was in the hospital. The doctors told my wife and me that Ella had no chance of ever being born. She was given no chance to survive, but some how proved all the doctors wrong and came out kicking and screaming.  Ella was a very strong little girl throughout her fi...
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By Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375, Real Estate Services You can Trust!
(Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions")
Selling Your Own Home Without a Real Estate Agent. This has received a lot of media coverage.  Want to know the truth?  Here it is, some people actually can sell their home themselves.  Now you want to know how many do?  The best statistic is 13% of all homes sold in the United States are sold without a Realtor.  Now do you want to know "the rest of the story"? as a famous radio personality puts it.  That 13% includes sales made to relatives and friends so take that number out and the real number is about 8%.  Here is a thought for you for you to consider.  How many of you have heard of the "Nothing Down" programs taught  today.  Guess what they teach you.  They teach the buyers how to write "WEASEL" clauses.  Now who do you think these "WEASEL" clauses are designed to protect?  Not You...
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By Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375, Real Estate Services You can Trust!
(Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions")
Today more signs indicated this is economically one of the best times in history to buy real estate. Ever wonder why investors invest in a down market?  Everybody knows it is because they "know" the market is going to go up!  If you are thinking of buying, is waiting for that magic interest rate to appear your strategy?  It is kind of like kissing a frog and hoping you get a prince!  It just isn't going to happen.  I was at a meeting today, and whenever a Realtor is in a group of people, the topic hits Real Estate fast!  Free advice, market knowledge or a pearl of wisdom to live by, who knows.  Today a question of interest rates came up.  They asked me what do I think about the rates.  Simply put, they are great!  Buyer's will not find a better time to buy.  Then a seller asked, do we r...
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By Tammy Stone, "Eco-Green" Agent in West Michigan
(Prudential Preferred Realtors)
It's tough out there.  Especially today when the Grand Rapids, Michigan housing market is considered a Buyer's Market.  If you're not sure exactly what a buyer's market is - it is all about supply and demand.  Currently, there is a lot of supply of homes on the market meaning the buyers have a lot of options to choose from.  When the supply is low, the demand for your house is high and then it becomes a seller's market -  and homes sell like hotcakes!!!         Whether or not you are selling on your own (For Sale By Owner) or with a Realtor, make it easier on yourself and get your home sold in less time.  Here's what is absolutely necessary in today's real estate market.PRICE, PRICE, PRICE - You have heard of location, location, location.  Location is a big factor but in today's market,...
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By Tammy Stone, "Eco-Green" Agent in West Michigan
(Prudential Preferred Realtors)
Some of you may be asking, "With so many homes on the market and it being a buyer's market, how can properties be moving quickly?"  Truth be told, the Michigan housing market does have a lot of homes for sale BUT there are a lot of buyers that are purchasing as well.  It seems to me that when winter finally stopped in April :), buyers came out looking.I shared that I was working with a couple for the last couple of months.  Even with the influx of homes, we always seemed to come up a day late and a dollar short and recently wrote our 3rd purchase agreement.                4434 Miramar Ave, Grand Rapids was the home that fit their criteria.  Wonderful remodeled upstairs and gorgeous tile work in the bathroom is what sold it for my clients.  They also appreciated the big backyard and bein...
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By Lola Audu, Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!
(Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate)
 In my previous post, I discussed how to determine if a home was a good choice for an Open House.  Now, we will focus on the right reasons to hold a home open.  This is something to take seriously.  We are asking homeowners to leave their home & let it be canvassed by members of the general public, for whom we can not validate credibility or authenticity, in the hopes that this will create a viable prospect for the sale of their home.  If we have not done our homework & prepared properly, at the very least, the effort has been a huge waste of everyone's time.  Some of the reasons commonly given for holding an Open House are:  "The Seller's asked me to",   "I'm not getting any activity, so I need to hold an Open House, "My clients expect me to advertise their house, so I need to do an Op...
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By Lola Audu, Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!
(Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate)
When I entered the real estate profession 12 years ago, my broker told me that I would not stand a chance at succeeding if I did not do Sunday Open Houses.  When I transferred to another Broker a couple of years later, I heard the exact opposite advise, " Open Houses are usually a waste of time".  So which one was right.  Well, both were!  Open Houses are a waste of time unless they are prepared and conducted properly.  A well presented Open House is a successful strategy many  saavy agents use to market  and sell their listings & skill set as a real estate consultant to the general public. Unfortunately, many agents have never been given basic instructions about how to ensure that an Open House is worth the time & others do not want to put in the efforts to ensure that their time...whi...
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By Tammy Stone, "Eco-Green" Agent in West Michigan
(Prudential Preferred Realtors)
I'm always amazed by the transformation that is taking place in downtown Grand Rapids.  Not only do we have some remarkable downtown luxury condos and urban condos but the medical community changes are phenomenal.  Downtown Grand Rapids is growing and mainly due to the fact that the medical community is growing by leaps and bounds.  One of the latest "growing" editions to the medical community downtown Grand Rapids is the Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion.  According to an Life Sciences Complex to Anchor Michigan Street's Medical Community article by Karen Gentry, the goal of the Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion is to, "enable Spectrum Health to bring together the majority of is cancer services, including radiation, medical oncology, chemotherapy, research, multi-specialty clinics, genetic eva...
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By Lola Audu, Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!
(Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate)
When I got the e-mail from my former neighbor this afternoon indicating that he was going to be on TV, my curiosity was peeked.  Tom has recently started a new venture in his life & is now an Eco-farmer in Hesperia, Newaygo County, Michigan.  News reporters were on his farm to interview him about a disturbing development that is affecting farmers across Michigan. The story featured on WZZM13 of Grand Rapids, Michigan indicates that there is a strange, unexplained phenomenon which has serious implications for Michigan.  Apparently, honey bees are dying, literally by the ton...for no known reason.  Tom refers to his bees as "God's fertilizers"!  He practices organic farming and uses no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. The WZZM 13 TV report indicated that he had started with 3 colonies...
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By Lola Audu, Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!
(Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate)
This past week was an adventure...the cost-a-fortune-college-trip adventure!  We just got back from a long trip up the east coastline to visit a few universities with our son.  Just prior to the trip, a scary Northeaster storm rammed the areas where we were headed.  Then on the way into New Haven, CT, news of the Virginia Tech massacre was filtering in on the airways.  With so much going on, including flooding reports in many areas, we were actually grateful that our final destination was simply blustery cold rain & moderate winds.  We passed several areas which still remained covered by standing pools of ground water, the result of excess amounts of rain in a short period of time.  As I buried deeper into my winter coat to protect myself from the elements, the coldness of the rain was ...
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By Tammy Stone, "Eco-Green" Agent in West Michigan
(Prudential Preferred Realtors)
Are you where you want to be?  I mean in life.  I find that as I get older, I'm constantly asking that question, "Where do I want to be or what do I hope to accomplish?"  This question obviously comes up at the beginning of the New Year when all those "new or revisited" resolutions come into play. So, again I ask you "Are you where you want to be?"  Is this season the time that you change careers, become successful in finally losing the weight you wanted to lose, or is it time for you to invest in the possibility of buying a house?  (Since this is a weblog, you had to figure something would come up about buying a house.)In all seriousness, this is the perfect time for you to BUY a house.  There are tons of homes on the market, the interest rates have been remaining steady, and mortgage ...
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By Tammy Stone, "Eco-Green" Agent in West Michigan
(Prudential Preferred Realtors)
 Here's one of my favorite stories of real estate.  I've been working with a couple that was looking for a home in the $300-$400K range.  They spotted a home they wanted to view and called to set up a showing.  While setting up the showing, I heard from the Realtor® that someone was making an offer on the home and if we still wanted to view it, we needed to get in the home on that day.  With some juggling, we made it through and decided to write an offer.  By the end of this day, they already had two offers on the table and my offer would be the third offer. (Not a good position to be in because that means we are all competing and trying to figure out what price will win the house.)  Result: my party lost out on the home they really liked because we didn't react sooner.  Who would have ...
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By Tammy Stone, "Eco-Green" Agent in West Michigan
(Prudential Preferred Realtors)
Market Update (Information Gathered from the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors)  Single Family and Condo ReportPrice                                                             #Sold through                                                                          March 2007           $0 to $  99,999                                528$100,000 to $199,999                                  972$200,000 to $299,999                                  198$300,000 to $399,999                                   53$400,000 to $499,999                                   11$500,000 and over                                        20 New Listings Jan - March2007                   20063,247             3,189Total Sales2007                   20061,093             1,135Average Home Price2007              ...
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