Downtown Grand Rapids Real Estate

Moving Downtown?

2008-11-10T12:27:00.001-08:00

Although downtown condo living in Grand Rapids did not turn out to be as big as we once thought it would be there is an existing market out there. As well, most people that did make the move downtown argue that it was well worth it. Finding buyers for downtown condos has gotten more difficult over the past year and the amount of condos on the market for sale right now is over 200 but what exactly does that mean? Part of it is probably simply because of the market. It is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain a loan and people are hanging onto the disposable cash as they wait for the market to turn. The other part is that developers overestimated the growth of Grand Rapids and built a few too many condos than there are buyers.
However, like I stated before, there is still a market for condos and those of us who do live downtown generally really enjoy the convenient and faster paced life style that living downtown brings. Downtown living continues to attract a vast variety of empty nesters, young professionals and more. The allure of living downtown coming from the time saving factors such as no yard work or long commutes as well as the plethora of new restaurants to dine in, theatrical performances at the Civic and the latest exhibit at the new Art Museum all within walking distance. Grand Rapids continues to grow even as the residential real estate market downtown slows down. And it will continue to get bigger and better in the future as revitalization of our city brings more innovative companies and eager investors. Living downtown is certain to bring buyers and renters for years to come. Now all we need is modern mass transit, a full service grocery store and pharmacy and we’ll be all set.

New Office

2008-09-09T07:51:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to tell you that soon we will be moving into our new office. Recently we purchased a small building on Wealthy and in the next couple of months we will be slowly remodeling it into our office. Stay tuned for more details, and feel free to stop by and see the progress we make over the next couple of months. We are so excited to become a part of the Eastown business district!

Downtown GR Condo For Sale

2008-07-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

Incredible opportunity to own a condo in the middle of a 60 million dollar St Mary's hospital renovation downtown Grand Rapids. This condo has all the amenities that one could want living downtown, granite counter tops, stainless appliances, large open windows, deeded parking, a washer and dryer, a roof top deck, hot tub and more. Located within minutes from all of GR's hotspots, and only 6 units in this building to keep assocation dues low!

Call Rachael today for more information or for a private showing.

Rachael Veldkamp

Maksor Realty & Blu House Properties

616.648.0295

Living Simpler

2008-04-18T10:55:00.000-07:00

My Husband and I live in a Condo downtown with less than 1000 square feet so this article on MSN is particularly interesting to us. There are however many other people in Grand Rapids who have chosen to move from a 3000 sq. foot home in the subarbs to a condo half or even a 1/4 of their homes size downtown. It can be difficult to downgrade on space but for us it is particularly freeing. Life is easier with less stuff, and for me and my husband it has forced us to spend time with one another when we are not both working crazy hours. It also helps us get out more, and stay active. I will be honest sometime it is frustrating, but the rewards most often outway the downfalls. For more information about living in smaller spaces or in a downtown condo click on the link below or email me at rveldkamp@grar.com.

www.realestate.msn.com/buying/Article2.aspx?cp-documentid=6803386>1=35000

Exclusive Properties in Grand Rapids & Grand Haven

2008-03-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

Recently we listed some incredible penthouses at Union Square. We are excited to introduce to you 600-620a & b Broadway Ave NW. These two penthouses are unique because they feature floor to ceiling windows throughout over looking a beautiful view of downtown Grand Rapids. Both condos have over 1500 square feet, are professionally designed and have private balconies. They have open floor plans, granite countertops, European appliances and more. This is a great opportunity for someone looking for an exclusive penthouse in downtown Grand Rapids.

Another extraordinary property that we are excited to introduce you to is our Zephyr Condominiums in Grand Haven, Mi. These condos combine sophisticated design with a comfortable resort lifestyle, to create an understated elegant retreat. They boast over 1,500 square feet of living space, top of the line finishing packages and private balconies over looking magnificent Lake Michigan and the Pier. Each condo is designed to fit your individual needs.

Don't miss out on these great opportunities. Call or email Rachael for more details!

NEW EXCITING NEWS FOR WEALTHY STREET!

2008-02-20T11:51:00.000-08:00

Four residential condos for sale in Wealthy Historic District. Each condo is 1000 square feet with 2 bedrooms and one bath. This will be the hippest place to live in the Heritage Hill, Cherry Hill area. Within walking distance from Wealthy Bakery, Art of the Table and more. Each condo will have come with off-street parking, private balcony space and private storage in the basement. These condos will boast many GREEN building qualities and historic preservation. Call or email Rachael for more details or to request a info packet at 616.648.0295 or raeday55@gmail.com.

INVESTOR TIPS IN A SLOWER MARKET

2008-01-24T09:26:00.000-08:00

Just because the market has been slower lately does not mean that it is not a good time to invest. Authors Wendy Patton and Justin Ryan argue that “more money has always been made in a down market than in an up market.” In their book, Making Hard Cash in a Soft Real Estate Market Patton and Ryan highlight important ways to use this market to your advantage. The following are 5 tips from the book that offer some insight into the opportunities a slower market brings investors.

1. Timing is Everything:

Enter the market early because there are so many good buys, opportunities to

negotiate price, and lower interest rates.

2. Get Financially Ready:

Make sure to calculate all the costs involved with investments such as holding costs and taxes. Have a reserve and keep in mind your risk level such as whether you flipping for a quick profit or holding on to the property to make a larger return in the long run.

3. Buy and Hold:

Property generally appreciates over time. When you are able to buy for the right price in a slow market and hold on to a property you may reap many benefits in the long run. There is always an option to lease a property to cover some costs before selling.

4. Find the Best Deal:

Right now there are great deals in West Michigan. Foreclosures and builders who have unsold properties offer investors the opportunity to buy for next to nothing. So many sellers are advertising incentives such as offering to pay closing costs as well.

5. Have an Exit Strategy:

Have a strategy to sell those properties and hire an experienced Realtor who assists you with putting together a plan to sell when it’s time. A good selling plan will help sell a property faster and for more money. Patton and Ryan advise “know how you will get out before you get in.”

From the book: Making Hard Cash in a Soft Real Estate Market, by Wendy Patton and Justin Ryan and realtor.org

Sellers Note Stagging Techniques

2007-12-20T11:36:00.000-08:00

Stagging, in this market it is a must. It is an extremely competitive market and if your not the best looking house on the block chances are the other that is will sell first. I have read numerous articles on stagging but realtor.org just published one that I thought was interesting. If you are selling you should take a look.

· Stellar Staging Tips
Ask the sellers to clear out their closets and their clutter. Encourage them to hold a yard sale or donate unwanted household goods to charity.

· Encourage the sellers to pack up extra toys, linens, small kitchen appliances, and the like and store them offsite or in the garage.

· Be sure the trees are trimmed, the shrubs are pruned, and the lawn is mowed and watered regularly. Turn on the sprinklers for five minutes 30 minutes before the open house. It makes the lawn and driveway sparkle.

· Ask the sellers to refrain from cooking anything that leaves a distinctive odor (fish, garlic, cabbage) and from introducing any other unappealing odors into the home.

· Ask the sellers to have a professional service clean the home, including the carpets and the windows.

· Set the dining room table with attractive linens, dishes, and stemware.

· Ask the sellers’ permission to serve cookies and coffee; people will linger longer. But be sure to clean up any mess after the open house.

· Arrange fresh flowers throughout the home and have a fire in the fireplace in fall and winter.

· Add extra lamps in dark rooms or dark corners, and turn on the lights when you show the home to prospective buyers.

Pulished in Realtor.org.

Why Buy Local?

2007-11-05T13:29:00.000-08:00

Most of you who know me well know how I feel about buying locally. Born and raised in the city of Grand Rapids and then attending Calvin College has made me have strong appreciation of the Grand Rapids community. I also am the daughter of Rick & Elaine Dreyer who own Modern Hardware at 1500 Kalamazoo Ave. Modern has been a local business for over 75 years now and is still thriving. From a very young age I spent much of my time helping my parents out at the store and from that I gained a appreciation for Grand Rapids and above all an understanding of how important customer service is. It is my experience that when working with a small local business the customer service is immeasurable. Buying locally also leaves more money circulating in the city, brings more jobs to Grand Rapids, eliminates a large majority of fossil fuels that are used to transport food across the country, prompts investors to spend here and creates a strong sense of community. If more people bought locally more jobs would come to Grand Rapids, investors would be encouraged to spend money here and this would in turn help the real estate market. When there are jobs, people come and need a place to live. I believe in Grand Rapids...I believe that as a community we have the power to strengthen the economy in Grand Rapids.

For more information on buying locally visit www.localfirst.com

Good Wood TV 8 article

2007-11-05T10:44:00.000-08:00

Do I Need A Broker to Sell My House?
Many people have heard that you can save money by selling your house by yourself, without using a broker. This is because typically brokers earn about 6% of the selling price and sellers feel that if they do it on their own that money could be saved.
For a select few of us - who really know the ins and outs of real estate - this may be true. However, for the majority of us, hiring a broker is well worth the money you will pay for it. (Furthermore, because the buyer knows you are saving money by not hiring a broker, he or she will incorporate that into their bid as well, meaning you don't end up with the money anyhow!)
A broker has many responsibilities that you may not think about before choosing to do it on your own. A broker will:
Establish a fair asking price for your home. Brokers are privy to a vast amount of information about sales in your area that you may not be aware of: price per square foot, school rating, potential liabilities, etc.. They have also been educated to evaluate things like the condition a home is in, what items are unique to a home in that area and could, thus, raise the cost, what the market is like at any given time...
Get it know that your home is for sale. Relying on your own word of mouth when selling your home is difficult to do. Chances are, you will not run into too many people looking to buy a new home on an average day. Your broker already has realationships with other agents that he or she can contact immediately. Also, your broker will be able to publish your house in MLS, or Multiple Listing Service, a listing (almost always computerized) of all the properties for sale by Real Estate Brokerages in a given geographical area.
Handle all advertising and promotion. Your broker will be responsible for all of the details required when promoting a home and will have the resources to do it well.
Handle all of the details of showing your home. This is not just a matter of being around to show your home to prospective buyers. You will need to field many calls, handle multiple visits and know how best to present your home to a potential buyer. Also, a broker can save you a lot of time and hassle by weeding out buyers that they know are not interested in your type of home or do not have the financials to actually buy it.
Refer you to reputable sources for legal councel, appraisals, inspections, financing, etc. You will find that there are many more people involved in selling a home than just the buyer, seller and broker. It is good to know the people you choose have been reccomended by someone you trust and have worked together in the past. This will ensure a seamless process and less stress in the long run.
Negotiate! This is the most difficult part of the transaction for most people. Determining what a fair price really is is hard enough, but convincing the buyer of that is a whole other story. You want to make sure you do not lose a good bid due to lack of knowledge or proper communication skills. You also do not want to settle because you are not comfortable pushing back. This is the real estate agents job - he or she is trained in this topic and practices every day. Leave it to the professional!
So you are convinced you want to use a broker but you don't know where to go to find one. Ask friends. Interview a few. Look for brokers that really know their stuff. Give them a tour of your home and see how they respond. Ask questions about other sales in the area. Ask them what other homes they have sold in the area.
Finally, make sure you are comfortable with and trust the person selling your house. This is a big project and you are a team, your relationship will mean a lot down the winding path on which you are about to embark.

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UNION SQUARE CONDO

2007-11-05T10:03:00.001-08:00

Hey all, Stunning Union Square Condo for sale! Live here and enjoy all the emenities of living downtown at an affordable rate. Pay no city and state income and property tax till 2012! This 2 bed/2 bath condo has stainless appliances, upgraded cherry cabinets, granite countertops and a custom tiled shower. Union Square also has a recreation room with pool tables, shuffleboard and flat screen TV's, a pool and hot tub on the roof and a exercise room. Right down the road from downtown hot spots.