Gary White FlexIt Realty~Real Estate & Updates, Grand Rapids & West Michigan

 It is hard to imagine you can buy a two bedroom home with 2.5 stall garage with 3 lots and have a 200+ acre record setting fishing lake just steps from your door.

This is a completely updated home inside and out.  Look at the virtual tour and see the inside...OK you are skeptical here is a photo of the large kitchen.  This home has an open floor plan and is ready to move-in. 

Notice the slider off the kitchen to the deck?  Wildlife is just out the back door and state land is close for deer hunting.  But the summer times enjoy the 200+ acre lake with an island.  The lake also has a marina for residents and a park...this is a private lake without a public launch.

Take the virtual tour but be careful you may end up buying a cottage to get away from it all.  You could live year round in this well insulated home.  See for yourself take the tour.

http://www.flexitrealty.com/Listing/VirtualTour.ashx?listingid=884020   

 This is one of those hidden gems.  It has vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, oak trim, finished basement and much more.  This is like new...squeaky clean inside and has some real innovations.  You have the option of a main floor office or den. Two full baths 3 bedrooms on the main floor and a custom third bedroom on the walkout level.

Take a minute and view the virtual tour...be careful you might end up moving!  This home has professional landscaping all around the home and yard.  Come see for yourself with a personal tour.

Click on the link below to view the virtual tour.

http://www.flexitrealty.com/Listing/VirtualTour.ashx?listingid=1789679

Ever dream of living in the the country without being in the country?  This beautiful 5 bedroom home comes complete with an additional 24'x36' finished second garage.

It has magnificent finished oak trim and appointed with 3 walkin closets, 4.5 bathrooms with a walkout lower level and an entertainment sized deck.  Check out the virtual tour and see for yourself.  The home sits on an acre lot back up to woods.  It has professional landscaping and underground sprinkling to keep it looking lush.  Click the link below to see the virtual tour...it is worth your time if you are looking for a lovely home in the Cedar Springs area, paved roads right to your door.  This home can not be replaced for the listing price.

See what $384,888 will buy you in luxury.

http://www.flexitrealty.com/Listing/VirtualTour.ashx?listingid=1733367

Some times you get a listing that should have sold and just didn't.  Well this one isn't the one!   I just listed this home a few days ago and it is in an upscale neighborhood of executive homes.  It has lots of features and one key benefit...you will earn equity by the thousands within a year or two when the market turns.  It is under priced right now but in the short future is will be looked back on as a real steal!

http://www.flexitrealty.com/Listing/VirtualTour.ashx?listingid=1822664

Check out the virtual tour and see for yourself the features this home offers for $189,900 it should be $220,000 in this upscale neighborhood.

See for yourself peek at the virtual tour but be careful you might be moving if you do!

This is one of those homes that is a pleasue to show...it is unique and offer some rare feature that an executive would be thrilled to have.  This home is meant for entertaining!  Sitting on 2.2 acres or privacy out your back door with wildlife just as close.

Check out the virtual tour...this will give you an idea of what you can get for $600,000 in todays market.  It is worth the trip to see the tour.  If you have a buyer relocating to the Grand Rapids Michigan area this should be one of the homes on their list.  See for your self...take a look at the gourmet kitchen or the full size half court basketball court "Inside the home"!  Home sound system inside and out...the list goes on...HD theater room...OK....see for yourself...dream...but if you look you may be moving!

http://www.flexitrealty.com/Listing/VirtualTour.ashx?listingid=1773359

If you would like a personal tour Call Gary White Toll Free:  877-667-4699 or for immediate response Call: 616-784-2360 Office

This economy has affected the young and old alike.   I just spoke with one of my elderly clients and her heat budget is going to double this next winter.  She is fine but the neighbor...a working executive had his double too and now they are looking at a year round heat budget of $243.00 per month for 11 months.

The gas crisis affect everything because of our delivery system is based on trucking.  So if the cost of our delivery system rise so does everything that the system carries.  This isn't just the finished goods that we consume...the raw material before they are finished good are also transported.

The inflation rate right now is 4% that is number reported by our government...so take that with a grain of salt!  Talk to anyone with a young family and they have their hands full trying to make ends meet.

Here is something that will help families stretch their dollars so they can hopefully make the budget a little less tight.

I am not sure if anyone has heard of www.AngelFoodMinistries.com Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit  non-denominational group that is dedicated to food relief among other functions.  For approximately $30.00 a family can buy $42 and $78.00 dollars worth of groceries depending on the selections.

This is not the old program of a box of cheese...good food, and a real budget stretcher.  Here is an example of the June Menu.

1.5 lb. Rib Eye Steaks (4x6 oz.)                                                        16oz. Sliced Carrots
1.5 lb. Hamburger Patties (4x6oz.)                                                    16oz. Mixed Vegetables
2 lbs. Pork Riblets                                                                            32 oz. Borden 2% Reduced Fat Shelf Stable Milk                                                                              1 Dessert 
4 lbs. Ind. Quick Frozen Chicken Leg Quarters                                    6 oz. Pancake Mix
2 lbs. Breaded Chicken Tenders                                                        15 oz. Pork and Beans
20 oz.  Supreme Pizza                                                                     14 oz. Ketchup
1 lb. Mild Italian Sausage                                                                 7.5 oz Macaroni & Cheese
24 oz. French Fries                                                                          1 Dozen Eggs
16 oz. Green Beans

This is a $30.00 menu!   You take what you get..the menu is what it is...it changes every month but it can be a real budget saver for any of you clients that may be in trouble and need a helping hand.  Go to the website link and see where a location is in your area.  This is a National Ministry that has done a lot of good and deserves a little thanks as many that serve do.

Hope this can help your clients.                                                                                                                           

I am happy to not that one of the top 10 cities Money Magazine reported that should see positive growth is Grand Rapids Michigan.

I dashed out and purchased the magazine just for that reason alone.  It is something to crow about...but as a Realtor...last month 46% of the sales reported by our board were either short sales or foreclosures.

We have a huge spurt in medical staff requirements, this is a major factor in the expected growth.  One of the bright spots in the State of Michigan.

For many that are unfamiliar with Michigan....Grand Rapids Michigan is the second largest city in Michigan.  We are located on the Midwestern side of the state with key highways to all kinds of fun.  Lake Michigan is only 30 miles away, state land for hunting and hiking is again only 30 minutes in almost any direction, biking paths are paved and used by thousands including me. 

Fun is one of Michigan's main draws...tourism.  Fishing and lakes dot every county.  Since we have the change of season we have multiple opportunities to use our beautiful outdoors.

Money magazine missed that part of the equation.  We are like many area having hard times because our economy is automotive based.  The gas crunch is having an effect on car sales.  It is having an effect on everything.

But I must say I was very happy for Grand Rapids to be published as one of the Top 10 bright spots.  Time is money finding the right home can be esier than you think.

If you are interested in looking at property in the Grand Rapids market and you are not under contact with another agent...give me a call you will be pleasantly surprised that you did.  I have lived and owned businesses in Grand Rapids, Michigan since 1972.  I have watched and contributed to it's growth.  I know Grand Rapids.

The Washington post published a great cartoon...I shows a member (won't mention the party) hitch hiking with his limo parked in front of a gas pump.  The brand of the gas ANWR...think about that one.  The best part of the cartoon...the saying on the side of the senators briefcase....energy policy!

Yeah, like we have an energy policy. 

 I have written a few posts concerning energy.  I guess the reason I have posted on this subject so much is...everyone is affected by it.  Our cost of goods being delivered..think of the cost to run a semi down the road.  In our state I have notice the semi's have slowed down to 55 MPH to conserve fuel.

I have also noticed the average driver has also slowed down to the speed limit to conserve gas.  We had a local TV station report that the shared ride lots are full and the bus use in the city has picked up by 50%.

Go to the grocery store and not that bread and nearly every other product has taken steep jumps in price.  My wife and I for years had a tradition of a bowl of ice cream on Friday night and a movie together.  She informed me that we may have to change our 23 year tradition...ice cream is over $5.00 a half gallon.

I have no clue how the average family makes ends meet.  Now that tells me if I wonder about it our congress really has no clue.  The only way to make a difference is vote the clueless out of office!

I really don't care about who you vote for as long as you vote and take a bit of time to vote for the person you feel is going to work in your best interest and the countries.  That may mean splitting your vote across parties...OK.  I am a voter for the best person to get the job done.  I have split my vote for years.  I take a bit of time and do some homework.  I have one goal, a better place for everyone.

I also like accountability...who cares about a bridge in the middle of nowhere that 500 people use and spend 50 million dollars to build it?  I feel bad for the 500 people but they have choices...the bridge wasn't there when they moved there...so?

Have you ever heard a person who works for the government say if I don't spend all my budget it will get smaller next year so I spend it and ask for more!  Who is watching?  The GAO...you've got to be kidding they can hardly figure out how many people came to work on a given day let alone audit!

So there you have it, my one sided view that somebody should be doing more and that somebody is our representatives and leaders.  If they don't vote them all out!  I mean "all" of them democrats, republicans, all of them, and let the world know we are going to watch our leaders.  We want results or they don't deserve our vote....they better serve our needs as a country or they will be gone too!

How do you feel?  Do you like what you see?  We have a Democratic congress and a Republican White house...they fight, they bicker and not is resolved as families strap on more debt with the high prices.

Do you have any golden pearls of wisdom?

Knowing the numbers is one of the key factors to pricing and selling.  Marketing properties is more about the numbers.  For example we have over 2500 homes listed as short sales.  The number of homes that are listed as Foreclosures is over double that number, so whats in the numbers?

Do you know how many homes are priced to compete against your home?  How do you decide which homes are comparable to your listing?  Do you reach out for a few mile or many miles for price comparisons?  What about those foreclosures do they count...or is that Short Sale priced home in the neighborhood a factor?

Sellers are facing all of these issues and Realtors are responding with information to help sellers make an informed decision.

1. Foreclosures do impact buyer decisions, the foreclosed property may reduce the value of a home in the area just because of it's run down condition and overgrown yard.
2. If the condition has not deteriorated to much it becomes a comparable for buyers whether you like to think it is or not.  I know it is a distressed property but if the Foreclosure is priced 20-30 thousand below your asking price you better be able to show the reasons for the lower price based on condition.
3. Short Sales are another problem, but they too can be an issue for buyers to use against you when bidding on your home.  Regardless of the distressed nature of the home you will have to address the value or your home versus the lower price of the Short Sale.

Want to know a few tricks to make sure your home sells even when yours is priced thousands of dollars over the distressed property?

• I preview every property that is competitive to my listing.  I know this takes time...fine do you want to sell or not?  I take photos of all the areas that are not comparable to my listing.  I create a sell book with all the reason I can think of and show with photos why the distressed property is priced so low.
• Roofs, sump pumps, furnaces, water heaters all can be an issue.  In our northern climate having the electricity turned off stops the inspector from doing a real inspection.  Freezing and bursting pipes, can create a real mess when the water is turned back on!  Turning on the electricity is at the buyers expense in our area, ....did you know that one of the homes that was foreclosed,  a former homeowner removed the toilet poured cement down the drain and then re-bolted the toilet like nothing was wrong!  This happened and I remind buyers that you are buying a home "AS IS" it may be a good buy or a money pit...like the movie. You can watch your money sprout wings and fly out of your wallet.
• A depressed price on a depressed property is called that for a reason...if you buy the wrong property you will certainly be depressed too! 

The truth is you some people have gotten exactly what they thought they were getting, a property that needed work.  Others bought a property that turned out to be much more work than they ever imagined.  One of the reasons...they didn't have a professional do the quotes for the repairs...the buyer guesstimated.  The other issue that comes up time and again...."AS IS" you have no recourse, no one to blame only a broken home with lot of bills and things to do. 

Selling against these so called bargains can be easy if you do your homework and have the photo information to show the examples of the differences in value. 

Our job is to tell you the truth, help you find the right property for you based on your guidelines.  On the other hand we offer advice to help you make a better decision.  Selling homes is what we do.  Selling in all markets and condition is also what we do!

How do you sell against these "so called" bargains?

Well I wanted to pursue more buyers...my advertising is working...now I have to figure out how to give buyers some logic lessons!

I don't usually think badly or even second guess clients.  I take them as they come.  I offer a very detailed outline for a needs and wants list to help narrow what I am doing.  This certainly helps me but offers the client what they want to see when home hunting.

Today I get a call from one of my cable spot ads.  The male voice on the other end of the phone says..."Yeah, I want a home that is priced below market, I can move into right away and is under $800.00 a month in payments".  Well that is nice...we just narrowed the choices to just under 8000!  When do you want to start looking?  I have gotten 4 calls a day for 3 days straight on one ad.

Here is the printout of homes matching your request!

I was kidding...but I really wasn't kidding with the caller.  So I spent the next 15 minutes getting to know the caller that turned out to be Mike.  Nice guy that had all the newspaper and media lingo down...he knew how much home prices are being discounted according to a new report by somebody that isn't an economist, not related to the mortgage industry or real estate.  The article didn't say where the source of the statistics were being gathered but it was printed!

I am meeting with Mike on a face to face (FTF) meeting tomorrow so we can define a few features.  His friends have been very helpful...they told him to get prequalified and the lender letter will last about 6 months.  I said that would be nice some of the lenders won't even be in business in 6 months!  Lender letters are good for the day they are written...the next day you make a purchase that changes your credit ratio and the letter is a worthless piece of paper. 

You have other choices too, if you want to bargain hunt...if buying Foreclosed or Short Sale properties the bargain has to be in the eyes of the buyers.  Some of these can be good buys others can be a pit you put money in never to be seen again.

People love to find bargains but that bargain may not be what it appears.  So use a competent agent, get a professional to inspect the property and above all evaluate the cost of repairs with a licensed contractor before submitting a bid on your future dream home.  What you think and what is accurate may be two very different things.  Once you have closed it is too late to change your mind.  I watched a documentary not to long ago about jumpers off the San Francisco bridge.  One of the few survivors said in an interview...." I knew I shouldn't have taken that step as soon as I did it!"  Many people are lured by the illusion of good deals and Realtors can not protect you if you say I want to buy it, sign the purchase agreement and sign again at closing...it is to late you have taken the step.

If you live in Michigan and want help with finding a home, go to our Website: www.FlexItRealty.com or Email: FlexItRealty@FlexItRealty.com for a list in your area of Short Sale homes.  Our representation to buyers is FREE.  Seller have representation shouldn't you too?  If you do not have an agency agreement we can offer you help FREE!