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

This post will reach a goal that is eclipsed already by many and is mind boggling to others.

This post will shoot me past the 500,000 point mark.  It will also bring me within 4 posts of having posted 1200 posts on Active Rain.

I took a moment and looked back at some of my early posts.  I wasn't surprised to see that I still spell the same words wrong!  I must be a slow learner!  I am a little more proficient at using my spell check and wrote a post on spell checkers as a matter of fact this morning. Here is the link below to my post on spell checkers.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1216869/who-checks-the-spell-cheker-spell-checkers-miss-the-mark-

I could find only a couple of rants in the posts.  Which means I must be slipping.  I found a few responses that put me in my place or at least made the respondent feel better - I didn't change my mind based on their terse comments.  I did however change my mind on them, so they accomplished something. 

I see new faces and try to make sure they feel welcome and get their voice without a critical voice from me.

I invite others when I can, others do a far better job but the medium is one of the best platforms to increase your business and linkage.

So with that, I blog on, hoping to impact, improve and be impacted by the "Wizards" of cyberspace.

Thanks for your contributions to my blog....it would be nothing without YOU!

"Help is only a Call or Click away!"©2006-2009

Call Toll Free:  877-667-4699
Local: 616-784-2360 
Email: garywhite@FlexItRealty.com

Do you know what you are buying?

I just meet a neighborhood association president that is the most hated person in the neighborhood!  She didn't want the job....didn't ask for the job it just happened.

When purchasing a home their is more to buying than having a credit score to get the loan, although that helps!

I helped a client years ago buy a home in a township suburban location.  They did not have public sewer or water yet but it was on the planning commissions goals.  I checked the township records before we purchased to see if any special assessments where targeted for this sub-division.  Two years out the township had plans for adding city water and sewer.  The estimated cost for each of the 33 homes was $12,000.00 per home.

We negotiated with the homeowner and reduced the sell price by half the cost of the projected cost.  Everyone was happy.  I just met the lucky association president that had to inform all the unsuspecting homeowners that purchased without knowledge of the upcoming special assessment for water and sewer.  Some of the homes....including my clients home did not have a connection run from the home to the street. We looked over the building plans an deducted from the sale price for this as well. 

So, some homeowners that purchased homes had a bill close to $18,000.00 by the time the connection from the home to the street was added.  The association membership was up in arms and hired an attorney that cost them lots of money...but eventually the case was dropped for lack of funding.

My buyers...smile when this subject comes up as neighbors chat.  They tell other neighbors our Realtor knew all about it and told us up front and negotiated a lower purchase price for our home?

Knowing the information about the area and property before you purchase is the only sure way to protect yourself form surprise assessments.  I am now getting referrals in the same neighborhood.  People wanting to sell and wanting someone who will give them all the facts.  Remember many seller won't know if a special assessment exists in the future.  Call the city or township yourself and check for special assessmets.

By the way the street was torn up for 8 months.  It turned into a mud hole with streets a mess.  People had to park two block from their front doors and walk into the subdivision across boards.  The subdivision is only 33 homes with 32 unhappy association members.  Everyone blames the association for not publishing a notice in the newsletter of the pending special assessment.  The fact is it isn't an assessment by the association.  It is an assessment being levied by the township.  It was published in the paper, public meetings were scheduled for discussion...nobody came.

Make sure you know the facts in the area you are buying.

Live in the Grand Rapids or West Michigan area, not under contract?  Like to sell or buy a home....give me a call.  It could save you thousands in your next real estate transaction.  FlexIt Realty designs selling and buying programs to meet our clients' needs.  Always confidential, Never Pressured.

"Help is only a Call or Click away!"©2006-2009

Call Toll Free:  877-667-4699   Local: 616-784-2360    Email: garywhite@FlexItRealty.com 

Community Networking, Part 3 of a 3 part series.

Many people think networking means work.  It doesn't have to mean work.  It can mean fun and enjoyment while building your business at the same time.

Here is a couple of example of personal networking ventures.  Our uncle was in a nursing home, we make note than make of the occupants never had visitors.  They made excuses for their relatives not seeing them but down deep they wished they had a loved one stopping in to see them.

This same scenario is played out all over the US.  We (my wife and I) started to expand our visits to people we said hello to in the halls.  They always brightened up with a smile of appreciation and acknowledgment.  We spent a few more minute per visit saying a bit more and getting to know our nameless smiling friends.  Pretty soon they were part of every visit.

We ended up learning more about the nursing home staff.  We even listed and helped a couple staff members buy homes.  The families were told of our visitations of caring when they came to visit.  Our positive gestures moved past the nursing home into the homes of the relatives.  The relatives wanted to know more about why we would care.  The answer was simple...they just needed conversation and we were willingly able to listen.  With time we knew the relatives too.  We have listed one of their homes too.  It takes a bit of time but you can enjoy your efforts and make money doing it. 

The opportunity to network can be fun.  You can do little league, soccer, baseball, hiking, kayaking, biking, dancing with groups...you can serve food, help at pantries, yard work, volunteer and get huge personal satisfaction and have fun doing it.  The dividends from being a community servant will give you more business and what is your best advertising method?  Word of mouth.  What is the most cost effective advertising method?  Word of mouth!

So have some fun, network and make money doing it and feel great that you have impacted someone else's life in the process.

I have posted the links to Part 1 and 2 in case you missed them.Part 1 of 3
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1196910/community-networking-enjoy-yourself-at-the-same-time-part-1-of-3

Part 2 of 3
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1207107/community-networking-enjoy-yourself-at-the-same-time-part-2-of-3-

Live in the Grand Rapids or West Michigan area, not under contract?  Like to sell or buy a home....give me a call.  It could save you thousands in your next real estate transaction.  FlexIt Realty designs selling and buying programs to meet our clients' needs.  Always confidential, Never Pressured.

"Help is only a Call or Click away!"©2006-2009

Call Toll Free:  877-667-4699     Local: 616-784-2360   Email: garywhite@FlexItRealty.com

I have noticed during the process of showing foreclosed homes the remnants of what is left behind. 

Many of the mortgage companies have a "clean out service" and they haul aways the former owners belongings, if they have not been removed within the time frame.

Some of the others mortgage companies just leave the belongings where they were when the former owner departed.

It is a sad testiment to how the business of forclosure is handled.  Most...not all families would appreciate the time to gather their possessions.  Others will take advantage of the system.  I guess that is how we got here in the first place...people taking advantage.

The other day I walked into a mortgage company to discuss a foreclosure issue with a lender.  I couldn't help noticing the white lettered warning on the door....No Fire Arms Allowed!

I kind of laughed to myself until I realized it was no laughing matter.  The emotions and rage people feel when losing their home could cause them to bring a gun into a lending institution.  In fact it has already happened or that warning would not be on the door.

Here is some thoughts that you may not know.  Click this link and see how many homeowners are estimated to be or going to be underwater or upside down on their mortgages.  http://www.businessinsider.com/henry-blodget-half-of-us-homeowners-underwater-by-2011-2009-8

The stark reality of our times.

Live in the Grand Rapids or West Michigan area, not under contract?  Like to sell or buy a home....give me a call.  It could save you thousands in your next real estate transaction.  FlexIt Realty, flexible selling and buying programs to meet our clients' needs.  Always confidential, Never Pressured.

"Help is only a Call or Click away!"©2006-2009

Call Toll Free:  877-667-4699   Local: 616-784-2360  Email: garywhite@FlexItRealty.com

I watched from ground level the outpouring of emotions and honor being shown for a local soldier who lost his live defending our ideals.  US Army Cpl. Nick Roush was 22 years old from a local community just miles south of Grand Rapids.

I didn't know him or the family personally but have met families and friends in the same situation.  I returned from Vietnam in 1969.  I watched the home coming of many caskets.  Had friends that would never live to see life pleasures.

I can only say the treatment of these young men is well deserved.  Unless you have been in harms way you have no idea what or how you will react under fire.

The community support is key to getting the medical attention these young heros need.  Integration back into our society is not an easy task mentally or physically if they have been wounded.

Here are some of the photos from my camera phone.  The procession was miles long.  It extended from one community to another.  Flags, honor guard, news media all covered the procession with honor and dignity.  My normal commute to a local community to check on one of my listings took nearly 1 1/2 hours, normally it would have been a 30 minute non eventful trip.

Cpl. Nick Roush was a life long resident of Middleville Michigan a small communitiy with close family values.  The motorcade to his church was a testiment to the deep feelings throughout the communities and business districts it passed.  Hundreds of people lined the roads with flags, some with signs others with tears and a wave as the procession passed by.

Everyone would rather see these men and women come home to open arms of joy, to their parents, wives, husbands and children.  When they sacrifice everything they have to give with their lives it is hard to just say...."Thank You" when so much more is deserved.

This week Michigan had some good news. 

Our unemployment rate dropped by .2% from 15.2 to 15%.  That may not seem like a lot to be thankful for but it is the first time in months that the unemployment rate did not rise.

Also on a national level home sales rose by 7% then a consider that the Midwest rose by 8.5%.  The numbers are hard for anyone to grasp because you have to know where they come from.

The National Association of Realtors reported home sales were up but sell prices were still down for our area.

What makes up the numbers.  Are these traditional homes or is the sales fueled by foreclosures and the first time buyer taking advantage of the "First Time Buyer Credit"?  Most of the inventory that is selling is to "First Time Buyers" and the rest is investors looking to take advantage of the best home values in decades.  We also have some traditional sales mixed in to the totals.  We are still over 50% if the total homes sold being foreclosures, short sales and HUD homes.

Traditional sales of homes that are not foreclosures, HUD homes or short sales have seen the average sell price drop a bit further.  So while we are seeing good news in the unemployment numbers for this month we have a ways to go before we see our local market rebound. 

More homes are selling but what is creating the bounce in numbers?  The end of the "First Time Buyer Program" is November 31, 2009 at midnight.  The clock is ticking and people are looking to take advantage of homes priced lower than we have seen in years.

Using a professional buyers agent to help you find one of these great buys before the program ends costs you nothing.  Remember a sellers agent works for the seller not YOU.  You will not get a better deal from anyone that does not represent your interests.

Buyer agents only work for the buyer.

Live in the Grand Rapids or West Michigan area, not under contract?  Like to sell or buy a home....give me a call.  It could save you thousands in your next real estate transaction.  FlexIt Realty mean "Flexible" selling and buying programs to meet our clients' needs.  Always confidential, Never Pressured.

"Help is only a Call or Click away!"©2006-2009

Call Toll Free:  877-667-4699
Local: 616-784-2360    Email: garywhite@FlexItRealty.com