Canadian Lakes Festival of the Lakes 2010

Another "must do for you" is the First Annual Festival of the Lakes is being held Memorial Day Weekend in Canadian Lakes, MI. Canadian Lakes is conveniently located between Big Rapids and Mount Pleasant. The festival looks like there will be something for everyone right from the start. On Friday May 28th they are kicking it off and it runs thru until Monday where they are finishing strong with another parade and a 5K run. More info can be found on their FaceBook page: Festival of the Lakes. The model homes are open at Tullymore and if you haven't seen them this is a great opportunity. Look up Karen Nouhan and tell her RandyO sent you. If you are a rock and roll type of person you need to swing by Gregory's Grill Sunday night and watch my good friends, The Dirty Americans. They put on an awesome show and start around 8:30 pm. This is the first year with this event and it already has quite a buzz going on so I highly recommend a quick trip out there to check it out and who knows, I might see you there!

From the moment you walk into 12351 Lone Oak Drive you the feel attention to detail and quality of materials. This up north 3 bedroom and 2 bath home features soaring cathedral ceilings, 6 inch walls and a four season room all built on a 4 block foundation with cement flooring. The attached garage is dry walled and heated right along with the large workroom. Beautiful tongue and groove ceilings warm the open living area that includes 2 gas fireplaces. This fantastic home is a must see for retirement or full time living!

First Annual Festival of the Lakes in Morton Township on Memorial Day 2010.

Parade to be Saturday at 10am
Lights parade Friday night at dusk
Tent with entertainment Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at the four corners.
A work in progress...

Short sales close at different rates, times and require patience.

Who said Short Sales were named after the time frame it takes to close them with the lender? Many buyers simply get frustrated with the process and blow off the lender who is taking their sweet time to get the process done.

Sellers who are in the short sale process have to know this isn't always a slam dunk. Lenders can be very difficult to deal with because of backlog of foreclosures and delinquent past due files. They also have their own forms, processing methods and personalities involved.

Buyers think these deals should go just a quickly as normal sales...Short Sales are anything but normal.

I have had more than one agent tell me after their first short sale that was the last one they will do.

As a HUD broker, I also do Foreclosures and Short Sales. My experiences have helped both buyers and sellers meet the expectations of the Short Sale process with open eyes.

Both the seller and the buyer in this Short Sale were willing to stay the course. The seller was actively involved to save their credit. The buyer wanted a great deal....and loved the property.

Getting deals because of a short sale isn't a slam dunk...in most cases the property is in better condition because it is occupied by an owner. The seller didn't intend for their home to go into foreclosure or a short sale option.

How long has your Short Sales taken to close?

Gary L White, Flexit Realty Call 616-784-2360 www.FlexitRealty.com

Over the past weeks I've been like everyone else... noticing the gas prices inching (jumping too) up a little more every week.

On some good weeks, they've even surprised and went down, a little. But this week has been an incredible leap. Here is Michigan we went from 2.49 to 2.75 for regular. Where does it go from here?

Where are your gas prices at today? The predictions say we will go higher because of the demand has outpace production. Hard to imagine this is not a intentional attempt to raise fuel oil and other heating products for profit.

Here is something many may not know. Out costs are directly linked to the strength of the US dollar. So if the dollar weakens against foreign money the cost of goods goes up. They simply raise our cost of a barrel of oil. For many traveling this is going to increase the cost of your vacation and travel as well. For those that can't travel based on economic conditions it is simple. Only drive to and from work and the grocery store.

I know these spikes don't seem like a big deal but the difference in a weekly budget can be huge. Spending $20.00 more a week in gas means something else has to be dropped from the budget For many families it is food.

Families have been living on credit cards...the rates have sky rocketed if you haven't noticed. In many cases the credit card was used as a short term gap filler. Now with the rates in the 20 plus percentage range they too have become a debt machine cranking up the dollars owed to the point that minimum payments for many families is shock when they have received their new monthly billing.

No more putting the gas on the credit cards!

How are some of these issues affecting you and your clients?

Live in 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. 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