About Mecosta County, MI

Have you noticed the Snowmobile signs in Mecosta County?

Mecosta County, Michigan, is a very snowmobile-friendly county! If you are looking for a cottage or cabin for your family recreation activities, this is a great place to be.

Many main roads in this county even have a paved shoulder for an extra safety width. This is a great time to buy that get-a-way with a few acres, and many properties adjoin or are near acres and acres (sometimes hundreds!) of Federal and State land. Great hunting, boating, fishing and golfing in Mecosta County as well as other recreational activities including fantastic Rails-to-Trails pathways! Come and take a closer look - where the north begins!

Many of us look months out to see what our expected sales are going to by by month, week and day.

Seems like a bit of over anxiousness....in reality it is just business management.

Every November I can count on a surge in sales calls. It is like clockwork.

How can I plan so precisely?

Simple, we have dear season here and the 15th of November is opening day of hunting season.

A large percentage of the Realtors head off in search of a deer. My phones ring more while they are gone. They turn off their phones or have them forwarded to voice mail.

I can count on people not to be patient. They don't get an answer they move on...fast and find someone that will answer their questions and show them properties.

This also means an increase in car-deer accidents. So if you live in Michigan or another state where a large game hunting season opens use caution on the highways. We have an increased number of cars from neighboring states as well which increased the normal accident rates.

Some communities open their doors to the hunters while other dread the thought. The alcohol consumption also increase during this time.

And all I thought about was the increased calls to show homes? Interesting how calendar events can affect your business.

Have anything that creates more business for you?

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

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

Second Annual Downtown Big Rapids Fall Festival Oct. 30 & 31, 2009

Come join in the fun!

Scarecrow competition and fall displays in the storefront windows both days

Friday Oct. 30th, 6-8 pm

Blues band live in front of JC Penney on Michigan St. - Key West Perma Frost

Crossroads Cougar Fall Carnival benefiting student enrichment programs

also in the JC Penney block. 25 cents per ticket or $10 for 50 tickets

Games, Inflatable Play Area, Petting Zoo, Concessions and more!

(If Bad weather carnival will be held inside Crossroads Charter Academy)

Midnight Madness Sale

Saturday, Oct. 31st:

9:30 am Parade Line-up in front of the movie theatre (first 200 participants in parade receive a free kids ticket to FSU Football game 2pm afternoon of the 31st)

10am Parade - Costumes, Pets & Tractors (incl. lawn tractors)

Many other free happenings until afternoon, including:

11am to 1pm- Kids painting fun in Artworks bldg.;

Games & candy distribution in front of Big Rapids Furniture

Inflatables by the Old Pioneer Store (free popcorn)

9am - noon- Giant 500 lb. pumpkin in Pocket Park - carving demonstration

Free cider & donuts at Chemical Bank

11am to noon- Enter your pumpkin recipe at Blue Cow Cafe - Judging & auction of entries at noon

Half time at the FSU game - Children's costume parade (also inflatables at the field)

(There is an admission fee to get into the FSU game)

Be sure to visit the OLD JAIL HAUNTED HOUSE too!

Many people wonder if this is a 'good time' to list their home for sale.

It can be... if your home is priced to sell.

Typically, the overall number of homes that sell in the fall and winter months in Michigan are lower than spring & summer volume, but there are always people who must move at any time of the year.

In Big Rapids especially, there are people looking to relocate due to job transfers which can occur at any time of the year.

Sellers listing at this time of the year need to pay special attention to curb appeal, as fallen leaves and dying foilage can detract in a hurry. Cut back any dead foilage and keep it as neat as possible. A good exterior cleaning can sometimes do wonders as well to make your home more appealing.

Interest rates are still good, which helps keep buyers looking at this time of the year, so go ahead and list if you are ready to price it right... always the key to getting your home sold!

www.BigRapidsHomes.info