About Wexford County, MI

Not all buyers who spin a great story and seem to be real are real. What a shock! The problem is sellers are the ones shocked.

Professional real estate agents take the time to qualify buyers. It can be a huge waste of time and energy to have a "looker" someone who has no itention of buying. This is completely different from the nosey neighbor that comes to your open house. A looker is someone who can not buy but likes to look at other peoples homes to get ideas on how to decorate their home.

They usually don't have an agent. Why would they? The "looker" doesn't intend on buying anything. The unsuspecting agent that does not ask the right questions shows them home after home. If the "looker" zeros in on a particular property they may want to see it a couple times to make sure they got all the ideas right to transfer into their home!

Mean while the seller is all excited thinking they have a "hot buyer" who has come through a couple times and must be interested or they wouldn't come back.

I just had one of they "lookers". I asked if she had been pre-approved for a mortgage, answer, "We are going to pay cash". Music to my ears..."great, we will need proof of funds from the bank" The "looker's" eyes got big and said, "You need proof I have the money to buy?" Yup we do. "Seller's like to know buyers are real...the only way to be real is provide a purchase agreement and proof you can buy before they will consider your offer real.

The "looker" said, I guess I'll find another Realtor and home. The fact is...I wasn't nasty or requesting anything that my seller wouldn't expect. The other issue is simple. If the buyer really wanted the home and had the ability to buy the proof of funding would not be a problem either.

Don't waste your time on people that have not intention of buying. Also don't pull on your seller's emotions with phantom buyers.

Have you had a "Looker"

For Personal Service, Call: 616-784-2360 Email: GaryWhite@FlexitRealty.com

Our mobile offices, as I call them, need to be safe and reliable.

I want to keep up on current events at the same time. My vehicles are seriously connected with "Sirius" radio. I can catch talk shows, streaming news channels, music for any generation of listener and a but to push when you just want quiet!

My mobile office is equipped with with charging outlets for my laptop and a 110 volt printed if and when I need to use it.

The best thing I ever did for myself was get connected via satellite in my vehicles. It has brought me hours of information that would have been only available if I dedicated time to catch-up.

If you are active and show homes your territory can be a limited as you want or as large as your state! Being able to relax and meet your appointment schedules is treat you can give yourself. Their are other sources for this service.

Both my cars came with the connection and I just never changed.

How well equipped is your mobile office?

Are YOU a licensed Michigan Realtor or Broker? Want to do more than survive? Thrive in this market, give me a call. Always confidential, just conversation, but could be the best career move you ever made!

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

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

Michigan winter weather.... snow, ice, blowing, drifting... now raining, pouring, heavy rain overnight...tomorrow dropping temps and lots of snow.

We have change of seasons 24/7 with spring like driving one day and winter the next. Ice hidden under the snow is now slippery and exposed. Today dropping off an offer, I took a step and did the Watusi. My version of a ballet with the spinning splits on ice!

I did this at a busy intersection parking lot. I did get a few honks and I took a bow! They enjoyed my little unexpected dance. It could have been very ugly just as easily with a fracture or head injury instead of some entertainment for passersby. I saw the ice and was prepared for a little slip and slide.

Be safe and prepared both personally at home and in your car. Weather changes the equation in northern climates. Other areas of the country have their own challenges with conditions that change.

The issues we face is living in these conditions and becoming adusted without making adjustments.

Have a great week and think a bit more about your weather conditions.

Gary White, Flexit Realty Grand Rapids Michigan www.FlexitRealty.com

It may be time to look at real estate for its investment benefits. NOW is a great time to buy! With so many properties to choose from, buyers have more strategies to choose from. Here in Cadillac, MI there are more foreclosures availabe for sale than ever before, many single family homes, even multi-family homes & with interest rates still at an all time low housing is much more affordable. In the last year I've been selling homes for $6,100, $12,500, $13,000, $14,500, $20,000 even $21,000 for a 3 bedroom with a pole barn & 10 acres! Unbelievable prices!!

A home can hedge against inflation & usually tends to appreciate over the years providing you paid the "right" price, not too much at the time of purchase. Owning a house can help with wealth building, enhance your credit score & may be used as an asset to finance buisness ventures, college tuition, even retirement. Some people say paper investments (like mutual funds) don't have to be painted or maintained, but you can't live in them either. It's a great time to buy real estate!

In today's wireless world it is more important than ever to stay connected. We all know to well that technology isn't slowing down. We are often left wondering how that computer we bought just 2 years ago isn't working so well anymore. Often the same is true for our pocket books. The money we made just a few years ago isn't doing as much for us. Top that with the fact many have lost a part of their income, the prospects of affording that technologically advanced computer may be slim.

For most of us that means trying to find that bargain at "box stores" (WalMart, Best Buy, etc.). As a long time financial supporter of WalMart's low prices, I can honestly tell you shopping a box store for a computer may not always the best choice.

Specialty computer stores are conscious of not only the financial restraints facing consumers, manufacturers are extending incentives to computer stores so they can be competitive with the large box stores.

I had been shopping for a computer with above average computing power that would be easily upgraded and keep up with technology growth. I wanted all this for under $500.00. Okay, call me crazy that I should expect a 64-bit operating system, Duo Core 2 GHz processor, 300+ GB hard drive, 4GB memory, etc., with upgradeable options for under $500.00. I certainly didn't find that at any box store and was about ready to give up when I decided to stop by our local computer store.

Not only did I find the computer I was looking for, for the price I wanted, Jeremiah at Cadillac Computer transferred all my files and made sure the computer was running at full potential. Along with the purchase came the assurance that should we have any problems with the computer, we can rely on Cadillac Computer to service the computer with out the lengthy time it takes a box store to "fix" a computer. In all honesty, most box stores do not have computer technicians on staff, and will if pressed admit it.

Working with Cadillac Computer I was also made aware that they could sell my old computers on EBay. If I get half of what Jeremiah said was possible to get for the computers it will pay for the new one. While not every computer store will re-sell your old computer, many have recycling services available.

We all know how important it is to buy local and support local companies. We just may not always be aware of how local companies are making extra ordinary efforts to support you, the local consumer. I want to encourage everyone to stop by your local computer store before you buy that next computer. If you happen to live around Cadillac Michigan, stop by Cadillac Computer and tell Jeremiah that Tony Zimmerman sent you.

BTW, they also have better pricing on cooling pads than any where else!