Grand Haven, MI

My town of Grand Haven is a very tourist community. With that comes a lot of rental cottages around town. A lot of the people are able to get what we call a "Winter Renter" for the months of Sept-May and then rent weekly in the summer tourism months. It is a great investment. If you are well informed.

I met a woman who purchased a cottage style home and it was licensed as a rental. It was in an area that the tourist love....walking distance to downtown, the pier, boardwalk, parks and Lake Michigan. She assumed that she would rent it out in the winter months and then do the weekly rentals all summer long. After she began renting weekly, the City contacted her and told her that this home was not zoned for "Seasonal Rentals" and that she would need to cease all weekly rentals immediately. You can imagine her shock and disbelief. She purchase this as an investment property only to find out that there are two types of Licensed Rentals in the area. Also, the zoning areas had changed for the "Seasonal Rentals" due to many of the areas being high residential and the folks living in those areas did not want it to become Party Central during the summer months.

She assumed and her realtor either did not know the zoning guidelines or just did'nt speak up at the time of purchase. She was given the Rental License at the time of closing, but it was not for the type of renting she intended to do. Now she owns an investment property that she never would of purchased if given the correct information.

The moral to this story is....KNOW your zoning. Especially in a resort town where a lot of people like to invest in rental properties. Just because it looks like a great location for rentals...does not mean that it can be used as such. Zoning changes. You need to keep well informed if you sell to investors!

Tired of being stuck inside?

Looking for something fun to do with the entire family?

Well, break out of the house and join us for Winterfest 2008 in Grand Haven, Michigan. An entire weekend beginning on January 24th through the 27th packed full of fun crazy winter actives.

• Human Dog Sled Race
• Polar Ice Cap Golf Tournament
• Cardboard Sled Race
• Ice Sculpting
• Luau Extravaganza ~ yes, a Luau in the middle of winter! Complete with Conga lines, palm trees, tropical beverages and music!
• Dollar family ski and board
• Prizes
• and more......

So, grab your gloves and boots and join us for an entire weekend of FUN!!

For more information go to: http://www.winterfestonline.org/

Looking to buy or sell a home in the West Michigan Lakeshore communities? One the best places to live and vacation! Call me today.

Renee Parker, Realtor, Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt

616-850-1116

callreneeparker@yahoo.com

Sold Stats ~ North Ottawa County, Michigan

Quarterly Report ~ 10/1/07 through 12/31/07

Price Range ~ $50,000 to 74,900

14 out of 28 listings sold

Sales price % Listing price ~ 92.39%

Average time on market ~ 109 days

Price Range ~ $75,000 to 99,900

15 out of 133 listings sold

Sales price % Listing price ~ 93.67%

Average time on market ~ 74 days

Price Range ~ $100,000 to 124,900

24 out of 145 listings sold

Sales price % Listing price ~ 95.03%

Average time on market ~ 71 days

Price Range ~ $125,000 to 149,900

31 out of 148 listings sold

Sales price % Listing price ~ 97.55%

Average time on market ~ 111 days

Price Range ~ $150,000 to 174,900

18 out of 93 listings sold

Sales price % Listing price ~ 95.85%

Average time on market ~ 121 days

Price Range ~ $175,000 to 199,900

12 out of 88 listings sold

Sales price % Listing price ~ 96.30%

Average time on market ~ 159 days

Price Range ~ $200,000 to 224,900

7 out of 50 listings sold

Sales price % Listing price ~ 90.37%

Average time on market ~ 247 days

Price Range ~ $225,000 to 249,900

3 out of 78 listings sold

Sales price % Listing price ~ 95.94%

Average time on market ~ 98 days

Price Range ~ $250,000 to 274,900

5 out of 53 listings sold

Sales price % Listing price ~ 91.60%

Average time on market ~ 68 days

Price Range ~ $275,000 to 299,900

5 out of 54 listings sold

Sales price % Listing price ~ 99.48%

Average time on market ~ 215 days

Price Range ~ $300,000 to 349,900

6 out of 74 listings sold

Sales price % Listing price ~ 95.03%

Average time on market ~ 174 days

Price Range ~ $350,000 to 399,900

3 out of 65 listings sold

Sales price % Listing price ~ 93.67%

Average time on market ~ 53 days

Price Range ~ $400,000 to 499,900

2 out of 56 listings sold

Sales price % Listing price ~ 94.14%

Average time on market ~ 243 days

This report gives valuable information for sellers. What does it mean to you? We can take this data and dig deeper into the solutions for selling your home.

Pick up the phone and call me today.

Presented by:

Renee Parker, Realtor

Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt

Web site: http://www.callreneeparker.com/

616-950-1116 Direct Line

Email: callreneeparker@yahoo.com

All information contained herein should be deemed reliable but not guaranteed, all representations are approximate and individual verification is recommended