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Charlene Hammontree, Rockford Michigan, ABR, SRES

Rockford Listings & Home Sales are Down and UP!

This information is provided by the Grand Rapids Assoication of Realtors. This is showing that the amount of homes sold during the last year, depending on price are decreasing. Looking at 07 to 08 shows some decrease in home sales. Notice the increase of solds in the $250,000 - $299,999!

MLS Year to Date Closed/Sold Profile Report

Category - ALL
Statistics for Entire MLS
Category:0
Counties:41
Sale Price Range Last Year
01/01/2007 - 09/17/2007
This Year
01/01/2008 - 09/17/2008
Percent Change
$0 - $99,999 31 45 45.16%
$100,000 - $149,999 85 76 -10.58%
$150,000 - $199,999 111 89 -19.81%
$200,000 - $249,999 75 41 -45.33%
$250,000 - $299,999 26 31 19.23%
$300,000 - $349,999 21 22 4.76%
$350,000 - $399,999 10 10 0.00%
$400,000 - $449,999 4 1 -75.00%
$450,000 - $499,999 6 3 -50.00%
$500,000 - $549,999 4 4 0.00%
$550,000 - $599,999 0 2 100.00%
$600,000 - $699,999 4 1 -75.00%
$700,000 - $799,999 0 0 100.00%
$800,000 - $899,999 0 0 100.00%
$900,000 - $999,999 0 0 100.00%
$1,000,000 - $1,499,999 0 0 100.00%
$1,500,000 - $1,999,999 0 0 100.00%
$2,000,000 and Above 0 0 100.00%
Total 377 325 -13.79%

Copy write by Charlene Hammontree@ U.S. Home & Realty.

New Day Church on-the-hill ~ Neighborhood Picnic ~ Sunday September 21st

Neighborhood Block Party 2008

When: Sunday, September 21st from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Where: New Day Church – On -the –Hill

2965 Wycliff SE

Church Parking Lot

Come and join your friends and new neighbors for

fun and food.

New Day Church is providing: Hotdogs, Hamburg’s, condiments, eating utensils, drinks, tables & chairs.

You bring your appetite and a dish to pass.

* Games * Basketball * Face Painting and more!

Plus Special visit from Cascade Fire Department

RSVP to Charlene Hammontree @ (616) 481-1401 or at hammontree@grar.com

John Ball Park Zoo ~ Escaped from Real Estate!

If you are in Grand Rapids and looking for something to do, you need to check out the Zoo! WE did and we live here and forgot how much fun it really is! Located at 1300 W Fulton

Watch this clip!

The last days of summer slipping through our hands my son and my daughter decided it would be fun to go to the Zoo! After checking some on line info about John Ball Park Zoo. Not to mention my comment of: "What? We live AT the Zoo already! Why should we go visit one?" They were still determined to go so, we packed up and headed off for an early morning visit! It was cooler and the animals were very active! It was a great day of fun!

John Ball was an interesting guy! Even a REALTOR! It wasn't till after he died that the Zoo began to take shape! He left 40 acres to the city back in 1884. The city not sure what to do with it! (Priceless today no doubt!)

I wish I had a nickel for every picture and every kid that climbed on the lap of this guy!

The mission of the zoo is as follows:

Mission Statement

The mission of the John Ball Zoo is to help all individuals gain information about, respect for, and an understanding of the animal kingdom by providing a quality zoological facility that promotes good animal husbandry, provides diverse educational opportunities, actively participates in local, state, and national conservation and research programs and achieves a significant breeding and reproductive record.

Way Cool!

Our journey/adventure begins!

As we entered the park we were greeted by friendly attendants and many blooming flowers!

Here is some of the great animals we saw that day!

I love these pink things!


Look another agent! lol

Not a snake lover, but 8 year thought this was cool!





Hang on little fellas! The white stuff will be here soon!































Are you talking to me?






















This is where you can touch a Stingray!
Not me! The kids did! Had a blast!


































You do have to pay extra for this ($1.00) but it is worth it to watch their faces!







































We go to the Zoo and they have the most fun at the petting zoo! Go figure!

(the 20 year was so geeked about this chicken!)




















Very friendly! Fun!




























This guy ~ he had an issue! Think he smells Turkey!




























Knowing that the glass is the only thing between you and this awesome creature is mind boggling!
















Baby Goats! They weren't 'kid'n around!"

Sorry! they were very, very cute and noisy!





























The Zoo has done an awesome job in making you feel that you are part of the animal area!


I love watching them... I think they love watching us too!
















I think he is doing YOGA! Cool!























We got so close to them and the little babies are so stinking cute!





WALK THRU WALLABIES and JOEYS – Last day SUN – 9/14































SKY TRAIL ropes course – Weekends only - Thru September – weather permitting – Also available by request for corporate parties or team building events 269-673-0016



We didn't get to go on this! But it looks like a blast! We ran out of time!

Plan at least 6 hours!












We were bushed! oh, wait this isn't us! But what a great couple!

























Ran out of time to do! Too cute!























Yup! My monkeys! Thanks John Ball for your 40 acres! We had a blast!








































All rights reserved by Charlene Hammontree@U.S. Home & Realty

Weeknight vs Weekend Open Houses

Weeknight vs Weekend Open Houses

I am just wanting some opinions on this. Our area has been mainly "Sunday Open House" so I am thinking now that school will be back at it and many parents are going to and from school games and practices would an "Weeknight Open House" be something to try? And what night?

Many of us are busy on the weekends and just can't fit it in. Some Sunday's do produce natta bodies to chat with even. It might even have to be a shorter time 1 - 1 1/2 because with fall there is the time change too. Sometimes having a shorter time brings more people in at one time, placing an "it might sell" in the front of the would be buyers mind.

Safety being another reason, but I always take a mortgage person along if they are up for the sitting to catch up on the mortgage news and have would be sellers make a connection right there.

I know some markets just aren't doing many of them because they don't work well. I say, hang in there and be the 'agent that works the market' even 'lookie lous' have to buy and sell and sometimes I get so much done in that time frame by myself! (that is if I don't have a mortgage buddy to go with me! Always looking for some good ones!)

So what is gonna be: Weekend or Weekday for you?

(Not only do "Birds of a feather flock together, they swim in a row!" I love the saying: " If you always do what you have always done, you always get what you have always gotten!" ~ Unkown)

Picture taken at John Ball Zoo in front pond before ticket gates)

If you are selling or buying please tell us so we can better serve you!

All rights reserved by Charlene Hammontree and U.S. Home & Realty

Another Happy Client (s)!

I am happy to say that another closing went as .... well... not as planned, but the clients are happy! Had everything in place and found out that a 20 year old plus condo wasn't VA approved! Who would have thunk? Went FHA and it went just fine. The time frame was a little longer, but like I said.... Happy Clients!

Thanks to my Mortgage guy as well ~ Thanks Tom!

I always look back and think: "I could of done that and better or should have added that", but I think that is normal for the most part! If you can't improve, why bother? Each Home sale is so different.

I kind of get a little sad when they close. For me! No more phone calls, no more updates, no more flyer's or emails... it is kind of like giving birth! You must someday let that little bundle of joy fly off on it's own. Not that I don't follow up with cards and notes and what not, but it isn't the same!

I am so blessed to have such great clients that they do become friends in the end. It is what I love about being a real estate agent! A house that becomes another HOME!

Thank You for allowing me to be your agent!

All rights reserved Charlene Hammontree and U.S. Home & Realty