Michael Delaware, CRS, e-Pro

The Kellogg Company Headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan sits at the helm of one of the largest food producing companies in the world. Kellogg's, with 2008 sales of nearly $13 billion, is the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavored snacks, frozen waffles, and veggie foods.

The Company's brands include Kellogg's, Keebler, Pop-Tarts, Eggo, Cheez-It, Nutri-Grain, Rice Krispies, BearNaked, Morningstar Farms, Famous Amos, Special K, All-Bran, Frosted Mini-Wheats, Club and Kashi. Kellogg products are manufactured in 18 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries around the world. The Kellogg Company Headquarters is in Battle Creek, Michigan, USA.

The company's origin comes from the brothers Dr. John Harvey and William Keith Kellogg, who invented ready-to-eat cereal. Today the Kellogg Company headquarters stands as not only a symbol of a global company, but it is a fascinating architectural master design as well.

Local urban legend has it that when designing the corporate headquarters, the architect surveyed the Kellogg executives to find out what kind of office they wanted for themselves. A majority replied that they wanted a ‘corner office' and thus the architect developed the design of the current structure comprising the Kellogg Company Headquarters.

There are more corner offices in this building, then perhaps any other building of its size. Which is fitting for a City that is perhaps one of the most well known cities in the world for its size: Battle Creek. A Kellogg Company executive or employee not only has a corner office, they also have a great view! One side of the building faces the river, another faces the sunrise, another the sunset, the city skyline, etc. The site planning in this way makes the Kellogg Company Headquarters perhaps the most ideal work location in the city.

So when visiting Battle Creek, be sure to take time to marvel at the fascinating architecture of the Kellogg Company Headquarters. It is truly an asset to our great community. I reminds us we are a city of great ideas!

Everyday people walk by the intricate limestone carvings in downtown Battle Creek, Michigan and few take time to notice the details. I admit, I myself have walked by many such buildings without noticing them. However, when you look at this work, it is hard not to admire the detail.

Here is are some photos of one of the towers of Michigan Avenue. It features some wonderful limestone carvings in downtown Battle Creek. Notice the one detail of the gargoyle face in the upper left (see photo below)? When I took this photo, I never even noticed that one!

When I have researched the emergence of limestone carvings in downtown in the city archives, I learned that much of the stone came from Indiana in a quarry down there. The limestone can be seen in area buildings such as the Hart Hotel, the Federal Center and one of the towers as depicted here.

Limestone carvings in downtown Battle Creek are perhaps a character of an architectural detail that is a lost art. Or maybe due to cost saving issues, newer building don't include them in present construction. They are however an aesthetic detail that I find intriquing, and I cannot help but think of the artist who carved it originally. How many other marks did that artist leave behind that are out of the direct line of sight, that may be there for the next hundred years?

So if you are out and about or visiting the area, be sure to look up once in awhile and admire the limestone carvings in downtown Battle Creek. You might be surprised to see a gargoyle or goblin looking down on you, or notice a rose relief that you never knew was there. When I talk to artists who mention they are looking for new material, I sometimes suggest they examine some of the older architecture around town. There is often a lot there to inspire the imagination!

Limestone carvings in downtown, may sometimes be overlooked, but if you take time to look up occasionally, they offer so much to admire!

There is a great deal advantage to buying profitable single family investment homes at low cost in Battle Creek, Michigan. This market is probably the best market to get started in as an investor, without having to outlay a large investment on your first home.

Buying profitable single family investment homes at low cost starts with working out a plan. You can get started with your first home with a investment budget of $30,000 quite easily. There are costs one needs to factor into the process:

1) The entire cost to purchase the home, including inspections and closing costs.

2) The cost of any repairs or upgrades needed to the property.

3) Annual operating costs: Property taxes, insurance, repairs to damages caused by tenants, local rental housing ordinance fees, and routine maintenance as a quick summary.

The other factor that comes into play when buying profitable single family investment homes at low cost is 'How much can I rent it for?'. This is where having a knowledgeable Realtor on your team is a must. Rental income in Battle Creek will vary depending on location, and the size of the house. A neighborhood that has a 'pride of ownership' to the surrounding properties and a school district in high demand are certainly key factors to consider.

What are low cost homes? When I say 'buying profitable single family investment homes at low cost' it is best understood by looking at some real live case examples. This home was purchased about a year ago for $10500.00 by one of my investor clients. It is a 3 bedroom, 1 bath home with a garage. They put in approximately $3000 in repairs, and it rents for $625 a month. Their annual property taxes and insurance runs approximately $200 a month. They have had it rented consistently for 14 months now, and expect to recover their original investment in full another 8 months.

Here is another example of buying profitable single family investment homes at low cost. This home was purchased for $15,750 in August of 2008. It is another 3 bedroom, 1 bath home. The cost of repairs was $2000 which the investor did most all himself. He is renting it for $650 a month, and has a monthly insurance and tax expenditure of $190 per month. Without factoring in repairs, and damages, or vacancy rate, he expects to recover his initial investment by December of this year. The home has been rented consistently since he first leased it to the original tenant.

So purchasing a home with some knowledge of the area can be very profitable. Both of these investors have moved onto purchasing several other homes in the area with similar results. As a Realtor in the area, and an owner of rental property myself, I can direct new investors to making a smart and profitable first time investment to start their portfolio of investment properties. Battle Creek is an affordable market to get started in, and there is still a constant high demand of rental property in the area.

So, buying profitable single family investment homes at low cost is not only possible, it is happening every day here in Battle Creek. It is a great market for investors, and I can help you make it easy to get started.

(Photos by Michael Delaware, Realtor)