Well, this is not the 1st time we have been noticed by a national net work and probably will not be the last. Last year we were on the today show as a great place to live and raise a family...............this time it was a little different.
Grand Rapids home sales are on the rise! We were number 5 on the Today's show list as a place you better buy now if you are looking for that "deal"!
I was telling some one the other day how I am not able to find the steal of a deal as easy as I could this time last year. I am now in bidding wars and homes are selling for over asking price. I have not had to compete for a home purchase in a while...............I have to admit it was fun!!!! I forgot how much fun that can be!
So when the Today show broadcasted this, it only confirmed what I was feeling as a Realtor. I really do feel like we are cleaning out the inventory of the bank owned homes..................well at least the "good ones" !
3 cities in Michigan were named................and in the top 10..............
Because prices are on the rise, if you are sitting on the fence waiting for us to hit bottom, I think you may of just missed it! So time to buy is now!
Watch the video
I would like to start a blog about you know you are from Michigan when you buy and/or sell a home and.............
I am hoping every one will comment on this, as I think this is great way to let people know who are moving here from out of state what to expect, but in a humorous way. Must be real estate related.
Having relocated here about 9 years ago and have lived many other places in the past, it is very clear to me just some 'traditions" if you will, are expected or accepted here in the state of Michigan but not other places...................we may have some things that are relevant to our city but not all of Michigan.
So I will start....................
.................when you sell your home and think it is no big deal to ask not have to move out for 15 - 30 days after closing and live in the home "free of charge"
.................when you buy a million dollar home on a dirt road and think nothing of it.
WOW! We have a great line up of landscapers this year!!! Scenic Expressions, Wildwood, Frontier Lawn and Landscape, Wabeke, Harder and Warner, Signature Out Door Concepts, Bakhuyzen Landscape and WCR is doing one.
The WCR yard is getting landscaped on Tuesday at noon. Enchanted Gardener is coming in behind us and spreading mulch and making it pretty, they do the soft scape. They are a great supplier for low cost curb appeal.
We usually do not do back yards........however, one home owner has a dirt pile for a back yard.........so with a donation of top soil from Romence and Sod from AAA Turf we are going to lay some grass on Wednesday night..........
Both of these projects we could use your help with. Children over the age of 13 are welcome.
If you do not want to get down and dirty and want to help in other wa ys, we could use some pick up and delivery of donated plants and supplies.
If you are interested in helping please contact me.
Michelle Gordon
616-443-0596 or michellegordon@grar.com
Economic Benefits:
· Landscaping adds an average of 14.8 percent to a home's value.
· Homes with attractive landscaping sell quicker-by as much as five to six weeks.
· As home improvements go, landscaping is an excellent investment. Recovery value at selling time can be 100 to 200 percent.
· Landscaping enhances property values, which add to the community's tax base
• Proper placement of shade trees and evergreen windbreaks reduces cooling and heating costs.
Environmental Benefits:
· Trees moderate urban "heat islands!' created by extensive paved areas. Lawns cool a home at the same rate as a one-ton air conditioner. Lawns also trap dust, absorb noise, and provide outdoor living areas for children and adults.
· One tree removes 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air every year and releases about 13 pounds of oxygen-enough for a family of four on a daily basis.
· Plants reduce noise pollution up to 50 percent.
· Plants control runoff and erosion. They allow soil to absorb water, returning it to aquifers, Decreased runoff means less urban flooding.
· Lawns slow the spread of wildfires to homes.
· Plants provide food and habitat for wildlife, which contributes to biodiversity and a healthier environment.
• Landscaping creates green space for human rest, recreation and renewal
The proof
One of the 2007 F.L.O.W. homes was
recently re-sold -f 10 grand more then it was purchased for, in a time when home values are declining.
The home was on the market less then a month!
I understand the new homeowners are in the yard every nightmaintaining the yard.
The landscaping is one of the reasons that made them pick this home over the others!
F.L.O.W. Does make a difference! Please concider joining us for the flow garden party and garden tour.
Home before top - Home after bottom
On behalf of the FLOW Garden Party Committee I want to invite you all to the 2nd Annual
FLOW- Friends Landscaping Our World Garden Party and Tour.
To get information and tickets:
Date: September 25th
Where: Mangiamo 1033 Lake Dr. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Time: 3:30- 6:00pm
Cost: $25 for the Garden Party, $30 includes the Tour on Sat. Contact: Daniell Rowland danielle@daniellerowland.com 616-893-8450
What will we do? Well, appitizers will be served, cash bar or course, local artist auction and Bocce ball will be played..........rain or shine as the tents will be up in the back yard! A true Garden Party!
To see the work to be auctioned off..................look for me on facebook............
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Licensed in the state of Michigan. 1st time home buyer and relocation specialist. Experienced in purchasing foreclosures and helping people with credit challenges. I like the "hard" ones too!
Exceeding your expectations is very important to me. No matter how big or small the sale, it is vital to me that you get the best possible service I can deliver. Building life long relationships is top on my priority list. Let me be your source for information. If I cannot deliver, I will find someone who will.
Having relocated here with my family 7 years ago, I have learned a lot about Grand Rapids and the surrounding communities. Moving here is the best decision we ever made. My goal is for you to have the same wonderful experience. I understand there is more to buying a house, you buying a home. Relocation can be stressful, however I will be able to take some of that stress away. No matter how near or far your move is I can make it easier for you. In fact it can be downright enjoyable!
Awards
The Grand Rapids Association of Realtors® awarded Michelle Gordon with the Good Neighbor Award. This award is given to a member of GRAR who has made an extraordinary commitment to improving the quality of life in their communities through volunteer work.
The Woman's Council of Realtors®, Western Michigan Chapter has awarded Michelle Gordon with the Business Woman of the Year award. This award is given annually to those who uphold a standard of business excellence and are representative of the WCR vision and goals.
Michelle Gordon has been a Realtor® sense April of 2002, and specializes in first time home buyers and relocation services. She started a grass root effort as founder of F.L.O.W., a foundation that raises money and receives donation of supplies to landscape yards of first time home buyers of low to moderate income who buy a home in the city of Grand Rapids.
Focus in relocation and 1st time home buyer's
"Regatta" East Grand Rapids
The Johnson Family 12/08/08
Morning Michelle ... funny you sent an email as I was going to email you. I want to thank you for taking such good care of my kids, getting them in touch with that painter was awesome and truly appreciated!!! You are a wonderful person and a GREAT realtor. We will be using you when the time is right for us to sell and buy.
The Michael Reid Family
Dear Michelle,
We just wanted to thank you for the wonderful job you did in assisting us in relocating to this area. From the get-go you were a God send. This was a huge move for us with children in high and middle school, you realized they needed to be a part of the decision making process as well. You made them feel important and helped to ease their anxieties about the move. This input on each home we looked at, whether positive or negative, helped tremendously in determining our purchase. We had the impression that this is more than just a job and you truly desired to see us in the right home and neighborhood, not just make a sale.
The four of us are very happy with our home and the surrounding area and can't imagine living anywhere else in Michigan!
Sincerely,
The Michael Reid Family
Joe Wilcox - Student
To Whom it May Concern,
As many of you can understand from taking out student loans as a college student or having children who are in college, it can be quite expensive. Being a twenty-one year old student, it seems like I am always trying to find ways to save money or make money to help pay for my college tuition, housing, or food.
One thing that I think will really help curb these costs and loans is an investment that I made in a house in Grand Rapids. I had an idea to purchase a home with my sister-in-law as a co-signer on my loan. This way it would be possible for myself to get a loan even though I don't have much credit, I would build credit as I paid my mortgage, and I could sell the house when I was done with school for a profit to help pay for my student loans.
This whole process would not have been possible if not for my realtor Michelle Gordon and Hillary Kooy at Treadstone Mortgage. Because I was the primary signer for the loan, I had to do a lot of paperwork and a variety of tasks to get ready to purchase a home. Hillary and Michelle were extremely helpful in the process, always being available either in person or on the phone to help me with anything I didn't understand.
They made what could have been a tiresome and difficult process, quite easy and understandable. I would recommend Hillary and Michelle to any parent that is thinking of purchasing a home for their student while he or she is in school. I think it is a great investment and a great way to build credit. Thank you.
Joseph Wilcox
04/02/08
I was checking in on my NEW home owner and this is what she had to say:
This is so funny. I have been thinking about you for days. I have been thinking I need to e-mail you and thank you for all your help. I know it is your job to sell homes but you did more than that for me. You were there every turn and when I wasn't sure what would happen you were there so thank yor for that..........................................................
I hope you and your family had a nice Easter and once again thank you for your help and if you would like to stop by some time feel free to do so. All visitors are welcome. I feel now only did I get to buy a condo I gained a friend and that is a good feeling. Thanks for checking in.
Diana Martin
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