Michelle Gordon

1.Get a copy of your complete credit report (some are surprised when they see it, they have forgotten or find something they did not know about).

2.If necessary fix what needs to be fixed and set a schedule and a finish date goal. This info will come from a lender do not ASSUME what needs to be fixed.

3.Make a budget - Decide how much you can afford for a mortgage. (A lender can also help with this).

4.Attend a home buying/home ownership class.

5.Set a goal for a "move in" date.

6.Bank tax returns - save for home purchase

7.Drive around and pick your area where you want to live and make a list of what you want in a home.

8.Interview buyers agents and pick one

9.Have your agent start sending you listings based on answer from line 7. Good to learn what is out in the market that fits your budget, what to expect and to be able to recognize a good deal when you see one.

10.Buy your new home!

Okay I wanted to share this with you all! This made me laugh, and we can all use a good laugh!

Skytron, a local business here in Kent County got their Christmas turkey early.

A 30# wild turkey crashed through two (2) 1/2 " commercial grade glass windows at their office yesterday morning. The office that it chose to disassemble belongs to a manager who is on vacation! He then ransacked another's office and used his desk as a men's room. Turkey was released (after being chased for 25 minutes) and then roosted in a tree nearby.

I do feel sorry for the office dog, Bear, he's quite distressed as he is still tracking the turkey scent throughout the office. Poor guy.

Kent county has several turkey farms in the area. It is not uncommon to find one who has gotten loose. I have many times had to wait for them to cross the street!

Skytron - However the turkey left the show room un-harmed!

Founded in 1972, Skytron is a privately owned and operated company, with the world headquarters based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Skytron distributes state-of-the-art medical equipment for a variety of healthcare settings and hospital departments.

Links:

Skytron

New article

I can remember when I first started selling Real Estate..............April 1st 2002! My 2nd customer wanted to buy a bank owned home.

Well nobody did these............there was no one to ask "HOW", nor was anyone interested in them. (In my spear anyway). So I plugged away to get the job done for my client.

This was the start of what is now my specialty.............Bank Owned homes - buyers agent! It was amazing to me how fast the word spread that I could/would do these kinds of sales. Which back then was mostly 1st time home buyers looking for fixer uppers and a home with equity. Who knew then what we were headed for in the years to come. However in hindsight, this makes me very happy this is what most of my clients purchased, as I do not have one client facing fore-closure that I know of, and most can with stand this market today and will be okay.

Most agents at that time laughed at me, and said if you do not list and if you do not work in the higher price range you will not survive.............

Well, I have seen many come and go............looking for a career in Real Estate thinking they can get all the "hot listings" and stand back and watch them sell. Have a social open house every once in a while and let the business come to them.

While some of them had a "bubble" of their own.............a small run of great sales, it did not last. I kept doing what I was doing, like the turtle..........and after a year of selling Real Estate I could see what was a-head (however I must admit, I did not think it was going to be this bad and last this long) thinking I was sent on the right career path..........and I am going with it. You know - Let go - Let God.

Having done this for a while now...............I know how to fight for what I need to get the job done, I have built relationships with the people I need too, so I have good re-pore with REO listing agents.............as bank owned is not just for the 1st time home buyer anymore.

And the best thing of all, I built a solid foundation for my business............I have many who tell me I am lucky................well, I have to tell you sometimes that upsets me, as luck had nothing to do with. I work very hard. So faith and hard work is the secret to my success, which in returns makes me very happy.

Luck is when you roll the dice and you win......................There is no dice rolling in the Real Estate market today. Just hard work and persistence.

So today, God willing, I am driving to a closing, through this snow storm we are having and closing on another bank owned home for a 1st time home buyer. I will be just as excited for my client as I was back in 2002 when I did my 1st one. However this closing did not come easy............lending rules changed in the middle of the deal, the bank would not co-operate with turning on utilities for inspections, and I had to beg for my closing date..............It has been work right up to the end..............if I would have just written the offer and just let everyone do the job they were supposed to do, I can promise you we would not be closing today.

So we make our own way in life - carrer, we make our own luck..............just like the turlte in the race...........I keep plugging away...........but I do make it to the finish line!

I was reading a fellow WCR members blog here on active rain. Angie Ridley on "Green Lending" and was so excited to hear about this program. I decided to do my own research and find out how this is done here in Grand Rapids.

Energy efficient lending is a good way to make home energy efficient while buying a new home or refinancing.

Here is the scoop:

Once you have found a home you want to purchase (or decide to re-fi) you need to let your lender know this is the program you want to use.

When the appraisal is being done, this is generally when the energy efficiency home inspections are done.

The energy home inspector will conduct a series of test and give you a written report of what should/could be done to make your home energy efficient and estimated cost on the repairs that need to be done. He will also give you an estimate on your savings per month on your utilitie bills if you do the work.

The lender will now add this amount to the home loan and request a loan amount for the total......... purchase price of the home and the repairs. The home has to appraise for at least this amount.

Once this is done, a certified energy efficient contractor will bid the job. (You can get several bids). Now you have true numbers to work with and the loan amount is adjusted.

After closing, the repair money is held in escrow at the title company to be paid out to the contractor once the work is done.

Some facts and links about Energy efficient lending:

Local Energy Efficient Inspector

North Point Bank- Jeff Brom - Jeff has done several of these loans. North Point not only provides this loan service but they live it. They are the 1st LEED Certified building in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Jeff says this does not take any longer then any other loan, he can get it done in 6 weeks and he can do this program with FHA or a Conventional 5% down loan. They also portfolio loans for the right person.

Your debt to income is little different because they take in concideration your savings, and consider this income!

Jeff's Email - jeffb@npbank.com

DTE Energy rebates - Yes you can also get a rebate from DTE for making your home energy efficient.

Information from HUD on Energy efficient loans.

Tax Credits for energy efficient homes.

Energy Star information....................get the scoop on what product qualify.

Need finical help from the City of Grand Rapids? Click here to learn more.

Relocation can be very stressful. Yesterday I was showing my clients home to a couple who is moving here in the next few months. Their agent had worked very hard to have a nice day of showings, with homes that "fit" their needs.

One of the things for sure is they wanted to be in East Grand Rapids. "He" is moving back..............he has lived here before and is very excited about moving back.

They are moving here from a large city, and I assume this is where she is from.

They had 7 homes to tour, mine being the 7th..................(they had a few hours break between the first 6 and mine). She never came to the showing, she stayed in the hotel..................very upset about the move. EGR is not what she is used to. She does not want to move.

I imagine this last trip to find a home to buy was pretty much of a bust for them and the Realtor. Thats okay for the most part, sometimes you do not know what you want till you see it..............meaning if you did not know it was an option you did not know to ask for it.......................so I always say it takes as long as it takes!

I have relocated all of my life................moving to a place where I have no friends or family. I relocate well! However I will admit it is easier when you have kids.....................you meet people faster and your involvement in the community comes easier.

When you relocate to a place that is unknown to you and you do not have children getting involved in the social aspect is a little harder. That is why finding the right Realtor is important to the move! Many may say they are qualified because they took a class. However understanding the needs of a relocation client is very important. It is NOT just buying a home.

When my husband and I relocate we take these steps to assure (as much as possible) a successful move.

1. Who ever is getting the job transfer interviews for the job. Make sure you like the company. Pay and benefits could be outstanding, however if you do not like the people that work there - eventually those things will not matter and you will look somewhere else.

2. Before excepting the job, take a trip to the new location.................if children are involved, do not tell them yet. You have not made the decision to move yet, no need to get every one excited till the decision has been made.

3. When you go to check out the area...................Do not do this by yourself. Involve a Realtor or someone from the company who can show you around. And not like a tourist.......................It is great to get a few homes to look at while there the 1st time, in several different area's....................so you can see the norm of the different area's to kinda of narrow down the area's you like. This will allow you to concentrate on certain area's that you like when you look for a home seriously.

4. Consider renting for at least 6 months in the area you like to make sure this is the purchase you want to make. No matter how much research you do nothing seems the same 6 months later...................the job and the area included.................make sure you love everything as much as you did when you first started!

5. If not renting 1st, make a list of what you are looking for in a neighborhood................schools, shopping, land, easy highway access. Also what you are looking for in a home. A 3 part list..............A. Must haves in a home B. Would like to have in a home C. Must not have in a home. If you could make this list as complete as possible this will help your Realtor to pick the right homes for you to look at and make your trip worth wild.

6. What are your outside interest? What are your or your families hobbies? Get a few names and numbers of some local residents that have the same interest as you and connect. Let the locals tell you about the area...IE: My son is a great hockey player........we need a to know about the hockey teams in the area. What ever it is you do that makes your life complete...............make sure the new area offers these things as well.

7. You decided to move and want to tell the kids..................if teenagers are involved, make sure you have material about the area with their interest. In my experience (personal and professional) this age is the hardest to move. They are leaving their friends. Assure them they can get involved in the same activities in the new area. Younger kids really do not understand what is happening. There is a good book out by The Berenstain Bears about moving.

8. After you have done your homework and have decided to make the move, find out what other services are available to you to make the move smoother:

A. Move planner? We have a local service here who coordinates the physical move for you. They connect with the movers, make sure they arrive on time, make the floor plan in the new house and meet the movers at the new home to make sure the unpacking is taken care of.

B. Local storage area

C. Job resources for your spouse

So yes, moving can be stressful but if done right it can be fun and very successful.