Scheduled to open in the fall of 2010, construction has started on the new
elementary school at the old Ottawa Hills High School plot, formerly Iroquois
Middle School. The Grand Rapids Public School system sold the land and
buildings and the old Ottawa High School building was torn down this summer.
Major construction is now underway for the new school by GrandRapids Christian
Schools. This is what the site looks like now:
Site Map of the Future Facility:
Ottawa Hills Home for Sale [1 blk from this new school construction]
Traditional Fixed Rate Mortgage? Graduated-Payment Mortgage? 
Adjustable Rate Mortgage? FHA Mortgage? Two-Step Mortgage
Rural Development Mortgage?
You are wondering which kind of mortgage is best.
The answer: There is no one correct answer.
Deciding which type of mortgage will best fulfill your needs can be difficult. There are
so many types of loans and different term lengths. Your choice is extremely important
and can take some time and effort to research. While often neglected by homebuyers,
a little research before choosing your mortgage can save you thousands of dollars in
the long run.
There are several elements of a loan that should be analyzed. While one of these
elements may suggest one type of loan, another may call for a different type. You
must weigh each ingredient separately and collectively. You will find that your answers to
the questions below will ultimately determine the type of mortgage that best fits your needs.
How long do you plan to stay in this home? Five years? Ten years? Thirty years?
The length of time you will be in the home will certainly play a part in determining which
loan to apply for. If you only plan to be in the home for 5-7 years or less, you should
seriously consider an adjustable rate loan. If you intend on staying 20-30 years, a fixed
rate mortgage may be right for you.
How much risk are you willing to accept?
If you are the type of buyer who needs to know exactly what you will be paying each
month for the term of the mortgage, a fixed rate mortgage will fulfill this need. The
fixed rate loan, however, will also net a higher interest rate. If you are willing to take
some risk of fluctuations in the interest rate, you may receive a lower interest rate.
What are your income expectations?
Plan for the future. Do you anticipate a gradual or dramatic increase in your income
in the next few years? If you expect a big increase, a graduated payment mortgage
may be best for you.
How much cash do you have available for upfront costs?
If you have the resources, you may want to make a
larger down payment to lower your monthly payment.
By keeping a higher monthly payment, however, you might
be able to shorten the term of the loan to a 15-year loan
in order to pay it off in less time (with less interest).
Keep in mind that you‘ ll have closing costs and fees to
pay in addition to your down payment. If you don't have
much cash saved for your up front costs, don‘t despair.
You may be required to accept a higher monthly payment
or could perhaps lower your monthly obligation by choosing
an adjustable rate mortgage.
In addition to choosing a type of loan, you must also consider which lender to use.
Once again, several factors of a loan will influence your decision:
Annual Percentage Rate (APR) This most likely is the best way to make an "apples-to-apples" comparison of lenders. The APR reflects the cost of credit on a yearly rate and includes any points and fees in addition to the interest rate.
Interest Rate Find out the rate at which the lender will commit and how long the lender will guarantee it. Get any commitments in writing. As with any transaction
if it isn't in writing it doesn't exist.
Points and Fees These factors will vary greatly. Look out for hidden fees. Make sure the lenders disclose all fees; ask what they charge and what is included and what is not. Ask for a (GFE) Good Faith Estimate where all fees will be disclosed.
Loan Approval Both approval and underwriting time should be considered. You don't want to lose a prospective home because your lender takes weeks to fund your loan. A lender should be able to underwrite your loan within 21-28 days.
Lender Reputation Don't rely solely on someone else's recommendation. You, not your friend, must feel comfortable with your lender. If you do feel good about your lender and trust him, it will be much easier to trust his advice on what kind of mortgage will best suit your needs.
Current market conditions have brought home prices down to levels we
haven't seen since 1997. All price levels and amenities have been
affected. Now may be a great time to purchase a Waterfront Home.
The Real Estate Market Report for waterfront homes in Eastern Kent
County Michigan with private water frontage:
Currently there are 23 active listings in waterfront homes
5 Pending Sales
3 Sold
Since July 1, 2009 to date.
Average List Price - $ 160,208
Average Sale Price - $ 179,667
When purchasing waterfront homes, always be sure to check beach & access rights,
laws and associations regarding the body of water your potential property accesses.
Each area has there own rules about jet skis, power boats, and other water craft.
Crystal Springs ~ Kentwood Absorption Report August 2009
Crystal Springs Development in Caledonia, Michigan is a large, residential
suburban housing development that was started in the late 1980's and
most construction was finished in the 1990's although some newer homes
have been built since 2000. There are also a few vacant lots left to develop.
This development covers a large area around the Stonewater Golf Course
at Crystal Springs south of 68th Street to 72nd Street and encompassing
Kalamazoo Avenue on the east and west. This development has single
family homes and condos, many located right on the Stonewater Golf Course.
The public school system is Kentwood, even though the address is Caledonia.
Crystal Springs is close to the shopping plaza at 68th and Kalamazoo,
Kentwood High School, and a short hop to M-6, which is the south beltline for
the Greater Grand Rapids area connecting US 131 on the west and I96 on the
east side of the city.
October 2009 Real Estate
Residential Market Report
Crystal Springs Neighborhood
Active Listings: 17 Active Listings
Average Price: $238,482
Price per Sq Ft: $99.88 (Main Floor only)
Average days on the Market: 148
PENDING: 4 homes
SOLD: 14 Sold Homes
Average Sold Price: $ 230,946
Average Sold Price Per Sq Ft: $ 95.48 (Main floor only)
Average Days on the Market: 109
Absorption Rate for Crystal Springs Listings is 3.3 months for the
current housing inventory. If no other homes enter the market,
it will take 3.3 months for the current homes to sell at the current
rate of sales.
Crystal Springs Homes that are priced competitively are selling.
As you can see by the statistics, the homes that have their price
per square foot around $100 are selling.
Sales have started to rebound in this neighborhood from last
year's abysmal rates. Sold prices remain steady and haven't fallen
this summer or fall, though average list price has shifted downward
about $14K to align with sold prices.
Additional Articles about Caledonia & Kentwood Michigan
Watermark CC purchases Crystal Springs GC
Crystal Springs GC has a new look & a new name
Crystal Springs Home Sold in 4 Days
Caledonia Michigan Real Estate Reports
Kentwood Michigan Real Estate Reports
If you would like additional information about Caledonia
or Kentwood Homes, please contact me directly at
1-888-240-1968 ext 0
We are so busy and distracted in our lives, we often walk right by things that
are interesting or novel. It just takes a moment to notice and it can
certainly change your outlook and maybe.... make you smile.
We were in a store shopping for kitchen hardware for a new listing the other day.
It was a cold, windy day and we were backing out of our parking spot, when we
noticed two little ones that had found a warm, safe place to sit for a few moments.
This close up below shows them much better.
Were the tires warm?
Are they looking for food ?
We don't know the answers but it gave us a little different perspective on the day.
We were inside a nice warm car with a nice warm lunch we had just finished. These two little
sparrows were happy to find a temporary shelter hoping to glean a crumb or two from
people coming and going in the parking lot. The natural world is just a glance away.
Are you looking??
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Our team strives to provide Buyers & Sellers in the Greater Grand Rapids Mi Area the best resources & user friendly tools we can find to make a stress free decision about their real estate investment
As leading real estate professionals in Grand Rapids MI, including Ada MI,
Cascade MI, Caledonia MI, East Grand Rapids MI, Kentwood MI, Lowell MI
and Rockford MI , we can assist you in determining which area of our community
is best suited to your needs as a Grand Rapids Buyer.
Our GRAND RAPIDS WEBSITE contains tons of information just for you.
You can SEARCH FOR HOMES in Grand Rapids, Ada, Cascade, Caledonia,
East Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Lowell, Rockford, and all surrounding
WEST MICHIGAN areas.
Grand Rapids Buyers: Search ALL The Listings in the West Michigan market.
We have lots of information for Buyers, whether it is your first time or you are a
seasoned real estate veteran. When your are ready to purchase a home, give
Terry a call at 1-888-240-1988 ext 0.
When you SEARCH LISTINGS on the TerryWestbrook.com web site,
you can save your custom searches and refine them as you become
familiar with Grand Rapids neighborhoods. The search page is
designed to help you, our home buyers, see the current real estate
in the Greater Grand Rapids, Kent County and West Michigan Market.
You can see ALL existing homes offered for sale on the Multiple
Listing Service. Search by location, price, features. When you're ready,
contact Terry at 1-888-240-1968 ext 0 and we'll arrange a tour of
homes just for you.
You can also sign up for a FREE EMAIL REPORT of any new listings
that hit the MLS that meet your requirements DAILY! This customized
free service for our buyers we gladly provide to make searching for
homes easier.
We have lots of RELOCATION FACTS, PHOTOS, and Videos on our
Grand Rapids Real Estate Blog. Get to know the many different areas of
Grand Rapids and West Michigan before you look at homes.
We also offer a RELOCATION Packet that can be customized for you
which includes: Maps, School Information, Shopping, Grand Rapids
Chamber of Commerce info, etc.
Find out if you QUALIFY for a home mortgage and HOW MUCH Home
you can qualify to buy. This is extremely important in today's market.
Pre-qualifying is not difficult and makes the purchase of a home when
you are ready so much easier.
We can make referralls to legitimate lenders and professional
mortagage lenders whom we can refer with confidence.
We offer full service Real Estate Transactions for Buyers & Sellers,
including:
New Home Sales & Construction: There are many
new homes and new home developments ready for
immediate occupancy in the Greater Grand Rapids Area.
The Westbrook Team is well versed in new home construction
and all the details it requires. From making your color selections,
final walk through, to closing the transaction, we have the expertise
to make your new home purchase as easy as possible.
CONTACT Westbrook Realty for timely real estate information in the Kent
County or Grand Rapids market area. TerryWestbrook.com is on top of
market values and the latest in SOLD stats to help YOU get the
best price, whether buying or selling a home in Greater Grand Rapids.
We can guide you through the minefield of a "short sale" if you find yourself
in this financial situation. It can be a daunting project but it is something
that can usually be accomplished. Calling us early is much better than
waiting until your house is in the foreclosure process.
We have provided video tours of some of our local areas so you can get an
idea of what they look like and we have lots of local information. You can get an
idea of what it is like to live here in Kent County.
Click on the communities below to view:
Ada Caledonia Cascade East Grand Rapids
Local Information Blog Articles:
Ada Township Hall Rockford Park #2 EGR Park
Local School Links Watermark Country Club
Caledonia Park #1 Real Food Cafe Rockford Park #3
The Grille Restaurant Forest Hills Foods
"Green" Grand Rapids Famous GR Natives Ada Township Park
Cascade Park Leslie E Tassell Park
GR-Top 50 Cool Cities West Mich Golf GR Micro Brew Pubs
GR Dream Home GR Baseball GR Facts
Foreclosure Home Grand Rapids Golf
We strive to provide information, tools, and resources so Buyers & Sellers can make informed decisions
about real estate investments in Grand Rapids, Ada, Cascade, Caledonia, East Grand Rapids,
Kentwood, and Rockford. Relocating to Grand Rapids? We would like you to have the benefit of our
30+ years of experience in marketing, negotiating, and finalizing real estate investments with as little
stress and discomfort as possible to the Greater Grand Rapids Mi area. If you have a home to sell or
are looking for a home to buy, contact Terry 1-888-240-1968 ext.0 or terry@terrywestbrook.com
Terry is a very dedicated realtor! Our family can not say enough good about him. He was patient, persistent, creative and very knowledgeable in the selling of our home.
Our home was on the market during the time when homes in Michigan were not selling. We had an old farm house with acreage on a very busy road__ not an easy home to sell even in good economic times. With Terry's persistence and dedication we fortunately were able to sell our house. Terry even persisted on working coming right out of surgery. He completed the buy/sell agreement for our home a day after he was discharged out of the hospital. What dedication!!!
Our family would highly recommend Terry for selling or buying a home. He developed a personal relationship not only with my husband and I but also with our two teenage sons. What a wonderful realtor to have during a "stressfull" time for our family. Thank you so much Terry for all you did for us!!
Mary Beth, Mike, Kenzie & Dalton 
After six disappointing months with another company, we signed with Terry. The activity increased immediately and he sold our home quickly and easily. Tom & Joan
Terry helped us sell our house, then buy property to build a new one. Our family is now enjoying our wonderful new home. Jeff & Heather
When I started looking at buying a home in Grand Rapids, I met with a couple of realtors, and in a matter of 2 years, I had only been shown 3 houses. So, I decided to try looking on my own. I spent a lot of time looking in the paper, and just driving around. I went with a good friend one day to look at a house I had seen in the paper, and ended up driving around for quite a while trying to find it. She said, "Chris you can't do this on your own, it's too time consuming. You need someone to do all this looking for you. We'll call my realtor when we get to my house." Being a full-time working, single mom, I knew she was right. I was very apprehensive about making this call, as her house was substantially more expensive than the price range I was in the market for. So, my thoughts were that I would just be "small potatoes" in her realtor's eyes, and he would probably not spend much time assisting me. Especially since his commission would depend on the price of the house. But, we made the call and I set an appt to meet with him. We sat down, and he asked me lots of questions, and gave me some information about different areas in Grand Rapids. He took notes on what I was looking for (no other realtor had done that) and we scheduled an appt. to look.
The first day we went to look at homes, he handed me a color portfolio with helpful guidelines for what to look for in a home, and information with photos of 9 houses we were going to look at that day! I was amazed. From then on, he would send me information on new listings, and I would give him my feedback.
Since I am divorced, there were several hurdles that I had to jump to be able to buy a home. My realtor was helpful in getting me with the right people in order to take care of those issues, and he was patient as I did so.
Today, my young son and I have a beautiful home, where we've painted his bedroom room to his liking, he has a nice yard to play in, and friendly neighborhood children to play with. What I once thought was far out of my reach is now a reality, and I am so thankful to my realtor for all the help to get us here. I am also thankful for my good friend for pushing me to make the call in the first place. Realtor: Terry Westbrook ~ Christine
I have to thank you for the super job you did getting me so well settled. It could have been a very traumatic time but everything moved as " smooth as glass. " Your preparation was awesome, too. I sold real estate for only 2 years and I wasn't near you in the work you did for me. You sold my house and have me so well tucked in the new one in about one month! Has to be a record. Thank you and Bonnie, too for everythng. I can recommend you very happily -
Loretta M.
Just a note to let you know how much I appreciated everything you did for me in purchasing my condo - the circumstances were not great & the problems were many but you made it all happen pretty smoothly and always with a smile on your face. You have a great way of making sure we all "get with the program!"
-Lin C.
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