The Grand Rapids Art Prize 2009 Finalists have Been Announced.... drumroll...
The winners are as follows:
Numero Uno: $250,000 Art Prize goes to: Ran Ortner for OPEN WATER #24
This painting will be on display at The Grand Rapids Art Museum through Jan 2010
if you missed it during Art Prize. Saw a mention online that it has been sold!
This painting is over 18 feet long...as Michigan is surrounded by water, a fitting winner.
Number Two: $100,000 Art Prize goes to: Tracy Van Duinen for Imagine That!
This large outdoor mosaic mural by Tracy VanDuinen covers a portion of the
Grand Rapids Childrens Museum on the front. It is a permanent installation and
a wonderful, whimsical touch to one of our area's attractions. Interactive in many
ways, this mural will teach, enchant, and educate all of us about art for years to come.
Number Three: $50,000 Art Prize goes to: Eric Daigh for Portraits
These portraits are 4 x 6 feet and made of plastic push pins on boards.
Eric uses about 50,000 push pins for each portrait. You have to admire the creativity
and unusual medium of this artist!
Number Four: $ 7000 Art Prize goes to: David Lubbers for The Grand Dance
Sculpture. A stunning sight in the middle of the Grand River with lights and motion.
Number Five: $ 7000 Art Prize goes to: Bill Segunda for The Moose
We haven't seen this yet but would like to. Bill constructs his life size animals
using up to 60,000 nails welded on metal frame as fur. Hard to see in this picture
but it makes you appreciate the work, vision and creativity that went into this entry.
Number Six: $ 7000 Art Prize goes to:Thomas Birks for The Nessie Project
This is just such a fun entry, who doesn't love Nessie on the Grand River?
Number Seven: $7000 Art Prize goes to: John Douglas Powers for Field of Reeds
This is a kinetic sculpture that measures 14 x 10 x 4.5 feet high. The 1001 reeds
sway back and forth to create a rhythmic motion & sound.
Number Eight: $7000 Art Prize goes to: Sarah Grant for The Furniture
This oversize table and chairs placed on the pedestrian Blue Bridge in Grand Rapids
was a favorite of many. With Grand Rapids' Furniture City past, it hit many people as
not only fun, but indicative of GR's past, as evidenced by its full title: Furniture City Sets the
Table for the World of Art.
Number Nine: $7000 Art Prize goes to: Jason Hackenworth for Ecstasy of The Scarlet Empress
This fantasy sea creature made up entirely of balloons was stunning and unexpectedly
surreal. There were also people interacting with the crowds wearing balloon costumes
created by Jason.
Number Ten: $7000 Art Prize goes to:Michael Westra for Winddancer 2
This welded kinetic sculpture moves with the slightest breeze. It certainly
charmed the voters who saw it.
That is the Art Prize Finalist line up for this year, 2009. We were all excited and pleased
with the community reaction and participation in viewing and voting for their favorite pieces
of art work. Grand Rapids is looking forward to next year!
All pictures except Nessie, Furniture, and Scarlet Empress are courtesy of the Art Prize web site
If you ever get a chance to go to Traverse City Michigan, don't turn it down. This
is one of the premier tourist spots in Michigan.....and it is easy to see why everyone
loves it. The scenery is absolutely stunning. There are water vistas everywhere you
look. And the city planners were wise in not letting a lot of development on the bay
front.
We were in Traverse City for the Michigan Association of Realtors Fall Convention.
Lots of great classes and seminars, a little golf, and camaderie with friends and fellow
Realtors.
These are the two blondes that accompanied me on the trip.
Guess who picked their spot on the bed first???
Picking the best areas to sniff at the park.
Our dog travels well, even in the bag.
Seriously, we had a great time, got some valuable information to improve our
business, and had a few days to get take in the northern Michigan pine scented air.
PS There will be Traverse City photos to follow.......
We have gathered a list of the top Rockford Houses to buy
based on price per square foot, one of the best ways to sort
through homes for values.
Please note: This list can change daily as some
homes sell, prices are adjusted and other homes come
on the market. The homes listed below are probably
dated and would need updating with new carpeting,
paint, and kitchen-bath redos at a minimum to bring
them to current market standards. They might need major
repair work done, such as new roofs & mechanicals.
*Some of these homes may be bank owned foreclosures and
not habitable as is or available for a mortgage in present condition.*
We will NOT Be listing SHORT SALES on this list, if known.
Check back often or just subscribe to our blog to get
up-to-date local real estate information that you want to know.
The total square footage is noted here, although only the
main floors are used to figure price per square foot, even if
the basement is finished.
September 2009 23 Top BEST BUY Homes Rockford, Michigan.
The lowest list price is $ 44,900
The highest list price is $369,900
Lowest price/Sq Ft range from $52.76 to $84.16
The Top Rockford Homes to Buy by Price per Square Foot:
179 Hunter's Lane $ 44,900 851 Sq Ft $52.76/SqFt
6731 Boca Vista Dr $ 64,900 990 Sq Ft $65.56/SqFt
6905 Northland Dr $ 64,900 1028 Sq Ft $63.13/SqFt
6711 Boca Vista Dr $ 72,900 960 Sq Ft $75.94/SqFt
6701 Boca Vista Dr $74,900 960 Sq Ft $78.02/SqFt
6681 Boca Vista Dr $75,850 960 Sq Ft $79.01/SqFt
6757 Cannon Ctr $79,500 1250 Sq Ft $63.60/SqFt
7730 Belding Rd NE $87,900 1181 Sq Ft $74.43/SqFt
218 Hunters Lane $91,900 1144 Sq Ft $80.33/SqFt
8825 Castle Hill Dr $103,500 1641 Sq Ft $75.88/SqFt
3103 13 Mile Rd NE $106,900 1564 Sq Ft $68.35/SqFt
5035 Bear Ave $109,900 1629 Sq Ft $67.46/SqFt
7635 10 Mile Rd NE $109,900 1832 Sq Ft $59.99/SqFt
7006 S Cannon Pl $119,900 1500 Sq Ft $79.93/SqFt
125 Prospect St $129,900 2548 Sq Ft $50.98/SqFt
4351 Porter Hollow $134,900 2000 Sq Ft $67.45/SqFt
120 E Division St $134,900 2100 Sq Ft $77.09/SqFT
10636 Trailside Wds $138,688 1936 Sq Ft $71.64/SqFt
3426 Thistle Dhu $139,000 1662 Sq Ft $83.63/SqFt
5302 10 Mile Dr $149,900 1843 Sq Ft $81.33/SqFt
6880 Peninsula Dr $154,900 2000 Sq Ft $77.45/SqFt
6874 Peninsula Dr $154,900 2000 Sq Ft $77.45/SqFt
6156 Meadowlark $169,900 3364 Sq Ft $75.51/SqFt
5645 Ramsdell Dr $169,900 2300 Sq Ft $73.87/SqFt
9204 N Division $179,900 2418 Sq Ft $74.40/SqFt
1479 10 Mile Rd $179,900 2164 Sq Ft $83.13/SqFt
647 Highlander Dr $189,900 3050 Sq Ft $62.26/SqFt
7031 Bonaire Ct NE $199,900 3160 Sq Ft $73.55/SqFt
6754 Blythefield $200,000 3392 Sq Ft $82.30/SqFT
7758 Pine Island Ct $369,900 4395 Sq Ft $84.16/SqFt
There are still quite a few bargains to be had in the Rockford
area, there are 9 listings under $100K. If you are thinking of
buying in Rockford, now is the time to be looking. Prices are
climbing. Homes that are in great condition and priced right
are selling quickly. "Below tax appraisal" priced homes are
disappearing from the market in some areas of Grand Rapids.
Don't overlook the $8000 tax credit for first time home buyers
or buyers who haven't owned a home for the last 3 years.
This will be available for homes closed until November 30, 2009,
but time is running out----unless Congress extends it.
Rockford Michigan Real Estate Market Blogs
If you would like to view a Rockford Top Best Buys Home,
please contact us 1-888-240-1968 x 0
or email terry@terrywestbrook.com
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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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