Thank you for taking a minute to read my letter.  As you have been hearing in the media and such, rumors have been flying about the current condition of the real estate market.To be honest with you, people are still buying and selling houses every day in the Grand Rapids area.  Year-to-date, 1352 homes have sold and 742 homes are pending with the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors.  Currently, there are 8644 single family homes for sale.  What does that tell us?  One, homes are selling and two, it is a great time for buyers to find a home.As you may know, the majority of our business comes from referrals.  While reviewing our goals for this year, I realize we need your help.  We are looking for your HELP WITH ONE.  Just one referral from you, and I am confident we can reach our goals ... 04/17/2007

MiLicense.netDavid Geldhof to Open New Real Estate Training Institute in Grand Rapids, MII am pleased to inform you that after more than 16 years with US Brokers Institute/Coldwell Banker Schmidt I have formed my own real estate training institute and will be conducting all future pre-licensing and continuing education classes as Mi License.net.  This new endeavor will give me the flexibility to expand my training options and to make sure that new and existing agents are prepared for the dynamic changes that are taking place in the real estate industry.  My credentials as a knowledgeable instructor combined with the delivery of superior training materials will continue to be my primary focus as I expand my business with the same excellence that West Michigan agents have come to expect. ... 04/17/2007

Most articles feature what to do after you have listed your property for sale.  I think you should ask for advice before you list your property.  Many of my clients have rolled up their sleeves, cleaned, painted and replaced items before calling me.  That was great, even very appreciated, but some of their efforts were wasted.So before you clean, before you paint, before you replace call for some professional advice that could save you time, energy and money.  Remember you live in your home and know all the flaws.  You know every little crack, tear, stain and scratch which most buyers and visitors never notice.  So before you jump into a never ending project find out what really matters and address those issues.Most of my clients homes are ready to list with the exception of the usual o... 04/17/2007

Everyone keeps saying when will we hit the bottom of the housing market?  Will home prices go lower?  Should we wait and see what happens?  Here is some sage advice that you can count on.  First, nobody knows where or when the bottom of a market is going to hit.  Second, if you do know it has already gone!  That means it passed you while you were watching.  I know, how can that be true?  Simple, if you can find the exact point a market changes it has already changed!  That is the only way you know it happened, is tracking change.Today right now is one of the best times to buy a home.  The why is simple.  You have more choices than ever before and you have fewer buyers and lower prices.  Interest rates are still very low, so tell me why it is not one of the best times to buy in history! ... 04/17/2007

Welcome to my blog.  Lets make it exciting and new not only am I a Realtor ready to assist you with your home buying and selling needs.  I pride my self on educating those who may not be ready to make a decision yet.  so don't hesitate to contact me THERE WILL BE NO PRESSURE TO WORK WITH ME! I just want to make sure that you are ready when you come to that time to make a decision to do something.Make it a Successful day. 04/16/2007

Not many people know that a way to capitalize in a down market is to invest in multiplex units.  People tend to rent and not buy even when they should buy.  Smart investor's buy multiplex units and gain wealth and help people displaced at the same time.  When considering investment property look at the market and see what is happening.  Right now could not be a better time to invest in rental properties.  If you are considering investment property here are a few tips.Check the area you are considering to purchase rental property for vacancies.Consider the rent rates, this is what pays your debt service.  (money going out every month)Decide on what type of property you would like to purchase based on the investment and loan required.When purchasing up to 4 unit properties is still consid... 04/14/2007

We talk about all kinds of ways to get buyer's to buy.  One of the most overlooked simple things to do is stage your home for buyer's.  Go through your home and clean out closets.  This makes them look larger and the buyer's can see that their personal belongings will fit.  Pack away anything that clutters or makes a room look stuffed!  You want your rooms to look open and flow.Most people never think of things like collections.  I was in a home recently that probably had 500 figurines in the dining room!  They were beautiful, delicate and everywhere!  I felt like the walls were at my elbows and so did potential buyers.  This may be extreme but that over stuffed chair that clogs the family room......store it!Look in every closet, every cupboard, under sinks, the garage, basement, shed (... 04/14/2007

Did you know that most people start their home search on the Internet, of course you did, you are here.  The number is over 80% of buyers start their initial home search on the Internet.  So just like having a good presentation of your home on a website and MLS listing services you're "Curb Appeal" should be given some very close attention.Did you drive by your last home before you set an appointment or did you just look at the brochure?  Some people do only look at brochures and the Internet and then contact their agent to get an appointment to view the homes of interest.  Many buyers also do a drive by.  If you do not have your yard clean, mowed, bushes trimmed or sidewalks or driveway shoveled in the winter and the rest of the neighborhood is kept up, guess what....they keep on drivi... 04/14/2007

When homes take longer to sell than normal sellers start looking for any option to get their home sold.  Especially if they have taken a job in another community leaving a vacant home behind with the mortgage payment, taxes and insurance still having to be paid every month, along with the new homes mortgage, taxes, insurance and upkeep.Here is something that has caused more stress than relief for some sellers and buyers who were bargain hunting.  The method of lease / option to purchase.  If you plan on doing this your worry is not the brokerages fee that will be due because of a sale or lease option, your concern is not waiting for the option period to run out so the buyer converts the lease to a mortgage in his or her name....no none of these are your big worry.  The concern is that i... 04/13/2007

The Grand Rapids Press ran an article recently about rediscovering downtown Grand Rapids http://www.mlive.com/travel/stories/index.ssf?/base/features-0/1173393606206970.xml&coll=1 and it got me thinking.  If the last time you visited downtown was when your youngest child was the same age as your now youngest grandchild, then you're really missing out on what downtown GR has become.  Those of us who have been around awhile remember the days when at five o'clock the buildings went dark, the sidewalks rolled up and if you listened carefully you could actually hear the frog chorus at the banks of the Grand.  Things have changed.  I'm sitting in my office now.  It's after five and as I look down Fulton Street the lights are most certainly on and all sidewalks lead to entertainment.  DeVos Pe... 04/12/2007

When I was growing up and through my adult years I've always loved going downtown Grand Rapids. If we didn't need a yard for our child, my husband and myself would look into "downtown" living. We plan on the possibility when we retire. While memories are vivid as a child visiting Herpolsheimers Department Store, eating the Famous Mac and Cheese for lunch in the "Kent Room" Restaurant and riding the train that hung from the ceiling in the basement to the wonderful Christmas decorations that lined Fulton St. the changes the city has experienced are very exciting! I'd love to know if any of my fellow Grand Rapids natives reading this, that are 40ish something have fond memories of downtown too? Let me get off memory lane and tell you a bit about our "downtown" today. Since the building of ... 04/12/2007

Noto's Old World Style Italian Restaurant was the setting for the 1st Ever Blogging Seminar for Real Estate Professionals.  The event, was well attended in-spite of a severe winter storm that surprised everyone in the middle of April! The seminar sparked a lot of interest and discussion about the implications of this revolutionary new technology for marketing and networking.  Most attendees had little or no prior experience with blogging.  The 2 hour presentation included a wonderful meal served with excellence by the staff of Noto's.  Tony Noto, the owner was personally on hand to ensure that no detail was missed. This beautiful, newly renovated world class facility has the capacity to cater to groups of up to 700 but can also provide small intimate arch coved gathering rooms for group... 04/11/2007

GRAND RAPIDS LUXURY CONDORiver House will be the only true Grand Rapids luxury condo high-rise. It will be the tallest building in Grand Rapids once complete. River House will have the only homes downtown with spectacular & forever protected views of the city skyline & Grand River.   •·         The ONLY new and contemporary home option in Downtown Grand Rapids•·         The ONLY new homes on the Grand River•·         The ONLY homes with spectacular & forever protected & unobstructed views of the city skyline and the Grand River•·         The ONLY homes with Ah-Nab-Awen Park, the River Walk and the Ford Museum as your front yard•·         The ONLY new high-rise homes in the city•·         The ONLY homes that come with TWO COVERED PARKING spaces •·         The ONLY homes downtown with THR... 04/10/2007

This Wednesday, April 11th at 11:30 a.m. some of the sunshine & fun that was enjoyed at the recent get together in Florida by members of the Active Rain Community will travel overland to create fresh Active Rain Showers in Grand Rapids, Michigan! The elegant, Old World Italian Restaurant, Notos will be the scene of the First Ever Real Estate Blogging Seminar in Grand Rapids, Michigan.The seminar is being sponsored by 2 Members of the Kent County, Michigan Chapter of Active Rain, Keith Jarrett of First American Title Company & Craig Boening of America's Preferred Home Warranty Company & well-respected Senior Loan Mortgage officer & Branch Manager of First Horizons Home Loans, John Seville.  Introducing the speaker is Kent County, Michigan's #2 Blogger, Ethan Dozeman of Platinum Group Rea... 04/09/2007

 A fascinating article in the business section of today's Sunday's Grand Rapids Press explores the incredible growth of the specialty coffee industry in the Grand Rapids, Michigan metropolis.  The article entitled  "Coffee War Heats Up" highlights how local entrepreneurs are cashing in on the popular trend of flavored hot beverages to boost profits.  Several national players have entered into the Grand Rapids scene in recent years, sometimes pushing locally owned enterprises like the Grandville Bean Tree Bistro out of the market. The Bean Tree Bistro closed its doors last year shortly after 2 coffee houses, Bagel Beanery & Camille's opened within walking distance in the same strip mall on the outskirts of Rivertown Shopping Center. According to the Grand Rapids Press article, 7 years ag... 04/08/2007

For those wondering what the skyline of Grand Rapids looks like here is a photo I foundGRAND RAPIDS, MIYou can also visit here for a complete History of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan.Grand Rapids Real Estate that is where I come in.  You can visit the official City of Grand Rapids website for a plethora of local information.  To find your Grand Rapids Homes and Real Estate for sale visit the Grand Rapids MLS To help you save time here is your Grand Rapids Home Finder Taking the work out of finding your Grand Rapids Real Estate to own.Grand Rapids, MI is in the Kent District Library meaning Kent County Library.  04/08/2007

Choice!  This word has irrevocably changed the real estate landscape in Grand Rapids, Michagan & every community in this country.  Never  in  history have there been so many options available to real estate consumers and agents who work with them.  This virtual potpourri of offerings has created a peculiar challenge...How does one properly discern important differences and accurately evaluate the value propositions offered by very different paradigms of service in a real estate transaction?Today consumers in need of real estate services can list on the MLS only for a Flat Fee, hire a Discount Broker, Advertise their own listing on-line through Craigslist, Trulia or Zillow.com, Find a Home from any one of a Million Websites, go through the Traditional Brokerage Model, or simply decide to... 04/05/2007

Today, the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors  (GRAR)  launched it's Local Ad Campaign encouraging home buyers to take advantage of the extraordinary opportunities offered in today's market.  The ad campaign utilizes a clever mix of  nostalgic news tidbits, in tandem with current unique opportunities, to highlight and illustrate why it makes sense to invest in a home NOW.  The campaign features a re-design of the Associations' website and provides opportunities for local brokers to take advantage of the well designed advertising campaign in their local offices. This effort, the first of it's kind, launched by the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors also mirrors a historic first time $40 Million Network campaign  by the National Association of Realtors now headed by Grand Rapids Broke... 03/26/2007

I have been very happy with my current provider http://www.webagentsolutions.com/  In the past I used Z57, SuccessWebsites, and a home made one that a friend put together.  I am most happy with my http://www.DreamHomeDozeman.com/ which is a web agent solutions website. I love the sight you can log into it is http://www.agengpanelgold.com/ and it has a great analysis.  I wanted to show a few stats from my page. First you have the days of the week buyers hit my sight and pages viewed for people finding HOMES FOR SALE IN GRAND RAPIDSMonTueWedThuFriSatSunHome Seekers in Grand Rapids, MI   Days of month   01Mar02Mar03Mar04Mar05Mar06Mar07Mar08Mar09Mar10Mar11Mar12Mar13Mar14Mar15Mar16Mar17Mar18Mar19Mar20Mar21Mar22  Home Seekers in Grand Rapids, MI days that are most popular for SEARCHING GRAND ... 03/22/2007

I seriously dislike being hounded by sales people when I'm shopping...especially clothes shopping.  It's my time to zone out, relax and beam my precision guided "great deals" antenna to lead me to the best bargains.  I'm pretty good at it.  So much so that friends & family have sometimes consulted with me prior to planned shopping excursions about the best place shop for a good deal.  But, I would have missed an extraordinary opportunity if I had not lowered my dogged "leave me alone, I'm just looking" attitude down on a recent visit to the mall.  I had planned to just browse the racks quickly to see if there were any decent sales.  There didn't seem to be much going on and I was preparing to head out of the store when I heard a delighted chuckle behind me.  There stood 2 ladies next to... 03/21/2007