Grand Rapids Michigan Real Estate Blog

We are on the front lines of property values in Grand Rapids real estate and were

aware that this day would come. We have seen property values fall from 15-30%

in the past  3 years for local communities. ( Read our Blog post about home values)

  The effects of this devaluation still has shock value  for many  living in

 our local areas.  We have watched poorer school districts struggle  to

allocate funding with the financial news from Lansing being dire and

 changing constantly.  It has now started to hit our more affluent areas

and these parents are confused and angry.

 

See comments on this Mlive article about East Grand Rapids cutting their
budget with more cuts to come.

 

 

We attended the Forest Hills Superintendant’s meeting last fall about

a $10 million dollar projected shortfall in their 2010-2011 school budget. 

 They are not getting any definite answers from the state on what cuts

will be until after they set their annual budget ( This is truly bizarre but

 the state government runs its own show).

 

Both East Grand Rapids and Forest Hills have fixed costs because of

teacher and staff contracts.  Our understanding is that these are about

70% of the budget in Forest Hills. [See FHPS Funding Facts }  Dan Behm,

the Forest Hills Superintendant told our group of concerned citizens

that if he eliminated transportation and sports, that there would

still be $3 million shortfall and he would have to look for another job

because of angry parents.

 

We don’t offer any solutions, but we do need to look at all items on

the budget. Nothing is sacrosanct,  not  teacher salaries, retirement

 or healthcare.  The same belt-tightening and elimination of non-essential

 items that has affected business and personal budgets for the last 3 years

and longer in the state of Michigan is going to reduce funds for public services

 in our state. 

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FHPS Funding Facts

Real Estate is always local.  Since Grand Rapids is such a large metropolitan

area, the real estate market report for the whole area is not necessarily

indicative of  what is going on in your neighborhood.  The Grand Rapids report

lets you know how we are doing as a  whole, but it certainly doesn't tell you what

 your neighbor just got for his home or what the market prices are in your

neighborhood.

 

To give a logical approach to this report, we have split it up by public

school district.  This is a macro neighborhood  report, not a micro report.

Bear in mind, these are average sold prices for large areas.  But we hope it

gives you a good idea of where home prices are in your general area within

the greater Grand Rapids market for the past 3 years.  After doing this report,

we can certainly see why Grand Rapids is one of the TOP 5 best places in the

country to buy a home at a reasonable price.

Belding

2009 - $  55,110

2008 - $  71,758

2007 - $ 100,416

Byron Center

2009 - $ 160,220

2008 - $ 185,707

2007 - $ 200,766

Caledonia

2009 - $ 153,360

2008 - $ 163,983

2007 - $ 191,724

Cedar Springs

2009   $ 85,493

2008 - $ 99,170

2007 - $128,705

Comstock Park

2009 - $ 112,010

2008 - $114,348

2007 - $138,251

East Grand Rapids

2009-  $ 230,518

2008 - $ 224,625

2007 - $279,909

Forest Hills

2009 - $ 224,558

2008 - $ 272,793

2007 - $ 267,817

Godfrey-Lee

2009 - $ 33,834

2008 - $ 41,515

2007 - $ 71,748

Godwin Heights

2009 - $ 42,149

2008 - $ 53,574

2007 - $ 91,708

Grand Rapids

2009 - $ 58,936

2008 - $ 65,803

2007 - $ 99,233

Grandville

2009 - $ 135,538

2008 - $ 144,222

2007 - $ 162,095

Jenison

2009 - $ 123,639

2008 - $ 131,184

2007 - $ 139,372

Kellogsville

2009 - $ 57,135

2008 - $ 70,897

2007 - $ 93,322

Kenowa Hills

2009 - $ 116,917

2008 - $ 124,367

2007 - $ 151,869

Kentwood

2009 - $ 100,561

2008 - $ 114,940

2007 - $ 141,804

Lowell

2009 - $ 127,542

2008 - $ 135,123

2007 - $ 164,888

Northview

2009 - $ 116,275

2008 - $ 148,128

2007 - $ 160,557

Rockford

2009 - $ 157,624

2008 - $ 176,048

2007 - $ 198,416

Wyoming

2009 - $ 67,784

2008 - $ 82,756

2007 - $109,009

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photo of Grand Rapids Children's Museum by Bonnie Westbrook

If you live almost anywhere except a tropical climate, your seasons change. 

In fall and winter, the trees lose their leaves or they change color.  The grass

isn't that brilliant shade of green that shows it is in growth mode.  Fall and winter

are times of rest for the plant world but not for Grand Rapids MI real estate agents. 

 

 With mulitple listings to advertise, one needs to keep on top of seasonal changes. 

Many times I have seen home photos listed in our local MLS with snow in the yard

in the middle of the summer.  Or now, when we have 1 foot of snow on the ground,

 lots of listings have summer photos with trees in leaf and flowers blooming. 

Would you make an assumption that the home with the green grass and flowers in the

listing photo today is not being represented by an agent who is on top of his/her game? 

We would.  That is not what your listing looks like or what the neighborhood looks like today.

It is important to represent the home you have listed appropriately.  And buyers

want to know what the yard and landscape looks like in the fall and winter.

This home was listed at the end of October when the trees had lost their leaves

and flowers and shrubs are dormant.

It looks very different in this photo coated in snow with the Christmas wreaths up

taken about 6 weeks later.

This home was listed on October 21st, 2009. 

It looks very different today with snow as a major component of the landscape.

 

Keep your listing photos up to date. Winter in Grand Rapids Michigan is one of those

times when being green isn't a good thing.

 

 

This charming two story Tudor home in Ottawa Hills will be coming on the

market soon.  With 3 bedrooms up, 1 1/2 baths, hardwood floors, and

2 stall garage attached, this home has a very livable floor plan. 

Built in 1931 with quality materials, it has lots of built in character

with a fireplace and bay window in the living room. A sun room, formal

dining room, kitchen with new laminate flooring, new roof in 2008,

and 2009 painted wood exterior.

 

 

Ready for new owners to move in and enjoy the home & neighborhood.

The new Grand Rapids Christian Elementary School being built on

 the site of the old Ottawa Hills High School, recently Iroquois Middle

School, is expected to be completed in fall 2010.

This sharp little bungalow on Grand Rapids Michigan NE side has a surprising

amount of room.  The finished recreation room down and the large bedroom

up with a full bath make it a plus. Many improvements, new carpeting,

tile floors, fenced yard and a quiet neighborhood.

Come on over and take a look. We will be there Sunday from 12-2 pm.

Front of Home has mature shade trees

Large Fenced Back Yard

 

 

Living Room with new carpeting

Kitchen has been updated with new cabinets, tile floor, all appliances are included.

 

Listed at $99,900        MLS # 767050

Call me at 616-292-7263 for a private showing or email me at

terry@terrywestbrook.com

This tastefully decorated home features 2 Bedrooms, 3 Baths,

finished walkout lower level and is located in Forest Hills

School District, close to shopping, East Grand Rapids, and

major expressways, yet set in privacy above a heavily wooded

ravine.

This home has a wooded private back yard, lots of natural light

and has been professionally decorated and meticulously maintained.

Total finished living area is 2283 square feet, although there is room

for a bonus room expansion in lower level.

 

 

The main floor has a kitchen with beautiful cherry cabinets,

dining area, living room with a vaulted ceiling, a full bath,

main floor laundry area, the master bedroom has a tray ceiling,

private access to the full bath, and an office/den just off the

private entrance.

 

 

Special additions include a 4 season glassed in porch off the great

room overlooking the wooded backyard.  A main floor laundry area,

 9 foot ceilings throughout, even in the lower level, and large windows

for unrestricted views make you feel like you are tucked away in a

private wood.

 

 

The finished lower level has a large recreation room, the second

bedroom, a full bath, plus a basement storage area and expansion

 room for a third bedroom, if desired.   This home is located in

Reeds Crossing, a secluded condo development with easy access

to downtown Grand Rapids, 28th Street shopping or the I96

expressway.

 

Listed at $ 315,000      $290,000       MLS # 764761

Featured Listing

 

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids Real Estate

Copyright 2009 All rights reserved

It looks like the most affordable homes in the United States are in the

Midwest, according to CNNMoney.com's latest posting about the Most

& the Least affordable cities to buy a home.  New York and the California

dominate the least affordable cities to buy a home today.

 

 

Grand Rapids Michigan comes in 5th Most Affordable with an affordability

score of 92.9%.

 

CNNMoney's lineup is as follows:

MOST AFFORDABLE

1. Indianapolis, IN     median home price - $107,000
2. Youngstown, OH    median home price - $ 73,000
3. Detroit, MI            median home price - $ 86,000
4. Dayton, OH           median home price - $105,000
5. Grand Rapids, MI   median home price - $100,000

LEAST AFFORDABLE

1. New York City, NY   median home price - $419,000
2. San Francisco, CA   median home price - $580,000
3. Honolulu, HA         median home price - $395,000
4. Los Angeles, CA     median home price - $294,000
5. Santa Ana, CA        median home price - $391,000

 

The foreclosure crisis that has hit the Midwest hard has influenced the

prices of homes in a downward trend for the past few years.  The

auto industry is a big factor, although many of these Midwest cities, like

Grand Rapids are diversifying their economic base and will come out of

this much stronger and with many more people as homeowners.

If you are looking for a home in Grand Rapids Michigan, you are much

more likely to find a home you can afford than many other cities, which

is great news for the average home buyer today.

 

Grand Rapids Ada Real Estate - Westbrook Realty

Copyright 2009  All rights reserved

The Top Best Buy Blogs that we publish are based on price per square foot,

which is one of the best ways to analyze a home for pricing.  For example,

if a subdivision has 14 homes for sale, and they are all relatively similar,

the price per square foot should be close together.  This doesn't always hold

true but it is a great leveler in the home resale industry. 

 Buyers should find out why they are being asked to pay $ 20-30-40 per square

 foot more for the home they are considering than neighboring homes. Does it

have extensive remodeling, a new kitchen, an added bath, 3 stall garage,

extensive outdoor decking, acreage, water frontage?   All of these items will

 factor into square foot pricing.

 

 

The Top Best Buy Blogs for Greater Grand Rapids - June 2009:

Caledonia Michigan Top Best Home Buys

East Grand Rapids Michigan Top Best Home Buys

Forest Hills Michigan Top Best Home Buys

Grand Rapids Township Top Best Home Buys

Kentwood Michigan Top Best Home Buys

Lowell Michigan Top Best Home Buys

Rockford Michigan Top Best Home Buys

We would be happy to answer any questions on these properties.  Not all

real estate agents/brokers report sales as soon as they should.  We can

 check on status and availability of any property listed in the Grand Rapids

area.  

 

Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Michigan Real Estate

Copyright 2009 All rights reserved

 Greetings rose photo by Bonnie Westbrook

This neat as a pin NE Grand Rapids Condo is coming on the market soon,

probably by the end of March.  This condo has an open floor plan with kitchen,

eating area, dining room, living room, master bedroom, 1.5 baths, & den/office

on the first floor.  The lower level walkout has a bedroom, family room, full bath

and storage.  South facing with lots of natural light, this condo will be available

for viewing soon.

 

 

 

Contact me by email or phone: 1-888-240-1968 ext 0

Grand Rapids Ada Real Estate ~ Five Star Real Estate

Copyright 2009 all rights reserved

 

This Sunday we have 2 great homes open for viewing:

7117 Oakbrook SE  12-2 pm     Reduced Price $ 229,900

This home has 3776 of finished square footage, a custom built brick ranch

 home with walkout. Great floor plan -main floor master suite[includes

 solarium],main floor utility, 3 fireplaces, finished lower level with recreation

 room, bar, family room, and 2 bedrooms with full bath.  A solidly built home

with a home warranty and all appliances included.  Private setting, nature retreat

in your backyard.    View Video

 

3000 Lake Drive East Grand Rapids - 3-5 pm    $ 265,000

This fabulous home has many added amenities not found in typical homes in this area.

It has extensive deck additions, an enclosed porch with tile floor, fenced back yard, 2

new bedrooms in the lower level with daylight windows, a new full bath, and a recreation

room with fireplace.  Two bedrooms up with full bath and half bath, a large main floor

utility room next to the kitchen, and a den/office. Up to date decorating and colors

mean no redecorating when you move in.  View video

Grand Rapids Ada Real Estate ~ Westbrook Realty