It's no secret that the residential real estate market, particularly in West Michigan, is in a crazy condition (as of today, March 23, 2017). I have heard people express concern that greater availability of lower down payment loans and lower credit score mortgages would create a situation like the crash …

Hardly a day goes by when, in my work as a Realtor, I don’t get asked this question: “Are we looking at another real estate bubble?”. I’m mostly a residential Realtor, and have decent experience as a commercial agent. I’m definitely not an economist, though I do enjoy reading the …

East Grand Rapids has been a hot real estate market lately. Here are a few of the newest homes that have hit the market in the last week:  

http://www.grandrapidshomesforsale.com/search/results/a2w/

If you want to get an idea of the value of your current home, go here:

http://www.grandrapidshomesforsale.com/cma/property-valuation/

…

Buying mistakes

Negotiating a deal for a property to the best possible price is one way to build instant equity into your property. Remember that buying the property right is the key to your real estate investments. So, how do you get a seller to take less than they …

1. PRICE

• Know Your Market: Let's face it, in order to get the very best deal possible, you need to know what market value is. There are a number of ways to gain information, but the savvy buyer knows that an experienced professional agent is going to provide …

There are a few different types of expenses for buyers to prepare for, in addition to the down payment. If you offer $100,000 with a 20% down conventional loan, there's more to the story than showing up at the closing with a check for $20,000.

In a cash deal, …

Negotiating the best possible price in a real estate purchase is the best method for gaining the elusive 'instant equity' in your property. 'Buying Right' is the key to starting off this major investment. What are some ways we can get a seller to take less than they might otherwise?

As a buyer, it is important to recognize the difference between getting a great price and buying a quality property at a discount. Price is only part of the evaluation of a property. You do not have to look further than some of the bank owned foreclosures or short sales …