Real Estate Information Archive

With rates still considered low and housing prices rising, many Michigan homeowners are ready to sell. However, this spring it won’t be the number of bedrooms or square footage that will draw homebuyers— it’s all about the neighborhood. The neighborhood not only helps your Grand Rapids homes hold their value when you’re ready to sell, but it is also a major factor that will seal the deal for prospective Grand Rapids homebuyers. If you’re a current homeowner and are ready to sell your Michigan home, consider your neighborhood— is it what homebuyers are looking for? The neighborhood is ultimately what will help you get into a new home this year.

What makes a great neighborhood? It can vary by homebuyers, but walkability is a priority, as well as proximity to entertainment and shopping. Looking to see if your own Grand Rapids real estate is in a great spot? Here’s what to look for:

Homebuyer Wishlists

Again it will vary by homebuyer, but the best neighborhood is the one that will meet a specific buyer’s wants and needs. In your Grand Rapids home search, you will likely come across properties that you love, but they maybe aren’t in the school district you’d like or aren’t close enough to work. It’s important to keep your wish list in mind when house hunting. Every buyer is different and your ideal neighborhood will vary from the next buyer. For instance, do you want to be close to shopping, but also local parks? Keep that in mind as you shop for homes in the Grand Rapids area.

Do Your Research

Don’t be afraid to ask the neighbors for their opinions on traffic, noise, and pros and cons— especially if you find a home that you are particularly interested in. Before you take that next step in the homebuying process, act like a local and do the research. When you visit with neighbors, talk to others out and about, you can often get the insider’s perspective on a neighborhood. Acting like a local also includes getting a feel for the area by visiting local shops and attending open houses.

New Business

For Grand Rapids area homebuyers, one of the big selling points of a home is its proximity to shops, entertainment, and schools. When you’re ready to sell your Michigan home, a great sign you’re in a great neighborhood is the presence of new businesses— including restaurants and especially, coffee shops. These new locales are great indicators that the neighborhood is stable and growing as new businesses in typically do market research to determine the best spots to invest. When you’re shopping for a new home, you can be looking for these new businesses and make a note of the up and coming spots.

Ready to buy a new home in Grand Rapids this spring? Contact me to help you begin your home search and find a home that meets the terms of your own homebuyer wishlist, in the best neighborhood possible. If you're in a position to sell your home this year, I can help you attract the right buyers and showcase the best aspects of your property. As your Grand Rapids area real estate expert, I am happy to help with your home search and determining the right neighborhoods, including those that have high homeownership rates.

I happily serve the areas of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Forest Hills, East Grand Rapids, Cascade, Ada, Rockford, Northview, Grandville, Kentwood, Caledonia, Walker, Cedar Springs, Sparta, Belmont, Comstock Park, Byron Center, Wyoming, Alpine, Kenowa Hills, Plainfield, Cannon, Lowell, Sand Lake, Jenison, Hudsonville, Wayland, Belmont, Alto and Kent City. 

Mark Brace

Brace Homes

Realtor, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES, e-pro, AHWD, SFR

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan Real Estate

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Spring is a busy season for Grand Rapids real estate and if you have just purchased a new home in the Grand Rapids area, moving can be just as stressful. No matter if you're a seasoned homebuyer or have just purchased your first home in Michigan— Grand Rapids homebuyers can always use moving tips, especially from real estate experts. This spring, take some tips from the pros to help you in the moving process to new homes in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Forest Hills, Rockford, Northview, Grandville and more. Read on for ways to make your transition into new homeowner a smooth one this season:

Find a Reliable Moving Company
Many times homeowners don't desire to do all of the heavy lifting themselves in a big move. Taxing belongings from one property in Grand Rapids area real estate to the next can be tiresome— in which case you will need a moving company. But it can be tough to find a reliable moving company, especially if this is the first time you're hiring one. Many times, real estate agents have a recommendation and can refer you to one of their own. As your Grand Rapids Real Estate expert, I am happy to discuss referrals for these types of companies.

Make a List, Check It Twice
There is no such thing as too organized when it comes to moving to new homes in Michigan. Make a timeline for your move and all of the necessary parts and steps that will be involved. Break down the tasks that you should be doing each week and the pieces that should be moved during which times. It can also help to color coordinate boxes and keep a log of them with your timeline and checklist. The earlier you start, the easier it will be come moving time!

Make a Budget
Oftentimes homebuyers, particularly first-time buyers, do not estimate the amount of money it might take to move to a new home in Grand Rapids. Have questions? Real estate agents are always better equipped to discuss the budget of a move and what to account for in that budget— always contact your real estate agent with uncertainties in this area. Remember, they're local, they know the area and can attest to local rates and company pricing. If your budget is tight for your move, your agent will be able to help you get it down to the essentials and keep costs low.

Get Recommendations
Again, finding the right moving company and all of the other services you'll need for a move can be difficult. It's helpful to get recommendations from friends, family, and your local real estate expert who can guarantee a reliable, trusted service for you and your move. You'll save time and money in the long run when you use a trusted company with a proven record. KCM even recommends real estate agents "provide [their] clients with a list of people [they] recommend, including a cleaner, exterminator, interior decorator, handyman, contractor, and anyone else [they] find necessary or helpful to clients during the moving process."

Prepping to move to a new home in the Grand Rapids area this spring? As your local real estate expert, I am happy to discuss what you may need to make your real estate experience this season go according to plan. Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have about the local real estate market, especially as we head into this exciting and busy time.

I happily serve the areas of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Forest Hills, East Grand Rapids, Cascade, Ada, Rockford, Northview, Grandville, Kentwood, Caledonia, Walker, Cedar Springs, Sparta, Belmont, Comstock Park, Byron Center, Wyoming, Alpine, Kenowa Hills, Plainfield, Cannon, Lowell, Sand Lake, Jenison, Hudsonville, Wayland, Belmont, Alto and Kent City. 

Mark Brace

Realtor, ABR, GRI, SRES, e-PRO, AHWD

Prudential Preferred REALTOR®

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With spring right around the corner, you may be thinking about moving and buying a new home in the Grand Rapids area. Whether this is your first time buying Grand Rapids real estate or your fifth, it's important to have the best resources available to you during this time. For instance, teaming up with an experience real estate agent who knows the area and can guide you through the entire real estate process, explaining along the way. Hiring a real estate agent is one of the smartest decisions you can make during this time— just take a look at one of the many reasons below:

Paperwork Can Be Overwhelming

When you purchase a new home in the Grand Rapids area, there are a lot of documents and paperwork to look through, sign, and understand. As this is one of the biggest purchases you'll likely ever make, you want to have a professional in your corner to make sure you're making the right moves. For instance, every state has different regulations and contracts required to complete a successful real estate transaction. Especially if this is your first time buying homes in Grand Rapids, a real estate agent will be able to walk you through each stack of paperwork necessary to make your homebuyer dreams come true.

They Know the Process

 A real estate agent in the Grand Rapids area knows each move you need to make to successfully purchase a new home. Did you know, according to the REALTOR Assocation, there are over 230 possible actions that need to take place during every successful real estate transaction? When you team up with a Grand Rapids Real Estate agent, they will know these steps right away, having completed successful sales in the past. You can rest assured, knowing that your home sale is in good hands and will soon result in your owning your dream home.

Negotiations Can Be Overwhelming

Like paperwork, the negotiations associated with buying a new home can be overwhelming. KCM advises, "After looking at the list of parties that you need to be prepared to negotiate with, you'll realize the value in selecting a real estate professional." As a homebuyer, you'll need to negotiate with the seller (who will want the best deal possible) and vice versa if you're a Michigan home seller in the Grand Rapids area. There are also many industry professionals you'll need to learn to correspond with during your home purchase like home inspectors, appraisers and more. 

Home Values Are Changing

As you may have noticed in recent months, home values are appreciating. This is a changing factor in the local real estate market and a real estate professional will know how to approach them from both sides of the transaction. For instance, the typical agent-assisted home sale sold for $230,000 as compared to $184,000 for those who did not use a real estate agent, reported the National Association of REALTORS. As a home seller, it's important to know the pricing strategies that will work for your area ahead of time to attract the right buyers and shorten the length of time that the home will sit on the market. You also need someone who can give you an accurate assessment of what your home is worth in comparison to others in the area.

They Know the Market

There is so much more going on in the local real estate market than you may understand or notice. Your Michigan real estate agent will know all of the in's and out's of local areas and real estate in surrounding communities. You may see a lot of information on the news or on the internet, but your agent will be able to tell you how much of that can apply to you and your area. Finding an agent who is armed with all of the knowledge of a local expert will make your experience an educated one and run much smoother. 

I happily serve the areas of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Forest Hills, East Grand Rapids, Cascade, Ada, Rockford, Northview, Grandville, Kentwood, Caledonia, Walker, Cedar Springs, Sparta, Belmont, Comstock Park, Byron Center, Wyoming, Alpine, Kenowa Hills, Plainfield, Cannon, Lowell, Sand Lake, Jenison, Hudsonville, Wayland, Belmont, Alto and Kent City. 

Mark Brace

Realtor, ABR, GRI, SRES, e-PRO, AHWD

Prudential Preferred REALTOR®

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