, Author at Honeybee Homes, LLC | We Buy and Sell Grand Rapids Real Estate

3 Things Yellowstone National Park Taught Me About Cheap Houses in Grand Rapids

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Road trips are wonderful. Previously, I’ve written about things that 80+ hours in the car, Carlsbad Caverns, and Great Sand Dunes National Park taught me about my real estate work.

For the last installment, I thought I’d talk about something that hit me like a ton of bricks while I was in Yellowstone National Park. And it all starts with cheap houses in Grand Rapids…

1. Looks Can Be Deceiving

We all love great deals. Whether we’re looking for a place to live or an investment property, we all want to find the ‘diamond in the rough.’ However, looks can be deceiving! Continue reading “3 Things Yellowstone National Park Taught Me About Cheap Houses in Grand Rapids” →

5 Things 80+ hours of Driving Taught Me About Meeting Goals in Residential Real Estate in Grand Rapids

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A road trip… the classic American vacation. Hitting the open road, seeing beautiful parts of the country, and catching a glimpse of what makes this country great. It is a wonderful adventure, and hopefully everyone gets to experience it at least once.

However, be ready for the long haul.

Getting to a destination several states away takes a LONG time. Like many of you, I am very busy, and my days are tightly packed with things to accomplish. So spending 80+ hours in a tight space, without much to do, seemed daunting. Little did I know that this time was exactly what I needed, and taught me a lot about meeting my goals in residential real estate.

1. The Journey is the Destination

On the road, I initially wanted to arrive at our next destination as quickly as possible. However, on a road trip, there are always hundreds of miles in front of you. No matter how you slice it, there is a long way to go.

At some point, I realized that the time in the car wasn’t just an interlude to the vacation. The hours on the road WERE the vacation. It was wonderful time to think, relax, and enjoy time with family. By living in the moment, I was able to appreciate the highway, rather than being cranky, cramped, or grumpy. Continue reading “5 Things 80+ hours of Driving Taught Me About Meeting Goals in Residential Real Estate in Grand Rapids” →

4 Things the Great Sand Dunes taught me about Fixer Upper Homes For Sale in Grand Rapids MI

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As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently took an epic road trip out west with some of my family. It is truly amazing what some time away can do for our perspective.

One of my stops was the breathtaking Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. This park contains the highest dunes in North America, and is one of the most complex and fragile dune systems in the world.

After some time for reflection, I realized that my time there had a lot to teach me about fixer upper homes for sale in Grand Rapids. We have a lot of experience with this type of home, and some of the lessons hit me like a scratchy tumbleweed… they just couldn’t be ignored!

1. Prepare in advance.

We arrived late at the Dunes. We had a tough time finding a campsite, and the information center only had about an hour before they closed. We only had one night to climb the dunes, and everything in us told us to CHARGE AHEAD!

This would have been a terrible choice. Continue reading “4 Things the Great Sand Dunes taught me about Fixer Upper Homes For Sale in Grand Rapids MI” →

4 Things Carlsbad Caverns taught me about the Grand Rapids Real Estate Market

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The world loves to show us a lesson, and then sit back and wait to see if we’re paying attention. With a little time, perspective, and analysis, sometimes those lessons can sink through even the thickest skulls (like mine).

Recently, I was lucky enough to go on a great road trip out west with some of my family. We made a lot of amazing stops, and now that I’ve had some time to process, I realize that our fantastic trip was ripe with lessons.

Life isn’t divided into ‘work time’ and ‘vacation time.’ It’s all part of one life! So as I reflected on our stop at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, I realized that this amazing natural wonder had taught me a lot about the Grand Rapids real estate market.

1. It was here long before us, and will be here long after.

Carlsbad Cavern is a 31 square mile subterranean limestone cave system, formed over 200 million years ago. The formations have developed and grown over that time, and created something truly beautiful. Continue reading “4 Things Carlsbad Caverns taught me about the Grand Rapids Real Estate Market” →

Finding and Working With Homes For Sale By Owner in Grand Rapids MI

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The Multiple Listing Service is tight right now in West Michigan. Right now, inventory is pretty low, and houses are moving quickly. If it feels like your dream home keeps getting snatched up before you can submit an offer, fear not! It may be time to search homes for sale by owner in Grand Rapids MI.

But how do you find the right house, and how should you approach the homeowner?

1. Drive the Neighborhood

Do you have a certain area in mind? A few blocks where you love the location, the schools, and the local park? Drive around! This sounds very basic, but it is one of the best ways to find FSBO homes. Many houses aren’t listed anywhere online, and the homeowner is hoping to attract buyers with a yard sign.

Keep a close eye out for the signs. Sometimes, you’ll see big, colorful, obvious markers. However, some homeowners will only have a small black and white sign on the corner of their property. Look to see if the notice is posted on the house itself. Also, be aware – you may be looking for a hand made sign, rather than the classic ‘for sale’ banner.

You may feel a little weird as you slowly drive, looking for homes for sale by owner in Grand Rapids. Remember though – you may find a great house, and do the homeowner a big favor in the process! Continue reading “Finding and Working With Homes For Sale By Owner in Grand Rapids MI” →

6 Things to Remember as You Dig for Condos for Sale in Grand Rapids MI

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Condominiums can be a great choice. They often come with a lower purchase price, less maintenance, and added facility perks. But those great advantages come with a few twists. As you search for condos for sale in Grand Rapids MI, keep these tips in mind.

1. The Basics

First, what is a condominium, really? It is a living space that you own. As a result, YOU get the appreciation and the tax benefits, in addition to getting to decorate exactly how you want to.

However, a condo is unique, because you share common areas with the other owners. Depending on the unit, you may share parking areas, roofs, walkways, pools, and more. This creates some unique benefits and challenges.

In addition, many typical maintenance tasks are handled by the association. Roof repair, lawn mowing, snow plowing, water heater fixes, and exterior paint are will typically be covered in condos for sale in Grand Rapids MI. Continue reading “6 Things to Remember as You Dig for Condos for Sale in Grand Rapids MI” →

3 Great Reasons to Sell Your Home as a Rent-to-Own in Grand Rapids, MI

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There is a ton of confusion about rent to own houses in Grand Rapids. At first glance, they seem overwhelming. How do you set them up? What paperwork do you need? What kind of title transfer occurs, and when?

These are all FANTASTIC questions. But to start, let’s begin with the basics. If you’re selling your home, why would you want to sell it as a rent-to-own?

1. Speed

Selling your home traditionally can take a looooong time. Depending on the market, your home, your asking price, competition, and many other factors, it can take a long time to get an acceptable offer.

Once you receive an offer sheet, it’s still not over. There’s the inspection period, potential for further negotiations, title work, and more. Combine these things together, and you can end up waiting months to get your house sold.

In many cases, this long wait is just not an option. If you need to move for your career or family, for instance, speed can be crucial. If you have to move in days or weeks, the traditional methods of selling may simply take too long. Continue reading “3 Great Reasons to Sell Your Home as a Rent-to-Own in Grand Rapids, MI” →

6 Great Reasons to go to the Michigan State Fair

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The Michigan State Fair is back! Here at Honeybee Homes, our work is real estate, but we all need a chance to unwind. So let’s look at one of Michigan’s oldest traditions, and remember why it’s a great way to spend a day.

Many of us have great memories of the state fair. The rides, the delicious food, the fun animal exhibits, and more. But life gets busy, and it can be hard to work it into your schedule. Especially in West Michigan, because it’s a bit of a drive.

So is the Michigan State Fair worth the trip? Yes! Here’s why:

1. Great Music

Concerts are normally a lot of effort. Getting tickets in advance, a lot of time spent in the car, finding seats, and then the packed parking lot afterward. Not here! There is great music all day, throughout the event.

Normally, you couldn’t even see a single show for the fair admission price. Here, you have your own music festival at your fingertips. Continue reading “6 Great Reasons to go to the Michigan State Fair” →

4 Things to Remember as You Hunt for Apartments in Grand Rapids MI

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Apartment hunting can be a long and trying process. How many bedrooms do I need? What can I afford? Is the in-unit washer and dryer worth the extra 20 minutes of work commute?

As you search for apartments in Grand Rapids, MI, there are several things to keep in mind. Remember, there are many great places to rent… we are blessed with some high-quality landlords here. But before you move in, keep a few things in mind.

1. Read and Understand the Lease

This sounds like a basic tip, but it is extremely important. Before you sign up for a multi-month (or year) commitment, know what you are getting into. Just a few things to look out for:

-Length of the lease: Is the agreement month-to-month, six months, a year, more?
-Renter responsibilities: Which utilities are included, and which aren’t?
-Late Payment Penalties: How much are they, and how are they assessed?
-Rules about early move-out: If you absolutely need to move out before the end of the lease, what is the procedure?
-And More

Essentially, you don’t want to be surprised by anything. While it is a lot easier to just sign the agreement without reading it, you should take your time. It can save you a lot of headache later on. Continue reading “4 Things to Remember as You Hunt for Apartments in Grand Rapids MI” →

5 Reasons to Make ArtPrize a Priority in Grand Rapids

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Here at Honeybee Homes, we work in real estate. But we also love West Michigan, and all of the great sights, events, and experiences that can be found here.

So while there’s still time to plan for the coming month, we wanted to shine a bright light onto a great event: ArtPrize!

What is ArtPrize? An amazing event where art takes over Downtown Grand Rapids, turning the whole city into an interactive museum. It also offers the largest art award in the country, giving out over $500,000 to the artists.

Why should you make ArtPrize a priority?

1. Radical Openness

In most of the art world, things are pretty tightly controlled. Curators and moderators make entries to larger events difficult. While this works to keep quality high, it can make it tough for even talented artists to get their work shown.

At ArtPrize, anyone over 18 can submit their work, and any venue within the designated Grand Rapids district can host art. This creates a wonderful open world of art, where turning a corner puts you in front of a beautiful sculpture, and walking into a hotel introduces you to a fantastic new artist. Continue reading “5 Reasons to Make ArtPrize a Priority in Grand Rapids” →