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

5 Things to Remember BEFORE Buying Your First House in Grand Rapids

Posted on by

You’re ready for the jump!

You’ve thought, you’ve planned, and you’re going to buy your first house in Grand Rapids, MI. Or maybe in Kalamazoo, or Kentwood, or Hastings, but you get the idea. It’s go time!

This is a very exciting journey. However, there are a few important things to remember as you start your trip.

1. Stay calm, and accept the timeline.

Buying a house can take a long time. From finding the right place, to getting your financing fully approved, to the never-ending negotiations, the home buying process can really drag on.

This is normal, and it’s OK! There are a lot of moving parts to a real estate transaction, and none of those parts are 100% efficient. It will probably take longer than you want it to. If you stay calm and collected, you will sleep much better at night. Continue reading “5 Things to Remember BEFORE Buying Your First House in Grand Rapids” →

The 3 Quickest and Easiest Ways To Find Houses For Rent In Grand Rapids, MI

Posted on by

That’s it. I’m done.

There are officially NO houses for rent in Grand Rapids! It’s all either scams or apartments!

Sound familiar? I’m positive I’ve said those things more than once. A few years ago, when I was searching for a house for rent in Grand Rapids, I felt like I was running into a brick wall.

I wasn’t sure where to look for a house, and my trusty Google searches didn’t seem to be helping. I was scouring website after website, trying to find anywhere that had more than three houses for rent. No dice.

I called friends, and they seemed to all find their places through family or ‘someone they knew.’ Which is great, but what if you don’t have an Uncle Joe who happens to rent out houses?

Fortunately, by asking a lot of questions, and not quitting, I found some great resources that are still strong today. Continue reading “The 3 Quickest and Easiest Ways To Find Houses For Rent In Grand Rapids, MI” →

The Ultimate Guide to Buying and Selling Real Estate in Grand Rapids, MI

Posted on by

Buying and and selling houses can be tricky. Here in Grand Rapids, MI, we have a huge variety of markets and sub-markets, wildly different seasons, and enough options to make your head spin. Do you buy a historic home in Heritage Hills, or a brand new build in Walker? A side-by-side duplex in Kentwood, or a 3/2 in Wyoming?

What about the Kalamazoo, Portage, or Parchment areas? Am I crazy to consider a rent-to own, and will a new build be way too expensive? All of the questions can drive you nuts.

Fortunately, we can cut through the clutter. If you’re looking to buy or sell a house in Grand Rapids, MI, or the surrounding areas, read on!

How to Find Real Estate Deals

Let’s start on the purchasing side. Where do you start if you want to find the right home for your family (or the perfect investment)?

The ‘Tried and True’: First, you can talk to a Realtor. The right Realtor can provide a huge boost to your home search. Since they work in your local market every day, they often get wind of great deals before they hit the MLS. In addition, many homes are easier to access if you have a Realtor on your team. They can show you a dozen houses in a day if you like. Visit this page for great tips on picking the RIGHT Realtor.

The ‘Tech Savvy’: The internet has a huge number of sites where you can look up available homes for free. Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Realtor.com, FSBO.com, and ForSaleByOwner.com, are excellent places to start. Looking through these sites can give you a great idea of what is available here in Grand Rapids, MI.

The ‘Do-it-Yourself’: If you are willing to put in the work, you can find and create your own deals. While this is more of a commitment, these ‘diamond in the rough’ properties often wind up being great deals. Many of the best deals and homes aren’t listed on the MLS, so you’ll either have to find your own motivated sellers or know someone who does. Which leads us into our next point… Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Buying and Selling Real Estate in Grand Rapids, MI” →