Grand Rapids MI Homes for Sale Archives | Page 5 of 5 | Honeybee Homes, LLC

The 3 Best Ways to Find Homes for Sale in Grand Rapids MI

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You’re ready! Whether it’s time to move, upsize, downsize, or buy your first house, you’ve decided to look for homes for sale in Grand Rapids MI.

You’ve made a great choice. This is a wonderful place to live, and whether you are in the city or the surrounding areas, like Wyoming, Kentwood, Caledonia, or Rockford, there are great neighborhoods all around.

But how do you find them? Just starting your search can be daunting. Here are three great ways to kick-start your house hunt.

1. The Tried and True

Real estate professionals have been around a long time. We are very fortunate to have some excellent Realtors in the area, who can help you find homes for sale in Grand Rapids. Continue reading “The 3 Best Ways to Find Homes for Sale in Grand Rapids MI” →

Looking for Grand Rapids Realty? 4 Things to Remember BEFORE you Choose a Realtor

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If you choose to hire a Realtor, pick the right one. The wrong Realtor can lose you money, waste months of your time, and leave you pulling your hair out. The right professional can make the home buying and selling process pleasant and fast. But if you’re looking for Grand Rapids realty, what should you look for before signing the paperwork?

1. Check their references.

References are crucial. If you know someone who has recently sold (or bought) a home, ask them which Realtor they used, and how they would rate them. If you know someone in the real estate industry, get names of the top folks they would recommend. If you are looking for Grand Rapids realty, you can ask us for a reference. If you need more recommendations, there are a number of online resources and review sites where you can begin your search. Continue reading “Looking for Grand Rapids Realty? 4 Things to Remember BEFORE you Choose a Realtor” →

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” →

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” →

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

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

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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” →