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

The 3 ESSENTIAL Steps to Realizing your Real Estate Dreams

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Many of us have real estate dreams. Perhaps you want to become a homeowner, or move to a bigger apartment. Maybe you’d love to upgrade to a better school district, or purchase an investment house.

Big dreams require big action.

However, the formula is simple. Deceptively, annoyingly simple.

Decide on ONE game changing goal.
Make a plan, and work your plan. Adjust as necessary.
Do NOT quit until the goal is achieved.

That’s it. This formula is incredibly difficult to follow, but amazingly simple at its core. Let’s dig in to each of these steps further.

1. Decide on ONE game changing goal.

First, you must decide what you want. Most people never do.

Oh sure, they may have small goals, such as getting a bigger TV or a new pair of shoes. But real estate goals aren’t small. They are life changing. And remember, big dreams require big action. Continue reading “The 3 ESSENTIAL Steps to Realizing your Real Estate Dreams” →

How to Win at MONOPOLY (and Then Apply Those Lessons) – Part II

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In Part I of this post, we talked about a few excellent ways to win at MONOPOLY. In the board game universe, those strategies and ideas will serve you well, and lead you to many victories.

But what about the real world? Sure, it might be fun to win on a cardboard square, but how can we apply these same principles to our lives? Fortunately, the game offers many parallels, and if we learn those lessons, we can put ourselves in much better financial positions.

1. MONOPOLY Lesson – Buy everything you land on.
REAL LIFE Application – Buy assets, not liabilities.

In Monopoly, buying everything you can early is a good strategy. It provides assets you can use later, and each one can be a key piece in creating monopolies, making trades, and building wealth.

This works in the game because every purchase in the game is a money-maker. Even the cheapest properties, with no houses added, will give you a few dollars in rent. Real life is very different! Continue reading “How to Win at MONOPOLY (and Then Apply Those Lessons) – Part II” →

How to Win at MONOPOLY (and Then Apply Those Lessons) – Part I

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Do you hate Monopoly? Do you feel like the game is all about luck? It can be an extremely frustrating experience, especially if you’re on the losing end.

Because of our work in real estate, we get asked about this game a lot. And as it turns out, there are plenty of tips and tricks to help you win. On top of that, there are a ton of real-life lessons we can pull from this 80 year old game. So grab your tiny metal dog, and dig in!

1. Buy everything you land on.

In the beginning, everyone starts from the same square, with the same amount of money. So, once you roll the dice for the first time, what is your best move? BUY EVERYTHING.

If you land on it, purchase it. This is by far the cheapest and easiest way to acquire properties, and all of them get snatched up in a hurry. Don’t worry if you don’t have any other properties in that color, or it’s a low rent part of the board. Each property is an asset that you can use later to build a monopoly, mortgage for cash, or trade. And since every property makes money, you’re off to a good start.

Even you have to mortgage a property to buy a new one, it is worth it. Those cards become very valuable!

2. If someone is selling property, buy it.

If another player doesn’t want to buy a property THEY land on, it goes to auction. In other cases, people will want to sell a non-performing property to get some cash. If you can, buy these properties as well. Continue reading “How to Win at MONOPOLY (and Then Apply Those Lessons) – Part I” →

7 Great Reasons to Invest in Real Estate

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When you’re building for your financial future, you have a ton of choices about what to do with your money. You can invest in the stock market, help build businesses, purchase commodities, or bury treasure chests in your backyard. The options seem endless!

We would like to make a case for real estate. While every option has its advantages and disadvantages, there are a TON of reasons to seriously consider investing in land, buildings, and homes. Here are a few of our favorites.

1. Flexibility

First, there are many, many ways to invest in real estate. Most people think they can choose to either A) flip houses (thanks HGTV!) or B) become a landlord. While these are popular, and potentially profitable, options, your choices don’t end there. Continue reading “7 Great Reasons to Invest in Real Estate” →

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” →