Get your Real Estate Survival Guide Information online and through this site.  Some really great videos and information to get you started.  My action plans to finish the job whether or not you are buying or selling!!

http://www.frontdoor.com/news/article/2127?nl=FD_v034_3

The comment was something along this line.  “Tammy, I just wanted to let you know how proud I am of you for losing all that weight.  It’s tough when us females get older and you have done so well.”  To which I reply, “Thank you and yes, I know” or something along those lines.

Honestly, at that point my mind was racing.  I’m trying to figure out exactly what she’s talking about.  Remember, I met her only once and it was this year.  No, I haven’t lost that much weight.  In fact, even though I’m not obese, I probably weigh more than I ever have.  (I just wear the right clothes to hide that fact!) 

Ding, ding, ding.  Oh yeah, the light bulb is going off now.  I gave her an old business card that I thought was fantastic but looking closely at it with it’s pose, I guess she could assume that I was much “bigger” at that time.  Funny, how my perspective was that it was great and she saw something else.

iSN’T THAT HOW PERSPECTIVE WORKS ANYWAY?

 We can see things one way and someone else can see them from a totally opposite viewpoint to which none is the wiser.  Which bring me to the real estate market.  There is a lot of people doing a lot of complaining about the market (consumers, mortgage people, realtors) and oh yeah, there is me!  I was so falling into the trap of DOOM and GLOOM that I could hardly stand myself.  I know that people around me felt it too.

CAR CRASHES

 Just like you, I’ve had some rough weeks.  Last week, was by far one of the toughest.  Looking back now that it’s over, it’s no big deal but at the time, it sucked!  If any of you follow me on facebook, you would know that I’ve been looking for a used car.  I had some bad luck where the back end of my car was hit by another car.  (I had the blinking yellow, they had the blinking red).  Regardless, it did so much damage to the car that it was totaled and I was looking for another car.  (BTW, everyone was fine which is a blessing!)  That was on Thursday.

On Monday, after bringing my husband to work so that I could use the minivan (5:30 a.m. is very early in the morning J), I go to some appointments, take some pictures of a new house I just listed and head back into town on 131N to pick up hubby from work.  Going 70 mph, I blow out the back tire of the minivan on the expressway.  Again, I’m fine but my main car wasn’t.  Had a really nice trucker help me put on the spare and off I go again.

Tuesday, I try to register my daughter at a new school and find out that they don’t have all the forms that they need including birth certificates, report cards etc… and by the way, it all has to be in by tomorrow which is the day that the only car is going to get new tires and a thorough inspection.  I’m calmly trying to get everyone to work together but I’m running into so many roadblocks.  Everything I touched last week was blocked… it seriously was like beating my head against a brick wall.  Oh yeah, to top it all off… my dog ran away too.  Life sucked!  I seriously was doing a lot of complaining about everything and then let me just give you my thoughts on the real estate market.  As you can guess, I had my opinion about everything and nothing was good!

FUNNY HOW LIFE CAN CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

So, why am I telling you about my crappy week.  

It’s not so you feel sorry for me.  Believe me I already did that!  This week: Perspective has changed.  ENOUGH!  The market IS WHAT IT IS and all of us just have to adjust.  At least that’s the way, I see it.  While I saw DOOM and GLOOM based on my circumstances, others see OPPORTUNITY.  The opportunity is there for those who want to take advantage of it.  I have never seen homes go this cheap!  Many investors are buying the homes, renting them out, and waiting to sell.  It’s working for them and it could work for you!  

Sellers… I promise not to lie to you.  It’s tough out there BUT homes are still selling.  Call me and I’ll tell you what we need to do to get the home sold.  The real estate market is a cycle and it’s all about your timing and what’s right for you.  Having the right facts and perspective will help you sell your home.  It will get done, I promise!

Tammy, I've found a great home I want to see!

I've had countless times where a buyer will call me about a home that they've seen and would like to view. At the time of the call, they are usually very excited by what they have seen online or driving by and can't wait to get in the home. I make some phone calls to find out that this great deal has already been taken… it now has a pending sale on it. (Just happened today, in fact!) I can't recall how many times this has happened, definitely too many to count. The point being, that the good deals are coming and going very fast!!!

Low-ball offers don't always work

Here's another scenario. We find a home that is still available and because of this "great buyer's market", the buyer decides to offer a very low ball offer. After all, they have heard of their neighbor's best friends' dog doing the same thing and getting the house. O.K., I'm obviously being very sarcastic! Again, several times this has happened. That home receives another offer that is higher and closer to asking price and my clients lose out. This type of buyer usually does one more of these transactions on another home (a little bit higher bid) to lose out again. By this time and the third house, the realization has come about that most places are priced correctly and I've already done the homework as to what price to offer. Guess what? The buyers are now ready to listen and buy the third home that has come available.

Financing Trends

Possibly, NO I'm going to say that this IS the biggest factor that REALTORS are struggling with in this housing market. Buyers can't get qualified because of poor credit, or not enough down or a change in the rules. Specifically to our first time home buyer market. While the financial guidelines where too loose in the past, now we struggle with the tightening of the reins and getting good buyers qualified. As of October, the first time home buyer will lose out on the down payment assistance program… IT'S GONE! In fact, if you don't have an offer in at the moment, you can no longer qualify for this program as of today's date.

Mortgage guidelines are starting to ask for more down payment. It's not uncommon for a conventional loan to require a 10-15% down payment. And the FHA guidelines are changing constantly. I've had buyers approved and ready to go, to have the mortgage guidelines change in midstream. It's a frustrating process for the buyer, REALTOR, and mortgage lender since we really have no control over what the federal government requirements are going to be in relation to these mortgage loans.

Can first time home buyers afford to wait?

CAN FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS OR ANY BUYER AFFORD TO WAIT?

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 I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE SO. It is one of the best times in the market to buy but as we continue to progress, it will probably be one of the hardest times to buy. If the guidelines continue to tighten, more money is going to be required for a down payment, making the home buying process difficult for many buyers.

Are we going to go back to the place where you'll need to have 20% down, excellent credit and still have interest rates in the double digits as in the 80's? Boy, I hope not. But we'll see, sooner or later, won't we?

“A national study has found that Grand Rapids is one of only 66 major housing markets nationwide where purchasing a home could cost less than renting an apartment… “

Here’s the link to read more:

http://www.rapidgrowthmedia.com/inthenews/top660814.aspx?

The Business section of the Grand Rapids Press reads “School Shopping Dropping… Many Families, Feeling Pinch of Economic Slowdown, Plan to Scale Back This Year”.

I now take a look at the Travel Section of the Grand Rapids Press which shows two gals enjoying themselves on a boat, the title of this one is “Knots and Bolt”. Now this one doesn’t have anything to do with cutting back per say but I do have a friend that owns a marina and what he’s noticed is that he still has business it just happens that most people are more local and are not taking their boats up to Traverse City and other places.

In the real estate world, my clients are making moves that are closer to their job and therefore less on gas. More talk is going on about gas efficiency and hydrogen/electricity as fuel savers.

Obviously, the cost of gas has made some impacts on the economy. In general terms, the people I talk with are very concerned about the rising prices (right now, we finally went under $4.00/gallon… by my house it’s $3.93). A bunch of comments have been a long the line of “When is the gas prices going to stop?” I don’t know. Wish I did. I do know this… I’ve even changed some of my habits.

1. For the most part, I know drive the 4 door car instead of the minivan (I’m saving at least $50.00/wk in gas).
2. I’m looking around my house and wondering what I can REUSE instead of throw or give away.
3. I’m not running to the store every day. In fact, I tend to lump all the errands into one time.

I have to ask myself and you… “Could these gas prices being so high be a good thing?”

• Do you think we will finally become more cost conscience and start being more of a Dave Ramsey person (you know, NO DEBT, AND SAVING MONEY).

Do you think we might be start re-using our stuff?

• If we were better budgeters with our money, would we have so many foreclosures on the market as we do today?

• Jokingly, maybe America as a society might be healthy and not overweight… You know, we may have to walk, ride a bike and do some of those things instead of hopping in the car?

Good things have been happening and greater things are right around the corner. Right now, if I could give you my perspective on things and answer my most asked question, “What’s going on in the market?” I would say that we are going through another change. (Duh!)

In all seriousness, consumers are becoming more aware of the cost associated with the higher crude prices, how that affects not only their gas bill but items related to it such as groceries.

My question to you ~ Are we finally going to become more cost conscience and not be so heavily indebted? If you haven’t realized it by now, the reason for a lot of our foreclosures and other problems were not just the lending institutions overlending or setting people up on A.R.M. (Adjustable Rate Mortgages) but HELLO, we were the ones borrowing the money, right?

  The “REAL” Estate Market

My goal in helping you find that perfect home is to find the home and PRICE RANGE that you can comfortably afford. I hate coming back to a home and knowing that it’s about to or already has gone in foreclosure. It truly is sad for me to see.

On the flip side, because of all the foreclosures, it truly is the time to buy. I don’t believe that we will ever see a time like this when we can get so much for our money. Now, we don’t need to overextend ourselves but with the deals that are out there… NOW is the time to buy! Did you catch that… “NOW is the time to buy!” The Donald Trumps of the world are not waiting to later. They buy when the stocks (housing/or other investments) are low and sell when they are high. That’s why he is a multi-millionaire.

So, what’s holding you back. Many people have mentioned that they are just not sure when gas prices are going to stop. If you have the money to do so, you may want to consider buying a house. Let’s say you qualify for $150,000.00, my suggestion would be to look at a home for $100,000. You have no allowed yourself room in your budget to handle whatever happens in the outside world and forces we can’t control as well as providing equity. The housing market runs in a cycle and just like economics, it has to come back around. Call or email me (tstone@grar.com) to find the home that is within your budget and will be of great value to you in the future. Food for thought!

When you build a new home, you also have a choice. You can choose to build with wood OR you may want to consider another method. Let’s face it ~ with the high heating and cooling costs and overall increased costs in many areas, we may have to start thinking about the future and how we can control some of these issues and actually save money. Now that is a remarkable thought!!!

What I’m talking about is ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) construction. Does the thought of concrete walls make you think of a bomb shelter? Honestly, it did for me. Why else would you use concrete for walls? It just seemed odd.

However, with knowledge of the product and the benefits it provides, it really just makes sense. Here’s what you need to know about this type of construction. Those who have researched this product, swear by it and realize the benefits immediately. Let me explain.

1. Most important to you… High heating and cooling costs should make you seriously consider ICF’s that can reduce energy costs by 80%.
2. They provide a healthier indoor air quality due to the lack of air infiltration through the solid concrete walls. This is HUGE, just ask anyone with bronchial or health issues.
3. Obviously, concrete walls are very durable. The insurance industry is starting to pressure government into creating homes that are more durable. (ICF Builder)
4. Noise reduction is a noted benefit in areas with high traffic. A very quiet setting.
5. Finally, concrete is the best solution when it comes to withstanding and surviving extreme weather. Now, I know that Michigan is not prone to hurricanes, but did you know that just recently we did have an earthquake nearby. I thought that only happened in California?
6. Homeowners who live in ICF homes, are adamant that this is what they want. (ICF Builder) That statement in itself should hold a lot of weight for those considering ICF construction.

 

If you are considering a brand new home construction project, you really need to consider the bottom line. One of the common misconceptions is that this type of construction is for the elite and is very expensive. It really is quite affordable.

My next home that I build will have ICF construction because I understand the long term benefits specifically for me as it relates to energy efficiency and indoor air quality. A great energy efficient home located in the great area of Canadian Lakes across from Tullymore Golf Course (the third largest golf course in the COUNTRY!!!), is priced fantastic and has all these benefits plus radiant and geothermal heat. It’s only $179,900.00, which is a steal for the area amenities and the benefits it has. I would seriously consider this home myself except I want to stay a little closer to home which is Grand Rapids.

Perfect for anyone considering a healthy home or wanting to be within walking distance to the Lakes and Tullymore Golf Course! Open May 18th from 2-4 pm!

Johnny’s Lunch sees Michigan and Grand Rapids in particular as an opportunity. Johnny’s Lunch is a Ohio franchise with quick-serve hotdogs and burgers with “extremely low” prices (Beeke). Johnny’s Lunch is a 72 year old company with national expansion plans with Livonia, Michigan being their first stop. Closer to home in Downtown Grand Rapids in the Monroe Center is our first Johnny’s Lunch. Three more franchises are planned to open up in other areas of Grand Rapids as well.

Why did Johnny’s Lunch decide to come to Michigan when others have been leaving? Here’s what the president George Goulson had to say, “We knew all that stuff going in. We also knew in Michigan there’s a lot of opportunity to get in on the ground floor.” (Beeke).

HMMMM!

Aren’t Enterpreneurs looking for the ground floor opportunities? Noodles & Co. franchises have also benefited from the low cost products as people may be trading down from the upscale restaurants to more “casual dining”. Did you know, that the Michigan market for Noodles & Co. has outpaced any of their other markets? Interesting.

Good things are happening in Michigan and in Grand Rapids. It depends on how you want to look at the cup… is it half full or half empty? Johnny’s Lunch believes its over half full!

References: Beeke, Candace. “Retailers debate coming to Michigan.” Business Review Western Michigan. May 15-21, 2008.

So, that’s viral marketing…..com

What I’ve noticed is that our great place of Downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan is a great viral community. I’m amazed at how many people know everyone else, know the best places to hang out and have their own little sense of community within the much larger community of downtown Grand Rapids. People are usually very friendly and courteous and obviously love the attributes of Downtown Grand Rapids with its walkable access ways to some of the best restaurants and hangouts in town. To the beautiful parks, bridges and scenic views of the downtown skyline over the river. To just being the hub of Grand Rapids and the place to be. Downtown Grand Rapids is still small enough to feel like a community, yet is getting the draw of the life of a big city. Personally, I appreciate it because it isn’t as big as some of the other big cities such as Chicago and it’s still a lot of fun to be apart of.

Downtown Grand Rapids is it’s own viral community in that it’s its own community… if that makes sense. It tends to draw the younger singles and also the babyboomers. Other people love just to be apart of the action ~ which lends itself to a really good mix of people.

Now, because I’m in real estate, I wouldn’t be doing downtown Grand Rapids any justice if I didn’t mention the condos in downtown Grand Rapids and of course, Union Square where I have a couple of listings. I have other ones coming up in the area and are very familiar with the condo projects in the area, so if you are looking in the near future for a condo and want to be apart of this fantastic viral community, you can contact me at anytime at tstone@grar.com