Grand Rapids Home Buyers

GRAND RAPIDS
 HOMEBUYERS

 
ANDREW INGRAM
Realty Executives Platinum Group
Direct - (616) 570-1871

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GRAND RAPIDS HOMEBUYER INFORMATION



Buying a home can be one of the most significant investments in your life. You are most likely investing a large portion of your assets into this venture and not only are you choosing your dwelling place, but the place in which you will bring up your family.  The more prepared you are at the outset, the less overwhelming and chaotic the buying process will be. The goal of this page is to provide you with detailed information to assist you in making an intelligent and informed decision. Remember, if you have any questions about the process, I'm only a phone call or email away! 


GRAND RAPIDS MARKET NEWS

It's no secret to us. Prices and interest rates are phenomenal right now. In real estate, you make your money when you buy. If you have a home to sell, price it correctly, get it sold and make your money when you purchase your next home.


GRAND RAPIDS HOME SALES UP 26.2% FROM A YEAR AGO

Good indicators that the Grand Rapids real estate market is alive and well. Single family home sales continue to show signs of stabilizing and the average sales price has increased for the third consecutive month.

Click Here for more information!


 



***LATEST $8000 HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT UPDATE***

USING THE $8000 TAX CREDIT AS YOUR DOWNPAYMENT

HUD says that they are pushing forward with their Bridge Loan Program which will allow home buyers to use the $8000 Tax Credit as their downpayment.

Click Here for more information.

 



***UPDATED FED 2009 STIMULUS***

$8000 FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS TAX CREDIT EXTENDED

---The tax credit is available for first-time home buyers or anyone that has NOT owned a home in the last 3 years.
---If you have owned a home for the last 5 years, you will qualify for a $6500 Tax credit. NEW
---
The maximum credit amount is $8000 for first time home buyers. (have not owned a home in the last 3 years) 
---
The credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1st, 2009 through April 30th, 2010. NEW
---Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit. NEW
---This is a TRUE Tax credit and will no longer be required to be paid back.

Visit My Blog for more information. 

 


POSITIVE NEWS FOR OUR GRAND RAPIDS REAL ESTATE MARKET
 --- According to CNN, Grand Rapids is one of the TOP TEN Fastest growing real estate markets Nationwide. Click Here.

 


WHAT DO YOU GET FOR YOUR REAL ESTATE DOLLARS?
--- Great article that mentions Grand Rapids as one of the areas where you get alot of bang for your buck. Click Here.




Live and Work in Greater Grand Rapids


Click Here to watch a great video about Grand Rapids.


Grand Rapids has a growing economy, outstanding health care, low cost of living, award-winning schools and many diverse cultural options. These are just a few of the reasons Greater Grand Rapids is attracting professionals from around the globe. 

Interest Rates are at an historical low and house prices are reflecting the market, meaning they are low. It is a buyer's market in Grand Rapids and it is a great time to buy.

Couple that with a multitude of outdoor activities including camping, fishing, Lake Michigan beaches and much more and Grand Rapids stands out as one of the best places in the country to live and raise a family.

We can help you get started when searching for that perfect place to live in Grand Rapids. From the many downtown condo choices to that perfect home, call us today or start your Grand Rapids real estate search right now with unlimited access to the Grand Rapids and Lakeshore MLS.

   



Buying a Home is an exciting endeavor. Here are the basic steps.




STEP ONE - OBTAINING FINANCING:  Evaluating your purchasing capacity, and determining the right kind of financing package for you is the first step to take. This is a pain-free process! The reason I recommend you do this before we look at homes is that many times I can save you time, and eliminate properties that don't fit your purchasing parameters. In addition, by going through this pre-qualifying step, you'll be in a better negotiating posture when we do find the home you are looking for. If you don't know a lender, we only work with preferred lenders who guarantee their results. We always recommend getting at least 2 opinions.

STEP TWO - SEARCHING FOR HOMES: What is more convenient for you? We can set an appointment to have an informal, relaxed, person-to-person discussion about what it is you're looking for in a home, or you can search for homes yourself. If you would like to search online from the comfort of your own home, you can take advantage of our
FREE MLS Search Tool. This allows you to search for any home listed on the Grand Rapids and the Lakeshore multiple listing service. If you don't have the time, or would also like to be notified of any New Listings that meet your criteria, you can fill out my Dream Home Finder form and we'll take care of the rest. This service searches the MLS daily and e-mails you any new listings. We also keep track of homes that could be for sale but are not listed and For Sale By Owners.

STEP THREE - VIEWING HOMES:  This is the fun part. We'll go look at homes which you've selected. The home buying process should be fun, like the ultimate shopping trip, and should include everyone in your family if possible.

Because I take the time to listen carefully to your wants and needs in advance, finding the perfect home will not take as long as you might think.

STEP FOUR - MAKING AN OFFER:  Once we've found the perfect home, we'll perform a market analysis to determine it's fair market value and determine market condition to maximize your results. We'll then write the offer and negotiate the purchase with the seller. Once the offer is accepted, you will be required to leave a Good Faith Deposit. This money is held in an escrow account and will be put towards the purchase price on the day of close.

Inspections are then scheduled. Again, we work with preferred vendors who will be able to represent you thoroughly. For this part of the process, we feel it is very important for you as the buyer, to be present at this time. If we find any material faults, we address accordingly. We can recommend a Home Inspector if you need one. Inspection costs vary based on the square footage but expect to pay ~$250 - $300. Please visit our Local Partners.

STEP FIVE - CLOSING:  Before we get to this point, there are many details we ensure are completed before the actual documents are signed. We will go over the final numbers when receive them from the lender before closing to make sure that no mistakes are made. This eliminates any last minute surprises that could effect your piece of mind.

Having a Real Estate Professional represent you  exclusively during this time can put you miles ahead of the game and add to your major investment.


BUYING A SHORT SALE PROPERTY



Buying a short sale in Grand Rapids is the same as any other sale with one major exception. TIME. The short sale process, for the most part, can take at least three to four months and sometimes more. If you have the time to wait though, you can potentially find a good deal.

If you would like information on short sales, please fill out the form below and indicate that is what you are interested in.






Learn about the benefits of:
Exclusive Buyer's Agency
.




mlssearch

FREE MLS ACCESS: - Thinking of owning your own home? Are you moving up to a larger one? Considering investing? Start your search here with free access to thousands of Grand Rapids homes. Once you have narrowed your criteria, let us do the rest with our Dream Home Finder.

RELOCATION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION


Grand Rapids Real Estate

East Grand Rapids Real Estate

Ada Real Estate

Cascade Real Estate

Kentwood Real Estate

Jenison Real Estate

Hudsonville Real Estate

Byron Center Real Estate

Grandville Real Estate

Comstock Park Real Estate

Rockford Real Estate

Northview Real Estate

West Michigan Real Estate

Grand Haven Real Estate

South Haven Real Estate

Heritage Hill Real Estate

Saugatuck Real Estate

Wyoming Real Estate

   




THINKING ABOUT BUYING?
PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM OR CALL US TODAY
AT (616) 570-1871 FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

     


 Your Name
  Address
  City
  Zip
 Your E-mail     
 Your Phone #  
 Desired Time Frame



 
How did you find us? 
(for sale sign, newspaper ad, valpak coupon, referral, google, yahoo, msn etc...)


(all fields are required)

THANK YOU!


By submitting this form with your telephone number you are consenting for this website's authorized representatives to contact you even if your name is on the Federal "Do not call List"

Thank you for submitting your information. We will be in contact with you by phone or email.



RESOURCES TO HELP WITH YOUR MOVE


Utilities Connect your utilities Online. Free Service.

Post Office

List of Post Offices near You

Change Your Address Online
Goodwill Find the outlet nearest you
Life Expectancies of various
Home Systems
and Major Appliances
Check them Online



LINKS, SERVICES AND INFORMATION


GRAND RAPIDS AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT MAPS
ARE YOU READY TO BUY?

HOW DO FINANCING DETAILS AFFECT YOUR OFFER?

WRITING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE REAL ESTATE!
HOW DO FHA AND VA LOANS AFFECT YOUR OFFER?    FHA LOAN    VA LOAN
INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE - Q & A
SHOULD YOU EMPLOY A BUYER'S AGENT?

Grand Rapids Home Finder

DREAM HOME FINDER: - Searching for a home is time consuming especially when the previewing starts. Why not let us do the work? All we'll need is your dream home's criteria. Our fully automated program checks each morning for new and repriced properties. ONLY the homes that meet YOUR criteria will be emailed to you each morning, saving you alot of time.

Grand Rapids Condos

GRAND RAPIDS CONDOS:  Visit our condo section for complete information on the various developements around town. Find out the current info such as price ranges, association fees and coverage, local demographics, school information and more.

Grand Rapids Downtown Condos

GRAND RAPIDS DOWNTOWN CONDOS: Looking for something in town? Grand Rapids has a vibrant downtown lifestyle and we have previewed what's available - plus information about the Grand Rapids Renaissance Zone.

Grand Rapids House Values

FREE HOME EVALUATION: In a competitive buyer's market correct pricing can be the difference between multiple offers and having your home sit on the market while other homes in the neighborhood get sold. We use the latest technology when marketing to positively effect your results.

Grand Rapids buyers agent

FREE CONSULTATION: We can provide a FREE Comparative Market Analysis and a Seller's Net Sheet which will show the exact numbers from the transaction. We can also provide you our expert opinion of needed repairs and staging tips. Set an appointment with us before you spend any money preparing your home.

Grand Rapids Realtor

ACTION PLAN: Our proven strategies have been successful for hundreds of clients. We are constantly striving for more effective marketing techniques to maximize your investment and to minimize your market time. We are successful in good or bad markets!

RECENT HOME SALES: Thinking of buying or selling a home? Knowing which homes have sold and for how much is an important place to start. It's also important to hire an agent that will inform you of local market trends.




EXCLUSIVE BUYER'S AGENCY



Working with a fulltime professional realtor is a must. Ask questions of your agent.  Find out how knowledgeable he or she is about houses currently for sale in your price range and also of houses that have recently sold. 
Can your agent recommend a good lender that has a reputation for excellent customer service and low rates?  Does your agent ask questions of you to have a full understanding of what you are looking for to help you get the most home for the money?

When any agent in Michigan enters into a contract with a homeowner to sell their home, that agent  AND EVERY OTHER AGENT IN MICHIGAN, has a feduciary responsibility to the seller, AND ONLY THE SELLER. In other words, any agent you speak with concerning a particular house represents the owner of that house. You will be treated fairly but keep in mind that they are trying to sell the house for the most amount of money and will not have your  best interests in mind.
 
When you enter into a Buyer's Agency agreement with your agent, he or she is now representing YOU and looking out for YOUR best interests.