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6389 Burton SE – Victorian in the suburbs
September 7th, 2012
6389 Burton SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan – Victorian in the suburbs
…and only $135,000 too. Here is that lovely remodeled Victorian Two Story built in 1900, nestled on a large wooded lot in the heart of Cascade Township. Forest Hills Schools – 4 Bedrooms – 1 1/2 baths. Updated kitchen with eating area. New Windows. Newer furnace.
Location is wonderful – right across from the Cascade Township bike paths – easy access to Highways and the Airport – near churches and shopping too.
Relax on the wrap-around front porch; kick back in time in a home with loads of original wood trim – formal parlor – wood floors.
PatsPlace Grand Rapids Real Estate
2012 FALL County Fair Schedule – Yippee and Yeehaa!!!
August 24th, 2012
2012 Western Michigan County Fair Schedule – Yippee and Yeehaa!!!
It’s mid-summer in the mid-west – time to think about heading out to the Fair. It’s Hot Hot Hot too – so dress the part and enjoy.
If you’re living in West Michigan – these are the MUST VISIT fairs;
August
6-11 Kent County Fair: Here’s the place to find all the scoop on this great local fair: Within 30 minutes of downtown GR – great talent contests – food galore – rodeo and horse shows
20-25 Hudsonville: Yippee – Click Here for more information. School is back in but the corn is still growing tall – take a look at the pigs and cows shown by the local talent!
September
7-15 Allegan County Fair: The last Fair of the year – If you haven’t attended any of the others – here’s your chance. Click here for more info. Can you say KISS and MOTLEY CREW???
Enjoy the summer and enjoy all the Fairs – Let me know which one you like the best and send some photos along if you’ve stopped by any of them!
PatsPlace Grand Rapids Real Estate
2028 Meadowdale NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan – SOLD!
July 10th, 2012
2028 Meadowdale NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Delightful totally updated two story in highly desirable Elmridge area on the West Side of Grand Rapids. Only 10 minutes from Downtown GR – close to transportation, schools and churches.
This Three Bedroom – Two-Story home has an oversized great room with fireplace, huge eating area with sliders to the deck, Cherry Kitchen with new appliances, great mud room – Three stall garage – master suite upstairs with cathedral ceilings and private bath and walk-in closet. The lower level has daylight windows and room for another bedroom and bath.
Move right in – beautiful lawn, ready to enjoy the this gorgeous summer!
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Real Estate is Personal!!! Family photos warm the home.
July 10th, 2012
Real Estate is Personal!!! Family photos warm the home.
I know - I know – All the staging gurus and relocation companies always tell you to remove your personal photos and artifacts and put them away. They say to “neutralize” your home so there are no objections when someone comes in to see it – I say – NO WAY!
In most transactions someone is buying a HOME – a place where they will live, perhaps raise their families, find comfort, relax and enjoy. It is not just a “House” – from walking up to the front door and through the home – falling in love with it is an emotional and personal experience.
I have found over the forty years I have helped buyers – the buyer’s emotion is often more intense and a sale happens sooner when the buyer connects with the home on a personal level through the photos and personal artifacts. It’s easier to picture themselves in the home.
PatsPlace Grand Rapids Real Estate
2012 Fourth of July Fireworks Festivities – Grand Rapids Area
June 26th, 2012
2012 Fourth of July Fireworks Festivities – Grand Rapids area
It’s almost here – we’re celebrating our Independence! – what a thrill to be able to attend so many wonderful expressions of patriotism!
JULY 4 – FESTIVITIES AND FIREWORKS SCHEDULES
- ADA/CASCADE - Dusk – 7590 E. Fulton in Ada – Fireworks
Cascade Festivities: On the 4th join Cascade for their parade starting at 10:00 and all the activities – click here for all the info! (Participate in the Parade Contest – Win a cool trophy – I’m the sponsor of the Float Contest for the Cascade Parade
Ada Festivities: Also on the 4th – have pancakes for breakfast at the fire station then get in your antique auto and join the parade at 10am – click here for more info.
- COMSTOCK PARK - Whitecaps Stadium after the game. Check out their schedule and buy tickets here.
- EAST GRAND RAPIDS - DUSK – Reeds Lake – Fireworks
EGR Festivities: Parade starts at noon – Join your fellow Americans for loads of afternoon fun including a water ski show/ music and games – click here for the schedule.
- GRAND RAPIDS - Dusk – Ah-Nab-Awen Park on the shores of the Grand River – 9:30 Festivities and Music Start
Grand Rapids Festivities – Parade starts at 5:30 – Loads of Fun happening in downtown GR – Check it all out here.
- GRANDVILLE - Dusk – Middle School – Fireworks
Grandville Festivities: Parade at 11am – Loads of cool stuff happening during the week – check out the details by clicking here.
- KENTWOOD - Dusk – Kentwood City Center – Fireworks
Kentwood Festivites: Parade starts at 9:30 – Check out the Parade Contest here
Let me know what your community is doing and I’m happy to post some info about that as well.
HAVE A SAFE AND BLESSED FORTH OF JULY
PatsPlace Grand Rapids Real Estate
2416 Thornapple River Drive, Grand Rapids, Michigan $950,000 Riverfront Home – SOLD!!!
June 12th, 2012
2416 Thornapple River Drive, Grand Rapids, Michigan – $950,000 Riverfront Home
Wow!!! is what you’ll say when you see this stunning walkout ranch nestled on 2.5 acres with over 450 feet of frontage on the Thornapple River between the Cascade and Ada Dams.
Totally updated with gorgeous vistas of the Thornapple River from every vantage point. Wood floors, Kitchen with every convenience and heated floors, Formal Dining Room with skylights, Main Floor Master Suite with walk in closets, make-up area and HUGE shower. 5 Bedrooms in all, 4+ baths, 3 stall garage.
It’s a playland without leaving home. Stainless kidney shaped pool, new beautiful retaining walls, totally upgraded landscaping, outdoor kitchen by the pool, waterfall by the front door – loads of dock space on the River and picnic areas galore.
Words can’t describe this – give me a call if you want to take a look in person (616 340-8411)
PatsPlace Grand Rapids Real Estate
Grand Rapids is in the News…and in a GOOOOOD Way
May 7th, 2012
I’m so proud to be from Grand Rapids. I was born here. I have been working here as a Realtor for over 40 years. I’ve raised my children here. It is a great place to live and work – and finally it is getting the great positive press it deserves:
Forbes had a wonderful article on Grand Rapids being the best place in the USA to raise a family. It is true that I have been selling homes to many children of friends who are all moving “back” after taking their first jobs in Chicago or New York – now married and beginning to start their families are coming “home.”
We have some really cool festivals and community events coming up in the next few months that will draw a lot of “out of town” visitors – who might want to make Grand Rapids their home. Here are a few you don’t want to miss:
1. Heritage Hill Home Tour
May 19 and 20 – This is a “must see” if you appreciate quality and spectacular historical homes. Check here for further information.
2. Festival 2012
June 1,2 and 3 – Festival of the Arts in Grand Rapids is FREE!!! Stop downtown (where the streets are blocked off and walking is encouraged) over this weekend and grab some homemade food – listen to the bands – watch the dancers – participate or be an observer. You’ll have fun either way. Check here for the schedule of events.
3. ArtPrize 2012
September 19 – October 7 – Unbelievable is the first word to come to you when you experience ArtPrize in Downtown Grand Rapids. Art of every form, shape, size, type – thousands of pieces all within walking distance – indoors and outside – and YOU are the judge. Check it out here and participate (as an artist, a volunteer or a spectator – it’s your choice).
These are just a few of the upcoming events in Good Ole GR – let me know which ones are your favorites!
PatsPlace Grand Rapids Real Estate
Ruth Chris Restaurant – Grand Rapids, Michigan – My Opinion
May 6th, 2012
Ruth Chris Restaurant at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, Michigan
I know – who doesn’t love a good Ruth Chris Steak House? Food Great – Service Outstanding – Location Wonderful; I agree, but have just a bit of a hair under my saddle with a Ruth Chris taking over the Elegant 1913 Room at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids.
A few nights ago we (my husband Guy and I) celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary at the Ruth Chris Steak House at the Amway. The food was wonderful. We started with ample glasses of Cabernet, shared Ruth Chris Chopped Salad (plenty for 2), I had the Dover Sole which was prepared very traditionally (delicious) and Guy had the Filet. We had a chance to share the entrees and both agreed they were wonderful. The side of fingerling potatoes with a cheese mustard sauce was perfect too – we shared this and certainly didn’t go away hungry.
7 years ago we dined at the 1913 Room in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and got engaged that evening. It was a perfect evening sitting in a quiet, elegant room that stepped you back 100 years in time and made you feel unrushed and special. Now, maybe it was because we got engaged that it was special – but I believe every time I dined at the 1913 Room I felt relaxed and pampered.
The ambiance between the 1913 Room and the Ruth Chris is vastly different. They are in exactly the same location in the hotel. The food in both is outstanding. But it’s not the same – it seemed noisy (we were seated in the dining room with the hostess stand in the front so maybe that was a distraction) – it seemed stark instead of elegant.
I know – I know – get over it. Ruth Chris is here to stay – yet, I think I would like to find an intimate elegant dining spot somewhere here in the Grand Rapids area yet – and I will. Let me know if you have a favorite or a suggestion – I’d love to try it out.
PatsPlace Grand Rapids Real Estate
One (1) Major Reason to get a 30 year Fixed Rate Mortage (and that’s all you need)
April 9th, 2012
Everyone looking to buy a home in today’s marketplace is struggling with deciding what kind of loan to get. Should they go “really low” and get an adjustable rate mortgage for 5, 7 or 10 years?
… Or should they go with the tried and true 30 (or 20) year fixed rate mortgage?? With today’s record setting low rates I don’t believe there is any doubt a 20 or 30 year fixed rate mortgage makes the most sense for almost everyone in today’s market.
Here is the most important reason why – and almost the only reason why:
1. Check out this Cost Comparison Chart and become a BELIEVER
Here are the Cost Comparison’s for the major indexes in the United States. ONLY the monthly fixed rate mortgage ends up having a 0% of change on the Price Index. We all know our food, gasoline, medical care and tuition have all gone crazy since 1981 – it is only the monthly mortgage payment on a median priced home (which at that time was at 14% – and was not refinanced with any cash out) that did not skyrocket…it didn’t even go up!
Words of advice:
1. Find a good lender (we’ll send you a list if you like). With rates as low as they are today you can shop closing costs and rates.
2. Find a good REALTOR (that would be us) who can lead you through the process.
3. Rest easy with the knowledge that today’s marketplace offers great value and if you go with a fixed rate loan – future stability
4. Don’t refinance for cash out during the time of your loan (you probably won’t have to since the rates today are so low.
PatsPlace Grand Rapids Real Estate
1645 AMBERLEY CT., EAST GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN SOLD IN 15 DAYS!!
March 28th, 2012
TOTALLY BETTER THAN NEW! 1645 Amberley Ct., East Grand Rapids, Michigan – This is spectacular for $350,000.
Better than New. Elegant Practicality – Take a look at this lovely home at the end of a cul-de- sac in East Grand Rapids! Features include spacious kitchen with granite countertops and kitchen island, stainless appliances, mudroom with lockers, gas fireplace, wood floors, main floor laundry, Master Suite with cathedral ceilings, master bath with double sinks. All 4 bedrooms are upstairs with extra wide hallways – very spacious with plenty of closets. Den/swing room on the main floor.
Daylight basement with finished family room and 9′ ceilings. Plenty of space in the daylight area for another bedroom and bathroom. Outside offers a lovely backyard – totally fenced with a tasteful black fence – deck off the sliders from the kitchen/dining area. Great location in award winning East Grand Rapids schools – quiet street – yet within walking distance of Reeds Lake, ice cream shops and shopping.
Give us a call if you would like to take a peek inside. Cell 616 340-8411
PatsPlace Grand Rapids Real Estate
