East Grand Rapids Mi Real Estate Market Report ~ August 2008

East Grand Rapids is a small city, population of 10,784 located just east

of Grand Rapids city limits. It has been a desired place to live in the Grand

 Rapids area for many years. It is primarily residential with some commercial

business areas.  Many homeowners are attracted by Reeds Lake which plays

 a prominent role in the community, its award winning public school system,

proximity to downtown Grand Rapids, and its overall small town feeling.

This is definitely a community that you can walk to school, the ice cream

store, or just around the tree lined blocks to visit the picturesque lakes,

Reeds Lake & Fisk Lake.

 Homes range in all prices here in East Grand Rapids.  There are

small 3 bedroom bungalows and ranches that were built just before and

after WWII, there aremega-mansions built on the shores of Reeds Lake

for wealthy citizens, and all ranges in between.

Reeds Lake at John Collins Park - East Grand Rapids

Reeds Lake at John Collins Park - East Grand Rapids

 

   RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET

 EAST GRAND RAPIDS MI ~ AUGUST 2008.

Homes Listed at $850,000 +

5 For Sale

Average price $ 2,092,980

High $4,000,000   Low  $1,175,000

Average Days on Market  78

1 Home Sold – $ 1,275,000  

 50  Days on the Market

3 Home Listings  Expired

Average Price:   $ 1,233,333

Average Days on Market: 156

 

Homes Listed $450,000 to $ 850,000

18 Homes Available

Average price  $ 583,083

Average Days on Market  83

1 Home Pending Sale

Price: $599,000  59 Days on Market

5 Homes Sold, 9 Expired

Average Sold Price: $ 531,000

Average Days on Market:  33

Average Expired Price: $606,366

Average Days on Market: 114

 

Homes Listed $ 300,000 – $ 450,000

37  Homes Available

Average Price: $ 374,118

Average Days on Market: 67

1 Pending, 10 Sold, 12 Expired, 1 Withdrawn

Average Sold Price: $355,440

Average Days on Market: 76

Average Expired Price: $395,941

Average Days on Market: 100

 

Homes Listed $ 200,000 – $300,000

30 Homes Available

Average Price: $ 257,899

Average Days on Market:  94

30 Sold Homes, 10 Expired, 3 Withdrawn

Average price: $154,303 

Average Days on Market: 54

 

Homes Listed $0- $200,000    

36 Available

Average Price: # 166,163

Average Days on Market: 68

9 Pending Sales

Average Price $ 150,100

Average Days on Market: 71

 32 Sold Homes

Average Price: $170,306

Average Days on Market: 41

 

If you would like to know the value of your East Grand Rapids Home

in this market, please contact me directly.

1-888-240-1968 ext 0

Grand Rapids -Ada MI Real Estate ~ Copyright 2008 – Five Star Real Estate LLC

 

Grand Rapids Mi Fall Rose Show at Frederick Meijer Gardens

Want to smell the Roses? The public is invited to the Grand Valley

 Rose Society’s Fall Show & Judging at the Frederick Meijer Gardens

 & Sculpture Park – August 30-31, 2008.

The Show will be open from 1-5 pm both Saturday and Sunday on

the lower level of the Fredercik Meijer Gardens building. There is no

charge for admission to the Rose Show but admission to

Frederick Meijers Gardens & Sculpture Park is still required.

Greetings Rose in Blossom

Greetings Rose in Blossom

 

A class in Fragrance will be offered at 11 am – 5 pm on Saturday.

Visitors may take part by voting for “Most Fragrant Rose” during

that time period.

If you have a prize rose that you would like others to see, entries

are accepted 7-10 am  Saturday. August 30th.  There are 56 categories,

 including 5 just for novice exhibitors.

This is the opportunity you have been waiting for – ” to smell the roses ”

 

 Copyright  2008 Grand Rapids Ada Real Estate – Five Star Real Estate

photo of Greetings Rose by Bonnie Westbrook

Round House Rising at Glen Lake Michigan

We recently had the good fortune to visit Glen Lake Michigan for a short visit

with friends at their cottage.  Glen Lake is just a sand dune behind Sleeping

Bear Dunes on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan near the

Leelanau Peninsula  north west of Traverse City.  

On one of our sight seeing, ice cream  or lake shore seeking drives, 

 we came across this novel home being built.  It appears to be a

home and studio or small shop. This area is home to many artists, retirees,

and summer homes of the very well-to-do.

The little round house may just be a little place to get away from…………..

you fill in the blank?

Round house at Glen Lake MI

Round house at Glen Lake MI

 

 

We thought we would take a pic and share with all of you. A round house

isn’t the average home being built today. There was some questions about

how it would appraise. We aren’t sure but thought it an intriguing design.

We’ll take a follow up picture of the completed home, if we are fortunate

enough to get up this way again.

Grand Rapids – Ada Real Estate Copyright 2008 All rights reserved

Photo by Bonnie Westbrook

Custom Cascade Brick Ranch ~ Private Setting

By Bonnie and Terry Westbrook

THIS HOME HAS SOLD.  

Contact Terry if you are looking for a Forest Hills Home.

Have you dreamed of a private Cascade get-away that will start to relax you

when you drive in? Are you dreaming of a Cascade home on a wooded setting,

yet close to schools, shopping, and work? Would you like to look out your

Cascade bedroom window and see nature looking back?

 

Built by a local builder, there are many, manyextras and unusual additions

that you just don’t see in the average home. Custom brickwork abounds,

3 fireplaces, a spiral staircase, custom arched pillars in the family room

and stairwell, stained glass windows, oversized windows that let in the

light and the gorgeous scenery. Special attention to details, such as the

custom window seat in the bedroom, the heated solarium, large rooms,

large closets, solid wood doors & trim.  Decorative mirrors, built in china

cabinet, built in bar cabinet, a sunken living room, sunken whirlpool tub

in master with a custom stone waterfall wall are just some of the added

amenities.  This Cascade home has only had 2 owners and has been well

cared for. Photos don’t do justice to the unique character and setting of

this home.  That  private Cascade retreat you have dreaming of may be

available here – come and take a look for yourself.

Cascade MI Home for sale

Cascade MI Home for saleLiving RoomFamily room & Pool Room

Solarium

Solarium

Forest Hills Public Schools are the school district for this home.

 

Give Terry a call or search for homes for free on our website:

WESTBROOK REALTY

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved

Playing in the Tree Tops ~ Thousand Oaks Golf Club ~ Grand Rapids MI

Once you have played this course, you understand why they named it

 “Thousand Oaks Golf Club”. I had the chance to play this course the

other day and leaped at the opportunity.

What a treat!  Located north of Grand Rapids at Five Mile near the

Grand River, this course wraps around literally thousands of

oak trees. Which makes for a gorgeous nature outing this time of year.

Golf Digest rated this Rees Jones designed course one of the 25 best

courses to play in Michigan.

This course is quite deceptive. Because it fluctuates in elevation, you

might need a few more strokes to get up to the hole, or a little less

club if the green is down hill. All I can say is: don’t go in the woods,

or you will be reaching in your bag for a new ball.

What I didn’t know is that they have a Golf Academy, where PGA Golf

Master Instructor, Charles Vandenberg with the aid of state of the

 art facilities can analyze your swing or putting stroke. Then they give

you a Dvd to take home with lesson plans to  improve your game.

I took a few pictures so you could get an idea of what the course looks like:

 

First Hole

First Hole

The first hole with the Clubhouse in the background.

 

View of a fairway

View of a fairway

An elevated tee with the green nestled in the trees.

 

Green with oak trees surrounding

Green with oak trees surrounding

A fairly tight green with trees and bunkers waiting for your ball.

 

Golf Academy

Golf Academy

The front entrance to the Golf Academy.

 

Practice Range

Practice Range

The practice range behind the Golf Academy.

 

Thousand Oaks Clubhouse

Thousand Oaks Clubhouse

The Thousand Oaks Clubhouse and Restaurant

 

Statues of Children Golfing near the entrance

Statues of Children Golfing near the entrance

Bronze statues of children golfing near the entrance.

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids Real Estate

Photos by Terry Westbrook

Cascade Mi ~ Quail Crest Condo Residential Real Estate June 2008 Market Report

The Quail Crest Condo development is located west of Spaulding

and north of Burton Street in Cascade Township.  There is also an

entrance off Spaulding Avenue and off Burton Street. 

This condo development was started in the late 1980’s and continued

into the late 1990’s.  The condos are spacious, with cathedral ceilings

and many have finished lower levels with extra bedrooms and baths.

This area has been very attractive for retirees, they are close

to all the local amenities and shopping. 

Watermark Country ClubForest Hills  & 28th Street shopping are a

short distance away.

 The miles of Cascade-Ada Bike/Walking Trail  connects to

downtown Cascade.     

Quail Crest Condos

Quail Crest Condos

        

Quail Crest Condo Residential Report -Jan 1 to June 9, 2008

                   0 Sold, 0 Pending, 6 For Sale

Address                     Price            Status     Sq Ft     $/Sq Ft   DOM

2246 Hummingbird Ct    178,450     For Sale  1380      129.31   110 

2350 Bob White Ct          169,900     For Sale  1410     120.49     51

2252 Hummingbird Ct    189,000     For Sale  1294      146.05    100

5104 S Quail Crest Dr     198,000     For Sale   1200    165.00       60

4867 N Quail Crest Dr    299,900     For Sale   1555    192.86       129

2168 Teal Ct                  349,900     For Sale    1615   216.65      153

 

 

If you would like further information about Cascade Homes,

please contact your neighborhood specialist,

Terry@TerryWestbrook.com,

toll free at 1-888-240-1968 ext 1  Terry Westbrook.com

 

 

Terry Westbrook  – Five Star Real Estate 

 Copyright 2008  All rights reserved

Crystal Springs August 2008 Real Estate Market Report Caledonia-Kentwood MI

Crystal Springs Development in Caledonia, Michigan is a large, residential

suburban housing development that was started in the late 1980’s and

most construction was finished in the 1990’s although some newer homes

have been built since 2000. There are also a few vacant lots left to develop.

This development covers a large area around the Crystal Springs Golf Course

grounds south of 68th Street to 72nd Street and encompassing Kalamazoo

Avenue on the east and west.  This development has single family homes and

 condos, many located right on the Crystal Springs Golf Course. (See related

article on the acquisition of Crystal Springs Golf Club)

The public school system is Kentwood, even though the address is Caledonia.

Crystal Springs is close to the shopping plaza at 68th and Kalamazoo,

Kentwood High School, and a short hop to M-6, which is the south beltline

for the Greater Grand Rapids area connecting US 131 on the west and I96 on

 the east side of the city.

 

 

                              August 2008 Real Estate

                          Residential Market Report

                      28 For Sale, 4 Pending, 11 Sold

Address             Price       Sq Ft   $/Sq Ft  DOM

FOR SALE:

1481 Crystal Valley    299,900   2270   132.11    13

1588 Crystalline Dr    119,900   1620     74.01   117

6958 Fairway Vista     169,900   1504   112.96   124

7535 Barn Swallow Ct 169,900   1516   112.07     80

2078 Eaststone St     179,900   1924     93.50     46

1931 Hollow Creek    184,900    2000     92.45   132

6950 Kalamazoo       189,900   1765   107.59   111

7450 Missoula          197,440    2736    72.16     48

6892 Crystal View      199,900   1714   116.62     47

1634 Sweet Grass      199,900   2000     99.95   125

2026 Blackmountain   219,000  2112    103.69   171

1424 Silver Springs     219,900  2544     86.43     56

7041 Dale Hollow       224,900   2172    103.54  146

7211 Meadowgrass    229,900   2164    106.23   103

1563 Old Lantern Ct   234,900  2402      97.79   189

1460 Crystal Valley    239,000  2652       90.12    55

7320 Old Lantern       249,900  2016     123.95     7

1845 Hollow Creek     249,900  2000     124.95     62

7277 Misty Morning    259,900  2270     114.49   132

7272 Misty Morning    275,000  2386     115.25   121

7036 Crystal View       279,000  1683     165.77  111

7368 Old Lantern       279,900   2390    117.11  131

7394 Old Lantern       289,000   3100     93.22    10

7387 Old Lantern       289,900   2875   100.83     6

7451 Crystal View       299,900   2600   115.34  150

7096 Summit Hill       299,900   3022     99.23    94

7117 Crystal View       339,900  3414     99.56    98

7095 Crystal View       339,000  2555    132.68   56

7350 Old Lantern       349,900   3031   115.44    14

PENDING:

7222 Crystal Stone    155,900   1504   103.65     48

1361 68th St             237,500   1771  134.10    182

7429 Old Lantern Dr   324,900   3800    85.50     77

7350 Royal Ridge      379,876   3900     97.40    53

SOLD:

6950 Old Lantern Dr   145,100   2671     54.32     6

2086 Eaststone          145,500   1644     88.50    46

2116 Glen Canyon      153,000   1368    111.84   47

7377 Misty View Ct      161,000   1407    114.42  104

1776 Spring Meadow    165,900  1592    104.20  102

7193 Meadowgrass      166,500   1536   108.39    30

7079 Old Lantern Dr    175,000   2135     81.96     8

7561 Barn Swallow      178,000    1189    149.70   88

7458 Misty View  Ct     219,000   2112    103.69   36

7474 Old Lantern Dr    261,900   2500    104.76   40

7361 KingsCrossingCt  280,500   3220      87.11   71

1370 KingsCrossingDr  390,000   4954     78.72   105

 

490 homes have sold so far this year in the Kentwood

School District and the median price is $125,000.

 

If you would like additional information about Caledonia

or Kentwood Homes, please contact me at:

TerryWestbrook.com

Sneak Peak at Villas of Cascade Condos Cascade MI

Sneak Peak at Villas of Cascade Condos Cascade MI

by Bonnie and Terry Westbrook

We went on a fact finding mission the other day to investigate the new sign

we had been driving by on Cascade Road, just south of Burton Street in

Cascade, Michigan.   The sign was advertising The Villas of Cascade Condos.

Villas of Cascade Condos

Villas of Cascade Condos

The new condo development was originally a group of 4 three story buildings

with rental units.  As the units empty, the current developer will tear each unit

down to the studs and redo each to be a 2 bedroom condo unit.

The potential buyer has the option to pick colors, flooring, and other options.

We took photos on our tour and spoke with the Project Manager, Duke Gray,

who was  hosting an open house.  They have done a very nice job of rehabbing

the model condo unit, as you can see by the pictures that are shown below.

Living Room

Living Room

 

Kitchen

Kitchen

 

Dining Area

Dining Area

 

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom

 

Office-Bedroom

Office-Bedroom

Each unit includes all appliances, including a LG all-in-one Washer & Dryer,

new furnace & air conditioning, standard window treatments, and covered parking.

LG Washer-Dryer combo

LG Washer-Dryer combo

The grounds and the driveway will be redone by September 2008

for the Grand Opening. Mezzanine and Terrace Level

will include new 8 x 12 decks.

New Deck

New Deck

Prices are very reasonable for the Cascade area:

Garden Level – $ 109,900  (Below Grade)

Mezzanine Level – $ 119,900 (Ground Level)

Terrace Level – $129,900 (Upper Level)

 

SEARCH FOR FOREST HILLS HOMES

  If you have any questions about Cascade Michigan Homes,

please contact me directly @ TerryWestbrook.com  or 616-292-7263

 

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved

Yes, Mr 2008 Seller, I would like your house SOLD!

Mr/Ms 2008 Seller, I would like to have a

heart-to-heart talk about selling your home.

 I know you think real estate sales people are just out for a quick buck.

We want to put a bargain price on your home so it sells quickly which means

 we get our commission check. Cha-ching!

 

This might be the scenario in some cases. Heck, there are bad apples in any

 profession. I have been selling and listing homes for over 35 years and I have

 seen a lot of sold homes and a lot of real estate professionals working in this

 field.  Most of them are nice people who make their living by listing homes

and trying to find homes for people to buy. We offer a service. It might not be

 for everyone – not much is. We have a unique perspective. We work with lots

 of people to sell their home and buyers buying homes.

We know your home is special to you – you live there!

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home

We are here to give you the market conditions for TODAY, whether either

of us likes it or not.  We don’t decide the market conditions – wish we could. 

 We would be happy to have houses selling for close to what they are worth

and in 30-60 days.  We would take that market any day. 

 BUT THAT ISN’T THE CASE TODAY!!

Seriously, I WOULD LIKE YOUR HOUSE TO SELL BUT  I NEED YOUR HELP! 

You need to listen to what I am telling you about the market in your area

and what homes are selling for. The home buyers today are able to get

more information than ever before. They know what the house down the

 block sold for, they know that  a foreclosure home sold in your area for

 much less than the true value, and if you are desperate to sell, they can

take advantage of you.  The average buyer would like nothing better than

 for you to be in a desperate financial situation so they can get your home

at a bargain price. 

 The bottom line is: If you price your home correctly

AND have it in very good condition, it will sell. 

 

Terry Westbrook  – Five Star Real Estate – Copyright 2008  All rights reserved

Photo of Victorian Home Front Door Entrance by Bonnie Westbrook