Monthly Archives: August 2009

Cascade Township Michigan ~ Real Estate Market Report ~ June 2009

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Grand Rapids Market Report Cascade  Township   June 2009

Cascade Township is located southeast of the city of Grand Rapids and has

enjoyed rising home prices for several years.  The recent readjustment to

the market has hit this area just like all the other areas of Grand Rapids.

But sales are still happening and only truly distressed homes are going for

bargain prices this summer.  If your home is up to date and in good condition,

the market for Cascade Township Homes remains strong.  Cascade Township

is mainly in Forest Hills Public School System, though

Caledonia Public Schools  and Lowell Public Schools are also in the

township.

Units Sold

Cascade Units sold July 2009

Sales Price Graph (Includes Sold Homes Only) Quick Sheet for June 2009

Cascade Units Sold July 2009

Active Listings in Cascade as of July 1, 2009 (Not all homes may be shown

due to map scale)

cascade homes for sale July 2009

Median Sold Price – $ 236,250

Average Days on Market – 75

Percent Sold/List – 94.72%

Current Inventory – 271

Months Inventory – 10

Average Price/SqFt – $ 93.61

Most Cascade Township homes in June 2009 are selling for close

to the list prices, as you can see by the stats, with a 94.72% sold

to list price ratio.  This is good news for Cascade Township sellers.

 

If you would like to view  a for sale Cascade Township Home,

please call me or email me directly.

Westbrook Realty  Grand Rapids Real Estate

Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Road Trip to Berea Kentucky – Home of Arts & Crafts USA

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When relatives live a long distance away, you get to know the places

to stop on the road.  The places that have the best meals, the best inns,

the places that have interesting shops and events.

On our long trips (12 hours of driving) to North Carolina from Michigan

to visit relatives, we have discovered Berea Kentucky. 

 Berea College has been in existence since 1855.  It is still the hub

of Berea activities and the base for its Artistic Roots.

Berea College offfers its students Bachelor of Science and Arts Degrees.

Berea College exists for the young people of Appalachia, so they can get

an education and make a living.  The hills of Kentucky don’t

have a lot of heavy industry, manufacturing plants, or flat farm country.

So instead of losing their young people to big cities for employment,

they are giving them an education.  Native Kentucky crafts, such as

hand made brooms and baskets are also marketed through the college

work programs.  In fact, HAND MADE is the theme in Berea.  There are

giant decorated Hands all over the area.

 

We stayed overnight at Berea, and had breakfast at the Boone Tavern Inn.

They just completed a $ 1+ million renovation of the hotel and restaurant.

It is a historic building (part of Berea College) and the renovation is

spectacular.  We took a long morning to look around the galleries & shops.

We visited  Berea College’s Log Craft House where they sell student’s

and artist’s hand made crafts from pottery to jewelry to furniture.  Then

we went out to the Kentucky Artisan Center  near I 75, exit 77. This is a

huge building with gigantic galleries of  sculptures, blown glassware,

paintings, jewelry, carvings, and numerous other craft items for sale.

A collection that takes  some time to look over. 

They also have a wonderful cafe and grill that serves great food

(actual food – not fast food) and clean, modern restrooms.

This building is a wonderful place to stop if you are traveling through on

Interstate 75, just as a rest stop. We like to stop and walk around to

get the kinks out after travelling for many hours. But I doubt you can

resist buying something here!  The selection and quality is overwhelming.

We hope you enjoy this montage of photos we took while we were

visiting friendly Berea Kentucky.

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMDv4cLB7D4&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6]

 

Grand Rapids MI Real Estate  – Westbrook Realty

Copyright 2009  All rights reserved

video montage & photos  by Bonnie Westbrook

Local Kentwood Golfer Plays at 2009 Buick Open

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We all love a success story.  This one is about a local Kentwood

graduate, Matthew Harmon, who was Michigan’s Mr Golf 2002-3,

went on to play golf for Michigan State University

and is now on the Nationwide and NGA Hooters Golf Tours trying

to make  it to the PGA Tour.  He got a big break this week.

  Let us tell you his story:

He was 2 under par playing his final qualifying round for the Buick

Open when his caddy (and brother-in-law) Nick, stepped into a

bunker and then raked his tracks.  Matt was in the other end of

the bunker hitting out and didn’t see what Nick did until it was

too late.  He thought it was a 2 stroke penalty.  He consulted the

officials. They didn’t know for sure either, but to be on the safe side,

assessed  the 2 stroke penalty, which put Matt at 4 under and

1 stroke over qualifying for the final  Buick Open.

 

Oh, well, another day of golf, and on to Houston, Texas  to play in

another tournament.  He was at the Minneapolis airport when he

got the call from the officials at the Buick Open.  They had received

a play cancellation and because of the penalty Matt assessed himself

(which is still in contention), they offered him a spot in the Open. 

Now all he had to do was get back to Grand Blanc and get his

clubs and equipment there – which were on their way to Houston

by this time.  He got a ticket back to Grand Rapids and drove to

Grand Blanc, and his clubs and gear arrived in time, somehow. 

 

He is performing like a champion at this tournament.  He was 4 under

yesterday and had the daily record for the longest drives.  He is 2 under

today, tied for 18th place.  This could be his very first major tournament

to place in the money.  Our local TV channel had an interview that aired

on the 11:00 pm newscast last night.  We are watching closely, this

could be his big break into the PGA events.

A few pictures I took yesterday of Matt and that other guy,  Tiger Woods

playing at Warwick Hills, The final Buick Open.

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnGaCBLoiEc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0]

 

 

Did I mention I used to play with Matt and his Dad when he first started

to play golf?  He must have been 10-11 years old.  He could hit the ball

a long way even back then.  I never dreamed he would one day play on

the PGA Tour and I would be in the crowd cheering him on!

 

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids Real Estate

Copyright 2009 All rights reserved

Photos by Terry Westbrook

Top Best Buy Homes ~ July 2009 Grand Rapids Township Michigan

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We have gathered a list of the top Grand Rapids Township Houses

to buy based on price per square foot.  An added bonus, these

Grand Rapids Township Homes are in East Grand Rapids or

Forest Hills Public School system.  If you are new to the Grand Rapids

area, Grand Rapids Township taxes are lower than East Grand Rapids,

Grand Rapids, or Ada Township.

**Please note that this list can change daily as some homes sell,

some homes go through a lengthy approval process, prices are

adjusted and other homes come on the market.  Check

back often or just subscribe to our blog to get up-to-date local

real  estate information that you want to know.

Meijer Gardens Entrance Grand Rapids Township MI

The total square footage is noted here, although only the

main floors are used to figure price per square foot.

Grand Rapids Township:

Lowest price per Sq Ft    $80.47

Highest price per Sq Ft   $157.75

July 2009  BEST BUY GR Township Homes

Highest list price is $ 142,900

Lowest list price is  $109,900

Top Best Buy GR Township Homes by Price per Square Foot:

2222 Valentine Blvd    $ 139,900     1265 SqFt     $110.59/SqFt

222 Elmer St               $109,900     1600 SqFt    $112.03/SqFt

68 Elmhurst Dr            $109,900    1322 SqFt    $109.90/SqFt

2847 Winesap Ave      $142,900    1557 Sq Ft   $137.14/SqFt

1874 Leffingwell          $119,900    1650 SqFt    $80.47/SqFt

 

3612 Nottingham        $129,900     1040 SqFt    $124.90/SqFt

943 Patterson Ave       $129,900    1480 SqFt   $110.55/SqFt

1148 Forest Hill Ave    $135,000    1187 SqFt    $113.73/SqFt

1150 Farnsworth         $139,450    1600 SqFt    $157.75/SqFt

1127 Eastmont Dr       $139,900    1152 Sq Ft    $120.66/SqFt

 

1039 Eastmont Dr        $139,900    1848 SqFt    $133.49/SqFt

111 Greenbriar Dr       $139,900     2810 Sq Ft   $86.89/SqFt

3444 Merlin Ct NE       $139,900     1576 Sq Ft   $88.77/SqFt

 

In this area of Grand Rapids, as well as others, there are fewer

really great home bargains left on the market. If you have been

waiting for prices to start climbing and inventory to shrink, the

time appears to be here.  List price and price per square foot are

both higher for all homes this month.

 

*Some of these homes may be bank owned foreclosures and

not habitable as is or available for a mortgage in present condition.*

 

If you have questions about Grand Rapids Township or Grand

Rapids homes, please contact me directly:

1-888-240-1968 ext 0

email: terry@terrywestbrook.com

Grand Rapids -Ada Real Estate – Westbrook Realty

Copyright 2009  All rights reserved

Photo of Frederick Meijer Gardens Entrance by Bonnie Westbrook

More Than Tacos at Taquitos Mexican Grill ~ Grand Rapids Michigan

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We were referred to this new restaurant downtown Grand Rapids

by our  friends, John & Betsy, who live in Heritage Hill.  They met us

for lunch at Taquitos a couple of times.

Taquitos is located at Division Ave in the old Herkimer Hotel at

the corner of Division and Cherry streets.  We really liked the way

the building was remodeled, it still has the ambiance of an old bar

and restaurant that existed there years ago but with current flair

and lots of light.  No dark and dingy digs here.  We also liked the

food and the service.  We want to encourage the redevelopment

going on in this Heartside District of Grand Rapids. 

A few years ago, this area was populated mainly by homeless

people and shelters.

Taquitos is located in the bottom of the old Herkimer Hotel Building

at the corner of Division  and Goodrich.  The Heartside District is

growing into a local "arts community" and we  welcome new

businesses like Taquitos.

Now that you have some background, we can get down to

the good stuff……the food.  Authentic Mexican fare at Taquitos,

a clean, friendly restaurant with great food.  We love Mexican food,

the more authentic, the better. Mole is on the menu, which is

seldom seen outside of Mexico.  Since it was a hot day, we went

for a chicken burrito and the chicken salad. The chicken salad had

a light lime vinagrette and was delicious, according to Bonnie.  The

chicken burrito was good also, lots of chicken and it was available

with sauce or without.  They serve hot tortilla chips and a mild salsa

for an appetizer.  Our waitress was smiling and happy to wait on us.

Here are a few pictures of Taquitos.    We will be back for sure!

Taquitos Mexican Grill 327 Division Ave S Grand Rapids, MI 49503-

(616) 336-9300

Taquitos restaurant Grand Rapids MI

Taquitos restaurant Grand Rapids MI

Taquitos restaurant Grand Rapids MI

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids Michigan

Copyright 2009 All rights reserved

Photos by Terry Westbrook

No credit or remuneration was received to give this recommendation of Taquitos Mexican Grill