Grand Rapids Real Estate Video Blog with Mark Brace

What To Expect from the Grand Rapids Market in 2016

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Call me at (616) 447-7025 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation.

It's crazy to think that 2015 is almost over, but we have to start looking ahead to 2016. What can we expect from the real estate market? Will it be a better market for buyers or sellers?

According to Trulia's research department, the Grand Rapids real estate market will be the #1 market to keep an eye on in 2016. Why is this? There were five metrics that contributed to this. They were: strong job growth, low vacancy rates, high affordability, more inbound searches than outbound searches, and a large share of millennials.

Grand Rapids is very affordable, and we have seen a lot of job growth, so that's why 2016 could be a very exciting year for Grand Rapids real estate.

If you've been thinking about buying a home, I would recommend that you start the process soon. Interest rates aren't going to get any lower, and there's no reason to spend more money than you need to just because you didn't act soon enough.

Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. I look forward to speaking with you!

The Benefits of Listing This Winter

Generally, there’s a decrease in competition during the colder months. Not-so-serious sellers remove their home from the market as the holidays approach.

Comparatively, buyers during this time of year are extremely serious and motivated! In Michigan, snow creates an obstacle. However, there are buyers experiencing life changes, such as job transfers and placements, that require them to move quickly.

The bottom line: it’s a great time to sell. If you have any questions, please reach out!

Is Grand Rapids Approaching Another Housing Bubble?

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search
Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation
Call me at (616) 447-7025 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation

Today, I just wanted to let you know that according to the National Association of Realtors, there is no housing bubble in sight.

It may seem like prices are inflated, but according to Realtor magazine, home prices and home sales are not nearly what they were ten years ago. Mortgage amounts are going down as well, so borrowers are much more conservative.

Additionally, mortgage lending is very tight compared to what it was ten years ago when everyone could get a mortgage, so the financial market is in a much different place than it was during the previous housing crisis.

To read the full article, check out this link: http://realtormag.realtor.org/news-and-commentary/economy/article/2015/07/no-housing-bubble-in-sight.

If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to help you!

Where Are Grand Rapids Home Values Heading?

It's time for yet another Grand Rapids market update! Today, I want to share the latest trends in our area and what they mean for you.

Recently we've seen some of the buyer anxiety tail off in the last couple months, as some buyers left the area for vacation or stopped looking, which resulted in a more open market. However, some market segments are very hot right now; in fact, I recently had a listing that received 12 offers.

Despite certain trends in favor of buyers, we're still in a seller's market. If you've been thinking about selling, once you prepare your home for the market, you shouldn't have trouble selling quickly and for top dollar.

If you have questions about the current market or where it's heading, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I would love to help you in any way possible!

Who Should You Trust When Seeking a Loan in Grand Rapids?

There are many myths surrounding the lending industry, so today we thought we would do something to combat a prevalent one: the myth that all lenders are the same!

There is a huge difference between working with a large national bank and a local bank. Typically, when working with a local or regional bank, you will have more direct contact with the underwriters, who are more familiar with the local paperwork: purchase agreements, addendums, contracts, etc. They simply know the process a little bit better!

All banks do not have the same rates and fees. I've seen banks vary by as much as half a percent in interest rates on the same day! We suggest shopping around and contacting a few local banks. The process will generally go a lot smoother once you've explored all your options and found someone you're comfortable with!

If you have any questions about the benefits of working with a local lender, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to help you make the most of your real estate venture!

Is Now the Time to Get Top Dollar for Your Grand Rapids Home?

Although summer hasn't officially hit Grand Rapids, the market is already pretty hot! Inventory is incredibly low, and the buyers are out in full. In fact, in some areas, we have less than a month's worth of available inventory! This is causing prices to rise, which has greatly benefited the few sellers in the market right now!

If you have considered selling your home, now is the time to list! Your home may be worth a whole lot more than you think, as there is a high demand for great homes in this market! If you are curious about the value of your home, or if you would like to discuss your options, give me a call or shoot me a quick email. We would love to help you make the most of this fantastic market!

How to Increase Your Curb Appeal

A lot of people here in Grand Rapids have been asking me how they can boost their curb appeal. We've moved from winter to spring, so now is the time to start thinking about this before you list your home for sale.

Replace your exterior lights to give your home an extra glow. Buyers love well-lit homes.
If your front door is a bit old, now would probably be a good time to replace it with a new one. This tends to set a good first impression with a buyer.
Also remember to declutter.

What I mean by this is that you need to rid your home of unnecessary distractions like collections, awards, trophies, artwork, or anything else that will distract the buyer inside of your home. Your home should look like it came out of a magazine.
A good rule I use is that roughly 50% of the things on your shelves should be taken down and stored elsewhere for a good decluttering. You want your home as clean and neat as possible.

Kitchens and bathrooms are key. Potential buyers like to see updated kitchens and bathrooms. Usually kitchens are major selling points, so be sure to highlight all of the positive aspects of your kitchen. Remodeling doesn't always add value to your home, but usually repairs to kitchens and bathrooms pay off in the long run. It doesn't mean you need to spend $10,000, but you'll want it to look good.

Hopefully these tips can aid you when you list your home for sale this spring. If you need any extra help, please contact us and we can refer you to a good home stager.

As always, if you have any questions about the real estate market in Grand Rapids, please be sure to contact my team. We're always happy to help you!

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#1 Real Estate Team in Grand Rapids (Source RealTrends)

Formerly a Prudential Preferred Realtor, Grand Rapids Real Estate by Mark Brace is now with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan Real Estate, buying and selling homes, condos, and properties. Search all homes for sale with all real estate companies here on this website. Offering unparalleled service with proven results for over 11 years, Mark has been in the Top 1% of Grand Rapids Realtors since 2011, and in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016 was in the Top 100 Prudential/Berkshire Hathaway Realtors Worldwide (PREA 100) out of 43000+ Prudential/Berkshire Hathaway Agents. In the last two years alone, we have sold over 100 million dollars in real estate.

Whether you're looking for homes, condos, or property in West Michigan or the Grand Rapids metro area, Mark Brace can help you with your real estate needs. A Realtytrac foreclosure specialist, that's very knowledgeable and experienced in foreclosure purchases. Search homes for sale on Grand Rapids Association of Realtors MLS. Mark works with all Grand Rapids condos, homes, foreclosures, new homes, builders, and is a Grand Rapids relocation certified Realtor. If you are moving to the Grand Rapids area you can tell your relocation company counselor or representative "I want to work with Mark Brace at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices" and they can make it happen.

Mark Brace
Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices
3000 East Beltline NE
Grand Rapids MI 49525
(616) 447-7025
markb@grar.com

What our happy Grand Rapids clients have to say

"Mark Brace real estate is top notch. They are West Michigan's premier real estate team, and frankly I would venture to say they are Michigan's premier real estate team. They simply don't get any better than these guys. You will not find a more committed team of professionals who go out of their way to take absolute care of their clients. No stone un-turned, no hill they won't climb for their clients. They are my go-to real estate team."

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"Mark was fantastic throughout the sale of our home. We received an acceptable offer within three days of listing! There were a couple times where issues popped up that could have decreased our bottom line, but Mark was an awesome negotiator and held the deal steady through the whole process. We've already referred him and look forward to working with him again in the future!"

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