News & Resources

Mortgage Rates Reach Record Lows!

If you’re sitting on the fence about trading up, consider this: rates have dropped to record lows this month. That gives you more purchase power — and ratio room — than ever before. Check out this story from Realtor.com:

Mortgage rates dropped sharply the first week in August, possibly improving the purchasing power of many home buyers. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, the most popular choice among buyers, averaged 4.39 percent, its lowest average for 2011, Freddie Mac reported in its weekly mortgage market survey. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage and the 5-year adjustable rate-mortgage also both reached new historical record lows.

Rates mostly dropped across the board amid signs of a weakening economy, Freddie Mac says. (more…)

Posted in Grand Rapids Real Estate News

G-Wrap sandwich from Bobarino’s wins Grandwich competition

Hats off to our pals at Bobarino’s, a Gilmore Collection Restaurant, for winning the local Grandwich competition! If you’d like to try out the tasty naan-pulled-pork-andouille sausage concoction on Cheryl Grant’s tab, just refer a friend — someone either relocating to Grand Rapids, or looking to sell or buy a new home – to us and you’ll receive a $25 gift certificate for a night out at a Gilmore Collection restaurant. We’re delighted they’ve won! Read more online at Mlive.com. Here’s a “taste” of the story:

By Troy Reimink, The Grand Rapids Press

The votes and contented belches are in, and the winner of the Grandwich sandwich competition is the G-Wrap, a recipe from Bobarino’s in the B.OB.More than 40 local restaurants answered a call to devise new sandwiches and compete for the Grandwich title, and after a tasting event Saturday afternoon at Rosa Parks Circle, top honors went to the G-Wrap, a wrap sandwich on naan bread consisting of pulled pork, andouille sausage and spicy pickle slaw. B.O.B. executive chef Jared Miller said the sandwich will be a permanent addition to the menu at Bobarino’s. (more…)

Posted in Community News

Grand Rapids ranks No. 2 on RelocateAmerica’s list of top U.S. cities

At CherylGrant.com, we’re pleased — and unsurprised — that our fair city has been recognized as No. 2 on RelocateAmerica’s list of top U.S. cities. As a relocation specialist, I’ve helped people relocating here find their dreamhomes. Many are moving to Grand Rapids for positions at Van Andel Institute, Spectrum Health, Churches and Manufacturing. All have been impressed with the selection of homes and prices available. They too are impressed with the education options including public and private. The other comment I often hear is how many “really cool” things are happening in the city, not only downtown, but in other neighborhoods such as Eastown and Midtown. I can easily see why Grand Rapids ranked so high in this survey.

The following are excerpts from Troy Reimink’s blog for The Grand Rapids Press at MLive.com. Please follow this link to read the full story.

Today in lists: Grand Rapids comes in at No. 2 on RelocateAmerica’s ranking of the nation’s top 10 places to live.

The Brighton-based company assembled a list of America’s top 100 cities — based on “local housing markets and economies, cultural and recreational opportunities, and safety, plus … feedback from city leaders and residents” — then asked residents to submit content that would convince the judges their hometown was a great place to live.

The top 10, announced today, are as follows: 1. Austin, Tex.; 2. Grand Rapids; 3. Boulder, Colo.; 4. Raleigh, N.C.; 5. Dallas, Tex.; 6. Greenville, S.C.; 7. Augusta, Ga.; 8. Boise, Idaho; 9. Omaha, Neb.; 10. Oklahoma City, Okla.

From the site’s write-up:

It feels especially good to name Grand Rapids, Michigan a top 10 place to live, especially after it was named one of “America’s Dying Cities” by Newsweek in January. What really caught our attention about this city, though, is its response. It didn’t get mad. It made a video. And, not just any video. A video with 5,000 residents (that’s not a typo), lip synching to Don McClean‘s “American Pie” while touring every aspect of the city. Now, that’s what we call true community spirit– and that’s what being a top 10 city is all about. (Editorial note: Newsweek claims the article was not done by them but was posted to its website as part of a content-sharing deal.) (more…)

Posted in Community News, Grand Rapids Real Estate News, More Relocation Resources

JD Power: RE/MAX Highest in Customer Satisfaction

In the 2011 J.D. Power and Associates Home Buyer/Seller Study released today, buyers and sellers award RE/MAX the highest rankings in customer satisfaction.

It’s clear: RE/MAX Associates like Cheryl Grant are the ones consumers trust most to guide them through one of the most challenging real estate markets ever seen in the U.S.

“I want to personally thank and congratulate every one of you for contributing to this prestigious recognition,” says RE/MAX Chairman and Co-Founder Dave Liniger. “It truly reflects your professional excellence, your enthusiasm for education, your commitment to distressed sellers, your individual drive, and many other qualities that serve the interests of your clients. Your efforts change lives, and those people have spoken.”

Homebuyers ranked RE/MAX on a 1,000-point scale with a score of 805 and home sellers put RE/MAX on top with 791, leading all other real estate franchises in the survey. Consumers rated RE/MAX in the following categories:

Overall satisfaction
Agent/Salesperson professionalism
Variety of additional services
Real estate office
Real estate company marketing (seller survey only)

The 2011 Home Buyer/Seller Study includes more than 4,200 evaluations from more than 3,680 respondents who bought or sold a home between March 2010 and April 2011. The study was fielded between March and May 2011. (more…)

Posted in For Home Buyers, For Home Sellers, Grand Rapids Real Estate News, News & Resources

Cheryl Grant is On The Move!

Top-producing Grand Rapids realtor Cheryl Grant is going ‘global’ by joining the RE/MAX SunQuest Group. Grant, who specializes in relocations to and from Grand Rapids, MI, is delighted to be joining a company with international broker partners and robust technical resources to expand her reach. Grant is a major Grand Rapids community booster, a carryover from her former career as News Director, Producer and Anchor of the Grand Rapids ABC affiliate news program.

(more…)

Posted in News & Resources

HOT NEW LISTINGS!

Here’s a quick roundup of some of our new listings that are about to appear on MLS.

Talk to us if you’d like a special preview!

39 Prospect SE: Adorable 3-4 bedroom, 2.5 bath 1950′s home in Historic Heritage Hill. $164,000. (just doing some countertops and backsplash before hitting market) 1-stall shared garage.

Peck Building #306: 2 bedroom, 1 bath. $150,000. Just doing some final touches there with paint and lights. (priced well below the other 3 or 4 there.)

131 Burr Oak: Adorable 4 bedroom, 1.5 bath home on great NE block. 2 stall garage. $108,000.

1471 3 Mile Rd NE: Nearly 2 acres. Brick 1.5 story. Newer kitchen and baths. Newer windows. $249,000.

Posted in Current Listings, News & Resources

It’s Up Up and Away for the Wittiest Wag We Know!

One of the things we love about our clients and associates is that they’re pretty witty and fun. To kick off our move to RE/MAX Sun Quest, we’re asking our supporters to send us creative well-wishes. WE WILL POST OUR FAVORITES! LipDubs welcome! It can be a Facebook post, an emailed graphic photo or composition, and audio file or a video. Simply send us an email with a link or copy (small files only please) and grant us permission to use your masterpiece on our blog and Facebook wall, and you will be entered to win a TRIP FOR TWO in a RE/MAX hot air balloon!

(more…)

Posted in News & Resources

Check Out this MLive Article About Realistic Seller Expectations

A recent article in the Grand Rapids Press highlights the challenges of selling a home in the present market, just in time for the start of the spring real estate season. On the plus side, the story reports that inventory remains at 2005 levels, meaning sellers are in better shape than they would be if the market were flooded with homes for sale. On the other hand, the phenomenon of pent-up foreclosures that were stalled in coming to market after the recent freeze on foreclosures will have an impact once those foreclosures hit the market. Cheryl Grant advises serious sellers to list their properties while inventory is low, but to keep their eyes wide open in terms of expectations. A good place to start is to read the story “Realtors want West Michigan Home Sellers to Be Realistic, Especially About Price.” The story opens by comparing the process to the five stages of grief:

“Trying to sell a house in today’s market is a lot like going through the five stages of grief.Most people start with denial by pricing their home too high. They become angry when their home lingers and their real estate agent says they need to lower the asking price. They bargain with their agent, trying to convince them of the home’s worth. They fall into a depression as they realize their home will never sell for that price. Finally, they move on to acceptance. They lower the price and sink in a few more dollars to get an edge over the competition. And the home eventually sells.”

Read the rest of the story at Mlive.com

Contact us for an analysis of whether it’s the right time to make a move.

Posted in For Home Sellers, Grand Rapids Foreclosures, Grand Rapids Real Estate News, News & Resources

Check out the Cost Vs. Value Report for Grand Rapids, MI

It’s spring, and home improvement’s in the air. But before you remodel that kitchen, bath or great room, check out this Cost Vs. Value Report for Grand Rapids. This detailed report is generated by Remodeling magazine’s Cost Vs. Value interactive national data collection and management system. The report estimates the cost of a wide range of remodeling projects and scopes and shows the resale value and cost recouped locally, regionally and nationally. Now homeowners can be informed about the likelihood of a project garnering a strong return on investment. To visit the interactive Cost Vs. Value Report follow this link for the full-featured experience, including a Google Sketch-up feature and project quicktime movies. Search the East North Central Category and click on Grand Rapids. You will be able to create a downloadable PDF.

Posted in For Home Buyers, For Home Sellers, Grand Rapids Real Estate News, News & Resources

“Ten” Reasons to Choose Cheryl Grant to Sell Your Home

If you’re looking for a real estate agent who is an expert at marketing homes in a challenging climate, you’ve come to the right place. Cheryl Grant consistently ranks as one of RE/MAX’s top Realtors. In 2010, Cheryl sold 50 homes for her clients. Here’s a sample of 10 homes she sold last year. To discuss marketing your home, Contact Us today! (Follow the link to see homes and selling prices) (more…)

Posted in For Home Sellers, News & Resources

Cheryl Grant

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives