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Month: November 2020

10 Things to Know About Moving to Grand Rapids, MI.

Posted on by Hometown Development

If you’re moving to Grand Rapids, MI you may be new to West Michigan or the state, and not know what makes this place so special. Here are 10 things you should know when you’re moving to Grand Rapids, MI:

#1 Grand Rapids Offers Four Beautiful and Distinct Seasons

Grand Rapids, located in West Michigan, offers a pleasant climate with unique weather patterns. Lake Michigan, just 85 miles to the west, influences the temperature and precipitation of the region. It generates lake-effect rain and snow which converts Grand Rapids into a winter wonderland during part of the year, and tempers a warm and pleasant summer.

West Michigan is known for outdoor activities you can enjoy in each of its seasons, from gardening and golfing in the spring, to festivals and beach days on Lake Michigan, to fall hiking and apple-picking, to winter sports like sledding, skiing, and snowboarding.

#2 Grand Rapids is Walkable and Bike-Friendly

Downtown Grand Rapids has so much to offer. Great restaurants, bars, and shops are all within ten minutes’ walking distance. Many Grand Rapids residents commute by bicycle, as the city is designed to handle pedestrian and bicycle traffic safely. There are bike trails all around Grand Rapids that go along the Grand River, out to large parks, and even eventually reach the shore of Lake Michigan.

#3 Grand Rapids Has a Convenient Location

If you’re moving to Grand Rapids, MI you may have chosen this spot for its location. Living in Grand Rapids, everything that’s great about Michigan within reach. The city is full of amenities and things to do, but if you need to get out of town, there are many attractions a short drive away. The beautiful Lake Michigan is less than an hour drive away, making it easy to pack a picnic and head to the lakeshore any day to catch the sunset.

Grand Rapids is also an easy commute to the camping and outdoor recreation opportunities of Northern Michigan. It’s also a reasonable distance from the large cities of Detroit and Chicago. If you need to travel further, Grand Rapids has its own airport which is serviced by major airlines, both national and international.

#4 Grand Rapids Has a Lively Art Scene

Grand Rapids is a cultural hotspot in West Michigan, known for its galleries, art education and museums, theater and performance art, live music and concert venues. Van Andel Arena regularly hosts big names, such as Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga, and Kenny Chesney. Many other smaller venues around town feature touring artists and music groups. 

ArtPrize is an annual event in Grand Rapids that draws participants and spectators from all over Michigan and the Midwest. Participating artists create installations around Grand Rapids in late September and visitors vote for their favorites. $500,000 is awarded in prizes based on popular-vote winners in many categories.

#5 Grand Rapids Offers Many Employment Opportunities 

If you’re moving to Grand Rapids, MI in search of employment, you’ll find plenty of opportunities in this fast-growing metropolis. From working in the healthcare field, to technology and manufacturing, to jobs in the service industry, Grand Rapids has a lot to offer. The city is growing fast, so new employment opportunities are appearing all the time.

#6 Grand Rapids is Known for Great Health Care

Grand Rapids, MI is home to state-of-the-art hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. Many travel to Grand Rapids to seek out the best care at DeVos Children’s Hospital, recover at Mary Free Bed, study at MSU College of Human Medicine, or work in the Spectrum Health system.

#7 Grand Rapids is Surrounded by Beautiful Parks and Gardens

There are 1,200 acres of city-owned parks in Grand Rapids, MI. With endless opportunities to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and open spaces of the city’s parks and trails, it’s easy to stay active and healthy. Riverside Park, located north of downtown Grand Rapids, is a beautiful spot to take a walk by the river. There are also kayak and paddleboard rentals you can use on the river. 

Millennium Park has its own beach for kids to play, and also activity fields, and plenty of walking/biking trails that connect it to downtown. There are also great hiking trails at Aman Park and the Blanford Nature Center just west of town.

Meijer Gardens, located on the east side of Grand Rapids, is a beautiful 158-acre botanical garden that also contains a sculpture park, butterfly room, and amphitheater that features a regular calendar of live music during the summer. The manicured gardens with a huge variety of plants, flowers, and art, is a popular spot for weddings, family outings, and school field trips. 

#8 Grand Rapids is Known as Beer City, USA

If you’re moving to Grand Rapids, MI, you may be surprised to learn that it’s home to over 60 breweries, which earned it the title Beer City, USA. A few of the most popular spots in town are Atwater Brewery, Founders Brewing Company, and Brewery Vivant.

These establishments also craft their food menus with care to pair perfectly with unique brews for a great-tasting experience.

#9 Grand Rapids Has Excellent Shopping Opportunities

If you’re moving to Grand Rapids, MI, and need to shop for home furnishings, clothes, sporting goods, pet supplies, or anything else, you’ll find a huge variety of options around town. Downtown Grand Rapids will have a variety of boutiques and high-end stores. If you’re looking for great antique stores, explore the Eastown and Heritage Hill neighborhoods. Tanger Outlets is a short drive away and features expensive brand names for discounted prices. For everything else, visit the Woodland Mall, box stores, and car dealerships along the popular 28th Street.

#10 Grand Rapids Consists of Many Unique Neighborhoods

Outside of downtown, the neighborhoods of Grand Rapids create a sprawling, small-town feel. Each neighborhood has its own flavor, unique shops, restaurants, coffee houses, and parks. You’ll see people out and about walking with their kids and pets. If you’re moving to Grand Rapids, MI, there’s a neighborhood that’s perfect for your family. Whether it’s the historic Heritage Hill area, the more affluent East Grand Rapids, or the unique and hip Eastown, your family is sure to feel right at home in one of the many popular Grand Rapids neighborhoods.

Moving to Grand Rapids, MI? Hometown Development is always working to restore and renovate some beautiful houses in some of the most popular neighborhoods. Let us know what you’re interested in, and we can help you find the perfect home for you and your family.

How to Handle Selling A House and Buying In Another State

Posted on by Hometown Development

If you’re relocating to a different state, whether for work, family, or just a new start, you probably want to sell your home for at least two reasons:

 

  • To cover the costs of relocating, including buying another home and getting your life started somewhere new.
  • To avoid the costs and hassle of maintaining the old property, including property taxes and upkeep

The process of selling a house and buying another in a different state doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does depend on how you want the relocation to work. There are a few things you should know to handle the sale successfully.

What to Do When Selling a House and Buying Another in a Different State

Ideally, you would sell the old home the day you move and simply move into a new location, but it’s rarely that easy. Most likely, you’ll be faced with two realities: sell your home after you relocate, or sell it before.

Selling Your Home After Relocating

One option is to have a new home lined up, so when you sell the old home you can simply move and then sell the other one later. In this case, you would wait to sell the old home, and you risk having two homes at once, which could strain your finances in an already stressful time of change. Also, once you’ve begun your new life in a new state, you likely can’t or won’t want to commute back and forth to prepare the other home for sale, arrange showings, or negotiate offers for the old home.

Sell Your Home Before You Move

Another option is to sell the first home before you move, whether you’ve found your next home or not, and rent an apartment in your new location. This gives you time to learn the area you’re moving to, and you’ll have your finances in order when you find the right home for your next chapter. In either case, once you’re ready to sell your old home, you’ll likely want to take care of the sale quickly. You don’t want to wait months for your home to linger on the market, especially while it’s costing you money and patience to maintain.

How to Sell Quickly When Relocating

If you’re selling a house and buying another in a different state, you don’t have time to wait months to find a buyer for your old home and wait for a sale to go through — you want to sell your home ASAP. However, if the home needs fixing up or preparation before it’s ready to be listed on the market, you may not be able to do this before you need to move. Rather, you may find yourself commuting back and forth to fix up the old home before you can list it for sale. To avoid this, you can skip the preparations, repairs, and updates and sell your home as-is.

Selling Your Home As-Is

When selling your home as-is, you look for a buyer who will purchase the home in its current condition. There are a couple of ways you can successfully do this so that your home sells quickly: Price it competitively or sell to a real estate investor.

Price the Home Competitively

Pricing your home competitively shows buyers that you’re motivated to sell, so they’ll be more likely to make an offer. Although you might not be able to earn as much for the home as you could in a normal circumstance, a lower sale price will help the home sell quickly, which, if your goal is to get the extra home off your hands and move on, is a pretty good deal.

Sell to a Real Estate Investor

Selling your home to a real estate investor is another way to sell your home fast. Real estate investors prefer to close on home sales fast — often in as few as five days. Also, when you sell to an investor, you don’t need to make any repairs or changes to your home. You can sell your home in its current condition without the help of contractors, inspectors, or Realtors. A real estate investor will walk through the home with you, then offer you a fair price based on the home’s market value. In less than a week you can have your home sold and close that old chapter of your life, ready for whatever’s next. When you’re relocating, one of the best ways to set yourself up for success is to get that old home off your hands. Hometown Development can help you close in as few as 5 days, and we always make fair cash offers based on the market value of your home. Move on quickly and successfully! Give our team a call today for your no-obligation cash offer.

Licensed Contractor

Licensed Builder
Licensed Real Estate Agent

All closings performed by Bell Title
Meghan Vandenhout 616-942-8955

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Sorry, This property is outside of our service area. We can only help with properties located in Michigan.