Local Real Estate News Local Real Estate News en-us Copyright 2013, Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS ® http://www.grar.com Mon, 20 May 2013 05:31:50 -0400 Mon, 20 May 2013 05:31:50 -0400 News LKF Marketing CMS http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss/ Realtors lament lack of houses to sell as they enter 'prime time' May 20, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - As Realtors enter the peak home selling season, Terry Westbrook, president of the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors has one complaint.
"Prime time is coming up and we've... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=118 News Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 Homes sales started to heat up in West Michigan last month April 17, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The West Michigan real estate market has begun heating up in earnest, according to Terry Westbrook, president of the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors.

After taking... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=117 News Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:00:00 -0400 Ann Arbor, Traverse City buck trends with rising real estate values April 2, 2013

In parts of Michigan, a "For Sale" sign in front of a house is quickly followed by another: "Sold."

Realtors from Grand Rapids to Ann Arbor to Traverse City are reporting trends notably... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=116 News Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:00:00 -0400 Grand Rapids Realtors say housing inventory is tight as homebuyers get active March 25, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - "Want to sell your house?"
It's becoming a standard greeting for Terry Westbrook, president of the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors.

The shortage of homes for... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=115 News Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:00:00 -0400 Grand Rapids is one of the nation's most active markets for real estate short sales March 7, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Grand Rapids real estate market has emerged as one of the nation's top areas for "short sales," those home sales in which a lender allows a home to be sold for less than the... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=114 News Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:00:00 -0500 Hot Houses: This price range offers lots of choices, but be ready to act if it fits your bill Hot Houses

March 2, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - For homebuyers in West Michigan, the hot price range is between $125,000 and $130,000.

The price may be middle of the road, but the variety of houses you can buy for that... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=108 News Sat, 02 Mar 2013 12:00:00 -0500 Craigslist scammers hijack 'House for Sale' ads, convert them to phony rental listings Craigslist Scam

March 1, 2013

HOLLAND, MI - When Lakeshia Clanton started her search for a rental house in the Holland area, she didn't look long on Craigslist.org before she found the perfect house.

Now the Warren... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=109 News Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:00:00 -0500 Grand Rapids real estate market is heating up despite shortage of new listings, Realtors say Real Estate Market Heating Up

February 15, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -West Michigan's home buying market heated up in January as buyers took advantage of low interest rates and positive economic news, according to the Grand Rapids Association of... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=110 News Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:00:00 -0500 Kent County looking to collaborate with GRAR February 8, 2013

Kent County commissioners will decide this week whether to renew a surveying agreement with the city of Grand Rapids. They also will determine whether to enter into a new contract with the Grand... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=112 News Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:00:00 -0500 Kent County-GRAR agreement could 'lift all boats' February 8, 2013

The agony of the blackest days of the housing market meltdown during the Great Recession appear to be fading to a still-painful memory, and while there are high expectations, caution comes in the... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=111 News Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:00:00 -0500 Gov. Rick Snyder appoints Grand Rapids woman to real estate board February 1, 2013

LANSING, MI - Gov. Rick Snyder has appointed Grand Rapids Realtor Lola Audu to the state Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons.

Audu is owner of Comstock Park-based Audu Real Estate... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=113 News Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:00:00 -0500 See West Michigan's Top 10 most expensive homes for sale January 21, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A million dollars for a house. It's a lofty price reserved for the bold and the wealthy among us.

It's also a sector for which demand is growing, says Grand Rapids... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=107 News Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:00:00 -0500 West Michigan's housing market recovered in 2012 but new listings are in short supply January 14, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - West Michigan's housing market made a strong recovery last year, but leaders of the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors (GRAR) say there is still room to grow in the wake of the... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=106 News Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:00:00 -0500 West Michigan home sales grew in November despite shortage of homes on the market December 19, 2012

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Home sales in West Michigan continued their comeback in November despite a tight inventory of new listings, according to figures released by the Grand Rapids Association of... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=105 News Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:00:00 -0500 Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS® releases January home sales data; activity was up (as featured in the Grand Rapids Press)

February 18, 2011

Source: Cami Reister
Job Title: The Grand Rapids Press

Potential home buyers were busy last month in the Kent County area, signing purchase agreements on 750 properties, up 7.4 percent from a year ago.

That's according to data released Friday... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=9 News Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:00:00 -0500 REALTORS ® use Grand Rapids Public Schools as selling point (as featured in the Grand Rapids Press)

December 28, 2010

Source: Monica Scott
Job Title: The Grand Rapids Press
Email: mscott@grpress.com

GRAND RAPIDS - When parents of young children buy a home in a new city, one of the first questions they ask their real estate agent is "How are the schools?"

Local Realtors have been doing... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=10 News Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:00:00 -0500 Lola Audu named first black president of Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS® (as featured in the Grand Rapids Press)

December 23, 2010

Source: Cami Reister
Job Title: The Grand Rapids Press
Email: creister@grpress.com

GRAND RAPIDS - Lola Audu doesn't think her colleagues at the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors were thinking about the color of her skin when this month they elected her the first black... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=11 News Thu, 23 Dec 2010 12:00:00 -0500 November home sales rise in the Grand Rapids area (as featured in the Grand Rapids Press)

December 1, 2010

Source: Cami Reister
Job Title: The Grand Rapids Press
Email: creister@grpress.com

Home sales in the Grand Rapids area were brisk in November, coming in 9 percent above last year; while the average sale price remained stable.

According to data released Wednesday by the... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=12 News Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:00:00 -0500 Real estate expert has faced racism, foreclosure crisis with resilience (as featured in the Grand Rapids Press)

November 29, 2010

Source: Cami Reister
Job Title: The Grand Rapids Press
Email: creister@grpress.com

Doretha Ardoin is considered by many to be one of the best. She is an award-winning real estate agent who has been helping clients make wise home selling and home buying decisions since 1978.

... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=13 News Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:00:00 -0500 Average GR home prices continue surge (as featured on WOOD TV8)

November 2, 2010

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The average single family home price for last month in Grand Rapids was $115,783, up 5.4 percent compared to October 2009.

Year to date, the average single... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=14 News Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:00:00 -0400 Grand Rapids home sales drop 28 percent in October (as featured in the Grand Rapids Press)

November 1, 2010

Source: Nancy Crawley
Job Title: The Grand Rapids Press
Email: localnews@grpress.com

GRAND RAPIDS -- Home sales in the Grand Rapids area tumbled 28 percent in October from a year ago, but the average price of a single-family home shot up 5.4 percent.

The Grand Rapids... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=15 News Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:00:00 -0400 Survey finds 43.5 percent of Michigan residents want temporary halt to home foreclosures (as featured in the Grand Rapids Press)

October 14, 2010

Source: Monica Scott
Job Title: The Grand Rapids Press
Email: mscott@grpress.com

GRAND RAPIDS -- Attorneys general from all 50 states Wednesday announced a joint investigation into allegations that banks and mortgage companies are using improper practices to foreclose on homes.... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=16 News Thu, 14 Oct 2010 12:00:00 -0400 Good news and bad news on Grand Rapids area home sales (as featured in the Grand Rapids Press)

October 2, 2010

Source: Cami Reister
Job Title: The Grand Rapids Press
Email: creister@grpress.com

Home sales in the Grand Rapids area last month were 25 percent lower than a year ago, while the average price came in 5 percent higher.

The drop in sales still reflects the hangover from... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=17 News Sat, 02 Oct 2010 12:00:00 -0400 Grand Rapids area home sales drag in August in wake of expired incentives As posted on MLive

September 1, 2010

Source: Chris Knape
Job Title: Business Reporter - Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS -- Home sale prices dipped in August but inventory was down, according to figures released Wednesday by the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors.

The average price of a single... ]]> http://www.grar.com/news.php?article_id=6 News Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:00:00 -0400