Catamount June 2008 Real Estate Market Report Ada Michigan The Catamount properties are in the rolling hills adjacent to the Grand River in the northern section of Ada Township in a gated community with privacy and wooded acreage.  Executive style homes with lots of room for entertaining and all the custom extras  that make a home luxurious are the norm here.  If you  are looking for a prestigious address, this could be what you are looking for, as it is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the  Grand Rapids area.  As a bonus, this cute little guy could be one of your new neighbors.   101 homes have sold so far this year in Ada Township                      Average sale price is $ 304,025. Catamount Properties Real Estate Residential Report June 2008                      4 For Sale... 06/24/2008

The Orchards Forest Hills MI Real Estate Market Report June 2008 The Orchards subdivsion is located just north of Fulton Street and just east of Crahen in Grand Rapids Township, Forest Hills School District. Started in 2000, there are still new homes being built in this development.  Close to the I96 expressway, Forest Hills  Shopping, the village of Ada, 28th Street shopping & entertainment,  this location is very desirable and centrally located.  The Ada Bike Trail now connects to the miles of Grand Rapids Bike Trails near here at Forest Hills and Fulton Street, just southeast of Frederick Meijer  Gardens & Sculpture Park.                The Orchards Real Estate Market Report                                         June 2008                      6 Homes For Sale, 2 Sold Homes Address ... 06/16/2008

  The East -West Village subdivision off of Ada Drive in Ada Township is a fairly new development. The new housing construction started in 2005 and is still continuing to date. You can buy a resale home or a new home in this centrally located housing development.  Near both  public and private schools,    East Village is also close to the Forest Hills and 28th Street shopping areas. The Ada Bike or Walking Trail also connects this area on Ada Drive with the village of Ada and the village of Cascade.   East Village is also close by the expressway for easy access to many different parts of our greater Grand Rapids area quickly.  Large, executive style homes with many amenities and extras are the rule for this neighborhood. If you would like to start with a brand new house, this may be the... 06/16/2008

Ada Moorings Ada MI Real Estate Market Report June 2008 Ada Moorings is located off Grand River Drive, just east of Ada and close to Ada Township Park. A recent development by Eastbrook Builders, these quality built homes are in Forest Hills School District.  Close to the village of Ada and not far from the village of Cascade,this subdivision is near 28th Street shopping and  the Thornapple and The Grand Rivers.         Address                                Price        Status      SqFt     $/Sq Ft  DOM 1141 Spicebush Dr             249,900  For Sale   2100     119.00         3 1134 Dogwood Meadows  264,900  For Sale   1700    155.82      126 7751 Thornapple Club        279,900  For Sale   1728    161.97        25 7955  Thornapple Club       284,900  For Sale   2368    120.31         6... 06/13/2008

Greentree Farms Estates Ada MI Real Estate Market Report June 2008 Greentree Estates is a small subdivision in Ada Township south of Conservation Avenue and just east of Honeycreek Avenue. The homes located here are large, executive style homes, usually with acreage sites.  Most of the houses were built in the 1970's to 1980's.  These homes are prized for their privacy setting in a heavily wooded, natural area, (you can't always see your neighbor's house) and the presitigious Forest Hills Public School System.  This area of Ada Township has rolling hills, covered with native hardwoods, and is very picturesque. Seidman Park is just across the street with it's nature trails and cross country ski trails.                                           Greentree Farms                Residential R... 06/06/2008

Ada Woods ADa MI Real Estate Market Report June 2008 Ada Woods is an established development of homes in Ada, Michigan,  just west of Ada and south of Fulton Street (M46).  Ada Woods started  out as an E.L. Ladd development,  but towards the end of the project many lots were sold to other builders and completed by individual owners.     The dates of building range from 1980's to 2005.  Most of the homes  have more square footage and more amenities than Adacroft Commons, its  adjacent neighborhood.  As with Adacroft Commons, there is designated common land in the development that remains heavily wooded and in a natural state.              Ada Woods is a popular home market in the Ada area. Part of the appeal is the proximity of Ada Elementary, Forest Hills Central Middle and High Schools... 06/05/2008

Alright, so I don't live on Elm Street. It is a journalistic right to move around a little. But the scarlet flame is for real and they are my poppy plants.  They light up the yard with thier brilliant red-orange color and make spring into a thing of beauty.  I have peonies budding, bleeding heart blooming, and clematis vines are starting to strut their stuff. Columbine is hanging its sweet heads and the iris is showing its ruffled flags to the world. But when I turn the corner and head my car for home, it is  the poppy that draws my gaze with it's startling siren red call - who can resist spring in all its beauty ?? Can you??                 pWestbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Real Estate photos by Bonnie Westbrook - all rights reserved 06/04/2008

Forest Hills Gardens Ada MI Real Estate Market Report June 2008 Forest Hills Gardens is located between Ada Drive and Hall Street just west of Forest Hills  Central High School.  This well established development of about 200 homes was built in the 1960's and 1970's with a few of the homes bordering on Paradise Lake, pictured below.   Many of the homes are still occupied by their original owners, though  the neighborhood is starting to turn over with younger families being attracted to the quiet neighborhood in an excellent location, close to  local public and private schools. It is literally walking distance to Forest Hills Central Middle and High Schools.  Ada Christian is a short distance away on Ada Drive and Forest Hills & 28th Street shopping are just minutes away by car.         ... 06/04/2008

Clements Mill Ada MI Real Estate Market Report June 2008 Clements Mill is  a newer home development built by Eastbrook Construction in the Ada area, started in 1999 and completed in 2003. Part of the appeal is the proximity of  Forest Hills Central Middle and High Schools, Forest Hills Central Woodlands 5/6 School,  & Ada Christian Schools, which are within walking distance. Clements Mill is midway between the Village of Ada and Forest Hills shopping area at Cascade Road and Forest Hills.  Clements Mill has seen steady to declining values in the short time  it has been built out.  This is largely due to the current over-abundance of houses for sale in a soft resale market.                        Clements Mill  Residential Real Estate                          June 2008 Market Report     ... 06/04/2008

Adacroft Commons Ada MI Real Estate Market Report June 2008 Adacroft Commons is a popular home market in the Ada area. Part of the appeal is the proximity of  Forest Hills Central  5/6 School, Middle School, High School & Ada Christian School, which are within walking distance. Adacroft is also close  to the village of Ada and Forest Hills shopping.   This is an established subdivision, being started in the early 1970's  by E. L. Ladd Builders of Ada, at the same time they were building in Adatowne.  Adacroft Commons homes were required to have a  two stall attached garage and a family room, while Adatowne homes did not.  There is designated common land in the development that remains heavily wooded and in a naturalstate, as in its adjacent neighborhood, Ada Woods.      I have held many... 06/03/2008

  Adatowne Ada MI Real Estate Market Report June 2008 Adatowne is a popular entry level home market in the Ada area. Part of the appeal is the proximity of Ada Elementary, Forest Hills Central Middle and High Schools, Ada Christian Schools, and close to the village of Ada. Adatowne is an established subdivision, being started in the early 1970's by E.L. Ladd Builders of Ada. I have held many open houses in these new plats and sold many of the homes as new construction.   If you doubt the power of your home as an investment, a basic ranch (about 1000 sq ft) sold  for $ 19,900 in 1975.                         Adatowne Neighborhood  Ada, Michigan                           June 2008 Stats  Real Estate                                    5 homes sold, 1 pending, 1 for sale                    ... 06/02/2008

I have been tagged to do a Super 2008 meme by Chris Fisher & Lori Franks!! So, it appears two people want to know my favs and learn a little bit more about  me. My answers might change from day to day, I am a work in progress.  A definite answer today might bring a totally different answer next week. Hey, we are all growing, right?   So, here goes the answers for today:   1. Who's your favorite musical artist? I do not have just one, although listening to Aretha Franklin can make the hair on the back of my neck rise and tears come to my eyes. I am dating myself here but she is an artist from my teens of whom I have never grown tired. My dear hubby took me to see her in concert and she was even more awesome in person!  Talk about 'rock the house'.  I also enjoy listening to the Dixie Chi... 06/02/2008

The 2008 Bike Trail Maps are available online at the Grand Rapids City Planning Dept. The trail maps show the connecting trail between Crahen and Forest Hills Avenues still under construction.  This trail will connect Frederick Meijer Gardens with the 30 miles of Ada-Forest Hills Trails sections in Ada  Township.  The new section along Forest Hills Avenue north of Ada Drive  pictured below is nearing completion.                                                                          Bike Trails may become more important to us if gas prices continue to rise. AAA tells us that the average car expense is $ 6893.00 per year while the average bicycle expense (including purchase) is $ 687.00.  I don't know about you but cutting my transportation costs by 90% would be a welcome savings.   Jus... 05/17/2008

Karen Webster | 5 Star Real Estate | karen@isellgrandrapids.com | 616-464-3459 8615 36th St, Ada, MI Tranquil Lakefront Living Year 'Round 3 Bdrm Single Family House offered at $284,900 Year Built 1974 Sq Footage 3,200 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 full, 0 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size .40 acres HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION The sound of lapping waves and ducks calling will melt away your daily stresses. View the no-wake lake from two levels of deck and almost every room in the house. Catch your dinner. Who needs to go on vacation? see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES Central A/C Central heat Fireplace Walk-in closet Hardwood floor Tile floor Family room Living room Office/Den Dishwasher Refrigerator Stove/Oven Microwave Basement Laundry area - inside Balcony, D... 04/30/2008

                       HomeBuyers : How to Avoid Paying Too Much   Part Four of Ten Homebuyers Series: Part One: Know what you are looking for  & Shop for a Mortgage Homebuyers Series: Part Two: Make sure your Realtor knows what you are looking for and                                              Location, Location, Location are covered in depth.  Homebuyer Series Part Three: Narrowing your prospects, show interest in all homes &  don't                                                            shop with your heart are covered in depth.    Tip No. 9 - Don't ignore red flags when evaluating a home's pluses and minuses - When evaluating the advantages  and drawbacks of a particular property, be sure you know the difference between acceptable and unacceptable problems. Some issues---peelin... 04/07/2008

Ada Township:  Purchase adds 96 acres to park -- Chief Hazy Cloud Park is expanding. The Kent County Parks Department finalized a deal last month with Edith Pettis to purchase 96 acres for the 24-acre park on Pettis Avenue north of M-21 in Ada. The purchase adds 1,900 feet to the park's 2,900 feet of Grand River frontage.          A $1.1 million grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund paid for 74 percent of the purchase, and the  parks department is working with the Land  Conservancy of West Michigan to raise the estimated $280,000 local match required. Parks director Roger Sabine said corporate and private donors have pledged about $175,000. The township's Open Space Preservation Advisory  Board also is considering a donation.   Board members said during a recent meeting t... 02/20/2008

  The Thornapple Daily Grill is located at 445 Ada Drive, Ada, MI nestled in the  back of the commercial development on the banks of the Thornapple River  in the heart of Ada and less than 10 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids.   The Daily Grill is now part of The Gilmore Collection, a group who owns and operates many retaurants in our area.  The restaurant boasts a wonderful bar, several dining rooms with different views, an intimate wine cellar, and outside dining on the patio in summer. Serving lunch or dinner, this restaurant has been a favorite of ours for over 25 years.                   We were first introduced to White Chicken Chili here and the TBA sandwich,  both favorites of ours. The menu offers simple fare and also complex delights .......always delicious.  The wine list al... 01/14/2008

 Zeytin means "Olive" in Turkish, and on the olive tree, the branches and fruit represent peace   and goodwill. Please enjoy our friendly hospitality and authentic Turkish-American Food - quoted from the Zeytin Menu                                                                                                                                           Zeytin is a fairly new restaurant in Ada, Michigan. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the food is marvelous and in case your cardiologist never told you, Middle Eastern food is very heart-healthy food.   They have Kebabs,  gyros, meatballs, lamb shank, Seafood, Vegetarian choices, Salads, many Appetizers, a children's menu with gyro, cheeseburger  or chicken nuggets served with fries.  Wraps and Sandwiches are available also.   I usuall... 01/10/2008

  The Schnitz East Deli is a hopping spot on any day of the week for lunch. They have fresh deli sandwiches on fresh bread, garden salads, and soft drinks/coffee.   They are located above  The  Bike Shop in downtown Ada.                          We like  to go for lunch, they have the best salmonburgers in town.  My friend Sharon swears their Pastrami is the best she has ever tasted.   If you are new to Grand Rapids and don't know the history, there used to  be a wonderful German Restaurant downtown, called The Schnitzelbank, which has since closed their doors.  The Schnitz Delis are all that remain of this wonderful German food and a Grand Rapids dining tradition.        The Schnitz Delicatessen has a Catering Menu with box lunches, Custom Sub sandwiches sold by the foot, Soup by the Q... 01/10/2008

As we start a new year it is good to review and look back to see if we can learn from the past. So much of the news lately is on the Housing Market and the difficulties that sellers are having through the erosion of prices. Buyers are waiting for the lowest point in the market to buy. Sellers are looking at prices that were higher a year ago to set prices for today.  In some markets we have seen the average price go down while in others, the prices has been stable and even risen. How do you make the right decision in this market? I don't think there is a economist or an "expert" in the business that can say with certainty what the market will do in the short run. I have sold Real estate since 1973 and I have seen almost all the cycles in this business. One thing remains constant - given... 01/02/2008