The Hard Numbers- The Harsh Reality of Renting Buying a home vs. renting is a big decision that takes careful consideration, as most mortgage consultants will agree. But the rewards of home ownership are great. For many years, purchasing real estate has been considered an extremely profitable investment and in many cases today this still remains true. (Remember always buy low and sell high) It is an achievement that offers a sense of pride, financial stability and potential tax advantages.Yes, there are certain responsibilities associated with owning a home. Landlords will often argue the benefits of renting, and for obvious reason. If you are renting, you’re helping them make their mortgage payment. The numbers are staggering if you look at it this way. If you are paying $1,000 per mon... 04/05/2012

Writing Your 30 Second   If you have ever been in a BNI Group, had a coach or taken a sales class you have heard about the importance of your 30 second introduction.  Quickly and seamlessly you want people to know what you do, how you solve their problems, how they benefit, what is unique about you and who your ideal client is. I know that sounds so simple and guess what it is!  You first need to answer these questions for your self and write them down: What do you do? What problems for you solve for people? How do others benefit from your service or product? What makes what you do or offer unique? Who is your ideal client? (there problem, need or situation) After answering the above questions on paper you can begging to form your Verbal 30 second "commercial".    Start with something l... 04/03/2012

 John Rice, Prudential Preferred Realtor Featured Professional FEATURED PROFESSIONAL John Rice, Prudential Preferred REALTORS   John has been a great asset to work with.  Our clients have been excited and happy about the home buying experience as John takes the time to educate and guide them through the process. John has assisted hundreds of home buyers and sellers in the West Michigan area.  He applies his sales, marketing and negotiating skills to ensure the best deal  for his clients.   John enjoys working with all clients from those who have bought and sold many times to the first time home buyer that wants to feel confident in their home buying decision. "Helping people grow and be prosperous makes me happy.  I truly enjoy assisting people with their real estate needs.  Housing is ... 03/21/2012

The Market Has Moved-Rates Went Up   The US markets were at the lowest point of 2012 at the opening today in regards to mortgage backed securities.  To give you a clear perspective below is a graph that reflects the FNMA 30Yr 3.5 coupon:   What does this mean?  Many rates are back up to where they were in December of 2011.  The initial thought is that the rates will slowly come back down a bit but it will be gradual each day. If you have been working toward that 30YR fixed rate below 4% you may be in a holding pattern to see if the rates recover.             Here is a look at what Zillow is showing on the their rate graph (the spike is BIG):                               03/15/2012

A Bit of Inspiration I was lucky enough today to give the Inspiration at for the Western Michigan Women's Council of Realtors and I thought I would share my words with all of you as well.  When I put this together I was pondering frustrations and tribulations we all encounter daily in the industry and wanted to remind everyone to be Positive and remember your Passion. You Are an Entrepreneur "In trying to decide what to share with you all today that could be inspiring I sat back and looked at the industry as a whole and the one thing I realized was that no matter what role you play in a transaction, who you work for or how you are compensated you are all really Entrepreneurs.  As an entrepreneur in the Real Estate industry you ride the waves up and down and face the many challenges head... 03/14/2012

  FEATURED PROFESSIONAL  Anthony Mosley, VanDyk Mortgage Corporation  I have had the pleasure to work with Anthony Mosley over the last handful of years and have seen his passion and enthusiasm first hand for each of his clients.  Anthony works directly with each one of his clients to get their loan transaction completed quickly and smoothly.  Currently Anthony closes his clients' mortgage loans on average of 26 days. Anthony has a motto: "I don't tell my clients no, I tell them how."  As cheesy as this may sound this is something that Anthony stands by.  He believes in his clients and points them in the direction they need to go to become homeowners.  So no matter the time frame 30 days or even 3 years, Anthony is there to make their dream come true. Anthony is supported by a fabulous ... 03/01/2012

Featured Professional Profiles I have decided that I am going to begin featuring some of the amazing men and women that I work with daily that pour their heart and soul into getting and keeping consumers in the homes of their dreams.  I am fortunate enough to have contact with so many professionals that are truly outstanding and I want you to get to know them.   The professionals that I work with understand that owning a home is one of the most exciting, over whelming investments of our client's life.  I invite you to take a few minutes and learn more about these great professionals.     Current To Be Featured List: Anthony Mosley, VanDyk Mortgage Corp John Rice, Prudential Preferred Realtor Rory Byrne, Sun Title Anita Miron, Allen Edwin Homes Chuck VanDuren, VanDuren Irving West Insura... 03/01/2012

2011 Sellers and Sales Overall it looks like 2011 was a great year to trade up for a lower payment. There is a clear change in some of these numbers for sellers. Half of sellers traded up for a larger and/or higher priced home 60% purchased newer homes Typical seller had lived in therir home for 9yrs (up from 6yrs in 2007) 87% used teh assistance of a Real Estate Agent Tyically homes were sold for 95% of the listing price 61% reduced their asking price at least once 41% of sellers offered incentives to attract buyers (primarily home warranties and closing costs) 39% of Agents were reffered by friends of family 22% used an Agent they had priviously worked with 2/3rds of home sellers only contacted one agent before selecting theirs   92% of sellers reported their home was advertised onlin... 02/27/2012

Financing a Home in 2011 The home financing market in 2011 was full of many twists and turns.  New regulations continued to put up road blocks, some of which there was no way to pass. There were also many homes purchased with cash due to low purchase prices (in some areas homes were cheaper than cars).  Some statistical highlights include: 87% of home buyers financed their home (most at a 89% Loan to Value) 95% of first time of buyers financed their home 82% of repeat buyers bought with financing 46% admitted they made some financial sacrifices in order to afford the home 23% reported that the mortgage application and approval process was somewhat more difficult than expected     Previous Posts on the 2011 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers 2011 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers Introd... 02/27/2012

The Home Search Process of 2011 The one ultimate thing for us all to know is how and what a potential home buyer does to start the home search process.  We all normally assue that the first step is for the curious home buyer to go online but the stats this year have changed slightly just as our other characteristics have. 35% of hoime buyers start their search by looking for properties online 10% of home buyers looked online for information about buying a home Online home searches dipped to 88% from 90% last year (possibly due to the shift in older repeat buyers instead of those first time home buyers) 98% of those who used and Agent noted that they offered useful information The typical home buyer searched of 12 weeks and looked at 12 homes 9 out of 10 buyers were satisfied with the ho... 02/22/2012

2011 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers Introduction Over the next few weeks I am going to breakdown the 2011 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.  To keep things easy on myself as well as you the readers I will do section by section. First things first, you may be asking what this report is and why I feel it is important.  Over the last few years especially we have seen many changes with what our clients are looking for and need not to mention the change in consumer demographics as a whole.  It is our job as a professional to stay on top of what it is our clients need and expect not to mention what they want when choosing a real estate professional, how consumers begin the process of searching for a home, why some choose not to work with Agents and what draws them into the market. A few... 02/21/2012

MC Scow Racing at Grand Rapids Yacht Club Reeds Lake Michigan. Regatta Race Date May 19-20 2012. This may seem like a odd time of the year to talk about sailboat racing if you live in Michigan. We are enjoying one of the mildest winters I can remember. Yesterday the MC Scow fleet had the pre-season race meeting. It's time to start thinking about the spring and summer race schedules. Racing sailboats has been one of my passions for over 25 years. The MC Scow is a little "Hot Rod"on the water. It is only 16 feet long and 6 feet 8 inches wide, weighting in at 425 lbs. The mast reaching skyward at around 28 ft. with a boom extending past the transom. The MC Scow is a thrill seeker type sailboat yet tame enough to be enjoyed by all ages. The host of the "Spring Shakedown Regatta" on May 19th... 02/05/2012

While many others are going out of business, we are closing more loans!!!       We Are Closing Loans... while some lenders are closing their doors.   Inventory and days on market are higher than they have been in years. Listing and selling a house in the same week probably won`t happen. If you need a lender that can help you close faster call us now. Now is the time to close quickly and get the most competitive terms. (We recently were able to get a loan clear to close in 6 days!!)   Call VanDyk Mortgage Corporation Today!   VanDyk Mortgage Corportion Office 888.482.6395 | Cell 616.617.7741 kalexander@vandykmortgage.com 2449 Camelot Court SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 ~ Licensed Mortgage Lender NMLS #3035 Equal Housing Lender. Information is subject to change without notice. This is not an... 08/23/2011

East Grand Rapids Michigan Top Best Buy Homes July 2011 This is our list of the Top Best Buy East Grand Rapids Houses to buy based on price/square foot.  Price per square foot is a great leveler.  If two similar homes are listed at similar prices, their price per square foot should be similar and it should reflect the interior finish of the home.  East GR has homes listed at almost $500/ Sq Ft and under $100/Sq Ft, so the range here is wide. For example, if it has crystal chandeliers, wood flooring, a new kitchen, this would be more value per square foot than a home that still has the 1980’s decor and/or is in derelict condition. Please note that this list can change daily as some homes sell, prices are adjusted and other homes come on the market.  If you would like to sign up for daily... 08/12/2011

It is nearly back to school already! Rates are still the lowest they have ever been and there are many deals to be had on the market.  I just wanted to make sure you knew we are here to help when you are ready to purchase a new home, vacation home or even refinance your current home.   Enjoy the rest of the summer before it is gone! 08/11/2011

Important Decisions...   Taking the step into home ownership is one of the most important financial decisions a person will make in their lifetime. There are many factors to consider when embarking on this venture. Many loan programs are still available and it is important to find the one that best fits your personal long-term goals.First and foremost, you must have a mortgage consultant in your corner that is willing to take the time to know what your long-term goals are. Communication and education are the key factors here. Curious prospective home buyers sometimes turn to Internet-based services just to see what current interest rates are. But, a faceless web site will not take the prospect’s future financial planning into consideration or guide the potential borrower through the man... 08/11/2011

Just a little something short and sweet: We’ve Got All the Ingredients! Our lending products can help you qualify for the loan you need. Buy the home of your dreams with a home mortgage that is right for you. No surprises with fixed rates and no payment shock. Many programs available with seller concessions toward your costs. Outstanding service with on time closings. Your LendRIGHT approved Lender. Call VanDyk Mortgage Corporation Today! VanDyk Mortgage Corportion Office 888.482.6395 | Cell 616.617.7741 kcole@vandykmortgage.com 2449 Camelot Court SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 ~ Licensed Mortgage Lender NMLS #3035 Equal Housing Lender. Information is subject to change without notice. This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend. 08/11/2011

There has been some talk on the Velocity of Money.... What is the velocity of money and how does it impact home loans rates? If you’ve been watching the economic news, you’ve probably noticed that market experts and traders have been keeping a close eye on the Commerce Department’s Personal Spending and Personal Income reports. Obviously, those reports provide insight into the health of our economy, but did you know they also influence home loan rates? That’s right, personal spending can actually influence the interest rates that are available when you purchase or refinance a home.Here's why. It has to do with something called the velocity of money. Even though the government keeps pumping money into the system, nothing happens until that money is spent or lent – and passes from one han... 07/28/2011

East Grand Rapids Michigan Real Estate Market Report  Jan-June 2011 East Grand Rapids is a community of homes priced from the low $100,000’s to over $2,000,000 with the majority of homes selling from $120K to $400K.  Since this is such a large spread it is difficult to produce true averages beyond a neighborhood level, so take that in consideration with the following statistics. 2011 First Half EGR STATS: 146 Active Listings for sale 30 Pending Home Sales 80 Sold Homes $260,384 Average Sold Price 95.21% of Sale Price to List Price Absorption Rate: 7.9 months Synopsis:  East GR is seeing a slight rise in home prices over 2010 averages, though the  Absorption rate is slightly higher. Demand for East GR homes is about the same as 2010 but indices are looking up, so far.  If the bank owned... 07/09/2011

East Grand Rapids Michigan Top Best Buy Homes May 2011 This is our list of the Top Best Buy East Grand Rapids Houses to buy based on price/square foot.  Price per square foot is a great leveler.  If two similar homes are listed at similar prices, their price per square foot should be similar and it should reflect the interior finish of the home.  East GR has homes listed at almost $500/ Sq Ft and under $100/Sq Ft, so the range here is wide.   For example, if it has crystal chandeliers, wood flooring, a new kitchen, this would be more value per square foot than a home that still has the 1980’s decor and/or is in derelict condition.   Please note that this list can change daily as some homes sell, prices are adjusted and other homes come on the market.  If you would like to sign up for d... 06/21/2011