navigating life after the kids have grown
This craftsman style 5 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath ranch is located in Copperwood Estates near Knapps Corner. Built by detail orientated Engelsma Builders, there are custom kitchen and bath cabinets, custom lockers in the mud room, and special accents in the master bath. Immediate possession.
Karen was able to join other Crystal Springs residents by being treated to a wonderful time at the “Kids and Cookies Valentines event” compliments of Marjoree Steele of Bekins. Kids enjoyed smoothies, decorating and eating yummy Stained Glass Window Cookies, and Sour Cream Cutout Cookies while adults took home Peppermint Biscotti for morning coffee. If you’re a Crystal Springs resident and missed it, be sure to watch your “Life on the Course” magazine for future events.
We can help! What we love about RE/MAX is that we can place our clients in contact with agents all over the U.S. and other countries to help them find their dream home. Maybe it’s this Montana home with stunning views by Lohss Construction.
Last evening Watermark Properties put together an evening featuring a fabulous progressive dinner via party bus taking in all four of their country clubs. At 5:30 Robbie and I boarded the bus and joined over 30 other lady members and their guests and settled in to socialize as our driver whisked us away to our first stop at Watermark Country Club and their restaurant CORK WINE AND GRILLE. The tables were set, servers awaited with hors d’oeuvres served in a buffet setting which included shrimp skewers, assorted dips, cheeses, pita chips and crackers. FUN!!!
After 30 minutes, happy ladies boarded the bus and off we went to Stonewater Country Club in Gaines Township, home base for the two of us! At Firerock Grille we were seated by a cozy fireplace and enjoyed soups (including my favorite lobster bisque) and salads.
Time passes all too quickly and soon it was time to move on for the main course at Sunnybrook Country Club in Jenison. On our way to our lovely banquet room we went through the main dining room and with the lighting were able to sneak a a bit of a peek of their beautiful views of the course. Feeling good, and already fairly full, we were treated to steak, asparagus and shrimp thanks to their own Rush Creek Bistro. Bon Appetit !!
On our way to our last stop at Thousand Oaks Golf Club, many of us were wondering if we would have any room for desserts?!? Of course we would!! There is ALWAYS room for chocolate brownies, Bailey’s, port wine or Kahlua and coffee. Here we met in one of four heated indoor practice bays and Patti Butcher, the managing director, educated us on their new practice facilities. We discovered later, she was named one of Golf for Women Magazine’s top 50 teachers seven times over. Very impressive Patti!!
All and all it was a very enjoyable and relaxing 4 1/2 hours and we made new friends, shared life (and golf) stories, and all agreed there should be more events of this kind to bring the ladies of the four clubs together. If Krystal Barron, the membership director who planned this event, and Patti have any thoughts about future events, there were mum, but we could see their minds working. CHEERS!!!
We are very grateful for our business and all of our clients that we have worked with in 2015, and look forward to helping anyone wanting to buy or sell in the coming year. All signs are pointing to a fabulous real estate market in 2016. Cheers.
If you’re ready to make a move you may be hearing, “Wait until the spring market”. What really happens to potential buyers for your home over Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and even DEER HUNTING SEASON?!? When exactly is the spring market?
Grand Rapids has been a global corporate relocation area for quite some time with people coming and going from the other side of the state, other states, and from across either ocean. Ask any human resource manager if they’re furloughed in November, December, and January and you will hear a resounding “NO” and an occasional “I WISH”. People still retire, change careers, and accept transfers during the holiday season. Home inventory is low, so there are less homes to choose from and these homes are full of warm and cozy feelings allowing potential buyers to get a real idea of what life could be like for them in any given home. As a seller you have less casual lookers and more serious buyers who mean business and your home is already looking fantastic with greenery, decorated mantles, tinsel on the Christmas tree, and 2,500 LED lights hanging from the trees and soffits welcoming them in the door.
Let’s talk about the spring market….. 1,613 homes were sold and closed in Kent County during the months of January, February, and March in 2015? This means they were shown and under contract during or shortly after the holiday season. If you recall, the last two winters weren’t exactly dry and balmy. Compare moving in winter with its crisp dry air and clean fresh snow vs. fall and spring with rain and mud, or summer when it’s so hot you could fry an egg on your washing machine as the movers bring it into your house. Moving is moving. You can use the winter months to unpack boxes and arrange your furniture so that when spring and summer come around you can hang out at the beach while your neighbors vie for the attention of buyers with 2 or 3 times as many homes competing for their attention.
Now then, are you ready for us to pop over with that “for sale” sign?!? Cheers!!! Continue reading “Listing your home during the holidays”
We parked our cars and the heavenly aroma of baking donuts immediately lured us into the bakery (no surprise there) where we had fresh baked pumpkin spice and chocolate covered donuts. A variety of pastries, pies, fresh cider and full homemade lunches are served daily by their friendly and efficient personnel.
In the adjoining cider mill there are over 10 variety’s of apples, packaged soups, candy, truffles and pre-packaged mixes of all kinds.
Next door in the Barn are more treats and gifts, even clothing and purses to purchase! The Barn also offers a nice loft area for wedding or baby showers, business meetings, etc., with space for as many as 60 people. Appropriately enough, we ended up in the winery with Robinette’s tasting room staff, and our new friends…. Kare, Jonah, and Karen. Kare, who has 25 years experience, delighted in educating us on the grapes and wines. Cheers!
