Category: Seniors

preparing for a out of state retirement

Are you still living in the family home you purchased in the 70’s 80’s or 90’s to raise a family and you are beginning to think it’s time to spread your wings and enjoy your life? What are your options? Where would you go to live a simple life, one that requires less maintenance, that fits your budget, and in a location that you want to be? Do you want to live near family, and they are in another state? Let’s explore that option. My friends Barb and Dave decided they wanted to move closer to their family in Savannah Georgia . They started by visiting the “kids” and grandkids and exploring their options near Savannah, found a 55 and over condominium community they loved, with 2 pools, a gym and clubhouse and used some of the equity in their home and personal funds to purchase. This was a new build, so they had time to pack, purge and donate, sell their existing condominium, use temporary housing for the interim, then finish their move to Georgia. The best thing about their move? Barb said it’s living near their grandkids, helping with getting them to dance and gymnastics. Other benefits are maintenance free living, having an extended growing season for her flowers, lemon and lime trees.

If you have family living elsewhere in the States, take the first step and explore that option. Let’s see what your home equity situation is like in this real estate market, and if you decide to go forward, I can help with preparing your home for sale, consulting with your family and a qualified real estate agent in another state, assist where needed with my sources of financial advisors, real estate attorneys, mortgage companies, arranging help with your physical move with home organizers, and estate sale contacts . Let me help you put the pieces together.

Time For An Outing_ World Of Winter Grand Rapids

You wouldn’t know it, looking out the window as I am at the pouring rain, but the ice sculptures and winter displays will be wrapping up soon and it was yet another delightful success on the part of “Downtown Grand Rapids” to get everyone out of their homes and enjoy winter. We did a lot of walking as the venues were spread across Monroe Center, past Ah-Nab-Awen Park near the Gerald Ford Museum, all the way to the 6th Street dam. It was good to get our steps in and not only view the displays but to see all the new restaurants downtown. Looking around, I felt like I haven’t been there in a very long time. Word to the wise, if you’re heading downtown, make a reservation as getting in restaurants these days isn’t always a piece of cake. My food thoughts went from Wahlburgers, to The Social Misfits, to Stans Tacos but we ended up at Max’s South Seas Hideaway Max’s South Seas Hideaway this time. What fun! It was like being in a tropical paradise and took our minds of the cold weather for a while. Just stopping for appetizers THIS time, we had Coconut Fried Shrimp, topped off with a couple of their exotic drinks of which there are many. I had an Astrochimp and Alicia a traditional Mai Tai. We definitely will be going back here for dinner. The World of Winter is on display until March 6, so if you hurry, you can still visit as it’s well worth the drive downtown. See more of what there is to see at World of Winter GR

try this condo on for size …

Located in a really convenient location in Grand Rapids NW side, just off the expressway with restaurants, LMCU baseball, shopping just minutes away there is a beautiful condo development. The main floor has about 1,500 sq. ft. depending on model, 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths and laundry area. If you want room for guests there you have additional space on the daylight or walk out level. Prices are in the high $300’s to mid $400’s depending on choices. Monthly association fees as of this date are $250.

Trillium Glen Condominiums

My Friend & Client Lynn moved here, into her new condo at the end of last year in time for the holidays. She moved from a ranch style home but her laundry was in the lower level and she had a pool. She wanted a condo where outdoor maintenance was done for her and she had everything she needed on one floor. Her biggest bonus? She has walk in closets and doesn’t have to move seasonal clothes around anymore. Love this, and congratulations again Lynn!!

Oh, The Places We’ll Go

Where do you want to retire? Have you had enough of the wintry weather and a week or a month in Florida just isn’t enough anymore? Let us focus occasionally on a part of the South, maybe WAY South, which is “Senior Friendly” and that has communities with amenities for a lifestyle you might enjoy. We’ll start with Florida. So, what are the positives of retiring in Florida? No more shoveling snow, no more bulky coats, boating and gardening year round, sunshine, your family has a place to get away in winter, school age grandchildren can come down over spring break, you can travel north in the hottest months and visit them! To kick off this series of posts I found a video just for you. Consider Ocala and become a “cool kid”.  

January 2022 _ Home Statistics

Thanks to Dave Veldkamp from RE/MAX of Grand Rapids for being a numbers cruncher to the rest of us. In January there were …

389 Active Listings in the GR area.
674 Homes Sold YTD (with an average sale price $305,940)

53% of those sold over their listing price with an average of $4,700 above asking price

This is the slowest start to our real estate market since 2015, and a great time to sell!!

Is Winter the new Spring in Real Estate?!?

Are you waiting for the “Spring Market” to sell your home? Think again! The Grand Rapids area has been a global relocation market for quite some time with corporate transfers coming and going from the East side of the state, other states, and from across either ocean. Ask any Human Resource Manager if they are furloughed in January, February and March and you will hear a resounding “NO” and an occasional “I WISH”. People still transfer because of their jobs, accept new career moves and positions, and retire during the Winter. Home inventory, already low, is even lower during the Winter so there are less homes to choose from, and viewing homes that are warm and cozy  allows potential buyers to get a real idea of what their home 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. Leave summer pictures on your kitchen counter from summertime with green lawns and beautiful flowers, because they obviously liked the looks of your home with the Winter pictures and this firms up their feelings with what is coming when the weather breaks.  We currently have a shortage of homes on the market, it’s a great time to get top dollar for your  home.  1,829 homes & condos were sold in January through March of last year. This means that they were shown and under contract during or shortly after the holiday season, in WINTER.

Try This Condo On For Size

I’ve had some seniors express interest in moving downtown and being where the action is. Restaurants, Broadway Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Symphony, all the downtown events, not to mention being close to the Medical Mile and great areas to walk downtown. You can have all this, a perfect sunset view and new construction! This condominium has almost 2,200 sq. ft. with elevated views over GR and the Grand River! It’s a roomy 3 bed 2.5 bath, kitchen, living, and laundry all on one floor with two stall garage. Flex space for an office or gym below. It has Quartz counters and backsplash, oak floors, heated tile, fireplace Jenn-Air appliance package, 9 ft ceiling with vault in the family and kitchen. Many more high end features! $657,000

Listing courtesy of Matthew Hall CopperRock Real Estate