color trends for 2010

A fresh coat of paint is a simple update that can transform a space from blah to beautiful in a day or two. Whether or not you have a home to sell, the folks at Behr have complied the design and color trends for 2010 to help inspire you.

As a rule of thumb, I advise my sellers to keep things neutral. But neutral doesn't have to be boring white or taupe. Different hues or intensities of neutral colors can make a room more exciting and modern. I love the paint color in the office of the new HGTV Dream Home:

 

Or how about grey? This monochromatic bedroom, by design diva Candace Olson, exudes classic modern style:

If you do have a home to sell, keep in mind, there is a lot of competition in the Grand Rapids market. Typically, for less than $100 and a little effort, you can breath new life into your home and help it stand out from the crowd.

urban living in grand rapids

There is so much happening in downtown Grand Rapids these days, from restaurants to real estate. We have a growing, vibrant city that includes the urban areas of Heritage Hill, East Hills, Eastown, and Midtown. If you don't already make it a practice to explore what's going on, here's a short list of personal favorites to get you started:

Restaurants
The Electric Cheetah@ 1015 Wealthy Street offers a delicious, eclectic menu and a small plates brunch on Sunday. Keep an eye out for their newest restaurant, The Electric Eel in a few months.

Corez Wine Bar @ 919 Cherry Street is a swanky little place with an amazing wine list, thoughtful dishes, and the best bartender in Grand Rapids.


The Winchester @ 648 Wealthy Street has a thoughtful menu that changes with the seasons. It's a great place to get together with friends, just get there early to ensure a table!

Urban Living
Fairmount Square Condominiums is a community of 35 new town homes tucked in the heart of East Hills just off Cherry Street between Wealthy and Diamond. Within walking distance of the restaurants shown above, plus many others, and tons of boutique shops. The best part, all homes have either a one or two stall garage!

Hillmount Condominiums on Cherry Street is in the historic Heritage Hill neighborhood. While the building was constructed in 1952, it has since been renovated to offer unique spaces from 670 to 966 square feet.


The Heritage Hill neighborhood is one of the largest urban historic districts in the country. Here you will find beautiful, grand homes for sale and unique apartments for rent. Every fall a select group of home owners open their homes for the Heritage Hill Weekend Tour of Homes - which is a great way to appreciate the history, construction, and beauty of these incredible homes.

Boutiques
Muse @ 924 Cherry Street offers a unique selection of clothing and accessories that can't be found anywhere else in Grand Rapids.


Wealthy at Charles @ 738 Wealthy Street is a stylish boutique with beautiful items for your home.

Etc.
Nantucket Bread Company @ 200 Union. Bread. Cookies. YUM.

The Sparrows Coffee, Tea and Newstand @ 1035 Wealthy is quirky, quaint, and has strong coffee!

Fulton Street Farmers Market @ 1145 East Fulton is open May to Christmas on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

mortgage rates still low, but will rise

If you have been considering a move, or refinance, you may want to act sooner rather than later.

According to the Saturday New York Times, a increase in mortgage rates is expected this year. In fact, investment management giant Vanguard Group estimates a rise of a quarter to a half percent on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage.

Why the increase? The Federal Reserve has been supporting the mortgage market with their trillion dollar program of buying mortgage-backed securities. They intend to end this program at the end of March. When that happens, rates are very likely to rise.

To read the full article, click here.

Of course, another advantage to acting now is the $8,000 and $6,500 tax credit program, which will end at the end of April.

fabulous grand rapids

There's a new site in town. A website, that is. Where you can get your house fix.

fabgr.com

A little place where you can see great homes, condos and apartments in the city. It's a new site, so keep checking back for updates.

what's going on in this real eastate market?!

Buying or selling a home can be complex and overwhelming. Add to that the unsettled economy of the past few years, and you have another layer of uncertainty and frustration. However, according to a recent profile of home buyers and sellers by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), signs of a slow market stabilization are emerging. Inventories are returning to more manageable levels, unit sales are up, and affordability (both in terms of price and financing) is at record levels.

If you have a home to sell, you know that it remains a buyer's market. But, the NAR data shows that the median sales price among recently sold homes was 95 percent of listing price. This may be better news than you expected. It is important to remember though, that time on the market and sales price vs. listing price are related. Generally speaking, the longer a home is on the market, the greater the distance between listing price and sales price. This means pricing your home accurately and realistically is essential!

Think about your current listing price. How does it stack up to what's recently sold in your area? Are you pricing to the market or to your wishes? Buyers are out there, looking for the perfect place to call home, especially while the Home Buyer Tax Credit is still in effect!