2028 Godwin – Garfield Park
Here’s a nice success story. Pete assisted our buyer Shanee in purchasing this home in 2016. We’d been outbid maybe 10-15 times on other homes due to our FHA financing, the search was starting to feel a little demanding on time and resources. This home had some issues with peeling paint and overall appeal, but it had the potential to be a great home. Because of that, they hadn’t received any initial offers and we were able to receive offer acceptance, with the understanding that we as buyers would handle any FHA concerns that came up. Pete called Tig Painting and helped coordinate the soffits being painted and the home passed the FHA appraisal inspection. Due to unforseen circumstances two years later, the home had to be sold. We worked together through a list of light improvements to prep the home for sale, and we are able to sell within 2 years and minimal updates for a gain of $25,000.
1345 Sherman – Eastown
This is a great example of how Life Cycle Property Management and Grand River Realty work well together as sister companies.
Pete found this home, in foreclosure at the time, for the Dayley family in 2012. They were new to the area and first time buyers. We won the REO bid at a price of $54,729. A few years later the family relocated to Washington state for a job. Life Cycle managed the property for about 5 years, keeping great tenants and making improvements to the home that increased its appeal each year. In 2019, Grand River Realty & Pete were hired to sell the property. Pete put together a list of several improvements and upgrades to be made as well as a professional staging contact, and Life Cycle implemented the upgrades. The home sold in 2019 for $200,000.
46
370 Elizabeth St, Rockford, MI.
$199,500.
Enjoy this spacious Rockford Ranch with many major improvements, where everything downtown is a walk away! Features include a large master bedroom with dual closets, a slider to covered deck, vintage sunken tub, cool fireplace. Home has a new roof, new siding, new carpet, furnace and water heater. Home sits highest on the block, no drainage issues, street paved and new storm drains in 2013. Located off of the White Pine Trail with bike access from Grand Rapids to Cadillac. Sneak a peak of existing hardwood floors in the hall closet.
125 South Maple Street, Village of Caledonia, MI
$169,900
This freshly renovated two story home is right in the village of Caledonia. The large rooms are loaded with natural woodwork including freshly refinished hardwood floors throughout the home. The open kitchen is clean and functional yet ready for your finishing touches. Main floor has a large pantry and laundry room just off the kitchen, and a large deck off the back in great shape. Roof, A/C and Furnace all installed 3 years ago, large yard and many other nice attributes. This great old house might just be the perfect place for you. Schedule a private showing today!
15 years ago today, my first Realtor license arrived to the Westdale company. Facebook had launched the day previous. The front desk was asking me if I knew about these things called “blogs?” and Canadian underground darlings Arcade Fire were about to release their dangerous debut album, Funeral.
Its been a wonderful trip, through ups and downs in the economy and housing market, every day I’ve thoroughly enjoyed selling houses to and for an amazing group of people that have given new meaning to my life. I’m lucky and thankful to have been considered worthy to hire as an independent contractor for so long, and I owe my thanks to each of you. Whether im selling $15,000 homes or $500,000 homes, I’m enthusiastic to work with great people of all types, shapes, sizes, personalities and finances. Its so fulfilling to see people succeed after years of time invested. If you have time for me, I will always make time for you, its what I love to do.
Thank you to my own Canadian darling Liz for being such a supportive partner in every way. My thanks also to everyone in the industry who have been considerate enough not to nail me to a wall when I’ve messed up, and those to whom I’ve asked a dumb question and received a genuine response. Here’s to the collaborators.
Now Offered at $230,000:
Heritage Hill, Grand Rapids Michigan. This is perhaps the last opportunity to buy low into one of the nicest streets in the Hill. The home has a good roof, newer exterior paint and a recently installed furnace. This would be best purchased with room in mind for investment into interior renovations and upgrades. One of the only attached garages around. Sellers have lived here since 1959.
In these market conditions finding a home is easy.
Getting that home ahead of everyone else requires a professional.
Welcome to this large, historic Midtown home in the Woods neighborhood. Luxurious old wood makes up the floors and trim, with tall ceilings and abundant living space. With Martha’s Vineyard a block away, just a skip to Michigan street restaurants and nightlife, and a short walk to the hospital and downtown Grand Rapids, this could not be much better located. Enjoy the fenced back yard, attached garage, and main floor laundry.
Update: Offers due 5/12
Since moving to Grand Rapids in the 1990’s I’ve been intrigued by this whimsical carriage house and what it would be like to live here. I am sure its the same for many other fans of history, architecture, and Grand Rapids Michigan. This structure, next to Dégagé Ministries, is the last remaining evidence of the pre-industrial era of downtown Grand Rapids. It even pre-dates the period of protection governed by Historic Preservation. This is one of the reasons it is coming down.
Carriage House currently owned by Dégagé, used as a temporary pass-through from Sheldon to Division
Another reason the building is not long for this location is that it just doesn’t make a lot of sense in its current location. Times have drastically changed, and it is more of a museum piece now than a useable structure. The building is wedged in between two commercial buildings, no stand-alone single family residences exist nearby. It’s a workaround spot right now, currently set up as a walk-through connection from the Dégagé building on Division to the building on Sheldon, with several steps up into the carriage house, and then several steps back down into their other building.
Dégagé Ministries is launching a capital campaign to remove this home and replace it with a more accessible building, adding much-needed services for women in need. The existing program has helped over 4500 women to date and is in need of expansion. They plan to move the dining hall & gathering area, currently on Division, to their building on Sheldon. It is notable that this may incidentally cause a minor shift in the amount of loitering along Division avenue.
To be clear, this plan is already in motion, already approved by the City of Grand Rapids and passed through the Historic Preservation Committee. Funds are being raised. Yet, the local organization admits it would be a bit of a shame to tear this building down if there is a will and a way to save it.
Current law office, former carriage house moved from Heartside Neighborhood
Buildings like this have been moved before. Take for example the law office that currently resides at State & Lafayette. This is a former brick carriage house from the same era and location as the Dégagé building.
I’ve been asked by Dégagé to check around and see if there is any interest from the community in possibly moving the structure to a new location. This process would need to begin with an engineering assessment to see if the place would withstand a move. Then, an intricate plan would have to be made for digging it back out of its current location then moving it somewhere uphill.
The process of moving a home is costly, especially a very old one, and there are some additional special considerations such as stop lights, automobile traffic, power lines, but surprisingly people exist around town who can move things like this. I first encountered Rollaway Movers in 2009 when I had a rental property on National Street that was shifting in a counter-clockwise direction. The foundation was giving out in one corner and I had to have it rebuilt in order to save the home.
National Basement Overhaul
Rollaway also gave me a quote on moving the Magnum Opus building at 1422 Wealthy. My company Life Cycle had been managing the property, had just finished 90% of its rehab when it was sold and slated for tear-down. The buyer eventually decided to save it, but not before I’d received a reasonable quote for moving the building. I was highly impressed!
Rear of referenced Dégagé carriage house, built into a commercial structure
For further information or any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Pete Bruinsma at Grand River Realty.