Grand Rapids: Moments in Between
A Fun Little Video About the City of Grand Rapids and What Makes This Place a Home
Grand Rapids: Moments In Between from GORILLA on Vimeo.
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Grand Rapids is 2nd Best Place in America to Own a Home
Grand Rapids is 2nd Best Place in America to Own a Home, According to a Survey of Over 10,000 People
Grand Rapids has been making some noise and getting the recognition it deserves as one of the best places in the country to live, work and play. And lets not forget its Beer City USA awards either. Because… Beer!
Grand Rapids’ latest accolade is from a recent survey reported on Porch.com, of 10,000 participants, which places our City 2nd in the entire nation in resident satisfaction.
Having the second happiest home owners in America is a good thing for Grand Rapids. If you would also like to be one of the Second Happiest Homeowners in the Country and are contemplating a move, give us a call or use this website to search for homes. We can offer a comprehensive relocation package with all sorts of information about schools, events, entertainment and everything you could need to make an informed decision.
Grand Rapids Real Estate Quick Search
Annual Heritage Hill Weekend Tour of Homes
The Annual Heritage Hill Weekend Tour of Homes
Grand Rapids has one of the nation’s largest historic home districts, Heritage Hill. Heritage Hill is Grand Rapids’ first residential neighborhood and in 1973, became a Historic District. Its boundaries are defined by Crescent St to the north, Union St to the East, Pleasant St to the south and Lafayette St to the West.
Homes in Heritage Hill are made up of classical revival and Victorian style homes. There are also homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, America’s most famous architect. There are 1300 Homes in Heritage Hill which represent over 60 architectural styles and date back to 1848. These were the homes of the teachers, judges, legislators and lumber barons who shaped the city’s future.
The weekend of May 16th, 17th features the annual home tour. Advance tickets can be purchased at the heritagehillweb.org website for $15 and $20 the weekend of the tour.
Heritage Hill Homes for Sale
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Share Our Enthusiasm
Great video from Experience Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids, MI
What makes a great travel destination? Enthusiasm! Why does travel matter? Visitors to Grand Rapids generate more than $1 Billion in economic impact each year. That fuels more jobs, dining opportunities, cultural improvements, and ways to enjoy life. We all share the benefits, when we share our enthusiasm!
Remodeling Trends for 2014
Top 5 Home Remodeling Trends for 2014
Photo Courtesy of JSEvents.com
It’s Spring at last… (don’t hold your breath) and it is finally time to get serious about some of those jobs you have been thinking about all winter. Is finally getting rid of that old brass hardware in your home, on that list? Not so fast! Brass is making a comeback of sorts, although it is not the bright shiny brass we so often have seen.
With the economy improving, more and more home owners are spending money on those projects they have been putting off. This report shows the dollar amounts spent around the country.
If you are planning on selling your Grand Rapids home or if you are thinking of making a few changes to your home, take some of these Trends into consideration as these latest home improvements could help you sell your home quicker.
For a Free Market Analysis, fill out this form and tell us about your home or condo. I will get back to you within 24 hours with an accurate price, the latest market trends and what your closing costs will be so that you can plan accordingly.
2014 Remodeling Trends
Modern Kitchens
According to data compiled by Hanley Wood and Remodeling Magazine, 61 percent of re-modelers surveyed expect to complete kitchen remodels in 2014, more than any other room in the house. And, those remodels are expected to follow a new trend.
Not so long ago, remodeled kitchens had a rustic feel with warm paint colors and cabinetry, and wrought iron hardware and lighting. Now, modern is in, with white or gray cabinetry, simple countertops, glossy finishes and minimalist designs. Appliances are more likely to be blended into the design or hidden away from view entirely to give the kitchen a sleeker appearance.
Bass Accents
Brass made a comeback at home-design and remodeling conventions this year and the trend is expected to pick up in 2014. While brass is nothing new, it has gotten a facelift. Highly polished, bright brass hardware and lighting is gone; rustic, dull and hammered brass is in. The new looks will be incorporated into kitchen and bathroom hardware as well as lighting and door hardware throughout the house.
Updated Bathrooms
In the Hanley Wood survey, bathrooms came in second to the kitchen with 58 percent of remodelers planning to do bathroom remodels in 2014. As far as style, vintage bathrooms with wainscoting and claw-foot tubs won’t be as popular as resort-style bathrooms that feature amenities such as large walk-in showers with multiple shower heads, heated floors or towel racks, and jetted bathtubs. For coloring and style, glass tiles will be a popular feature as well as neutral and cool colors like ash gray, light blue and off-white.
Read the whole article at Realtor.com
Grand Rapids Ranks No. 2 in US for Spring Jobs Outlook
Jobs Forecast Looks Promising
Grand Rapids was given a pat on the back with respect to Spring Employment. To the tune of #2 in the Nation! You have to be happy with that. The real estate market is definitely moving right along with homes and condos that are priced right, basically getting sold very quickly. 2014 is looking good!
“The employment outlook for the Grand Rapids market this spring is among the brightest in the nation.
The Grand Rapids and Wyoming market ranks second in the nation, in a five-way tie, for employer hiring expectations for the second quarter, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released yesterday.
Area reputation
“We are certainly in a growth trend, due to many pieces that got us to this point,” said Becca Dernberger, Manpower, VP and general manager for the northeast division.
She went on say the overall environment and culture in West Michigan are contributing factors.
“I think it has a strong reputation for having a strong workforce and strong employers,” Dernberger said. “I think from there you look at what economic development organizations are doing, what our chamber of commerce are doing, our Pure Michigan campaign.
“Many different people are engaged in showcasing West Michigan as a premier place to work and live, and I think all of those things are really having an impact.”
The report by Manpower, an employee recruiting company based in Milwaukee, is based on a survey of more than 18,000 employers across the U.S. and their hiring expectations for this April to June.”
Fishing in Grand Rapids
Fishing the Grand River
One of my favorite pastimes is fishing. I just love being on or near the water. Since moving to Grand Rapids nearly 17 years ago, the Grand River has opened up a new form of fishing to me. Drift fishing from the shore for Steelhead and trout! It is a great way to spend a few hours with the kids!
Spring in Grand Rapids brings a swollen, fast-moving river. One of the spots I frequent is right downtown Grand Rapids between the 6th St. Historical Bridge and the I-196 overpass. It’s great because it is just a short drive from home.
I have had to learn a few new skills to keep up though but it has been a lot of fun. As with all types of fishing, some things work better than others but as they say, 10% of the anglers catch 90% of the fish. To me this just means that these 10% know what they are doing and how to make their presentation. They typically have the appropriate gear as well.
Fishing fast moving water like this part of the Grand River, requires a certain touch and familiarity and feel for what the gear is doing while working it down the run. There are more than enough rocks and structure for fish to use and also to take your gear and not give it back. It is a learned touch to bounce your bait along the rocks, dodging snags and differentiating between a rock and a bite. for me though, just being outside makes for a satisfying day. Tying into one of those silver torpedoes doesn’t hurt though!
I use a 9 foot rod with 20lb main line to which I attach a 10lb leader. For this leader, I use a fluorocarbon line. This line has very
low visibility and it is very hard for the fish to detect. Most major manufacturers offer this now. For a sinker, I like to use some kind of drop sinker set up with a slinky or pencil style, as they tend to avoid getting caught up as much. The less time you spend messing around with your gear equals more time with your gear in the water where the fish are. Baits and lures vary depending on who is catching what, but yarn balls appear to be the bait of choice at the moment. These fish have an excellent sense of smell, so keep that in mind while handling your bait.
As always, be careful in the fast moving water and have fun!
Grand Rapids is Thriving
There are so many reasons to love Grand Rapids. Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Recreation, the Outdoors, Jobs, Schools, Real Estate!
Watch this video and get excited about living here!
Andrew Ingram
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616-570-1871
a.ingram@grar.com
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Andrew Ingram
Weichert Realtors Platinum Group
