Having said that, there are some condos that are FHA approved. This is important to many buyers, especially first time condo buyers looking to capitalize on the $8000 Tax credit. With an FHA loan, you need only pay a 3.5% downpayment on the loan. Much better than 10% or 20%!

Boardwalk condos are FHA approved! Just before last Christmas they were approved. Boardwalk is a great building with many amenities including a pool hot tub area, game room, theatre room, fitness center, roof top deck, salon and JD Reardon’s bar. These condos are loft style with exposed brick, exposed duct work, river views and tall ceilings. Many floor plans are available from studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms and there are two courtyards, one with the pool and the other with a peaceful, wooded area where the outdoor grills are located.

The Hillmount condos are FHA approved! The Hillmount condos offer a little different feel to the Boardwalk. The building itself is an older, solid brick buillding and it does offer a few amenities such as wireless (wifi) internet, fitness center and an awesome rooftop deck with grill. Many of these condos offer lovely hardwood floors and updated kitchens with stainless steel appliances. This is a great building located at the corner of College and cherry, minutes from the downtown core. Pets are allowed.

Union Square condos are FHA approved! Union Square is one of the coolest buildings in town. You have probably seen it while driving on the expressway at the junction of I-96 and US-131 highways. The building is the Union Square High School and there is a big mix of condos here from affordable 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms which also includes some incredible penthouse units. Amenites include a very nice fitness center and the  roof top deck, pool and hot tub. These condos are loft style similar to Boardwalk but with more floor plans and larger windows. Some of the old school features like chalk boards and lockers have been blended in with the modern condo features.

Fulton Street Flats are FHA approved! This is a new addition to the downtown condo scene and has just been approved. These are affordable 1 and 2 bedroom condos with some nice standard features accross the street from Davenport University and minutes to the downtown core. Some features include large balconies, hardwood floors and granite counters. I like the location here and for the money, you get a good sized condo with reasonable association fees, parking and laundry rooms in each unit.

Park Row Condos are FHA approved. This is a recent addition to this list as of 1/7/11. Park Row condos offer 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms and are new construction. They also offer a very reasonable association fee and underground parking. One of the features I like is their location close to the Medical Mile. Solidly built and quiet. o noise from your neighbors.

For more information on any of these Grand Rapids downtown condos, visit my website or contact me any time.

Thirty Eight condos are a new upscale downtown Grand Rapids condo development, located at 38 Commerce Ave SW. The lucky owners of these unique, urban residences will find themselves in the center of Grand Rapids’ art and entertainment district. You will be surrounded by many fine restaurants and boutiques, with easy walking to our downtown venues such as the Van Andel Arena, Devos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids Art Museum and the many outdoor festivals and nightlife that downtown Grand Rapids offers. If you work downtown or are looking for a 2nd residence in town, this is the place.

As one of only a very few of Grand Rapids’ Penthouse condos, Thirty Eight will  feature lavish amenities and a sprawling floorplan from 1260 to 2500 square feet of downtown living space. There are several different layouts to select from or you can also design your own to your specific tastes. The sky is truly the limit. Attached parking is available from the city and what is interesting  is that your parking space is on the same level as your condo. Features will include Granite, Tile or hardwood floors and highend appliances. The condos are two bedrooms and two and a half baths. Three bedrooms are available.

*Prices from $370’s – $700k+, 2 and 3 bedrooms available
*From ~~1260 to 2500 Sq/ft.
*Association fee: from $387 depending on unit
*Coverage: Trash Pickup, Yard Care, Water, Sewer, Snow Removal, Insurance, Heat
*Features Incl: Secure entrance. Penthouse Styles. Multiple Layouts available or design your own. In Unit Washer/Dryer Hookups. Close to Art and Entertainment.

For more information on the Grand Rapids Real Estate market or any condo information, visit my website or contact me any time.

Click Here to view the available condos for sale at Thirty Eight.

Excellent opportunity at Hillmount Condos – FHA Approved

 Work Downtown and Live Downtown at the Hillmount Condos. This upgraded, large 1 bedroom – 1 bath corner unit has undergone extensive remodeling and is as good as new. Walls have been removed to open up the kitchen and it really works well in this downtown Grand Rapids Condo. The kitchen/dining/living area flow together to create a wonderful space to live and entertain. Some of the upgraded features include Maple Cabinets, Hardwood Floors, Stainless Steel Appliances, Bathroom Tile and a huge bedroom with dual closets.

Hillmount Condos are located at the corner of Cherry St and College at 505 Cherry St SE. These condos feature one of the coolest rooftop decks in town, a well equipped fitness room, wireless internet and is located 15 minutes from all of the excitement of downtown. Hillmount is also close to St Marys Hospital and has off street parking and secure entry. Take advantage of historically low interest rates and the $8000 Federal Tax to own this condo today. Use the $8000 towards your downpayment.

 Hillmount condos were originally apartments and were constructed in 1959. These condos were carefully restored by into cool Art-Deco/Moderne style downtown Grand Rapids residences. The building itself is solidly built with very little-to zero noise transfer between walls and floors. Air conditioning is provided by a window A/C unit or an interior A/C unit. This particular unit was originally finished last year and only very briefly lived in. It’s better than new.

If you are looking for Heritage Hill real estate, homes or condos, visit me at GRRealEstateInfo.com or contact me any time. Click here to view the Online Flyer.

Which Condos Are Getting The Looks and Which Condos Are Invisible?

 The downtown Grand Rapids condo scene is moving right along these days and with good reason. There is a lot going on in Grand Rapidsand with summer right around the corner, people are getting out more, enjoying the sunny weather, strolling through town and checking out some of the condos. One of the bonuses in having a strong online presence is being able to track the different trends in the Grand Rapids real estate market. It’s actually quite interesting. My website ranks at the top of the search engines for many keywords so I get to see first hand what potential buyers are interested in looking at and what areas of town are attracting the most attention.

My stats tell me that downtown condos are quite attractive to relocating buyers, those looking for a second home, young professionals and students. People are curious to see what’s available. Of the various condos, the ones that get the most interest are Union Square condos, Plaza Towers condos, Cityview condos and 65 Monroe condos. Up next I would say that Boardwalk condos, 47 Lafayette condos, Brickway Residences and the Riverhouse condosalso get a lot of interest. In fact the Riverhouse condos have just introduced several new condos with substantially reduced prices. There are several great condos there for under $200,000 now and in my opinion, these are a very good deal!!! Let me know if you want to take a tour.

Union Square condos are on the NW side of town and not quite in the downtown core, but the building is very interesting and there are a lot of floor plans to choose from. I wasn’t really crazy about these at first but now that prices are dropping, they really should be on your list. The building itself is quite interesting and has some nice features including a great roof top deck with pool and hot tub and a well appointed fitness center. I know several of the owners and everyone I talk to is extremely happy to be living there. Check out my new listing at Union Square here.

 Cityview condos and 65 Monroe get some love from the online community and it is well deserved. These condos are in one of Grand Rapids Tax Free Renaissance Zones where you live tax free until 2017. No city or state income taxes and no property taxes until 2017. Surprisingly there are a couple of other condos right on that same strip that never get any inquiries. The Monroe Condos and Front Row Condos are lovely Grand Rapids Lofts and are also in the Renaissance Zone. Front Row in particular are gorgeous downtown Grand Rapids lofts with all of the bells and whistles like European Tile and Bamboo Floors, huge ceilings with large windows and exposed brick.

Right accross the street are Peck condos. These are cute affordable lofts and for some reason don’t get the attention they deserve. Another overlooked condo is Fulton Flats. Very affordable new condo conversion with 3 out of 14 units sold. These are spacious condos with a good location and a good value. For the longest time, Park Row condos didn’t get much activity but they have changed to a new listing agent who is doing a very good job marketing them. These condos will do well as the location is fantastic and perfect for someone working in the Medical Mile.

If you would like to take a tour of any of these condos, feel free to contact me any time.

Fulton Street Flats are an affordable new condo conversion located a few minutes walk from the downtown Grand Rapids core, in the Heritage Hill Historic District. Fulton Street condos are located at 458 Fulton St SE, just west of College and right across the street from Davenport College. The exterior and grounds are clean and the developer along with the building contractor “Try Construction”, have done a wonderful job with the finish and the laying out the spaces. There are 13 units in this project and 3 have already been sold.

Fulton Street Flats offer affordable downtown living with 1 and 2 bedroom condos. One bedroom condos are approximately 800 square feet while the two bedroom units will have around 1100 square feet. The kitchens are generously decked out with granite counters, plenty of new cabinets and a good appliance package. (Black is available as is stainless steel). There is laundry hook ups built in to each unit and a large storage/pantry off of the kitchen. The bedrooms have ample space and in the two bedroom condos, there is a large master suite with your its bathroom.

As with many of our downtown condos, Fulton Flats condos have a great location. There are many attractions to Grand Rapids including the Van Andel Arena where all of the top acts can be found. The Bob has fantastic food, a sports bar and the always fun, Dr. Grins and there are plenty of art museums and coffee shops. These condos would make an excellent investment opportunity due to the colleges nearby and with low interest rates and tax credit incentives, don’t pass these by. Fulton Street Flats are now FHA approved!

Pricing: from ~$80s – 1 and 2 Bedrooms from 750 sq/ft
Association Fee: ~$100/mo
Includes: Yard Care, Trash Pickup, Water, Sewer, Heat  and Insurance
Features: Hardwood Floors, Granite Counters, Black and Stainless Appliances, Off-street Parking, Patio/Deck, Pets Allowed

If you have any questions about these or any other condos, please feel free to call me direct  at 616-570-1871 or contact me any time. If you are relocating to Grand Rapids, I can provide a comprehensive guide packed with local news attractions.

Cherry St Lofts are Priced to Sell!

Cherry St Loftsare having a major price reduction. There are three units available right now for $143,900 but these will be reduced shortly to $129,900. I spoke with the developer, Brice Bossardet at Virgin Soil, this afternoon and they want these sold. These downtown Grand Rapids condos are also available for rent at $900/mo. Click hereto view the online flyer.

Cherry St Lofts offer a great location close to St Marys and Cooley Law School to name a few. Located at 143 Cherry St SE just a few blocks south of Fulton, Cherry St Lofts feature off-street parking, in unit laundry, a full kitchen appliance package and a warm, inviting living space with a fireplace. The low association fees also include a roof top deck complete with hot tub and grill. These are 1 bedroom, 2 bath condos with a fireplace and over 900 square feet of living space. Unit #5 is ready to move into with the other units a few weeks from completion.

Now is a great time to buy with the new Stimulus package offering a $15,000 tax credit to all home buyers. For more information on these or any other home or condo, visit my website at GRRealEstateInfo.com or contact me any time.

Click Here to preview the available listings at Cherry St Lofts.

Timing Is Everything

 Even in this market you have to move fast when opportunity presents itself. I had posted a couple of days ago about some great deals that had just been listed. A Cityview condo foreclosure and a Monroe Terrace condo foreclosure. The Cityview condo I just knew was going to go fast and when I found out about it the morning it was listed, I notified my buyers and contacts of this great deal. I went to show it the next day and was probably going to write an offer on it today or tomorrow, but it turns out they had accepted a cash offer last Friday. Whoever got this one, scored. It did need some work to be sure, but there was nothing a good hose down, some paint and carpet couldn’t cure.

The Monroe Terrace condo at 600 Monroe Ave NW, I had been watching since it got listed. It had several price reductions and finally sold this weekend as well.

What this shows is that even in this market, these condos will sell if priced correctly and it’s a good idea to have everything ready before you start looking. With a foreclosure property, you will typically need proof of financing in the form of a pre-qualification letter from a lender and an earnest money deposit of $1000.00. I would get these ready ahead of time because it isn’t fun to find a great deal only to lose it because you couldn’t write an offer straight away.

If you have any questions about Grand Rapids real estate in general or Grand Rapids condos in particular, please visit my website or contact me any time.

 UPDATE: BOTH OF THESE FORECLOSURES HAVE BEEN SOLD! That didn’t take long and I am not surprised.

I have been paying more attention to the Grand Rapids short sale and Grand Rapids Foreclosure markets of late. Particularly in the short sale market as my broker, the Platinum Realty Group, has formed a relationship with a local law firm to negotiate with the banks on our clients behalf. We also have an experienced Debt Mitigation Professional in the office.

There are several downtown condo foreclosures currently on the market. There are a couple at Union Square although I believe one of them is pending. There is one condo at Monroe Terrace and one condo at Cityview condos.

Click Here to preview downtown Grand Rapids Condo Foreclosures.

Renaissance Zone Condos

 Monroe Terrace is located at 600 Monroe NW. These are loft style condos in a Grand Rapids tax free Renaissance Zone. Monroe Terrace are nice lofts featuring exposed brick, hardwood, tile and cool layouts. The foreclosure listing here is going to definitely need a little work but someone willing to use a little elbow grease could have themselves a nice loft condo downtown. The drawback on this one is that there is a billboard on the outside of the building that covers some of the windows. Not the best place in the world for a billboard. Creativity would be required here.

Cityview Condos enjoy a terrific location at 60 Monroe Center NW, the

Monroe Center Condos

corner of Ionia and Monroe Center in the Select Bank building. These are pretty spectacular condos with tall ceilings, large windows, granite, tile, hardwood/bamboo, rooftop deck etc. The great attraction to these condos is the location and the fact that they are in an extended tax free zone (until 2017). I showed the foreclosure listing here. It needs to be thoroughly cleaned, fresh paint, appliances, carpet, but aside from that, it is a corner unit and has some nice finishes like hardwood, ceramic tile and granite counter tops. In my opinion, this is a good deal but you will need to do some work and spend some money.

If you have any questions about the Grand Rapids real estate market, please visit my website or contact me any time. To take a tour of any of these downtown condo foreclosures, call me direct at 616-570-1871.

Downtown Grand Rapids Condos For Rent/Lease

I am offering 5 new Grand Rapids condos and lofts for rent. I’ll have more details on these soon but basically, I will have 2 condos for rent at the Brickway Residences for $900/mo and 3 condos at Cherry St Lofts for rent at $900/mo.

 The Brickway Residences are located at 56 Monroe Center, right in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. These are new, trendy, urban lofts with ~830 square feet, 1 bedroom and 1 bath right over XO Asian Cuisine. These condos include laundry and there is parking right around the corner. Brickway Residences have exposed brick walls, hardwood and concrete floors and are perfect for the student or someone wanting to live downtown.

Click Here for more information on this rental opportunity.

 Cherry St Lofts are located at 143 Cherry St, 3 blocks south of Fulton.  These are also new Grand Rapids lofts with parking, laundry and a nice roof top deck with gas grill and a hot tub. Close to St Marys and Cooley Law School, Cherry St Lofts would make a great home for students on someone working at the hospital. I have three of these condos available with one immediate occupancy.

Click Here for more info on this rental opportunity.

For more information and , please visit my website or call me @ 616-570-1871. More info and pics coming soon.

Affordable Downtown Grand Rapids Condos – Today’s Showings

 It really is a great time to buy a downtown condo, or any home in West Michigan for that matter. Grand Rapids’ condo prices have been adjusting downwards and interest rates are at record lows. You can lock in a rate in the low 5% range on a condo and with inventory still high, you have a nice selection of condos in any price range with which to compare.

I recommend using a buyer’s agentwhen looking to purchase any property. A knowledgeable buyer’s agent can potentially save you thousands of dollars but more importantly, they can share with you their input and insight to the various downtown condos in Grand Rapids.

This afternoon I am showing one of my clients some really great condos in downtown area. These are affordable, well priced condos in the $160,000 and under range. We will be seeing Avenue 23, 47 Lafayette, Boardwalk condos, Waters Towers condos, the Hillmount, Cherry St Lofts and Park Row condos. I’m looking forward to it.

Click Here to Preview Today’s Showings.

If you have any questions or would like to take a tour of some downtown condos, email or call me direct at 616-570-1871.