This is a great incentive to bring the entire family downtown on select days and check out some of our museums. At no charge!

Press release:

Grand Rapids, Michigan — For four Sundays in 2012, the four major downtown museums will open their doors free of admission. One Sunday each quarter, January 22, April 15, July 15 and October 21, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and the Grand Rapids Public Museum will join together to welcome the region’s residents for free general admission at each institution from noon to 5 pm.

Generously supported by presenting sponsors Amway and Fifth Third Bank, the collaboration was organized by Rebecca Westphal, formerly with the Public Museum. “The idea came from other cities such as Boston and Los Angeles, where similar collaborations have existed for years. After researching the concept, we had preliminary conversations among the museums, but until major sponsors were secured, the idea couldn’t move forward,” said Westphal. “It is so terrific that Amway and Fifth Third have stepped up to make this happen for the community.”

The collaboration has numerous benefits for all who will participate. Downtown Grand Rapids will welcome visitors drawn by the attraction of the free admission, some of whom may not have been downtown recently, or ever. These visitors will become familiar with the amenities available–the shops, restaurants, and parking options, making them more likely to return for additional reasons. They will have four more reasons to endorse the message “Let’s go. downtown.”

Free general admission will be offered during these Museums Free 4 All dates and hours:

Sunday, January 22, noon – 5 pm

Sunday, April 15, noon – 5 pm

Sunday, July 15, noon – 5 pm

Sunday, October 21, noon – 5 pm

Any special programming or exhibit fees may still apply.

Read more at GRNow.com.

Downtown Grand Rapids is a great place to call home and a great place to visit if you live out in the burbs. There are just so many opportunities for fun for the whole family and one of them is Rosa Parks Circle which is located at the corner of Pearl and Monroe. Originally called the Monroe Mall Amphitheater, it was renamed after longtime Michigan resident, Rosa Parks.

During the warmer months of the year, Rosa Parks Circle serves as a venue for outdoor concerts and shows. During the winter months, it is frozen over and converted into an outdoor ice skating rink.

This week, starting today, Rosa Parks Circle has been converted into a giant Ice Chess game board and large blocks of ice will be carved into playing pieces.  During the match, as a piece is taken, it will be smashed. All we need now is for “he who shall not be named to show up”!

This event is being filmed by the Food Network for their new TV show, Ice Brigade. Filming begins at 10am, the chess match shall start at noon!

You will find a schedule of events at Rosa Parks Circle here.

Rosa Park Circle Operating Hours:

Monday-Tuesday 6:00-9:30p.m.
Wednesday-Thursday 12:00noon-9:30p.m.
Friday-Saturday 12:00noon-10:00p.m.
Sunday 12:00noon-9:30p.m.

Admission fee to the rink is $1.00
Skates are free with I.D.

Just one more reason why Downtown Grand Rapids is a great place to live. If you work downtown, there are many housing options available including some really great downtown Grand Rapids Condos.

A bright spot of news in the downtown Grand Rapids condo market is that Hillmount condos has sold out. They recently sold their last developer condo, a first floor, 1 bedroom – 700 sq/ft condo which sold for $75,000. That makes Hillmount condos the first of the large scale downtown grand Rapids condo conversions to accomplish that feat. So congratulations to CWD Real Estate on a job well done. Hillmount is actually about a 10 minute walk to the heart of downtown and is located at the corner of Cherry St and College. It’s a nice little community with a large Fitness Facility, great roof top deck and WiFi throughout the building. There are several condos that are for sale at Hillmount still that are resales.

Some of the other larger Grand Rapids condo conversions that are getting closer are Boardwalk Condos and Union Square Condos. Boardwalk still have several of their higher priced condos remaining. This is nice little community right across the street from the Grand River. Boardwalk have more amenites than any other condo and a couple of unique features. These are 2 courtyards, one with a pool/hot tub and the other is a wooded space with walking trails and grills. There is a salon, theater room, fitness center, restaurant, deck and kayaks on stand by.

Union Square condos have done fairly well with most of their units sold. Most of their low to medium priced condos have been sold with just several of their Penthouse condos remaining. Union Square is another fun community with many amenities and parking, plus some Tax Free benefits still in play.

Fitzgerald condos, a high end downtown condo, has sold 20 of of their 39 condos. These are moving slower as they don’t have any lower priced units, but they are half way there. Excellent quality construction, attractive floor plans and a great location make the Fitzgerald a very desirable place to live.

Riverhouse Condos is also one of downtown Grand Rapids’ success stories! With 155 condos out of 205 sold, the units are moving fast. You can get a good bang for your buck at Riverhouse, with 1400 square foot, 2 bedroom condos in the $200’s. Many of the remaining condos are going to be more expensive now though as they are usually the last to go, but there are still several good opportunities to own. River House condos offer plenty of amenities to their buyers and are a few minutes walk to downtown.

For more information about Grand Rapids Real Estate, Homes of Condos, feel free to contact me any time. You can also search online for homes and condos right here on this website.

This is a must see Union Square Penthouse Condo that we have just reduced to $215,000. And what a great price it is! This stunning downtown Grand Rapids condo located at 600 Broadway Ave NW #603, resides on the top floor and faces east, providing incredible views of the city. Many tasteful upgrades include Cherry Hardwood floors throughout the main level with a kitchen that is loaded with Granite counter tops and a snack bar and Cherry cabinets.

The upper level has been setup as the owner’s suite and it is simply incredible. This huge, bright and private retreat features large windows and an enormous walk-in closet with a separate shoe closet. The Master bathroom has dual vanity, a large Jacuzzi tub, stand-up shower and French doors.

The lower level features professionally installed built-ins and an office area. It is currently set up as a family room and is plumbed for another full bathroom. This room could easily be converted into a second bedroom. Renaissance Zone tax benefits as well as (NEZ) Neighborhood Enterprise Zone tax benefits apply. This penthouse condo is truly one of the most incredible downtown spaces to be found and is a must see. 2 separate (side by side) garages are also included. This condo is being offered as a short sale. All offers are subject to bank approval and we have already received approval from the bank and do not expect the usual prolonged wait. You will not find a penthouse condo in Grand Rapids anywhere near this price!

Union Square Condos are one of Grand Rapids coolest downtown condo communities. With many floor plans to choose from and a vibrant collection of happy owners, Union Square is a great place to call home. Amenities include parking, pool and hot tub on a large open deck, a community room with flat screens and and a pool table and a very well equipped fitness center.

For more information on anything concerning Grand Rapids Real Estate, or if you would like a private tour of this condo, feel free to contact me anytime.

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Rivertown Park condos are new construction condos located just behind Rivertown Crossings Mall in Grandville. These Grandville condos are very affordable with many amenities, reasonable association fees and all condos have their own garage. There are several floor plans to choose from including Townhome style condos and ranch style units. Built by Rohde Construction on a 120 acre site, the plans for this development include485 condo units in addition to over 50 singlole family homes and a senior living facility. There are 13 different condo plans on 5 different building sites.

One of the great things about these condos is their location. Located directly behind Rivertown Crossings Mall, Rivertown Park condos are also very close to the I-196 highway and M-6 highways which makes it a convenient location for commuting to downtown Grand Rapids or out to the Lake Michigan coast and all of the awesome recreational watersports and summer fun activities that it offers.

Many of the condo’s interior amenites at Rivertown Park are appliances, balconies, cathedral ceilings and garages spaces.The finished product is very good, especially considering the reasonable pricing and low association fees.  Interiors are clean and bright with tasteful paint. The kitchens offer a snack bar, eating area with cathedral ceilings in the living area. Lucky owners will also enjoy a pool and on-site fitness facilities. Attractive financing packages are also available with Zero Down loans to qualified  buyers and 4.99% interest rates.

For more information on Rivertown Park Condos or Grand Rapids Real Estate in general, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Pricing: from ~$110’s – 2 and 3 Bedrooms Available
Association Fee: Depends on Unit, starts in the $140’s
Includes: Yard Care, Trash Pickup, Water, Sewer, Insurance.
Features: Private garage, Balconies, Pool, Fitness Center, Pets Allowed

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Elementary Schools near 4912 Polar River Grandville, MI 49418

9 Elementary Schools found within 3 miles radius.

School	Type	Grade Level	Enrollment	Students per Teacher	Distance (mi)
Grandville Grand View Elementary School Phone: (616) 254-6120 3701 52ND St SW, Grandville, MI 49418	Public	K-6	583	22	0.6
Grandville South Elementary School Phone: (616) 254-6211 3650 Navaho St SW, Grandville, MI 49418	Public	K-6	400	17	1.33
Calvin Christian School Association Phone: (616) 532-2373 3750 Ivanrest Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418	Private	PK, K-12	831	20	1.38
Grandville West Elementary School Phone: (616) 254-6250 3777 Aaron Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418	Public	K-6	375	21	1.84
Adams Protestant Reformed Christian School Phone: (616) 531-0748 5539 Byron Center Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49519	Private	K-9	205	17	1.97
Tri-Unity Christian School PK-12 Phone: (616) 532-6766 2104 44TH St SW, Wyoming, MI 49519	Private	PK, K-12	339	16	2.21
West Elementary School Phone: (616) 530-7533 3600 Byron Center Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49519	Public	K-4	340	20	2.26
Grandville East Elementary School Phone: (616) 254-6080 3413 30TH St SW, Grandville, MI 49418	Public	K-6	346	20	2.28
Grandville Central Elementary School Phone: (616) 254-6010 4052 Prairie St SW, Grandville, MI 49418	Public	K-6	231	16	2.29

Middle Schools near 4912 Polar River Grandville, MI 49418

5 Middle Schools found within 3 miles radius.

School	Type	Grade Level	Enrollment	Students per Teacher	Distance (mi)
Calvin Christian School Association Phone: (616) 532-2373 3750 Ivanrest Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418	Private	PK, K-12	831	20	1.38
Calvin Christian Middle School Phone: (616) 531-7400 3740 Ivanrest Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418	Private	7-8	152	12	1.41
Grandville Middle School Phone: (616) 254-6610 3535 Wilson Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418	Public	7-8	907	18	1.87
Adams Protestant Reformed Christian School Phone: (616) 531-0748 5539 Byron Center Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49519	Private	K-9	205	17	1.97
Tri-Unity Christian School PK-12 Phone: (616) 532-6766 2104 44TH St SW, Wyoming, MI 49519	Private	PK, K-12	339	16	2.21

High Schools near 4912 Polar River Grandville, MI 49418

5 High Schools found within 3 miles radius.

School	Type	Grade Level	Enrollment	Students per Teacher	Distance (mi)
Calvin Christian School Association Phone: (616) 532-2373 3750 Ivanrest Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418	Private	PK, K-12	831	20	1.38
Grandville Orion High School Phone: (616) 254-6712 4900 Canal Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418	Alt.	9-12	103	16	1.65
Grandville High School Phone: (616) 254-6430 4700 Canal Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418	Public	9-12	1855	21	1.65
Adams Protestant Reformed Christian School Phone: (616) 531-0748 5539 Byron Center Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49519	Private	K-9	205	17	1.97
Tri-Unity Christian School PK-12 Phone: (616) 532-6766 2104 44TH St SW, Wyoming, MI 49519	Private	PK, K-12	339	16	2.21

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What a great opportunity to own a great downtown Grand Rapids condo at the Boardwalk. And it is for a great cause! Parkland Properties of Michigan is raffling off one of their condos at Boardwalk to benefit abused and abandoned dogs. All proceeds from the raffle will benefit dogs at the Mackenzie Foundation and help to keep it running.

The Boardwalk condo being raffled is a 2 bedroom, 1 bath loft with exposed brick and duct work and awesome views of the Grand River. You can either take the condo or $100,000, the choice is yours. Unit #237 is a corner unit and 1 covered parking spot is included.

Boardwalk Condos have been one of the fastest selling condos in Grand Rapids. Located at 940 Monroe Ave NW, these cool urban spaces offer more amenities than any other condo in town. Some of the unique features include 2 separate courtyards. One of the courtyards is a peaceful wooded space with walking trails and grills. The other courtyard has a good sized pool and hot tub. The Bar/Restaurant, J.D. Reardons, offers a large terrace over-looking the pool area where you can enjoy a few drinks and a delicious meal with friends. There is a Roof Top Deck, Nail Salon, Theater room, Game Room and downstairs is Endurance Fitness center. Condo owners can join at a very reasonable price.

Tickets are $100 and can  be purchased online at the Mackenzie Foundation’s website. It’s for a great cause and the prize is fantastic. For more information about Boardwalk condos or any other condo in Grand Rapids, please call me direct or email anytime.

A bill has been introduced that would extend the “closing date” for the Home Buyer Tax Credit. The original deadline to have a fully executed purchase agreement was April 30th, 2010 and that has not changed. However, one of the criteria in order to be eligible for the Tax Credit was closing before June 30th, 2010 and many buyers will not make it. So there was a measure introduced to extend that deadline to September 30th of this year instead. The measure was offered as an amendment to H.R. 4213, a tax extension bill now in the Senate.

I don’t mind this at all as I have a few clients that have purchased homes that are short sales. These homes typically take much longer to close and buyers are at the mercy of the banks which are totally swamped with distressed properties.

The single family homes sales average price is up 9.8% over May 2009. The year  to date average sales price is $115,099, up 15.6% compared to the same time last year. Homes sold in May was down by nearly half compared with last year and the inventory of homes for sale remains relatively unchanged. Year to date 5,099 single family homes have sold through May, up 13.7% over the same period one year ago.

The drop off of sales in May can be attributed to the tax credit expiring however I am seeing more interest  and more inquiries about Grand Rapids real estate this year compared to last.

Parade of Downtown Grand Rapids Condos

June 11 – 13, 2010

• Friday 4pm – 8pm
• Saturday 10am  – 5pm
• Sunday 12pm – 4pm

Well it’s that time of year again when downtown Grand Rapids’ condos open up their doors and show off a little. If you have been curious about the downtown condo market and would like to check some of them out, the Parade of Downtown Living is a great opportunity to not only learn about the various condos like Riverhouse, Fitzgerald, Park Row, 38 Commerce, Boardwalk etc, but also to enjoy a fun afternoon in the city.

ADMISSION

Admission is $10.00 for all 3 days.You can purchase a wristband at any of the properties on tour and catch a bus to visit all of the properties.

FREE PARKING & BUS PICKUP

City Lot Area 7 is south of Michigan and north of Pearl
Northwest lot is behind Boardwalk Condominiums, enter off Mason street between Monroe and Ottawa.

Tour guides will be on the buses to help you with your questions. You can volunteer and get a free pass for the weekend. Call 616-459-3133 for information.

Special Events

SPECIAL EVENTS

These events are included in the costs. Wristbands are required.

Friday, June 11

4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
The Gallery
Cocktail Party

4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Dwelling Place Art Exhibit and Open House
For many artists, downtown Grand Rapids is home. Visit an available Dwelling Place artist live/work space and enjoy the work of local artists and refreshments.
62 S. Division Avenue at Avenue for the Arts.

Saturday, June 12

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
38 Commerce
Rooftop Champagne Brunch

12 PM – 2 PM
Boardwalk Condos
Free grill-out and drink specials on
JD Reardons’ restaurant deck in the pool courtyard
[Free Parking]

11 AM – 1:00 PM
The Fitzgerald
A free lunch will be served on the Green Roof Terrace.

Sunday June 13

12 PM – 2 PM
Boardwalk Condos
Free grill-out and drink specials on
JD Reardons’ restaurant deck in the pool courtyard
[Free Parking]

Well worth the $10 if you are interested in learning about the downtown Grand Rapids condo market. If you would like a private tour, more specific information about a certain condo or have a home to sell, contact me anytime.

2010 Festival of the Arts

Beginning today on Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids, is the 2010 Festival of the arts. Art, food and entertainment all starting today. Music from all genres, entertainment including films, dancing and theater. There will be dozens of food booths with a wide range of dishes, indoor and outdoor stages featuring various artists and bands.

The regional art exhibition features local artists and the Youth Art Exhibit will display artwork from local students. Some of the artwork will be on sale at Calder Plaza.

Artists and bands will perform on indoor and outdoor stages.

All performances, exhibits and activities are free, thanks to donations from organizations and individuals.

Dozens of food booths will be set up, offering a range of courses and dishes.

The Regional Art Exhibition will feature local artists, and the Youth Art Exhibit will display artwork from students.

2010 Festival of the Arts