You are currently browsing the monthly archive for November 2009.
We have gathered a list of the TOP Caledonia Michigan Houses
to buy, based on price per square foot.
Please note that this list can change daily as some homes
sell, prices are adjusted and other homes come on the market.
Check back often or just subscribe to our blog to get
up-to-date local real estate information that you want to know.
The total square footage is noted here, although only the
main floors are used to figure price per square foot.
Lowest price/Sq Ft range from $57.60 to $88.08 in Caledonia.
November 2009 TOP BEST BUY Caledonia MI Homes
Highest list price is $292,080 Lowest list price is $59,900
The Top 29 Caledonia Homes to Buy by Price per Sq Foot:
8776 Morse Lake Ave $ 59,900 1040 Sq Ft $ 57.60 /SqFt
6937 McCords Ave $59,900 1032 Sq Ft $58.04/SqFt
8585 Acorn Ave SE $87,900 1282 Sq Ft $68.56/SqFt
3940 68th St SE $ 89,900 2247 Sq Ft $76.45/SqFt
6977 Hammond Ave $100,000 1950 Sq Ft $65.88/SqFt
4249 92nd St $104,900 1632 Sq Ft $64.28/SqFt
7221 Kettle Lake Dr $106,900 1782 Sq Ft $59.99/SqFt
6499 Belay Point Dr $129,900 2200 Sq Ft $85.91/SqFt
5780 68th St SE $130,000 1777 Sq Ft $73.16/SqFt
6606 Buttrick Ave $139,876 2674 Sq Ft $88.08/SqFt
213 Johnson St SE $134,900 1942 SqFt $69.46/SqFt
9628 Morse Lake Ave $ 144,900 2751 Sq Ft $61.66SqFt
209 Terrace SE $144,900 1650 Sq Ft $87.82/SqFt
1648 Crescent Pointe $149,900 2047 Sq Ft $73.23/SqFt
8544 Haystack Rd $156,750 1872 Sq Ft $ 83.73/SqFt
1616 Crescent Pointe $158,500 2174 Sq Ft $72.91/SqFt
6101 N. Costner Ct $169,900 1926 Sq Ft $88.21/SqFt
6634 Glen Hollow $169,900 3846 Sq Ft $80.98/SqFt
327 Johnson St $178,500 3000 Sq Ft $59.50/SqFt
8845 Whitneyville Ave $179,800 3000 Sq Ft $81.73/SqFt
7607 Golf Meadows Dr $186,900 3200 Sq Ft $84.95/SqFt
7328 Patterson Ave $190,000 3227 Sq Ft $76.71/SqFt
8706 Alaska Ave SE $194,900 3121 Sq Ft $62.45/SqFt
323 Johnson St $239,900 3800 Sq Ft $82.92/SqFt
9555 Kraft Ave SE $249,000 3216 Sq Ft $77.43/SqFt
10441 E Rivershore Dr $271,950 3095 Sq Ft $87.87/SqFt
2947 92nd St SE $285,000 4158 Sq Ft $68.54/SqFt
8860 Vincent Ave SE $292,080 4272 Sq Ft $69.54/SqFt
We are starting to see prices creep up and inventory go
down, so if you have been waiting for the best time to
buy in Caledonia, don’t wait much longer.
*Some of these homes may be bank owned foreclosures and
not habitable as is or available for a mortgage in present condition.*
Caledonia Michigan Real Estate
If you would like to see a Caledonia Top Best Buys Home, please
contact me: 1-888-240-1968 ext 0
or email me at terry@terrywestbrook.com
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate
Contact Terry 616-292-7263
We have gathered a list of the top East Grand Rapids Houses to buy
based on price per square foot. Please note that this list can change daily
as some homes sell, prices are adjusted and other homes come on the
market. Price per square foot is a great leveler. If two similar homes are
listed at similar prices, their price per square foot should be similar.
It should reflect the interior finish of the home. For example, if it has
crystal chandeliers, marble tile, a new kitchen, this would be more per
square foot than a home that still has the 1970’s decor and/or
is in derelict condition.
The total square footage is noted here, although only the main floors
are used to figure price per square foot.
November 2009 – 15 TOP BEST BUY East Grand Rapids Homes
Lowest price/Sq Ft range from $54.86 to $117.77
Highest List Price - $ 349,700
Lowest List Price - $ 89,900
The Top East GR Homes to Buy by Price per Square Foot:
729 Gladstone DrSE $ 89,900 800 Sq Ft $112.38/SqFt
2258 Lake Dr SE $155,000 2261 Sq Ft $68.55/SqFt
430 Rosewood Ave $159,900 2650 Sq Ft $73.72/SqFt
428 Edgemere Dr $164,900 3006 Sq Ft $54.86/SqFt
1646 Robinson Rd $164,900 3171 Sq Ft $52.00/SqFt
159 El Centro Blvd $164,900 1848 Sq Ft $89.23/SqFt
2752 Robinson Rd $169,900 1532 Sq Ft $110.90/SqFt
348 Gladstone Dr $174,900 1775 Sq Ft $98.54/SqFt
2150 Anderson Dr $209,000 3322 Sq Ft $75.29/SqFt
3030 Cascade Rd $209,900 3000 Sq Ft $111.77/SqFt
147 El Centro Blvd $215,000 2318 Sq Ft $108.48/SqFt
1401 Pinecrest Ave $220,000 2350 Sq Ft $103.97/SqFt
529 Rosewood Ave $265,000 3045 Sq Ft $87.03/SqFt
2305 Wilshire Dr $279,900 3000 Sq Ft $112.59/SqFt
1401 Breton Rd $349,700 3873 Sq Ft $102.85/SqFt
The bargains are still here but not as many as last month here in
East Grand Rapids this fall. Only one home under $100K (it is under
1000 square feet) has been listed for the past 6 months.
If you have been waiting for the right time to buy, don’t wait much
longer. We are seeing definite signs of competition for homes in most
areas, like East Grand Rapids and Forest Hills. Homes in good condition
and priced appropriately are selling quickly.
*Some of these homes may be bank owned foreclosures and not habitable
as is or available for a mortgage in present condition.*
East GR Real Estate Market Blogs
If you would like to view an East Grand Rapids Best Buy Home,
please contact us @1-888-240-1968 x 0 or email us :
Where Something Good is Always Cooking
Breakfast ~ Lunch~ Take-Out ~ Bakery
The Real Food Cafe is THE REAL DEAL! We probably go there for lunch at
least once a week. They only serve breakfast and lunch but it is better than
my Mom made. Their breakfasts are almost legendary. They serve
breakfast anytime and what a breakfast…..the home fries are just too
delicious to describe.
The pancakes are made with real buttermilk, fresh eggs and served with real
butter. Below is the picture of my two eggs scrambled and home fries.
The home made soups are always delicious. The burgers are 1/3 lb. of
Angus beef. The sandwiches are huge and definitely satisfying.
The omelets are mouth-watering.
The baked goods such as cookies, cakes and pies are all home made on site
and worth sacrificing the diet for. The crew and wait staff are all friendly and
genuinely happy at work. It just makes you feel good to be there. It is
always full of people eating “real food” and enjoying themselves.
One of our favorite people at Real Food is “Rosie.” She has known
the chef, Frank, since he was a little boy and is always busy seating
people, getting drinks, and generally bustling around with a friendly
word and smile to all.
They have recently expanded and added an additional location:
Real Food Cafe
at 5430 Northland Dr. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525
(616)361-1808
If you like “real food made with real ingredients by real people,”
this is the place to go.
We are there often, so we hope to see you , too.
The Real Food Cafe 2419 Eastern Ave.
Grand Rapids MI 49507 (616)241-4080
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate
Contact Terry 616-292-7263
We love to try new places to eat, especially for lunch. But Marie
Catrib’s in the East Hills neighborhood of Grand Rapids is an old
favorite. We have friends, John & Betsy who live in Heritage Hill
and Marie’s is a great place to meet.
The atmosphere is cozy and warm. The restaurant is always busy.
And the food is unusual and delicious. I prefer the vegetarian,
local products, my spouse prefers traditional fare. At Marie’s,
both of us are happy with the selections.
On our recent visit, I ordered the veggie Sweet Potato and
Quinoa burger [heavenly and huge] while my pard ordered the
Turkey Rueben [messy but delish].
Marie Catrib’s From the Street
East Hills is the center of the universe.
A take-out case is loaded with great offerings.
Marie Catrib’s is located at 1001 Lake Dr SE Grand Rapids MI
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Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate
Contact Terry 616-292-7263
This charming Tudor Style home will be open for the first time on Sunday
22, 209 3-5 pm. Ottawa Hills, in Grand Rapids has been a wonderful
neighborhood to live in Grand Rapids since the 1930’s.
This quality built home has refinished hardwood floors on the main floor,
and a fireplace in the living room for warm, crackling fires for the holidays
and into winter’s cold, snowy evenings. It alos has a sunroom, a large kitchen,
half bath off the back entry. A two stall garage, a backyard deck, and an attic
for storage or future expansion.
1407 Alexander SE Listed at $129,900
There is a new neighbor coming in the fall of 2010: a new Christian
Elementary School. If you lived in this home, your children could
walk to school, it is less than a block away.
Grand Rapids Christian School Under Construction in Ottawa Hills
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Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate
Contact Terry 616-292-7263
I took 2 hours for a sight seeing trip while in San Diego to walk through
USS Midway Museum, which was just a short walk from my hotel. I took
a few photos of the flight deck, control tower and views around the
harbor. Hope you enjoy this brief tour.
I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to see how our Navy
crews lived through WWII, Vietnam, and Desert Storm.
In the Vietnam War, I flew Helicopters for the 155th Army Air Corps.
The Vietnam workhorse Huey helicopter, one very similar to what I
flew back in 1970 was on the flight deck. During the Vietnam War,
I’m sure the USS Midway provided air cover for several of the
Missions I was involved in while serving.
The runway and conning tower of the United States’ longest
serving carrier in the 20th century.
It was fascinating to learn that this ship burned 260 gallons of
oil for every mile and carried a 3.4 million gallon fuel capacity.
The new carriers are powered by a Nuclear reactor, so refueling
isn’t a problem anymore.
Another trivia tidbit that awed me – the USS Midway served
10 tons of food daily to the crew of 4500. 3000 potatoes and
1000 loaves of bread were served daily.
And 500 pies were served when offered.
If you would like to see all of my photos from the trip they
are all in this video montage:
Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate
Contact Terry 616-292-7263
Grand Rapids Michigan is a diverse metropolitan area comprised of
many local cities and communities that surround the city of
Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids metro area is the second largest
“city” in Michigan with a population around 1 million.
West Michigan is a beautiful 4 season area of Michigan that has lots
of hardwood forests, rolling hills, Lake Michigan shoreline, hundreds
of lakes and rivers, and a thriving, diverse work environment with
educated workers. We have 25 colleges and universities in our
area, including the new Michigan State Medical School on the
“Medical Mile” in downtown Grand Rapids with a student population
of around 32,000+ students.
Getting To Know Grand Rapids:
Since pictures speak louder than words, we have links to photos
& videos of some of our local communities:
Ada Michigan is a small community southeast of Grand Rapids with
an excellent school system and lots of suburban homes.
Caledonia Michigan is a small suburban community that has farms
and a rural setting.
East Grand Rapids is a city bordering on Grand Rapids that has
lovely older homes, an excellent school system, and excellent city services,
including community events, and over 100 miles of plowed city
sidewalks in the winter.
Kentwood Michigan is a suburban community southeast of Grand
Rapids with businesses, such as Steelcase, one of the nation’s largest
office furniture manufacturers and lots of suburban housing subdivisions,
both new and established, plus rental communities for housing options.
Lowell Michigan is a small community east of Grand Rapids with a
vibrant business community, excellent school system, and a mixture of
older homes and newer subdivisions, all centered around the Flat River.
Rockford Michigan is a small community north of Grand Rapids
on the Rogue River. It is home to the global shoe manufacturer, Wolverine
Worldwide [Merrell, Patagonia, Harley Davidson brands], but has a small
town feeling with unique boutiques, shops, and wonderful restaurants.
Many newer homes, established subdivisions and older homes populate
the Rockford area.
Quality of Life in Grand Rapids:
Grand Rapids Michigan Rated 5th Most Affordable Housing in US –
Aug 21, 2009 – CNN Money has rated the top cities in affordable housing.
Top Schools in West Michigan – 6-15-2009 – Six West Michigan public
Schools were rated in the top 1500 schools in the nation by Newsweek.
Spectrum Hospital Ranks in Nation’s Top 100
Restaurants in the Grand Rapids Area:
Good Eats – Marie Catrib’s in the East Hills Neighborhood of Grand Rapids offers
unusual fare in a friendly atmosphere.
The Thornapple Daily Grill in Ada, Michigan – March 9, 2008 –Nestled in
heart of downtown Ada near the Thornapple River, this Gilmore
Restaurant is a favorite with local patrons for lunch or dinner.
More than Tacos at Taquitos Mexican Grill – Aug 1, 20009 – Located in
the old Herkimer Hotel, no dark and dingy digs here.
First Choice for Chinese in Forest Hills = First Wok – Dec 4, 2009 – Located in
the heart of Cascade, this Chinese Restaurant is one of our favorites.
The Grille Restaurant at Watermark Country Club – March 9, 2008 –
Serving fresh local foods when possible, this restaurant is always
busy. Whether you stop in for a business lunch or have a quick
meal after you play nine holes, you can’t go wrong here.
The Monterey Grille in Caledonia – March 9,2009 – A great local place
for breakfast or an after work get-together at the sports bar.
Recreation in Grand Rapids:
Art Prize – Sept 24, 2009 – Planned to be an annual event in Grand Rapids,
Art Prize took the city by storm this year with over $250K in prizes,
artists from all over the world bringing their art creations to GR.
Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey – May 11, 2009 – A Night at a Griffins
Play-off Game
White Caps Baseball Signals Spring – March 15, 2009 – Opening day
for the local AA Team is much anticipated in Grand Rapids.
Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park – The Sculptures;
The Conservatory ; The Children’s Garden ; Butterfly Exhibit
Meijer Gardens Summer Concert Series 2010 – April 26, 2010 –
16 concerts held at the Outdoor Amphitheater.
Grand Haven – Aug 24, 2009 – Coast Guard City is a great destination for
tourists and Michigan day trippers, like ourselves.
Golf in West Michigan –
Roselle Park – Nov 6, 2009 – Natural Habitat Refuge on the Grand River
with an observation tower, viewing deck, canoe/kayak launch, miles of
walking trails.
Grand Rapids Golf – With over 900 courses in West Michigan, it could
take a few months to play them all. A few local golf course articles &
photos.
Real Estate Information for Buyers & Sellers:
Which Mortgage Do I Choose? – Key questions to ask yourself and
lenders before you finalize your mortgage.
Buying Foreclosed Homes is NOT FUN! – May 6, 2008 –
A few buying tips on foreclosed properties. Be Aware. Be Prepared.
Use a Seasoned Buyer’s Agent.
Are you Looking for your Grand Rapids Dream Home? – May 13, 2008 –Lots
of internet searches for the perfect home are being done right now.
Sellers Beware! Avoid 11 Mistakes That Could Cost You Hundreds, even
Thousands of Dollars!
The difference between a profitable, seamless
transaction and a break even, miserable experience is often a fine line.
Top Ten Questions You Should Ask Before You List Your Home – Crucial
areas of expertise your Realtor should possess.
Homes in Greater Grand Rapids Area:
Grand Rapids Michigan Homes Search
East Grand Rapids Michigan Homes Search
Caledonia Michigan Homes Search
Kentwood Michigan Homes Search
Rockford Michigan Homes Search
Wyoming Michigan – Search for Homes
Search Luxury Grand Rapids Homes
Grand Rapids – Condos for Sale
Kentwood Condos for Sale
Waterfront Homes for Sale
Would your kindergartener come home and ask for a bowl of cereal
in Mandarin Chinese? If you live in the Forest Hills School System
in Grand Rapids Michigan, this isn’t as far fetched as it sounds.
The Meadowbrook Elementary School is home to the Forest Hills
Chinese Immersion Program. This program is the first of its kind in
West Michigan. The program just received a Federal Grant of $238,000
for the first year. If all program objectives are met, it will receive
additional funds for the next 2 years.
Leaders in Forest Hills educational community decided to add Mandarin
Chinese Immersion to their bilingual offerings with the assistance
of Michigan State University’s Confucius Institute. Currently 2
Chinese teachers are on the school faculty to give students in
the program an early start in bilingual education.
The Forest Hills District is continuing to expand Mandarin language
courses at middle and high school levels. With 55 percent of the
world’s population speculated to be from Asia in the year 2025 and
5 percent from North America, being fluent in Chinese will be a real
asset in the future business world.
Forest Hills also has a Spanish Immersion Program running at the
Ada Vista Elementary School.
Additional Forest Hills Schools Articles:
Forest Hills Schools Get Face-Lifts This Summer
Forest Hills Schools Update 2009
Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate
Contact Terry 616-292-7263
Front doors are the first impression that visitors and passersby
get of your home. We all make instant judgments about a home’s
interior when we see the front door, just like we do about a person
we first meet. If you want to make a good first impression, you
should make sure your front door is attractive and welcoming.
I have a fascination with front doors. I drive by homes and
look at the front door or front entry. I love to see a home with
a touch of personality or a piece of artwork displayed by the front
door.
This front door reminds me of castle. I saw several doorways similar to
this in England inside the castle walls.
Holidays and seasonal decorating are especially fruitful for my
voyeuristic entertainment. I especially like the his and hers
well-dressed scarecrows guarding this front door.
Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate
Contact Terry 616-292-7263
No one wants to get ill and end up in the hospital. But life happens.
We get sick, we get in accidents, we fall off ladders and break bones,
we have babies. When this happens it is very comforting to know
you have an excellent hospital in your local area that will be able to
care for you until you recover.
Here in Grand Rapids, Michigan we are very fortunate to have one of the
nation’s best hospitals to care for our citizens in need of health care.
Spectrum Health has 7 Hospitals and more than 140 service sites.
Spectrum Health’s 14,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members
and 2,000 volunteers are a major part of our community and our economy,
providing $98.6 million in community benefit during its 2007 fiscal year.
Spectrum Health has earned more than 50 national awards during the
past 10 years. A recent study recognized Spectrum Health as one of
the best hospitals in the country for the sixth time in 10 years.
Spectrum Health was included on the list of Thomson Healthcare’s
100 Top Hospitals for 2007.
The winners were announced in the March 17, 2008 issue of
Modern Healthcare magazine.
The 100 Top Hospitals have higher survival rates, keep more patients complication-free, and have lower expenses-all while maintaining financial stability. Thomson Healthcare estimates that if all Medicare inpatients received the same level of care as those in the 100 Top Hospitals winners:
- more than 120,000 additional patients would survive each year
- nore than 138,000 patient complications would be avoided annually
- expenses would decline by an aggregate $6.2 billion a year
- the average patient stay would decrease by more than half a day
If you are planning on relocating to Grand Rapids Michigan, you can rest assured your medical needs will be in good hands.
Spectrum Health facts taken from Spectrum Health website – press releases
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