Cool Home Ideas–Grand Rapids and Beyond
Looking for some cool home ideas that will elevate your humble abode to a whole new level? Look no further. We have helped thousands of clients with renovation mortgages in Grand Rapids and have seen some pretty cool interiors and exteriors. We will share below some of the cooler pictures and descriptions of the cool home ideas that we have seen.
Cool Home Idea #1: Movie Theater Room
One extremely popular and relatively cheap and easy cool home idea is to design a room as a home theater. Paint a wall white or any neutal color and then install a projector at the back over the couch (can be as little as $250. Add surround sound to complete the project. Any old bedroom can be made to look like this and it is a cool home idea for new empty nesters.
Cool Home Idea #2 Remodel Your Kitchen
Remodeling your kitchen is the classic cool home idea. The kitchen is where you will entertain guests the most so it might as well be the coolest room in your house. So many kitchens look the same make yours different. One great way to get a kitchen home remodel looking great and costing little is to use a 203k loan. You can get all new stainless steel appliances and add an island in the center of the kitchen. For a different kind of look opt for a circle island. A plug for an ipad or tablet can make for a great electronic cook book.
Cool Home Idea #3– Exposed Gym/patio/other
Admittedly this idea does not work everywhere but with the right type of sliding glass it can even work in areas like Grand Rapids where it is cold half the year. It is relatively easy to build an added 4 walls with some support beams in the back of your house regardless of the type of patio you currently have. You can install sliding glass that you can use in the colder months or at times with lots of bugs. Working out in fresh air is better any ways!
To get some start on these or any cool home ideas you may need funding. One great option for funding is the 203k home repair loan, it has been helping home owners to make cool home ideas come true for a couple years now and is an FHA product available to most home owners.
Memorial Day 2012 in Grand Rapids, MI
Wondering what to do on Memorial Day in Grand Rapids/West Michigan? Or When is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day, this year will be Monday May 28, 2012. Memorial Day is a time when we remember our nation’s great veterans is for most people a day off work and a great time to go to the cottage or spend more time with the family.
One of the events that characterizes Memorial Day in most cities around the US is the Memorial Day Parade. Experience GR.com notes that this year the Memorial Day parade will be the Weds after Memorial Day at 7pm. Although it could be a typo, it would in part make sense because of the high number of people who travel out of Grand Rapids during the Memorial Day weekend.
One fun event on Memorial Day that you might enjoy if you are athletic is the Memorial Day Time Trial sponsored by the Grand Rapids Bicycle Company and the USAC. The event does have limited information but you can visit the link above for more information.
One great way to celebrate Memorial Day no matter where you end up is by having a family barbecue. Michigan has so many great breweries that providing your BBQ guests with good spirits should be no problem at all.
Finally if you are in Grand Rapids and jut need some more creative ideas just head down to the Meijer Gardens to spend a nice day with your family.
Treadstone Funding is a mortgage company in Grand Rapids that specializes in Veteran’s mortgages with zero down payment required. If you or someone you know is a veteran please congratulate them for us. We would also always be happy to help with a VA loan.
Investment Property Mortgage: How to make great ROI off an investment property
Everybody knows somebody that makes money off of investment properties. Why couldnt it be you? You can now get a mortgage on investment properties the same way you would a normal home. Some of the details and requirements are different but the basics are the same. You can buy a home for a certain amount down, and then rent it out to pay your mortgage payment. The rest is money that you can either use to pay off the home faster or you can use it just as you would any other income.
In Grand Rapids especially there are many options for investment properies. A mortgage on an investment property might seem like a big investment at first but if you buy in the right city it can pay off quickly. A $75,000 home for example might leave you with a payment of around 550 a month for 15 years. If the home has 2-3 bedrooms you can easily expect to collect upwards of $800 per month in rent.
Investment property financing can often be tough but Treadstone Mortgage has experience in helping local people increase their financial stability through wise decisions on investment properties. At Treadstone financing investment properties is not just something we do professionally it is also a hobby.
Investment Property Mortgage Requirements & Guidelines
- Minimum 20% down payment but buyer can secure a much better interest rate (translates into long term savings) if you put down at least 25%.
- Seller can only pay a maximum of 2% of the buyer’s closing costs
- Cash Reserve Requirements*
- Credit Score Requirements*
- House you purchase must meet certain safety standards before you can ethically and legally rent it out.
- Zoning requirements*
All of the Asterisks** exist because different cities, states, and loan programs have slightly different requirements depending on purchase price and a myriad of other factors. Once you call to set up a consultation we can help you figure out the investment property mortgage requirements that will apply to you. Call today. 616 774 9160.
Grand Rapids– Mortgage Companies in Grand Rapids, MI
One of the hardest parts about buying a new home is often just finding the right mortgage companies to work with.
The biggest issues when choosing a mortgage company are honesty and location. You want to work with someone who is in the same local area as the home you are planning to buy.
Honesty and communication are also important factors and it is extremely important that you work with a mortgage company in Grand Rapids, MI who is always available to answer your questions. Often times local businesses have the best communication and will be able to get your loan done expediently.
One good mortgage company in Grand Rapids, MI is Treadstone Funding
Treadstone Funding has teams that specializes in all major loan types in cluding FHA 203k mortgages (great for repairs), VA Mortgage Loans, Zero Down Loans, and even escrow repair.
Treadstone is a growing company that is always hiring new talent from the Grand Rapids area. If you are looking for a good local mortgage company with a great reputation in the Grand Rapids community check us out. You can see what people have said online. Many of our customers even leave us positive Google reviews. Just try, Google “Treadstone Funding” and see what people are saying!
How To Get Pre-Approved For a Mortgage–An Insider Guide
Ten years ago it was pretty easy to get a mortgage and buy a home. Now things are a little harder but still doable. One thing you must understand is how to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan! Understanding what pre-approval means will make the mortgage process easier for you and will increase your chances of getting everything right when you apply to be pre-approved for a mortgage loan.
5 Things That Matter For Pre Approval & Thus How To Get Pre Approved for a Mortgage Loan
- To Get You Must Give: To receive a pre approval for a mortgage you must provide basic information such as your name, address, DOB, social security number, occupation, and average income. All of this can usually be given to a loan officer via phone or online form. Mortgage companies are required to use secure online forms to ensure the security of your data.
- Be Honest: As soon as your loan officer uses your social security to run your credit all of the data is pretty much there but sometimes the details can trip you up later in the process, a pre approval often depends on the quality of information that is given. Providing honest information will save you time later in the mortgage process.
- Do You Pay? One question you will be asked is whether or not you pay your bills, it seems easy but be honest think of any instances where you may have had late payments or just forgotten a bill.
- How Much? Whether or not you will be pre approved for a mortgage also depends on how much you are looking to get pre approved for. You may find that you are pre approved easily for a $100,000 but when you then find a house that is $200,000 you may not meet the requirements to receive pre approval.
- Can You Afford It? Your loan officer and his team will examine your total earnings compared to the total amount of bills you have. This is known as your debt to income ratio and it largely determines whether or not you will be pre approved. We will look at your total assets including savings, stocks, 401ks, IRAs and more. To show income you may need W2s, pay stubs, and tax returns.
If you come to the table knowing all of the above information it will be much easier to get pre approved and get into your new home. To alleviate all of your questions and concerns about how to get pre approved for a mortgage call Treadstone Mortgage in Grand Rapids today we help all of Michigan with the pre approval process!
To apply for pre approval now click here!
Mint Julep Recipe– A Great Drink Recipe For a Warm Grand Rapids Night
With Grand Rapids getting warmer by the day (finally) one great way to relax if you are of age is to enjoy a mint julep– so below are 2 great mint julep recipes that are local West Michigan favorites. A Mint Julep is one of those great seasonal drinks that really could be enjoyed any time but seems to be even better in the spring and summer outside.
Mint Julep Recipe #1
Ingredients:
2 tsps of water
2 0z bourbon whiskey
3-4 fresh sprigs of mint
1 tsp powdered sugar (regular will work also)
To prepare muddle the mint leaves, sugar, and water in a small glass. Fill the glass with either shaved or crushed ice depending on your preference and then add the bourbon for a kick. Many people like to add more mint to the top as a cute garnish but realistically its not completely necessary. I mean really people who drink bourbon rarely necessitate anything with a garnish.
Mint Julep Recipe #2
Since its 85 degrees in Grand Rapids and most of the country today this recipe is for a frozen mint julep. Its like a slurpee for awesome adults.
Ingredients:
2 oz bourbon whiskey
1 oz sugar syrup
1 cup ice
1 oz lemon juice or mint extract
Blend everything, then add sprigs on top to make it classy. Easy. simple. Refreshing.
Cinco de Mayo 2012 – Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids Cinco de Mayo 2012 Events
Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for “The 5th of May” is this Saturday! Find out what is going on in Grand Rapids here! We have a list of events for everyone including an outdoor festival on Ionia St, walking for hunger, and events for the whole family!
Fiesta GR
If you attended or wished you had attended Irish on Iona here is your second chance! Ionia Street will be blocked off from Fulton to Weston so those 21 and up can partake in a daylong celebration featuring tequila and beer tents, live music, salsa lessons, food, and a Buffalo Wild Wing Eating Challenge. The event begins at 4pm. Tickets are $10; get them before they are gone! The first 200 people to arrive at the event will receive a FREE 16oz Bee Mug! This event is brought to you by Thunder 94.5 and Grand Rapid’s Arena District for more information, click here.
The Belt Line Bar in Grand Rapids – Win tickets to see Kenny Chesney!
If you are looking for a bar to go to this might be the best deal! Not only can you enjoy a great Mexican meal and drinks, but also participate in their Sombrero contest. From 5-7pm, judges will be wandering looking for imaginative and unique sombrero… and there are prizes!
- 1st place Kenny Chesney Tickets
- 2nd place West Michigan White Caps Tickets
- 3rd place $25 Restaurant Dining Certificate
Drink specials will also be offered to celebrate: $5 House Margaritas, $3 Bottled Mexican Beers & $3 Tequila Shots
“We Be Jamin” at Billy’s Lounge
Billy’s Lounge will be hosting Chicago Afrobeat project on Saturday. There is a $5 cover charge. Doors open at 7pm with $2.50 Red Stripe drink specials and the show starts at 9:30pm.
35th Annual Hunger Walk
Join over one thousand walkers on Saturday raising money for local and international hunger relief. The walk will take place in rain or shine! The walk starts at 8:30am, check in at 8am. Register for the Walk online. For walker tips and resources and information about this year’s 23 participating hunger-fighting agencies, visit the website.
Holland Tulip Festival
The Holland Tulip Festival is a beautiful event for the whole family. Experience a celebration of Holland’s Dutch Heritage and blossoming flowers. The event begins at 8am on Saturday with Tulip Time Run followed by an art and craft fair, a carnival, fireworks, and more! For a complete list of activities click here!
Homes For Sale in Ada,MI and Ada Mortgage Company Options
Did you know that there are at any point in time new homes for sale in Ada, Michigan? Ada is a great place to buy a home because not only does it have great homes for good prices but there are also many great Ada restaurants as well as people.
Ada still has a relatively low population (around 10,000) making it a quieter city and a great place to raise a family. Not only are housing prices still reasonable but depending on your career path you might be interested to know that Ada is the home of Alticor (subsidiary of Amway). Additionally Ada is only 12 miles from Grand Rapids making it a great option for those who work in GR but don’t enjoy city living.
There are many great homes for sale in Ada, and for the most up to date Ada real estate listings i recommend www.TargetGrandRapids.com they update their Ada Real Estate listings daily and more importantly up date new low prices all the time.
For many peopel the real question is how do i get a mortgage in Ada, MI. One company that has over ten years of experience serving Ada Mi with mortgages is Treadstone Funding.
Many parts of Ada qualify for zero down RD home mortgage loans.
The zip code for Ada is 49301, the Ada ZIP codes 49355, 49356, 49357 are assigned to specific organizations.
Top 5 Tips For Successful Realtors
So you are a Realtor eh? So are thousands of others throughout your city and the world, how are you going to shine? Well its hard work but overall it can be done as demonstrated by the hundreds of realtors in the US and abroad who truly are “killing it”. Below you will find our top 5 tips for successful realtors that come from just that… successful realtors and real estate executives.
Top 5 Tips For Successful Realtors
1. Be Passionate. Real estate is tough, if you are not passionate about it you wont be able to compete with those realtors who live, breathe, and drink it. Real Estate is really the same as any sport in that respect. You have to keep practicing and developing your passion but since it is more of your passion than work it doesnt weaken you but rather it makes you stronger.
2. Be Unique, Spend Unique. The classic addage that you have to spend money to make money is definitely in part true. That being said you have to spend money on the right kinds of marketing. Look at what others are doing and do something different, better yet do 3 things different. Cookie cutter approaches can serve as temporary solutions and may even bring in leads from time to time but they share one thing in common: the prices go up, and your competition figures it out quick, and at the end of the day the total leads coming in from this source dwindles to nothing. If you want marketing done, hire a creative marketing company or work with one. You dont necessarily need to work with a marketing company who already works for every other realtor in your town.
3.Outsource Wisely. You only have so much time in your day, and at the end of the day you can only do so much. So successful realtors must do their best to understand what they have to do themselves and figure out what they can hire someone to do. For many realtors this comes down to the fact that their bread and butter is selling or buying. If thats the case hire a part time secretary, hire a marketing intern, buyer’s agent, etc. Although this might not be the case or in the budget for someone who is just starting out it doesnt mean new agents cant adapt this strategy as well. New agents can form partnerships that work the same way.
4.Stay Connected. Be Connected. This tip could really encompass the whole “top 5 tips for successful realtors” list but its simple and yet is crucial and under utilized. Stay connected with every single person you meet and work with. We live at a time where we have phones, letters, email, Facebook, and more–there is no excuse not to stay connected to every person you have a number or address for. These are the people who are going to keep you successful when the market is hurting. Maintain an excel database of all past clients, friends, and people you know. Label, organize, and update. Be Connected to people in the local community. The more people you know the more you grow {your business}. Talk to your barista, talk to your maid, talk to everyone– they are bound to know people looking to buy or sell real estate and all they already like you. Remember that while phony experts come out every day touting the need to be on social media, at the end of the day the most successful way to use social media is just to keep in touch with your contacts.
5.Brand Yourself. Surround Yourself. These are almost two separate tips for successful realtors but they do relate. First you need to brand yourself as an expert in something or in some area. Give yourself a unique identity as a realtor or real estate professional. This helps you to evolve from just 1 of 1000 names on a realtor list to a specialized expert. Second surround yourself with peolpe who have similar values and who are just a little more successful than you are. Is your mortgage company driving you to succeed? What about your title agency and co-workers? Everyone you work with professionally reflects back on you. Make sure to work with quality local people who can not only make you try harder, but who can spread the good word of “you”.
Bonus Tip: Even the best realtors have off days. Always Stay Positive. Without positivity none of the other tips work. So get out there and help your customers and “may the odds be ever in your favor”.
(if you liked the above quote check out our blog about how real estate is like The Hunger Games)
Treadstone Funding is a Residential Mortgage Lender in Grand Rapids Michigan. Treadstone has been voted one of the best mortgage companies in Grand Rapids to work with by realtors, clients, and the local community. See how Treadstone Funding can help take your real estate career to the next level.
When is Earth Day 2012? And Things To Do in Grand Rapids for Earth Day.
Earth Day comes around every year but with the “green” kick thats been going around (finally) people seem to take more notice of Earth Day now than ever before especially in the Grand Rapids area.
When is Earth Day 2012?
Earth Day 2012 is scheduled for Sunday April 22. In fact Earth Day is scheduled to be on April 22 until at least 2015 when it may change.
Grand Rapids Earth Day Activities
So you now know when Earth Day is, we got lucky and its on a sunday but what kinds of things to do are there on Earth Day in Grand Rapids? Well it turns out that Earth Day is all about the Earth so Sunday itself is pretty sparse for events but the Earth Day weekend is chocked full of fun things to do in and around Grand Rapids.
One great event for the family is the Party for the Planet taking place at the John Ball Zoo the day before on April 21.
Another great option for a classic earth day tradition is to get your family together and plant a tree. It might seem obvious but planting a tree really does help the planet. It is also something that you can watch grow over the years.
Many local businesses are offering specials for Earth Day. Chipotle in particular is trying to promote its new lunch bags by offering a free burrito to anyone who buys one of their reusable bags. Origins beauty products is offering to swap you any half full bottle of cosmetics for a full size bottle off their green skin care line.
The national park service is offering free admission to all 397 of its parks from April 21-29. This is a great way to spend Earth Day outside with your family.
A furniture store in Grand Rapids, The Mattress Sale is also giving away a $25 gift card to anyone who wears green into their store between now and Earth Day. They are a “green” furniture store in Grandville, MI who feature a special line of Green Mattresses and Products.
So now you may be asking why a mortgage company is posting about earth day. Well its easy, we try to be green as well. We offer a “green” energy efficient mortgage. The 203k is a home repair loan that can be used to green up your new house to make it both more earth friendly and energy efficient. You can put all new energy efficient appliances in your home, get solar panels, or even bamboo floors. If you know someone who likes to be earth friendly please let them know about our green 203k home repair loan.
And of course have a happy Earth Day and remember to come back here if you need to remember “when is Earth Day 2012″ or “things to do in Grand Rapids for Earth Day.”
Resources
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