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.
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!
How new Facebook Offers can Generate Actual ROI for Realtors and Small Businesses
Facebook recently launched a new option for small businesses called Facebook Offers. If you are a realtor or small business in Grand Rapids, MI or any other great town around the US the following article will describe some pro’s and cons of Facebook Offers.
Why? With Groupons and Living Social’s becoming ever more popular Facebook decided about a year ago that it wanted to get in the game as well. Most Groupon’s get shared to Facebook anyway so why not just eliminate the middleman and let businesses offer rewards to their customers straight through Facebook.
How & Why It Can Benefit Realtors and Small Businesses: This is where you have to be creative if you aren’t selling a tangible product. If you are a realtor it is a great way to get your message or service that you are promoting out to your fans in a way that is easy for them to share with others. On standard Facebook page posts you have to post something interesting and then add a call to action. With a deal or coupon for your service (check RESPA rules and violations) you can create a call to action that is by its nature “share-able”. Groupon deals in the past have offered waivered appraisals, gift cards at closing, free lists of hud homes, HD property photos at no extra charge, and even percentages off closing costs depending on state. And thats just real estate. If you are a local business not in a highly specialized field the options could be limitless.
How To: Facebook offers for business pages launched a couple of months ago and are at this point not yet available for use on all business Facebook Pages. If your page allows it you will see the option next to where it says, “status, or photo”.
Tips: To make an effective offer, show a picture of a client utilizing your service happily, and or include the financial reward to the customer that will induce more sharing. Also try to give away as much as possible, in terms of percents off things usually need to be more than 20% off small amounts to make people excited. For things like real estate the more creative you can be the more you will stand out. At the end of the day an Offer is like a status that gets more views.
If you need help marketing your real estate or small business career in Grand Rapids Michigan or nearby give Treadstone Funding a call our marketing department would love to help you. 616 774 9160 x 228.
Treadstone Funding is your source for Grand Rapids Home Mortgage Loans.
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.
Homes For Sale in Holland, MI and Mortgage Rates
If you are looking for a great city to consider buying a home consider Holland, MI. There are many great homes for sale in Holland and even better there are great mortgage rates and programs available for people looking for homes for sale in Holland.
One great place to search for Homes for Sale in Holland is www.TargetGrandRapids.com which features the newest homes for sale listings in both Holland, MI and around the state.
One great aspect to buying a home in Holland is the Tulip Festival. The flowers make for a scenic landscape and contribute to the relaxing feel of the community. There are many great restaurants and shops that also contribute to Holland’s overall feel.
Another great thing is that mortgage rates in Holland are still low. Treadstone Funding has offices in Holland and Grand Rapids and has a variety of Holland mortgage specialists that can help you get a home in Holland today at a great mortgage interest rate.
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.
Grand Rapids SEO Infographic- A Spoonful of SEO Helps the Ranking Go Up
A Spoonful of SEO Helps The Ranking Go Up Infographic
We help alot of clients and one of the things that we get asked alot in Grand Rapids is how to make your page pop up sooner on Google and other search engines.
The answer in short is to add a little spoonful of SEO.
We created this helpful infographic just to illustrate the point that SEO is something you have to do a little bit of every day. Sites that are stagnant die but ones that constantly do a little bit of research and add valuable information do quite well.
SEO is also not something you can just buy and do one time. It requires constant work and monitoring.
If you need help on your SEO and are in the Real Estate industry give us a call and we can help.
Resources
If you are ready to apply for a loan right now, click here. This will take about 10-15 minutes to complete.
Are you still using that High School yearbook photo for your headshot? Contact Treadstone for a FREE professional headshot. Give us a call or e-mail us.. mattm@treadstonemortgage.com 1 (616) 774 – 9160
Copyright 2012 Treadstone Funding - All Rights Reserved
Equal Housing Opportunity Treadstone Funding ™ 2009
Site Design by: Press75.com | Powered by: WordPress