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, 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.

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.

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!

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!

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 #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.

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.

35^th 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!

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.

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.