The Katie-K Team knows all about raising kids in East Grand Rapids, and appreciates the fact that Kiplinger’s recognized our hometown as one of the top ten cities for raising kids! In a recent radio campaign, Katie decided to focus on East Grand Rapids families and East Grand Rapids education in two spots airing on WOOD and WKTG. Follow the links to hear the clips (the audio file will open in a new tab) and read on to see what Kiplinger used for its criteria in the selection:

Katie-K on East Grand Rapids
Katie-K Discusses Great Education in East Grand Rapids

Excerpt from Kiplinger.com article:

10 Great Cities to Raise Your Kids

Choosing the best place to raise your kids is pretty daunting. Great schools, plenty of libraries and playgrounds, and safe, family-friendly neighborhoods all come at a cost to parents. Weighing the factors can prove challenging.

We took a two-step approach to come up with our list of the best cities to raise kids. First, we looked for metropolitan areas with high household incomes relative to living costs, a large percentage of families with children under 18, and low crime rates. We weren’t seeking the cheapest places to live, but rather places where earnings potential is more than adequate to cover a family’s expenses.

Then, we honed in on a specific city within each of our top 10 metro areas that’s well-suited to raising kids based on educational factors (spending per student and the quality of local school districts) as well as fun factors (availability of public parks, playgrounds and libraries). We also looked at each city’s average income for families — as opposed to median income for all households — to give a realistic sense of how much it can cost a family to live in a place with so many kid-centric benefits.

Last year, 607 individuals performed the chicken dance and set the Guinness World Record for the greatest number of people wearing animal noses (specifically chicken beaks!) at a single venue.

In 2011, 925 rubber chickens were tossed in downtown Grand Rapids, shattering the previous record of 265 set near Boston, Mass. The largest gathering of people wearing false mustaches was achieved by 648 participants at an event organized by the St. Louis Rams in September 2012.

Afterward, join the fun at one of several LaughFest events.

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinners – Starting at 6 p.m.:

LaughFest chicken dinners are held in partnership with the Grand Rapids Downtown Alliance. A portion of the money from every dinner sold will be donated to Gilda’s Club. A listing of participating restaurants and more information about the chicken dinners can be found at http://downtowngr.org/laughfestchickendinners/

Opening Night Parties – Starting at 8 p.m.:

Beginning at 8 p.m., four area restaurants will hold “Opening Night Parties,” which are open to the public. The participating restaurants will have drink specials, giveaways and other surprises. Opening Night Parties will be held at:

• Pub 43
• GP Sports
• The Woods
• Buffalo Wild Wings

Opening Night Preview Comedy Shows (8 p.m. & 9 p.m.):

• Dr. Grin’s at The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave.
• McFaddden’s Restaurant & Saloon, 58 Ionia
• The Pyramid Scheme, 68 Commerce Ave.

LaughFest comics will provide a sneak peak of some of the Clean Comedy Showcase, local comedians, and other surprise guests who will be featured during the 10-day festival. A suggested $5 donation to Gilda’s Club will be collected at the door. Fast passes are available for these shows at LaughFest Central, which guarantee the holder a seat at the show as long as they are seated 15 minutes prior to start time.

Participating artists include Jackie Kashian, Pete Lee, Cash Levy, Jamie Lissow, Mark Normand, Andy Ptz, Erik Rivera, Bengt Washburn, Stu McCallister, Ben Wilke, Adam Degi, Adam Trieu, Matt Lauria, Brian Borbot, Henry Sapp, DK Hamilton and David Dyer.

For complete details, schedules, tickets, contests, and ways to help the cause, visit LaughFestgr.org

Katie Karczewski has been a partner of Keller Williams Realty Grand Rapids and the number one KW agent in West Michigan for more than 12 years. Now she’s lending her real estate savvy to serve as Operating Principal of a new Grand Rapids Market Center North that promises to bring the Keller Williams brand of high-caliber training, integrity and tech know-how to a new generation of real estate professionals. Beginning in January, the company will begin recruiting passionate real estate professionals to expand the Keller Williams’ presence in the Grand Rapids north market.

“The market is ripe for expansion following unprecedented shifts in supply and demand. I’ve had more multiple offers on properties in virtually every transaction this last quarter than ever before, and demand continues to skyrocket. People have realized that the market hit bottom and with interest rates at a historic low, they’re responding in full force,” Karczewski said.

During the first quarter of 2013, she will be looking for entrepreneurial-minded individuals who are interested in joining Grand Rapids’ number one realty company. The Grand Rapids Market Center North will cater to “plug and play” technology aficionados who want to build their real estate practice using cutting edge methodologies — and technology — for success.

“Keller Williams is unparalleled in setting the standard for real estate training, coaching and consulting. I am especially looking forward to giving back to my profession by mentoring the next generation of real estate professionals. Our company motto has always been ‘Win-Win or No Deal.’ That philosophy extends from our relationship with our realtors to our individual treatment of home buyers and sellers,” Karczewski said.

The Katie-K team will continue its tradition of outstanding sales and service in its core markets with extra support from newest team members, Tanya Craig and Cathy Dracht, who both possess considerable prior experience and  track records as producers. Interim offices are now open at 4949 Plainfield Avenue NE, with plans for a permanent facility in the works for a northern East Beltline location.

Professionals interested in joining the Market Center North team are encouraged to contact, in confidence, the Katie-K Team at (616) 575-0119.

If we can assist you or your friends in any way, please do not hesitate to Contact Us.

In the extract below, the National Realtor Association reports that on the national level, the inventory of homes for sale is still tight, leading in some cases to bidding wars. We’ve especially seen the same kind of activity on attractive, well-maintained properties in desirable school districts such as East Grand Rapids and Forest Hills. If you’re a buyer when inventory is tight, you’ll want an accredited ABR (Buyer’s Representative) like Katie-K team member Tanya Craig helping you navigate the bidding process. And if you’re selling your home, you’ll want Grand Rapids top producing realtor, Katie-K, to help you get top dollar. For the best of both worlds, talk to the Katie-K team today!

From the Realtor’s Confidence Index: Low Inventory/Multiple Bidding

REALTORS® reported that the inventory of homes for sale remains very tight, resulting in multi-bidding in some cases. REOs and other properties do not appear to be coming on market sufficiently to meet demand, while sellers are also waiting for prices to pick up further. Listings for properties that are in good condition are reported as receiving multiple offers. Investors are snapping up REOs, paying cash.

Here are few direct quotes from the report, which can be found here:

• “I feel that the price of housing is going up due to the lack of inventory that is available, once the banks start releasing more property’s I feel that it will become a more stable market and the bidding war will end!!”
• “Inventory still down, sellers waiting for prices to go up if they can; rental market is way up, prices too.”
• “Buyers want properties in A1 condition. Investors are out there & will do the work to get property in A1 condition but only at a rock bottom price.”
• “Foreign investors focused on foreclosures make up most of our potential buyers.”
• “All entry level single family homes are multiple offer. Many homes are sold to investors prior to reaching the MLS, then within hours of listing on the MLS, it changes from active to under contract.”

Whether you’ve got a nosy spouse or a curious kid, you need a good hiding place to squirrel away those gifts until you find time to get them wrapped and under the tree. Here are some ideas, compliments of the folks at NAR’s home owner site, HouseLogic & author Courtney Craig.

1. Borrow a friend’s house. Swap storage spaces with a trusted friend or neighbor, and you won’t spoil any surprises. This is particularly useful if you’re buying someone a big present, like a bicycle or a car — you might talk a neighbor into letting you borrow space in their garage until Christmas morning.

2. Pop the trunk. This won’t work if you have an SUV or hatchback, but if you’ve got a car with a trunk that’s closed off from the backseat, it’s a primo place to hide gifts. Small children will never get in there.

3. Make your office work for you. If your office is a safe, secure place, squirrel some presents there. This is only an option if you work out of your home, though — home offices are prime targets for prying eyes.

4. Take stock of kitchen pots. Got a huge stock pot? Unless you’re planning to make a giant vat of soup anytime soon, the stock pot can hold a load of small gifts, and chances are your family will never think to look there.

5. Make use of your underwear drawer. Small presents can easily fit there. Your spouse probably won’t hesitate to look there, but your kids might stop short of rifling through your skivvies. (We hope.)

6. Crack the crawl space. If you don’t mind a little dirt and some creepy-crawlies, the crawl space can hold some sizable presents. Don’t store anything there for too long, though — unless your crawl space is insulated. Moisture and temperature changes could damage items. Plastic toys are OK to keep outside; electronics should be stored inside.

7. Rent a storage space. If you’ve got a ton of presents to hide, you’ll need to look outside your house. Some storage units offer one-month-minimum specials for as low as $25. Check the storage units in your area for deals.

8. Go for the cleaning supply closet. Worst-case scenario: Your kids might find presents there, but they’d also find the cleaning supplies, which means they might actually clean something. Now that would be a Christmas miracle.

Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/blog/home-thoughts/where-to-hide-christmas-presents/#ixzz2FLn2S95o

Holidays are a great time to catch up with friends and family. If you know a “millennial” in the greater Grand Rapids area who’s been on the fence about buying a home, tell them to contact the Katie-K team for expert advice about timing and navigating tight inventory while rates are low. As NAR’s recent report suggests below,  the millennial generation, long thought to be housing-averse, may be ready to buy:

The millennial generation has grown up during the years of the housing boom and ultimate bust. But the shakiness of the housing market over the years hasn’t deterred their will to buy.

Ninety-three percent of millennials, aged 18 to 34, say they plan to buy a home at some point, according to Trulia’s 2012 American Dream Survey. Forty-three percent of the generation are already home owners.

“Millennials have been shaken, not scarred by the housing bust,” says Jed Kolko, Trulia’s chief economist. “Nearly all of them want to own a home someday if they’re not home owners already. But many of them think today’s low prices and low mortgage rates will last. They may be in for sticker shock if the cost of home ownership has returned to normal levels by the time they’re ready to buy.”

Source: “Reminder: Millennials Want to Buy Homes!” HousingWire (Dec., 2012)

In this report, S&P Case-Shiller show that the national home price index  is up for 5th straight month, and is up on a year-over-year basis for first time since 2010. Of the 20 major metropolitan areas for which data is kept (Grand Rapids is not one of the composite cities used in the index) Detroit recorded the highest monthly increase at 6.0% over its May 2012 level. Overall year-over-year pricing growth rate was recorded at 2.5%, twice the national index. This report is great news for those who’ve been awaiting stability to make their next move. Talk to Katie-K for an analysis of your Grand Rapids micro-market, and put our hard work in your corner!

(From S&P Dow and BMO):

S&P Dow Jones Indices – the leading measure of U.S. home prices – released data today showing that all three headline composites ended the second quarter of 2012 with positive annual growth rates for the first time since the summer of 2010. The national composite was up 1.2% in the second quarter of 2012 versus the second quarter of 2011, and was up 6.9% versus the first quarter of 2012. The 10- and 20-City Composites posted respective annual returns of +0.1% and +0.5% in June 2012. Month-over-month, average home prices in the 10-City Composite were up 2.2% and in the 20-City Composite were up 2.3% versus May.

For the second consecutive month, all 20 cities and both Composites recorded positive monthly gains. Eighteen of the 20 MSAs and both Composites posted better annual returns in June as compared to May 2012 – only Charlotte and Dallas saw a deceleration in their annual rates.

BMO Economics commented on the home price index, saying that higher equity and home values must be providing some much-needed comfort to U.S. consumers. The report showed a more-than-expected rise of 0.9 per cent, seasonally adjusted.

“This represented the fifth straight monthly gain, and lands the index 0.5 per cent above year-earlier levels – the first positive reading in nearly two years,” said Jennifer Lee, Senior Economist, BMO Capital Markets.  “This report is very good news, and shows that prices are getting support from the pickup in demand for housing as well as fewer distressed homes on the market.  It also represents a much-needed boost given the release of today’s consumer confidence index for August, which shows a drop of 4.8 points.”

A look at individual areas provided further encouragement, according to Ms. Lee.  “Eighteen of the 20 metro areas saw home prices rise in June, the most since 2006. On a year-over-year-basis, 13 areas are now able to say that home prices have grown, including Phoenix, Miami and Minneapolis.”

Ms. Lee noted that U.S. housing prices are likely to stabilize further in 2013, with demand improving on firmer job growth and easier lending standards.