If you’re casually watching the market—or actively planning a move—December is a helpful month to step back and get a clean snapshot of what’s happening. Not hype. Not headlines. Just the numbers and what they usually mean in real life. Here’s your December Market Pulse for the entire Grand Rapids MLS area , followed by a practical read on what it suggests for buyers and sellers. The 3 numbers that matter 1) Average sale price:   $389,748 That’s a 3.9% increase year-over-year

Buying your first home—or your first home in a long time—can feel overwhelming. There’s a lot of information out there, and not all of it is equally helpful (or accurate). After working with many first-time buyers in the Grand Rapids area, I’ve noticed the same few issues come up again and again. These aren’t things buyers don’t care about—they’re things most people simply aren’t told early enough. Here are three fundamentals I believe every buyer should understand before  st

A clear, warm look at what 1.8 months of inventory really means. If you’ve watched the Grand Rapids real estate market over the past few years, you know it hasn’t exactly been… calm. In 2021, we hit a historic low of 0.7 months of inventory , which essentially meant homes were selling faster than they could physically come on the market. For buyers, it felt like sprinting a marathon. For sellers, it felt like winning the lottery. But lately, something important has been happe

If you’re thinking about selling your home, you’ve probably heard this advice before: “Let’s price it a little high so we have room to negotiate.” Sounds logical, right?In reality, that extra “room” usually costs you time, money,  and momentum. 💸 The Garage Sale Effect It’s kind of like marking your garage sale at retail prices—no one’s buying, but your mom will still tell you it’s “such a nice setup, honey.” Buyers today are savvy. They’ve seen every comparable home in thei

“A Little Chill in the Air—and in the Market” As fall settles over East Grand Rapids, the crisp air and changing leaves aren’t the only signs of the season—our local housing market is cooling, too. But before you imagine spooky headlines about plunging prices or vanishing buyers, take heart: this slowdown is right on schedule. Every year, as families settle into school routines and the holidays approach, the pace of home sales naturally eases. And this October is no exception

Every year, people around Grand Rapids hit pause and say, “We’ll wait until spring.” It sounds smart—kind of like saying you’ll start...