Category Archives: michigan

Slideshow: The Best Home Basketball Courts

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Home court advantage is a huge thing especially as we start getting down the wire with college basketball. Winning on the road is no easy task especially in conference play. Same goes for the NBA where every team wants to be able to play in front of their own fans, sleep in their own beds and have the comfort of a familiar court. To a basketball player, your home court is one of your favorite places to be. So why not have a basketball court for your home?

We’re not talking about just a hoop in the driveway. We’re looking for the most pristine courts that make practice at home just as good as if you headed to a training facility. That’s one of my ultimate dreams and something I wished for as a kid: my very own personal basketball court. Here’s a look at some of the best home basketball courts on coldwellbanker.com:

1. The Driveway Court in Buchanan, MI – $5,895,000

So normally driveway courts are attainable for pretty much any home, but this one is exceptional. A custom court has been laid out to allow for just the right feel and it offers enough room to shoot from any spot outside the arc. Plus it allows you to enjoy the sunshine and the feel of an outdoor court. Currently listed by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New Buffalo, MI.

2. The Padded Box in Blue Bell, PA – $4,499,000

I was often told growing up that I needed a padded room and this is the very one I’d want to be secluded to. This indoor court has hardwood floors, a glass backboard and enough pads for me to bang my head against when I get frustrated with my inconsistencies at the free throw line. Currently listed by Michael Marchese with Coldwell Banker Preferred in Blue Bell, PA.

3. The Regal Court in Little Rock, AR – $4,250,000

Purple is the most regal of all colors and what is more fit for a court than the color of kings? I love the custom emblem on the floor that gives you the feel that you’re stepping onto a court of champions. Currently listed by Barb Beatt with Coldwell Banker RPM in Little Rock, AR.

4. The Palace at Medina in Medina, MN – $2,895,000

Full court basketball just outside your bedroom. Could a hoops fan ask for anything more? Too snowy to make it to practice? Have it in your home. I might look to add a scoreboard just to make it official. Currently listed by Coldwell Banker Burnet in Wayzata, MN.

 

Slideshow: 5 Big Game Worthy Man Caves

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This weekend is the big game. Scratch that. It’s THE game of the year. Whether or not you could care less about the Ravens or don’t know how to spell the last name of the QB on the 49ers, chances are you’re watching this football game. Even if it’s just for the ads.

Games as big as the this require a larger than life experience. You want a really big TV, some exceptional snacking options and an incredible place to watch the game. We went hunting for just the right type of room to watch the game on coldwellbanker.com and came across 848 homes currently for sale that have the term “man cave” in the property description.

This week’s slideshow reveals 5 of the most interesting man caves on coldwellbanker.com that we think are worthy to watch the biggest day of football in:

1. Wall of Wonder in Sandy, OR – $750,000

An entire wall dedicated to a screen. Now that is a viewing room. Who cares that there is no furniture in the room? That means there’s nothing obstructing your view! Currently listed by Coldwell Banker SEAL in Lake Oswego, OR.

2. Personal Pool Hall in Wilmington, NC – $1,085,000

There are man caves that are great for watching a game and then there are man caves for experiencing a game. This is the latter. Two big screen TVs flank the walls of this man cave with a pool table in the middle and plenty of seating for even the largest of gatherings. Currently listed by Barbara Pugh with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage.

3. Home Theater in New Buffalo, MI – $7,350,000

Now this man cave has some class. Theater seating on what look to be ridiculously comfy couches and a massive screen on the wall for enjoying every touchdown. I would love a Fathead of Adrian Peterson on the wall, but that’s just me. Currently listed by Chad Gradowski with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New Buffalo, MI.

4. Artistic Man Cave in Longboatkey, FL -$8,450,000

This man cave appears to be more suited for the Academy Awards than the big game, but we see it’s potential for it. Leather seats are a must for any man cave and this one has that in spades. Currently listed by Patrick DiPinto with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in Longboat Key, FL.

5. Stadium Seating in Pacific Palisades, CA – $21,500,000

Beyond the man cave, this home is incredible. I think I saw a big screen TV in a walk-in closet in the photos on  coldwellbanker.com, but this man cave takes the cake. Amazing widescreen on the wall for watching the game, plenty of room for guests, and ottomans for kicking back and enjoying football and eating massive amounts of wings. The only thing missing is a bobble-head collection lining the walls to class the place up a bit. Currently listed by Ginger Glass with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Beverly Hills, CA.

Two of the Best Suburban Places to Live

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bestplacessuburbanites Two of the Best Suburban Places to LiveThis past month Coldwell Banker Real Estate released its latest study on the Best Places to Live for various types of people and focused this last one on those we refer to as Suburbanites.

These are the folks that like to live in places that are within close commuting distance of work, prefer to stay in rather than go out and put a great amount of importance on the area’s safety and school stature. I’ll confess, I’m one of these people. Before you think this study to be less than interesting, the towns suburbanites like to call home are some of the prettiest communities you’ll ever come across.

In the video above, we teamed up with LXTV Open House to showcase two of the top 10 towns for Suburbanites: Haworth, NJ and East Grand Rapids, MI. I’ve never been to either of these places, but as you’ll see in the video they both offer a picturesque locale and all the benefits a suburbanite could ask for.

Take a look at the video above and see what other towns ranked well in our Best Places to Live for Suburbanites survey.

Real Estate Headlines for the First Full Week of August

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0718batman2 Real Estate Headlines for the First Full Week of August

A home with a Batpool.

The East Coast has mugginess galore and wherever you’re reading this from I’m sure you’re in the midst of the dog days of summer. Before the week passes us by here are some real estate headlines to keep you on the pulse of what’s happening in housing.

A house with a Batpool? Why, yes I would like to see that.

KCM Blog tries to answer the question: Should I rent my house if I can’t sell it?

One guy just bought every foreclosed home in Macomb County, Michigan.

Economic Times asks, “do vacation homes make for a good investment?”

RISMedia wonders if new rules in Dodd-Frank could derail the housing recovery.

Here are 9 overlooked items to prep your home for sale.

And finally, is your bathroom in need of some freshening up? Here is a slideshow of 19 inspiring bathroom design ideas.

 

Image courtesy of AOL Real Estate

Grand Rapids Michigan is the Comeback Kid

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Sunset in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Don’t we all love an underdog?  From Rocky to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team to Butler in recent editions of March Madness. But in real estate, allow this to be the third installment of our love affair with the “comeback kid” –  Grand Rapids, Michigan.

You may remember back to January 2011 when Newsweek declared that Grand Rapids a “dying” city.  Ouch.  That was harsh.  And remember how we rallied around the great YouTube video that showed that the town would not take such a debunking lightly?   From that point on, I was hooked on Grand Rapids!

So imagine my delight to see that my favorite Michigan city saw its median home price according to the National Association of Realtors increase by 19% in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same time a year ago.  Grand Rapids was second in the nation behind Cape Coral/Fort Meyers in Florida that had a 28.1% increase!

To be fair, the Grand Rapids median price is still slightly under $100K but I call that a bargain.  In Grand Rapids, you get the Gerald R. Ford, Presidential Museum, minor league hockey and baseball, art, culture and less than an hour to the Lake Michigan beaches!

And we can’t forget one of the best YouTube video of all time!

 

Image provided by Michigan Municipal League (MML)

The Most Beautiful Place to Live in America

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Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan

Ever wonder what it would be like to live in the most beautiful place in America?  That’s gotta be pretty cool.

Well now we know where that place is.  According to Good Morning America it’s Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan.  One of my colleagues was so excited to hear this because she’s headed to that region for a vacation tomorrow and raves about the beautiful views of  the turquoise waters from the sand dunes.

As I imagine what types of “Welcome to Sleeping Bear Dunes:  The most beautiful place in America” signs the town might post, I wondered what styles of homes are available in this Michigan nirvana. I clicked over to coldwellbanker.com to see what Coldwell Banker Schmidt, Realtors has to offer in their more than 100 homes for sale in the area.  Check out some of the amazing places I found on coldwellbanker.com:

I could go on-and-on, but you get the picture.  And there are plenty of more affordable homes too.

It’s not often that I can provide advice on how to get more information about living in the most beautiful place in America, but this time it’s easy.  Call Coldwell Banker Schmidt, Realtors at (231) 334-3006.

Picture courtesy of Flickr user AmySelleck

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The Great American Comeback of Grand Rapids Michigan

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Downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan

Remember back in June when Newsweek declared that Grand Rapids was a dying city?  Remember when they fought back with an incredible video that showcased the vibrancy of the city and its people?

Well this Rocky-esque story is continuing!  Grand Rapids is an underdog that continues to show resiliency!

Last week the National Association of Realtors came out with its second quarter Metro Area report that showed that 27% of the surveyed 151 metros studied saw price increases over last year at this time.  And four markets showed a double-digit increase in prices.  And fourth on the list?  Yup, Grand Rapids!  The “little engine that could!”

  1. Cape Coral/Fort Meyers – 17.9% increase to $110,900 median average sales price
  2. Elmira, NY – 16.1% increase to $115,200 median average sales price
  3. Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlingon – 12.5% increase to $151,500 median average sales price
  4. Grand Rapids, MI – 10.9% increase to $103,100 median average sales price

The home of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library continues to amaze!    Relocate America just ranked Grand Rapids as the nation’s second best place to relocate!

Ever since I watched the video, which has to rate as one of the greatest music videos ever with more than 4 million views, I’ve been intrigued by Grand Rapids.  So I put another call in to Dave Mapes, the General Manager of Coldwell Banker AJS-Schmidt in Grand Rapids, who filled me in on what’s going on in Grand Rapids.

Dave, who has lived there for 25 years, has a ton of pride in the city, cited Medical Mile as an economic driver.  It consists of more than $1 billion in construction for world class medical facilities including a children’s hospital, heart center and cancer center.

He also made a point to bring up the “sugar sand” beaches on Lake Michigan 30 miles away and a bunch of world class golf courses.  And if you want entertainment, Van Andel Arena is consistently one of the top mid-sized venues in the nation attracting in the coming days the likes of Britney Spears and Katy Perry.

And what’s happening in housing?  The market’s July closed sales are up nearly 27% and average median price for the month was up 17% since last July.

“We have a lot of people moving to the area who are stunned by the cleanliness of the city, the friendliness of the city and our great ammenities,” Dave said.  “And of course, they always talk about the affordability.  We have cleared out some of the distressed property backlog and are now actually in need of more inventory.  If a home is priced correctly, we are seeing multiple bids.”

So beat the drums Grand Rapids! We are all rooting for you!

Pic provided by Flick user Blue Diamond Photography

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