Downtown Grand Rapids Condos That are FHA Approved

13 10 2009

 

Grand Rapids Condos Downtown Grand Rapids offers some incredible condos from cool, affordable urban studios at the Hillmount or the Boardwalk condos, to luxurious penthouses and lofts at Riverhouse condos or the Fitzgerald Condos. One of the problems we have been experiencing with buyers wanting to purchase a downtown Grand Rapids condo has been financing. Many of the condos, especially the “boutique” condos like Peck, Front Row, Cityview or 65 Monroe require a conventional mortgage with ten to twenty percent down. It can be difficult to come up with that amount of cash  on hand.

Having said that, there are some condos that are FHA approved. This is important to many buyers, especially first time condo buyers looking to capitalize on the $8000 Tax credit. With an FHA loan, you need only pay a 3.5% downpayment on the loan. Much better than 10% or 20%!

Boardwalk Condos Boardwalk condos are FHA approved! Just before last Christmas they were approved. Boardwalk is a great building with many amenities including a pool hot tub area, game room, theatre room, fitness center, roof top deck, salon and JD Reardon’s bar. These condos are loft style with exposed brick, exposed duct work, river views and tall ceilings. Many floor plans are available from studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms and there are two courtyards, one with the pool and the other with a peaceful, wooded area where the outdoor grills are located.

The Hillmount condos are FHA approved! The Hillmount condos offer aHillmount Condos little different feel to the Boardwalk. The building itself is an older, solid brick buillding and it does offer a few amenities such as wireless (wifi) internet, fitness center and an awesome rooftop deck with grill. Many of these condos offer lovely hardwood floors and updated kitchens with stainless steel appliances. This is a great building located at the corner of College and cherry, minutes from the downtown core. Pets are allowed.

Union Square condos Union Square condos are FHA approved! Union Square is one of the coolest buildings in town. You have probably seen it while driving on the expressway at the junction of I-96 and US-131 highways. The building is the Union Square High School and there is a big mix of condos here from affordable 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms which also includes some incredible penthouse units. Amenites include a very nice fitness center and the  roof top deck, pool and hot tub. These condos are loft style similar to Boardwalk but with more floor plans and larger windows. Some of the old school features like chalk boards and lockers have been blended in with the modern condo features.

Fulton Street Flats are FHA approved! This is a new addition to the downtownFulton Street Flats condo scene and has just been approved. These are affordable 1 and 2 bedroom condos with some nice standard features accross the street from Davenport University and minutes to the downtown core. Some features include large balconies, hardwood floors and granite counters. I like the location here and for the money, you get a good sized condo with reasonable association fees, parking and laundry rooms in each unit.

For more information on any of these Grand Rapids downtown condos, visit my website or contact me any time.





600 Broadway Ave NW #620b – Union Square Condo For Sale

23 07 2009

 

Union Square Penthouse Condo For sale – $315,000

Union Square Condos Work Downtown, Live Downtown. Rare, corner, downtown Grand Rapids Penthouse condo at Union Square, located not far from the Medical Mile at 600 Broadway Ave NW #620b. This stunning contemporary residence features 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. One of only 2 units on the 7th floor, this professionally designed penthouse has floor to ceiling windows, spectacular views and would make an ideal residence for the professional, retired couple or a cool second getaway anyone wanting the excitement of downtown Grand Rapids.

Grill out on your own private deck and watch the sunset overlooking the basilica. This unique floor plan offers ample living area with upgraded carpet and ceramic tile. The kitchen features lustrous, black granite counters, a snack bar, an upgraded kitchen cabinet package and premium stainless steel appliances. This condo also comes with a top of the line Bosch Washer/Dryer set and gated security entrance with your own private garage. Bathrooms have been upgraded with granite counter tops and tile flooring.

Union Square is a unique blend of an old and new. This historic, 100 year oldGrand Rapids Condos high  school is now home to one of Grand Rapids’ coolest downtown condos and features a large deck with a pool and hot tub and grill and a fun common room with shuffle board, comfy couches and flat screens. Downstairs you will find a fully equipped fitness facility. One of the bonuses of living at Union Square is the Tax Free Living. Union Square sits in on of Grand Rapids’ Renaissance Zones. These zones offer home owners no City or State Income Tax and no Property Tax for a limited time. Income taxes start to phase in this year while you pay no property taxes until 2019.

This condo is easy to show and is definitely worth a look. Visit my Grand Rapids Real Estate website or contact me any time.

Union Square Condos Downtown Grand Rapids Condos Grand Rapids Real Estate 





Open Houses – Grand Rapids Condo Update

17 07 2009

 

Stoney Creek Condos and Union Square Condos - Open House this weekend.

Saturday July 18th, 2009 from 12:00pm – 3:00pm.

Stoney creek Condos 2965 Pebblestone Ave SW. This is a lovely condo in the Stoney Creek condos development in Hudsonville schools, with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms offered at $120,000. Impeccably maintained and agressively priced to sell, this condo is being offered as a short sale and is a terrific opportunity to purchase a great condo at a bargain price. Take advantage of low interest rates and the $8000 Tax Credit for first time home buyers. Excellent value in this condo in Hudsonville Schools. View our VFlyer of this listing for more information and pictures.

 

Sunday July 19th, 2009 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm.

Union Square condos 600 Broadway Ave NW #238 and #411. Join me this Sunday afternoon for a tour of Union Square condos. I will be showing #238 which is a very affordable 1 bedroom, 1 bath condo offered at $125,900 and unit #411, a gorgeous 2 bedroom – 2 bath with it’s own private balcony and 2nd floor master suite, which has just been reduced to $235,000. Union Square condos is one of the areas coolest downtown Grand Rapids condo developments with many different floorplans and price ranges. Many of the condos feature original hardwood floors, exposed brick and ductwork and stainless steek appliances. The building also offers a fitness center, pool and hot tub area and parking can be purchased or leased. View our VFlyer for more information and pictures. We also have an incredible 7th floor Penthouse unit that can be viewed by appointment. Union Square condos offer income tax savings until 2012 and property tax savings until 2019.

The Grand Rapids real estate market has been picking up of late. We have been receiving allot of inquiries for Grand Rapids homes AND condos. For more information, or to search for homes online, visit my website at GRRealEstateInfo.com or contact me any time.





2009 Parade of Downtown Living – Downtown Grand Rapids Condo Update

8 06 2009

 

Grand Rapids Parade of Condos 2009 - June 12-14

Parade of Downtown Grand Rapids Condos If you are in the market for a downtown Grand Rapids condo and you have an afternoon to spare, the Parade of Downtown Living  is a perfect opportunity to familiarize yourself with the various buildings and locations. Open houses will be held at the Riverhouse, Hillmount, Park Row, Fitzgerald, Boardwalk and Union Square.

Admission is $10.00 for all three days. You can purchase a wristband at any of the condos on the tour and ride the shuttle buses to and from each. Parking is free and is located at the following lots:

  • City Lot Area 7 is south of Michigan and north of Pearl
  • Northwest lot is behind Boardwalk Condominiums
  • Northeast lot is located at the Park Row Condominiums on Union St

All buses will be marked Parade of Downtown Living and run every 20 minutes or so.

 

 

 Volounteers are on board each bus to point out the various city landmarks. If you would like to volounteer and get a free weekend pass, call 616-459-3133.

For more information on the downtown condo market, visit my website at GRRealEstateInfo.com or contact me any time.





Which Condo Has The Buzz? – Downtown Grand Rapids Condos

12 04 2009

 

Which Condos Are Getting The Looks and Which Condos Are Invisible?

Union Square Condos The downtown Grand Rapids condo scene is moving right along these days and with good reason. There is a lot going on in Grand Rapidsand with summer right around the corner, people are getting out more, enjoying the sunny weather, strolling through town and checking out some of the condos. One of the bonuses in having a strong online presence is being able to track the different trends in the Grand Rapids real estate market. It’s actually quite interesting. My website ranks at the top of the search engines for many keywords so I get to see first hand what potential buyers are interested in looking at and what areas of town are attracting the most attention.

My stats tell me that downtown condos are quite attractive to relocating Riverhouse Condosbuyers, those looking for a second home, young professionals and students. People are curious to see what’s available. Of the various condos, the ones that get the most interest are Union Square condosPlaza Towers condos, Cityview condos and 65 Monroe condos. Up next I would say that Boardwalk condos, 47 Lafayette condos, Brickway Residences and the Riverhouse condosalso get a lot of interest. In fact the Riverhouse condos have just introduced several new condos with substantially reduced prices. There are several great condos there for under $200,000 now and in my opinion, these are a very good deal!!! Let me know if you want to take a tour.

Union Square condos are on the NW side of town and not quite in the downtown core, but the building is very interesting and there are a lot of floor plans to choose from. I wasn’t really crazy about these at first but now that prices are dropping, they really should be on your list. The building itself is quite interesting and has some nice features including a great roof top deck with pool and hot tub and a well appointed fitness center. I know several of the owners and everyone I talk to is extremely happy to be living there. Check out my new listing at Union Square here.

Park Row Condos Cityview condos and 65 Monroe get some love from the online community and it is well deserved. These condos are in one of Grand Rapids Tax Free Renaissance Zones where you live tax free until 2017. No city or state income taxes and no property taxes until 2017. Surprisingly there are a couple of other condos right on that same strip that never get any inquiries. The Monroe Condos and Front Row Condos are lovely Grand Rapids Lofts and are also in the Renaissance Zone. Front Row in particular are gorgeous downtown Grand Rapids lofts with all of the bells and whistles like European Tile and Bamboo Floors, huge ceilings with large windows and exposed brick.

Right accross the street are Peck condos. These are cute affordable lofts and downtown grand rapids condosfor some reason don’t get the attention they deserve. Another overlooked condo is Fulton Flats. Very affordable new condo conversion with 3 out of 14 units sold. These are spacious condos with a good location and a good value. For the longest time, Park Row condos didn’t get much activity but they have changed to a new listing agent who is doing a very good job marketing them. These condos will do well as the location is fantastic and perfect for someone working in the Medical Mile.

If you would like to take a tour of any of these condos, feel free to contact me any time.





Union Square Condo For Sale – Downtown Grand Rapids Condo Update

18 03 2009

 

JUNE 6TH, 2009 UPDATE:  —-> JUST REDUCED TO $235,000

600 Broadway Ave NW #411 - Union Square Condo Update

Union Square Condos I am pleased to introduce you to this wonderful condo for sale at Union Square condos. If you work downtown, why not live downtown too! Enjoy living at Union Square Condos at 600 Broadway Ave NW, in this contemporary space located not far from the Grand Rapids Medical Mile. This 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo features floor to ceiling windows and spectacular views from your large balcony. A graceful, winding staircase leads you upstairs to the loft and the owner’s master suite – complete with private bathroom. The main floor offers a bright and open living area with the original “refurbished” hardwood flooring and the kitchen is upgraded with a snack bar, gorgeous cabinetry and stainless steel appliances. Total finished living area on this one is 1293 sq/ft and the sales price is $235,000!

Union Square condos are a unique blend of an old and new. This historic, Union Square Condo Loft100 year old high school is now home to the area’s coolest condos and features a large deck with a pool and hot tub and a fun common room with shuffle board, comfy couches and flat screens. Downstairs you will find a fully equipped fitness facility. Some of the fun features that the developer carried over from the old school are the old school chalk boards, those old big clocks that we all remember and in some of the condos, you can see the hardwood gym floors with the basketball lines still there! Stylish and classy, check this condo out. Tenant occupied, 24 hr notice preferred.

Downtown Grand Rapids Condos

One of the benefits to living at Union Square condos is the Renaissance Zone Tax Benefits which includes paying zero property taxes until 2018. City and State income taxes will begin to phase in with your 2009 taxes but you will still enjoy some savings until 2012. If this is your first home, don’t forget the $8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.

For more information on these or any other downtown Grand Rapids condos, please visit my website or contact me any time.





Union Square Condos – Downtown Grand Rapids Condos

12 01 2009

 

Union Square Condos – Tax Free Renaissance Zone Condos

Union Square Condos Union Square Condos are located  at 600 Broadway NW in one of those old buildings that just exudes character and coolness. Union Square was once Grand Rapids’ primary high school and has been recently rehabbed into a cool downtown Grand Rapids condo development. The developer somehow managed to preserve alot of the old features like the old gymnasium hardwood floors (where you can still see the old basketball paint), the old slate chalkboards and those large classic school clocks that we all remember can still be found in some of the condos.

Union Square condos have many unique floor plans with interesting use of Grand Rapids Tax Free Condosspace. These downtown condos have large windows, 12 to 16 ft ceilings, 12 inch oak window sills and original trophy cases are some of the features that can be found. Common areas included in the association fees are a really cool pool/hot tub area on the roof, over-looking the freeways. In fact, if you are from the Grand Rapids’ area, you have probably seen Union Square at the junction of US 131 and I-196. There is a well equipped fitness center and parking garages as well as a relaxing common room with some games and flat screens.

Grand Rapids Lofts One of the benefits to the owners of a Union Square condo is the tax break. Union Square are in one of downtown Grand Rapids’ Renaissance Zones which means that city and state income taxes are waives as well as property taxes. That can mean a good savings to qualified buyers and if you are a first time buyer that qualifies, there is a $7500 tax credit if you purchase before June 2009. The tax free benefits begin to phase out this year, meaning that you are responsible for 25% of your taxes this year. 25% is added each year until you are back to paying all of your taxes.

Click Here my latest Union Square Condo Listing!

Union Square condos offer 1, 2 and 3 bedroom condos with 2 story penthouse condos available. Some of the condos under the pool area have the option of adding a private deck with pool access. Most of the condos have nice packages of appliances, flooring and counters.

*Prices from $125k - 1, 2 and 3 Bedrooms including penthouse condos available 
*From ~550 Sq/ft
*Association fee: depends on unit
*Coverage: Trash Pickup, Yard Care, Water, Sewer, Snow Removal, Insurance, Heat
*Features Incl: Secure entrance. Exposed Brick, Loft Style, In Unit Washer/Dryer Hookups, Fitness Center, Patio/Deck, Roof Top Deck, Pool, Hot Tub and Tax Free Living

For more information on these or to search for homes or condos online, visit my website at GRRealEstateInfo.com or contact me any time.

Click Here to preview the available Union Square condos. If you have any questions or would like to take a private tour, let me know.