Grand Rapids Real Estate News

Sept. 16, 2015

Michigan House to Host Art Prize Events Downtown

Photo Credit: Michigan House public Facebook page

There's a lot to love about Michigan, and West Michigan in particular. There's a myriad cultural events for area citizens and visitors to enjoy, ranging from small cultural festivals to massive, city-wide events. Art Prize, one of the biggest annual events in downtown Grand Rapids, is right around the corner, and this year there's an entire house on display. This home won't be for sale. Although real estate properties are moving in the West Michigan real estate market and the Grand Rapids real estate market much more quickly than in recent years (and commanding more competitive prices), this unique house is on display for art purposes only.

 

It's called the Michigan House, and it made its debut down in Austin, Texas earlier this year at the South-by-Southwest music festival. That was back in March, and now the Michigan House is headed toward a temporary home on Pearl Street downtown in one of the biggest cities in the state that provided its namesake. According to an article by the Grand Rapids Business Journal,it will host a pop-up, temporary discussion space downtown, at the Trust Building at 40 Pearl St. NW. The Michigan House will be open the duration of ArtPrize, from September 23rd through October 11th.

 

The project was the brainchild of the Detroit-based Creative Many Michigan (previously known as Art Serve) organization and is being produced by Middle West, a company that specializes in event-based short-term environment construction for festivals like Art Prize. Michigan House is also be sponsored by a number of Michigan Businesses, including Founders Brewery, Herman Miller, the Michigan Film and Digital Media Office, Wolverine Worldwide, Start Garden, Open System Technologies, and GR Current, among others. The site will also serve as a host location for daily Art Prize related events, including a number of morning yoga sessions and lectures, as well as other community events.

 

After Art Prize is finished, Michigan House will be packed up until Detroit’s North American International Auto Show in January. From there, it will be headed back to Texas for South-by-Southwest in March of 2016. Michigan House is just one of many examples on display during Art Prize of the innovative and passionate art communities that thrive across the state of Michigan. It is a great representation of ingenuity, both at home and in other locations. The presence of Michigan House at the massive South-by-Southwest festival is indicative of a real attempt to rebrand our state, often thought of as little more than manufacturing facilities and Motown, wedged between lakes, Canada, and forest. Showing what a thriving artistic community exists here, and featuring amazing Michigan products, will surely challenge many people's preconceived notions about the Great Lakes state.

 

Michigan is an amazing state, full of unique businesses and pristine natural resources. It's little wonder that our state continues to draw people from all over for both tourism and new homes. If you're considering moving to the West Michigan area, give Pyxis Realty a call today! Our professional, experienced staff can help you find the home of your dreams in the perfect neighborhood for your personal and familial needs.  

Posted in Feature
Sept. 14, 2015

3 Reasons to Make Pyxis Realty Your Brokerage

 Photo Credit: animatedheaven under public domain via Pixabay

Working as a realtor can be very rewarding, if challenging, as a career choice. You get to meet interesting people and help them with one of the most significant purchases (or sales) of their life. You can take something overwhelming and complex and make it enjoyable. You can set your own hours, choose your own clients, and work relatively independently. Of course, even well-established realtors are still required to be affiliated with a brokerage, and all too often, choosing a brokerage is a matter of jumping at the first opportunity that presents itself. If you've been with the same brokerage for years, right now is a great time to consider making a change to an office you've chosen.

 

There are a lot of brokerages in the area, and many of them are national, impersonal businesses. While those big companies have decent name recognition, they aren't always the best fit for a realtor who is starting out or someone ready to take their career to the next level. A smaller, locally-owned brokerage like Pyxis Realty can be the perfect place for an ambitious real estate professional to really establish themselves.

 

  1. Working with Pyxis Realty can save you a lot of money. Let's face it: keeping costs low is one of the most important aspect of breaking into a new industry. For some of the bigger organizations, those fees can annually run the price of a used car, regardless of whether or not the realtor paying the fees is able to establish themselves and close any sales. Then, in addition to up-front fees, the brokerage will take another 10 to 40 percent of the realtor's commission as well. For successful realtors, that can quickly add up. Pyxis Realty, as a small, locally-owned office, offers very competitive brokerage fees for area realtors.

 

  1. Pyxis Realty offers hands-on, experienced help in establishing yourself. In an office with several dozen realtors, chances are good that there's a hands-off managerial style at least until a new staff member starts closing on properties. It can be a very dog-eat-dog industry, and in many cases, new realtors have to sink or swim on their own. Working for Pyxis Realty is entirely different; you can depend on receiving advice and direction from our experienced, educated staff.

 

  1. There's potential for unlimited growth and upward career mobility at Pyxis Realty. In many larger, corporate offices, the best job titles and leads go to those who are well-connected within the office and those who excel at office politics. Instead of facing down ravenous competition for every chance at advancement, at Pyxis Realty you'll be given the support and encouragement to perform to the best of your abilities without any politicking required.

 

If you are a licensed realtor, right now is a great time to make the move to a brokerage that is more interested in your success than in collecting exorbitant fees. Being a local business means that Pyxis Realty really understands the culture and community in West Michigan and the greater Grand Rapids area and cares about improving our community and keeping our investment local. Get in touch with our office today to see if Pyxis Realty is the right brokerage for you!

 

Posted in Feature
Sept. 11, 2015

Hispanic Festival and Native American Pow Wow This Weekend!

By cjuneau under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Another weekend, another amazing cultural festival taking over downtown Grand Rapids! If you live in West Michigan, you already know what a diverse melting pot our community is. If you're considering the area for a home or investment location, the cultural activities that take place are a great example of the thriving culture of our area.

 

Beginning today, the Calder Plaza will host the annual Hispanic Festival, which is free and open to the public. There will be plenty of interesting, unique vendors of both goods/gifts and food available from 11:30 am to 11:30 pm on Friday and Saturday and from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday. There are unique attractions each day, with plenty of family-friendly fun to go around! Today, for example, the John Ball Zoo is bringing its monarch butterflies and an exhibit discussing their annual flight across the country to winter in Mexico from 11:30 to 2:00 pm. There may be a few other animals visiting too! There will also be Hispanic culture and heritage artifacts on display from 11:30 am to 7:00 pm, courtesy of the Grand Rapids Public Museum. There will also be hands-on crafts!

 

On Saturday, the artifacts will be on display again. There will also be arts and craft opportunities and breakdancing instruction provided by the students from Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities. There will be a chance to sign up for library cards and peruse English and Spanish library offerings, as well as a Veggie Van on site selling fresh produce. Other events include a presentation on the folklore of St. Francis Xavier, live music, and of course, dancing. There will be different musical styles featured at different times throughout the weekend. A schedule is available here. Featured styles include cumbia, rock, salsa, mariachi, marimba, and bachata.

 

After you've taken some time to enjoy the varied and amazing Hispanic cultures that are part of the greater Grand Rapids community, you may want to head north toward Riverside Park, where the Grand Valley American Indian Lodge is putting on its 54th Annual Pow Wow celebrating Native American culture. Most of Grand Rapids proper was originally Native American territory, and indeed, the city and its suburbs were once treaty lands officially recognized as Native territory by the federal government, according to the 1836 Treaty of Washington. These days, all that realistically remains of the strong Native American influence in the downtown area are the Hopewell Mounds at Ah-Nab-Awen Park.

 

To celebrate Native American culture and learn more about it, head to Riverside Park on Saturday or Sunday, where there will be drumming, traditional singing, dancing, crafts, and food. This is not a dog-friendly event, and organizers ask attendees to leave pets at home. Parking and admission are free.

 

 

Cultural events, like the Hispanic Festival and the 54th Annual Pow Wow by the Grand Valley American Indian Lodge, are part of what make this area a great place to raise a family and own property. If you're considering moving to the area or upgrading to a new home in West Michigan, be sure to call Pyxis Realty today to get the hands-on, experienced help you deserve! 

Posted in Events
Sept. 9, 2015

West Michigan Real Estate News Indicates Positive Trends

 Photo under public domain via Wikimedia Commons

There have been several major announcements about West Michigan real estate in the news recently, some of which is very promising for our state and community as a whole. In addition to ongoing investment in West Michigan by major national companies, there is also continued evidence of locally-based real estate development as well.

 

One of the more exciting developments recently announced is the tribal development in Hartford, MI (located in Van Buren County). The development is past the planning stage; in fact, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians has already broken ground on its new tribal village called Pokégnek Édawat Hartford. The new village is located not far from the Four Winds Casino, which is also managed by the tribe. The land being developed is roughly one mile east of the campus for the Four Winds Casino and hotel, and while the property itself does not have an address yet, it is easily accessible and located off the Red Arrow Highway.

  

The recent groundbreaking ceremony was for the first stage of the Pokégnek Édawat Hartford village development, which will see the construction of eight residential dwelling units in a series of three buildings completed by the spring of 2016. Two of the buildings will be two unit duplexes, while the third will be a townhome featuring four units. Of the eight new homes, half will be designated for tribal elders, while other members of the tribe will be permitted to apply for and rent the remaining units.

 

There is also a second phase of the village's construction, but that is still in the planning phase. According to a tribal representative interviewed by the Grand Rapids Business Journal, there are currently 39 families in the Hartford area awaiting housing assistance from the tribe. There is a sincere hope that the village will be expanded to offer more housing units to those in need.

 

In news slightly closer to home, in the Grand Rapids real estate market, downtown properties, even massive commercial buildings, are receiving more interest and offers than they have in some time. The building built in 1932 and located at 82 Ionia Ave. NW, which is owned by Kent County, has received at least three credible offers for purchase following an announcement by the county earlier this year that they would be open to taking offers.

 

The building, which includes the parking structure at 78 Ionia Avenue, has a very desirable location with frontage on Ionia, Division, and Fountain Street. It currently houses many county offices, including Friend of the Court, Community Housing and Development, the County Prosecutor office, and Circuit Court Probation. These offices take up roughly 65% of the building. There are offers on the building from the New York-based Embassy Group, an investment group. They made the lowest offer, $6.5 million and free rent for county offices for twelve months after closing. With an offer slightly higher at $6.8 million and a lease for county offices, there is serious interest from Illinois-based Franklin Partners. The highest bid was a cash offer of $10 million by Kendall College, which is expanding its downtown holdings in other areas as well.

 


Both the development of high-quality, subsidized housing for those in need in the West Michigan community and the thriving commercial real estate market downtown indicate positive movement for the West Michigan real estate market, particularly the Grand Rapids real estate market. There's never been a better time to sell your home or purchase one in the West Michigan area. If you're interested in buying a home or investment property, call Pyxis Realty for the hands-on, full service assistance of our experienced, professional staff. If you're selling your home, listing wit Pyxis Realty can ensure you maximize your return on your investment and make the most of the market. Contact our highly skilled team at Pyxis Realty today!

Posted in News
Sept. 5, 2015

Labor Day Events Around West Michigan

 

 Photo Credit: Public Facebook page of Sparta Rodeo

If you're in the Greater Grand Rapids area and looking for something unique to do this weekend to celebrate Labor Day, then you're in luck! There are plenty of amazing options for entertainment and socialization on this three-day weekend. The amount of cultural events is certainly one of the major draws of living in West Michigan. With so many communities with their own traditions in our area, there are always lots of interesting events on offer.

 

If you enjoy camping or watching live entertainment, consider checking out the Sparta Rodeo, a long-standing area tradition in its third year of its new incarnation. Nestled on the south side of the road on 13 Mile, less than a mile from M-37 (which is fed into by Alpine Avenue), there are camp grounds and rodeo grounds that were once the Klein Rodeo but are now called the Sparta Rodeo. This will be their third year of hosting camping and rodeos on Labor Day weekend.

 

Camping fees are straightforward: $25 for adults 18 and older, $10 for teens aged 13-17, and children 12 and under stay for free. That charge does not include admission to the rodeo events. The campgrounds actually opened this last Wednesday, September 2nd and runs through September 9th. There's plenty of space in the rustic campground for tents and sleeper vehicles of all kinds, just no electrical or water hookups for RVs. For information about registering and rules about the campground's use, click here.  Horses and pets are allowed at the campgrounds, but dogs are not allowed in the arenas during events.

 

The rodeo itself is a two-day event, starting at 5 pm on Saturday, September 5th, and Sunday the 6th. Gates open at 3:30 pm each day, and all seating is lawn seating. Glass bottles are not allowed. Admission costs $12 for adults, $8 for kids and teens age 6-17, and kids five and under get in free. Events at the rodeo include Cowgirls Barrel Racing, Wild Cow Milking, Team Roping, Saddled and Bareback Bronc Riding, and Bull Riding. There are other events throughout the camping period, such as Cowboy Chuch on Sunday at 10 am and a live musical performance by Dirt Road Remedy at 9 pm Saturday night.

 

If camping or rodeos aren't your thing, consider checking out any number of West Michigan Labor Day celebrations on Monday, such as the Belding Labor Day Celebration's main Labor Day Parade, which starts at 11 am. The Belding Celebration also has an Arts on the Bridge vendor area open September 5th and 6th from 9 am to 9 pm and on Monday the 7th from 9 am to 3 pm. There's plenty more going on, such as the Miss Belding competition and a Talent Contest.

 

If you enjoy taking part in community exercise, consider heading downtown on Monday for the Grand Crossings Labor Day bridge walk. Inspired by an event on the Mackinaw Bridge annually, this event features a five mile long route which is wheelchair accessible. There is free parking available in the City lot Area 7 and the Scribner lot

 

Finally, there's the Labor Day Truck Parade in Holland/Zeeland. This year, there will be 67 different trucks representing local businesses. It starts at 9:15 am, and there is always free ice cream! 

 

These are just a sampling of the many community events taking place across West Michigan this Labor Day weekend. If you already live here, there's surely something you'll enjoy. If you're considering moving here, this weekend is a great time to see a lot of what the area has to offer. If you're considering purchasing a home in the area, be sure to call Pyxis Realty for the best possible assistance with finding and purchasing a home on the West Michigan real estate market. Happy Labor Day!

 

Posted in Events
Sept. 3, 2015

New 3 Bedroom Listing in Alto!

 

If you dream of a recently constructed home with a quiet, country setting still close to everything the Greater Grand Rapids area has to offer, Pyxis Realty has a listing you absolutely need to see. Unlike many modern construction homes, this property isn't a cookie-cutter home in a development; it's a custom built home that fits perfectly with its surroundings and has massive curb appeal (despite the lack of an actual curb, thanks to the rural setting).

 

Situated pleasantly close to the Thornapple River at 6610 Alaska Avenue in Alto, this gorgeous 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home was built in 1992 and has a clean, modern look both inside and out. It is located within the bounds of the well-respected Caledonia School District, and while it isn't considered a waterfront property, those enjoying the natural world on the large, well-built exterior deck will have a lovely view of established trees and the Thornapple River. As if that weren't enough to get you out and exploring the lovely, private 1.7 acre parcel that makes up the yard, there is also a lovely, permanent outdoor fire pit and another sitting area in the well-kept yard. There's even an adorable, well-constructed and unique playhouse for the children, complete with fully wired electricity so that they can play with their favorite toys and gadgets while still enjoying the great outdoors.

 Inside, this home is just as beautiful. It features cathedral ceilings and large windows throughout, which offer residents a feeling of spaciousness and a clear view of the lovely, wooded parcel surrounding the home. There are two floors and a finished lower story, providing inhabitants with a total livable square footage of 2,425, with 2,065 of those square feet above grade. The home features a modern, open floor plan, fusing the most-used spaces together, allowing easy access from the dining area to the kitchen, and from the main floor living/family room to the kitchen.

 

That kitchen, which is generally flooded with natural light, features brand new appliances with a black and reflective finish, lovely pendant lights, and plenty of counter and cupboard space. The adjoining living room is sunken, meaning that there's a single step down into the area, helping to delineate space within the open floor plan. The main floor also features two bedrooms, perfect for kids or guests.

 

The second story is home the master suite, which is something worth checking out in and of itself! Not only is the master bedroom quite spacious, it has a huge walk-in closet, pristine private full bathroom, and an adjoining office. The space manages to feel large and homey at the same time; the combination of open spaces and careful design makes for an intuitively livable space.

 

For an asking price of only $259,900, this stunning property is a steal! There aren't many comparable properties, with everything from modern layout and design to a river view, in this price range. Click here for more details on the listing. Call Pyxis Realty today to set an appointment to view this amazing home before it gets snatched up off the market!

 

Posted in Listings
Aug. 31, 2015

Grand Rapids Real Estate Market Drawing More Investors

 Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer under CC by 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Even though experts are warning about unsustainable price inflation and investment speculation in the world-wide real estate market, most local experts agree that West Michigan and similar markets are currently immune from the increasingly volatile market trends, according to an article published by the MiBiz, a Michigan business journal.

 

Big name companies, including investors and real estate developers have been eying the West Michigan real estate market and specifically, the greater Grand Rapids real estate market, and many have begun making substantial investments in the area. For example, The Embassy Group, a New York based company that invests in commercial real estate properties, just purchased the multi-unit building at 5 Lyon Street downtown. The building, with 65 apartment units and ground floor retail rentals, had been owned and maintained by Rockford Property Management. They sold the building for an impressive $12, 475,000, which pales in comparison to what a similar building would cost in other real estate markets right now.

 

So what's the concern with the world real estate markets? While the inflation rate for the dollar has remained relatively low since the recession that followed the real estate market fiasco of 2008, inflation of prices in many urban areas may be leading these markets back toward “bubble” status. Specifically, many market watchers are concerned about the inflation of prices of commercial units, which is in turn creating higher rent than working-class American families can afford in many cities. Thanks to low interest rates and a plethora of commercial buildings in need of new management, refurbishing, and investment, there has been a flurry of sales on the national commercial market, enough to raise red flags for some.

 

Thankfully, West Michigan markets do not have any of the major signs of imminent bubble popping; in fact, the local real estate markets appear relatively stable when compared with other major national and global markets. For example, there is little concern of high-risk bank lending in this area, and buildings are not sitting vacant for long periods of time after their sale. Local interest rates are also relatively stable. Combine this with a record low amount of housing available on the Greater Grand Rapids real estate market, and the area becomes a very tempting investment for big businesses. Large apartment complexes and similar commercial properties are being purchased and refurbished by outside investors, keen to take advantage of the relatively conservative market in West Michigan.

 

The takeaway from all of this discussion of the global market and the comparison of the West Michigan market to other large real estate markets is that this area has relatively strong value to price ratios and will likely not be dramatically impacted if there is any kind of market downturn, as occurred in 2008. Right now is a great time to invest in a home or investment property in the Grand Rapids real estate market, and there's no one better to guide you in the process of purchasing a property than the experienced, professional staff at Pyxis Realty. Call us today if you're thinking of buying, selling, or moving to the area!

Posted in News
Aug. 28, 2015

The Polish Heritage Festival Takes Over Downtown This Weekend

 Photo Credit: Arlene Honza under CC by SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

 

This weekend, citizens of the greater Grand Rapids area will celebrate one of the area's most popular cultural festivals. That's right, it's time for the Grand Rapids Polish Festival, which will take over Rosa Parks Circle this weekend. Beginning today, August 28, and running through Sunday, August 30, this festival has plenty of food, drink, and merriment to go around!

 

The Polish Festival is put on by the Polish Heritage Society, and they tend to go all out with ethnic Polish foods, traditional polish music, dancing, and of course, beer. There will be live music on the stage at Rosa Parks Circle all weekend. Today's acts include Freddie Zarzecki, Gary Szotko, and Pan Frenek. Tomorrow's musical entertainment will include a live WYGR broadcast, followed by an Uzarski Polka Jam Session. Anyone can participate, so attendees are encouraged to bring their own musical instruments. There will also be performances by Lithuanendary Sounds, and Jerry Kaminski. On Sunday, August 30th, there will be a musical performance by Diddle Styx and the Polish “Busia” Pageant.

 

If you're hoping to eat or drink, you'll have to get tokens to spend at the food and beverage booths, which will not accept cash. There will be four draft beers available: Miller Light, Coors Light, Lienenkugel's Oktoberfest, and Blue Moon Belgian Wheat, each four tokens a glass. There will also be New Holland beer on draft, no word on what brews specifically. As far as bottles, there will be two different Polish brews available for five tokens apiece: Warka and Tyskie. As far as the food is concerned, it'll be well worth the token purchase (unless you're a vegetarian or vegan); treats on sale include dill pickle soup, real rye bread, kielbasa (seasoned sausage), pierogis, kapusta (Polish saurkraut), golabki (stuffed cabbage leaves), and kolacky (bowtie cookies with raspberry and apricot preserves) and nalesniki (Polish crepes) for dessert. There are also hot dogs and potato chips for children not interested in the more ethnic options.

 

Of course, this isn't just about eating Polish foods but learning more about Polish heritage, so there will be actual cooking demonstrations, beginning with a potato pancake cooking lesson tonight at 7 pm. Tomorrow afternoon at 2pm, there will be a Czernina cooking demonstration, followed by another Saturday cooking lesson featuring pierogis, a Polish dish not unlike ravioli. All the cooking demonstrations will be run by renowned cooks, Laura and Peter Zeranski, who are the authors of two popular Polish cookbooks, Polish Classic Recipes and Polish Classic Desert. They won the “Best Eastern Cookbook in the U.S.” by Gourmand Magazine in 2013, so their classes should have some excellent tips.

 

For family-oriented entertainment, there will be a Cornhole/Corn Toss located to the right of the stage at Rosa Parks Circle. The game may be played as singles or doubles and is listed as an all ages attraction. There will also be a clown, a story telling session featuring the Pulaski Queen and her court, Polish Twister, arts and crafts, and free face painting for children.

 

The Polish Heritage Festival is just one of many regular events taking place in the downtown area that give the West Michigan area a unique, diverse, and engaging social environment and culture. If you are considering making a real estate purchase in the West Michigan real estate market or the greater Gran Rapids real estate market, be sure to enjoy some of our rich, cultural events such as the Polish Heritage Festival before making your final decision, and remember to call Pyxis Realty when you're ready to buy (or sell) a home. Enjoy the Festival, and remember to drink responsibly.

 

Posted in Events
Aug. 26, 2015

3 Ways a Realtor Makes Your Life Easier When Selling a Home

 Photo Credit: Mark Moz under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr

Why do people work with realtors? Because buying or selling a home can be a long, difficult process, but it doesn't need to be. A licensed realtor can make a dramatic difference in your experience. Some people choose to eschew working with a real estate agent when selling their home, but given how fast-moving the West Michigan real estate market (especially the greater Grand Rapids real estate market) is at the moment, it can be hard for those without professional realty experience to make the best of this hot market. Read on for a brief list of three reasons why an experienced, knowledgeable realtor can make all the difference in the world!

 

  1. Helping Set the Best Price The ability to accurately price a home based on the property itself, the state of the market, and local prices cannot be overstated. For some sellers, it can be difficult to figure out how estimates based on property size and location should be adjusted. How much, for example, is a modern, sleek kitchen with recent upgrades worth? What about the well-maintained perennial beds surrounding the dwelling? Should you lower the price because of the unoccupied property next door? A realtor will be able to advise you properly on these issues and more. They will know how high is too high of a price to sell the home quickly, but they will also be motivated to help you maximize your return on the sale of the home.

 

  1. Handling the Marketing and Showings/Open Houses Few things are as stressful during the home selling process as trying to stage the property to highlight the best features while minimizing attention paid to less attractive parts of a home. That potential for severe stress increases if the property is still owner-occupied. An experiences realtor will be able to make suggestions based on their experience and understanding of the buyers currently on the market, whom they are also dealing with.

 

  1. Reading Through Offers and Making Counter-Offers Even when the market is hopping, as the West Michigan real estate market is currently, there can be a seemingly interminable amount of negotiation involved in the process of selling a home. With housing inventory at an all-time low in the Grand Rapids real estate market, it is not unusual for sellers to receive multiple offers within days of listing their property. In many cases, however, there is more to an offer than just the amount of money being offered. A realtor has the experience and knowledge to read through the dense, legalese-filled paperwork involved in selling a home and ensure that everything meets the seller's expectations and progresses smoothly.

 

If you are thinking about taking advantage of the current state of the market and selling your home, you should contact the staff at Pyxis Realty today. Not only does Pyxis Realty offer personalized, friendly service, but also the kind of experience that matters. Call our office today and find out if now is the right time for you to sell your home (with the help of our amazing staff).

 

Posted in Feature
Aug. 24, 2015

High End Houses in West Michigan: A View Worth $1.6 Million

 

 

Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer under  (CC BY 2.0)  via Flickr

 

While many properties in the West Michigan real estate market, particularly those within the greater Grand Rapids area, are considered reasonably priced when compared to national real estate prices, that doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of upscale, lavish homes tucked away in the sprawling countryside or in the heart of the downtown region. Some upscale condo complexes offer units priced closer to what one would expect in a larger metropolis, and some larger, sprawling homes in upscale communities are closer in price to the national average.

 

Consider, for example, the recently listed property in Alto, just southeast of the city of Grand Rapids, which is listed at an asking price of $1.599 Million. What does a house whose price comes close to $1.6 Million look like? Well, in this case, the property is located at a prime area on the Thornapple River, with majestic views and plenty of privacy on the 1.36 acre lot that holds the home. The house itself, located at 7675 Sandy Hollow Drive SE, has 4 bedrooms (each with its own suite and bathroom) and has a staggering 9,000 square feet of living space. The current owners are listing the property because they are empty nesters and are hoping to downsize.

 

The current owners, who have had possession of the home since 2003, have invested roughly $400,000 in updates, improvements, and upgrades to the landscaping and exterior of the property, as well as many similar updated to the interior of the home that was originally constructed in 1993. Those updates include many modern touches, such as the addition of granite and marble floors to the main floor and foyer, the placement of blue slate tile around the primary exterior entrance. From the outside, with its gated entrance, circular drive, and well-manicured landscaping plantings, the home is inviting and lovely. This extends to the backyard, which features an extravagant pool, a grilling deck, a hot tub, and more careful landscaping and décor. There are110 feet of frontage on the Thornapple River, including a dock large enough to tie up a pontoon boat and many other kinds of personal watercraft.

 

Inside, the home is equally stunning. The foyer is a massive, two-story space featuring a chandelier and three winding staircases. The kitchen has not only premium countertops on the island and circular countertop, but also affords the home's cook an excellent view. The master suite includes not only a spacious bathroom but also a master office, in addition to a gas fireplace, a balcony deck that overlooks the river, walk-in closets, a whirlpool tub, a pair of vanities, and a direct staircase to the workout room on the lower floor.

 

Other interior features of the home include a recreation room with a bar, a media room for television and movies, and game with with a billiard table. There are several living spaces/family rooms. There's even an indoor sauna in one bathroom that doubles as a changing room for those visiting and using the pool. The whole thing is powered by not one but six separate furnaces, a well, a generator, and is hooked up to public sewer services. Those in the market for a dream home with a country setting and impeccable views should see this gem before its sold! Call the team at Pyxis Realty today to schedule a viewing as soon as possible!

 

Posted in Feature