All one has to do nowadays is take a look at the headlines in the paper and "see" what the Michigan people are thinking.  Front page of the Grand Rapids Press, Sunday July 27^th edition's headline is "Tipping Point Tough Times Shortchange Workers on Gratuities".  The article shows a picture of two waitresses counting their money from tips at the Bull's Head Tavern in downtown Grand Rapids.

The Business section of the Grand Rapids Press reads "School Shopping Dropping... Many Families, Feeling Pinch of Economic Slowdown, Plan to Scale Back This Year".

 I now take a look at the Travel Section of the Grand Rapids Press which shows two gals enjoying themselves on a boat, the title of this one is "Knots and Bolt".  Now this one doesn't have anything to do with cutting back per say but I do have a friend that owns a marina and what he's noticed is that he still has business it just happens that most people are more local and are not taking their boats up to Traverse City and other places.

In the real estate world, my clients are making moves that are closer to their job and therefore less on gas.  More talk is going on about gas efficiency and hydrogen/electricity as fuel savers.

Obviously, the cost of gas has made some impacts on the economy.  In general terms, the people I talk with are very concerned about the rising prices (right now, we finally went under $4.00/gallon... by my house it's $3.93).  A bunch of comments have been a long the line of "When is the gas prices going to stop?"  I don't know.  Wish I did.  I do know this... I've even changed some of my habits. 

1. For the most part, I know drive the 4 door car instead of the minivan (I'm saving at least $50.00/wk in gas). 
2. I'm looking around my house and wondering what I can REUSE instead of throw or give away.
3. I'm not running to the store every day.  In fact, I tend to lump all the errands into one time.

I have to ask myself and you... "Could these gas prices being so high be a good thing?" 

 

 

• Do you think we will finally become more cost conscience and start being more of a Dave Ramsey person (you know, NO DEBT, AND SAVING MONEY).

Do you think we might be start re-using our stuff?

 

•  If we were better budgeters with our money, would we have so many foreclosures on the market as we do today?

 

• Jokingly, maybe America as a society might be healthy and not overweight... You know, we may have to walk, ride a bike and do some of those things instead of hopping in the car?

 

WOW! It's been a long time since I blogged on my site.  So sorry to my avid readers!  Life is busy, there is real estate, more real estate and oh yeah, don't forget about life in general... kids, kid's baseball games, activities, maybe supper once in awhile.  You get the drift... life just gets hectic sometimes.

Good things have been happening and greater things

are right around the corner.  Right now, if I could give you my perspective on things and answer my most asked question, "What's going on in the market?"  I would say that we are going through another change.  (Duh!)

  In all seriousness, consumers are becoming more aware of the cost associated with the higher crude prices, how that affects not only their gas bill but items related to it such as groceries. 

My question to you ~ Are we finally going to become more cost conscience and not be so heavily indebted?  If you haven't realized it by now, the reason for a lot of our foreclosures and other problems were not just the lending institutions overlending or setting people up on A.R.M. (Adjustable Rate Mortgages) but HELLO, we were the ones borrowing the money, right?

The "REAL" Estate Market 

My goal in helping you find that perfect home is to find the home and PRICE RANGE that you can comfortably afford.  I hate coming back to a home and knowing that it's about to or already has gone in foreclosure.  It truly is sad for me to see. 

On the flip side, because of all the foreclosures, it truly is the time to buy.  I don't believe that we will ever see a time like this when we can get so much for our money.  Now, we don't need to overextend ourselves but with the deals that are out there... NOW is the time to buy!  Did you catch that... "NOW is the time to buy!"  The Donald Trumps of the world are not waiting to later.  They buy when the stocks (housing/or other investments) are low and sell when they are high.  That's why he is a multi-millionaire.

So, what's holding you back.  Many people have mentioned that they are just not sure when gas prices are going to stop.  If you have the money to do so, you may want to consider buying a house.  Let's say you qualify for $150,000.00, my suggestion would be to look at a home for $100,000.  You have no allowed yourself room in your budget to handle whatever happens in the outside world and forces we can't control as well as providing equity.  The housing market runs in a cycle and just like economics, it has to come back around.  Call or email me ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to find the home that is within your budget and will be of great value to you in the future.  Food for thought!