Welcome to my Big Rapids Real Estate Blog

Twice a year in our area we get a rush of students that would rather build equity in a house than pay rent. While that is some great thinking it's not for everyone and not as easy as one would think. First there are the University rules. You should always start there and see if you qualify to live off campus. If you do, the next step is chat with a lender. Actually that should read "chat with several lenders". There are so many programs out there when house hunting to get the most up to date info try two or three different banks and see what options you have. Now we have an idea of how much house to look for we need to find a great Realtor®. Couple things to watch for when picking an agent. First, make sure they are FULL TIME. Nothing is more frustrating than waiting for your agent to get off work to help you with your dream. Especially if the house you wanted gets sold before they call you back. Next is make sure they are up to date on Parking, Zoning and related issues for students. While Big Rapids is a great place to live they have some pretty tough Zoning rules for students looking to rent out rooms.

Students buying a home while they attend college is a great idea if approached correctly. Besides Zoning there are several other things that need addressed. Parking is always an issue to watch. You have to have one parking space per bedroom plus an extra for guests so if you are looking for a 4 bedroom home it has to have 5 off street parking spots available. Here is a copy of the City of Big Rapids Rental Housing Codes Cross Reference Guide . It will give you an idea of things that need addressed before you move in. Other things like insurance will need to be looked at. Sometimes if you rent out rooms you need special insurance so talk to your insurance agent.

I have heard from a few students they were told to avoid Zoning issues just buy outside of the City limits, but in reality the Big Rapids Township zoning is just as tough. As long as you are properly guided it should be a fairly easy process. All the more reason to be careful when picking out your team. Once you have a Lender and Realtor® picked out you can start you house hunt. If you have given your agent your spending limit and absolute "Must Haves" and "Absolutely Not's" they should be able to narrow it down to a few for you to check out. Take a digital camera with you when looking at houses and when you first pull up take a pick of the address so later you can remember which house was which.

Once you have decided on which house you want you will want to go over your game plan with your agent. You will go over your offer with special attention to price and contingencies. Contingencies could include things like financing contributions by seller or repairs. Keep in mind the clearer the offer , the less chance for mishaps later. Once you have came to an agreement it's time for inspections. You only have ten days from acceptance so get on it quick. Your agent should have a few references to give you. After inspections you may need to do an addendum asking for seller repairs so allow extra time. From here you wait....and wait...until your agent calls to let you know it's time to close. If everyone did their homework closing should be relatively easy. Sign your name a few, alright, quite a few times and you are now a home owner. Congrat's.