Tag Archives: Lakes

Summer is Here! by Kathleen Adams, Canadian Lakes Homes Blog

Summer is here!  People are starting to come to the area for the summer lake season and golf season.  It is good to see the town all abuzz!  Don’t forget to visit me at Coldwell Banker Lakes and get a map of the area while you are here.  I have other information on homes available, our new summer brochure and information on what is going on in Canadian Lakes and the surrounding area.  Many great homes are available on all-sports lakes around the area as well as great deals in Canadian Lakes.  Let me know what you are looking for and I will do all I can to help you out!

See our homes here:

Canadian Lakes Homes For Sale – Area Homes for Sale

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ISLAND COUT HOME FOR SALE!  SEE ME FOR MORE INFORMATION AT WWW.CANADIANLAKESHOMES.COM

HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE!

Hot Deals, by Kathleen Adams, Canadian Lakes Homes Blog

Hot deals on lake front property will be out there. Just look around and see what is still on the market and if they are willing to make a deal.  Now is the time, Labor Day weekend marks the  end of summer for many lakefront homeowners.  Most people are done using their cottage this weekend.  They are getting the kids back to school.  The retirees are getting ready to go back to their winter homes.  Generally if the home has not sold by now, they are reducing prices.  If they haven’t reduced prices, they will be ready to negotiate something to get it sold.  So, check out the hot deals, summer may not be over just yet!

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VISIT www.canadianlakeshomes.com to see homes for sale.

Let’s Go To The Cottage – Canadian Lakes Homes Blog – Kathleen Adams

Let’s go to the cottage!  These words bring sweet memories as I think back about our cottage years.  In fact, they are never ending times.  The cottage was a place we went to year-round and spent quality time together with family, extended family and friends.  Memories abound when you have a cottage and they are years that you will always cherish and want to continue with each generation. We visited friends last night that are here from Lake Tahoe.  And when I say here, I mean they are at the cottage on Horsehead Lake.  They, like our kids, grew up at the cottage.  They are now married and having children and have come to spend two weeks at the cottage.  This is home away from home, a haven, a place to go to recharge.  And we recharged each weekend in the summer, and many of them spring, fall and winter.

When our kids were in college and had time to come home, it was to the cottage they roamed.  The cottage was home because that is were their fondest memories were made. There is nothing like a cottage; and what a time to invest in a cottage.  We have a good inventory of cottages around the lakes in the area.  A changing of times for many families that have to sell for some reason.  But what a great time for someone to start their cottage memories by investing in this vacation market.  I can remember a time when you could not find a cottage on our lake to buy.  If someone did want to sell, there was someone in the neighborhood that knew someone who wanted to buy it.  They never hit the market!

I think this is one purchase you will never regret.  A cottage is so much more than a vacation property.  It permeates the very people it houses with sights, sounds, smells, and great times!  Our first cottage was 700 square feet, had three bedrooms and a pull out sofa – one bath.  We had the best times there and still recall all the fun things we did when we are all together.  Our second cottage was 5 bedrooms and baths, and I remember having 50 people for my 50th birthday and what a celebration weekend it was!  Big or small and cottage does it all.

Thinking about a cottage?  Come and see what our area has for you!  There is a nice selection to choose from with prices all around good!

Check it out —- we may have something for you: 

Cottages For Sale

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Hells Kettle New View

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Summer is Here – Kathleen Adams, Canadian Lakes Homes Blog

Summer is here!  Finally the season we all long for has arrived.  Thankfully it has brought along some warm weather.  The weekends have not been the best weather so far this June so we welcome the warmth and the sun!  Boating season has begun as has the golf season.  At Canadian Lakes we have many clubs and activities that have started as well.  It is a great time to look at homes and we have a great selection of water front properties to choose from as well.  Join the fun at Canadian Lakes and the surrounding area lakes with vacation home ownership.  Check out all the great homes here:

Lake Fun

Muskegon River Cruise – Kathleen Adams, Canadian Lakes Homes Blog

The mighty Muskegon is how people refer to it around here.  We took our boat on a cruise of the Muskegon River on Sunday.   We put it in at the River Landings Resort and had a four hour cruise on the Hardy Dam Pond.  Beautiful water, beautiful scenery and just a beautiful day all around.  It was such a relaxing day and the sights were amazing.  There were so many carp  jumping, it was as though the water was boiling.  The swans were beautiful swimming and splashing about.  There were about ten turtles perched on a log.  And, although the water is still cold, we saw one wakeboarder – a diehard to be sure.  What a beautiful place to consider living or a vacation property.  I will have to explore more on the Mighty Muskegon!

See my photos here:

Cruising

Up, Up and Away, Kathleen Adams Blog

Up, up and away is something my first time home buyers are now crying.  After doing pre-qualification work, then shopping for their first home, it all comes down to offers.  Some of what they see, and like, while shopping is beginning to get “scooped-up” quickly.  They are starting to see the trends of upward prices and limited inventory.  That’s good news for sellers, but not especially for first time home buyers on a tight budget.  How you can get ahead of the rest of the buyers is to be prepared.  Here are a few tips to keep it straight and get it done:

  1. Have your pre-qualification letter ready, printed and in the hands of your Realtor.
  2. Have your good faith deposit ready to go.  Not, I will have it when I get paid next week.  Set it aside and be ready when you find that perfect home.  In today’s market of “bank owned” properties, the typical deposit requirement is $1,000.00.  That is CASH.  Not money they will “take out” at closing.  You need CASH, today, to write the offer.
  3. Probably the most important tip, do not shop out of your budgeted amount.  Last year this would have been different.  Everyone was shopping in a bit higher price range because you could get deals.  Today, the prices have corrected to the point that banks are marketing the property at prices that are bringing in multiple offers.  So, if your budget will not allow a full price, or sometimes, an over full price offer, expect to be disappointed when the offer is rejected or outbid by another buyer.  This disappointment can lead to a deflation in spirit and sometimes can turn a buyer to renting longer.
  4. Roll off disappointment and start over.  The best thing to remember is the ultimate goal – owning your home and not paying rent.  We all know the foreclosure market has led to more renters and higher rent prices.  Don’t get caught in the disappointment of losing a bid on a home.  It’s a lot of work to shop, and write offers, etc. for all parties involved; but so worth the reward when you finally accomplish your goal.

Get it done should be your mindset when shopping for a home.  With the proper planning it should not be hard to accomplish your goal of buying a home.  So don’t let that perfect home go up in price, up in a bidding war, and away from your hands!  Get it done!

See an inventory of the area’s homes here:  kathy_adams_header2

No Money Down? Kathleen Adams Blog

No money down is a term heard often in Real Estate today.  What does no money down really mean?  I have had first time home buyers come in to “shop”.  They are pre-qualified with a bank for a “no money down loan”.  Now I know the banks are informing the client about the loan products they will be using.  There are certain products that require “no money down”.   But “no money down” does not mean “no money at all”.

Buyers shopping for new homes do need to have some money to buy a home.  First of all, you will need a “good faith deposit”.  This usually consists of cash deposit made when putting forth an offer on a home.  Most of the time, and especially when buying a foreclosed home, the deposit required is a minimum $1,000.00.  Next, you will need money for inspections.  Typically, inspections run $350 and up.  An average home inspection is more near the $400 mark.  Inspectors expect to be paid at the time of inspection.  What about lender expenses.  Are you expected to pay for the appraisal?  Will the lender be rolling expenses into the mortgage?  When first time home buyers are shopping, these numbers can be overwhelming.  If you expect to buy a home with “no cash” this can be a shocker!

Buyer’s beware, no money down does not mean no cash required.  There is a difference and you should be prepared.  It’s great to get pre-approved with a lender.  This gives you an edge to know what your buying power is.  Next look at your household budget and decide how that fits in your overall plan.  Next, establish a cash fund to use for expenses during the purchase process.   Planning will elimate all the surprises for new home buyers.

For more help with purchasing a home, or answers to any real estate questions, please get in touch with me.

Spring is Here? Kathleen Adams Blog

Spring is here, so says the calendar. But, in northern Michigan we have yet to feel it in the air.  The sun has been shining, the temperatures say 40’s, but the air is so brisk that it feels like winter is still around.  Regardless, people have been coming in to look at lake front homes already this year.  Want to see what is new in lakefront homes?  Check out my website for all the latest listings.  Get your mind set for summer – it’s right around the corner.

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Winter Warriors

OK all you winter warriors. This is the time of year when lakes are starting to think of spring coming. And, because of that, they are planning many winter lake activities to enjoy the ice before it melts. So, all you winter warriors know that there are two really great ice happenings this weekend. Horsehead Lake will be having their annual winterfest on the ice. There will be a live band, dancing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and other things to do around the lake on Saturday. Chippewa Lake is having their annual Polar Plunge to benefit the Special Olympics. Chippewa Lake also hosts ice racing on the weekends.  Want to know more about these events, contact me for information.  So, come on out to the lakes and have fun with all the winter warriors!  You will have a great time.

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Pick Your Paint

Be inspired to paint.  It’s a great winter project.

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