Expenses Beyond Your Mortgage

By Mark Deering | 07/15/2019

As the owner of a new home, you should be pleased that you have successfully negotiated all the financial requirements to close the deal and take possession of your new place. However, the down payment and mortgage are just the beginning of new financial demands. Owning a home has plenty of expenses that need careful…

Grand Rapids Parade of Homes Tour

By Mark Deering | 07/03/2019

The Parade of Homes is a wonderful opportunity to view what some of the top builders in the Greater Grand Rapids area have to offer! As a team, we love to provide clients that are considering building a new home tickets to go through the Parade. If you are in the market for building a…

Food Truck Vlogs-Bronson Park

By Mark Deering | 06/26/2019

Looking for a new lunchtime experience? Lunchtime Live at Kalamazoo’s Bronson Park may be just the ticket! Every Friday during the summer from 11am-1:30pm, Food Trucks line up in the park to help draw people out of their offices to enjoy the outdoors and build community in the area. There is live music and fun…

House to Home Series – Mike and Jessica Playlist

By Mark Deering | 06/20/2019

Welcome to our House to Home Series!  We are excited about this new series!  We are going to spotlight actual buyers on their journey through the process of finding their dream home!  Actual homes, actual buyers, actual dreams coming true! In the episodes below, watch Mike and Jessica tour homes and pick out their first…

What Retirees Need to Know about Buying a Vacation Home

By Mark Deering | 06/15/2019

Many retirees decide to purchase a vacation home as their ideal place to rest and relax. A second home can be a gathering place for friends and family, and a supplement to your retirement income via future renting potential. Plus, any mortgage interest you pay is tax deductible as long as it’s a personal residence,…

Whitecaps Client Appreciation Party 2019 Recap

By Mark Deering | 06/01/2019

Wow! What a night! We had so much fun visiting with current and past clients! Our very own Casey Hague kicked off the game with the first pitch, and we did a 50/50 Raffle for the Grand Rapids Dirt Dawgs, which was pretty successful. The Centennial Dream Deck was full of families that have been…

Hidden Costs of Buying a Home

By Mark Deering | 05/14/2019

You’ve saved and planned and you are finally ready to buy your first home or move up to a larger one. It’s fairly easy to figure out how large a mortgage you can fit into your budget. Your real estate agent has tables and formulas that can determine the percentage of your income that’s reasonable…

Grand Rapids Dirt Dawgs

By Mark Deering | 05/10/2019

The Grand Rapids Dirt Dawgs is a youth mountain biking program that runs for 6 weeks over the summer. Mark Deering talks with Dirt Dawgs founder Danielle about the program and how to get involved. Want to learn more? Check out their website.

Whitecaps Client Appreciation Party 2019-Promo 2

By Mark Deering | 05/08/2019

Spots are filling fast! Less than 40 left! We are so excited for our party this year! Can’t wait to see everyone!

What is a Zillow Zestimate?

By Katy Wolffis | 03/28/2019

Have you ever looked at Zillow and saw a Zestimate for your house? Wondering what it is and how accurate it could be? Jay breaks it down and offers advice on getting an accurate estimate for your home.

Are Zillow’s Zestimates Accurate?

By Mark Deering | 03/28/2019

Have you ever looked at Zillow and saw a Zestimate for your house? Many people quickly view these Zestimates and believe that their home is worth that price, when the truth is different. Zestimates are a quick and dirty estimate of your home’s value based on other homes in the area, value history, and other…

Defining the Relationship – Buyers Agency

By Mark Deering | 03/26/2019

Just getting started in the home buying process? Let’s define the relationship! Mark gives an overview of what the first step looks like when working with our team to find your next home. Exclusive Buyer Agency Contract – Short Form (version 1)