We all know the real estate market can be a rollercoaster, swinging from buyers’ markets to sellers’ markets and back again. But the 2021 housing market was something new altogether. The combination of low interest rates and low housing inventory created a unique landscape for buyers and sellers alike.  Although some people might be hoping that 2022 will bring back the “normal” pace of things, they might be disappointed. All the forecasts are predicting more stability, but we’re likely to keep seeing relatively low interest rates and housing shortages.  Let’s take a deeper look at ..read more

Buying vs renting in Michigan, which one is right for you? This is one of the biggest – and scariest – questions facing any prospective mover in 2021. How you answer this question doesn’t just govern where you live. It will affect all the big areas of your life. It’ll determine your lifestyle, impact your finances, and even dictate how you plan for the future. This is a hard question, and like most hard questions, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. In some cases, renting is the best decision you can make. In others, buying is the wisest choice. To decide what makes the most sense for yo ..read more

Over the last decade, buying real estate has become an “online first” process. Websites like Zillow boast listings for over 100 million homes. While that’s good news for buyers who can now search, filter and click through listings in their pajamas, it presents a big challenge for sellers. You now have to compete with sellers across your area. And you only get a short listing to do so. If you want to attract the right buyers, you need to make your listing stand out from the crowd. At TJ Homes, we are ranked in the top 10% of all Zillow Premier Agents. We’ve helped families across West Michiga ..read more

Buying your first home can feel like an overwhelming challenge. You know your first home will shape your future. It might be the place you settle down as a newlywed or where your kids learn to take their first steps. Maybe you’ll prepare Thanksgiving dinners in that kitchen. Or perhaps you’ll get to know new best friends while grilling in the backyard. When it comes to your first home, you’re looking for more than four walls. You want to find the right place, but that’s hard to do. After all, you’ve never done this before!  You probably have a million questions floating through your hea ..read more

If you’ve decided to sell your house, it might seem like there are a million projects you need to complete before the listing goes live.  But you only have so much time (and money) to spend on home improvements. You don’t want to spend weeks on projects that won’t improve your home’s selling price. It’s important that you focus on the simple things that make a huge difference. That’s why a good real estate agent will tell you to focus on one thing first: how to improve your home’s curb appeal. Curb appeal? Like most people, you may have heard the term before but only have a general sens ..read more

As realtors, we want to make sure people love their home for a lifetime. But we also know that a home changes as you do.  Sometimes you have a new idea and want to give the bathroom a facelift. Maybe you want to try something different to make your kitchen more functional. Or perhaps you’re hunting for updates that will help get your home ready to sell. Most of the time these home renovations turn out great. But sometimes … they go so badly that they make us laugh out loud, facepalm and call a contractor right away. We’ve seen it all as realtors. Browse our listings for some beautiful s ..read more

At TJ Homes, we’re all about making the Grand Rapids community a great place to live. That means we don’t just buy and sell beautiful homes — we’re always looking for a chance to do something a little extra. We know we can’t have a great community without healthy kids and Kids Food Basket knows that to be their best, kids need consistent, nutritious food. That’s why this May we hosted a “Pack the Truck” event for Kids Food Basket. Kids Food Basket has been serving Grand Rapids and surrounding areas for over 20 years. To learn how you can get involved and support the mission, visit www.kid ..read more

Top Agent Magazine chose TJ for their June cover story! Top Agent Magazine features the best real estate agents from the USA and countries around the world.  Their feature on Tammy Jo shares how real estate is in her blood and details her client-focused approach. Plus you can learn about how she makes the community a beautiful place to live for generations to come with her PLANt for the Future nonprofit. Read the full article here. PrevPrevious2021 Housing Market: Is it a good year to sell, buy or both? NextWe Packed the Truck for Kids Food Basket!Next The post TJ Homes Top Agent Ma ..read more

The 2021 housing market has left many homeowners with questions. Families like yours are wondering, “what’s the right move for us?” They’ve heard about trends in home values and interest rates and want to take advantage of the best the market has to offer. But on their own, it’s difficult to figure out the perfect timing.  A little information can help you and your family make the right decision. Here are the questions we keep getting asked about the 2021 housing market: Is it a good year to sell my house? Is now the right time to buy a house? What if I have to buy and sell a home this ..read more

https://tjhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/TJ-Homes-Tammy-Jo-5-02-2021.mp3 Struggling to find a house to buy? You’re not alone.  There’s a shortage of homes for sale in 2021. It’s happening all over the country.  But that’s not the only obstacle standing in the way.  People are getting desperate. They are rushing to buy homes without a proper strategy in place. And they’re overpaying.   In this blog, we’ll explain why you’ve struggled to find a house to buy this year and give you some actionable tips on how to change that. Buyer’s Market vs. Seller’s Market A ..read more