The third annual Southern Michigan Winter Beer Festival takes place this Saturday featuring more than 150 selections.  The event is from noon to 5pm on March 9 at Jackson County Fairgrounds and includes selections from regional, national and international companies.   To read more about this event visit:  http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/jackson/index.ssf/2013/03/southern_michigan_winter_beer_2.html#incart_flyout_entertainment

Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business and Colliers International recently reported that West Michigan’s economic outlook is looking strong for 2013.  The economic forecast shows West Michigan seeing modest yet continuing growth this year.  Grand Rapids, Holland and Kalamazoo are a few of several Michigan cities appearing on the national lists of improving housing markets adding to this economic growth.  To read more visit:  http://www.grbj.com/articles/76034-west-michigan-economic-forecast-shows-continuing-growth

Home sales in Michigan reached the highest volume since 2005 along with prices of homes rising to levels that the housing market in Michigan has not seen in years.  The record low mortgage rates have played a huge part in the increase of home sales in Michigan and the decline in foreclosure activity statewide.  To read more visit:  http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/02/michigan_realtors_report_best.html

Please join us in welcoming Jim Szlaga to the Prudential Preferred REALTORS Battle Creek office!

To learn more about Jim, visit his profile page on PPRMI.com.

For all you snow bunnies the ski slopes are now open in Southwest Michigan just in time for the kids to enjoy while on their holiday break.  The recent drop in temperatures and increase in snowfall has helped for local ski slopes to open their businesses for the winter season.  For more details on ski information in your area visit:  http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2012/12/ski_slopes_open_in_southwest_m.html#incart_river_default

According to Grand Rapids Association of Realtors, West Michigan home sales increased in November despite the shortage of inventory of new listings.  The average home sold was on the market only 70 days compared to 91 days in November 2011.  To read more visit:  http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/12/west_michigan_home_sales_grew_1.html

For the first time since April 2008, Kalamazoo County saw its unemployment rate drop below 6% according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.  Over 3,000 jobs have been added this year in Kalamazoo County and there are 2,300 jobs in the county than last year.  To read more visit:  http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/11/kalamazoos_october_unemploymen.html

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority created a fund to benefit first-time home buyers out of a $1.5 billion settlement of a class action lawsuit.  First-time homebuyers will qualify for a $3,000 grant and first-time homebuyers that are veterans will qualify for a $5,000 grant until the fund is depleted.  To learn more visit:  http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/12/first-time_homebuyers_start_li.html#incart_river_default

Please join us in welcoming Brandy Blanchard to the Prudential Preferred REALTORS Plainwell office!

To learn more about Brandy, visit her profile page on PPRMI.com.

During the third quarter of 2012, the number of residential real estate transactions Realtors seen was a tremendous growth from the previous year.  Emmet, Charlevoix, and Antrim counties were the main areas that these statistics came from.

“We seem to be seeing a lot more activity,” Richard Lobenherz, co-owner of Prudential Prefeferred Properties Network, said.  “From a company standpoint, we’re way up over last year.”

To read more, visit:  http://articles.petoskeynews.com/2012-10-29/emmet-association_34801858