GRAR.com

04/20/2026

A look at market activity for the month of March 2026:

Curious about your home's value? A GRAR Member would be happy to chat! www.grar.com

04/13/2026

🌸 Did you know that spring cleaning goes beyond improving how your home looks? It can do more for your health than you might realize - - helping improve how you breathe, sleep, and ultimately feel day in and day out. To reap the full health benefits of spring cleaning, it’s helpful to clean your home from top to bottom, with dusting and decluttering being great places to start.

Beyond the physical benefits, cleaning and decluttering can have a powerful impact on mental health. A tidy, organized space can reduce feelings of stress and overwhelm, making it easier to focus and relax at home. Letting go of unused items can also create a sense of accomplishment and control, which can boost mood and support overall emotional well-being. Even small steps, like clearing a single surface, can help create a calmer environment and a clearer mind.

04/13/2026

Thinking about a home project? Not all upgrades deliver the same return when it’s time to sell.

A new report highlights remodeling projects that offer the best resale value, such as: replacing your front door, upgrading windows, improving storage, or converting unused spaces into livable areas.

Before starting your next project, take a look at which improvements can help you enjoy your home now and maximize value later.

A new NAR report reveals which projects homeowners may want to prioritize if they plan to sell within the next year or two.

03/06/2026

Assistance Available for Homeowners & Renters in Crisis:

If you’ve experienced a sudden disaster in your home - whether it’s a fire, flood, storm damage, or an environmental hazard - you’re not alone. The Crisis Fund is here to help.

This Fund bridges the gap and provides financial relief to homeowners and renters across 10 West Michigan counties (Allegan, Barry, Clinton, Eaton, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa).

Travis and Ellie share their story in this video. They were grateful for the assistance provided by the Crisis Fund in such an emotional and stressful time.

If you or someone you know needs assistance, visit our website to apply for a grant today - https://www.grar.com/crisisresponsefund/.

A special THANK YOU to Jacob Harr w/Harr Creative for donating his time and talents to create this video, to the Crisis Fund Task Force, and to all of the real estate professionals who have contributed to the Fund making this support possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8uMrMLAukY

Travis and Ellie share their story of resilience after a devastating fire displaced their family and turned their world upside down. In the midst of uncertai...

02/24/2026

We are only two days away from 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐑'𝐬 "𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡" 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 (𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐀𝐌𝐀), 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦.
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Registration is $15, and includes 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭, 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐝'𝐨𝐞𝐮𝐯𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭 for real estate licensees.

If you are not a GRAR member, but would like to attend, we would love to have you join us! Please call Steve at 616-940-8225 to register.

02/16/2026

A look at recent market activity.

Curious about your home's value? A GRAR Member would be happy to chat! www.grar.com

02/03/2026

You're invited to "Understanding the Past, Informing the Future — a special Black History Month 100‑Year Anniversary Learning Experience + Mixer" hosted by the Greater Regional Alliance of REALTORS® (GRAR)!

February 26, 2026
1:00 – 3:00 PM (Happy Hour to follow)
Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives (GRAAMA)
41 Sheldon Blvd SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Hear from distinguished speakers including Dr. Randal Jelks and Monique Winston, enjoy meaningful discussion, earn fair housing CE credits (if you're a real estate licensee), and connect with community members.

Cost: $15
If not a member of GRAR, please call Steve at 616.940.8225 to register.

All are welcome — let’s celebrate history, learning, and community together!

https://www.grar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/100YCelebration.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

01/07/2026

When disaster strikes, the Crisis Fund bridges the gap.

In 2025, GRAR's Crisis Fund stepped in to help homeowners and renters facing sudden housing disasters that caused serious property damage and/or displacement. While insurance and other aid can take time (or fall short), the Crisis Fund provides timely, practical support when it’s needed most.

Impact in 2025:

20 people assisted

$11,223.54 distributed to help cover emergency housing, meals, transportation, cleanup, mortgage assistance, and essential replacement items.

Who we serve:

The Crisis Fund serves individuals, families, and nonprofit agencies located in Allegan, Barry, Clinton, Eaton, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa counties.

For purposes of the Crisis Fund, a disaster is defined as a sudden and devastating event (through no fault of the applicant) resulting in serious property damage, such as a fire, storm damage, or environmental hazard.

It’s important to note that the Crisis Fund is unable to assist with damage related to deferred maintenance. As much as we might like to help in those instances, the needs are so great that the Fund would be quickly depleted.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a qualifying crisis - or if you’d like to support this important work - please visit:
👉 https://www.grar.com/CrisisResponseFund/

✔️ Applications for assistance can be submitted online to [email protected]
✔️ Donations are welcome and tax-deductible (the Fund is a 501(c)(3))

Together, we can help our community recover—one crisis at a time. 💙

10/07/2025

We’re proud of our member, Brian Boven, being named as a national finalist for NAR’s 2025 Good Neighbor Award! Let’s give Brian — and Homes Giving Hope — the national spotlight they deserve and celebrate the incredible impact he’s making in our community.

Through Homes Giving Hope, founded with his wife Sara, Brian has helped secure five homes where 18 young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live independently and thrive with the support they need. By creating homes filled with safety, love, and hope, Brian helps residents thrive while giving families the priceless gift of peace of mind about their children’s futures.

How Web Choice Favorites Voting Works:
From October 7–November 5, the public can vote for their favorite finalists. The top three vote-getters will receive a bonus donation to their nonprofit.

You can vote as often as you like — just make sure each vote is manually clicked one at a time.

🗳️ Vote here: http://realtor.com/goodneighbor

08/08/2025

Smart Home Devices Under Attack: How to Spot the Warning Signs

Cyberattacks on smart home devices are on the rise, with a 124% spike in IoT-related threats reported in 2024. From odd behavior by your smart devices to unexpected changes in settings, the signs of a breach aren’t always obvious. Learn how to recognize and reduce the risks with proactive steps like monitoring network activity and enabling multifactor authentication.

In case you were wondering, the Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the network of physical devices, such as smart thermostats, security cameras, smart speakers, appliances, and even light bulbs that are connected to the internet and can collect, send, and receive data. These devices often communicate with each other and can be controlled remotely, making them "smart," but also potentially vulnerable to cyberattacks if not properly secured.

If you've got smart devices like cameras, speakers, or lights around the house, you may be concerned about how secure they are. Here's what you need to know.