News for Residential Real Estate Investors: Michigan Landlord Settles with DOJ for Allegations of Fair Housing Violations.

Here’s a profound truth those in the real estate industry will readily acknowledge: Owning and Managing Real Estate is challenging.   I hear it from my Property Owner/Manager clients. I experience it when I am involved in negotiating in landlord/tenant disputes.   Some of the pitfalls property owners have to watch out for are illustrated in a recentFederalContinue reading “News for Residential Real Estate Investors: Michigan Landlord Settles with DOJ for Allegations of Fair Housing Violations.”

What’s going on in Grand Rapids Real Estate and Beyond.

Happy Friday! Some headlines to share – enjoy! I. What’s going on in Grand Rapids Real Estate News: In the wake of Propaganda Donuts Leaving Division public attention has been drawn to the tension between local businesses and the homeless population on Division Ave. I explored this topic in my blog post: Can business, local government, andContinue reading “What’s going on in Grand Rapids Real Estate and Beyond.”

Reflections on the Guy with the Jack Hammer…

This morning I was making my commute to work on the highway – traffic was backed up and at a stand still. Eventually, all cars started to roll along slowly (at this point, I was happy that at least traffic was moving). Fifteen minutes and a few miles later I slowly passed the root cause of theContinue reading “Reflections on the Guy with the Jack Hammer…”

Business Owners: Think Before you Sign. Recent Court Case Shows Why the Language in Your Contracts Matter.

Here’s to warmer weather! I’ve previously written about the importance of understanding the contracts you sign. I just read a recent Court of Appeals decision that provides a great illustration for business owners to give pause before signing a contract on the dotted line. Check out the case of Solis v Kroger and The Greener Side.Continue reading “Business Owners: Think Before you Sign. Recent Court Case Shows Why the Language in Your Contracts Matter.”

Celebrating Entrepreneurs: National Startup Day

Yesterday August 4 was the 4th Annual National Startup Day Across America. According to the website, National Startup Day Across America was created to: “raise awareness of startup activity and job creation and help catalyze support for your local entrepreneurial community. On the importance of startups in the U.S.: “Startup companies act as entrepreneurial leaders, innovators, and jobContinue reading “Celebrating Entrepreneurs: National Startup Day”

MI Supreme Court in Lawsuit Involving 5 Hour Energy: Commercial Non-Competes Must be Evaluated Under the Rule of Reason.

A while back I wrote a post about the  Court of Appeals Decision: The Non-Compete Lawsuit Involving 5 Hour Energy. To recap, the facts: Parties: Plaintiff, Innovation Ventures, LLC, – the maker of “5 Hour Energy” Defendants Liquid Manufacturing, LLC, K & L Development of Michigan, LLC, and Peter Paisley and Andrew Krause, the presidentsContinue reading “MI Supreme Court in Lawsuit Involving 5 Hour Energy: Commercial Non-Competes Must be Evaluated Under the Rule of Reason.”

Prince Died Without a Will. Business Owners: who are your advisors?

CNN just posted an update on the Prince Estate dispute: possible heirs narrowed down to six @CNN https://t.co/imje7PyaqR A while back I posted about some lessons from Robin Williams’ Estate. I wrote about Robin Williams’ Estate as “an example of the problems that can erupt after a loved one passes away – even if that lovedContinue reading “Prince Died Without a Will. Business Owners: who are your advisors?”

Community Development: The Tension Between Real Estate Entrepreneurship and Keeping Families In Affordable Housing.

This morning I read a MIBiz article by Nick Manes titled: “Hungry investors seek Grand Rapids housing deals, rankling longtime residents” The article does a good job of addressing the “tension” that I wrote about in a previous post. New investment in downtown Grand Rapids is exciting. But, as Nick Manes puts it, the flip-side ofContinue reading “Community Development: The Tension Between Real Estate Entrepreneurship and Keeping Families In Affordable Housing.”

Another West Michigan Business becomes a Certified B Corp

Happy Friday! Yesterday MIBiz reported on the latest West Michigan Business to obtain B -Corp Certification The Highland Group becomes certified B Corp. I’ve previously posted on West Michigan’s Thriving Culture of Social Entrepreneurship in Michigan, the biggest concentration of the B-Corp businesses are in the Grand Rapids area, where there are 11 — twice as manyContinue reading “Another West Michigan Business becomes a Certified B Corp”

About Propaganda Doughnuts’ Closing and West Michigan Business. Working to Build a Better Community.

A few days ago MLIVE posted about Propaganda Doughnuts’ closing on South Division in Downtown Grand Rapids. I was a fan of Propaganda Doughnuts. Occasionally on Sundays after church my family would pick up some doughnuts and go to a park with some friends. I am sorry that I won’t be able to do that any more.Continue reading “About Propaganda Doughnuts’ Closing and West Michigan Business. Working to Build a Better Community.”