Live Local. Sell Local. Give Local.

Our Giving Back Program

We give 3% of each commission back to a local charity of our clients’ choice!

Free Moving Trailer

Buy or Sell with Live Local Realty and use this trailer to move in the Greater Ionia area!

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Our Team

Laurie Palmer

Broker/Owner

John Dinehart

Broker/Owner

Maria Blackmer

Broker/Owner

About Us

Live Local Realty was formed in April 2013 by John Dinehart, Laurie Palmer, and Maria Blackmer. Combined, we have over 45 years of experience in selling real estate in Ionia County. In addition, we are all lifelong residents of the area. We were all raised here, graduated from Ionia High School and returned to raise our own families in Ionia. To say we know the area is an understatement!

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Testimonials

“I had the pleasure of working with Laurie Palmer and Live Local Realty when I was selling my home in Ionia. I was very pleased with the professionalism Laurie showed in all of our contacts (I’m sure I drove her crazy a few times) and the follow up after every showing. Even when I would become frustrated, Laurie always seemed to be positive and truly believed we would sell my home – which was accomplished in April 2015! I also feel it’s worth noting how Live Local Realty went above and beyond listing my home. After receiving our inspection, a couple of issues needed to be resolved and Live Local Realty, John Dinehart, made the repairs. Some “trash” needed to be picked up under the decks, and Laurie said not to worry, she would handle it (I’m hoping her sons handled it, not her). I have no issues recommending Live Local Realty to those selling or searching for a home – actually, I have already referred them to a couple hoping to list this fall. “

Karen Heintzelman

“Maria Blackmer is a dedicated Real Estate Agent and community member. She has worked very hard to sell my home and really gone the extra mile to get the job done. She has solid integrity as a business woman, which I value highly. She volunteers locally and gives back to the community with business donations in the names of her clients. She is very proactive and energetic, and I have been pleased to watch her career grow through her hard work and devotion. I would recommend her without hesitation, and would use her services again.”

Stacie Hill

“My experience with Live Local, in particular, Laurie Palmer, was great! Laurie held multiple open houses and did a great job at the overall marketing of our property. Even though we had a unique property, we had many people look at it and in a relatively quick amount of time had the house sold. I really appreciated all of the communication with my agent. I felt like she was on top of it and let us know about all inquiries. Lastly, I really like that Live Local gives back to the community, it made me feel good about giving them my business.”

Teela And Ty Brown

“Laurie & I have been friends for 25 years. When we had to put my parent’s house up for sale it was emotional for me & my sisters. We had called that house home for 33 years. Laurie did a great job being professional & supporting me as a friend. She was honest & provided feedback that was valuable to selling the house quickly.”

Angie Harder

“I had the pleasure of both selling a home and purchasing a new home with Laurie Palmer as my real estate agent. Laurie worked hard to gather facts about my property in order to price it fairly in a competitive market. What sets Laurie apart from other agents is her frequent communication. Whenever I had a showing, Laurie would follow up with the potential buyer’s agent, and relay feedback to me. Laurie worked cooperatively with other agents and answered all of my questions through the entire process of selling my home, as well as purchasing a new one. Home ownership is a major deal for many people; Laurie makes the process as easy as possible for her clients. I will definitely list with her again. I enthusiastically recommend her to anybody in need of her real estate expertise.”

Jeffrey Marion

“Laurie has been our realtor for 10 years buying and selling many homes. She always makes the deal seamless and makes the transaction easy. She looks out for us, as her client, and tells us about upcoming opportunities for investment real estate. She informs us of potential renters and provides us with a true partnership in helping us achieve our dreams.”

Jessica Starks

“As a mortgage lender for more than 20years, I have worked with a number of different real estate agencies. The agents that rise above the rest are always those who are reliable, trustworthy and knowledgeable. But more than that, these realtors have the right combination of experience and genuine concern for their clients to successfully help a family buy their first home, or a couple find their dream retirement home. In my experience the realtors at Live Local Realty have just what it takes to help you.”

Brian Talbot, Svp Firstbank

“On April 6th we put a house on the market and on May 6th we closed and gave the keys to the new owner. In today’s economy and real estate market that was amazing. Maria handled all the paper work, gave us concise directions as to what we needed to do and followed through the process from beginning to end. We are totally satisfied and are grateful that someone from our community has the expertise and experience to complete the process. Thanks Maria!”

Barb Burrows

“Laurie is a positive, caring and energetic realtor. She is very knowledgeable about the Ionia area, and involved in our community. I would recommend her to any buyer or seller looking for the perfect home.”

Trisha Carter

“We used Live Local Realty when we purchased a building in Ionia. We found Maria to be a competent and caring realtor who far exceeded our expectations. We would be proud to refer her to family and friends. The generous community donation program is another great plus for the company. We could not have found a better realtor. Thanks again.”

Ruth Kurth And Rachel Palmer

We are a different kind of agency that gives back to the communities we serve on every sale. We sell homes, but our goal is to make sure your purchase improves lives in some way.