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Want to Buy a Foreclosure? Ask These Questions First!

02-16-12
Cy Phillips
Cy  Phillips: Real Estate Agent in West Des Moines, IA

Right now, foreclosures in the Des Moines metro area are selling at a higher rate than traditional homes. Foreclosures can offer big bargains, but buyers need to be careful.

Most foreclosures are sold as-is and may have been left vacant a long time. This could result in a lot of maintenance problems that could offset any deal.

Things to ask and consider:

1. How long has the home been vacant? Remember, things break down when the utilities have been shut off for a long time.

2. How old is the home? Think outdated plumbing and electrical wiring.

3. What is the condition of the exterior of the home? If it looks bad on the outside, it's probably worse on the inside.

4. Is there anything missing? Sometimes valuable items --heaters, fixtures, etc.--may have been removed.

It may also be a good idea to have a home inspector look at the property as well.


What the best Realtors really do....

Gary & Melynda  Wolter CRS (Relocation 319-350-7901): Real Estate Agent in Cedar Rapids, IA

BEST REALTORS – What THEY DO DIFFERENT!


What exactly are the best Realtors in the country doing differently right now?

The most succesful agents are leveraging their website and social media as a way to “educate” and not “advertise”. Luring clients with valuable insight about their local real estate market is more crucial than ever. You are at a time in real estate where everyone and their brother is asking you “how’s the market”, good news is they REALLY want to know. Saying “it’s great” when we all know it’s scary makes you a salesperson and what consumers want is a consultant. Self promotion and endless personal advertising does not contain the information that todays internet savvy consumers are looking for. As you browse the web daily, are you looking for salespeople or are you looking for information about products and services?

New Grimes Listing

02-11-12
Cy Phillips
Cy  Phillips: Real Estate Agent in West Des Moines, IA
Cy Phillips | RE/MAX Innovations, Inc. | (515) 422-4731
2503 NE Destination Cir, Grimes, IA
Amazing 5 Bedroom Ranch in Grimes! Call Cy for a private tour
today! 515-422-4731
5BR/3BA Single Family House
offered at $375,000
Year Built 2005
Sq Footage 3,420
Bedrooms 5
Bathrooms 3 full, 0 partial
Floors 1
Parking 3 Car garage
Lot Size 17,505 sqft
HOA/Maint $0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Over 3400 square foot of finish in this 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom ranch home with an oversized 3 car garage. This home is in a prime Johnston/Grimes location with a walkout basement and a back yard opening to an undeveloped field and future greenbelt! Some of the features of this home include: Hardwood floors, stainless appliances (all kitchen appliances included), granite countertops, wet bar in basement, large outdoor entertaining area with flagstone firepit, garage with epoxy floors/built in storage/workshop area, central vac, formal dining room with butler's pantry, 2 fireplaces, jet tub in master bath, pantry area, large eat in area, security system, surround sound on both levels, oversized deck, storage shed under deck area, laundry room with cabinets, workout room, and incredible attention to detail throughout. Call today for a private tour of this homes. Please note that there will not be any open houses at this address, to set a showing please Cy at 515-422-4731 for a private tour. Email Cy for more info.

see additional photos below
PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C - Central heat - Fireplace
- High/Vaulted ceiling - Walk-in closet - Hardwood floor
- Tile floor - Family room - Living room
- Bonus/Rec room - Office/Den - Dining room
- Breakfast nook - Dishwasher - Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven - Microwave - Granite countertop
- Stainless steel appliances - Attic - Basement
- Washer - Dryer - Laundry area - inside
- Laundry area - garage - Balcony, Deck, or Patio - Yard
- Jacuzzi/Whirlpool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking


ADDITIONAL PHOTOS


Front

Entry

Entry/Office/Dining

Dining/Office

Living

Living 2

Living 3

Eat-in Area

Kitchen

Kitchen 2

Kitchen 3

Living 4

Laundry

Lower Level

Wet Bar

Master Bedroom

Back of Home
Contact info:
Cy Phillips
RE/MAX Innovations, Inc.
(515) 422-4731
For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing
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Posted: Feb 11, 2012, 5:13pm PST

Housing Trends in Coralville IA: Homes Sold in January 2012

Denise Hamlin, 319-400-0268 - Iowa City Real Estate & Relocation Services: Real Estate Agent in Iowa City, IA

7 homes sold in Coralville in January 2012 compared to 15 homes sold in January 2011. If that seems like a bit of a drastic drop, only 3 sold in January 2010, which kind of puts things more in perspective. In fact I went back a few years and the low single digits is more typical for the last few years, making 7 seem more "normal" for the time of year than the high 15 homes sold last year.

The absorption rate is at 7.2 months, that's an average of 217 days on market. (6 months absorption rate is a balanced market). Coralville is not doing as well as Iowa City where home sales are up for the 7th straight month and the absorption rate down to a low 4.8 months. If you check out the annual report for home sales in Coralville for 2011 you'll see that in general the trend is positive with a glitch every now and then. It's likely that this month is one of those glitches.

As we head towards spring and the peak buying time of the year, I wouldn't be surprised to see the numbers of homes sold in Coralville up again in the coming months. Especially when you consider Coralville benefits from its close proximity to Iowa City and is popular with buyers relocating to the Iowa City area for the UIOWA and UI Hospitals. With incoming Residents and Students thinking about accommodation for the Fall semester right around the corner, these are buyers that will have a big impact on home sales in Coralville in the coming months.

Single family homes, condos and zero lots sold in Coralville January 2012

For information on the average and median price of homes in Coralville in January please visit the original post at Iowa City Homes For Sale

So what's the takeaway this month? Too few homes sold in January in Coralville to really make anything of the data. The single family homes that sold were lower priced homes, while the condos that sold were priced on the higher end. That right there is a strange phenomena for Coralville. We're just going to have to wait and see what the spring market brings.

One thing's for sure. If you've got a house to sell, now is the time to get it on the market. You want to have your house on the market at a time when there are the most buyers out there to see it. If not as many homes are selling in Coralville at the moment, you want to have the advantage of having yours on the market when there are the most eyes on it. And that just happens to be spring and early summer.

If you have a house to sell in Coralville I'd love the opportunity to talk with you and discuss your options. You can either call at 319-400-0268 or drop me an email with some basic information about your home and I'll provide you with a complimentary market analysis.

Home Sales in Coralville IA January - December 2011

Home Sales in Coralville by School District January - December 2011

Home Sales in Iowa City January - December 2011

Home Sales in Iowa City by School District January - December 2011

Data for the market report for January collected from the Iowa City MLS February 9, 2012

Homes Sold in Iowa City January 2012 Compared to January 2011

Denise Hamlin, 319-400-0268 - Iowa City Real Estate & Relocation Services: Real Estate Agent in Iowa City, IA

Lately my market reports are full of positive news for housing trends in Iowa City. Home sales for January are no exception. Once again home sales are up in Iowa City. In fact home sales in Iowa City are up by a whopping 138% compared to January 2011. 31 homes sold in Iowa City January 2012 compared to 13 in 2011. And if that wasn't impressive enough. This is the highest number of homes sold in Iowa City in January of any year since 2007 when 35 homes sold!

The absorption rate has dropped to 4.8 months, that's an average of 148 days on market. (6 months absorption rate is a balanced market). 4.8 months absorption rate is technically a sellers market. Home prices don't totally reflect that yet. Since I'm on a roll with good news, there is positive data to share with you on that too. Although about half of the homes sold in Iowa City last month sold at less than 95% of list price, (indicating that buyers are still putting pressure on prices), a few homes sold in Iowa City ABOVE list price in January. That is definitely a good sign for sellers and gives us every reason to be optimistic about the spring market.

Home sales up for 7th straight month in January 2012

To view a table with information about the average price and median price of homes sold in Iowa City please visit the original post at Iowa City Homes For Sale


What's the takeaway this month? If you've got a house to sell, now would be a good time to talk to a Realtor. This market report is further indication that the housing market in Iowa City is definitely on the right track. What you need to know now is how that relates you and you're house. As you can tell from all the information in my market reports, one of my specialties is figuring out the market. I'd love the opportunity to talk with you and discuss your options. You can either call at 319-400-0268 or drop me an email with some basic information about your home and I'll provide you with a complimentary market analysis.

Home Sales in Iowa City January - December 2011

Home Sales in Iowa City by School District January - December 2011

Data for the market report for January collected from the Iowa City MLS February 6, 2012