Removing Eastern Red Cedars From Your Property - Dec 05 11:39 PM
Eastern Red Cedars (ERC) can devastate your pasture and completely take over beautiful hillsides that were once covered with native prairie grasses and forbes. If you own an acreage or land in the Loess Hills you know clearning the invasive Eastern Red Cedar from your property can be a laborious job but a necessity. The tree is listed as an invasive species in the Loess Hillsand a danger to the hills themselves. Eastern Red Cedars can ...
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Iowa Caucuses - Election 2008! - Jan 03 07:19 AM
I'm sure you've all seen the national news about the Iowa Caucuses. We've been right in the thick of things here in Davenport, Iowa! Examples:
DAVENPORT, Iowa - Sen. John McCain returned to Iowa on Wednesday to launch a last-minute campaign blitz before tonight's presidential caucuses, buoyed by a new national poll that has him leading the Republican field. (Story from The Arizona Republic)
It was a conciliatory Obama, as well, who trekked east to west from Davenport ...
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Sick and Tired of the News! - Jan 10 11:02 AM
How many of you are sick of hearing about the depressed real estate market? The real estate market is to blame for everything from the slowing retail market to the recession. If we didn't hear about the housing market with every news cast the public could move on. So many people believe every word they hear on the evening news. They make people afraid to move forward with their life. The fear is the housing prices may lower further ...
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Can Iowa Winters Be Fun? - Feb 24 04:20 PM
Over a year ago I did a post about how You Might Be A Real Estate Agent... based upon Jeff Foxworthy's humorous look at life and how it may pertain to our profession.
Iowa Winters are well known for being, um, interesting to say the least! When I wrote Davenport Iowa Gets Another 2.7"!, it was my attempt at showing the rest of America another glimpse of what winter is like in Iowa.
When I wrote Iowa gets hit again...this time it's ...
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Midwest Farmland Exchanges: Cause of High Land Values or Merely Effect? - Jan 21 04:14 PM
Are Farmland Exchanges occurring in the Midwest in states such as Iowa the cause of high land values or merely an effect? The answer depends upon who you ask, but my personal opinion is that high Midwest farmland values are a lot more likely the result of the increased need for corn to be used in the production of ethanol than land owners using Section 1031 exchanges to increase their holdings. Corn prices have languished around ...
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Help me welcome a Newbie to Active Rain - Apr 04 10:08 AM
Hi everyone, I wanted to introduce a newbie to Active Rain, he got started off right and got his first post out there. And I'm sure, knowing the Active Rain people like I do that we're going to help him feel more than welcomed here.
His Name is Scott Hand and is with Integrity Home Inspections out of Des Moines and is the owner of the company. Every inspection will be done by him and by high ...
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My Brokerage Change is Official - Feb 02 03:51 PM
As of February 1st I am no longer affiliated with my former brokerage and have now joined Cramer Realty Inc. serving the west side of Iowa and all of Southern Iowa as a real estate salesperson and auctioneer. I will continue to serve the rural community selling farm land, hunting land and acreages. As the owner of Loess Hills Acreages and a member of the Land And Game Team I focus my entire attention on all things ...
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It's getting cold out. Time to get ready for a new season of Ice fishing here in Iowa. - Nov 30 10:44 AM
Coming from California you don't hear much about Ice Fishing. Since living in Iowa I hear the conversation of going out ice fishing often during the winter months. I love to fish but have never gone Ice fishing. I do not know if I am that hard core of a fisherman. It's not really the cold that bothers me, it's the thought of being out on the ice. Sitting there hoping the ice is thick enough ...
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The Farm Bill - The Latest News Regarding Section 1031 - Jan 11 07:25 PM
As part of a continuing effort to keep you up to date on the implications that the Farm Bill currently being considered in Washington, DC. may have on Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges, here's the latest: As you know if you have read my two previous blogs on this subject (the original and the update), the Farm Bill passed through the Senate in mid-December 2007 with one very important subsection (Section 12504) that would redefine the ...
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Why investing in one rental per year is the right pace for many... - Jun 18 09:06 AM
From Chris Lengquist's blog - he makes the case that REALTORS can build a good investment portfolio by investing in one property per year. All that follows basically supports this advice, so if you're in a hurry you can skip this blog entry. :^)
In our Two Rivers REIA we spend a lot of time making sure investors know that running real estate investments is actually a business. For some agents, they simply do not want the distraction nor can they ...
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Alternative Energy - Wind Turbines and Corn Burning Systems - Feb 01 11:34 AM
Alternative energy is a big thing in my area (north west Iowa) partly because of the extreme cold in the winter and the constantly blowing wind and partly because of the abundance of corn and high fuel prices. Wind turbines (wind farms) are very prominent in this area, in fact we live on the Buffalo Ridge. This ridge has the highest maintained wind speed in all of Iowa, so it is a no brainer to put ...
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Get Your Home Noticed - Sell By Auction - Feb 24 07:41 PM
Are you considering selling a home? Have a home you can not get sold? Have you considered the auction method of marketing? There is a growing trend in the United States and more and more people are selling their homes at auction. Today the National Auctioneers Association(NAA) released new numbersabout real estate auctions and real estate is the fasted growing segment of the auction industry. You might think this is due to the current market condition but the numbers actually ...
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Why choose an NAA accredited Auctioneer? - Apr 25 04:14 PM
The NAA is the National Association of Auctioneers. Outstanding members of the NAA have sworn to hold themselves to a higher code. An NAA Auctioneer vows to conduct themselves with adherence to an ironclad code of ethics. The Auctioneers of the Luxuron Group represent sellers. Their duty is to represent a seller of real estate to the utmost of their ability. The Luxuron Groups mission is to bring as many qualified buyers as possible to an ...
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Obama and Huckabee Win Iowa Caucuses - Jan 03 10:37 PM
A proud tradition played out in Iowa today and finally, the phone calls will stop! As much as I grump about them I know they spent $30,000,000 in Iowa which is a great thing for us. The attention never hurts our great state either. No big political analysis here but the numbers if you have not seen them yet.
As of this writing the numbers sit at
Democrats
Obama 38%
Edwards 30%
Clinton 29%
Richardson 2%
Dodd and Biden have abandoned their ...
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Iowa Farmland Purchase Analysis Tool - Jan 21 09:41 PM
Are you considering purchasing farmland in Iowa? If you are there is a really nice tool that was designed by Iowa State University Extension called the Farmland Purchase Analysis Ag Decision Maker. This tool is built using Microsoft Excel and you can change every possible parameter that would affect the cash flow of the farm. All revenue and expenses are considered in the spreadsheet giving you an accurate picture of what annual cash flow will be. ...
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Updated Foreclosure List for Southwest Iowa - Nov 03 11:53 PM
I've updated my foreclosure list for Southwest Iowa. This list includes foreclosures listing in the Southwest Iowa Multiple Listing Service. If you are looking for foreclosures for sale in Southwest Iowathis is the best and probably only free list you will find.
Be sure to click the NEXT 10 at the bottom of the page as they are listed only 10 per page. If you see a yellow Y or N next to it then ...
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Iowa Real Estate with Prestige! - SOLD!!! - Sep 08 11:24 AM
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Davenport, Iowa Real Estate Pricing Rises!!! - Nov 28 06:53 AM
The Median Real Estate sale price rose over 20% for the Davenport, Iowa/Quad Cities area!
In the third quarter of 2006, the median home sales price for the Davenport, Iowa/Quad Cities area was $111,500. With numbers just in from the third quarter of 2007, the Davenport, Iowa/Quad Cities area recorded a median home sales price of $114,600. This increase represents a 2.8% increase in the past year in spite of a slow market! The statistic that is even ...
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Iowa Hunting Land Growing Trophy Whitetail - Dec 09 10:54 PM
Hunting Land in Iowa and other rural properties are my business. Written by Jason Smith
Purchasing recreational land can be a tricky decision and I'm going to write a series of blogs to help buyers understand how to evaluate a property for its potential to grow trophy whitetail deer and how to manage land for quality whitetail deer. I am a Realtor and I sell recreational hunting land. There is a great deal to know about evaluating ...
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Iowa Geographic Map Server - Satellite Aerial Photography - Dec 07 04:03 PM
I quite often use aerial photography as a real estate agent for many different things. While Google Earthis an extremely popular tool you are limited in what you can learn from it. The 2-D images are probably the most useful part of Google Earth but there is also another great option for learning about the land from the air.
If you have intentions of buying a farm, acreage or just bare land a little research to ...
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Hard-Money Lending - Wosmansky to Speak at Two River REIA - July 7th - Jul 03 11:03 AM
"Hard-Money Lending - Preparing the Construction Narrative" - will be the topic on Saturday, July 7th at 8:00 AM for the Two Rivers REIA monthly meeting. Meeting details can be found at Two Rivers REIA.
Kevin Wosmansky is an Owner and Manager of Heartland Mortgage Group (HMG) here in Des Moines, Iowa, and has extensive experience with Hard Money lending. Flatirons Financial, based in Kansas City, offers a unique loan product and HMG is the exclusive marketing representative in Iowa for Flatirons ...
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Iowa Deer Hunting Season Extension - Dec 14 11:54 PM
Iowa deer hunting is seeing a change this year. In a departure from the past the Iowa Department of Natural Reources has extended deer hunting season for Muzzleloader and Shotgun hunters through emergency rule. With Iowa's new Harvest Reporting System the DNR is able to determine that poor weather conditions affected deer harvests during the open weekend of 1st and 2nd season shotgun hunting. I don't want to interpert or restate the rules of the extension so I am going to ...
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Two Rivers Real Estate Investor’s Association Meeting - Mar 14 03:21 PM
I have been honored with an invitation to speak at the Two Rivers Real Estate Investor’s Association monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 2008. The meeting will be held at the Agribusiness of Iowa Building, 900 Des Moines Street, Des Moines, IA, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Click for map.
There is a nominal fee of $10.00 to attend the meeting (goes to the association, not me!), or you can elect to pay $20.00 ...
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So You Want to Live on an Acreage. The good life! - Jun 30 02:25 PM
In my last post I talked about the not so pretty side of living on an acreage. This time the good stuff. As far as I'm concerned you can not beat the beauty of living ona Loess Hills Acreage. There is a trade off by moving to the country that is less than equally tilted in favor of living in the country. Its easy to list the downside, but harder to list the high points because they are subjective. What I ...
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So you want to buy an acreage- The not so pretty side - Jun 30 11:44 AM
This is part 1 of a 2 part blog entry. The 2nd part can be found here.
The quite simple lifestyle of acreage living sounds romantic and appealing but is it? For me it is but for you I don't know. Recently I had a familiar conversation with another Realtor in my office. A client had called and wanted to list their acreage for sale after only 1 year of living in it. The lifestyle was just not ...
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Preparing for Iowa Deer Hunting Part 2 - Jun 30 11:08 AM
This is part 2 of my post Preparing for Iowa Deer Season.
I myself tend to divide my hunting locations into 4 categories for overlapping parts of the season. When you are preparing for the season you have to have it in mind that things are going to change. As you prepare keep the different parts of season in mind. From summer to Fall the food source for deer is going to change from the leafy greens they ...
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Iowa Deer Classic February 29th thru March 2nd, 2008 Des Moines Iowa - Jan 19 10:51 PM
The Iowa Deer Classic is just around the corner and I hope you'll come visit the Land and Game Team at our booth this year. This years Deer Classic promises to be even better than the 8 previous shows. If you were there last year you remember having to brave a winter storm to get there. Lets hope for better weather this year. With so many things to do for everybody you can bring your family ...
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Cedar Rapids Real Estate-Custom built home on wooded acre - Feb 18 04:02 PM
This 1993 4 bedroom, 3 bath ranch is meticulously maintained and has a 3 car garage and 0ver 2500 sq ft, of living area! Fedral reserve land is in back, so you will vever have neighbors. Located on a quiet cul-de-sac and only 15 minutes from downtown Cedar Rapids. See 20 pictures of this rare property at http://1590Contestogatrail.garywolter.com
www.GaryWolter.com 1590 Conestoga Trail NE Swisher, Iowa
Gary Wolter
Skogman Realty
319-350-7901
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Thoughts On The Iowa Caucus - Jan 02 03:30 PM
Tomorrow the voters in Iowa will take the first official step towards selecting the two major party candidates for President of the United States. If your only source of news is the major networks, you might be under the impression that the race for the democratic nomination only has two contestants, maybe three.Hillary ClintonBarrack ObamaJohn Edwards I think that this is ashame! Especially when you consider that Iowa is the very first state to go to the ...
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Sell Your Acreage in 30 Days - Dec 30 03:00 PM
Do you want to sell your home or acreage in 30 days? If you are thinking of selling your property I can give you one solid piece of advice to help you sell fast and I could say it in 3 words without the fluff and beating around the bush. Its the single most important thing you could hear right now, its the single most important thing you can do to sell your acreage quickly, or ...
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Shenandoah Iowa - Dec 29 02:51 PM
The Real Estate Market in Shenandoah is very stable. If you bought a home in the 1980 a $40,000 in the 1980's and today that home will sell for $80,000. (However when you think of homes there you will find a range of home prices between $12900 to 349000. When you visualize a home think 3 bed and 2 bath. think 1100 to 1400 sqft. Think Snow in the Winter and long hot iowa days for the summer. Think ...
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Iowa Deer Hunting Shed Antlers - Dec 25 02:42 PM
The other day I wrote about shed antler hunting and told you I knew the shedding was starting a little early this year due to the rough weather we have experienced this December. Actually its probably been a pretty normal December but with so many mild winters over the past 10 years it seems harsh. Today I grabbed cards out of my game cameras (yes on Christmas Day) expecting to get a few photos of bucks that ...
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Iowa Shed Antler Hunting - Dec 23 10:33 PM
Shed antler hunting is a popular off season activity for many whitetail enthusiasts. Shed hunting always falls during the winterand early spring each year after the yearly breeding or the rut takes place. Bucks no longer need their antlers and must shed the old ones for a variety of reasons but especially to prepare for the regeneration of new antlers in the following year. The shedding also occurs as a result of stress and hormone changes. ...
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Iowa Hunter Safety Education Classes - Dec 10 06:32 PM
Iowa State Law requires that any person born after January 1, 1972 must be certified in hunter education before they are eligible to purchase an Iowa hunting license. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources oversees and provides the program for the entire State of Iowa. You must be 11 years old to register for the class but 12 to be able to be issued a certificate. A minimum of 10 hours are required to complete the ...
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Places to eat in Sioux City. - Nov 26 05:37 PM
When I first moved here I complained there weren't enough good restaurants. Sioux City is slowly bringing in good restaurants. Though I still hope for non-chain restaurants to open here.
What we have:
The Olive GardenRed RobinHu Hot Mongolian Grill.Red LobsterGarfield'sBev's On the River.Minerva'sRuth's (Mexican food)Charlie's'Famous Dave'sSweet Fannie'sRebo'sMacBehr'sCarlos O'Kelly'sKahills (S Sioux City)Chili's Bar and GrillBuffalo Wild WingsOutback SteakhouseEl Fredo's PizzaIckey Nickel Bar and GrillI know I am missing some but this is a nice array of places ...
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2008 Iowa Hunting Leases - Nov 24 10:02 PM
Its the time of year to begin taking names for Iowa hunting leases.
Farmers and Land Owners: Looking for a way to get more value from your land? If you own land that is suitable for hunting you might consider leasing the hunting rights to your land, or a portion of your land. Different land is suitable for different types of hunting. Deer and turkey hunting leases are more common than others, but you can also lease you ...
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Winter is coming. Time to Winterize those vacant homes. - Nov 16 04:44 PM
Winter is coming. Getting your clients to protect their vacant homes.
Cover outside faucets with insulation.Turn off water at the main valve.Turn off propane or natural gas.Keep the heat on low if possible.Put anti-freeze in the toilet bowl and tank.If in doubt get a professional to do it for you.If you are turning off the gas to the house and the pilot will be out on the hot water heater it will need to be drained.
The two ...
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Farm Loans and Financing Ag Land - Nov 10 10:06 PM
Farm loans or financing agricultural land is a whole different breed than home loans. Most agricultural financing for land is usually done with local bankers and usually somebody you know, somebody that is comfortable with you, and that you are comfortable with. Someone who you can drive downtown and shake hands with or that you'll likely see at the football game on Friday night. Farm loans are usually significant and you have many options. Recently I ...
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Lots of positives here in the Des Moines market - Nov 08 11:46 PM
It's important to place the current housing market in perspective: 2007 will be the fifth highest year on record for existing-home sales nationwide.
The average sale price of Des Moines-area homes has steadily increased the last three months and was up more than $5,000 in September (compared to September 2006).
Average days on market continues to stay well below the high of 96 days earlier this year.
Active listings remain high, indicating a greater selection of ...
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Sharing a Harvest Sunset - Nov 07 08:13 PM
A lot of things make me smile but one of my favorite is an Iowa Fall sunset. Nothing can give me the same feeling of driving through the countryside and seeing the big orange fall sunset. With the crop harvest as a backdrop and the scurry of activity before winter comes the sunset offers everybody a few minutes to stop and reflect not only on their day, but the many blessings we have in life. It ...
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Cedar Rapids Real Estate- Selling? Realize their are only 4 types of buyers. - Nov 07 06:48 PM
The biggest challenge for the For Sale By Owner is that there are only 4 types of buyers. By understanding what kind of "fish" there are in the lake, you will have a better chance at baiting the hook with the right bait.
FOUR TYPES OF BUYERS:
1. First Time Home Buyer-Do not typically trust a FSBO. Wants 3rd party help. Large majority of first time home buyers don't feel comfortable without the free services of a buyer's ...
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Watch the NP Dodge Home Show Online - Nov 06 11:16 PM
The NP Dodge Home Show showcases homes for sale in Southwest Iowa and Southeast Nebraska. If you missed teh show on November 4th you can watch it right here? Wowt Channel 6 make the home show available online so you can watch it anytime you want to. Just click the graphic to the left and the NP Dodge Home Show will open in a new window. If you see an Iowa home you like and want to have a ...
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Remax garners premier market presence in Des Moines - Oct 21 06:09 PM
Hold on to your hats folks! Recent data from the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors showed Remax has passed 800 pound gorilla Iowa Realty to grab the top slot for unit sales in Des Moines from 01/01/07 t0 07/31/07 of this year. According to DMAAR Remax offices sold 1,523 units vs. Iowa Realty's 1,476.I'm not sure of the exact numbers but I think Remax has around 250-300 agents as opposed to over 500 at Iowa Realty. We're ...
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September sales document continued softness in Des Moines housing market - Oct 21 05:28 PM
Des Moines MLS unit sales slid 14.3% from last year, according to data from the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors. Unit sales for this September were 756 units, compared to 882 sold last year.Pending sales softened as well with 513 pending this year vs. 595 pending last year. Average days on market rose from 75 in '06 to 84 in '07. The number of listings available also mushroomed from 5,785 to 6,980, almost a 21% ...
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Iowa Recreational Land Listing - Oct 20 11:12 PM
Have you always wanted your own land for hunting or fishing. A place you can call your own? A place you can manage, plant trees and food plots? A great place with a breath taking view? If so you may be interested in my new listing. While this land could be used for many different things I think it is the perfect recreational land for the hunter or fisherman. It would also make a great building ...
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Real Estate is alive and well in Sioux City (Siouxland). - Oct 20 06:19 PM
Since the big scare with foreclosures I have had many friends and acquaintance's question my desire to go into real estate at this time. I have famliy in states where they were hit hard. A cousin who has been busy doing appraisals, not for buying but for foreclosures. Friends that bought high dollar homes in California and can't get out of them. Some areas the housing prices rose and rose. At some time this had to stop and the ...
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Hunting the Loess Hills of Western Iowa - Oct 18 08:54 PM
Many Sportsmen and women travel to Western Iowa every year to hunt deer and turkey in the Loess Hills. The steep topography of the area, heavy timber mixed with agricultural uses make the area a great place for growing trophy whitetail and big Iowa Gobblers. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has made the area even more attractive by adding a State Forest in Western Iowa with over 14,000 acres of public access called the Loess Hills State Forest. ...
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Harrison County Iowa Property Valuations and Tax Protest 2007 - Oct 17 10:21 PM
Have ever wondered how your taxes are determined on your home? Its not to complex but I wanted to explain it for those that are not familiar. In Iowa each county has a county government that consists of different officials. There are 3 offices involved in your taxes on your home.
First the governing bodies such as the city council and county board of supervisors set tax rates. The tax rate is expressed as so many cents ...
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Iowa Farmland and Recreational Land Prices Increase - Oct 14 06:35 PM
A 1997 Iowa State University study showed that over a third, 37 percent, of the farm land in Iowa was owned by people over the age of 65. Another study in 2000 revealed that only 29 percent of Iowa's farmers had identified a successor for their farm. This study further showed that only 45 percent of the farmers had an estate plan.
These studies show that over the next several years a significant portion of Iowa's farm ...
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Most Counties in Iowa Offer Free Well Water Testing - Oct 13 11:58 PM
The safety of your drinking water is important. In Iowa there are many farms and acreages utilize wells for water. Certainly the trend toward rural water is promising but there are still a majority of rural properties using wells. According to the Harrison County website "Currently, 45% of the private wells in the state, which serve 9% of the population, are considered unsafe for drinking due to bacterial contamination. Also, nearly one in every five private wells ...
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Search the Southwest Iowa MLS To Find Homes For Sale (Mills County Iowa) - Oct 11 09:46 PM
Looking for homes for sale in Mills County Iowa? You can search for listings in a lot of places but right here you can search the entire Southwest Iowa Multiple Listing Service. Mills County is immediately South of Omaha and Council Bluffs. Mills County provides many in town residential living as well as rural living opportunities on many beautiful Loess Hills Acreages. Towns in Mills County include Emerson, Glenwood, Hastings, Henderson, Malvern, Mineola, Silver City and ...
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Little Slice of Heaven - IOWA! - Oct 10 10:13 PM
As I heard on the radio the other morning, "Iowa's just a little slice of heaven." The guys bantered back and forth about how fall is the best season. Our fall has been extremely warm, in the 80's that is, which is unseasonable warm for this time of the year. They went on to explain how winter is the reason why we don't have a huge population with the traffic, crime, etc. that larger cities have. That' s why we ...
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Recent NAR Poll Tells Current Trends about Buyers - Oct 10 04:12 PM
According to a recent NAR poll on home buyers' decisions, most buyers are looking for homes that are single level (Ranch) with central air conditioning, walk-in closets and hardwood floors. The median size of homes purchased between late 2005 and earlier this year was 1,840 square feet. For repeat buyers who tend to be a little more choosy the 2nd or 3rd time of buying a home, they have added the following to their wish-list: a larger walk-in closet off the master bedroom and oversized ...
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Iowa Recreational Land - Oct 09 09:01 PM
Iowa has so many options for recreational land and the trend toward purchasing recreational land for hunting, fishing, ATV enthusiasts, and equestrian uses has become popular.
I keep a constant eye on the recreational properties that are available throughout Southern Iowa and Southwest Iowa. I also watch the properties available statewide and monitor them through channels available to me. As a deer and turkey hunter myself I have a lot of interest in these property listings for ...
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Search the Southwest Iowa MLS To Find Homes For Sale - Oct 07 03:55 PM
Looking for homes for sale in Pottawattamie County Iowa? You can search for listings in a lot of places but right here you can search the entire Southwest Iowa Multiple Listing Service. Pottawattamie County is immediately east of Omaha and connected to Omaha by the Missouri River. Pottawattamie County provides many in town residential living as well as rural living opportunities on many beautiful Loess Hills Acreages. Towns in Pottawattamie County include Avoca, Carson, Carter Lake, Council Bluffs, Crescent, Hancock, ...
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Search the Southwest Iowa MLS To Find Homes For Sale - Oct 07 03:45 PM
Looking for homes for sale in Harrison County Iowa? You can search for listings in a lot of places but right here you can search the entire Southwest Iowa Multiple Listing Service. Harrison County is north of Omaha and included in the Omaha Metropolatin Area. Harrison County provides many in town residential living as well as rural living opportunities on many beautiful Loess Hills Acreages. Towns in Harrison County include Missouri Valley, Logan, Woodbine, Dunlap, Modale, Mondamin, Little Sioux, Pisgah, Persia, ...
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The First Day of Iowa Deer Season 2007 - Oct 01 10:37 PM
Its finally the day we all look forward to and prepare for all year long. For the archery hunter October 1 is a magical date. The first day of Iowa Archery Whitetail Deer season was today. Archery season begins on October 1st each year. Hopefully you have all the necessary preparations completed and its all business from here on out. A few notes and online resources about Iowa deer hunting season this year that are worth mentioning.
...
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What Should You Do If You Are Facing Foreclosure - Sep 30 09:55 PM
You may have received a notice of default from your lender or you just know you can not continue to make payments on your home. Either way you know that you are facing foreclosure. With the credit crunch we are facing you are not alone. You should know that there are options available to you.
Recently I attended training on Loss Mitigation Consulting and a second class on Short Sales. Even I was surprised at just ...
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Iowa Department of Natural Resources Volunteer Opportunities - Sep 27 06:42 PM
Each month the Iowa Department of Natural Resources sends out an email to volunteers. I thought I would share this months email in hopes of letting you know that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources does utilize volunteers for many different kinds of projects. You can register to volunteer for the Iowa DNR by going to the website www.keepersoftheland.org and become involved in some great projects in your areas. Below is this months email from the Iowa ...
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Fragile Giants A Natural History of the Loess Hills - Sep 22 11:27 PM
I have just finished my second reading of Fragile Giants A Natural History of the Loess Hills by Cornelia F. Mutel. Mutel is a historian of science and engineering at the University of Iowa. Originally pushished in 1989 this book was the first book to chronicle the natural history of the Loess Hills and one of the very few books about the Loess Hills. Considered the original and the first book to begin unlocking the mysteries ...
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A Website Dedicated to Acreages in Mills County - Aug 15 11:20 PM
Mills County Acreages
For quite some time I have been kicking around the idea of a new website dedicated to buyers and sellers of acreages in Southwest Iowa. Finally I decided on Loess Hills Acreages for several reasons. First I live on an acreage in the Loess Hills and have experience with acreage living. The second reason was I enjoy the opportunity to market and sell Loess Hills acreages when I can. Living on an acreages was a ...
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A Website Dedicated to Acreages in Harrison County - Aug 15 11:18 PM
Harrison County Acreages
For quite some time I have been kicking around the idea of a new website dedicated to buyers and sellers of acreages in Southwest Iowa. Finally I decided on Loess Hills Acreages for several reasons. First I live on an acreage in the Loess Hills and have experience with acreage living. The second reason was I enjoy the opportunity to market and sell Loess Hills acreages when I can. Living on an acreages was a ...
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A Website Dedicated to Acreages in Southwest Iowa - Aug 15 11:14 PM
Pottawattamie County Acreages
For quite some time I have been kicking around the idea of a new website dedicated to buyers and sellers of acreages in Southwest Iowa. Finally I decided on Loess Hills Acreages for several reasons. First I live on an acreage in the Loess Hills and have experience with acreage living. The second reason was I enjoy the opportunity to market and sell Loess Hills acreages when I can. Living on an acreages was ...
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Becoming an Outdoors Woman - Jul 21 10:17 PM
My wife Nicole completed the Iowa Hunter Safety Education Program this year and Turkey hunted this Spring for the first time. We were able to have many enjoyable outdoor experiences together despite her not filling her tag. It gave us some great memories and something to work on this Summer while we look forward to this fall when Iowa deer season rolls around.
Now Nicole is a little nervous about shooting guns, after all most of those big guns were made to ...
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There are town-homes, town-boxes, and even town-ruts ... Make sure yours is a "townhome"! - Jun 24 06:23 PM
It's bad enough that the world is diluged with what my neighbor calls "snout houses", but now we have these townhome developments where all you see are garages as you drive into the development. Do you want to get to the front door, on foot? Well, you'll have to park some long distance away, then walk all the way around to the back side of the building, which for some reason is where the developer and the city decided a "front" door ...
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What a great company!!! RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts - Jun 07 02:12 PM
Can I take a brief moment and brag about the company with which I recently became affiliated? Not that my old one was bad, it's just that this new one is soooo good! They treat agents like we are the customer and that's like a breath of fresh air!
I just learned that I don't need to run out and pick up checks, or deliver deeds, as long as the closing is during normal business hours. If I'm willing to wait to the ...
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Welcome to my Cedar Rapids Area Blog - Apr 03 01:02 PM
Welcome to the City of the Five Seasons? You may ask what is the fifth season. I have lived here for 14 years and not until today did I find out. So, I went to our city's website and here is what I found out: The fifth season gives us the time to enjoy all the other seasons and to enjoy life. We live in an area that truly has all the changing seasons and we should ...
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Iowa ranks 33rd in foreclosures in 2007 - Mar 24 01:07 PM
In 2007, Iowa had 7,404 filings and 4,103 properties foreclosed on in 2007. This ranked the Hawkeye state as #33. Here are the top 3 states with the highest rate of foreclosures:
Number of foreclosures Percentage of households affected Percentage of change from '06
Nevada- 34,417 3.4% 215%
Florida 165,291 2.0% 124%
Michigan 87,210 1.9% 68%
This is a great time to buy a home no matter where you are! Rates are low and the selection of homes is at an all ...
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Seeking Real Estate Investors for Iowa - Jan 31 07:40 AM
Key Real Estate501 S Main StCouncil Bluffs, IA 51503milliec@keyre.com402-672-6810http://www.keyre.com/ ...
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Des Moines' Western Suburbs: What's that number? - Jan 23 07:14 AM
Essential numbers you'll want to have in your cell phone!by: Brian Wentz, Realtor
OK, I am a bit of a Boy Scout- I admit. And what was the motto? "Always be Prepared", of Course!
So if you live in the western Des Moines suburbs of Clive, West Des Moines or Urbandale, there is a number you just might want to program into your cell phone, so you can be prepared too.
These western Des Moines cities are served by West Com ...
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Iowa Law on Sex Offenders: "2000 Feet" Required - Dec 30 02:25 AM
When moving to a neighborhood, many buyers want to ensure a safe neighborhood. And one of the concerns some buyers have is "Are there any Registered Sex Offenders in This Neighborhood?" In case you did not already know, in the State of Iowa, it's illegal for a registered sex offender to live within 2000 foot of a school or a registered day care facility.The "2000 Foot Rule" law, as it has come to be known, first passed in 2002 in an overwhelming vote. The law stemmed ...
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I Am Joining the Real Estate Team at LandAndGame.com - Dec 30 01:40 AM
Iowa hunting land, farm land, acreages, horse farms. My passion in real estate is in the country. Anybody that has ever read my blog knows I love the country and Iowa whitetail hunting. Acreages, farms, farm land and Iowa hunting land are an obsession for me. For the past 4 months I've spent a lot of time talking with other like minded real estate agents and countless hours of conversations in hopes of forming a top notch, ...
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Iowa Sex Offender Registry - Dec 30 01:00 AM
When moving to a new neighborhood, many clients are now checking the Iowa Sex Offender registry to see who might be lurking in a potential neighborhood. In Iowa, you can check the registry by searching the registry records at www.iowasexoffender.com. The service lets you search by an address, shows you an interactive map of offenders place of residence, and lists the class of offense the offender was convicted on, such as minors or adult victims. You can also receive updates ...
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Resources for Iowa Real Estate buyers - Dec 15 09:22 AM
Thinking of buying a new home? Has it been a while, since you bought your last home? Things change at a rapid pace in cyber space. I thought I would take a moment to share some helpful links that might help you locate important information to use in your search process!View assessment information in any county in Iowa: http://www.iowaassessors.com/ View homes for sale in any City in Iowa: http://www.seeiowahomes.com/ School information for just about any city in ...
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Forclosure Facts for Iowa - Dec 15 08:55 AM
Our mortgage guru's here at Burnett Realty have shed some light as to what the impact of the foreclosure criss means to Iowa. With all that is being talked about, I thought I would take a moment to pass along some of the recent figures:· In Iowa, 1 out of every 358 houses were foreclosed upon in 2006 (3,445 total foreclosures) - "realtytrac".· In March 2007 alone, there were 580 foreclosures in Iowa according to MSN ...
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Let's go for a ride. Snowmobiling in Iowa, and other states in the U. S. - Dec 07 08:44 AM
I have been snowmobiling for a number of years. This is a very fun sport that can be done by all, whether you like the back country of the Sierras or trails of the upper Midwest. There are a number of things that one should do to insure that you are safe and can enjoy the outdoors on your snowmobile.
Snow-friendly clothing is recommended for snowmobiling such as: bibs (pants that extend up your chest and back), ...
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NP Dodge Career Night November 13 - Nov 10 01:06 AM
NP Dodge will be hold a Career Night at the Omaha Area Board of Realtors, 11830 Nicholas Street Tuesday, November 13th at 6:00 pm.
If you are interested in learning about a career in real estate or how to become a real estate agent in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area contact Jeanne McCabe at the information below.
If you are interested in learning about NP Dodge from one of the agents give me a call. My information ...
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Great Home for Rent in Albert City - watch the video - Nov 06 01:00 PM
This is a beautiful Victorian styled cottage - 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, wood floors, large kitchen and pantry. The front porch has been enclosed, it sits on a large lot and has a single car garage. Rent is $325 a month or buy it for $25,000. Owner is an Iowa licensed Realtor. Appliances are included, stove (2 years old), frig (6 years old, washer and dryer (both 8 years old). House has ceiling fans, central air and ...
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Vote today! - Nov 06 11:19 AM
Tired of the local establishment; then get out and vote so your concerns are heard. If you don't vote - don't complain, you willingly gave up your right to have a say. This is a great country that we have the priviledge of living in - if you don't think so try going on a mission trip! Why do you think people who come here tend to be able to develop successful business at such a fast ...
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Storm Lake is Cold in the Winter - You're Home Shouldn't be! - Nov 06 11:11 AM
We all shudder to think about the dreaded winter heating bills. This year at our house (it's over 100 years old) we put in all new windows (over half of them were original) and added 2 heat and central air units (yes I have central air now - Whhhoooo!). I am looking forward to seeing what impact those improvements make on our heating bills. I'm not saying add new windows or add new central heat and ...
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Search for Homes for Sale In Southwest Iowa - Oct 28 09:13 AM
Looking for homes for sale in SouthwestIowa? You can search for listings in a lot of places but right here you can search the entire Southwest Iowa Multiple Listing Service. Mills County provides many in town residential living as well as rural living opportunities on many beautiful Loess Hills Acreages. Counties included in the MLS are Monona, Harrison, Pottawattamie, Shelby, Page, Fremont, Montgomery, Cass
With this search you can search for homes, land, farms and multi ...
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Western Iowa Crop Harvest and Deer Hunting - Oct 24 10:32 AM
I write a few blogs about Iowa deer hunting so I was not surprised to get an email yesterday with the familiar subject "Sent via ActiveRain" I nice gentleman from Alabama was packing his gear to head for Iowa in search of the elusive trophy whitetail when as a last thought he decided to send me an email to check on conditions here. He wrote
"Hi Jason I am writing to let you know we love your blog. We ...
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Tax Protest Time in Iowa - Oct 13 12:21 PM
Just read the paper in the Council Bluffs area that there could be an 8% increase in property values in many of the real estate property in Southwest Iowa and other counties in Southwest Iowa. If you feel your valuation is to high you can call your county assessor and request a form to protest you valuation. This form has to be completed and back to the assessor office before the end of October, 2007. It ...
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Bobcats in Western Iowa - Oct 13 01:26 AM
If you have read much of my blog you know I love to write about the outdoors and especially deer hunting in Iowa. In Iowa we have two animals that are rare to sight. The first is the bobcat and the second is the mountain lion. Both exist here in Iowa. Bobcats are more common than the mountain lion but from time to time a mountain lion is hit by a car leaving proof they are ...
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Iowa City Job Market Looks Good! - Sep 11 10:47 AM
According to an employment outlook survey, the Iowa City job market is expected to be one of the strongest in the nation. Compared to the national average of 27%, 53% of Iowa City companies that were interviewed planned to hire new employees.
Reports also show the Corridor employment outlook to be good.
So if you're contemplating a move to this area, it looks like the chances of finding employment are good!
Good schools, low crime, friendly people, large housing inventory and a ...
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Important Industry changes with more to come - Jul 05 10:51 AM
Iowa recently passed SF - 137 which takes effect 7/1/2007 and will have a large impact on Iowa's Real Estate Industry. The bill, which makes it illegal to list or suggest a value on a request for appraisal form is not the first of it's kind, Ohio does this as well. The law applies to any party interested on the financing side of a Real Estate Loan, Banks included. It is designed to keep outside parties ...
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Two Rivers REIA (a Central Iowa Real Estate Investors Association) Grows! - Jul 04 09:57 AM
Founded in October of 2006, the Two Rivers REIA is dedicated to helping RE investors navigate through the trecherous waters of Real Estate investment and to emerge a winner. We've held approximately 15 meetings. For many of those, we have featured a speaker who sheds light on various aspects of RE investing.
For Des Moines Real Estate Investors, all of Central Iowa and Northern Missouri, these meetings are both affordable and valuable. Our current membership includes seasoned ...
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The Value of the Listing Continues to Escalate - Online - May 21 08:16 AM
The requirement for a business to continue to evolve is fundamental. If one does not allow the business model to change with the times, the business could begin to sink into a downward spiral that resembles a planet approaching a black hole -- the demiss is so catastrophic, and so out of control of management, there seems to be nothing which can be done to reverse the course. Our US automakers are now approaching such a precarious position and only time will tell ...
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How Many Acres Do You Want? - Dec 05 08:25 PM
I get requests for acreages all of the time and many ask for large acreages. Requests in the 30-40 acre size are not uncommon. I always caution buyers that while it may sound nice to have a large lot, it may be more of a burden than you want. To give you an idea of what 1 acre looks like take a look at these numbers. 1 acre = 208 x 208 feet
1 acre = 100 feet ...
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Two Rivers REIA hosts Michael Wrenn - Wrenn Insurance Companies - April 16th, 6:00PM - Apr 08 04:52 PM
Two Rivers Real Estate Investors Association (REIA) of Central Iowa will host R. Michael Wrenn, President and CEO of Wrenn Insurance Companies of Mission, Kansas.
Renovator's Insurance is a subsidiary and this company specializes in offering insurance for ... you guessed it! Renovators!
If you're a real estate investor in rehabs or flips, a general contractor or a subcontractor who works on flips, you might find this presentation informative.
Here is a quote from their website; "To ...
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Cedar Rapids Realtor survives a Tornado as a child- A True Story - Oct 18 10:46 PM
It was My 4th, 1977. I was in the 5th grade in Fort Dodge, Iowa. It's hard to believe that something 30 years ago still lingers in my mind.It was a cold Wednesday night. A cold downpour pounded the earth. The rain added excitement to shooting baskets for two boys. As my friend and I continued to play, we soon noticed the rain had quickly stopped only to leave the sky filled with fast moving, dark clouds. ...
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Cedar Rapids Realtor Gary Wolter-His story of success - Oct 18 10:28 PM
Everyone was something else before getting their real estate license and becoming a Realtor. I held many positions in sales and marketing prior to passing my exam in 2001 and becoming a Cedar Rapids Realtor. Four major things had to happen for me to succeed at this profession before I became "Newcomer of the Year" after my first year:1. I had to have success in sales in general. I sold radio, newspaper and directory advertising, and communications equipment before ...
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Hubbell Realty defies prognostications, starts new downtown Des Moines condo project - Oct 27 08:26 PM
Hubbell Realty announced on Thursday 10/25/07 that it will convert a former transmission business into 31 condominiums priced from $145,000 - $300,000, according to a Donelle Eller of the Des Moines Register. The article quoted Hubbell spokesperson Jarad Bernstein as saying "Housing may not be selling as fast as developers like, but it's not a soft market." Hubbell apparently believes this even though the same article cites Des Moines Area Association of Realtors stats that say days ...
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Riverboat Gambling in Iowa! - Apr 17 06:28 AM
Back in 1989, Iowa legislators passed a law permitting Riverboat Gamblingwith certain restrictions for the first time in this country in decades. Iowa was first but over the next several years Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri followed course. Most of the casinos are located on the Des Plaines, Illinois, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers. With several changes in the laws over the years, Iowa now allows 24-hour, no-limit, dockside gambling.
Davenport, Iowa has a new Sky Bridge that leads pedestrians ...
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New Blog - Apr 11 03:11 PM
Greeings!
We are just beginning our new blog campaign and wanted to say hello. We will post information here as often as possible about the Des Moines and Central Iowa real estate market and other topics of interest. Don't hesitate to check my website (www.carolingibson.com) for more information.
One thing is for sure, the Downtown Des Moines housing scene is really coming on strong. We will get more specific information about individual projects as our blog campaign develops.
The ...
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Hunting Land - Don't Buy a Forest when Some Trees will do. - Apr 16 08:56 AM
What Makes Good White Tail Hunting Land?
We get calls from all over the USA from people wanting hunting land in Southen or Central Iowa. They have heard about the famous Albia Buck (The largest white tail deer buck ever havested by a hunter was harvested in South Central Iowa) and are interested in owning hunting land here in Iowa. Why Iowa? Southern and much of Central Iowa have the right combination of climate, forage, nutrients and cover ...
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Thinking about Relocating to Des Moines? - Mar 27 11:59 AM
Here are some great links that I pulled off of Trulia! Find everything Des Moines here.
Call me when looking to buy or sell in Des Moines and central Iowa. Until next time.
Adam Forney, Realtor
515.865.6000 www.YourDesMoines.com Adam@YourDesMiones.com
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Finally a good showing day - Mar 20 09:21 AM
Well, can you say it was a good showing day with only 4 groups gone through? I think you can say yes. Now I'm about to attend a weekly class in about an hour in which the instructor asks every week, "How'd your opens go this week?" So I'll be able to find out a little more closely if it really was a good showing.
Either way, I have to be happy about the nice weather that's ...
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Iowa Allocates Funds for Military Service Homeownership Assistance - Mar 18 10:03 PM
Last month, The Iowa State Legislature reauthorized the MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER HOME OWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (formerly the Guard and Reserve Homebuyer Benefit Program), and provided $2 million to assist with home purchases for current and former military service members who are or have served on active duty in support of the War on Terror. The eligible service member can receive a grant that is a dollar-for-dollar match up to $5,000 of the service member's contribution toward the ...
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Moving To Des Moines ? - Mar 14 10:50 AM
Thinking of moving to Des Moines? More and more people are choosing to take control of the quality of there live by moving to Des Moines, Iowa. The cost of living is low. The quality of life is high.
Iowa has one of the highest high school graduation rates in the nation. Des Moines boasts one of shortest commute for a community of this size in the nation. On average 15 minutes or less. Real Estate is ...
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