The list is endless, but some of my Faves… The weird stuff at Heritage Hall like – Husband-calling, kid calling, Sibling look- alikes, beard contest and so on. The Sky-Glider – not exactly a carnival ride – but so much fun to have a birds-eye view of the fair for a short time. Hokiest ride – definitely the Old Mill! The VitaMixer and the Salsa Maker are my favorite sales spiels – so much fun to listen to and pretty much the same from year to year. 4-H exhibits and demonstrations. The young people will amaze you. The talent, the leadership skills, the creativity – check it out in the SE corner of the fair grounds. Crescenti’s Sandwiches – It’s my favorite ‘only-at –the fair-food’. It’s a crispy warm disc of freshly fried bread with a sprinkling of salt on the outside, inside capicola and shredded mozzarella cheese – YUM. Or you can get the sweet version. And the Nitro ice cream under the grandstand – best with caramel topping, of course. Love going to see and hear food being judged. Not the quiet, no talking ones – but the fun judges who talk and critique and entertain. The people watching – this is the Grand Daddy place for this sport. You can look for the worst dressed, the craziest t-shirts, the couples that don’t seem to ‘go-together’, the tired babies, the tattoos, hair do’s and don’ts and so on. On our Sunday visit – saw a guy in a skirt with a t-shirt that says – ‘I know you’re watching me’. Yes, of course, you don’t dress like that and not have people watch. My favorite t-shirt was the guy wearing ‘certainly not everybody was kung-fu fighting’. Love it! What is your favorite? What do you miss that was there and now is not? What foods do you get that you won’t get until next year’s fair?
Say Cheese , the best grilled cheese EVER! The tastes and flavors of the neighborhood are on display and for sale every week at towns all across the USA. Right here, in the Des Moines area, there are more possibilities than you can imagine. Of course, the Big Kahuna in Des Moines, is the Sat morning Downtown Farmers Market. It stretches for blocks and is like the Iowa State Fair every Sat of the summer months. But there are so many others to explore and shop. Often, the smaller ones are more efficient for shopping versus entertainment. Here’s a partial list – Hope you Explore! Beaverdale– Tuesdays from 4-7:30 PM- June 5- Sept 11– 4100-4200 Urbandale Ave. We visited this one last year for the first time and were pleasantly surprised. There’s a grassy area with tables and chairs, some kids activities, music, food trucks and a variety of vendors. East Side Farmers Market – Tuesdays 3-6:00 PM 3200 Delaware (Collectamania parking lot) from May to September. 10-12 vendors each week, less of a party, more of produce market. Des Moines Capitol Complex – Tuesdays from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. June 12- to Sept 25. Located on E. 13th betweetn Walnut & E Grand. This is a great option for those working downtown or in the state buildings to shop on their lunch hour. Johnston Farmers Market – Tuesdays, 3:30-6:30, May to October, Johnston city Hall parking lot. 6221 Merle Hay Rd. About 50 vendors with a variety of foods, produce and crafts. Waukee Farmers Market – Wednesday’s 4-7:00 PM June 6-Sept 26. Located at the Triangle Park on 6th St and Ashworth. Aprox 27 vendors each week. Valley Junction Farmers Market – Thursday’s 4:00 – 8:00, May to Oct 1. 5th St. in Valley Junction. This one is definitely a party/festival with many of the stores being open and the street closed, music and a variety of food and art as well as produce. Grimes Farmers Market – Friday’s 4:30 – 7 PM, June 1 – Sept 28. Located on Main st. Great for homegrown produce and homemade preserves, baked goods and crafts. Ankeny Farmer’s Market – Saturday’s , 8AM-noon, May 19-Sept 29. 715 W. 1st St, Uptown Ankeny. About 35 vendors each week. LSi’s Global Greens, Saturdays, 9AM-1 PM, June-October. Located 3200 University. This one is unique, if offers a place for former refugees to grow and sell produce that are native to their former homeland. Features about 25 vendors from countries like Burundi, Bhutan, Burma and Rwanda. Also cultural entertainment, music and demonstrations. And of course the Big Daddy of them all – The Downtown Market . Saturday mornings from 7 AM – noon. May 5-Oct 27. With approx. 25,000 visitors each week, it’s like the State Fair every week! Although these are touted as the top – check the surrounding small communities. Some in Eastern Polk County: Pleasant Hill – Monday’s from 4-7 pm beginning June 4 in Berean Church parking lot. Altoona – Wednesdays’ from 4:30-7 pm beginning June 6 at 360 Center Place SW Bondurant – 2nd & 4th Wednesday’s from 6-8 PM through October on Main St. Prairie City – Thursdays 4:30-6:30, located in the square, thru September Carlisle- Sat. mornings, 8:30-11:30 at Wyckoff parking lot, 95 Highway 5.
What is the correlation between the county’s tax assessed price on a home and the price that house will sell for? Nothing. It’s comparing apples to oranges. Here are some things to consider.
Assessed Value is the means to an end. Our local government needs to collect an appropriate amount of taxes to fund their budget.
The government will get what they need – they will either raise our assessments or raise the millage rate. But be assured, they will get the money.
Market Value is determined on what buyers are willing to pay at any given time. The main three criteria are price, location and condition. The seller can control their asking price and adjust the condition.
Tax assessments are assigned annually. It takes awhile for the assessed value to reflect fluctuations in the local market.
Market value is fluid, changing constantly.
Tax Assessors are human – they have good days and bad days, just like the rest of us!
Home buyers’ decisions are subjective – they will buy what appeals to them.
Tax Assessors, for the most part, do not go in your home.
Buyers tour your house and have an opinion about what they want, what they don’t want, the work they are willing to do and the tasks they are willing to overlook.
What does all this mean to you? Are you a buyer? Are you a seller? The tax assesor site is a great place to sleuth info about a neighborhood. But, whether you are a buyer or seller – don’t use the tax assessed value to justify your buying or selling price!
Fewer homes for sale– if you know how many houses sell per month and how many houses are currently for sale; then it’s Economics 101. The demand is greater than the supply. (if you have been wanting to sell – now is an Excellent time – call one of the 3 Realtors on the Eisenlauer Team)List Price/Sale Price – houses are selling closer to list price , sometimes even over list price. Now is not the time to lowball the seller. February 2016 – sales are 95.9% of original list price.Buyers must be pre-qualified – In the current market – you will not be taken seriously without a pre-qualification letter . “If you don’t provide a pre-approval letter from your lender when you make your offer, you won’t even be considered as a serious buyer. Getting a pre-approval is free; it also helps you determine your budget and will give you an idea ofwhat your monthly payments will be.” says Luke Landis at Movement Mortgage.Days on the Market – homes are on the market for fewer days right now. If you are in the buying process – have your ‘ducks in a row’ and be ready to write an offer with your Realtor – sooner! Right now, the Des Moines median is 78 days on the market.Another consideration – in a buyers market, you may be competing against 2 or more other buyers. Consider ahead of time how you can be competitive.
Price is not the only consideration. Being able to be flexible in your closing date may give you an edge. Some sellers will want ASAP closing – others may need a little more time to move to their next home. Flexibility may be a deciding factor.
Repairs – Maybe you have skills and time that the sellers don’t. You may be able to negotiate doing some required/requested repairs on the seller’s behalf.
Personality – Sometimes a seller will choose to sell to someone they like. I am not suggesting that they would discriminate for or against someone because of nationality, religion etc. But consider writing a letter to be presented with your offer. Let the buyer know the things that are especially appealing about the house they have loved. Give them some details about yourself . 95% of people buy (and sell) on emotion and justify logically. Personify yourself!
Next post – will be suggestions if your house is on the market and NOT receiving showings or offers.
Do you remember watching Alfred Hitchcocks’s suspenseful movie Vertigo? A complicated story surrounding a cop with a fear of heights and spiraling dizziness. That’s how I feel when I see photos of staircases on the MLS. There’s even a name for fear of stairs. It is Climacophobia. It is often traced back to an earlier trauma involving stairs. Do you need to see photos of the stairs when house-hunting? I assume that if a house has a second story – there are stairs to get you there. If there’s a basement, there are certainly stairs. The problem lies in photographing the stairs. I’ve seen bad stair photos from both amateurs and professionals. How do you make the stairs look appealing, without instilling the feeling of vertigo? Do the photos of the stairs do anything to enhance the appeal of the house? What’s your reaction when you look at these photos? Should they be included or left off marketing material for the sale of a house? The Eisenlauer Team would love to hear your feedback.
People of Des Moines are in a unique position. We have more access to political candidates and national media celebrities than anywhere else in the country. The First in the Nation position has an amazing impact on our hometown. And we’re making a good impression! Some things I’ve heard and read.
Economic impact on Des Moines area during caucus season – $18 MILLION
Iowa Nice is not a cliché.
Raygun with their ninja skills has a section of shirts just for out-of-town media – Iowa! Small Town Charm, Big Time Caucus!
Whatever your political view – we’re in Iowa. All eyes are on us. Show up Monday night at your caucus location. If you’ve never been, don’t worry. Each location is full of Iowa nice people to help you through the process. A few basics:
You must be registered as a Republican or Democrat to participate.
If you prefer being independent, don’t worry. You can switch back after Monday.
They all start at 7:00 PM
Teens and interested students welcome to observe and guaranteed to learn.
This is an opportunity and a responsibility. I know we are all sick of the ads, the phone calls, and the press. But Monday, they will vanish in the night. Let’s not let our country down. It is the most grass-root process you’ll ever experience. Let the Caucus Raucous Begin!
RayGun had it right. I’m sure there was a government grant to figure out a formula for whose home-town is more redneck than another. Who else would need to know or want to know? First, the dictionary defines redneck as: A white person who lives in a small town or in the country especially in the southern U.S., who typically has a working-class job, and who is seen by others as being uneducated and having opinions and attitudes that are offensive.” So if you are a person of color, I guess you can NOT be a redneck. I’m pretty sure there’s plenty of outrage and offense for any and all subgroups in Iowa. Now the components that make a town more or less Red Neck:
Number of bars per city
Number of mobile home parks per capita
Number of tobacco stores per city
Number of places to get fishing gear
Number of guns and ammo stores per city
Walmarts, Golden Corrals, Bass Pro Shops, and dollar stores nearby
So according to the ‘science’ of Jeff Foxworthy and Red Green geeks, you might be a redneck if you live in:
Fort Dodge
Spirit Lake
Denison
Bloomfield
West Liberty
Missouri Valley
Fort Madison
Red Oak
Maquoketa
Osceola
Coming soon – the Snobbiest Cities in Iowa All data and info is from Road Snacks.
Tchotchke, pronounced chach-ke. It’s an appropriate time of year to contemplate the economic impact of the gifts we buy for the person who needs nothing. One of my favorite blogs – DemoMemo invented a Tchotchke Index. I love this blog, because, as we all know – Figures don’t lie, but liars can figure! You won’t believe the studies that have been done and conclusions drawn from them. Check it out- DemoMemo. First -consider what defines a tchotchke. Some say a decorative item for the home. Some say cheap and tacky items displayed in the home. Bauble, bric-a-brac, curio, trinket, knickknack. No matter what you call them, we all have them, we’ve all received them, we’ve all given them. But did you ever imagine that the economic health of our country could be gauged by how much we spend annually on tchotchkes? Self-storage facilities might also be an indicator of our love of trinkets. The assumption is that when we feel economically solid, we spend more on fluff decor. DemoMemo claims that the index peaked in 2000 and fell to it’s low in 2003. The good news is that 2014 spending on useless bric-a-brac shows cautious optimism. We’re up from 2013, but less than 2012. So, if you’re feeling comfortable in the wallet – purchase a purely non-essential bauble and feel at peace with the universe.
There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile,
He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile;
He bought a crooked cat which caught a crooked mouse,
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.
That’s what this category of Bad MLS photos reminds me of. There’s something about our amateur photo-taking abilities that results in crooked photos. Take note when you look at your photos – we tilt to the right or the left. Some of us tilt more than others!
There are sites that allow you to straighten the photo, lighten or darken OR you can hire a professional photographer to do listing photos. But here’s some examples of agents/sellers who “did it my way” and their crooked results.
Warning – If you are prone to vertigo, this may bring on an episode!
I like to take different roads to get to my routine destinations. Along the way, I notice things. Some make me smile. Some make me shake my head in puzzlement. Some make me do a U-turn to see if my eyes deceived me. Some compel me to take that route again and again. Sometimes I admire. I always attempt to record with a photo (smart phones are a wonderful invention).Some thing I’ve noticed Along the Way:
A truck that had signage – Hillbilly Handyman.
A store to go with it – Hillbilly Palace Thrift Store.
Larger the life picture of Ron Paul as yard ornamentation.
Beautifully manicured and landscaped yard.
The floor covering business that gives “free stimates”. (thought perhaps the letter came off, but opposite side was exactly the same)
Broken plastic lawn chair with For Sale sign.
Dog house with sign that says “Killer” – great security system.
The hidden house – so overgrown you can barely make out the roof line.
Unusual paint colors on houses – lavender/purple exterior -stands out in the neighborhood.
What is the correlation between the c
People of Des Moines are in a unique position. We have more access to political candidates and national media celebrities than anywhere else in the country. The First in the Nation position has an amazing impact on our hometown. And we’re making a good impression! Some things I’ve heard and read.
Tchotchke, pronounced 
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