No Comments

What’s Different in a Sellers Market??

BR2A3206 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 of what 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.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!

 
No Comments

Climacophobia, Vertigo and Unflattering Angles

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.  
No Comments

HAWKEYE CAUCI

20160129_131415People 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. 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!  
No Comments

Iowa Redneck Formula – Top Ten

RayGun had it right...
            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:
  1. Fort Dodge
  2. Spirit Lake
  3. Denison
  4. Bloomfield
  5. West Liberty
  6. Missouri Valley
  7. Fort Madison
  8. Red Oak
  9. Maquoketa
  10. Osceola
Coming soon – the Snobbiest Cities in Iowa All data and info is from Road Snacks.    
No Comments

They all lived together in a Crooked Little House

Remember the nursery rhyme –
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!
No Comments

Not One, But Two Art Festivals!

How fortunate are we here in the central Iowa to have TWO major art festivals to attend. Even if you don’t have original art in your budget, there are so many reasons to attend!

  • Art Demonstrations
  • Live Music
  • Free interactive exhibits for children.
  • Food vendors
  • Film Festival
  • Sculpture Park
  • Unlimited People Watching
  • Downtown Art Festival website has schedule details.
  • Climate controlled shopping
  • An array of local artists, as well as out of state.
  • Hot chocolate chip cookies in a bucket ( a teaser to hold you over to the state fair!)
  • More free children’s activities.
  • Lots of free parking.
  • The Other Art Show ‘s schedule and additional information on their website.
  • Free shuttle bus between the two.

However you feel about the highbrow art, the abundance of out-of-state artists, the high price tags – you have to admit that if gives Des Moines notoriety, showcases our town, and gives us a great opportunity to experience a fun, exciting, affordable weekend. Hope you partake!

And in case you’d like the Eisenlauer Team’s opinion on that work of art before you buy, be sure to give us a call.

Bill  770-2455   Bob 979-2883

No Comments

What’s cooking in Kitchen Design?

We’re doing some updating in our home kitchen, so I’ve been looking at the current kitchen trends. The National Kitchen and Bath Association does a survey every year and publishes their findings. They calculate the rise and fall of  trends in components of kitchens and baths. When making changes,  you should consider doing what’s coming up, not what has been. Here’s some of the findings of the NKBA.
  • White-painted cabinets have been very popular. Cherry is the number one wood choice,  maple is second.
  • The clean simple lines of the shaker style cabinets are still the #1 choice. Contemporary is #2. Designing cabinets to resemble furniture is also very trendy.
  • Satin Nickel has been the top choice for fixtures since 2011. Oil-rubbed bronze is gaining in popularity.
  • Granite is still the #1 choice for counter tops, quartz is coming in second and gaining popularity. It is not cheaper, but better for color control and consistency.
  • Glass is becoming very popular for back-splashes.
  • Gray color schemes, in both kitchen and bath, have seen a marked increase in the last 3 years.
The good news is, remodels are increasing. Home sales are rebounding. Interest rates are low. Whether you’re making improvements to sell your house or to update, pay attention to what’s trending in the market now. And if you have questions about what the market is doing in your neighborhood, give the Eisenlauer Team a call. We’re Easy to Work With…Hard to Beat!

Bill  770-2455   Bob  979-2883

No Comments

Local Real Estate Buzz

Facebook plans to build in Altoona. North of I-80 and Bass Pro will be the new home of Facebook’s Tech Center.  There is some controversy about how much of an economic impact this will have on our local economy.  They will be building a “data center” – whatever that is.  It probably will not be built by local contractors. It will employ fewer than 30 people.  They are not elite tech positions – salaries expected to be $50,000/yr. They’ve received $18 million of incentives to locate in Altoona.  It looks like, at least on paper, Hubbell Realty is making a profit. Hubbell purchased the 197 acres in 2005 for $2.5 million with the intent to develop for residential construction. They sold to Facebook for $4.8 Million. Mortgage rates dropped again this week, according to CNN money.  You can get a 15 yr. fixed rate loan for a record low of 2.56%. The most popular term for a mortgage is 30-yr, that was at 3.35%. Greater Des Moines foreclosure rates decreased in February over the same period last year, according to real estate analytics firm CoreLogic Inc. The rate of foreclosures among outstanding mortgages was 2.3 percent, down from 2.65 percent in February 2012. The national foreclosure rate was 2.85 percent in February. The delinquency rate also dropped in Greater Des Moines, to 4.23 percent from 4.7 percent a year ago. Feed Energy’s parent company – Riley Resource Group has begun remodeling work on the former Lakeside Fitness Center building in Pleasant Hill.  30 of the 100 employees will be located in the newly remodeled building. The north side of the this building is predominately glass. Wouldn’t that be a great work view? Home ownership statistics for the 30-35 yr old age group still needs a boost. This is the age group that is typically  looked at, as an indicator of the housing market. If you’re in this age group and don’t yet own a house – give us a call and we’ll help you define the advantages of buying a home in today’s market. Eisenlauer Team, Easy to Work With…Hard to Beat!

Bill 770-2455  Bob 979-2883

No Comments

What to do with your Lawn??

I think it’s finally spring here in Polk County. I visited the Iowa State Extension website to see what tips I could pass onto homeowners concerning spring lawn care. Here’s what I found from my research:

  • Clean Up. Clear away branches that have fallen, sticks, litter that accumulates in snow drifts. Rake it all up, so the fresh grass comes in strong.
  • Aerate.  You can rent an aerator or hire someone with equipment to do the job. This breaks up the thatch and decompacts the soil.
  • If winter has killed some areas of grass – it’s  a good time to re-seed those areas.
  • The best time to fertilize is in the fall, but if that didn’t happen, do it now. 
  • When you start  mowing, remember to set your mower at about 3″.
  • After your lawn has been mowed a few times, spread broad- leaf herbicide. Liquid is most effective. If you use granular, wait till the lawn is wet so it will stick to the leaves.
A clean, green, neatly manicured lawn is always enticing to a new buyer. So, if you’re thinking about putting your house on the market, don’t neglect the first impression your lawn makes. And when you’re ready to list – call the Eisenlauer Team.

Bill – 770-2455   Bob 979-2883