From Cold... to SOLD! By Angie Ungs Every year, the housing market in the Corridor area experiences a major cool down during the winter months. From Thanksgiving through Spring Break there is a lull in activity, largely due to holiday festivities and the weather. After all, who really wants to trek through three feet of snow and brave sub zero temperatures to go house hunting? Well, as it turns out... serious and smart buyers do! As soon as the first sign of spring appears, so do the SOLD signs. Homes that have been on the market for several months through the quiet winter market suddenly sport the big red S-O-L-D all at once. Over the course of the weekend I noticed five homes go sale pending along my regular driving route to school and daycare. Four of these homes have been listed a... 03/08/2010

Top 5 Reasons NOT to even think about Buying a Cedar Rapids For Sale By Owner We felt the need to get the word out about some of the "nightmares" we have heard about or encountered with buyers getting involved with For Sale By Owners. Here are the top 5 reasons NOT to even think about dealing with a for sale by owner if you are thinking of moving: 1. Most For Sale By Owners won't negotiate.  We have had experiences with buyers that we represent that want us to help them put an offer on a FSBO. We call the FSBO and they agree to pay a commission but will not budge from their price. Buyers aren't saving anything in fact they are in turn paying our commission if they accept. Remember there is only one commission to save. Who is saving it? 2. For Sale By Owners don't understand how to provi... 03/07/2010

Being Trendy as a Buyer Is Not Always Best by Angie Ungs Just like fashion, residential architecture is a constantly evolving trend. Think back to your home in the 60's and 70's; I am willing to put money on the fact that there was a split foyer home somewhere on memory lane. In the 80's, two-story homes lined the suburban subdivision streets, and with the 90's came the ranch style home still wildly popular today. But just like fashion, architectural trends repeat themselves and what was old is eventually new again. When deciding on what style of home suits you best, an open mind is critical. Just because 90% of new construction homes today are a ranch style, does not mean a ranch will best suit every individual's lifestyle. There are advantages and drawbacks to every style of home, an... 02/25/2010

I couldn't help but notice this morning (along my regular route to and from school and daycare) the increasing number of homes for sale by owner. The sellers have employed a variety of signage ranging from pre-printed generic signs from the hardware store, to hand-written ones with an illegible phone number, to those of a popular fee-based FSBO website. So I wonder... What exactly is the motivation to sell by owner? And why are there more every day? More and more sellers are choosing to go it alone. Logic tells me that in a market as complex, and challenging as the one we are currently experiencing, that now more than ever would be the time to rely on a professional. But when finances are stretched and times are tough most sellers focus solely on saving a commission. Unfortunately, in ... 02/22/2010

Home Inspector Cedar Rapids reaches the boiling point from time to time. As a home inspector I get to see and hear some different things from time to time. On one inspection I was informed that I would not have to inspect the heating system because that had been contracted separately by the home buyer. I was also informed that the buyer was fortunate enough to have found the person who had installed the unit to do the inspection. He just happened to do work for the owners and had only installed the boiler a few years ago... More like 21 years.   For the sake of space I am only going to point out a few of the issues I discovered during the course of the inspection, beginning with the evidence of flame roll out from the burners. That's never a very good thing to see.   By the copious amou... 02/18/2010

Updated 2 Story for under 230K in Bowman Woods New Carpet & Paint throughout • 3,025 sq. ft., 4 bath, 3 bdrm 2 story - $229,500 - Like new condiition! Bowman Woods, Cedar Rapids Bright & open, this newly updated home is sure to please! All brand new Stainmaster carpet throughout and whole house was professionally painted with neutral colors. Kitchen has new Staron solid surface countertops, sink and island. Ductwork was professionally cleaned in January. Also newer roof, air conditioner, driveway and dishwasher - within the last four years.It is situated on a tree-lined lot in a quiet neighborhood. Watch the birds and squirrels from your breakfast area, kitchen and living room. Large & bright living room has a fireplace with marble surround, and is flanked by four large fan topped windo... 02/15/2010

  "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going directly to Heaven, we were all going the other way." Charles Dickens After yesterday's spectacular Super Bowl Victory, the city of New Orleans shone brighter than it has in years. The city's residents had a reason to celebrate, to believe in something larger than themselves, and to move out of the shadows of the tragedy that has darkened the streets of the city for nearly five years. I can't help but be reminded of the classic wo... 02/08/2010

                        Unless you work in the real estate industry or have extensive experience buying and selling properties, it is likely that you don't understand exactly how real estate agents are paid. Where do all of the commissions go? Often times, people avoid contacting a real estate agent in an attempt to avoid paying a commission. This is due to an unfortunate misconception. While every situation is unique, the likelihood is that having an agent on your side will only benefit you and help save you money in the end.   For example, did you know that using a realtor as a buyer costs you nothing? That's right... our services are free to home buyers! In fact, being represented properly by a real estate professional can actually help you save money by negotiating the best deal on... 02/01/2010

This Market Report is brought to you by Wanda Greif-Tharp with Coldwell Banker Hedges Realty. The report is for residential single family homes only and may not include all sales activity in the area. Figures for sold prices used are the GROSS sold price, price after seller concessions or down payment assistance were not included.  This report or any part of it may not be used without permission from Wanda Greif-Tharp. 2009 SOLD Market Report for Cedar Rapids, Marion and Hiawatha/Robins     Quadrant    Sold Avg. SP Average DOM SP vs LP % Southeast 339 138,709 42 96 Northeast 522 149,304 37 97 Southwest 459 133,890 42 99 Northwest 285 130,009 37 99 Marion 454 160,639 46 99 H/Robins 65 191,912 46 98 Totals 2124 150,744 42 98 SP= Sales Price LP= List Price DOM= Days on Market Data accessed... 01/12/2010

09/13/2009

U.S. News & World Report recently released a list of the top cities to grow up in and my hometown showed up at #8!  That’s right, Cedar Rapids, Iowa is considered one of the best places to enjoy a happy childhood based on safe neighborhoods, schools and fun activities.  Having being happily born and raised in Cedar Rapids, I can completely agree with the top ten ranking. Here is the complete top ten:   Virginia Beach, Va. Madison, Ala. San Jose, Calif. Overland Park, Kan. Boston Denver Rochester, Minn. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Plano, Texas Edison, N.J. Source: U.S. News & World Report (08/19/2009) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Andy Zeal is a Realtor© at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Scottsda... 08/21/2009

http://client.imprev.net/48/20548/209426/209426.html 08/07/2009

http://www.cedar-rapids.org/housing/new_construction_program.asp Here is the Link for information about this new program.  It is a new program and should have a realtor help you navigate the process. Please contact me if you have any questions! Have a great day! Wanda 05/20/2009

If you are a Realtor in town, you very well know that there is a relatively "untapped" market that really never gets penetrated that much.  I mean, sure, Realtors come up with all different kinds of marketing ploys to 'lure' the unsuspecting For Sale By Owner into their trap.  By in large though, this market is a tough nut to crack. If you are a For Sale By Owner in Cedar Rapids, you are no doubt besieged by phone calls, pop-bys, emails, snail mails, etc.  All of these are in an attempt to convince you that a Realtor can and will sell your home faster and for more of the asking price.  In fact, statistics help me out here.  In Cedar Rapids, a For Sale By Owner sells his/her home for approximately 94% of the original asking price and/or current buyer's value in today's market place.  A R... 04/10/2009

The #1 Myth For Selling Your Home That Kills Most Deals In 30 Days! "Honey, we've got to put our house on the market and get going with this." "I know, I know, but who are we going to list with?" "I don't care, just as long as it's with one of the big companies in town.  I don't want any of those smaller companies representing me.  Our house will never sell if that happens." Selling your home is a serious transaction and event in one's life; true or false?  Would you also agree that you want someone who is going to market our house to the nth degree and expose it to more "potential buyers" than not?  And would you also agree that Internet technology now plays a larger role in "exposing" your listing to more potential buyers than ever?  If you agree to all of these statements, I've got s... 04/10/2009

I was recently scanning the Internet reading up on some market reports when I came across 11 Markets With Highest Home Appreciations.  Unfortunately, there were no Arizona markets that made the list but what caught my eye was the #1 Market: Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  My hometown, where I was born and raised, was rated as the top city in the country in 2008 for having the highest home price appreciation! Although I would have really liked to see a city in Arizona show up on the list, it is always nice to hear about positive news in Iowa and even more so in Cedar Rapids. The 11 cities with the highest home price appreciation in 2008 are: Cedar Rapids, Iowa: 8.83 percent Binghamton, N.Y.: 7.78 percent Amsterdam, N.Y.: 7.89 percent Malone, N.Y.: 7.60 percent Bay City, Mich.: 6.87 percent College ... 02/25/2009

As of 1/19/2009 the Cedar Rapids Association MLS has 335 sale pendings in the past 60 days. The total number of homes (& condos) on the market in the Cedar Rapids Multiple List Service is 1698. 1020 total listings are in the metro area which is Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha and Robins. 823 are single family homes for sale in the metro area. 341 homes are priced at or below 150K. 261 homes are priced at or below 120K. 169 homes are priced at or below 100K. Now with rates on a 30 year mortgage around 4.75% combined with the new government incentive of an $8000 credit, now seems to be the best time EVER to quit paying rent. Please visit our website if you are thinking of becoming a new home owner. We will be here for you when you need us and have helped many people just like you since 200... 02/18/2009

Why isn't my house selling?????  I'm talking about my personal house that has been On the Market since April!  Why wouldn't anyone want to live in my lovely home?  Everyone tells me it's great.  All I ever receive is positive feedback...well not completely true.  Some people have a dislike for the color green and the full glass pane in the front door.  Oh well.  We just don't run around in our underwear! The truth is I do know why my house isn't selling, but the reasons do not make my client (my husband) feel better about it!  The fact is that there are too many homes on the market above $300,000!  As of yesterday, I figured we have a 12 month supply on the NE side/Robin/Hiawatha area.  Only 5 have gone sale pending in the past 60 days in these areas.   So, my oh so special house isn't ... 09/10/2008

I have this $60,000 listing that was only on the market for 3 days.  I didn't even have time to make the flyers and had three competing offers.  I was like, wow, this is the easiest listing I've ever had! Then the Flood of 2008 came a calling.  My clients have already left town and we were to close this Friday. This home was on the edge of the flood and only got water in the basement.  Non of the nasties I've been hearing about.  All the utilities, but water had been turn off.  I wasn't able to get into the property Monday and that was after the National Guard reluctantly let me in.  The blockcade was moved yesterday, so I took the hour drive (normally 10min) to the property to air it out and drag a few wet rugs out the basement.  The rest needs to be done by the professionals.  I felt ... 06/18/2008

Cedar Rapids real estate forecast has never been better.  I've spoken with a few brokerages this past week, and they say the same thing.  "Business is booming."  In fact, some go as far to say that we are setting record months for sales.Traditions Real Estate is no different in that with our flexible commission plan, our dedication to SERVICE FIRST, and our attention to the little details, our business has been blessed with record sales as well.If you're a buyer, there is plenty of inventory to choose from and all price ranges and locations are fully stocked and ready for your perusal.  If you're a seller, you are starting to compete with a lot more inventory so make sure of two things!Your home is priced right.  Your home has that WOW factor on the inside as well as on the outside.Whil... 05/02/2008