Come to Our Open Houses This Fall for a Chance to Win Something Delicious

We’ve got a great chance for you to win the latest edition of the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. You might even find the home of your dreams while you’re at it.

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At Better Homes And Gardens Real Estate Innovations, we’ve got a great recipe for success when it comes to house hunting in the coming fall. Today, we’re adding a little incentive for you to come out and see what we mean. If you come to any of our open houses in October or November, you will be entered to win the latest edition of the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. What better way to take your family into the holidays than by cooking up a recipe from this classic cookbook’s 16th edition.

We’ve got a great recipe for success.

And who knows, you might even find the home of your dreams while you’re at it. If you’re considering making a change with your home, we would love to help. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

How Do Home Warranties Benefit Both Buyers and Sellers?

Why do we recommend that every home buyer or seller gets a home warranty? Here are the benefits that warranties provide. 

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Whether you are a home buyer or a seller, one thing that we always think is a good idea to include in your real estate transaction is a home warranty. What is a home warranty? It’s an agreement with a warranty provider to cover the mechanical systems and moving parts of your home for a period of time. Warranties usually last up to one year after the closing. How do home warranties benefit buyers? The biggest benefit is that it significantly reduces the potential for large, out-of-pocket expenses after the home purchase. When we consider everything that is included in the home—appliances, the HVAC, electrical systems, and plumbing to name a few—the peace of mind that comes from knowing that a provider will cover any issues is critically important.  

Warranties usually last up to one year after the closing.

How does a home warranty work? Whenever you experience an issue during that warranty coverage period, you’ll contact the warranty provider rather than your local plumber or handyman. They will connect you with one of their preferred providers and come out to look at the home. There will be a service charge up front, which you will know when you have the warranty coverage in place. They will then repair the item, and if they’re not able to do so, then they will replace it for you.

How does a home warranty benefit sellers? Most warranty providers provide free listing coverage during the time that your home is on the market. It is also a wonderful way to eliminate your liability after the closing in the event that anything goes wrong for that buyer. Our personal warranty provider is HWA Warranty. They have an awesome platinum warranty that covers the home for 13 months, rather than the 12 months covered by most providers. We have had a lot of success with it and think that it is well worth the cost to provide our buyers with peace of mind after they have purchased their largest investment. If you have any other questions about how a home warranty can benefit you or anything else related to real estate in Central Iowa, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help you!

How to Avoid Surprise Costs When Buying an Iowa Home

There tend to be a few common costs that buyers overlook when they purchase their home. Today, I have a full list of these items that will help buyers avoid getting surprised by extra costs. 

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When you buy a home, there are some hidden costs that you should be aware of.

While the home shopping process can be exciting, certain costs tend to sneak up on buyers. Here are some key tips to help you be fully informed when buying:

1. Property taxes. Of your monthly house payments, property taxes are the item that can fluctuate the most during the lifetime of your mortgage. That's why it's important to pay attention to the assessed value of your home and the tax rates in the area you chose. If the seller you're buying from did a great job with home renovations but they're not reflected in the assessed value, be prepared for the potential of your property taxes jumping up in the next year or so.
2. Insurance costs. Many people have a general idea of homeowners insurance based on the value of the home they buy, but some special considerations can greatly affect the costs. For example, acreages that are long distances from a fire station can cause the cost to go up exponentially. Another would be having an in-ground swimming pool. If you have any special circumstances, be sure to check what your insurance agent's rate is.
Many buyers forget to consider extra costs for a new home, like window treatments and installing landscaping.
3. Utility bills. Here in Iowa when we go from five below to 105 degrees over the course of the year, we really use our heating and cooling systems. It's important to get a sense of the cost of running and maintaining them, and it's very easy for us to get a 12- to 24-month average from a provider. Having that knowledge up front really helps you prepare.
4. Maintenance costs. We all know there will be maintenance involved—it's part of the fun of owning a new place. There are, however, some things people don't think about as much. Older homes, for example, will have a great, mature landscape with lots of trees and plants, but it can be costly to maintain with watering and other maintenance costs. With newer homes, people often overlook things like the cost of window treatments, landscaping installation, and all the things you need to buy because no one has lived there before.

All these items are very easy to overcome; it's all about having the knowledge up front instead of getting surprised down the road.
If you have any other questions about the costs of homeownership or you're thinking about buying or selling a central Iowa home, just give me a call. I'd be happy to help you!

How Do You Know When to Sell Your Home?

There is no “right” time to sell your home; however, there are certain factors you can look at to determine what’s best in your specific situation.  

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When is the best time to sell your home?

Unfortunately, there’s no straightforward answer to that question. Truthfully (and against a lot of conventional wisdom that suggests a seasonal market), we see homes sell every month of the year in central Iowa.
In cold weather months, there might not be as many active buyers looking at homes, but the buyers that are out there are far more serious. This is because they’re usually driven by life events like a job relocation or the birth of a new baby. Hence, as a home seller during these months, you may not get a higher volume of buyers, but you will get a higher quality of buyers.

"We see homes sell every month of the year in central Iowa."

Another factor to consider in deciding when to sell your home is your level of competition. If you’re deciding between spring, summer, fall, and winter, what will you be up against during those different seasons?

If your house is in a newer neighborhood (e.g., the majority of the homes in the neighborhood were built in the last five to 10 years), one thing you need to be specifically mindful of is how much construction is happening in that area. There are some real advantages for a seller in a newer neighborhood when the builders have slowed down because of weather.

When it comes to helping you make the best decision regarding your home sale, we don’t deal in speculation—we strategize based on many different concrete factors. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. We’re here to help!

The Benefits of Our Certified Pre-Owned Home Program

Our certified pre-owned home program allows our sellers to have their home pre-inspected before it hits the market and puts them in a position of power when it comes to negotiations.

Want to sell your Central Iowa home? Get a free home value report

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One thing that really sets our team apart is that we offer our sellers different listing options when they go to sell their home. One of the most popular options that have been well-received by buyers is the certified pre-owned home program. 

What exactly does that involve? With a certified pre-owned home program, you have your home pre-inspected before you hit the market. We sit down together, go through the inspection, and look at the targeted items that need to be addressed to make your home the most marketable and most appealing to get top dollar. Along with that inspection, we offer a home warranty through HWA for the first 13 months after the buyer has purchased. 

This program has provided amazing peace of mind for our sellers. We find over and over again that one of the most stressful parts of the home selling process isn’t having your home on the market or obtaining that accepted offer; on the contrary, it’s actually all the stuff that happens afterward. This is because after you hit that inspection period, there’s really a second negotiation that occurs. 

"Our program provides peace of mind and negotiating power to our sellers."

We put you as a seller in a position of power instead of weakness when it comes to these negotiations. We have you armed with information in order to eliminate all of these different questions. 

As a buyer, it’s advantageous to know that you’re working with a seller who is diligent enough to take on this expense and all these different projects before they even put the home on the market. The seller, in effect, is presenting you with a move-in ready home. 

We’re the only real estate company that offers this program, and we’re thrilled that it’s been so successful for our clients. If you want to check out some of our certified pre-owned homes, be sure to visit our website.

As always, if you have any other questions, please feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! 

What You Need to Know About Closing Fees

When the time comes to close on your home, your agent will work with many other people to complete the transaction. 

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Here in Central Iowa, we see different options that are customary for the closing on your home. Your agent will have a relationship with an escrow company or an attorney’s office that will help with the legal and financial details of the settlement of the home.

What these other people do is assist in calculating the tax proration, assist in verifying that all of the fees have been done correctly on both sides of the transaction, and check if there are any clouds in the title that occur when we get the abstract updated and get the title opinion. They also help coordinate legally what needs to be done in order to clear that up.

"There are many hands involved in determining your closing fee."

These other people assist in calculating the tax proration and verifying that all of the fees are done correctly on both sides of the transaction. They will also check if there are any clouds in the title that occur when we get the abstract updated and get the title opinion." They also generally just make sure that everything was completed legally and in a way that’s going to protect you as a seller.

Whether it’s an attorney or an escrow company that does this, there are similar fees in our market that usually cost anywhere from $250 to $500, depending on who does the service. It’s something to note as an additional cost to anticipate.

If you have any other questions about how this closing fee works, feel free to reach out to me by phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you! 

What Do Realtor Service Fees Cover?

Want to know how much it will cost to sell your home? Ask different agents about their Realtor service fees and what those fees cover. 

Want to sell your Central Iowa home? Get a free home value report

Want to buy a Central Iowa home? Search all the homes on the MLS

There are several different fees that you will encounter during the home selling process. I have gone over a few on my blog already. Today I am discussing Realtor service fees and what they cover. 

People often call our office wanting to know how much we charge. That is totally understandable; after all, if you want to calculate how much it will cost to sell your home, you should compare the prices of different Realtors. 

However, it’s important that you understand exactly what each Realtor is offering for that cost. There are many different providers in our market that have different charges and fees. Here at the Misty Soldwisch team, I can tell you that we do not have the lowest cost in the metro area, but there is a good reason for that. 

We feel that it is important to make sure that we understand what your goals are in selling. We want to know what you want your bottom line to be. As part of our service fees, we will give you advice and strategies to maximize your sales price. 

"Flat rate brokers may not be able to net you as much money as we can."

We have worked again and again with sellers whose homes failed to sell because they worked with a discount or flat rate broker. Through our advice, we reposition the home at a higher price and help these sellers sell the home because of all of the different things we offer as part of our service fees and marketing. Ultimately, the seller walks away with more money than they anticipated. 

Part of these service fees go to our marketing and our expertise, and another part goes to compensate the buyer’s broker. As part of the Des Moines Association of Realtors, we participate in the MLS, which shows other agents that we are willing to cooperate with them. They bring buyers to your home and we compensate them through the fees you pay us. 

As I said, Realtor service fees are only part of the cost of selling your home. If you have any other questions about the cost of selling your home or about real estate in general, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Breaking Down the Abstracting Process

If you’re thinking about selling your home sometime in the near future, you’ll need to update your abstract. Here is what that means.

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One thing that makes Iowa really unique when selling real estate is the fact that we are one of the few states in the country that utilizes abstracting.

What is an abstract? If you closed on a home in the past, you may recall that someone handed you a thick, legal-sized binder filled with all sorts of old papers and information, labeled “abstract.” Attorneys will tell you to guard these documents with your life because they’re so expensive to replace.

"It will cost between $300 and $500 to update the abstract."

When you go to sell your home, you’ll need to update that abstract. We’ll send that abstract to a local abstractor in the county in which your property is held, they will update it, then ship it to whoever the buyer is using as a title opinion attorney. That attorney will then look over the abstract and all of the information that’s contained in it, including the history of the property, which will go back all the way to when the land was deeded over from the U.S. government. They will look for any clouds on the title that need to be cleared.

The cost of updating your abstract will be somewhere around $300 to $600, depending on the county that you live in, how long it’s been since you last had the abstract updated, as well as other variables depending on your specific real estate situation.   

In other states, title insurance will usually take the place of an abstract. This is a very different process, but it works for us here in Iowa!

If you have any other questions about abstracting or anything else related to real estate, feel free to reach out and give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help you!

How Revenue Stamps Affect Your Home Purchase

Revenue stamps are mandated by the state of Iowa, so it’s important that you know what they are and how they are calculated.

Want to sell your Central Iowa home? Get a free home value report

Want to buy a Central Iowa home? Search all the homes on the MLS

A revenue stamp is a fee you incur in selling your home on both the estimate of proceeds (which you’d be provided by your Realtor) and on the closing disclosure statement when you get ready to close on the home. 

"A revenue stamp is a fee on both the estimate of proceeds and the disclosure statement."

Revenue stamps are mandated by the state of Iowa. They are made payable to the county treasurer’s office in the county in which you close. Revenue stamps are calculated by taking the sale price, deducting $500 off the top (which is exempt from the fee), and calculating that based on $1.60 per $1,000 of value.

For example, for a home that sells for $100,000, you would pay slightly less than $160 for your revenue stamp fee.

If you have any questions about revenue stamps and how they’re calculated, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We’d be happy to help in any way we can!

The Value of Using a REALTOR in the Central Iowa Real Estate Market

The Central Iowa real estate market is diverse with both buyers and sellers alike seeking a variety of different properties. As a prospective seller, you can find out the market value of your property with a free home value report right here, or if you're looking to purchase in the Central Iowa click here for full MLS access. Always feel free to reach out to us for any questions regarding the current market conditions, or the value of your property at 515-229-9764.

In this age of so much information being available online, buyers and sellers have the mistaken impression that they don’t need a professional to assist them. I’m here to tell you that there is true value in enlisting a REALTOR to assist you in the real estate process.

A REALTOR is not the same thing as a real estate agent. Anyone who is licensed in the state of Iowa can be called a real estate agent, but only real estate agents who are a member of the National Association of REALTORS can be called a REALTOR. The difference is that REALTORS adhere to a national code of ethics designed to protect the consumer and to ensure that your needs are being met in the process of buying or selling a home.

"A REALTOR blends a strict adherence to a code of ethics with a unique expertise."

What are some of the things we offer?

1. We’re experts on the process. Most people only go through the process of buying or selling a home once every few years. We’re going through it every day, meaning we’re aware of the regulatory changes, lending changes, and different rules that you need to adhere to. We also know the best lenders, home inspectors, and contractors you may need to assist you.
2. We’re also valuation experts. Anyone can put their address into a valuation website and get a general idea of what homes have recently sold for in the neighborhood. It’s usually a very large ballpark figure, though, because those websites haven’t been inside of the home. What we bring to the table is that we look at the home that you’re wanting to buy or sell and look at the specific features (square footage, baths, types of finishes, ect.), and we compare it to other homes we have more specific information on that have recently sold in the area. This way you’re able to make a more knowledgeable decision on both where to buy a home at, or where to sell a home at for value.
3. Negotiation strategy. Because we go through this all the time, we have knowledge on different ways you can approach a situation as a buyer or seller in order to meet your goals. We look at if a home has been on the market for quite some time versus if it’s new on the market, in a multiple offer situation. We’re going to look at all the facts and figures and give you different options in order for you to negotiate the best situation possible for your needs and meet your goal.

These three skills add thousands of dollars in value, so be sure that the next time you’re wanting to buy or sell, enlist the help of a REALTOR. Here at the Misty Soldswich Team, we would love to help. If you have any more questions, just reach out to us by phone or email. We’re here to help.

We’re Looking for a Director of Client Services

The Central Iowa real estate market is diverse with both buyers and sellers alike seeking a variety of different properties. As a prospective seller, you can find out the market value of your property with a free home value report right here, or if you're looking to purchase in the Central Iowa click here for full MLS access. Always feel free to reach out to us for any questions regarding the current market conditions, or the value of your property at 515-229-9764.

We are super excited because we have a brand-new position open due to the growth of my team: Director of Client Services.

Are you someone who really enjoys nurturing relationships with people? Have you always had an interest in real estate but really weren’t sure about the crazy hours agents have to work? Do you prefer an office environment? Are you someone who really enjoys systems and accountability for both yourself and others?

"We are looking for a Director of Client Services!"

If this sounds like something that might be of interest to you, give me a call or visit SOLDInCentralIowa.com. We are really excited to talk to you!

We're Looking for Top Talent in Central Iowa

The Central Iowa real estate market is diverse with both buyers and sellers alike seeking a variety of different properties. As a prospective seller, you can find out the market value of your property with a free home value report right here, or if you're looking to purchase in the Central Iowa click here for full MLS access. Always feel free to reach out to us for any questions regarding the current market conditions, or the value of your property at 515-229-9764.

The Misty SOLDwisch Team is hiring! This spring, we’ve been extremely busy. Luckily, we’re also experiencing phenomenal growth. That’s why we’re looking for someone new to join our real estate team. If you’re looking to get into the industry, or want a different approach if you’re already in it, we would love to talk to you about becoming a buyer specialist.

There are plenty of advantages to working with my team. We have plenty of leads to pursue throughout the Des Moines metropolitan area at different price points. We know buyers ready and eager to purchase a home. We have television commercials featuring Barbara Corcoran and radio ads with KJJY and WHO.

Additionally, we offer unparalleled training. Not only does every single staff member go through personalized training, but they’re paired with a seasoned mentor to help them during those introductory months. This helps you be as confident as possible.

Third, we have amazing support. I have two full-time transaction managers to ensure everything is in order once a contract happens. That helps our agents concentrate on working face-to-face with clients, rather than all that daunting paperwork.

If this opportunity sounds adventurous to you, we would love to hear from you. Give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have!

Four Expert Tips for a Smooth Real Estate Transaction in Iowa

Selling your Central Iowa home? Get a free home value report  
Buying a Central Iowa home? Search all homes for sale

There are a lot of things that can potentially go wrong in a real estate transaction. Today I have four different ways that can increase your chances of having a stress-free home sale.

1. Hire a good real estate team. Without good help, you’re going to have a tough time buying or selling. We bought and sold 359 homes last year, and we will put our experience to work for you. 
2. Make sure that your lender is in constant communication with you. This is the thing that holds most people back, so be sure that your lender knows what is happening. New TRID rules have made communication even more important.
3. Don’t do anything drastic when you’re buying a home. Don’t change your job, don’t buy a car, or even new furniture. This may change your financial status and upset your debt to income ratio. Don’t disqualify yourself for a loan - just be patient!
4. Prepare for the unexpected. There are a lot of moving parts in a real estate transaction, and many things can go wrong. Just remain calm and prepare to expect the unexpected. 

The most important thing you can do in order to enjoy a stress-free sale is to hire my team. We sold 359 homes last year and we expect to do well beyond that this year! 

If you need help buying or selling in Central Iowa, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me!

The Benefits of Working with the University of Iowa Credit Union

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Buying a Central Iowa home? Search all homes for sale

The SOLDwisch Team has teamed up with the University of Iowa Credit Union because there are some really great features they offer that we think would benefit our clients. There are many advantages to getting a mortgage through them.

They're business plan focuses on becoming the leader when it comes to having the lowest available rates and the lowest fees. Additionally, they offer zero down payment programs, which is fairly uncommon in today's lending environment. Based on the sheer volume of clientele that they work with, the level of expertise they have to have as loan originators helps them put together some pretty incredible financing options for the people they work with.

 

One thing the SOLDwisch Team has noticed is the fact that the University of Iowa Credit Union offers some opportunities for people that other banks don't. They handle their loans on a more case-by-case basis than most other lending institutions. They see it in two ways: secondary market loans where applicants need to fit into a predefined box of characteristics and in-house products that allow them to grant loans in situations where it simply makes sense. They simply want to help people accomplish their goals.

They work out of a leased office space in West Des Moines and are currently working on building their own location. They started out as a credit union for the employees of the University of Iowa hospital back in 1938. The rules and regulations have since changed and progressed so that as long as you live and work in a community they serve, you can join!

They cover a huge area in the state and are currently the largest credit union in the state of Iowa! Additionally, they are number two nationally in total return to member. This means that they were voted the most competitive when it comes to giving the best rates on mortgages, the lowest fees, and the highest rates on their deposit accountants. They are very proud of this distinction, and would love to help you benefit from their services!

If you have any questions or comments about today's topic, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!

How Accurate Are Zillow’s Estimates?

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Buying a Central Iowa home? Search all homes for sale

Lately, we have found that more and more home sellers are using sites like Zillow to estimate the value of your home. After doing some research, we realize that this is probably not your best course of action. Today we are going to talk to you about why Zillow is only accurate in their home valuations 7% of the time.

You need to be careful when basing your home’s value on an automated home valuation site like Zillow. If you take a look at their fine print, you can see that it states they are accurate about 7% of the time. That means the other 93% of the time, they are inaccurate! If I was inaccurate 93% of the time, there is no way I would have been in business for 15 years.

Accuracy is very important when valuing a home. I would rather hurt you with the truth and an accurate, objective valuation, than make you feel good with a lie. The truth is, Zillow has not been inside your home. They are basing their value of basic facts and figures, without getting the full picture of your home’s value.

When you give me or my team a call, one of my home selling specialists will be able to walk through your home and take note of any improvements, features, and upgrades that you have made. Things that make your home unique, and provide your home with additional value. We will use true information, based on knowledge, to give you the most accurate home value possible.

If you are curious about what your home is worth, feel free to click our free home valuation link above, and make a no-obligation appointment for one of our home selling specialists to walk through your home today.

If you have any other questions for us, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Market Value vs. Assessed Value vs. Appraised Value

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Buying a Central Iowa home? Search all homes for sale

Today we're going to talk about the differences between market value, assessed value, and appraised value. These different values can cause confusion when it comes to pricing your home, so it's important to know what each of them are.

Market value is what a home will sell for when it's reasonably exposed to the market. That number can vary, depending on timing, home inventory, and the motivation of buyers and sellers. Market value is based on current market trends.

Assessed value is the amount that the County Assessor's office puts on the home based on their estimate of what the home value is for taxation purposes. It's not uncommon for assessments to be nowhere close to the market value, but since it's usually lower, it doesn't matter.You're not going to call the Assessor and ask for a higher assessed value so you can pay higher taxes.

The appraised value is done on the bank's behalf in order to prove that the collateral securing the mortgage is enough to cover the risk. An appraiser looks at square footage, the number of bedrooms, and the number of bathrooms. Updates and features of the home don't necessarily matter to the appraiser. As the market improves in Central Iowa, the appraisals can come in a little low from time to time, as the appraisal is based on old information. That's good news for buyers, because they can perhaps negotiate a lower price on the home.

We look at all these factors during the home buying process. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

What Is the "SOLD or I'll Buy It" Program?

Selling your Central Iowa home? Get a free home value report  
Buying a Central Iowa home? Search all homes for sale

Today I'm joined by Eddie Hatfield from the Hatfield and McCoy Morning Show on 92.5 Nash Icon, and we're going to discuss my "SOLD or I'll Buy It" program.

This is a unique option that I offer as a potential listing program for my clients. Eddie says it's the greatest thing around, and we're the only place that guarantees that your house will sell.

Some people need their home to sell quickly because they have to move due to a job transfer, or their dream home has just come onto the market. When my team and I visit your home, we make some suggestions on things you can do to maximize your value, because everyone wants to get the most they can out of their home.

If you choose the "SOLD or I'll Buy It" program, we decide on a pricing strategy and a time frame up front. If the home hasn't sold by the end of that time frame, I step in and buy it from you.

Just last week, we closed on a home for a couple who had a critical time need. They did have a contract at one point, but it fell through, so we stepped in and bought it. We do own some rental properties, but our goal is to get your property sold.