What Are the Benefits of Hunting for Central Iowa Homes in the Winter?

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Many people think that they need to wait until after the new year to begin their home search, but this isn't true. The holiday season can be a great time to find you next home. In fact, there are a lot of things to consider that aren't possible during any other time of year. 

Homeowners who are selling during the winter months are highly motivated. They have their home listed despite the fact that this is a busy time of year. You will often find some very attractive options in pricing at this time as well.

Another thing to consider is how homes look during this time. Walking into a home and seeing all the holiday decor throughout is a good way to get a feel how a home can be highlighted.

Agents this time of year tend to have a less busy schedule, meaning you will likely get a lot of personal attention in your house hunt. Have a professional agent there to give you additional ideas and direction is huge when looking for that perfect home.

Finally, this is a great time to look for homes because you might have time off for the holidays, giving you more time to look at homes. This also makes the search a lot less stressful, as you don't have to squeeze in showings outside of your work schedule.

If you think you want to buy in the near future, there's simply no reason to wait! The holiday season can be a really great time to find a fantastic home. If you have any questions, or if you would like real estate assistance of any kind, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!

What Are Our Favorite Summer Activities?

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Today, we want to talk about our favorite summer activities here in Iowa!

Central Iowa is a great place to be in the summer. We have the #2 farmers market in the country and one of the best art festivals in the country just wrapped up a couple weeks ago! Garage sales, grilling out, and going swimming are just a few of the simple things anyone in the area can do.

One event that's great for the whole family is the Iowa State Fair! People get together for food, drinks, and entertainment of all kinds. It takes place at State Fair Park in Des Moines from August 13-23. If you're going for the first time, here are the top 3 things to check out:

1. Big Boar
2. Varied Industries Building
3. Sky Glider

That's only one person's opinion. The Butter Cow, the Ugly Cake Contest, and the poultry building are other very fun things to do! There's really so much to see that it can't be covered here!

Another favorite event of ours is the National Balloon Classic. This year it takes place June 24-August 2! Take a ride in a hot air balloon to take a look at Iowa from above. It's worth noting that the RE/MAX balloon is back in action this year!

If you have any questions about other fun things to do in Central Iowa, or if you're planning on making your move this summer, don't hesitate to reach out to us! We would love to hear from you! 

Why Is the Central Iowa Market so Active Right Now?

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

Surely you've noticed the extremely low gas prices here in Central Iowa. Today, we'll explain why rock-bottom gas prices are affecting more than just your wallet!

Obviously, the amount of money we spend on gas is a large part of our monthly budget. In fact, here at the Misty SOLDwisch Team, we've found that low gas prices have had a positive effect on the Central Iowa market as a whole. Despite the fact that it's 0 degrees and snowy outside, we're already seeing spring market conditions because of the increased buying power of people in the area! 

Doing a little bit of research online, we found that a 23% decrease in gas prices creates about $100 a month in extra buying power for the average consumer. This has caused people in our area to be able to afford more expensive homes or to act sooner than they had originally intended to. So, if you're on the fence about entering the market or thinking about waiting until the spring market to make your move, we want to tell you the spring market is already here! 

If you have any questions about how these conditions affect your ability to buy or sell in our market, please give us a call or shoot us an email. We would love to help you out! 

How You Can Get a Leg up on the Competition in Central Iowa This Spring

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

 Today, we want to introduce an exciting new program we've launched for 2015, the Misty SOLDwisch Certified Pre-Owned Program! 

How does this new program work? First, a seller will have their home pre-inspected and include a 13-month HWA Platinum home warranty with the sale of their home. If you're a buyer in the market, when you see one of our certified pre-owned homes, you're looking at a home that's move-in ready! You will be able to close on the home quickly, and with the piece of mind that all questions and concerns about the property have been addressed. 

This program is also advantageous for sellers. In an overcrowded spring market, when a buyer sees a home that's been certified, it immediately stands out among the competition. Not only will it get your home more exposure, it will likely enable you to get top dollar as well! Certifying your home will strengthen your position when you head into negotiations with a buyer, and the process won't be as lengthy because all problems with the property will have been addressed. 

Also, be sure to check out our Coming Soon page, so you can be ahead of the game when it comes to home hunting this spring!

If you have any questions about our new program, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, we're always here to help. Give us a call or shoot us an email for the help you deserve!

Will a Balanced Market Open an Opportunity for You to Buy and Sell?

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.

Thanks for joining us today on our blog. We are going to discuss the current real estate conditions here in Central Iowa and what they mean for you. 

As the year winds down and we head towards winter, we are asked all the time by clients if they should try to buy and sell real estate now, at the end of the year, or wait until next spring to do so. There is definitely a perceived seasonality in the Iowa market, but that doesn't necessarily mean it exists. 

It's more important to look at supply and demand than the time of the year. This basic economic principle is used daily when discussing the market and its health. 

When trying to determine what kind of market we are in, the main indicator as to where we lie is the amount of inventory. In a balanced market there is usually around 6 months of inventory, meaning that it would take 6 months to sell all available homes if no new homes came on the market. A buyer's market is when we have a surplus of inventory, over 6 months. A seller's market is when we have a lack of inventory for our buyers.

So far this year, we have seen all 3. At the beginning of the year it was definitely a buyer's market, then transitioned to a hot seller's market in the spring and summer. Right now, we are starting to see a bit of a slowdown, resulting in a more healthy, balanced market. This is very beneficial for those who want to buy and sell right now. 

When timing your next real estate move, don't look so much into the calendar as much as when the move will work for you. That is the most important thing. 

If you have any questions at all for us, please feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to help out.