Beware Of Craigslist Scams As The Year Ends Normally I’m only talking about stats, but this month I want to take a minute and remind everyone about real estate scams. One in particular is the Craigslist scam. With over 25% of the homes currently for sale in the Des Moines MLS vacant, it stands to […]
Archives: November 2015
Rent vs. Buy: Either Way You’re Paying A Mortgage
There are some people that have not purchased a home because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. Everyone should realize that, unless you are living with your parents rent free, you are paying a mortgage – either your mortgage or your landlord’s. As The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard […]
Existing Home Sales Up 3.9% [INFOGRAPHIC]
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Distressed Property Sales Hit New Low
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) just released their Existing Home Sales Report revealing that distressed property sales accounted for 6% of sales in October. This is down from 9% in 2014 and the lowest figure since NAR began tracking distressed sales in October 2008. Below is a graph that shows just how far the […]
Millennials: What FICO Score is Needed to Buy a Home?
In a recent article by the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, it was revealed that some Millennials are not looking to purchase a home simply because they don’t believe they can qualify for a mortgage. The article quoted Jessica Lautz, the National Association of Realtors’ Managing Director of Survey Research, as saying […]
Equity Matters A LOT… Just Ask Freddie Mac
There are many reasons, both financial and non-financial, that homeownership remains an important part of the American Dream. One of the biggest reasons is the fact that it helps build family wealth. Recently, Freddie Mac wrote about the power of home equity. They explained: “In the simplest terms, equity is the difference between how much […]
Oct 2015 Des Moines MarketPulse Stats
This report is posted by the 15th of each month for the previous months transaction activity. Entire MLS Adel – Altoona – Ankeny – Bondurant Carlisle – Clive – Cumming – Des Moines Grimes – Indianola – Johnston – Norwalk Pleasant Hill – Polk City – Urbandale – Waukee West Des Moines – Windsor Heights
Singles Are Falling For Their Dream Home [INFOGRAPHIC]
Should I Pay A Mortgage Interest Rate Over 4%?
Mortgage interest rates, as reported by Freddie Mac, have increased over the last several weeks. Along with Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association and the National Association of Realtors are all calling for mortgage rates to continue to rise over the next four quarters. This has caused some purchasers to lament the fact […]