Light It Up

When we bought our house 7 years ago, one of the first improvements we made was the addition of exterior lighting. I was absolutely amazed at the impact it made on night time curb appeal. The company we used was All American Turf Beauty Nite Time Décor, and the investment was around $2000. As you can see from the photo, it lights up from the ground and on the dormers of this home.

Buyers typically like to drive by a home before taking a look, or if they have already seen it and have some interest they will likely drive by often. So curb appeal is not only important during the day, but at night time as well. This is especially important during the winter months, when it gets dark much earlier. So, light it up, and see your curb appeal soar!

For all of your real estate needs ~ call, text, or email Lori Adrianse @ 515-556-0515, Lori.Adrianse@CBDSM.com. For all of your real estate needs ~ call, text, or email Lori Adrianse @ 515-556-0515, Lori.Adrianse@CBDSM.com.

Real Estate bidding wars in 2013?

Hello pre-2007 real estate market, I’ve missed you! Yes that’s right, looks like we are off to a great start this year. Yesterday I listed a home, after 4 showings we had multiple offers by the evening. Last week another listing produced an accepted offer within 24 hours. So even though very different homes, what did they both have in common (other than an awesome list agent!)? Both homes had been meticulously maintained, clean, and staged well. Most importantly, they were priced at what current market conditions indicated. If you have made recent improvements to your home, it might mean you will not recoup the amount invested. Also, your home may not be worth what you paid. Remember, in the end a home is worth what a buyer is willing to pay, not what you owe or your perceived value.

In the event you are a buyer and interested in a home with multiple offers, if you can afford to, don’t be afraid to offer over list price. For every $1000 on a mortgage, at today’s interest rates it would equate to about $5 additional on your monthly payment. So maybe you skip that latte, or bring your lunch to work once a week. Wouldn’t it be worth it for your dream home?

This home sold this week after only 4 showings.

Perfectly staged living room.

This home sold last week in 24 hours.

For all of your real estate needs ~ call, text, or email Lori Adrianse @ 515-556-0515, Lori.Adrianse@CBDSM.com.


For all of your real estate needs ~ call, text, or email Lori Adrianse @ 515-556-0515, Lori.Adrianse@CBDSM.com.

South of Grand Neighborhood Market Stats ~ 4th Quarter 2012

In the following spread sheet you will see market stats for the South of Grand neighborhood over the last 3 months.

Quick Sales Facts:

Average Time on Market: 130 Days

Average Sales Price: $414,000

Average List to Sale Ratio: 94% Over the past three months, the following homes South of Grand have SOLD: Address List Price Sale Price Sold Date Mkt. Time Style 117 42nd St 159,900 149,900 10/15/2012 50 2Sty, 4Bds, 2.5BA 4225 Greenwood Dr 174,900 161,500 11/16/2012 76 2Sty, 4Bds, 1.5BA 501 Glenview Dr 199,900 197,900 10/8/2012 439 Ranch, 3Bds, 2BA 429 49th St 229,000 226,000 10/15/2012 16 Ranch, 3Bds, 2.5BA 314 52nd St 385,000 385,000 10/16/2012 2 Ranch, 4Bds, 2.5BA 3420 St. Johns Rd 399,900 370,000 11/20/2012 132 2Sty, 6Bds, 4.5BA 5020 Grand Ave 415,000 405,000 12/12/2012 119 2Sty, 3Bds, 2.5BA 4111 Tonawanda Dr 535,000 475,000 12/19/2012 186 Ranch, 5Bds, 3BA 2839 Ridge Rd 700,000 675,000 10/16/2012 164 2Sty, 6Bds, 3.5BA 519 Foster Dr 1,390,000 1,100,000 10/11/2012 112 3Sty, 6Bds, 6.5BA Effective January 10, 2013, the following homes South of Grand are currently on the market: Address List Price Status Mkt. Time Style 240 51st St 184,900 Pending 587 1.5Sty, 3Bds, 2BA 449 Tonawanda Dr 195,000 Pending 28 2Sty, 3Bds, 2.5BA 204 51st St 219,000 Pending 186 2Sty, 3Bds, 2.5BA 405 51st St 265,000 Pending 94 2Sty, 3Bds, 1.5BA 3100 Terrace Dr 275,000 Pending 189 2Sty, 4Bds, 3.5BA 3771 River Oaks Dr 345,000 Pending 163 Ranch, 3Bds, 2.5BA 3400 Lincoln Place Dr 1,750,000 Pending 399 2Sty, 3Bds, 4.5BA 5324 Grand Ave 248,000 Active 93 2Sty, 3Bds, 2.5BA 3200 John Lynde Rd 249,000 Active 286 Ranch, 3Bds, 3BA 4115 Tonawanda Dr 299,900 Active 223 2Sty, 4Bds, 1.5BA 5307 Welker Ave 435,000 Active 203 Ranch, 5Bds, 4BA 660 Foster Dr 575,000 Active 250 2Sty, 5Bds, 4.5BA 345 42nd St 699,900 Active 87 3Sty, 4Bds, 3.5BA 18 52nd St 719,000 Active 97 1.5Sty, 5Bds, 4.5BA 425 28th St 748,000 Active 102 2Sty, 3Bds, 3.5BA 117 SW 51st St 819,900 Active 153 2Sty, 5Bds, 5BA 9 Greenwood Dr 899,000 Active 69 2Sty, 5Bds, 4.5BA 515 Foster Dr 1,040,000 Active 98 1.5Sty, 4Bds, 3.5BA

For all of your real estate needs ~ call, text, or email Lori Adrianse @ 515-556-0515, Lori.Adrianse@CBDSM.com.

For all of your real estate needs ~ call, text, or email Lori Adrianse @ 515-556-0515, Lori.Adrianse@CBDSM.com.

Waterbury Neighborhood Market Stats ~ 4th Quarter 2012

In the following spread sheet you will see market stats for the Waterbury neighborhood over the last 3 months. Brisk sales in December have contributed to a lower inventory level.

Quick Sales Facts:

Average Time on Market: 101 Days

Average Sales Price: $248,000

Average List to Sale Ratio: 95%

Over the past three months, the following homes in the Waterbury Area have SOLD:
Address	List Price	Sale Price	Sold Date	Mkt. Time	Style
6100 Rollins Ave	109,900	107,000	12/12/2012	51	Ranch, 2Bds, 1BA
670 61st St	142,500	140,650	10/26/2012	112	Ranch, 3Bds, 1.5BA
5501 Westwood Dr	187,500	180,000	10/24/2012	31	Ranch, 3Bds, 2BA
5709 Walnut Hill Ave	224,900	217,700	12/6/2012	21	1.5Sty, 3Bds, 1.5BA
526 Polk Blvd	224,900	212,000	10/12/2012	96	2Sty, 4Bds, 2.5BA
429 49th St	229,000	226,000	10/15/2012	16	Ranch, 3Bds, 2.5BA
5924 N. Waterbury Rd	230,000	225,000	12/5/2012	456	2Sty, 4 Bds, 1.5BA
552 Country Club Blvd	235,000	222,000	10/19/2012	432	2Sty, 4Bds, 1.5BA
677 Ronwood Dr	235,000	210,000	10/5/2012	24	Ranch, 3Bds, 2.5BA
5711 Harwood Dr	274,000	250,000	12/18/2012	50	1.5Sty, 4Bds, 2.5BA
5405 Harwood Dr	299,000	288,000	11/21/2012	23	2Sty, 3Bds, 2.5BA
5011 Harwood Dr	309,000	300,000	10/1/2012	85	2Sty, 3Bds, 2.5BA
4909 Harwood Dr	332,000	325,000	11/9/2012	18	2Sty, 3Bds, 2.5BA
5700 N. Waterbury Rd	340,000	318,500	11/30/2012	34	Ranch, 3Bds, 2.5BA
703 51st St	379,400	342,500	10/9/2012	46	Ranch, 4Bds, 2.5BA
5020 Grand Ave	415000	405000	12/12/2012	119	2Sty, 3Bds, 2.5BA
Effective January 7, 2013, the following homes in the Waterbury Area are currently on the market:
Address	List Price	Status		Mkt. Time	Style
665 62nd St	163,900	Pending		24	Ranch, 3Bds, 2BA
5632 Waterbury Rd	225,000	Pending		77	1.5Sty, 2Bds, 3BA
405 51st St	265,000	Pending		94	2Sty, 3Bds, 1.5BA
5719 Harwood Dr	268,500	Pending		1	1.5Sty, 3Bds, 3BA
5905 Waterbury Cir	289,900	Pending		113	2Sty, 3Bds, 2.5BA
5834 Pleasant Dr	350,000	Pending		6	Ranch, 3Bds, 2.5BA
6132 Pleasant Dr	162,000	Active		62	Ranch, 2Bds, 2BA
5700 Pleasant Dr	170,000	Acitve		2	2Sty, 3Bds, 1.5BA
5821 Waterbury Rd	250,000	Active		50	2Sty, 4Bds, 1.5BA
732 53rd St	275,000	Active		61	1.5Sty, 3Bds, 2.5BA
6080 N. Waterbury Rd	289,900	Active		44	1.5Sty, 3Bds, 2.5BA
5400 Waterbury Rd	500,000	Active		95	2Sty, 4Bds, 3.5BA
5200 Harwood Dr	529,900	Active		65	2Sty, 4Bds, 2.5BA
5403 Waterbury Rd	579,000	Active		124	3Sty, 5Bds, 3.5BA

For all of your real estate needs ~ call, text, or email Lori Adrianse @ 515-556-0515, Lori.Adrianse@CBDSM.com.

Ready, Set, Buy!

The Presidential election is over, holidays are over, fiscal cliff adverted, interest rates are at historic lows (today 3.375 for Conventional 30 year fixed, 2.875 for FHA 30 year fixed. Rates provided by Denny Donnelly, New Castle Home Loans, 515-421-9290). So what are you waiting for??? Now is the time to buy a home!

Data compiled from the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors MLS indicates our pricing trend for home values is currently at about what it was in 2007. As our housing market recovers prices will go up, inventory levels will continue to decrease, and the buyer’s market we have seen for several years will become a seller’s market. The Metro’s  inventory is down 13.3% from last year. Pending sales 2012 compared to pending sales 2011 was up 21%. So our market is definitely in recovery mode.

I predict 2013 will be a very active real estate market for the Des Moines area. As a buyer would you rather purchase a home in a buyer or seller’s market ~ you decide.

 

I'd love to show you your dream home. Call or text me at 515-556-0515.

For all of your real estate needs ~ call, text, or email Lori Adrianse @ 515-556-0515, Lori.Adrianse@CBDSM.com.

Love It or List It --- Get A Dumpster!

Whether you are getting your home ready to sell or not planning a move at all, you would certainly benefit by de-cluttering/de-junking your home.

We recently went through the de-junking exercise, having a 10 yard dumpster delivered to our home. Atomic Roll-Off delivered it and the cost was $180. We were able to keep the dumpster for a week, but chose to really motivate ourselves and only have it for 2 days. After the first day we had filled the dumpster maybe 1/4 full and I thought we would be lucky to make it to the halfway mark. Knowing we only had one more day we went into overdrive. Should I or shouldn't I --- if I had to think about it more than a couple of seconds, it went into the dumpster. As you can see from the photo, we made it way past halfway, in fact it was full! 

Three trips to donate items to the thrift store benefiting Animal Lifeline of Iowa occurred during the two days as well.

So, go through that attic, crawl space, closets, basement, and donate or pitch those things you just don't need or use. It will be like a load has been lifted off your shoulders --- I promise!

Great idea --- if you can't fill a dumpster on your own, or think the cost is a bit steep, share with your neighbor.

For all of your real estate needs ~ call, text, or email Lori Adrianse @ 515-556-0515, Lori.Adrianse@CBDSM.com.

Have You Seen The Little Free Library?

Not too long ago I started seeing these small houses on a post in my neighborhood. Once I realized there were books inside, I found myself drawn to them. What a great idea --- take a book, give a book. 

The mission of "Little Free Library" is to promote literacy, the love of reading, and to build a sense of community. The sign on the Little Free Library states it is a "gift from friends who wanted to PAY IT FORWARD. Take a book, return a book". Many have found this to be a great way to connect with neighbors and engage in conversation about a new and unique concept. You can purchase or build your Little Free Library. 

Is this something you are seeing in your neighborhood? Would you participate? For all of your real estate needs ~ call, text, or email Lori Adrianse @ 515-556-0515, Lori.Adrianse@CBDSM.com.