Central Iowa Real Estate Podcast with Misty Soldwisch

An Easier Way to Meet Your Continuing Education Requirements

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 08:09:00 -0800

How can we as agents possibly set aside time for continuing education with the busy schedules we maintain? Today, I’d like to share a great resource that can help.

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Toward the end of the year, I always notice that many agents are scrambling to get their continuing education requirements in for their license renewal. In the state of Iowa, agents are required to take 36 hours of continuing education every three years, with those hours due by December 31 of the year your license expires. This education includes eight hours of law updates, four hours of ethics, and 24 hours of electives. Real estate is a complex industry, so continuing education is extremely important. Knowing industry standards, new laws, and other information helps us, as agents, be the best professionals we can. But let’s be honest: it can be difficult to find time for that education when you’re keeping such a busy schedule yourself. As real estate professionals, we’ve got very unpredictable schedules. Fortunately, there is an alternative in Iowa to in-classroom learning. In Iowa, up to 24 hours of your continuing education can be done online.

I was able to schedule my continuing education around my life, instead of scheduling my life around my continuing education.

This is why I’ve found www.RealEstateCE.com to be an amazing resource. It’s very easy to sign up and is full of informational classes relevant to things I experience in my business. Also, it’s inexpensive. The best part of taking classes through this website, though, is that it helped me control my time. I was able to schedule my continuing education around my life, instead of scheduling my life around my continuing education. Additionally, there is an amazing discount available to Iowa licensees through www.RealEstateCE.com that you can find here. So if you’re busy, want to learn, and would like to save money, I definitely recommend checking it out. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

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

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Tue, 3 Oct 2017 10:38:00 -0700

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.

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

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.

Get the Home You Want Through a Backup Offer

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 12:40:00 -0700

Frustrated homebuyers in the Central Iowa market may be able to use the backup offer strategy to their advantage.

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 lot of Central Iowa homebuyers are frustrated right now. Certain segments of the market are on fire, and they aren’t able to get into homes fast enough. As a result, they feel they don’t have very many homes to choose from. There may still be hope if you use the backup offer strategy. In the past, once a home went under contract, there’s very little chance for a competing buyer to get their foot in the door. Once the seller had chosen another buyer’s offer, typically they made it to the closing table with no problems. However, in those super hot segments of the market, we are seeing a higher fallout rate. Why is that? First of all, many buyers feel like they need to make a quick decision in those market segments or they will lose the home. As a result, it’s very common for people to make offers on a home without fully vetting the property to make sure it’s the right home for them.

If the first deal falls apart, the seller has your offer to fall back on.

Secondly, multiple offer situations really drive up the price of a home. Buyers then have very high expectations of how that home will perform during the inspection. Buyers and sellers have a hard time agreeing what condition the property should be in, which has led to a number of deals falling apart after the home inspection. Having a backup offer in place puts pressure on that first offer. If for any reason that deal falls apart, the seller would much rather go to your offer than go through the hassle of putting the home on the market again. Plus, since you have a backup offer in place, the seller may be more willing to let the first deal fall apart. Not all agents can navigate the ins and outs of the backup offer, but we work hard at honing our skills in order to give our buyers the edge in this competitive market. If you have any questions about this strategy or anything else, just give us a call or send us an email. Remember, if we choose your question for one of our upcoming videos, you’ll get a free subscription to Better Homes and Gardens magazine. We look forward to hearing from you!

We’re Excited to Join Forces With Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 09:03:00 -0700

We have an exciting announcement to make today. It’s going to change the future of our company for the better.

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

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We are excited to announce that as of August 2, 2017, we have joined forces with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate to form Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Innovations. It’s a huge honor to be welcomed into the fold at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate as a broker/owner. In fact, I’m the only broker/owner of this company in Iowa. This company has a rich history around here. The publisher of the magazine is actually rooted in Des Moines. I’m so pleased that we will have this marketing and media powerhouse behind us 100% to enhance the experiences of our clients and agents. We are now aligned with a brand that is not only relevant to the people we serve but also has relevant information available for them 365 days a year. You’ll start seeing green Better Homes and Gardens signs up with our team’s name on the side here shortly. Keep an eye out for them. If you or anyone you know is thinking about buying, selling, or investing in real estate, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

Get an Extra Chance to Win $2,500 Towards Your Next Iowa Home

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 13:21:00 -0700

The Iowa Finance Authority has a special sweepstakes right now offering $2,500 in cash or down payment assistance! We can help you get an extra chance to win.

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

The Iowa Finance Authority is holding a great sweepstakes right now. You could win $2,500 in cash or in down payment assistance! The Iowa Finance Authority is a state-sponsored entity that promotes homeownership, which is so important to my team and I. The IFA also has a number of great programs available for down payment assistance and mortgages.

Write my name in as your Realtor to get an extra chance at that $2,500!

If you want two chances to win, simply write my name in as your Realtor. You can enter the contest HERE. Don’t wait too long—the contest only runs through the month of August! Whether you are buying a home for the first time or making a change, this is a great chance to win some money towards your dream home. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. In the meantime, go ahead and enter. We hope that someone who knows our team wins this opportunity. Good luck!

3 Easy and Helpful Moving Hacks

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Fri, 9 Jun 2017 12:09:00 -0700

As a home seller, how do you know which offer to pick in a multiple offer situation?

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

If you're moving, these three tips should help you out quite a bit:

1. Don't pick a peak day to move: In the central Iowa market, Fridays and Saturdays are the peak days, as well as the 1st, 30th, and 31st of each month. 2. Pack smart: You can read about some great moving hacks here. They'll help you plan, organize, and execute the process of getting all your belongings together efficiently. On top of these hacks, you should try to take the emotion out of packing. It's hard to avoid taking a trip down memory lane when you pack your stuff, but try to save it for when you're in your new place.

Avoid moving on peak days if at all possible.

3. Use our moving truck: This is a big advantage to working with us. We'll even give you the manpower to help you move things. Our truck isn't some rickety old truck either; it's shiny and new!

If you're thinking about making a move and need to buy and or sell a home, give us a call or send us an email. We'd love to help!

What Should You Do When There Are Multiple Offers on Your Home?

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Tue, 30 May 2017 08:39:00 -0700

As a home seller, how do you know which offer to pick in a multiple offer situation?

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

The central Iowa real estate market is pretty hot right now, which creates unique challenges for buyers and sellers. For sellers, it’s incredibly important that you choose an agent who has experience with multiple offer situations, as they are common in our market.

When you receive multiple offers on your home, how do you know which is the best one? There are a few things you should consider:

1. Price. Obviously, we want to maximize your equity and get you the best price available for your home. Our expertise really comes in handy when it comes to looking at the full terms of the offer, because the offer with the highest price is not necessarily the best one for your interests.

2. What kind of time frame are they looking for? How flexible will the buyer be on possession? As a seller, that can make or break your ability to get into your next property, so it’s important to know that up front.

The offer with the highest price is not always the best one for you.

3. What kind of contingencies does this buyer have that might cause stumbling blocks in the process? Inspections, HOA documents, or having a survey completed are just a few examples of little things that might seem irrelevant, especially if the buyer is offering a high price. However, each of those contingencies gives the buyer a chance to renegotiate after they’ve won the deal, which could make the transaction unpleasant for you.

4. What are the financing terms? We love cash offers, but cash isn’t always better than financing. Someone who has a loan commitment is just as important as someone who has cash. The fortunate thing about working with an experienced agent is we know what to expect from different lenders. We know if a buyer is working with a reputable lender or a lender that we’ve had issues with in the past.

Ultimately, we will sit down, look at all your different options, and work together to make sure that your needs are being met and that you choose the best offer possible.

If you have any other questions about selling your home in our current market, just give us a call. We would be happy to help you!

Join Misty’s Team: We’re Hiring a Home Selling Specialist!

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 09:56:00 -0700

My team is on the lookout for a good Home Selling Specialist. Joining us comes with many advantages and opportunities.

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

Today I have some important news to share—my team is in the process of hiring a Home Selling Specialist.

Home Selling Specialists are a highly valued member of my team. In this position, your job is to meet face to face with our sellers and help them strategize pricing, value, what kind of marketing approach is appropriate to take for their goals, and guide them through the process of a successful sale and closing.

There are three tremendous advantages of being a Home Selling Specialist with my team.

The first is our unparalleled marketing. With exposure on radio, television, and many Internet enhancements, our sellers have the exposure to help them get top dollar for their home in the shortest amount of time.

The second is our amazing operations team. Instead of spending your time as a courier putting up signs or as an administrative assistant filling out forms, we provide that service for you so that you’re able to leverage your time for the highest-producing activity—selling!

There are tremendous advantages to being a Home Selling Specialist on my team.

The third is a guaranteed, steady flow of highly qualified seller leads.

We’d love for our ideal candidate to have a real estate license and some real estate experience. However, we’re open to candidates who have experience in related industries, such as insurance or mortgage. It’s extremely important that our Home Selling Specialist enjoys working with numbers, analyzing data, and coming to conclusions to give our sellers good advice.

It’s also important for them to have the ability to have both happy conversations about retaining equity and tough conversations about changing the seller’s expectations, especially when they have a life-changing need such as a death or a divorce that require them to get their home sold in a timely fashion.

If this sounds like something that would be of interest to you—to be able to leverage your time, our amazing marketing machine, and 17 years of real estate sales experience, I’d love to talk. Just click on the “Join Misty’s Team” button on my website to get started.

As always, if you have any real estate questions, I’d love to answer them. We’re here to help!

When Is the Right Time to Downsize?

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 06:32:00 -0700

Before you decide to downsize from your current home, ask yourself these three questions.

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One question we are asked on a pretty regular basis by clients is, “How do I know when the right time to downsize is?” There are some very important questions you need to ask yourself in order to determine this.

1. Can you really live with less space? A lot of empty nesters realize that they don’t need as much space or as many rooms but when it comes down to it, a lot of them aren’t ready to give things up to fit in a smaller space. If you’re not ready to give up some of the luxuries of having a large home, downsizing doesn’t make sense right now.

Can you really live with less space?

2. Are you ready for a truly lower-maintenance lifestyle? Going from a large home to a condo or townhome leaves you with less yard work, less maintenance, and less square footage to take care of. If that sounds like an exciting change in your life, it’s something for you to consider.

3. What kind of equity position do you have on your home? If you are in a great market, the timing might be perfect for you to maximize the equity you will pull out of the home. It might be time for you to talk to us if that is the case.

If you have any questions for us or are looking to buy or sell in Des Moines, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

How Do Home Warranties Benefit Both Buyers and Sellers?

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 09:51:00 -0800

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

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

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

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Fri, 3 Feb 2017 15:07:00 -0800

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:

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.
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.

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.
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?

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 10:08:00 -0800

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.

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

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

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Thu, 1 Dec 2016 12:30:00 -0800

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

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

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

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 14:31:00 -0800

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

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

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?

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Mon, 7 Nov 2016 10:58:00 -0800

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

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 12:53:00 -0700

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.

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

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

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:45:00 -0700

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!

Don't Be Caught off Guard by a Major Cost When Selling Your Home

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Thu, 8 Sep 2016 11:09:00 -0700

When you are preparing to sell your home, we will sit down with you and go over a couple of different things. One of those things is an estimate of proceeds. We will break down all the different costs you can expect as a seller. One fee that comes as a huge surprise is the property tax proration.

The tax proration surprises sellers for a couple of different reasons. First of all, it is one of the largest expenses that affects your bottom line when selling. The other thing sellers say is, “Why do I need to pay this? I am already up-to-date with my property taxes.”

In Iowa, property taxes are a little complicated. Iowa property taxes run on a fiscal year system instead of a calendar year. In addition to that, we pay property taxes in arrears, which means after the fact. That creates a whole other layer of complication.

"Iowa pays property taxes in arrears, which makes the process more complicated."

You have probably received your property tax bill this month. If so, you will notice that you can pay those taxes in two installments. One is due in September of 2016 and the other is due in March of 2017. That property tax bill is actually for the fiscal year of 2015. In other words, you will pay property taxes for the fiscal year of July 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015 in the September 2016 installment. You will then pay for January 1, 2016 through June 30, 206 in the March 2017 installment.

When we do an estimate of proceeds, we use one year of property taxes as an estimate. Depending on the month you close on your property, you will have anywhere from 10 to 14 months you are crediting.

Remember, you will have to pay the tax proration whether you work with a Realtor or not. Selling your home on your own does not get you out of this. The tax proration is simply a byproduct of the fact that we pay property taxes in arrears in Iowa.

However, you should work with a real estate professional when selling your home in order to successfully navigate situations like this one. If you have any 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!

How to Win the Home You Want in Central Iowa

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 13:12:00 -0700

So now that you’ve done the fun part-searched around for some homes, and found the one you want-what happens next? How do you make the offer so that you can successfully purchase this home?

"Don’t make it all about the money."

There are three important things to keep in mind:

You must act quickly. In today’s market, homes do not sit long when they’re priced well and in good condition. If you’ve identified the right home, make sure that you don’t overthink the process of submitting an offer for it, otherwise someone might swoop in and steal it from under your nose.
You must be reasonable. In the Des Moines metro area, most homes sell within 1% and 2% of the list price. Whether that’s above or below depends on the market area. It’s not a successful strategy, even when we’re trying to test the seller, to approach them with an offer that’s only 90% of the list value. All that will do is upset them and give off the impression that you’re not a serious buyer.
Don’t make it all about the money. Instead of getting caught up in the facts and figures, try utilizing some other terms that might make your offer more attractive to the seller. These terms can include having a flexible closing and possession date, what kind of personal property gets delegated, and having a shorter inspection period. There are many different ways we can mold the offer so that it isn’t exclusively focused on price. Remember - this property was likely the seller’s home. They might still have a great deal of emotional connection to it. When you share with them why you love it and why you could see your family living there, it appeals to their emotions.

Now is not the time to be working with someone who is just a hobbyist. You need a negotiation expert. This distinction will make the difference between successfully getting the home you want or settling for your second or third option.

As always, if you have any questions, please give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

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

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 15:55:00 -0700

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?

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.
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.
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

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 13:21:00 -0700

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

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Mon, 16 May 2016 14:56:00 -0700

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!

What’s the Recipe for Appealing to Millennial Buyers?

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Wed, 4 May 2016 09:13:00 -0700

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It's important to appeal to millennial buyers, because they are making up a larger percentage of the buying market each year, and they are buying in all different price ranges. Millennial buyers have very high expectations, and their buying power is higher than young buyers have ever had before.

The importance of a low-maintenance or maintenance-free lifestyle is the first thing you'll see about these buyers. They want to see systems working properly, and don’t want to do a whole lot of home improvement work. Don’t think you can put off your upgrades in hopes that you can put money for repairs in the contract.

Secondly, millennial buyers love contemporary decor. For freshening up the interior of your home, neutralize it to make it as appealing as possible. Use light greys instead of whites to re-paint.

Finally, you’ve got to realize that these buyers make decisions very quickly. They will decide within 30 seconds of walking into your home whether they want to buy it or not, so staging your home properly can make or break the sale.

If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Spring Curb Appeal Tips for Central Iowa Sellers

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 13:38:00 -0700

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We expect a really great spring home selling season in 2016, and we’ve seen a lot of great work on the interior of homes in our area. However, now that spring has arrived and the Iowa winter has left us, it’s time to focus on the exterior of your home.

What can you do to make it more appealing?

Make sure your home is clean. Power wash the sidewalks and wash your windows. Even wipe down your railings or repaint them.
Pay attention to your landscaping. Replace dead bushes and get some fresh mulch. Plant extra flowers and trim your hedges. Don’t forget to clean your gutters, too!
Make a welcoming entrance. Do this by replacing your front door or a freshly painted front door. You could also install a new light fixture and a fresh welcome mat. These things can really make an impact on a buyer walking into your home.

If you want more tips, or if you’d like us to come view your home and make a curb appeal plan for you, please don’t be afraid to give us a shout. We would love to hear back from you!

Four Expert Tips for a Smooth Real Estate Transaction in Iowa

misty@mistysold.com (Misty Soldwisch) — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 17:29:00 -0700

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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.

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.
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.
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!
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!