Preparing for a move is no small task. If you’re tackling life changes like a growing family, a new job, or new schools while moving, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with your tasks and to-dos, especially if you haven’t done it before.  With a change as big as planting or re-planting your roots, there’s no question too big or small. Whether you need advice on where to start, the logistics of selling your home (and buying a new one), home improvements that yield the highest ROI, or preparing for showings, we’re here to help. Where do I start? Buying and selling homes simultaneously can be ..read more

While things are heating up on the court this month, they’re also heating up in your backyard, your front yard, and even your side yard! That’s right, March Home Madness is back and according to our Urban Acres team, the spring real estate season is gearing up for a strong start.  We know that not everyone is in the market this spring, but that doesn’t mean there’s not plenty to be excited about. This month, while we’re sharing our best tips to navigate your real estate needs, we’re also spreading the love through a series of giveaways (stick around to find out what’s on the horizon). For ..read more

What is Home Equity? One of the greatest benefits of owning a home is building equity. Unlike renters, who pay the property owner a monthly rental payment, homeowners build equity each time they pay their mortgage. As a homeowner, you have the freedom to make your home truly yours, and you may also be able to tap into the equity you’ve built while living there.  Put simply, home equity is the part of the home you own. It represents the difference between your home’s market value and the amount you still owe on your mortgage. As you pay down your mortgage or as your home’s value appreciate ..read more

Winter Boredom Busters for the Whole Family  During the spring, summer, and fall, there’s always something going on in the Iowa City area. From festivals and live concerts to fun outdoor activities, it’s easy to load up your schedule with things to do.  But when cold weather arrives and the days grow shorter, it can be harder to stay motivated to leave the comfort and warmth of your house. The glorious days with abundant sunshine and mild temperatures are sometimes few and far between. Parents of young children suddenly have fewer options to burn off their kids’ seemingly endless sup ..read more

Barndominium Homes: Why Many People Love These Versatile and Rustic Living Spaces  Drive out along a dirt or gravel road in Iowa, and there’s a good chance you’ll find a barndominium. Recognized by their metal or steel-framed exteriors, barndominiums, or ‘barndos’ for short, have grown in popularity in recent years. However, these ‘lifestyle barns’ can be traced back to the mid-20th century when farmers converted their barns into living spaces so they could live closer to their agricultural operations.  Back in the 1980s, Connecticut developer Karl Nilson coined the term ‘barndominiu ..read more

What You Need to Know About Commercial Leases in the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids Market  Have you ever walked into a commercial space and wondered if the space is leased and what it costs?  Unless you own a business or are responsible for scouting new locations, commercial real estate leases probably aren’t top of mind. But if you are a business owner, no matter the size of your business, understanding commercial leases is an important step to starting, expanding, or relocating your business.  So where do you begin navigating the world of commercial real estate leases?  Research ..read more

What’s going on with the housing market? Buyers, sellers, and even real estate professionals have been asking this question all year. After strong sales and intense competition earlier this year (and in the last few years), the housing market appears to have cooled thanks to fluctuating mortgage rates and limited inventory. This has led many would-be buyers to hit pause on their home search and sellers to put off selling their homes until the market returns to normal—if ‘normal’ really exists! So what can we expect in the coming months and as we head into 2024? We asked our REALTORS® to weigh ..read more

Thinking about buying an investment property? Maybe you’ve been listening to a podcast on real estate investing, or you have a friend who’s earning extra income from investing in rental properties. You might even want to try your hand at renovating and flipping older, distressed homes (Spoiler alert: It’s rarely as easy as it looks on TV).  Either way, buying an investment property can provide an additional stream of income. It can also be a great way to diversify your retirement portfolio and help you generate long-term wealth. As with any investment, keep in mind that it comes with risk ..read more

A warm night spent around the firepit, chatting with friends. A Sunday afternoon spent in your 3-season porch, enjoying the breeze while you read a book. An afternoon with family, gathered around on the patio, sharing a meal. If these scenarios sound like something you would enjoy, you’re in the right place! In Part 1 of this blog series, we focused on the indoor-outdoor living trend, sometimes referred to as backyarding, and how it’s affecting the real estate market as it grows in popularity.  Now we’re taking it a step further to show you how to create your ultimate backyard paradise! H ..read more

Like any major life step, buying or selling a property involves dozens of small decisions. Is it time to move? Where are you moving? What features are you searching for in a home or commercial space? Should you work with a REALTOR®? Which agent or real estate company should you choose? We might be biased, but those last two questions are critical as you begin the buying or selling process. How you answer them can make or break your real estate experience.  We already have resources dedicated to helping you choose the right agent. But does it really matter what real estate company the agen ..read more