The Des Moines area housing market experienced a surge in active listings with more than 100 added from last month. Despite the influx, closed sales remained consistent with past figures for both monthly and yearly comparisons.  For the full article and more stats visit: https://www.dmaar.com/news/blog/the-des-moines-metro-experienced-a-surge-in-active-listings-in-february ..read more

"The number of home sales in the Des Moines metro area dipped 21.46% in January with 677 homes sold compared to the 862 sold in December. Year-over-year, there was an increase, ticking upwards 13.59% from the 596 homes sold in January 2023." Check out more statistics and numbers at: ,https://www.dmaar.com/news/blog/cold-weather-put-a-wrinkle-into-the-homes-sold-for-january-in-the-des-moines-area-housing-market ..read more

It is important to realize the damage that large amounts of snow or melting ice/snow can do to your house. A lot of people may focus on getting the house ready for winter but it's just as important to maintain it throughout the winter and know what to look for. Check out these key things around the house..... Check your roof: Always check your roof after a big snow, but you also want to check it when the snow is melting. Make sure to brush away heavy accumulations of snow and ice dams to avoid cave-ins. A roof rake is a good way to remove snow from your shingles or if you’re not comfortable ..read more

"While metro market experienced dips in 2023, looking forward to 2024, we are seeing encouraging signs. The Des Moines metro housing market saw 13,136 homes sold in 2023, a decrease of 16% from the 15,605 homes sold in 2022. The median sales price climbed $25,000 in the last year to $295,000 for 2023. Homes averaged 72 days on the market in 2023, 20 days more on average than the prior year. In 2024 interest rates are expected to drop and we believe that both sellers and buyers who have been on the fence will take the leap." For more stats on today's housing market please visit: https://w ..read more

If you or someone you know if thinking of selling their home, this fall would be a good time ..read more

"If you’re looking to buy a home this fall, there are a few things you need to know. Affordability is tight with today’s mortgage rates and rising home prices. At the same time, there’s a limited number of homes on the market right now and that’s creating some competition among buyers. But, if you’re strategic, there are ways to navigate these waters. The first thing you’ll want to do is get pre-approved for a mortgage. That way you’ll know your numbers and can set yourself up for success from the start of your home search. What Pre-Approval Does for You To understand why it’s such an importa ..read more

he Des Moines housing market continued to experience gains in August, with active listings and sales slightly increasing month-to-month. In fact, the metro area hit a welcome milestone, exceeding more than 3,000 homes on the market for the first time since November 2022. The number of home sales in the Des Moines metro area increased 7.5% to 1,314 homes sold in August, compared to the 1,222 sold in July. Year-over-year comparisons were the opposite, with a 10.6% decrease from the 1,470 homes sold in August 2022. If you or someone you know if thinking about selling their house please reach to ..read more

The month of July saw more active listings, thanks, in part, to more new construction hitting the market. "Buyers are seeing more options in the Des Moines metro market than they have in recent months. While closed sales lagged a bit in July, the number of active listings grew for the third month in a row. Buyers are closely watching the interest environment while appreciating the expanding inventory levels. Home sales in the Des Moines metro area decreased 16.5% when , compared to the 1,464 homes sold in the prior month. Year-over-year comparisons were similar, representing a 15.8% decrease f ..read more

Buying your first home is an exciting decision and a major milestone that has the power to change your life for the better. As a first-time homebuyer, it’s a vision you can bring to life, but, as the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shares, you’ll have to overcome some factors that have made it more challenging in recent years: If you’re looking to purchase your first home, here are two things you can consider to help make your dreams a reality. Save Money with First-Time Homebuyer Programs Being able to pay for the initial costs and fees associated with homeownership can feel like a maj ..read more

"1. Proper lighting Consider first how you intend to use the patio. If you’re hoping guests might linger over long conversations, provide low lighting around your seating nooks. And if your backyard BBQ plans involve lots of late-night drinking games (because, why not?), illuminate the entire space with string lights. 2. Electricity Nothing is worse than planning your perfect patio layout—complete with a keg cooler, botanical garden-worthy lighting, and a show-stopping Christmas display your neighbors will never top—only to realize you forgot one essential element: electricity. 3. The positio ..read more