Steady demand. Limited supply. That's what we are seeing in real estate markets across the country right now. Inventory is particularly tight within the lower price ranges. "The starter house is nearly missing in some markets," according to Jessica Lautz, managing director of survey research and communication for the National Association of Realtors.Of course, conditions can vary from one city to the next. But the overall trend in housing markets across the country is that supply is still f...

TriVantage Homes and Real Estate Team in Spirit Lake, Iowa have some really GREAT clients that we think are a BIG Deal!! Here are some of their thoughts about their experience while selling or buying their Okoboji Lake home, Spirit Lake neighborhood home, acreage or business property.   "After spending four months trying to sell our home, with many lookers and no reasonable offers, we signed with the EXIT Realty team of Scott Reynolds, Sheree Sanderson, and Jodi Wollmuth.  We were delighted to...

 

Home prices in the U.S. have risen more or less steadily over the last few years. In many cities, home values are now at their highest point in history -- even higher than the last housing boom. But what determines the "market value" of a home? How do sellers determine their list prices, and how can buyers evaluate a listing based on current market conditions. Here's a crash course in determining market value, for sellers and buyers alike.The Definition of 'Market Value'Let's start off with...

Home buyers tend to have a lot of questions about home inspections. Are they required? How are they different from appraisals? When does it take place? Here are answers to these and other common questions. 1. Home inspections aren't required, but they're worth it.There is no law that says you have to have an inspection when buying a house. It's an option that is generally left up to the home buyer. But while you're not required to have a house inspected before purchasing, it's generally a wise...

Sellers seem to have mixed reactions when they hear the word "staging." Some go all-in, while others are somewhat resistant to the idea. The more reluctant homeowners ask questions like: Why would anyone bother staging a home before selling it? It sounds like a lot of extra work for me. What do I get out of it?There's a simple answer to these questions. By staging your home effectively, you have a better chance of selling it quickly and for the highest possible price. This alone should be enou...

 

 

Are you thinking about buying a home in the near future? Do you need a mortgage loan to finance your purchase? Here's a trend you should know about. This week, the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loan rose to its highest level since 2013. This is based on the weekly industry survey conducted by Freddie Mac.Mortgage Rates Hit 4-Year High in April 2018On April 26, 2018, Freddie Mac published the latest results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS). This survey has bee...

A recent report showed that homes across the U.S. sold faster than ever during 2017. And experts believe that 2018 could be an even hotter real estate market, due to a chronically low level of homes for sale. So buyers should be prepared for competition.A Fast-Moving Real Estate Market in 2018Here's the big message for home buyers and house hunters in 2018: Be prepared to move quickly when you find a house you want to buy. Nationwide, homes sold at their fastest pace on record last year. And t...