Caroline Ruhl, President of Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS, congratulated her sales associates and staff on an amazing 2011. "While business was down in most of our markets and at most competing real estate companies, business was up at Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS!" Ruhl credited her company's success to her extraordinary people:  "The Ruhl&Ruhl difference is truly found in the compassion, expertise and commitment of our people, from agents to staff to management to loan officers.  You out-worked and out-smarted and out-serviced the competition.  At the end of the day, it always comes down to having the best people.  Thank you for your wonderful service, your hard work and your loyalty." The company also celebrated their 150^th birthday.  The Ruhl family has been helping other families in the region since 1862.  "With our 4^th and 5^th generations of family ownership and leadership, we look forward to serving the people and communities we love for many generations to come," commented Caroline Ruhl. The company celebrated at an awards brunch at the Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf. They honored and recognized 173 award winners for their 2011 achievements. 1.            Growth in Number of Properties Sold Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS sold 4,360 properties in 2011, as either listing agent or selling agent. This was 6.8% more transactions than in 2010. In the Quad Cities MLS (Multiple Listing Service), 2% fewer properties were sold in 2011 than in 2010. 2.            Sales Volume Up 7.3% Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS' sales volume in 2011 was $593,082,327, 7.3% higher than sales volume in 2010. Residential sales volume was down 4% in the Quad Cities MLS. 3.            Properties Listed Up 4.3% Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS sales associates listed 3,317 properties for sale in 2011, 4.3% more than they listed in 2010. 4.            More Great Sales Associates and Staff While the number of agents went down in the 12 Boards of Realtors/MLS's that the company belongs to, Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS added a net of 24 sales associates, growing our agent base from 251 as of December 31, 2010 to 275 agents as of December 31, 2011.  In addition, 58 dedicated employees work for the company. 5.            Revenue Up 9.5% Revenue in a real estate company is primarily gross commission income, or GCI. Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS' 2011 GCI was up 9.5% over 2010. 6.            29.4% of Ruhl Buyers Used 1862 Mortgage 1862 Mortgage is Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS' in-house mortgage company. 29.4% of Ruhl's buyers with financing used 1862 Mortgage during 2011. 7.            Gains in Market Share Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS had 36.74% of the Quad Cities residential market in 2011, up from 33.85% in 2010. Their largest competitor, Mel Foster Co., saw market share fall from 37.44% to 34.46%, making Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS the largest residential broker in the Quad Cities.  Market share in the Iowa Quad Cities grew from 37.5% to 41.05% for Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS.  In the Illinois Quad Cities, market share grew from 26.4% to 27.6%. In the Muscatine MLS, Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS' market share grew from 36% in 2010 to 39% in 2011. 8.            Per Agent Productivity Among Best in the Nation On average, Ruhl agents sold 15.1 properties per agent, as either listing or selling agents. This places Ruhl agents among the most productive in the country. The National Association of Realtors reports an average of 7 sales per agent nationally. 9.            New Construction Sales Up 6.1% Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS sold 243 new construction homes or condos in 2011, up from 229 in 2010. New construction sales volume was $71,271,090 with an average price of $293,297.  New construction sales were down 20% in the Quad Cities. 10.          Outlook for 2012 Caroline Ruhl expects 2012 to be an even better year, both for the regional real estate market, and for Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS. "If January, 2012 is any indication, it's going to be a great year!  New business pended in January was up 47% in sales volume and 34% in number of properties sold at Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS.  And revenue (closed gross commission income) was up 81% based on 69% more properties sold," said Ruhl. "Why is this the busiest winter market in years?  For starters, spring like weather in January works wonders for people's attitudes and interest in looking at real estate.  Then factor in the lowest interest rates in history – 3.875% for 30 years, no points and 3.375% for 15 years, no points.  And finally some good news on the unemployment front, so buyer confidence is improving.  We're actually seeing multiple offers again and a shortage of listings in some price ranges and locations.  My advice is refinance if you haven't already done so and invest in residential real estate.  We see strong growth potential in our property values and tremendous demand for rentals."

Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS Congratulates 2011 Award Winners

Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS honored and recognized 173 award winners for their 2011 achievements at the Waterfront Convention Center on Friday morning, February 3, 2012.  The top honors were awarded to: Top Residential Associate of the Year: Quadruple Diamond Club – Jon Loquist, Moline Office Top Excellence in Service Award: Melissa Wegener, Davenport Office Extraordinary Production Award: Janet Munck, Clinton Office New Associate of the Year: Craig Newcomb, Bettendorf Office Top Associate of the Year – Farm Division: Ken Paper, Davenport Office Employee of the Year: Sally Atwell, Executive Assistant, Corporate Office Top 1862 Mortgage Associate of the Year: Ray McDevitt, Bettendorf Office Top Insurance Referral Agent: Rick Weipert, Bettendorf Office There is a complete list of all award winners on Ruhl&Ruhl's website at www.RuhlHomes.com/Agent-Achievements. A family-owned company since 1862, Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS has grown to more than 275 sales associates, 58 employees and eleven offices, selling more than 4,300 homes in eastern Iowa, western Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin. The company has residential sales offices in  Bettendorf, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, DeWitt, Dubuque, Iowa City, Maquoketa and Muscatine, Iowa; and in Moline, Illinois. In addition to residential sales, the company offers services in relocation, property management, real estate investments, new home sales, land development, farm sales, senior services, home vendor services, insurance services through the Nelson Brothers Agency and mortgage services through 1862 Mortgage. For more information on Ruhl&Ruhl, visit their website at www.RuhlHomes.com.