Posts from October 2017
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30
Renting or buying... either way you're paying for someone's mortgage!
There are some people who have not purchased homes yet because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. Everyone should realize that, unless you are living with your parents rent-free, you are paying a mortgage - either yours or your landlord's. As Entrepreneur Magazine, explained in their article,
"While renting on a temporary basis isn't terrible, you should most certainly own the roof over your head if you're serious about your finances. It won't make you rich overnight, but by renting, you're paying someone else's mortgage. In effect, you're making someone else rich."Christina Boyle, Senior Vice President and head of the Single-Family Sales & Relationship Management organization at Freddie Mac, explains another benefit of securing a mortgage vs. paying rent:
"With a 30-year fixed ra...
28
Toys For Tots
Are you looking to help out with Toys for Tots? Look no further than your local Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors. Most offices will have a drop off bin for you to donate any new, unwrapped (not stuffed animal) toy, and many offices are holding special drives to collect the toys. You can drop off toys at Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, DeWitt, Iowa City, and
20
Why a Pre-Inspection Saves You Time and Money
If you are thinking of moving within the next year, there are things you can do now that will save you money and headaches when it comes time to list your property. One of the most beneficial – and often overlooked – steps you can take now is to order a pre-inspection. Most people don't think about an inspection before they list their home for sale. However, it is a critical step for you to take to sell your home in the least amount of time possible, for the most amount of money possible, and with as little hassle as possible. Here's why a home inspection prior to listing helps:
- You have more control of the process. When you order the inspection, you get to walk around your home with the inspector and ask questions. This allows you the opportunity to explain issues and/or correct any mistakes on the report. You can't do this if you wait for the buyer to order the inspection.
- You get to decide.
12
What to Look for in Your Real Estate Team
How do you select the members of your team who are going to help you make your dream of owning a home a reality? What should you be looking for? How do you know if you've found the right agent or lender? The most important characteristic that you should be looking for in your agent is someone who is going to take the time to really educate you on the choices available to you and your ability to buy in today's market. As Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, advises:
"When getting help with money, whether it's insurance, real estate or investments, you should always look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not the heart of a salesman."Do your research. Ask your friends and family for recommendations of professionals whom they have used in the past and have had good experiences with. Look for members of your team who will be honest and trustworthy; after all, you will be trusting them with helping you make one of the biggest financial decisi...
7
Iowa Cropland Values Up in Last Year
The Land Trends and Value Survey, presented by the Iowa Farm and Land Chapter #2 REALTORS Land Institute, reported a statewide average increase of 2.0% for tillable cropland values from March 2017 to September 2017 period. Combining this increase with the 0.9% reported in September 2016 indicates a statewide average increase of 2.9% for the year from September 1, 2016 to September 1, 2017. In our east central district, high quality cropland is selling at $9,903 per acre, or at the second highest rate in the state. Timber is selling at $2,237 per acre. Overall, the increase in our district was 3.6% - or the highest in the state of Iowa.
"It is positive to see land prices on the rise," said Eric Schlutz, ALC, Realtor and manager of the Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors Muscatine Office. "This will stabilize prices but we are still cautiously optimistic because there are a lot of other factors that will continue to affect land values in our region."
"I wasn't surprised to see the results of the most recent land survey as land prices have stabilized and even trended upward this past year especially for the higher and upper medium quality cropland," said Dennis Stolk, ALC, Realtor. "The increase in prices is somewhat driven by a scarcity of available land for sale in many areas, as well as low interest rates and continued good buyer demand. Farmer still remain in a strong equity position and have cash on hand and are looking to buy. Moving forward, our land market will continue to be sensitive to what happens with commodity and livestock prices and its impact on farm income." For the survey, participants are asked to estimate the average value of farmland as of September 1, 2017. These estimates are for bare, unimproved land with a sale price on a cash basis. Ruhl Farm&Land, a division of Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, is focused on the sale, purchase and marketing of land, farms and acreages. For more information, and the price per acre of cropland in all nine Iowa districts, visit RuhlLand.com.
|
Part of Iowa |
High-Quality Crop Land |
Medium-Quality Crop Land |
Low-Quality Crop Land |
Percent Change in Tillable Cropland |
Non-Tillable Pasture |
Timber Per Acre |
|
East Central |
9,903/acre |
7,284/acre |
4,494/acre |
+3.6% |
2,769/acre |
2,237/acre |
|
Northeast |
9,358/acre |
6,955/acre |
4,318/acre |
2,605/acre |
||
|
Southeast |
9,431/acre |
6,089/acre |
3,743/acre |
2,207/acre |
