Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS
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6
Ruhl&Ruhl Celebrates 2018 - Best Year Ever!
Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors celebrated 2018 at their annual awards event on January 25. See our award winners at RuhlHomes.com/News.
- Residential Sales Volume – Ruhl's sales volume in 2018 was $917,973,157, up 3.7% from 2017's sales volume.
- Number of Properties Sold – Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors sold 5,429 properties in 2018, as either listing agent or selling agent. This was 2% more transactions than 2017.
- Revenue – Revenue in a real estate company is primarily gross commission income (GCI). Ruhl's 2018 GCI was $27,235,889, or 4.0% up from 2017 revenue.
- New Listings Taken – Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors listed 3,127 properties for sale in 2018, 1.8% more than in 2017.
- Nationally Ranked Per Agent Productivity – On average our agents closed 16.7 transactions in 2018. This is more than double the national average f...
6
Slower but Steady Growth in Housing Market in 2019
Home prices will continue to appreciate and home sales will grow in 2019, slowly but steadily. Across the region in 2018, sales volume was up 1% and the average sales price was up 3%. There was considerable variation from market to market, which can be seen on our Regional Activity Chart below. Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors sales volume was up 3.7% to $917,973,157 and our average sales price was up 3%. Click here to read more about Ruhl&RuhlRealtors' Best Year Ever. Lack of affordable inventory slowed sales in 2018. Thankfully, our months of inventory is now higher in most of our markets, which translates to a more balanced housing market instead of a seller's market.
18
Home Appreciation is Strong and Stable in our Region
Five-year home appreciation in our region was between 10.36% and 15.26% with all of our regional Metropolitan Statistical Areas experiencing a positive gain. "Home prices continue to rise across the U.S. but there are signs of tapering," said Dr. William Doerner, Senior Economist. "Since housing markets began to rebound in 2012, house price appreciation has been positive because demand has outpaced supply. In the last month, however, some regions reflect a slowing or even flattening of house price growth." In the past year, home prices are up: 5.14% in Dubuque; 3.11% in Iowa City; 1.89% in the Quad Cities and 3.26% in Cedar Rapids. This compares to other cities: Des Moines, IA up 4.61% and Chicago, IL up 4.50%. This data is provided by the FHFA for the first quarter of 2018 (see chart and website below). Of course, there is considerable variation based on price range and location of properties, with more affordable properties appreciating more.
| Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) | Percent Change in House Prices | |
| 1 Year | 5 Year | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | + 3.26% | + 10.36% |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | + 1.89% | + 10.41% |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | + 4.61% | + 21.73% |
| Dubuque, IA | + 5.14% | + 12.38% |
| Iowa City, IA | + 3.11% | + 15.26% |
| USA | + 6.89% | + 34.25 |
Information courtesy of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) for the first quarter of 2018. FHFA stats always run one quarter behind. Their full report is available at www.fhfa.gov. *Rankings based on annual percentage change in house prices.
"Years of low inventory and pent up buyer demand have resulted in a Seller's Market in the affordable price ranges across many of our local areas," said Caroline Ruhl, CEO of Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors. "We are unsure of how long this trend will continue, especially given the trends with mortgage rates. We urge people who are on the fence about selling their home to contact your local real estate professional for a free market analysis." Wondering how appreciation has affected your home? Contact your Ruhl&Ruhl Realtor to receive your free market analysis! Or contact us at 1.866.441.1776 or customerservice@ruhlhomes.com to be put in touch with a local, trusted expert!
17
3 Low-Cost Ways to Fix Leaky Windows
If the "wind eye" focused on you last winter, but you're not ready to invest in new windows, you can still cut your energy bills if you seal those air leaks -- and if you do so now, you'll prevent cool air from escaping your home this summer. These tips are also a sneaky way to improve the value of your home! Here are three low-cost tips to help keep air leaks at bay:
1. For most windows: Just fill the gaps. Easier said than done if you're dealing with old, flaky caulk, weather stripping, or adhesive that's really tough to remove. But if you don't clean it off well, your new caulk and stripping won't adhere well and could peel away before you see any benefits. However, a common household product, petroleum jelly, removes that adhesive goo quite well. Just rub the jelly over the sticky goo, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe away. Another swipe with...
8
6 Steps to Prep Your Home for Guests
Hosting has its shares of anxieties, especially if you're striving to make your home welcoming. How do you know everyone will feel comfortable? And will you ever get a chance to relax? You will if you focus on what's really necessary. Here's a list of steps to get your home ready — and take the stress out of hosting.
1. Declutter
- The day before guests arrive is no time to pull apart junk drawers and clean out linen closets.
- Declutter guest rooms and public areas -- foyer, kitchen, living room, den, and dining room. Remove anything unnecessary from countertops, coffee tables, and ottomans; if it's out of sight, keep it out of mind, for now.
- If you run short of time, bag up the clutter and store it in car trunks, basements, and out-of-the-way closets. Sort and arrange after your guests depart.
2. Add Night Lights
- Even though you can navigate your home blindfolded, your guests can't. Make sure outside light...
