Posts made by author 'Ruhl Marketing Team'
Subscribe and receive email notifications of new blog posts.
RSS Feed
- 2026 | 13 Posts
- 2025 | 47 Posts
- 2024 | 39 Posts
- 2023 | 35 Posts
- 2022 | 58 Posts
- 2021 | 13 Posts
- 2020 | 25 Posts
- 2019 | 11 Posts
- 2018 | 1 Posts
- 2017 | 42 Posts
- 2016 | 66 Posts
- 2015 | 24 Posts
- 2014 | 64 Posts
- 2013 | 44 Posts
- 2012 | 38 Posts
- 2011 | 79 Posts
- 2010 | 38 Posts
- 2009 | 35 Posts
- 2008 | 1 Posts
16
Ruhl Gives Back for the Holidays
Across all of our regions, our offices have been spreading holiday joy by giving back to their communities, as we continually strive for excellence in community service as well within the Ruhl Family. December 2 was the National Association of Realtor's Ring the Bell Day across the nation, and all of our offices participated to help raise funds for the Salvation Army.
Pictured to the left is Wendy Corzatt from our Burlington Office, ringing the bell at a local grocery store. Thanks to all of our offices for taking an hour or two out of their day to give back to this special cause! Our Corporate and Bettendorf Offices raise money each Christmas to buy presents for children and families...
12
Buying is Now 37.7% Cheaper than Renting in the U.S.
The results of the latest Rent vs. Buy Report show that homeownership remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the 100 largest metro areas in the United States. The updated numbers actually show that the range is an average of 17.4% less expensive in Honolulu (HI), all the way up to 53.2% less expensive in Miami & West Palm Beach (FL), and 37.7% nationwide!
Other interesting findings in the report include:
- Interest rates have remained low, and even though home prices have appreciated around the country, they haven't greatly outpaced rental appreciation.
- Home prices would have to appreciate by a range of over 23% in Honolulu (HI), up to over 45% in Ventura County (CA), to reach the tipping point of renting being less expensive than buying.
- Nationally, rates would have to reach 9.1%, a 145% increase over today's average of 3.7%, for renting to be cheaper than buying. Rate...
10
Why Getting Pre-Approved Should Be Your First Step
In many of our local markets including the Quad Cities and Dubuque, the amount of buyers searching for their dream home greatly outnumbers the amount of homes for sale. This has led to a competitive marketplace where buyers often need to stand out. One way to show you are serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage before starting your search. But even if you are in a market that is not as competitive, knowing your budget will give you the confidence to know if your dream home is within your reach. Freddie Mac lays out the advantages of pre-approval in the 'My Home' section of their website.
"It's highly recommended that you work with your lender to get pre-approved before you begin house hunting. Pre-approval will tell you how much home you can afford and can help you move faster, and with greater confidence, in competitive markets."
One...
28
5 Reasons to Hire a Ruhl&Ruhl Realtor
Whether you are buying or selling a home, it can be quite an adventurous journey; you need an experienced Ruhl&Ruhl Realtor to lead you to your ultimate goal. In this world of instant gratification and internet searches, many sellers think that they can For Sale by Owner or FSBO. The 5 Reasons You NEED a Ruhl&Ruhl Realtor in your corner haven't changed, but rather have been strengthened, due to the projections of higher mortgage interest rates & home prices as the market continues to pick up steam.
1. What do you do with all this paperwork?
Each state has different regulations regarding the contracts required for a successful sale, and these regulations are constantly changing. A true Ruhl&Ruhl Realtor is an expert in their market and can guide you through the stacks of paperwork necessary to make your d...
18
High Demand for Affordable Housing
We continue to have a bifurcated market with strong demand for and low inventory of affordable homes for sale, but low demand for and abundant inventory of expensive homes for sale. Recall that fewer than 4 months of inventory is a seller's market, 4-6 months is balanced, and greater than 6 months of inventory is a buyer's market. Below is a sampling of our markets:
| Area | Months of Inventory | |
| Cedar Rapids Area | ||
| Below $350,000 | 4.5 | |
| Above $350,000 | 8.8 | |
