buying a home in iowa city: Buying Real Estate in Iowa City - What is a Zero Lot? - 09/21/11 06:12 PM
What exactly is a zero lot Denise? This is a question I get a lot from clients relocating to the Iowa City area. It's a term that doesn't seem to be used anywhere other than Iowa. A zero lot is a duplex style home where the owners share a wall. Each owner is sole-owner of the unit they own, including the land. This is NOT the same as a regular duplex, which is also available in the Iowa City market. A regular duplex is considered to be one unit. (By that I mean that it can only be sold as a … (1 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: Worst Storm of the Season... And Yet, Spring is on its Way... Are You Ready to Move? - 02/02/11 11:38 AM
Hard to believe with our worst winter storm of the season upon us that we're just weeks away from the peak home buying time of the year in Iowa City. Students and new members of Faculty coming to the UIOWA for the Fall Semester. Med Students and Fellows relocating to Iowa City for their three or four year stint at the UI Hospitals. They'll soon be out in numbers looking for a new place to call home. Add to that the renters who are ready to buy a home and need to be out of their apartments either at the end … (0 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: Buying a Home in Iowa City: So Why Do You Need a Buyer's Agent Anyway? - 10/21/10 08:18 PM
This is a question that comes up a lot. What's all the fuss about buyers agents? The easy answer is that a buyer's agent represents you and you alone in a real estate transaction. Think of it as "white glove" service for the buyer. The seller's got his guy or gal, why shouldn't you have yours? To illustrate this, how about we start with figuring out what may happen when you work with the listing agent? To begin with, you have to know right off the bat that the agent has a conflict of interests. He or she is bound by … (3 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: So the $8000 Tax Credit is Gone. So What! This is Better - 09/09/10 07:55 PM
Houses in Iowa City are priced to sell and interest rates are at an amazing 4.25% for a 30 year fixed loan. How come the market isn't humming? That's what I'm wondering. Could it be that the negative headlines we get fed on a daily basis through the Media is having an effect on the average consumer? Could it be that they're so confused that they have no idea what to think anymore? I know if I wasn't in the real estate business I would be pretty confused right now! I see that the buyers who are able to see the … (0 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: 3 Good Reasons To Get Pre-Approved Before Looking At Homes For Sale - 06/23/10 12:55 PM
Looking at homes is much more fun than going to a lender to get pre-approved. I don't suppose anyone will disagree with me there. Perhaps that's why so many buyers need to have a house in mind before they go see a lender. We all put off things we don't like doing and since going to a lender seems to be right up there with a visit to the dentist it makes sense getting pre-approved would be one of those things you'd put off. So why is that such a bad idea you ask? Well, here I am with 3 good … (0 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: Iowa City Real Estate Market Report December 2009 - 01/05/10 09:19 AM
Iowa City Real Estate Market Report December 2009I have so much data to share with you this month that it was tough to know where to start! I decided to do it chronologically. First a year over year comparison of the monthly and quarterly numbers of homes sold in Iowa City for the period ending December 31, 2009. Followed by a year over year comparison of annual home sales in Iowa City for 2009. Homes Sold in Iowa City December 2009 Compared to December 200848 homes sold in Iowa City in December 2009 compared to 41 homes sold in 2008. That's … (2 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: Don't Miss Out on the $5000 Grant for Eligible Veteran Home Buyers - 12/15/09 02:21 PM
Don't miss out on the $5000 grant for eligible Veteran homebuyers. The information below comes directly from Jessica Greving, loan officer and VP of Residential Mortgage Network, Inc. in Coralville. RMN specializes in VA Loans, FHA Loans and USDA Rural Development Loans. These are all specialty home loans that are not offered by too many banks in the area. Jessica is very familiar with the nuances of these specialty home loans and definitely someone you should visit with if you're thinking of buying a home in Iowa City, Coralville or any of the surrounding areas in Johnson County and need a … (0 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: Iowa City Real Estate Market Report November 2009 - 12/02/09 08:10 PM
Iowa City Real Estate Market Report November 2009
It's the beginning of the month and time for my Iowa City real estate market report for November.
The number of homes sold in Iowa City in November was up by a whopping 90% with 59 homes sold in November 2009 in comparison to 31 in November 2008. Can't beat numbers like that. Of course we had the first time homebuyer tax credit that was due to expire on November 30 and that must have contributed to such a considerable year over year increase. The average price of homes sold in November … (0 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: Buying a Home in Iowa City: Step 7: Closing on Your New Home - 09/19/09 01:47 PM
Buying a Home in Iowa City: Step 7: You're Closing on Your New Home!This is the last part in a 7 part series that gives a detailed look at how the home buyingprocess works when you buy a home in the Iowa City area. I've included links to the other parts at the end of this post.You're almost there...Closing day is just around the corner... Ideally, 48 hours before you close we will get a HUD Statement, (settlement statement) from your lender showing exactly how the proceeds of the sale will be distributed. It will show the closing costs and they … (0 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: Buying a Home in Iowa City: Step 6: Preparing to Close on Your New Home - 09/18/09 04:55 PM
Buying a Home in Iowa City: Step 6: Preparing to Close on your homeThis is part 6 in a 7 part series that gives a detailed look at how the home buying process works when you buy a home in the Iowa City area. I've included links to the other parts at the end of this post.What happens in this phase is that things slow down dramatically. After the whirlwind of finding the right home, making an offer and getting past the inspection process, you finally have time to wind down a bit.This is the time when the Bank and Title … (0 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: Buying a Home in Iowa City: Step 5: Home Inspections and Repairs - 09/11/09 09:18 PM
Buying a Home in Iowa City: Step 5: Home Inspections & Repairs
This is part 5 in a 7 part series that gives a detailed look at how the home buying process works when you buy a home in the Iowa City area. I've included links to the other parts at the end of this post.Once you have an accepted offer it will be time to schedule a home inspection. A home inspection may include a pest inspection and a test for radon. As a home buyer it always makes sense to do a thorough home inspection, after all this is … (3 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: Buying a Home in Iowa City: Step 4: Making an Offer - 09/07/09 05:10 PM
Buying a Home in Iowa City: Step 4: Making an Offer
This is part 4 in a 7 part series that gives a detailed look at how the home buying process works when you buy a home in the Iowa City area. I've included links to the other parts at the end of this post.
Okay, so you've found a house that you really like and want to make an offer. This will be done in writing, something that surprises some people who think a quick call to the seller will get the ball rolling. Homes are sold on a handshake … (1 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: Buying a Home in Iowa City: Step 3: Finding the Right Home for You - 09/01/09 12:56 PM
Buying a Home in Iowa City: Step 3: Finding the Right Home for YouThis is the third part in a series that gives a detailed look at how the home buying process works when you buy a home in the Iowa City area. Parts 1 and 2 dealt with getting pre-approved for a home loan and choosing the right area to live. Part 3 will tackle the process of finding the right home for you.
Now that you have a pretty good idea of what you feel comfortable spending on your new home and a rough idea of where you'd like … (2 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: Iowa City Real Estate: Buying a Home in Iowa City: Step 2: Choosing the Right Area to Live - 08/27/09 04:47 PM
Buying a Home in Iowa City - Step 2: Choosing the right area to live This is the second part in a 7 part series to give you as a home buyer a better idea about the home buying process in Iowa City. Today I'm going to cover the question of choosing where you want to live. At the same time you want to consider the style and age of home you have in mind. There's no point looking for something that just isn't there - For instance a new ranch style home in downtown Iowa City! First I want to … (5 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: Buying a Home in Iowa City: Step One: Getting Pre-Approved for a Home Loan - 08/25/09 10:52 AM
Buying a Home in Iowa City: Step One: Getting Pre-approved for a Home LoanThis is the first part of a 7 part series geared towards "first timers". I'm thinking not only first time buyers, but also anyone relocating to the area. I figure folks relocating to the area are also first timers as generally if you're relocating to Iowa City you won't know the area. Then there's the fact that the buying process is a little different from state to state. (And very different if you're moving from overseas).The very first step when you're thinking about buying a home is to … (2 comments)
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buying a home in iowa city: Should You Ask the Seller for Closing Costs and How Does it Impact Your Transaction? - 08/18/09 05:53 PM
**This post is written from the perspective of the buyer. In the meantime I've written a second post on the subject looking at it from the sellers perspective.
Should you ask the seller for closing costs and how does it impact your transaction?
Should you ask the seller to pay closing costs when you make an offer on a home? That's one of the most common questions I get asked when I meet with buyers for the first time. This is especially true with first time home buyers.
Most First Time Home Buyers are overwhelmed by the financial … (6 comments)
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