Signature Matches: What Every Voter Should Know About Vote RecordsYour signature is more powerful than most people realize. In many states, it is the main way election officials confirm that a mail-in or absentee ballot truly came from you. If the signature on file does not closely match what you write, your ballot can be flagged or even rejected, often without you finding out until much later.This is why an independent researcher takes a few minutes to check their own signature on record. Many states allow you to view or update the signature tied to your voter file, usually through the same office that handles your driver's license or voter registration.Signatures naturally change over the years. An injury, a new pen grip, or simply aging can shift how your name looks on paper. That is... 09/11/2026

We have all heard I'm waiting til rates fall in the current market. What is that truly costing you? What is that saving you? What opportunities are being lost or gained by waiting?Today's first time home buyer rates in Iowa are at an impressive 6.875% - 8.125% pending qualifications. This is a much greater rate than what the country has seen over the past 5-6 years; however, this is hovering around the market average over the past 50 years. Interest rates a critical aspect when it comes to buying power and what a person can afford monthly in a property. The purpose behind this blog is to determine if waiting is in your best interest.The main factors that set the mortgage rates are: The Federal Reserve, Bond Market, Secured Overnight Finance Rate, Constant Maturity Treasury and the overa... 11/15/2023

The solid home sales trends the Des Moines area has been experiencing for past 5 years remained in place in 2017 with the region posting new records in numbers of homes sold and in average sales prices.On the top line unit sales MLS wide rose from 14,067 units in 2016 to 14,763 units in 2017 for a gain of 4.9%.Averages sales price gains tracked the gain in unit sales in December 2017 posting a 3.8% gain and rising from $208,680 to $216,687. This seems to indicate a healthy level of appreciation.Average sales price to list price crept up slightly from 98.3% in 2016 to 98.5% in 2017. The rise may reflect low inventory levels translating into gains for sellers in which fewer buyer options puts sellers more in control. Units available for sale started 2017 at 2,924 which is about 1500-2000 ... 02/02/2018

  Why to build a new home now1. Interest RatesRates are low so you get more house for your money! Even only a 1% increase can cost you hundreds more, each and every month for 30 years!2. Energy Savings With new energy efficient windows and doors, better insulation technology, energy efficient new appliances, and modern heating & cooling system, your energy savings adds up and saves you money on utility bills. 3. Indoor air qualityThe new homes today meet energy standards and codes that were not in place in the past.4. Design your dream home your wayDon’t settle for someone else’s choices when you can select your favorite cabinets, appliances, flooring and paint colors. Choose the floor plan and products that meet your family’s needs.5. All New under WarrantyYour home is brand new and un... 03/20/2016

Pest Control Des Moines Resuls You Can TrustIf you’ve ever had a serious pest control Des Moines issue in your home, or business then you don’t need to be told how aggravating it can be. Termites, rodents, and other common insects are more than just nerve racking. These pests can harm your home, your investments and livelihood. Many pests can threaten your health, so problems with pests or mice could make you end up putting you and your family at risk.To avoid the possible issues with these and other pests is employ the help of the correct pest control Des Moines company now rather than later. A good company is more than just a problem solver to your current insect or rodent issues. A technician also has the experience, knowledge, dedication, and know-how to prevent your insect issue fr... 11/08/2015

I was just talking about how I'm sick of winter weather and now I'm looking forward to Iowa's balmy 60 degree weather this week.  I will take it!  So, now comes spring maintenance time.  After coming out of the long winters it's always refreshing to clean up, fix up, & spruce up our homes.  Here are some home maintenance musts that should be thought of doing every year: 1.  Clean out those gutters and check for leaks.  Are there any water stains on your siding, brick, stucco?  It may mean that your gutters are not properly functioning.  Also, make sure all the downspouts are attached and draining away from your house to prevent water in your basement.   2.  Inspect your roof to keep it at it's top performance.  Are there shingles that have shifted, are missing or have nails popping up? ... 03/09/2015

          Des Moines Iowa made the List when Realtor.com® Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke offered up his top 10 picks for 2015—the places where we can expect to see strong housing growth, affordable prices and fast-paced sales. http://www.realtor.com/news/top-10-hot-housing-markets-watch-2015/ Des Moines Iowa - Favorite for Millennial Share of Households and Millennial Household Growth   While Des Moines might seem like an odd fit for a list of the hottest metros in America, Smoke sees encouraging signs.   Its high affordability and high levels of home ownership among millennials set the stage for strong housing performance next year, he says.   In fact, Iowa’s capital has been called everything from “The Best Place for Business” by Forbes to “The Wealthiest U.S. City” by the “Today Show... 02/28/2015

I have spring fever and I'm sure I'm not alone.  Spring is a time for renewal and what better way to start the season off then to give your home's exterior a fresh coat of paint!  There are so many wonderful colors to choose from and one can get very creative.   Gray happens to be still a very popular color for a few years.  It's crisp, fresh, timeless & is not going anywhere!  If you want to follow the gray trend, check out this link from the National Association of Realtors website to find your perfect shade of gray and get ready for spring!     Find your perfect shade of gray here!   Feeling ambitious?  Why not add a POP of color to your front door!   02/27/2015

  It's the Des Moines Home and Garden Show this weekend and I'm ready to get some fresh ideas and dream about the warmer weather ahead.  The Home and Garden Show is a big event in the Des Moines Metro that revs everyone up with new ideas, projects and dreams for their, well, home and garden.  If you are a Pinterest, Houzz, HGTV, DIY junkie, then you might want to check this event out.  In addition to various home vendors and featured gardens from across Iowa there are special celebrity appearances from Matt Blashaw, host of DIY Yard Crashers and LeAnne Lee, considered a Diva of DIY there to present some tips, tricks & inspiration.  So if you are looking for something inspiring to do this weekend and in the Des Moines area, go and check it out!  For more information about times, celebrit... 02/12/2015

I almost forgot we were still in the middle of Winter.  We have been pretty spoiled with the mild temps here in Iowa but Mother Nature reminded us this past week that we are still in Winter after receiving 10+ inches of snowfall!  With the melting and refreezing of the snow in the coming weeks, homeowners need to be reminded of a problem that many don't think about...Ice Dams.  Read on for information on what an ice dam is, the damage that can be done to your home and ways to prevent it from happening to you.     Ice Dams are a problem of house and building maintenance on sloping roofs in cold climates. Accumulated snow on a sloping roof melts and flows down the roof, under the blanket of snow until it reaches below freezing temperatures, typically at the eaves.  Ice then accumulates wh... 02/06/2015

    Have you ever found yourself in an uncomfortable conversation that neither party has much to say?  Is it hard for you to carry on a conversation with someone you just met? I typically don’t have a hard time searching for something to talk about when I meet someone new.  I guess that’s a good thing in my profession as a Realtor.  But, I have to admit time to time even I can come up short of a good conversation. If something just isn’t flowing, it can become A-W-K-W-A-R-D!   For those who have a hard time carrying a conversation, remember this acronym:  FORD.                        F = Family O = Occupation    R=  Recreation   D=  Dreams   This acronym is easy to remember when you get stuck on what to talk about.  Try it out the next time you meet someone new.   Maybe we can meet som... 01/23/2015

♥ GREAT WINTER HOMES SPECIAL! ♥   Gilbert Pool Home for Sale in Coronado Ranch  $275,000   3940 E SIMPSON RD 3Beds/2Baths  1926 SqFt of living space MLS# 5215080   FEATURES Pool - Private: Heated Pool; Play Pool Spa - Private; Spa - Heated Range/Oven Electric; Disposal; Dishwasher Built-in Microwave; Refrigerator; Kitchen Island Full Bath Master Bedroom; Separate Shower & Tub; Double Sinks; Private Toilet Room Separate Bedroom Exit; Master Bedroom Walk-in Closet Formal; Dining in LR/GR Desert Front; Desert Back; Synthetic Grass Back Covered Patio        View All Photos: http://www.mysinglepropertywebsites.com/35577    Gilbert Pool Home for Sale in Coronado Ranch     3 full bedrooms plus an office. All Tile. Put your clothes in the closet, all the work is done. Beautiful resort style bac... 01/10/2015

What if Your Teenager Doesn’t Want to Move To Your New Urbandale Home?   By My Smart Blog You’ve got a new job offer across the country and you are planning to pack your things, buy a Urbandale home and make the big move. However, when you tell your 17 year old daughter your plans, she lets out a mournful wail and cries that it is not fair. How can you possibly take her away from all of her friends, her favorite hangout spots and the cute boy she just started seeing? Moving house is a difficult transition and it is even more traumatic for teenagers. The teenage years are an important stage where young adults establish their individuality and independence and during this time their social circle is extremely important to them. Being removed from that against their will can make any teen ... 12/18/2014

      According to Realtor.com®'s   Millennials will drive household formations: Both population and households have grown at a slightly higher pace in 2014 and this trend will continue in 2015 with modest improvement over this year's increases. Households headed by millennials will see significant growth as a reflection of economic gains. Millennials will also drive two-thirds of household formations over the next five years. Next year's addition of 2.75 million jobs and increased household formation will be the two key factors driving first-time buyer sales.    According to Realtor.com®'s Top 10 Markets for Housing Growth in 2015 Des Moines-West Des Moines Iowa was a market to watch for Millenial share of households and growth.  The National Association of Realtors®. found that one-t... 12/16/2014

Hello   I’m writing this on a Tuesday morning, slowly waking up with my cup of coffee.  It seems only fitting that I write about one of my new favorite places to eat and drink coffee in Urbandale.   I had driven by this new favorite on several occasions and thought I should stop in, but I just never made a point of doing it.  My networking friends at O’Brien Law Firm suggested we meet there a couple of weeks ago.  Now, I could kick myself for not trying it sooner.  I probably won’t break up with my other coffee meeting places, but this one will be a regular “go to” from now on. We were impressed by the warm and friendly service and breakfast items.  It had small town charm, but also included big city coffee drinks. Pretty Lattes, Dirty Chai Tea and I have been told they have the best fr... 11/11/2014

That, dear reader, is a question we get asked almost everyday and can be a very tricky question to answer.  The answer depends on price range, area and type of home. You might get a different answer from a variety of Realtors. Some say…”It’s Hot”, some say “Fine”, some say “Dead” and some say “Steady.”  The reason you may get a different answer is because every segment of the housing market has it’s ups and downs.  Most Realtors focus on a couple of niches from Luxury Homes to Foreclosures.  For example, those who have focused on the “short sale” segment of the market may tell you things are really “slow.”   So What is HOT HOT HOT In Urbandale?    Let’s take a look at August of last year and this year in Urbandale. In 2013, there were 217 residential homes for sale, 110 homes with pendi... 09/12/2014

The Homes for Heroes is a program that I am excited to be a part of! Who better to give back to than the everyday Hero in my community? When I heard about this program I thought “Wow, what a great benefit for our Heroes to take advantage of.” It is important to give back in general. With this program I get to help folks buy or sell their home while doing something I love to do, provide a discount that adds up to be a phenomenal amount of $$$ that can go towards the Hero's sell/purchase or a charity of their choosing. When I think about the career choice Heroes have made to put their lives in harm’s way when fighting fires, protecting our streets, defending our freedoms, the teacher that spends each day and sometimes night working with our children or the Medical workers that expose the... 03/24/2014

  I became a Homes for Hero's affiliate for a very simple reason. My husband is a retired volunteer firefighter. I know first-hand what sacrifices are made in a family whose husband or wife is a first responder. The time that it takes away from a family means the entire family sacrifices. My children were raised in the fire department, the men and woman of that department were family to us. It’s a very personal reason that I want to give back to those who are our hero's. It’s an honor to give back to those who continue to put others first! 02/21/2014

Featured Des Moines IA Realtor Nancy Wilson of Keller Williams Realty Greater Des Moines Iowa: A Realtor of the highest ETHICS! Below you are going to find a news story about the growth pains of the Greater Des Moines Iowa Keller Williams Market Center and the highest display of Culture that has been demonstrated by every single agent of this amazing Godly team. Nancy Wilson  Nancy Wilson specializes in first time buyers and new construction. Nancy Wilson service is as individual as you are for the last 10 years. Nancy Wilson services the following areas: johnston | pleasant hill | des moines | grimes | urbandale | ankeny | windsor heights | waukee   To Our Featured agent, Nancy Wilson and all of the rest of the Keller Williams Realty Greater Des Moines Iowa team, we dedicate this to yo... 04/20/2013

Featured Des Moines IA Realtor Deb Church of Keller Williams Realty Greater Des Moines Iowa: A Realtor of the highest ETHICS! Below you are going to find a news story about the growth pains of the Greater Des Moines Iowa Keller Williams Market Center and the highest display of Culture that has been demonstrated by every single agent of this amazing Godly team. Deb Church   Deb Church specializes in first time buyers and new construction. Deb Churchservice is as individual as you are. Deb Church services the following areas: johnston | norwalk | des moines | altoona | adel | grimes | urbandale | clive | west des moines | ankeny | valley junction To featured agent, Deb Church and all of the rest of the Keller Williams Realty Greater Des Moines Iowa team, we dedicate this to you. We are pr... 04/19/2013