Real Estate Information

This holiday season, over 100 REALTOR® associations will be supporting the Salvation Army on Friday, December 1. This idea came from a REALTOR® member in Fargo, N.D., who wanted to give real estate professionals an opportunity to support a cause familiar to them - housing. The Salvation Army was the perfect fit because it offers so many housing-related programs. This is the Iowa Association of Realtor’s sixth year participating in this great event joining over 26 other states ringing the bell for the Salvation Army.

Last year, more than 300 Iowa REALTORS® representing all 17 local boards participated in this event and raised more than $30,000. A few members of our team came out to volunteer. We had a lot of fun joking, singing and ringing!

Every Hour in the US Housing Market: 

• 633 Homes Sell
• 253 Homes Regain Positive Equity
• Median Home Values Go Up $1.43

The National Association of Realtors just released a report covering the latest data on our national housing market. Many of the figures were staggering and surprising. The following charts summarize the biggest findings from the report.

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Housing Supply Year-Over-Year: Last 12 Months: One of the more surprising data produced from National Association of Realtors was the giant leap in housing shortage from July to August. It showed that nationally we are experiencing an incredible 10% decrease in homes on the market. It could be reasoned that a lot of buyers scooped up a ton of inventory during the summer leaving August high and dry. This could also mean buyers are struggling to find their next dream home.

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Seller Traffic By State: To breakdown the data and apply it to each state we can see just how many homes are listed for sale by state. Alaska, New Mexico, Maine and four other states are experiencing Very Strong seller traffic numbers which means there are more homes to choose from. However, Iowa and Nebraska and most of the nation do not share the same fate. Seller traffic is weak meaning that these housing markets are struggling and need more homes listed for sale.

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Existing Home Prices Year-Over-Year by Region: Nationally sellers are receiving 5.1% more for their homes this year versus last year. However, sellers in the Midwest are receiving 5.5% more on average. 

Let’s break that down for our local real estate market:

Average home sold in Council Bluffs, Iowa since September 1: $145,615

On average, sellers are receiving $8,008 more this year versus last year
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Average home sold in Omaha, Nebraska since September 1: $199,374

On average, sellers are receiving $10,965 more this year versus last year

By the way, homes are selling for more and much faster as opposed to last year, with many having multiple offers in less than 48 hours.

Kids are back in school but it hasn’t slowed the housing market down. Just over the last weekend, our brokerage had a listing that received over 20 written offers on it! 

Here are the number of homes that have sold in our local markets in the last week:

Homes that sold in the Omaha area: 326 Homes
Average home price: $208,572
 
Homes that sold in the Council Bluffs area: 29 Homes
Average home price: $161,066

To find out more about what your home is worth, contact one of our experienced agents today!

With a knowledgeable agent, attention to detail and the right market, homes can be listed for sale and purchased within a few hours. Today's market is full of fast sales and happy buyers and sellers. See the 4 listings below that have sold in less than 2 weeks!

1034 E Washington Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
This home was listed by Mike Morse after it had been on the market for 122 days with another agency. It is a 4 bedroom, 1 bathroom home with 1,561 finished square feet. In less than 24 hours with Mike, it was sold!

550 Coronado Circle, Carter Lake, IA 51510
This beautiful ranch is seated right on the water and boasts 2,971 finished square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Abby Tietsort got this incredible home listed and sold in only 6 short days!

9 Windsor Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Located in a desirable, east-end neighborhood, this split-level is beautiful on the inside with 4 bedrooms and 1.75 bathrooms and a large, fenced backyard. Christy Rhoades found a buyer for this home before it was even listed for sale!

2119 N 120th Avenue, Omaha, NE 68164
This bank-owned townhouse in Omaha had multiple offers and was listed by Mike Morse and sold within 10 days! It features 1,807 finished square feet and has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Speak to one of our agents today to find out how to prepare your home for a fast sale!

The month of July is officially behind us and August has begun. That means it is time to look at the cheapest and most expensive homes sold last month.

Photo Credit: Douglas County Assessors Office
1. Cheapest home sold in Omaha
For a whopping $12,500, this 1.5 story home in Omaha was on a 137 x 100 lot with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. This tiny home had just under 840 square feet including a full basement. It was on the market for just 2 days before being paid for in cash.

Photo Credit: Douglas County Assessors Office
2. Most expensive home sold in Omaha
Located in the Fairacres subdivision on 1.36 acres, this 2.5 story brick home offered 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms with full basement for $1,552,000. It featured over 6,200 square feet and annual taxes of $28,132. Remarkably, it was only on the market for 1 day selling to a conventional buyer with 20% down.
 

Photo Credit: Google Maps
3. Cheapest home sold in southwest Iowa
A buyer finally snagged this home in Shenandoah after it was on the market for 328 days. They paid $7,500 cash for 968 total square feet featuring 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom on the main floor.

Photo Credit: PottCo.org
4. Most expensive home sold in southwest Iowa
The most expensive home sold in southwest Iowa was purchased in Council Bluffs last month for $795,000 after only 6 days on the market. The brick, ranch-style home with over 5,300 square feet had a private drive, outdoor kitchen, in-ground swimming pool with 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms all on 4.5 acres. 

Want to know more about the homes selling around you? Click to find an agent.

Since July 29th, the market has picked up substantially in both Omaha and Council Bluffs areas. Prices are going to continue to climb, act now before you are priced out of your future home.

If you are on the fence about listing your home for sale and debating whether now is the time to move on with your plans of relocating… don't wait!

There are more buyers that are ready, willing and able to buy their first, second, third, or investment property now than there has been in years! The supply of homes for sale is not keeping up with the demand of these buyers.

Listing your home for sale now will give you the most exposure to buyers and the best sales price.

Homes that sold in the Omaha area: 162 Homes

Average home price: $188,035
 
Homes that sold in the Council Bluffs area: 30 Homes

Average home price: $179,678

To find out more about what your home is worth, contact one of our experienced agents today!

It is time for the sound of water roaring through the broad opening of a nearby hydrant and screams of delight as the cool water splashes everyone on the hottest days of the year! Visit with the neighbors, watch the kids and enjoy the fun.

Click to download the neighborhood hydrant party schedule for Council Bluffs. 

This week our brokerage was featured in the “Families in Business” write-up in the Daily Nonpareil, a publication serving Council Bluffs and southwestern Iowa. Mike, my father and owner of the company, received a call asking if he wanted to be interviewed for the newspaper. We were very excited to be thought of since we are very much a ‘family in business’ and have been since 2011. During a very busy week, my father, my brother and I were able to get an updated portrait from A Better Exposure out of Omaha. Getting all three of us together at the same time seems to be getting more challenging as the months pass but somehow we were able to make it all to the appointment.

Some families are not able to work well together, but luckily we have found a groove where each of us are able to utilize our past experiences to grow the business. Our current agents are amazing and we cannot wait to see what the future holds!

Click the article to enlarge and read it. Share it with someone who would like to buy or sell now or in the future.

Here is another photo taken that day (click to enlarge):

What do you think? Which is your favorite?

Written by Christy Rhoades

Since March 21, the market has picked up substantially in both Omaha and Council Bluffs areas.

What Does This Mean For Buyers?

There is a lot of competition out there right now for your dream home. Prices are going to continue to climb, act now before you are priced out of your future home.

What Does This Mean For Sellers?

If you are on the fence about listing your home for sale and debating whether now is the time to move on with your plans of relocating… don't wait!

There are more buyers that are ready, willing and able to buy their first, second, third, or investment property now than there has been in years! The supply of homes for sale is not keeping up with the demand of these buyers.

Listing your home for sale now will give you the most exposure to buyers and the best sales price.

Here are the statistics for the last 7 days:

Homes that sold in the Omaha area: 194 Homes

Average home price: $200,175

Homes that sold in the Council Bluffs area: 29 Homes

Average home price: $129,143

To find out more about what your home is worth, contact one of our experienced agents today!