Weekly real estate market update Iowa City June 21, 2010: Homes sold, homes under contract and active listings     623 Active Listings126 Homes Under Contract40 Homes Sold June 14 - June 19, 2010An average of 245 days on market = 8.1 Months Absorption Rate (Number of months it takes the market to "absorb" homes). This number is staying pretty steady at the moment. In other words we still have a buyers market. It seems the homebuyer tax credit may have pulled home sales forward as right now activity is a little low for the time of the year. More homes than buyers in the market place + historically low interest rates = Opportunities for Buyers. If you've been thinking about buying a home now is definitely a good time to put that plan into action!   For sellers it's a different story. We... 06/21/2010

If you thought last weekend was a great weekend for movies then you're in for a real treat this week! The most anticipated new release of the year is coming out today and according to those who are "in the know" it lives up to the hype and some! Toy Story 3 is what I'm talking about of course. In 3D no less... Really cute story line too. If you're like me you're probably wondering where they could go with Woody and Buzz. Well, let me just tell you the makers had the genius idea of telling the story of what happens to toys when their owners grow out of them... Expecting to land in the attic the toys get shipped off to Sunnycare Daycare and it's there the fun begins. Of course they've introduced some new characters into the mix to keep it interesting. Of course Woody doesn't stay put and ... 06/18/2010

Real estate market report for Iowa City comparing May 2010 to May 2009. Number of homes sold, average price and days on market.       96 homes sold in Iowa City in May 2010 compared to 78 homes sold in May 2009 - That's a 23% increase over last year.   Average Price Homes Sold May 2010 $183,109 Highest Price Home Sold: $567,500 Lowest Price Home Sold: $81,000   Average Price Homes Sold May 2009 $189,555 Highest Price Home Sold: $653,000 Lowest Price Home Sold: $72,900 According to our MLS homes spent an average of 83 days on market in May 2010. This number is skewed as it doesn't take into account the fact that some of the homes were re-listed and not new listings along with other variables. For my weekly updates I use a simple method to calculate the absorption rate/days on market that... 06/17/2010

Weekly real estate market update Iowa City June 14, 2010. Includes homes sold, homes under contract and active listings.         617 Active Listings155 Homes Under Contract17 Homes Sold June 7 - June 12, 2010An average of 243 days on market = 8.0 Months Absorption Rate (Number of months it takes the market to "absorb" homes). No change in the absorption rate this week compared to last week. We will probably see a difference in the coming weeks as we head towards the end of the month and the deadline for closing on home to qualify for the tax credit. How the absorption rate is calculatedLast week's real estate market update for Iowa CityIowa City Real Estate Market Report April 2010Iowa City Real Estate Market Report 1st Quarter: January - March 2010   originally posted @ ichomesforsale.com 06/14/2010

What a weekend... The A-Team and Karate Kid are the new movies out today. Nice little trip down memory lane for me. My sons grew up in the 80's. They were huge fans of The A-Team TV show and watched the Karate Kid video so many times I think they could recite the script! Now we have remakes of both... I'm sure there will be A LOT of young men in their late twenties rushing to the cinema this weekend as they remember the "good ol' times" growing up. Do I need to do a synopsis for either of these movies? I don't think so.... If you don't know what they're about, then you must have been living in a cave in the 80's! You can check the schedule for movies at the Coral Ridge Mall Movie Theatre in Coralville and the Sycamore Mall Cinema in Iowa City... Movies aside there is actually something ... 06/11/2010

Iowa City real estate market update June 7, 2010: Homes sold, homes under contract and active listings.   622 Active Listings 163 Homes Under Contract 42 Homes Sold May 31 - June 5, 2010 An average of 243 days on market = 8.0 Months Absorption Rate (Number of months it takes the market to "absorb" homes). This number continues to improve slowly week by week as the number of homes sold rises during the peak selling time of the year.How the absorption rate is calculatedLast week's real estate market update for Iowa CityIowa City Real Estate Market Report April 2010Iowa City Real Estate Market Report 1st Quarter: January - March 2010   originally posted at ichomesforsale.com 06/07/2010

The Iowa Arts Festival is going on this weekend in Iowa City - These are some impressions through the eyes of my 6' 8" son. And no, before you ask, he does not play basketball! He gets asked that question A LOT... I can't think why... Don't we all know white men can't jump??Anyway, getting back on topic. the Iowa Arts Festival, one of the highlights of our year, continues through tomorrow in downtown Iowa City. Sunday is Children's Day, offering lots of opportunities for kids to have fun with the arts. Head on down there. Between the culinary delights of the 19 (!) food vendors on culinary row, the music and an abundance of fine art work this is a wonderful family affair.   I don't suppose it will come as a surprise to anyone with a sense of humor to learn that surrounded by all that fi... 06/05/2010

Weekly real estate market update North Liberty, Iowa May 31, 2010: Homes sold, homes under contract and active listings.     244 Active Listings 107 Under Contract 16 Homes Sold May 24 - May 29 An average of 155 days on market = 5.1 Months Absorption Rate (Number of months it takes for the market to "absorb" homes). North Liberty continues to have the strongest numbers in the area and with a steady 5 months of inventory is trending towards a sellers market.How the absorption rate is calculatedLast week's market update for North LibertyNorth Liberty real estate market report April 2010North Liberty real estate market report 1st Quarter: January - March 2010     Originally posted at ichomesforsale.com 05/31/2010

Weekly real estate market update Iowa City May 31: Homes sold, homes under contract and active listings.     635 Active Listings186 Homes Under Contract25 Homes Sold May 24 - May 29, 2010An average of 246 days on market = 8.1 Months Absorption Rate (Number of months it takes the market to "absorb" homes). This number is improving slowly week by week as the number of homes sold rises during the peak selling time of the year. How the absorption rate is calculatedLast week's real estate market update for Iowa CityIowa City Real Estate Market Report April 2010Iowa City Real Estate Market Report 1st Quarter: January - March 2010     Originally posted at ichomesforsale.com 05/31/2010

It's Friday and it's Memorial Day Weekend. In Iowa City the weekend kicks off with the 20th Anniversary Reunion Show of the Friday Night Concert Series with performances by Dave Moore, David Zollo & the Body Electric and Shame Train. Presented by the Press-Citizen, the FNCS is a wonderful example of the support for the Arts are in this great little town. Free, family-friendly entertainment at the fountain at the Ped Mall. It doesn't get any better than that! The show runs from 6:30 to 9:30 pm and with beautiful weather here today I'm sure it will be a huge success and great start to the season for the Summer of the Arts. Of course it's Friday and I need to give you the lowdown on what's new at the movies today too. Just one new movie out today. (Sex in the City 2 came out yesterday, but... 05/28/2010

Iowa City Real Estate Market Report 1st Quarter - January - March 2010 compared to January - March 2009 There were 91 homes sold in the first quarter 2010 compared to 88 homes sold in the first quarter 2009. Average Price Homes Sold 1st Qtr 2010: $197,902 Highest Price Home Sold: $945,000 Lowest Price Home Sold: $61,000 Average Price Homes Sold 1st Qtr 2009: $206,797 Highest Price Home Sold: $1.387,500 Lowest Price Home Sold: $36,000 According to our MLS homes spent 109 days on market compared to 106 days last year. This number is skewed as it doesn't take into account the fact that some of the homes were re-listed and not new listings. In my weekly reports I use a different method to calculate the absorption rate/days on market and although that is more accurate, it doesn't take into a... 05/26/2010

New movie Friday and time to look at the offerings for this week. Two new movies to choose from this week. MacGruber is the hot tip for the week. Move over Austin Powers, there's competition in town! SNL's Will Forte brings his spoof of MacGyver to the big screen. It gets great reviews, although I think it might be a movie that you either love or hate. One of the comments I've seen about it is that bathing the cat would take precedent over going to see it. Hmm. I have a cat, so I know what it means to pick that option. Not good.You can check the schedule for movies at the Coral Ridge Mall Movie Theatre in Coralville and the Sycamore Mall Cinema in Iowa City... Shrek Forever After is the other new movie this week. The fourth in the series. This time in 3D, making for an exciting movie ex... 05/21/2010

100 homes sold in Iowa City in April 2010 compared to 62 homes sold in April 2009 - That's a whopping 61% increase and more than were sold in the first quarter altogether!   Average Price Homes Sold April 2010 $185,436 Highest Price Home Sold: $629,750 Lowest Price Home Sold: $82,700   Average Price Homes Sold April 2009 $202,591 Highest Price Home Sold: $394,802 Lowest Price Home Sold: $76,000   According to our MLS homes spent an average of 111 days on market in April 2010. This number is skewed as it doesn't take into account the fact that some of the homes were re-listed and not new listings along with other variables. In my weekly reports I use a simple method to calculate the absorption rate/days on market that doesn't manipulate the data. Although that is more accurate, it doesn... 05/17/2010

    651 Active Listings200 Homes Under Contract13 Homes Sold May 10 - May 15, 20108.4 Months Absorption Rate (Number of months it takes the market to "absorb" homes).How the absorption rate is calculatedLast week's real estate market update for Iowa CityIowa City Real Estate Market Report April 2010Iowa City Real Estate Market Report 1st Quarter: January - March 2010   Originally posted at ichomesforsale.com 05/17/2010

Another week has flown by and it's time for my look at new movies in theaters today, May 14, in Iowa City and Coralville. Three new movies this week. The first is Robin Hood. Not exactly a movie that needs a whole lot of introduction. Russell Crowe is our heroic archer looking out for the poor and Cate Blanchet is Maid Marion. How many remakes have there been of this movie? It has to hold some kind of record!You can check the schedule for movies at the Coral Ridge Mall Movie Theatre in Coralville and the Sycamore Mall Cinema in Iowa City...The next new movie is Just Wright, starring Common and Queen Latifah. (This one's only showing at Sycamore not at Coral Ridge). In case you're like me and have no idea what to think of that title, Queen Latifah plays Leslie Wright, a physical therapis... 05/14/2010

Weekly market update Iowa City May 10: Homes sold, homes under contract,active listings       650 Active Listings203 Homes Under Contract48 Homes Sold May 3 - May 8, 20108.2 Months Absorption Rate (Number of months it takes the market to "absorb" homes).The pie is looking pretty good and with 23.8% of the homes on the market under offer and more homes closing every week we may soon see a change in the absorption rate. How the absorption rate is calculatedLast week's real estate market update for Iowa CityIowa City Real Estate Market Report 1st Quarter: January - March 2010 05/10/2010

It's Friday and time for a look at new movies in Iowa City and Coralville. Two new movies this week, although I should say one and a half, as Babies is only showing at Sycamore Mall Movie Theater and not at Coral Ridge. Very fitting for Mother's Day Weekend, this is a documentary about four babies who come into the world in very different parts of the world and follows their lives up to their first steps. It's a documentary with a difference and will certainly appeal to children who will easily relate to the babies on the screen and probably quickly recognize, (because kids are quick), that it doesn't matter where you're born, we're all going through pretty much the same kind of stuff one way or another. I've lived on a few different continents and I've seen that time and again. I love ... 05/07/2010

Weekly market update Coralville Iowa April 26. Includes homes sold, homes under contract and active listings.     303 Active Listings83 Homes Under Contract5 Homes Sold April 19 - April 2511 Months Absorption Rate (Number of months it takes for the market to "absorb" homes)How the absorption rate is calculatedLast week's real estate market update for CoralvilleCoralville real estate market report March 2010 04/26/2010

New movie releases in Iowa City & Coralville on Earth Day, April 22 and Friday April 23. A little early with my run down of new movies in Iowa City this week. It's Earth Day and Disneynature is celebrating with the release of OCEANS, the follow up movie to the record breaking EARTH. Co-directed by Jacques Perrin and Jaques Cluzaud and narrated by Pierce Brosnan, be prepared for a spectacular movie that will take your breath away. You can check the schedule for movies at the Coral Ridge Mall Movie Theatre in Coralville and the Sycamore Mall Cinema in Iowa City... OCEANS will be one tough act to follow, so good luck to Losers and Back Up Plan the two new movie releases tomorrow... Losers is a shoot 'em up film about a group of mercenaries who are double crossed in the field by the CIA and... 04/22/2010

Weekly market update for Iowa City. Includes homes sold, homes under contract and active listings.   662 Active Listings196 Homes Under Contract16 Homes Sold April 12 - April 17, 20108.9 Months Absorption Rate (Number of months it takes the market to "absorb" homes).   How the absorption rate is calculatedLast week's real estate market update for Iowa CityReal Estate Market Report for Iowa City March 2010   04/19/2010