Driving around various neighborhoods around Des Moines this week, you have probably noticed a few “For Sale” signs in front yards. One thing you may not have noticed is that there are fewer homes for sale than we have seen in a long time. As of May 3, 2016, there were 2,936 homes for sale from Newton to Lake Panorama. This includes condos, townhomes, acreages, and single family homes. Joel Aschbrenner wrote in The Des Moines Register that, “first-time homebuyers are facing limited options and bidding wars.” Of course, this is a great thing for sellers! With limited supply, costs typically do go up. Read the rest ... 05/10/2016

Looking for something fun to do this summer?  Hop on your bike and follow these trails to explore Des Moines. Here are some of the top bicycle rides as highlighted by the Des Moines Metro Mix: -Cumming Tap on Taco Tuesday:  Hop on the Great Western Trail at Orlondo's on Park Ave. This 8 mile ride is great for beginners.  It's mostly flat and attracts all different levels of bicyclists. -High Trestle Trail:  This half mile trestle bridge is one of the largest trail bridges in the world.  You can reach the bridge after riding just a few miles starting from Woodward or Madrid.  The trail itself goes for 25 miles one way. -Handlebar Happy Hour:  Each Friday a different destination in the metro is chosen for an after work bike ride and happy hour.  Recent destinations:  GoodSons in Beaverdal... 06/08/2012

Cy Phillips | RE/MAX Innovations, Inc. | (515) 422-4731 1940 SE Parkview Crossing Dr, Waukee, IA 4 car garage ranch with walkout basement! Call Cy today for more info! 515-422-4731 3BR/2BA Single Family House offered at $242,500 Year Built 2012 Sq Footage 1,495 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking 4 Car garage Lot Size 12,050 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Large ranch with walkout basement and a 4 CAR GARAGE!!! Not only does this home have 3 large bedrooms, 2 large bathrooms, a mud room off the garage, 9' ceilings in the walkout basement, a large deck accessible off the garage access door, a walk-in pantry, and vaulted ceilings... it also has an incredible trim package! Just try to compare the trim in this home with others in the price range, they won't touc... 05/03/2012

The Business Record reports that Dallas County has had the 11th highest annual growth rate on the average wage per job between 2000 and 2010, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, compiled by Bizjournals.com. The data was compiled from the 1,000 largest counties in the country. Dallas County had an average wage per job of $44,599 in 2010, up from $26,389 in 2000, an annual growth rate of 5.39 percent. Polk County's annual wage per job grew from $33,272 to $45,831, a 3.25 percent rate, which ranked No. 400 in the country. 03/28/2012

Average Sale Price: $233,938*Average Days on the Market: 111*Average Size: 2,081 sq ft above grade, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths* Grant Park Development, just south of Waukee High School, has transformed what once was cornfields into one of Waukee’s hottest neighborhoods for professionals, young families and the retired. Perfectly situated just west of the future Alice’s Road corridor and two blocks from the new middle school, the high demand for housing in the area and the future economic growth slated for Alice’s Road makes the neighborhood not just friendly, but also a sound investment. With an average sale price this year-to-date of $233,938, the new construction homes in Grant Park are targeted to moderate to upper income families and individuals. Most of the vacant lots have already been ... 09/20/2011

If you plug in ‘Waukee Schools’ on the Dallas County Assessor website, 33 property/land tracts come up representing more than 320 acres of some of the most prime real estate in the county. A recently purchased 76-acre track is at the intersection of LA Grant Parkway and Ashworth Road. The district announced last week an 18-acre parcel purchase at 95th and Stagecoach in West Des Moines for a future elementary school for the growing district. These land acquisitions, coupled with reports of bursting enrollment, point to continued growth and development well into the future for Waukee Public Schools. Whether you have children in the district or not, these are positive indicators for the people of Waukee. Where there are people, there are schools. Where there are schools there is business a... 09/06/2011

Waukee boasts one of the metro area’s prettiest developments—Painted Woods. You’ve likely driven by it and ogled at the handful of gorgeous homes that have sprung up between the timber and pasture located just off the Waukee exit of I-80. With dozens of large lots (most between a half and a full acre) to choose from, many backing to timber, it’s a gem of a development offering city services and a short commute to the metro. And, despite the million dollar homes, you don’t have to build a mansion to live there. There is a growing scarcity of new construction lots in the Waukee area. Painted Woods is one of very few developments with a sizable number of lots to choose from. And, though it may feel further out because of the rolling green countryside surrounding it, it’s actually a quicker... 09/06/2011

  Cy's New Construction Listing at 1400 13th St., Adel In an effort to increase residential new construction and community growth, the City of Adel has adopted a tax abatement program within its city limits. Under the terms of the plans, anyone building a home in Adel in the next few years will receive a property tax abatement on the following graduated schedule:   Completion in 2011: 100% abatement of property taxes for 7 years Completion in 2012: 100% abatement of property taxes for 5 years Completion in 2013: 100% abatement of property taxes for 3 years  The effects of the new program can already be seen in Adel's Evansview development on the southwest side of town. Behr Construction has enlisted the help of the Cy Phillips Team on a 2-story spec home for sale in the development that... 09/06/2011

The Waukee School District announced this week that they are taking steps to add a seventh elementary school to the district. The new school would be built at 95th Street and Stagecoach Drive in West Des Moines, southwest of Jordan Creek Town Center in the Michael’s Landing development, The Des Moines Business Record reports. Tuesday night, the school board approved the purchase of 18.23 acres for the school for $760,000. The new building is expected to open for the 2013-2014 school year. Enrollment has boomed for Waukee in the past decade. The district reported a total enrollment of 2,409 students in 2000, which has grown to 6,577 in 2010. The district is projecting that it will have 8,2014 students by 2013. 08/11/2011

I had the opportunity to meet the superintendent of Waukee Public Schools  last week and was stunned by the past, current and projected enrollment numbers for k-12. As a father-to-be living in the Waukee school district as well as a realtor whose main client base lives in the western suburbs of Des Moines, I have a keen interest in the school system. Most of us know Waukee is a large and growing district, but did you realize its kindergarten through fifth grade enrollment has more than doubled in the past 10 years and is expected to grow another 30 percent in the next 5 years to nearly 5,000 students? Just this year, the district completed two new elementary schools. Yet even with these new buildings, enrollment is projected to exceed the 4,700 student capacity in a few years. And, the ... 12/15/2010

A few years back I helped a couple buy a home in Bridgewood near the new Jordan Creek mall in West Des Moines. That was in 2004 and the home then backed, and still backs, to a large 8 acre parcel of undeveloped land. At the time the land was zoned PUD but permitted uses were for daycare and or non-profits such as a religious facility, not a commercial enterprise. This particular home was a resale but the development was still being sold out. This use was in the original plat submitted to the city by the developer and a number of homes were sold backing to the parcel based on this claim. The buyer felt ok about the usage classification and went ahead and purchased the property. In 2007 the same people approached me to sell the home. The land behind was still vacant and carried the same c... 09/02/2010

Check this out! Dallas County Iowa was named a hot spot for plentiful jobs according to cnnmoney.com.   http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2010010406?OpenDocument   01/04/2010

We spend a lot of time here on Active Rain, and in social media seminars, talking about how to use Facebook as professionals to be found by new clients.  This week, the shoe was on the other foot for me!  On Monday I hired a Realtor to sell one of my investment properties in Waukee, IA.  My husbandand I reached out to this particular Realtor (I can't remember if it was thru voice mail or email), and the first time I spoke to him, he said "yeah, I saw on Facebook it looks like your husband and I have a mutual friend and what do you do at Zillow".  Here is what the Realtor knew about me before even placing the first call: I am an actual person. I have a job and knew where I worked. I am married and he knows where my husband works. We are out of town sellers.  We are into the Internet and ... 09/04/2009

Despite an historic mortgage crisis and lagging home sales, I sold more residential real estate in 2008 than any other first-year agent in central Iowa, earning the title ‘Rookie of the Year' by the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors (DMAAR). I sold 31 homes in 12 months-500 percent more than the typical central Iowa realtor in 2008. The average number of sales among central Iowa's more than 1,500 licensed agents was 5.4 transactions in 12 months. I was also a top selling agent at Remax Opportunities, Inc., in Urbandale, beating out many seasoned and experienced realtors. My areas of concentration are Waukee, Clive, Urbandale and West Des Moines. My first year real estate success is the result of hard work, great clients and embracing technology. I like to tell people that 'I have ... 03/05/2009

Description and Features Great Home with Tons of Space! Multiple Updates includes: Stainless Steel Dishwasher & Microwave (2005), Light Fixtures, Ceiling Fans, Nickel Finish Hardware, Custom Wood Blinds, Atrium Door to Deck, Interior & Exterior Paint! Eat-in Kitchen features Breakfast Bar, Pantry & Built-in Desk. Fireplace in Family with Oak Bookcase & Cabinetry. Front Room could be used as either Formal Dining or Living Room. Master Suite has 3/4 Bath & Large Walk-in Closet. The real Surprise is the Lower Level! Fully Finished with Rec Room Family Room, 4th Bedroom/Office and Full Bath with Jacuzzi Tub! Fenced Yard & Nicely Landscaped! Close to Parks, Schools, Ball Fields, Grocery & Greenbelt Paths! $500 towards buyers closing costs when using preferred lender! Bedrooms:4Bathrooms:3.5... 10/06/2008

Real Estate Auctions Why auction Real Estate?  Yes, some people still ask this question.  The answer is simple: An Auction Sale is the most effective way of establishing the value of a property while simultaneously producing a ready, willing, and able buyer for it.  A seller can quickly sell a property at 100% of its value, and a buyer can easily purchase a property for what they are willing to pay.  The Auction Method of Marketing is the fairest, most transparent, most efficient economical system in the world.  Auctions.......bring Action!  All prospective buyers know that if they have an interest in a property going up for auction, they MUST attend the auction and bid their price or they will miss the opportunity to buy! ‘Traditional' real estate brokerage's method of ‘listing' homes ... 08/11/2008

New changes in the way credit bureau's look at your credit score.by: Brian Wentz, RealtorFair Isaac, home of the well known "FICO" scoring method, has announced some changes that will impact consumers credit scores in 2008. Dubbed "FICO '08", the new guidelines put heavier emphasis on several key areas which received less focus in the past, such as having higher balances on credit accounts and keeping a mix of both revolving and installment accounts.The new scoring system may also be more forgiving to consumers who apply for new lines of credit. This change better reflects the fact that today's consumers seek and use credit more than in previous generations. FICO 08 also addresses a process which has been come to be known as "piggy backing". In recent years lenders and consumers have us... 01/19/2008

Mortgage rates falling to near historic lows for Des Moines lenders.by Brian Wentz, RealtorCetntral Iowa Lending, our in house mortgage lender here at Burnett Realty, announced on Friday that rates were at an amazing low rate of 5.375% with around 1% origination fees. Over the past 20 months, rates have been as high as 6.5% for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage.Below is a chart of recent mortgage rates. As you can see, it is a great time to buy a new home, or refinance a home loan in Iowa!If you have an interest rate above 6%, you may want to look at the benefits of refinancing to take advantage of today's great rates. For a free review of your current mortgage, contact Bryan Byrnes at 515-334-4982 or Mick Hayes at 515-334-4981, or visit Central Iowa Lending.Brian Wentz & Beth ErnstBurnett ... 01/12/2008

A look at inventory levels of new construction compared with existing homes for sale in Des Moines.Des Moines Real Estate: New Construction Homes For Sale, January 1st, 2007by: Brian Wentz, RealtorDes Moines home builder inventory levels remain high at the start of 2008. New construction currently accounts for around 33% of the homes for sale in our area. Proposed construction levels are down substantially from last year, standing at just around 4% of homes available in Des Moines. Existing homes account for the bulk of our market, at just over 63% of total inventory. There are currently4,612 pre-owned homes for sale in the Des Moines area and 2,382 new homes for sale.  Home builders in Des Moines have proposed building another 303 homes.  In this current environment, new homes for sale... 01/02/2008

How long it takes for a home to sell in Des Moines can vary from month to month  based on many factors, including interest rates, the amount of inventory in the market and sometimes even weather.The start of 2007 brought anxious Des Moines home sellers some of the longest marketing times in over two years. The longest selling times of the year came in March, reaching a high of 13.7 weeks. But as the year progressed, the average time it took to receive an offer got down to as low as 11 weeks. It is always important to note that many homes sell in less time if the home is properly priced, well marketed and in a market ready condition. And some take much, much longer.In 2007, the homes we personally listed (Brian and Beth that is), sold much faster than the market averages! Our 2007 Listin... 12/30/2007