Storm Lake Iowa Homes For Sale

The Storm Lake Iowa real estate market is still going strong, we are experiencing a lot of home sales and many new home listings. The Alta Iowa real estate market is also very strong with many homes for sale and selling very fast.
Contact Georgia Weaver or Angelica Lozano to see any property listed on the Storm Lake MLS. We can also put your home buying criteria into an automated home search, this is a great tool to make sure you are one of the first buyers to see a new home listed for sale in Storm Lake Iowa or an Alta Iowa home for sale.
Our services are offered in both English and Spanish.

Check out the NEW SIGN

Our new sign and we love it - Dan Waitt from Commercial Sign and Design designed it, made it and installed it.
You are awesome Dan!
Come by and see Angelica Lozano and me we will be open for business on MONDAY March 1st!

Weaver Realtors Your Storm Lake Real Estate Service Provider

Judge In Real Estate? Who Pays For Him to Run This RE Business and His Secretary to Collect Rents and Represent Him? The Tax Payer?

A very troubling article on REALTOR Magazine's website.

Apparently  a judge in Philadelphia, a Willis W. Berry Jr. has been able to avoid prosecution for running a real estate business out of his chambers because the DA declined to prosecute.  Apparently Berry has been suspended and asked to resign but has declined.

Who exactly pays Berry; isn't it the tax payers, I don't think they are paying him to do real estate? And who pays for him to have a secretary, yep I think it is again taxpayers and I am sure the Pennsylvania taxpayers don't pay to have this person manage the judges real estate.

Interested in Investing in Real Estate? Check out Lease Purchase, A Very Viable Option!

Want to invest in real estate, but strapped for cash? This article by James Kimmons He is a master of explaining the process and exit strategy. This is a very viable option especially today with so many properties in trouble.

Citigroup Shows Some Compassion - At Least Until New Years

Citigroup suspends foreclosure evictions and foreclosure notices for 30 days on approximately 4000 customers. read the whole story here

FHA and Tighter Lending Standards Could Negatively Impact The Storm Lake Iowa Real Estate Market

The FHA is looking into changing some of its lending standards for FHA backed loans in an effort to reduce the number of defaults and limit the risk to the FHA portfolia.  Some of these changes will include the amount of down payment required (currently set at 3.5%) and credit score a buyer will need, what percent of the closing costs the Sellers is allowed to pay and an increase in the annual mortgage insurance premium.  This is bad news for a lot of first time homebuyers. The FHA has become an important option for home buyers, insuring almost 30% of home purchases—more than 75% of which are to first-time home buyers—20% of mortgage refinancings. Just three years ago, the FHA’s share of the mortgage market was 3%. Read the full story by clicking on the link above.

Congratulations Joan Ballantyne on Receiving the L. Martin Lee Political Involvement Award

Joan Ballantyne Congratulations on Receiving the L. Martin Lee Political Involvement Award


According to the IOWA REALTOR BENCHMARK, Joan Ballantyne was awarded the L. Martin Political Involvement Award at the Convention by L. Martin Lee himself. The article mentions Joan's extensive service to the Association in the local, state and national levels. I would personally like to thank Joan for all her work and advice as a member of the United Counties Board of Realtors. Joan is a resource for issues and provides ideas and answers to relatively new Broker Owners like myself and to seasoned ones alike.

Joan, discovering your wisdom, your way with people and your understandings of how things work was a well spring and encouragement for me personally as a Broker Owner and Realtor. I can't speak for the entire board but I am in debt to you and admire your ability and wisdom in dealing with people, helping organizations function to the benefit of all members and to your willingness to step up and step in and to stay the course in the storms.

Thank you Joan

Sincerely

Georgia A. Weaver

Broker Owner

Weaver LLC Realtors

113 Main St., Suite 3

Alta, Iowa 51002

Storm Lake Multiple Listing Service Market Report Year to Date

12/7/09 Storm Lake and Alta Homes For Sale!


Market Snapshot - Year To Date


Single Family Residential in Storm Lake and Alta

Total Available - 266

Sold - 159

Active - 107

Days on Market (DOM) - time from first listed until closed


and %L/SP (Percentage of Listing Price Received)

0 -31 days    31-60 days    61-90 days    91-120 days    120+ days

  40                 32                     22                17                    48

25.16%        20.13%           13.84%         10.69%           30.19%

96.63%LP  95.92%LP   96.29%LP         93.9%LP       94.42%LP

A big take away is that there are a number of properties available for sale, 107 today with Alta and Storm Lake addresses. Just over 25% sell within the first 31 days and at only 3.37% less than listed price. However if the property goes over 120 days (and over 30% stay on the market more than 4 months) it will bring nearly 6% less than listed price PLUS have an additional 3 months in mortgage payment, taxes, utilities and maintenance costs added to the cost.

Example - A List at 100,000

Sells and closes in 30 days at $99,630

A's Owner pays one months mortgage, utilites, taxes, insurance and maintenance (lets say $1,200)

TOTAL Received - $98,430


Example - B Lists at 100,000

Sells and closes at 122 days at $94,420

B's Owner pays 3 additional months of mortgage, utitities, taxes, insurance and maintenance (lets say $3,600)

TOTAL Received - $90,800

A CMA (competitive market analysis) is a vital tool when you want to sell, we do them for both Sellers and Buyers. The CMA tells us the range the property should sell in according the the previous 12 months real estate market. It also tells buyers where they should begin to offer on a property.

Call Me Today To See How I Can Make a Difference For YOU!

Storm Lake Iowa Homes For Sale Newsletter - Check It Out

Interested in Storm Lake Iowa homes for sale, or maybe Alta Iowa homes for sale?Check out the new Lake Area Real Estate Newsletter.
All the local real estate market data. Information and a chart for reference to the new 09 Home Buyer Tax Credit, a little information about our new company, a great recipe to help use up all that left over turkey, why we stage every home to some degree, all those letters behind my name, and what it is like being a realtor.
Send me some input if you get a chance to read it. Just click on the link at the right top of the page, "November NewsLetter".
Front page top right side

Great New 2009 Tax Credit Reference Chart - Storm Lake and Alta Iowa Homes For Sale

Know someone who is looking to buy or sell - follow the link to the tax credit reference chart oput out by the National Association of Realtors.

It is a good chart to have handy if you are looking to sell or buy, are a Realtor, banker, parent of kids looking to buy or parents looking to sell.

Storm Lake Iowa Homes For Sale Through New Brokerage

Brand new real estate brokerage now open in the Storm Lake MLS area. Want more information - call Georgia Weaver the owner of Weaver LLC Realtors. Pilot Tribune newspaper covering our new brokerage, the services we offer, our philosophy on doing business and the Top 10 Reasons You Need to List Your Properties With US.

If you need real estate services please consider us, we are experienced, ethical, and posess great marketing and negotiaion skills. Our business is not like any other in the Storm Lake MLS area, call us to experience a very refreshing difference.

New Real Estate Brokerage Opening October 29th - Alta Iowa

It is finally done, I go to state tomorrow with my Associate Broker's license and come back a Broker Owner! I am excited and very thnakful to all of you who encouraged me and believe in me. You know who you are, I will be forever in your debt. And I would also like to thank my previous broker Joe Aube, for being great about this decision and for creating an environment that encouraged me to be what I needed to be.
Expected office opening date is October 29th, 2009
Office Location is in ALTA!
My biggest goal, of course, is customer service like has never been experienced in this area. Stay tuned :)

Storm Lake IA MLS Weekly Real Estate Market Report

Weekly

Storm Lake MLS

Market Statistics -10/7/09


Storm Lake
Available Residential Properties - 67 homes

Properties with offers -6

Sold in last 30 days - 8 homes



Alta
Available Residential Properties -16 homes

Properties with Offers - 0

Sold in last 30 days -6



Storm Lake Iowa and Alta Iowa properties are

listing and selling, our market is very strong. Information taken from the Storm LakeMLS.

New Storm Lake MLS Market Report

Weekly
Storm Lake MLS
Market Statistics - 9/30/09

Storm Lake
Available Residential Properties - 60 homes
Properties with offers - 20
Sold in last 30 days - 8 homes

Alta
Available Residential Properties - 10 homes
Properties with Offers - 1
Sold in last 30 days - 5

Storm Lake and Alta real estate especially homes are listing and selling, waiting till "the market improves" DOES NOT APPLY to our market. I have a great investor property for a first time home or for someone who can do some improving for $54,000 on Main Street in Alta!

A personal note, I am not just a Realtor, my husband and I are real estate investors too and we are buying property, we just sold an investment property to a first time home buyer (Congratulations Ali on getting into your first home and qualifying for the tax credit).

Information taken from the Storm Lake MLS.

Weekly Storm Lake Iowa MLS Market Report

Weekly
Storm Lake MLS
Market Statistics - 9/23/09

Storm Lake
Available Residential Properties - 61 homes
Properties with offers - 9
Sold in last 30 days - 15 homes

Alta
Available Residential Properties - 15 homes
Properties with Offers - 2
Sold in last 30 days - 8

Storm Lake and Alta properties are listing and selling, waiting till "the market improves" DOES NOT APPLY to our market. Personally as a real estate investor, I am buying and selling. 4 Closings this month so far, I have 5 scheduled!

Town Allowing Sidewalks to be Removed - What's Your Opinion?

Alta is allowing property owners to remove sidewalks in town. No sidewalks is a problem if you are handicapped, I think it could lead to some accessibility problems for the city when it comes to their streets and the ADA. Limited accessibility is usually seen as a negative for people looking to move to an area; right now Alta has a strong real estate market when the rest of the nation is struggling.
No sidewalks is a big problem, we are in northwest Iowa, we get a lot of snow and many children still walk to school. What about the very small children who ride on toys in front of homes, where are they suppose to go - the street? Groups of women walk for exercise in the early evening, older couples walk in the mornings, walking in the street is not safe at any age. Remember last winter's ice, I do, my car hit another because it wouldn't stop and no I was not speeding. When I got out I nearly fell down because the street was so icy. I hope to be talking to the Alta City Council October 5th about this, if you have an opinion please comment or come to the meeting.
Thank you

New Credit Score Rules

FICO 08 are the new guidelines that refer to the new credit scoring. Already, 2 of the reporting agencies, Equifax and Trans Union have started using the new reporting.

The impact of the changes for someone with good credit could be a slight increase in score, if you have some problems your score could drop. Small collections under $100do not count on your score, and some late payments will not hurt you as much if you have other accounts that are current. Like the old system a lot of late payments will drop your score.
As a Realtor I see a lot of credit scores that need work, the way to keep your score in good shape, check your reports at least once a year and twice is best. Pay all bills at least on time and at best early. Do not carry a lot of debt, if you can't pay off a credit card DON'T use credit until you can. Inability to pay off credit cards monthly is a big red flag that you are living over your means and when you do that you are headed for trouble.
Watch for a change in your credit card billing the end of February 2010, and already in effect banks can not give you less than 45 days notice if your interest rates are to change and all credit card statements must be mailed to you at least 21 days before your payment is due.

Tax Credit Raised to $15,000 Proposed

Tax Credit Raised to $15,000 with out limits!! Proposed
Posted: Thursday, September 17, 2009 - 64 comment(s) [ Comment ] - 0 trackback(s) [ Trackback ]
Category: BrokerAgentSocial.com
There is legislation in both the Senate and the House that would expand the tax credit. A proposal by Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., would raise the credit amount to a maximum of $15,000 for any buyer of any home over the next year. It would remove the income caps that currently apply (those limits are now $75,000 for an individual and $150,000 on couples).

"I think we've got a realistic chance of doing this," Isakson says. "Our problem is not with the first-time home buyer, it's the move-up buyer."

Lawrence Yun, chief economist at NAR, says extending or raising the tax credit would spur the housing recovery, which in turn would help bolster the economy.

The Internet Strategist

This is a great article on how to use social media. Check it out!

The Internet Strategist

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Another Storm Lake, Iowa Rural Property for Sale

6275 170th Avenue, Storm Lake, Iowa is a nice rural property with a 3 bedroom older home, lots of mature trees, fruit trees, perennial flowers, large outdoor entertaining space, a number of out buildings including a large barn with 3 separate areas (2 have concrete flooring and one has pea gravel). Check out the video of the home.
It is not too late to qualify for the first time home buyers tax credit, call me to take a look at this rural home.

This property is located in the Storm Lake Iowa area, just off Highway 7. Storm Lake Iowa is a great area that has a destination part, King's Pointe, a recreational lake, shopping, http://www.bvu.edu/, Buena Vista Regional Hospital, The Pilot Tribune newspaper and the Storm Lake Times Newspaper, a community calendar