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Blog Posts Archive
The ultimate guide to your first investment property
Let's talk about off-market properties
Ever wondered what credit score you need to qualify for a loan?
Should You Rent Out Your House?
Where to Eat in Beaverdale
What You Need to Know about HOA's
5 Keys to Setting and Achieving Your Financial Goals
Is Your Home Ready for the Market?
Qualifying for a Mortgage
Should I rent or Buy?
Remodeling Projects with the Best ROI
'Green' Methods for Cleaning Your Home
Alternatives to 'Conventional' Home Loans
The Hidden Costs of Homeownership
Download Our 2023 College Football Schedule
Home Reno Hacks: Budget-Friendly Projects
Buying a Home: 7 Crucial Steps
7 Steps to Power Washing Your Home
So You Want to Low-Price Your Home
7 Keys to Handling Money in a Relationship
Essentials of Decluttering
Finding Comfort Food in Des Moines
Marriage, Personality and Money
Do This to Keep Your Deck Looking New
8 Steps to Organizing Your Pantry
Should You Add a Child to Your Credit Card?
How You Qualify for a Mortgage
Rent or Own? 4 Things to Consider
How Much Debt is Too Much?
I Think I Can Get More for My Home - Maybe
Neighborhoods to Consider in Des Moines
Are Women Better at Investing?
Where to Work in Altoona, Iowa
The Ultimate Moving Checklist
Marriage & Money: Yours, Mine, and Ours
How Much Home Can You Afford?
What a Mortgage Broker Does
What an 'Adverse Credit History' Means
Preparing Your Home to Sell
Have You Considered Living in Ankeny?
Why You Should Consider Buying a Home Now
Where Will You Go If You Sell? Newly Built Homes Might Be the Answer.
What Happens to Your Debt When You Die?
The mortgage secrets the banks don't want you to know
Right Pricing Your Home
Real Estate Investing: Buying a Home vs. Stocks
Real Money Matters: College Fund or Retirement Fund
What not to do when building a new home: Mistakes to avoid for a successful build
How Long Will It Take to Sell My House
What to Consider Before Leasing
The Unexpected Emotional Reasons You're Not Investing In Real Estate
The Real Reason You're Still Renting
3 Mortgage FAQs: Answered
How we solved our storage problems with these clever hacks
Get Into the Saving Habit
3 Surprising Uses for Common Household Items in Home Cleaning and Organization
5 Tips for Staying Organized During Your Home Search
Tips for DIY Staging
How to Ensure You Are NOT Overpaying for a Home
5 Tips for Paying Off Your Mortgage Faster
Do You Need More Life Insurance?
The Top Apps and Tools for Managing Your Money
3 Tips to Boost Your Home's Exterior Appeal Before Selling
First-Time Homebuyer Programs: What You Need to Know
Timing is everything when it comes to selling your home
How to Support your Friend's Real Estate Business (Without Buying a House)
6 Habits of Successful Savers
The Benefits of a Minimalist Home: How to Simplify Your Space
Our Top Tips to Get the Best Deal When Selling Your Home
Navigating the Mortgage Process: A Step-by-Step Guide for Homebuyers
What's your biggest pet peeve about your current home?
6 Income Streams For Homeowners
Red Flags in a House
Tips for Saving for a Down Payment
What is the average ROI on real estate?
Don't Freak Out About Your Property Taxes
Mindset Shifts for First-Time Home Buyers
The Key Elements to a Successful Open House
Tips for Buying & Selling Simultaneously
Financial Fundamentals for First-Time Homebuyers
Our Favorite Productivity Tools
How do interest rates work?
Our Top 5 Tips for Listing Descriptions
10 Tips for New Homeowners
Buying New Construction: Here's where we can help
Houseplant Appreciation: Easiest Plants to Keep Alive (& how)
2 Truths and 1 Lie: Real Estate Edition
What is a mortgage rate buy-down?
The Home Selling Timeline
Home Buying Timeline
Preparing for a Hot Spring Market
5 Signs That It’s Time to Downsize
Design Tips: Exposed Brick Ideas
What You Really Need to Know About New Construction
Caring for Your Credit: Contacting Your Creditors
How much is it to add square footage to a home?
This May Be the Best Resource for Senior Caregivers You Can Find
Caring for Your Credit: Making a Budget
Caring for Your Credit: Credit Card Debt
Caring for Your Credit: Dealing with Collectors
Prioritizing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer
Is new construction the best option for you?
Caring for Your Credit: Reviewing Your Credit Report
What is house hacking?
4 Things to Focus on When Home Shopping
Headaches our seller clients dodged in their home sale
Caring for Your Credit: Getting Your Credit Report
Preparing for a Showing
Which Property Type is Right for you?
Spruce Up a Bathroom Without Remodeling
When to Walk Away After a Home Inspection
Our Top Tips for Marketing a Home
Real Estate Investing: What is the Brrrr method?
The Truth About Upsizing
3 Reasons to List Your Home With Me
Is New Construction for you?
Top 5 Tips for Selling Your Home with Kids
Quiz: Should you sell or hold on to your home?
Searching for homes online is so last year
Confused About What’s Going on in the Housing Market? Lean on a Professional
Your "Sunday Refresh" Checklist
Why You Should Work With a Local Lender
Quiz: Is it time to ditch your landlord in 2023?
Home tip: Where to shop for the best rugs
First day of Winter: Home Tips
8 To-Do's When Preparing to List Your Home
Real Estate Reindeers to have on your sleigh
3 Investments to Avoid as a New Home Owner
Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for Realtors
Red Flags When Hiring a Listing Agent
Deck the halls (on a budget)
December Home Maintenance
DIY Staging Your Home for the Market
Mistakes to Avoid When Investing in Real Estate
Should You Form an S-Corp for Your Real Estate Business?
3 Scents That Help Sell Your Home
How to Choose the Best Offer in a Bidding War
Using Scarcity Marketing Tactics When Selling Your Home
Rules for Statement Pieces in Your Home Decor
Avoid this Mistake
Can you back out of a home purchase?
Millennials Are Still a Driving Force of Today’s Buyer Demand
Taking the Fear out of Saving for a Home
3 Trends That Are Good News for Today’s Homebuyers
Should I wait for lower interest rates?
November Home Maintenance Checklist
The Difference in Closing Costs vs Prepaids
Home Decluttering Hack: The 20/20 Rule
How to Get a Better Interest Rate
The Game Plan and Players for Buyers and Sellers
Where will I go if I sell my home?
House gadgets to get new homeowners this holiday season
What is the best way to invest in real estate?
Home Equity Tip
Home Reno Projects with the Best Return
Should I wait until the holidays are over to sell?
Capturing a Buyer in Two Clicks
Fall Decor Finds
Determining Market Value
Don't Play Games with Pricing Your Home
The Hardest Part About Buying
October Home Maintenance Checklist
Why You Should Work With a Local Lender
October Home To-Do List
Keep It Real to Get to the Right Price
Good Staging is a Must
Making That Great First Impression
How An Appraisal Contingency Can Protect You
Fall 2022 Home Design Trend Predictions
How to Raise Your Credit Score
Renting vs. Buying: Pros and Cons, Should you buy or rent?
What I wish I knew before buying my first home
5 Home Renovations Under $5,000
The Best Affordable Home Decor Websites
Our Top 3 Tips for Selling your Home
Can the listing agent represent the buyer too?
Happy Labor Day!
2022 Buyer Trends
How to Decide What to Keep, Sell, or Donate
What Kind of Credit Do I Need?
How to Prepare to be Your Own Agent
The appraisal came in low. Now what?
Is the Shifting Market a Challenge or an Opportunity for Homebuyers?
No, This Market is Not 2008 All Over Again
Tips for First-Time Investors
Housing Market Forecast for the Rest of 2022 (Infographic)
Selling Your House? Your Asking Price Matters More Now Than Ever
Why the Forbearance Program Changed the Housing Market
A Real Estate Professional Helps You Separate Fact from Fiction
3 Graphs To Show This Isn’t a Housing Bubble
Why are people moving?
Your August Home To-Do List
FAQ: What is a leaseback?
Should You Buy a Fixer-Upper or a Move-In-Ready Home?
Vocab to Know When Selling
Homeowner Hacks: Keeping your Home Cool
#1 Home Feature to Consider
Attention, Sellers! The Price Must be Right
Homeowner Hacks: Under-Cabinet Lighting Trick
Our Open House Checklist
90% of Millionaires Are Invested in Real Estate
How to Cook Up the Perfect Summer Sale
Why You Need a Real Estate Professional Today
Homeowner Hacks: The Magic of Baking Soda and Vinegar
The Interest Rate on Renting is (Still) 100%
Will The Housing Market Crash?
Can I shop around for mortgage rates?
Market Update: Inventory & Interest Rates Rising
Affirmations for Home Buyers & Sellers
Prepping a Home for Aging in Place
Buyer FAQ: What is a rent-to-own property?
Tips for Organizing the Kitchen
Are Short-Term Rentals Profitable?
If I Can Sell My Home Alone, Why Hire an Agent?
FAQ: How much can I afford?
The Hardest Part of Selling your Home
Summer 2022 Design Trends
June Home Maintenance
Memorial Day
Three Must-Haves in a Home
How much will I make if I sell my home?
Prepping Your House for Sale
Buying New Construction: 3 Mistakes to Avoid
Elements to a Relaxing Space
Top Home Buying Apps
Tax Advantages of Owning a Home
What did you Love Most About your Home?
What to Know Before Buying New Construction
A Great Resource When Deciding About Assisted Living
Happy Mother's Day
Quiz: Real Estate Myths
The Costs of Selling Your Home
May Home Maintenance Checklist
Expectations vs. Reality
Stop Refreshing Zillow!!
PSA: Not all Agents are the Same
Tips for Organizing your Home
Mortgage Rate Predictions
When Touring A Home
Inspections
Don't Get Bugged This Spring!
How To Navigate a Market Where Multiple Offers Is the New Normal
The most important repairs for selling
Why FSBOs Fail!!
What to look for when buying an investment property
Does curb appeal still matter in a hot market?
Pros & Cons of Short-Term Rentals
Hidden Costs Associated with Buying & Owning a home
Difference Between Assessed Value and Market Value!
Why you Should Work with a Buyers Agent
Why Inflation Shouldn’t Stop You from Buying a Home in 2022
Sellers: Don’t Wait Until Spring To Make Your Move
Why Having A Pre-Approval Is Key for Homebuyers in 2022
It is time to downsize?
Top Winter Interior Design Trends
How To Hit Your Homebuyer Goals
Top Family Games
Tax Breaks
Know The Rules On Write-offs
Festive & Fun Family Activities
Make This Year The Year Of The Emergency Fund
What's Happening with Home Prices?
4 Ways Homeowners Can Use Their Equity
Legal Requirements For Real Estate Sales
Buying Your Dream Home In Retirement
Emergency Home Kit
10 Horrifying Home Trends of 2021
Preparing to close!
How Does The Showing Process Work?
Behind The Scenes
Strategic Marketing
Price It Right
Let Us Stage Your Home!
Preparing To Sell Your Home
Inspection Periods
Financing Period
Our Recommended Inspectors
Rising Interest Rates Will Affect Your Purchasing Power
What is Earnest Money?
How To Write An Offer
Questions To Ask When Searching For A Home
How Will You Finance Your Home?
A Look at Home Price Appreciation Through 2025
Save Time and Effort by Selling with an Agent!
Homeowner Wealth Increases Through Growing Equity This Year
Home Builders Ramp Up Construction Based on Demand
Don't Leave Closing Costs out of Your Budget
The Do's and Don'ts after Applying for a Mortgage #5
Americans Find the Nonfinancial Benefits of Homeownership Most Valuable
The Do's and Don'ts after Applying for a Mortgage #4
Why Selling Your House on Your Own in 2021 Is a Mistake
Should You Buy a Retirement Home Sooner Rather then Later?
6 Graphs Proving This is Nothing Like Last Time
Millennials: Is it Time to Buy a Bigger Home?
Is it Still a Good Time to Buy with Interest Rates Rising?
Are You Ready to Write a Winning Offer on a Home?
Designers Share 5 Dominant Color Trends in 2021
Read This Before Getting Your Home Ready To Sell!
Financial Fundamentals for Homebuyers
How to Clean Hard Wood Floors Without Ruining the Finish
The Do's and Don'ts after Applying for a Mortgage #3
Trestle to Trestle Bridge to be Replaced in 2022
Selling Your Home? Here's How Our Team Can Help You!
47% of New Buyers Surprised by How Affordable Homes Are Today!
Home Mortgage Rates by Decade
Expert Home Organization Hacks That Will Actually Clear Clutter
Springtime Home Maintenance Checklist
The Luxury Market is Attracting Buyers in 2021
3 Super Helpful Tips on Decluttering
Did you know?
Spring Cleaning Tips & Tricks! The Don't Forgets :)
Spring Cleaning Tips & Tricks! Day 5: Home Office :)
Spring Cleaning Tips & Tricks! Day 4: Kitchen :)
Spring Cleaning Tips & Tricks! Day 3: Living & Dining Room :)
Spring Cleaning Tips & Tricks! Day 2: Bathroom :)
Spring Cleaning Tips & Tricks! Day 1: Bedroom :)
Want to Build Wealth? Buy a Home This Year
What Does MLS Stand For, Anyway?
The Do's and Don'ts after Applying for a Mortgage #2
3 Reasons We're Definitely Not in a Housing Bubble
Thinking About Building a New Home? Your Agent is Critical
How to Make the Dream of Homeownership a Reality This Year
If You Are a Seller... Do NOT Stress!
What's the Difference Between an Appraisal and a Home Inspection?
Valentine's Date Ideas - Des Moines area
Do I Really Need a 20% Down Payment to Buy a Home?
Owning a Home is Still More Affordable Than Renting One
What Record-Low Housing Inventory Means For You
Does a Remodel or Renovation Add Value to My Property?
Prequalified vs. Preapproved
3 Steps to Downsizing
What Does Your Door Say About You?
Boost the Mood of Your Space!
Is the Home Inspection Really That Important?
Why Not to Wait Until Spring to Make a Move
The Do's and Don'ts after Applying for a Mortgage
Home Design Trends for 2021
Why It's Important to Price Your House Right Today
3 Reasons to Be Optimistic about Real Estate in 2021
If You Are Taking the Time to Recycle at Home, Are You Sure You're Doing it Right?
Housing Market Forecast: What's Ahead in 2021?
5 Tips for Homebuyers Who Want to Make a Competitive Offer
Turning a House into a Happy Home
Your House May Be High on the Buyer Wish List This Holiday Season
Don't Let Buyer Competition Keep You from Purchasing a Home
A Starting Point When You're Choosing Between Price, Size & School
Chances of Another Foreclosure Crisis? 'About Zero Percent.'
Why It's Important Now More Than Ever to Shop Local!
Thinking of Moving?
Is Buying a Home Today a Good Financial Move?
Winter Will Bring a Flurry of Activity to the Housing Market
Why Working From Home May Spark Your Next Move
CORONAVIRUS Precautions for House Showings
The #1 Reason Not to Wait to List Your House for Sale
Why Is It so Important to Be Pre-Approved in the Home Buying Process?
Three Ways Low Inventory is a Win for Sellers
4 Reasons Why the Election Won't Dampen the Housing Market
Rent vs. Buy
Des Moines Metro Utility Info!
Homebuyer Q&A!
How Down Payment Assistance Opens the Door to Homeownership...
6 Reasons You'll Win by Selling with a Real Estate Agent This Fall
A Homeowner's Net Worth Is 40x Greater Than a Renter's
Things to do in Des Moines- this weekend!
Why Pricing Your Home Right Is Essential!
Low Inventory May Impact the Housing Market This Fall!
Homes across the country are selling FAST!!
The Cost of a Home Is Far More Important than the Price!
2020 Fall Photo Fest with Real Advantage Partners!
Have you ever seen the housing market like this?
Three Ways to Win in a Bidding War!
Pre-Approved? Why Is It so Important the Homebuying Process!
No foreclosure BOOM on the Horizon?
Did you know lots of builders do not do this...
6.30.2020 FSBO graphic
Will Increasing Mortgage Rates Impact Home Prices?
Common Things to Look Out for Before Buying Your Dream Home
Why You Should Consider Selling in the Winter
Is Getting a Home Mortgage Still Too Difficult?