If you go to an attorney with a legal challenge, he/she will look over your case and give you your options. They realize they cannot guarantee the outcome of any of the options. Still, they give the best advice possible and allow you to decide the option with which you feel most comfortable. They then will put together a strategy which hopefully will bring about the most favorable conclusion.

If you go to a doctor with a serious ailment, he/she will give you your options and work with you to develop the best treatment program. They cannot guarantee any program’s success. They will, however, monitor your progress and adjust your treatments or medications. They will stand next to you until the best result is achieved.

Real estate is no different. A true real estate professional will understand your options and simply and effectively explain them to you and your family. Once you chose an option, they will strategize a plan to help you accomplish your goals. They will standby you as the process evolves and will help you make the necessary adjustments if necessary.

They cannot see the future any better than doctors or attorneys and thus their advice will never be perfect. However, just like those other professionals, an expert agent will give you excellent advice that will bring about the best possible outcome.

Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS is the EXPERT in our market! Our Sales associates can assist you in residential sales and offer services in relocation, new home sales, land development, farm sales, senior services and mortgage services through 1862 Mortgage. For more information on Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS, visit their website at RuhlHomes.com.

Provided By: KCM Blog

The plant sale takes place May 5^th – May 13^th with pre-ordering available online at www.bbbs-mv.org through April 23^rd.  Hanging baskets will be available for purchase at the Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS Bettendorf Office, 1228 Middle Road, Saturday, May 5^th from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 6^th from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Orders can be picked up and other plants are available at the Northwest Bank Tower in Davenport, Becker and Becker in Geneseo and Quick Printers in Macomb.

“This is going to be a great event and we are excited to be a part of it this year,” said Caroline Ruhl. “This is a fantastic way to support a mentoring programs and I know that our Ruhl&Ruhl sales associates are proud to be associated with this amazing program.”

The Plant Sale is held every year the week prior to Mother’s Day.  All proceeds from this event benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters to support one-to-one mentoring programs in our communities.  Specifically, dollars are used to ensure that the matches made are safe, high quality, compatible, long lasting and impactful for the child, adult mentor, area schools and parents.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a donor-supported volunteer organization, providing one-to-one mentoring services to vulnerable children throughout a 14-county area in the Mississippi Valley. Today our organization impacts over 1,000 children through one of our four mentoring environments: Career-based, Community-based, School-based and Site-based.  Dollars raised through this event underwrite enrollment, matching and match coaches for one year.

A family-owned company since 1862, Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS has grown to more than 275 sales associates, 58 employees and eleven offices, selling more than 4,300 homes in eastern Iowa, western Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin. The company has residential sales offices in Bettendorf, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, DeWitt, Dubuque, Iowa City, Maquoketa and Muscatine, Iowa; and in Moline, Illinois. In addition to residential sales, the company offers services in relocation, property management, real estate investments, new home sales, land development, farm sales, senior services, home vendor services, insurance services through the Nelson Brothers Agency and mortgage services through 1862 Mortgage. For more information on Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS, visit their website at www.RuhlHomes.com.

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The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) will have a new premium structure for FHA-insured single-family mortgage loans, increasing the Annual Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) it collects by 0.10 percent. These premium changes will impact new loans insured by the FHA, effective April 9, 2012. Loans with amortization terms of 15 years or less, and a loan-to-value ratio of 78% or less, remain exempt from the Annual MIP.

FHA reports that this increase is a part of ongoing efforts to encourage the return of private capital to the housing market and to protect capital reserves, according to a statement.

In addition, the Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP) will increase from 1 percent to 1.75 percent of the base loan amount, effective April 9, 2012 as well. This increase applies regardless of the amortization term or loan to value ratio. FHA will continue to permit financing of this charge into the mortgage. The FHA estimates that the increase to the upfront premium will cost new borrowers an average of approximately $5 more per month.

The above increases will impact all newly originated FHA mortgages for purchase and refinances, unless the homeowner qualifies for the new reduced mortgage insurance rates with an FHA streamlined refinance. The changes to mortgage insurance do not apply to FHA’s reverse mortgages.

FHA Streamlined Refinances will have reduced FHA mortgage insurance premiums IF the FHA loan being refinanced was endorsed on or before May 31, 2009, effective on case numbers issued on or after June 11, 2012. Upfront mortgage insurance premiums will be reduced from 1% to 0.01% of the base loan amount and the annual mortgage insurance will be reduced to 0.55% of the loan amount. Borrowers must be current on their existing FHA insured mortgage.

If your FHA loan being refinanced was endorsed June 1, 2009 or later, then the reduced rate does not apply.

To find out more information, contact Jane Schneider at 1862 Mortgage or any 1862 Mortgage Loan Officer for more information at 866.441.1862 or Info@1862Mortgage.com.

1862 Mortgage has partnered with Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS to offer a convenient one-stop experience for both home buying and home financing needs nationwide. 1862 Mortgage is a DBA (Doing Business As) of Shelter Mortgage, an operating subsidiary of Guaranty Bank. As part of a strong and stable bank, 1862 Mortgage offers the promise of longevity and security along with a commitment to service excellence.

A family-owned company since 1862, Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS annually sells nearly 3,800 homes in eastern Iowa, western Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin and is the largest privately-owned real estate company in Iowa. Headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, the company has 280 sales associates and 50 employees based in 11 sales. In addition to residential sales, Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS offers services in relocation, new home sales, farm and land sales, senior services, real estate investment, mortgage services through 1862 Mortgage and insurance services through the Nelson Brothers Agency.  For more information on Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS, visit their website at www.RuhlHomes.com

These seminars will focus on selling real estate in eastern Iowa and western Illinois, covering such topics as current real estate market activity, licensing requirements, startup investment and earnings potential. Discover the advantages of flexible scheduling, the use of your entrepreneurial spirit and skills to start a business, and the potential career growth a real estate career can offer. Join us to learn how Ruhl&Ruhl can help you become successful in a New Career! For reservations or further information contact Darcy Holle at 563.441.5102 or DarcyHolle@RuhlHomes.com or visit us at RuhlHomes.com/careers.

You can also evaluate your real estate potential, and see how your core capacity traits may anticipate your future success in a real estate career by taking our free online assessment at www.JointheRuhlTeam.com . It immediately provides you with an in-depth report! Take 10 minutes to find out if your talents will allow you to exceed your dreams as a sales associate at Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS.

A family-owned company since 1862, Ruhl&Ruhl specializes in residential sales and offers services in relocation, new home sales, land development, farm sales, senior services and mortgage services through 1862 Mortgage. For more information on Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS, visit their website at RuhlHomes.com.

HSH.com studies trends in mortgage rates. They explain:

“A better economic climate almost always brings higher rates, and a lessening of the troubles in Europe from massive central bank assistance adds to the movement of money from safe havens to more risky assets, driving rates upward.”

Dan Green of The Daily Market Reports recently stated:

“The Fed sees growth coming faster than originally expected. There’s suddenly less chance that the Federal Reserve will intervene to help keep mortgage rates low. Absent Fed intervention, mortgage rates are apt to rise and Wall Street is now betting that the Fed has bowed out. With no stimulus, mortgage rates rise.”

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Assoc of Realtors, recently wrote:

“Mortgage rates will be starting to rise. From the 3.9 to 4.0 percent average rate in the past five months on a 30-year fixed mortgage, the new rates will soon be in the range of 4.3 to 4.6 percent.”

Yun explains his logic here.

We do not attempt to predict future interest rates. We leave that up to the experts in the field. However, we want our readers to understand the potential impact on the cost of purchasing a home if they do rise. Here is a simple table that shows, even if the PRICE of a home softens, the COST of a home could increase.

Bottom Line

Many purchasers think they should wait until they are sure that prices have hit bottom. Deciding whether or not to wait should be determined by where the COST of a home is headed.

For the most up to date information on the housing market keep checking RuhlHomes.com.

Blog and information provided by: KCM Blog

Keep checking RuhlHomes.com for the most up to date information on the housing market.

Graphic provided by: KCM Blog

Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors believes now is the time for young families to buy a home!

We have reported that almost six million adults between the ages of 25 to 34 are currently living with their parents. That number reflects an almost 50% increase since 2003. These young adults are now being advised to jump into homeownership.

Who are the people selling them on the American Dream? Their parents! It seems that parents of some adult children are strongly suggesting that their children take advantage of the low cost of homeownership available today. Some moms and dads are helping financially and are even co-signing for the mortgage. Middle age parents who have owned a home understand its true value. A home has always been a good long term financial investment. However, homeownership also has many other benefits.

In Fannie Mae’s most recent National Housing Survey, they asked the question directly: Is this a major reason to buy a home?

The study broke up the answers into financial and non-financial reasons. The top four reasons and six of the top ten reasons were NON-FINANCIAL. The top four are below:

1. It means having a good place to raise children and provide a good education.
2. You have a physical structure where you and your family feel safe.
3. It allows you to have more space for your family.
4. It gives you control over what you do with your living space (renovations & updates).

Should this surprise us? Aren’t these the same reasons our parents bought their home? Aren’t these the same reasons we purchased our home? These are the same reasons parents have suggested their children buy a home. They want the same things for their grandchildren that they believed to be important for their children.

And today, the cost of homeownership is at all time lows:

J.P. Morgan

“The numbers on housing have an important message for American families today, and particularly younger families setting out on life’s great adventure: Five years ago, at the peak of the home-buying euphoria, it was emphatically a time to rent. Today, when home ownership is depreciated more than ever before, the numbers tell us it is a time to buy.”

MSNBC.com

“[S]omeone who plans on staying put for seven years would come out ahead by about $9,000 if they bought a median-priced home rather than being a tenant in a median-priced rental.”

HUD

“Homes today are more affordable for average families than they have been since 1971. Median-income families today have nearly double the funds needed to purchase the average home.”

Bottom Line

Now that the economy is beginning to show signs of stabilizing, people are getting back to the core values that families have always embraced. Homeownership is definitely high on that list. And today, from a financial standpoint, it may be the opportunity of a lifetime.

For the most up to date information on the housing market.  Keep checking RuhlHomes.com.

Courtesy of KCM Blog.com

The normal retort to this thinking by people bullish on real estate is that prices may soon turn to the positive or that interest rates will start heading upward. Buy now before the cost of buying increases! Today, we want to look at this from a different angle. We want to alert our readers that their housing expense is about to increase if they continue to rent.

Currently, in most parts of the country, buying is less expensive than renting. Plus, purchasers can lock in their housing expense for the next thirty years by buying now. They will get a sensational price and a record low interest rate. What will happen if they continue to rent?

The Alternative to Buying

If a family continues to rent, they are looking at a housing expense which will rise with the market. Rental costs increase by 3% a year historically. But today’s rental market favors the landlord to a greater degree. Below is a graph of how rental prices have increased recently and where they are projected to go over the next few years based on a report from Marcus & Millichap.

Bottom Line

Hoping to save by delaying the purchase of a home may result in higher housing costs while you’re waiting, thus achieving the exact opposite result. Check with a local real estate professional to determine the best option for you and your family.

Visit RuhlHomes.com for the most up to date information on the housing market and to search active properties in the surrounding area.

Blog provided by: KCM Blog

The Quad Cities Area Realtor Association’s Multiple Listing Service sales and inventory figures for new homes in the Quad Cities have been compiled and the overall results for 2011 reflect a decrease in both sales and year-end inventory levels. 

Inventory of New Construction at the end of 2011 dropped 16% from a year ago, with available new houses down 29%.  Inventory of available condos is at the same level as this time last year.  Scott County is home to 79% of the 114 new homes listed on the MLS.  Overall unit sales in the market dropped by 20% when compared with 2010, with new house sales down 28% and new condo sales down 1%.  Scott County experienced a 29% decrease in houses and a 3% decrease in condos for a combined drop of 22%.  Rock Island County saw an 18% drop in houses and a 9% increase in condos for a net decrease of 4%. 

Ranch style houses represented 48% of sales.  Of the combined total of 217 new construction home sales reported by the MLS; 136 (63%) were houses and 81 (37%) were condos.  Scott County reported 196 (90%) of the total sales for both counties.  The most active price range for new houses remained from $200,000 to $300,000, followed by $300,000 to $400,000.  These two ranges together represented nearly 57% of new house sales in 2011, but when compared with 2010 results, they also combined for 75% of the total sales decline in 2011.  In 2010, they represented 62% of house sales.  Condo sales were dominated by sales below the $175,000 level with 65% of sales falling under that point.

A family-owned company since 1862, Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS has grown to more than 275 sales associates, 58 employees and eleven offices, selling more than 4,300 homes in eastern Iowa, western Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin. The company has residential sales offices in Bettendorf, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, DeWitt, Dubuque, Iowa City, Maquoketa and Muscatine, Iowa; and in Moline, Illinois. In addition to residential sales, the company offers services in relocation, property management, real estate investments, new home sales, land development, farm sales, senior services, home vendor services, insurance services through the Nelson Brothers Agency and mortgage services through 1862 Mortgage.

For more information on Ruhl&Ruhl, visit their website at www.RuhlHomes.com.

Likewise, buying a house in a good business environment makes a lot more sense than doing so where businesses will be struggling. So if you are thinking of moving to a state that is favorable for business this list by CNBC is a very smart tool to use.

Virginia came in as the top state. With it’s pro-business state house and proximity to Washington DC, where growth in government spending has created it’s own jobs engine, Virginia is for business lovers. Texas is in second place, with southern states Georgia, North Carolina, and Colorado rounding out the top 5. The only northeast member of the list Massachusetts comes in 6^th owing mainly to it’s educated workforce.

The remaining states on our top 10 list are heartland states; Minnesota, Utah, Iowa, and Nebraska. The worst state in the country is Rhode Island with Alaska not far behind.

So if you are starting a business, looking for a job, or interested in investing in real estate, check out this list of the …

Top 10 States for Business in America for 2011

1. Virginia
2. Texas
3. North Carolina
4. Georgia
5. Colorado
6. Massachusetts 
7. Minnesota
8. Utah
9. Iowa
10. Nebraska

Keep checking RuhlHomes.com for the most up to date information on the housing market.

Originally Published by: RealEstateBloggers.com