Posts Tagged ‘New Construction Home Sales’

Ruhl&Ruhl Participates in 2012 Spring Parade of Homes

Friday, April 20th, 2012

Please join us for the upcoming Spring Parade of Homes event.  The parade will be held April 21st, 22nd, 25th, 28th and 29th from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday. As always, the parade of homes is free to the public.

Many of the top builders in the Quad Cities participate in this event as it showcases new building trends in new construction homes. There are twenty three homes to tour with nearly half of them being held open by Ruhl&Ruhl agents.  Please see the homes Ruhl&Ruhl agents are showing below:

This is a great event and Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS looks forward to participating it in every year.  This year there is over $1,000 in prizes that the public is able to enter to win at each home on the tour.  For a full list and map of the homes being held open please check out www.qchba.com.

A family-owned company since 1862, Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS has grown to 279 sales associates, 58 employees and eleven offices, selling more than 4,100 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.

Home Prices Continue to be Strong in our Markets

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

Our local markets are reaping the benefits of stronger home prices compared to the rest of the country, ranking in the top 15% in the nation.

Nationally home prices have fallen 19.16% in the last five years, but all of our markets’ home prices are up: 7.84% in Dubuque; 3.25% in the Quad Cities; 3.04% in Iowa City; and 1.72% in Cedar Rapids. This compares to other cities: Des Moines, IA down 2.34%; Chicago, IL down 22.86%; and the Daytona Beach, FL area down 46.24%.

According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, of the 306 MSA’s (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) ranked by home price appreciation, all of our markets in eastern Iowa ranked in the top 15% in the nation – Dubuque at 4th, Iowa City at 16th; the Quad Cities at 45th; and Cedar Rapids at 47th.

Analysts report that although there was an overall decline, 12 states showed price increases this quarter, which shows that real estate markets are seeing some signs of life. Our local markets continue to provide a much more stable environment for purchasing homes and investing in real estate. In fact, our current listing inventory is declining and multiple offers are being seen on existing properties for sale. Now is the time to start your home search and get your property listed in our markets, noted Caroline Ruhl, President of Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS.    

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.

Is It Time for Young Families to Buy a Home?

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors Young Family

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

New Construction Inventory Falling

Friday, February 10th, 2012

Across the region served by Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS, new home sales dropped by an average of nearly 14% (see chart below for more detail) while Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS experienced a company-wide increase of over 6% in unit sales for the year.  Price level preferences were consistent with sales in the Quad Cities market, but the rest of the region expressed a much stronger preference for ranch style homes; at over 90% of sales in most areas. Inventory levels across the region fell by nearly 30%, compared to last year.   

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.

The Need for a True Real Estate Professional

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Anyone in the real estate industry for any length of time realizes that the education required and the resources necessary to be a true industry professional have dramatically increased over the last two decades. In today’s volatile market, it is necessary to have a true real estate professional if you want to sell your home for the best possible price in the shortest amount of time – and make sure the deal gets to the closing table!

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) explained in a recent Existing Sales Report that 18% of all contracts were cancelled in the previous month. This compares to 16% the prior month and 9% in August of 2010.

The good news is homeowners have realized that attempting to sell their home on their own is an arduous process best left to an industry expert. According to NAR’s 2011 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the percentage of sellers selling on their own, known as For Sale By Owners (FSBOs), has dropped almost in half over the last 20 years:

Bottom Line

If you are selling a home in today’s confusing real estate market, it is best to take on the services of a local real estate expert. He/she will guide you through each step of the transaction thereby increasing the likelihood that there will be fewer inconveniences for you and your family.

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

Provided by: KCM Blog

Ruhl&Ruhl Participates in 2011 Fall Parade of Homes

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

Please join us for the upcoming Fall Preview Parade of Homes event.  The parade will be held September 17th, 18th, 21st, 24th & 25th from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday –Friday. As always, the parade of homes is free to the public.

Many of the top builders in the Quad Cities participate in this event as it showcases new building trends in new construction homes. There are twenty four homes to tour with half of them being held open by Ruhl&Ruhl agents.  Please see the homes Ruhl&Ruhl agents are showing below:

This is a great event and Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS looks forward to participating it in every year.  This year there is over $1,000 in prizes that the public is able to enter to win at each home on the tour.  For a full list and map of the homes being held open please check out www.qchba.com.

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. Caroline Ruhl is the President and owner of Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS, and is the fourth generation of the Ruhl family to lead the residential brokerage and home services company.  Headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, the company has 280 sales associates and 50 employees based in sales offices located in Bettendorf, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Coralville, Davenport, DeWitt, Dubuque, Maquoketa, and Muscatine, in Iowa, and in Moline, Illinois. In addition to residential sales, Ruhl&Ruhl 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 Ruhl Agency.  For more information on Ruhl&Ruhl, visit their website at www.RuhlHomes.com.

 

Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS Ranked Iowa’s Largest Privately Owned Real Estate Company

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS was just ranked the largest privately-owned real estate company in Iowa, according to RISMedia’s 23rd Annual Power Broker Report.

The report ranks the top 300 real estate companies in the country according to the number of transactions and sales volume. Ruhl&Ruhl ranked 92nd in the country for the number of transactions, which was 3,889 in 2010, and 160th in the country for our sales volume, which was $562,235,310.

Other Iowa Companies Ranked as follows:

Company Name Transactions Rank Sales Rank Transactions Sales Volume Total Offices Total Agents
Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS 92 160 3,889 $562,235,310 10 251
Mel Foster Co., Quad Cities 113 193 3,369 $470,086,782 9 251
Skogman Realty, Cedar Rapids 152 222 2,702 $418,588,110 5 217
Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, REALTORS, Des Moines 159 228 2,638 $412,640,844 5 205

 

“While business was down in most of our markets and at most competing real estate companies, business was up at Ruhl&Ruhl,” said Caroline Ruhl, President of Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS, adding that the company had 3.2% more transactions in 2010 than in 2009 and sales volume grew 2.6% from 2009 to 2010.

On average, Ruhl&Ruhl agents sold 15.5 properties per agent, as either listing or selling agents, which places Ruhl&Ruhl agents among the most productive in the country. The National Association of Realtors reports an average of 7 sales per agent nationally.

 “We are excited and proud to earn this ranking,” Ruhl said. “I have been blessed to be surrounded by the best people in our business. At the end of the day, it always comes down to having the right people.”

A family-owned company since 1862, Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS annually sells nearly 3,800 homes in eastern Iowa, western Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin. Caroline Ruhl is the President and owner of Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS, and is the fourth generation of the Ruhl family to lead the residential brokerage and home services company.  Headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, the company has 265 sales associates and 50 employees based in sales offices located in Bellevue, Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Coralville, Davenport, DeWitt, Dubuque, Maquoketa, and Muscatine, in Iowa, and in Moline, Illinois.  In addition to residential sales, Ruhl&Ruhl offers services in relocation, new home sales, farm and land sales, senior services, real estate investment and mortgage services through 1862 Mortgage and insurance services through Nelson Brothers Insurance.  For more information on Ruhl&Ruhl, visit their website at www.RuhlHomes.com.

2011 Spring Parade of Homes

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

Please join us for the upcoming Spring Preview Parade of Homes event.  The parade will be held April 9th, 10th, 16th & 17th from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  As always, the parade of homes is free to the public.

Many of the top builders in the Quad Cities participate in this event as it showcases new building trends in new construction homes. There are over thirty homes to tour with close to half of them being held open by Ruhl&Ruhl agents.  Please see the homes Ruhl&Ruhl agents are showing below:

This is a great event and Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS looks forward to participating it in every year.  This year there is over $1,000 in prizes that the public is able to enter to win at each home on the tour.  For a full list and map of the homes being held open please check out www.qchba.com.

A family-owned company since 1862, Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS annually sells nearly 3,800 homes in eastern Iowa, western Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin. Caroline Ruhl is the President and owner of Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS, and is the fourth generation of the Ruhl family to lead the residential brokerage and home services company.  Headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, the company has 265 sales associates and 50 employees based in sales offices located in Bellevue, Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Coralville, Davenport, DeWitt, Dubuque, Maquoketa, and Muscatine, in Iowa, and in Moline, Illinois.  In addition to residential sales, Ruhl&Ruhl offers services in relocation, new home sales, farm and land sales, senior services, real estate investment, property management and mortgage services through 1862 Mortgage and insurance services through Nelson Brothers Insurance.  For more information on Ruhl&Ruhl, visit their website at www.RuhlHomes.com .

10 Reasons People Decide to Buy a Home

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

Renting is a very frustrating way of life. The money you pay every month disappears, leaving you with few benefits other than a roof over your head. Compared to owning a home, renting is a futile exercise that leaves you with nothing after your lease is up. It’s no surprise that people want to get out of the rent race, and here are 10 reasons why people decide to buy a home versus renting.

1. They Want to Build Equity

Homebuyers build equity as their property increases in value over time. This equity has many benefits, including the ability of a homebuyer to leverage equity in lines of credit to make repairs or additions to their home. Equity is a powerful thing and a natural consequence of home ownership. Renters never gain equity in their rental space, and at the end of their lease they are thrown out on the street with nothing to show for years of on time rental payments.

2. They Don’t Want to Throw Their Money Away

Without equity, what does paying your rent on time gain you every month? The truth is that paying rent guarantees a roof over your head for about 30 days and nothing more. In that sense, renting is like an extended stay hotel in that at the end of your rental period or lease you have nothing to show for the money you’ve paid. This makes renting a terrible investment when compared to home buying.

3. They Want More Space

It’s incredible how little you get for your rental payment each month. Most renters are lucky to have even a tiny balcony, let alone roomy closets o storage space. Many homes come with luxurious yards and spacious garages for storage. This makes buying a home an attractive option for those who prefer to stretch their legs.

4. They Want to Make Upgrades

Most leases forbid the renter from altering the rental space. For those do it yourselfers, this can mean a boring living experience. Home buyers are not only allowed to make upgrades, but doing so can be a great investment and raise the overall value of your home. From an investment perspective, this is a no brainer.

5. They Don’t Want to Pay Extra to Own Pets

For those pet lovers out there, renting can be a major financial undertaking Pet deposits can be very expensive, and some apartments add a monthly premium to rent just for having a pet, and separate deposits/premiums for each pet. These fees can add up fast! Homebuyers don’t have to deal with these sorts of fees, and they can also typically provide a better environment for their pets as well.

6. They Don’t Want to Be So Close to Noisy Neighbors

Have you ever lived on the second floor of a 3 story apartment complex? Wild partiers underneath blaring music at 4AM and home fitness gurus doing jumping jacks above you can make you realize just how annoying living so close to your neighbors can be. Homebuyers can sometimes deal with annoying neighbors as well, but at least they’re not rattling your chandelier when they stomp their feet down the hallway.

7. They Don’t Want to Deal With a Landlord

Sometimes dealing with a landlord can be tough. Some landlords are not very friendly or flexible, and won’t hesitate to throw you on the street if rent isn’t on time. Other landlords can be so distant that problems with rent or appliances don’t get resolved for months or even years. As a homeowner, there’s no landlord to deal with and you have the freedom and independence of conducting business on your own terms.

8. Their Hobbies Make Renting a Bad Idea

Drummers and musicians need a place to live, but do you want them living above you in a cramped apartment complex? For those renters who have hobbies or professions that are noisy or require space, renting just isn’t an option for them. Owning a home with plenty of space is their only way to go.

9. They Don’t Want to Deal With Deposits

Security deposits? These never seem to work out in the renters favor and come moving time it always seems like every little problem leads to forfeiture of the sometimes huge security deposits we have to pay just to sign the lease. Home buyers don’t have to deal with this as their home is more closely tied to their assets and their individual independence.

10. They Want to Live the American Dream

Owning a home is a big part of the American dream, and most people would say that the independence, autonomy, and sense of accomplishment that owning a home brings is an essential part of the American way of life. Does renting an apartment do the same?

The Bottom Line is now is the time to buy! With interest rates at historic lows, and home prices now beginning to level back out you have so much to gain.  Add up what you are losing.

For more tips and tricks on the housing market keep checking RuhlHomes.com

Some information is provided by KCM Blog.

Selling Your House? 5 Reasons To Do It NOW!

Friday, February 18th, 2011

The conventional wisdom when selling a home has always been to wait until the ‘Spring Buying Season’. Over the years, that has seemed to make sense and is now accepted as a good strategy for those who want to sell their house and receive the best possible price. This real estate market has shattered many previously held beliefs. The wisdom of waiting for a spring market is another belief that is about to fall. Here are five reasons why?

1.) Interest Rates Are On the Rise

Interest rates have spiked up rather dramatically over the last ninety days and are now over 5%. Initially, an increase in rates has a positive effect on the market as it forces buyers off the fence. However, it also eats into a buyer’s purchasing power. As rates increase, the mortgage amount a buyer qualifies for decreases. This will eventually have a negative impact on prices.

2.) Your Dream Home Will Never Be Cheaper

If your family goal is to sell your current house and take advantage of the fabulous selection of properties currently available to buy the home of your dreams, DO IT NOW! Prices will continue to soften in most markets. However, if you are buying, COST should be more important than PRICE. Cost can be dramatically impacted by rising mortgage interest rates. Do the math and decide if now is the time.

3.) Buyers Are Out Early

There is mounting evidence that buyers are coming out earlier this year. A belief that now is a good time to buy coupled with the increase in interest rates has started the buying season early.

The National Association of Realtors just reported that the number of house sales increased 12.9% over last month.

4.) Inventory Increases Every Spring

Every year there is an increase of inventory which comes to market as we approach the spring. Here is the number of listings available for sale in 2010.

  • February – 3,531,000
  • March – 3,626,000
  • April – 4,029,000

We believe there will be an increase in these numbers in 2011 as there is a pent-up selling demand created by the weak market of the last few years. You won’t have to worry about this increasing competition if you sell now.

5.) We Are in the Eye of the Foreclosure Storm

While banks are trying to rectify their foreclosure procedures, there is a large supply of discounted properties which has been delayed coming to market. This inventory will be released sometime in the next few months. Foreclosures sell on average at a 41% discount. When released they will be competing with your house for the buyers in the marketplace. If you are looking to sell in 2011, you want to sell before this inventory becomes your competition.

CNN Money quoted the leadership Of RealtyTrac on this issue:

“We’ve now seen three straight months with fewer than 300,000 properties receiving foreclosure filings, following 20 straight months where the total exceeded 300,000,” said James Saccacio, CEO of RealtyTrac.

“Unfortunately,” he added, “This is less a sign of a robust housing recovery and more a sign that lenders have become bogged down in reviewing procedures, resubmitting paperwork and formulating legal arguments related to accusations of improper foreclosure processing.”

“We expect a spike in the first quarter,” said Rick Sharga, a RealtyTrac spokesman.

Bottom Line

These are five strong reasons to sell now instead of waiting until later in the year. Sit down with a local real estate professional today and decide the best options for you and your family.

Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS would be happy to help you with your decision.  If you do decide now is the time to buy we can help! Contact us in any one of our 10 real estate offices ranging from markets in the Quad Cities to Iowa City.  


Copyright © 2012 Ruhl & Ruhl REALTORS. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: All content on this blog is my own opinion and should not be treated as fact or relied upon when purchasing or selling real estate.