Posts Tagged ‘Real Estate Sales Volume’
Friday, January 18th, 2013
Ruhl&Ruhl has more great new to share!
From Ruhl&Ruhls big gain in market share to now having 49% of Ruhl agents closing over $2 million in 2012! This puts Ruhl&Ruhl agents 18% higher next to our next nearest competitor. Also, those agents within the Quad Cities have eclipsed over the $3 million dollar mark in closing putting Ruhl agents over 30% higher than the second place competitor.
Ruhl&Ruhl agents are some of the best and most experienced real estate agents in the industry. Their experience and expertise will insure you a successful and pleasurable time working with Ruhl&Ruhl. If you’re looking to buy, sell or relocate, a Ruhl agent will be able to help you through the entire process from one of our 12 offices. We will answer all of your questions along the way, through the transaction and beyond. Ruhl&Ruhl also offers extra options with our branch companies Shelter Mortgage, formally 1862 Mortgage, and Nelson Brothers Insurance for any other assistance that you may need. Thank you for letting us serve you and we look forward to another great year!
Tags: caroline ruhl, davenport, eastern iowa, first time buyers, home, housing market, illinois real estate, illinois real estate communities, iowa real estate communities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, quad city, Real Estate, Real Estate News, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, regional markets, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes, sales volume, selling, selling your home
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Tuesday, October 16th, 2012
The value of cropland across the state of Iowa continues to be on the rise, along with high demand.
The Land Trends and Value Survey, presented by the Iowa Farm and Land Chapter #2 REALTORS Land Institute, reported a statewide average increase of cropland values of 18.5% for the year from September 1, 2011 to September 1, 2012. This follows an average increase of 32.6% for the year from September 2010 to September 2011; and an average increase of 8.5% for the year from September 2009 to September 2010.
Farmland, timber and pasture land in our markets continue to be in great demand, said Eric Schlutz, Realtor with Ruhl Farm&Land and Muscatine Manager for Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS.
“High quality cropland is in the most demand; but there is very little for sale,” Schlutz said. “There are strong commodity prices, great long-term interest rates and a limited amount of land – it’s the perfect storm for the value of land to increase.”
The survey also attributed the increase in land values to a lack of stable alternative investments and fear of inflation.
For the survey, participants are asked to estimate the average value of farmland as of September 1, 2012. These estimates are for bare, unimproved land with a sale price on a cash basis. Pasture and timberland values were also requested as supplemental information. All nine Iowa crop reporting districts showed an increase.
The survey pointed to some concerns that could affect farmland value in the future, including higher input costs, an increase in interest rates, larger amounts of land being offered for sale, and continued uncertainty of the U.S. and world economy.
“There are always going to be variables of concern for future growth in value,” said Schlutz. “But history has shown land to continue to be a positive investment year over year.”
Ken Paper, Realtor with Ruhl Farm&Land and Realtors Land Institute member, concurred that our local markets are on track for additional growth.
“An interesting point is that there is such high interest from investor buyers,” Paper said. “With good returns from land, the market will continue strong.”
Ruhl Farm&Land, a division of Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS, is focused on the sale, purchase and marketing of land, farms and acreages. For more information, visit www.RuhlFarmandLand.com.
A family-owned company since 1862, Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS has grown to more than 290 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 www.RuhlHomes.com.
Tags: agents, buying, buying land, caroline ruhl, farm, farm and land, farm land sales, farm prices, farmland, housing market, illinois real estate, Illinois Real Estate Market, iowa land for sale, iowa real estate, Iowa Real Estate Market, land, land for sale, land prices, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, quad city farm prices, quad city land prices, Real Estate, Real Estate News, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, regional markets, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, Ruhl farm and land, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl farm and land, Ruhl&Ruhl Market Share, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes
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Tuesday, August 14th, 2012
Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS is excited to celebrate the continued trend as the #1 company in the Quad Cities, accounting for over 37% market share of all residential and condo sales within the first six months of 2012.
Since 2009 our market share has increased by 20% while our nearest competitors market share has decreased by 16%.
Our sales associates have demonstrated not only hard work but a passion to give their clients the best real estate experience; this has grown their average closed volume to over 11.5% higher than our nearest competitor.
“I truly believe our agents in our company are what make our success and, we are blessed to have them all as part of the Ruhl family,” said Caroline Ruhl. “At Ruhl&Ruhl we pride ourselves to have the most productive agents in the business.” Ruhl&Ruhl is extremely proud of the accomplishments of our sales associates and is looking forward to the growth and success we can demonstrate in the final months of 2012.
While the housing market is still recovering, Ruhl&Ruhl continues to charge ahead with accounting for over 42% of the market share in residential and condo sales in July alone. For more information on the housing market, please see the summer edition of Ruhl&Ruhl’s Facts&Trends newsletter, as well as keep checking RuhlHomes.com.
Tags: agents, caroline ruhl, housing market, illinois real estate, Illinois Real Estate Market, iowa real estate, Iowa Real Estate Market, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, Real Estate, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, regional markets, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Market Share, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes, sales volume
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Thursday, July 26th, 2012
Regional real estate sales are strong. Sales volume is up in almost all of our markets for the first 6 months of the year compared to 2011:
Burlington Area +17%
Cedar Rapids Area +16%
Clinton Area +34%
Dubuque Area +17%
Illinois Quad Cities +18%
Iowa Quad Cities +21%
Iowa City Area +28%
Muscatine/Wilton Area +12%
Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS sales volume is up 29% through June and sales pended but not yet closed in June were up 23.5%, so the momentum continues.
Regionally, new construction sales are up 15% through June, while our new construction inventory has dropped 28%.
According to Eric Belsky, Managing Director of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, “people are slowly getting more confident…more Americans are deciding that it’s a good time to buy…you know, the opportunity to buy at or near the bottom of a cycle is great. And I think people are beginning to appreciate that… meanwhile, the cost of renting a house or apartment has been rising. When you compare the cost of owning versus the cost of renting, it hasn’t looked this good in 40 to 50 years.”
“And we are sitting in the ‘sweet spot’ in the country, both for real estate sales and appreciation,” notes Caroline Ruhl, President of Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS. According to the Real Trends Housing Market Report, housing unit sales for May 2012 were up 20.1% in the Midwest, the strongest showing in the country for the fourth consecutive month. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, of the 303 MSA’s (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) ranked by home price appreciation, all of Ruhl&Ruhl’s markets ranked in the top 20% in the nation.
“The Housing market recovery is charging ahead with units in the double digit range while prices were up from a year ago for the second month in a row,” observes Steve Murray, editor of the REAL Trends Housing Market Report. “The market is being charged by the strong presence of investors and first-time buyers but far more move-up buyers are appearing. The shortage of inventory…is also starting to drive prices upward.”
Inventory in our region is declining. Properties listed for sale have fallen compared to June 2011: down 11% in the Burlington area, down 10% in the Cedar Rapids area, down 22% in DeWitt, down 26% in the Dubuque area, down 16% in the Illinois Quad Cities, down 4% in the Iowa Quad Cities, down 12% in the Iowa City area, down 17% in Maquoketa/Preston/Bellevue and down 6% in the Muscatine/Wilton area.
“Properties are selling faster than we can list them,” notes Ruhl. “In the Quad Cities, for example, we have the lowest inventory on the MLS that we have had since the summer of 2005. We really need more properties listed for us to sell.”
A family-owned company since 1862, Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS has grown to 280 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.
Tags: agents, Building, buying, Buying a Home, caroline ruhl, eastern iowa, first time buyers, home, home search, housing market, ia, il, illinois real estate, Illinois Real Estate Market, iowa city area, iowa real estate, Iowa Real Estate Market, new construction, New Construction Home Sales, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, quad city, Real Estate, Real Estate News, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, regional markets, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Market Share, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes, sales volume, selling your home
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Wednesday, June 13th, 2012
This blog often discusses the data behind the housing market. Today, we want to address the emotion behind the market comeback; a belief in homeownership which is still alive and well in this country.
A study conducted by Coldwell Banker and psychotherapist Dr. Robi Ludwig found that owning a home is still very much a goal for many Americans. In the study, 91 percent of those surveyed said owning a home is part of the American Dream. A second study by TD Bank, reported similar results:
- More than half of consumers polled say homeownership is a vital component to defining the American Dream
- 59% associated feelings of excitement or pride as part of their first time home buying process
- 84% of today’s younger renting generation-ages 18-34-intend to buy a home
This belief in homeownership is a major reason Americans are again buying homes. As Dr. Ludwig explains:
“Now that we’re picking up the pieces, we’re seeing a psychological shift. Instead of looking at homes through the eyes of an economist, we’re realizing that a home doesn’t solely equate to financial return or measure only to a mortgage amount. Instead the home is the emotional center of our lives, and it remains a critical component of who we are…
The feeling you get when you step through your front door or pull into your driveway is indescribable and priceless and the same holds true for our children who crave stability. While I know that financial hardships during the recession clearly have impacted many households, it is clear that the emotional value of a home is still strongly recognized.”
For the most up to date information on the housing market, keep checking RuhlHomes.com.
Tags: agents, buying, Buying a Home, caroline ruhl, first time buyers, home, home search, housing market, illinois real estate, Illinois Real Estate Market, iowa real estate, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Real Estate, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes
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Tuesday, April 17th, 2012
Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS was once again ranked the largest privately-owned real estate company in Iowa, according to RISMedia’s 2012 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 93rd in the country for the number of transactions closed, which was 4,152 in 2011.
Other Iowa Companies Ranked as follows.
| Company Name |
Transactions Rank
|
Transactions
|
Sales Volume
|
Total Offices
|
Total Agents
|
Transactions per Agent
|
| Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS |
93
|
4,152
|
$593,082,327
|
11
|
275
|
15.1
|
| Skogman Realty, Cedar Rapids |
136
|
3,151
|
$495,969,414
|
5
|
221
|
14.26
|
| Mel Foster Co., Quad Cities |
150
|
2,939
|
$419,362,790
|
9
|
231
|
12.72
|
| Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, REALTORS, Des Moines |
186
|
2,530
|
$385,564,406
|
5
|
186
|
13.6
|
“2011 was a wonderful year for Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS – our sales volume grew by 7.3% and we had 6.8% more transactions than the prior year,” said Caroline Ruhl, President of Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS. “And it looks like 2012 will be even better! For the first quarter sales volume closed was up 50.5% over the first quarter of 2011 and 39.9% more transactions were closed.”
On average, Ruhl&Ruhl agents sold 15.1 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.”
To view the 2012 Power Broker Report visit this link, http://remag.rismedia.com/t/14873.
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.
Tags: 1862 Mortgage, agents, buying, Buying a Home, caroline ruhl, home search, housing market, illinois real estate, illinois real estate communities, Illinois Real Estate Market, iowa real estate, iowa real estate communities, Iowa Real Estate Market, multiple listing service, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, Real Estate, Real Estate News, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, regional markets, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Market Share, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes, sales volume, selling, selling your home
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012
Keep checking RuhlHomes.com for the most up to date information on the housing market.
Graphic provided by: KCM Blog
Tags: agents, caroline ruhl, housing market, illinois real estate, Illinois Real Estate Market, iowa real estate, Iowa Real Estate Market, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, Real Estate, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, regional markets, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes, sales volume
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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.
Tags: agents, buying, Buying a Home, caroline ruhl, first time buyers, home, housing market, illinois real estate, Illinois Real Estate Market, iowa real estate, Iowa Real Estate Market, New Construction Home Sales, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, Real Estate, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, regional markets, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Market Share, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes, sales volume, selling, selling your home
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Tuesday, February 14th, 2012
People are delaying the decision to buy a home because they are not sure where prices are headed. If they buy and prices continue to soften, they feel that they will not have purchased at the optimal moment. They reason that, if they sit and wait, they can’t be hurt. This thinking assumes that a non-decision comes without consequence.
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
Tags: 1862 Mortgage, agents, buying, Buying a Home, caroline ruhl, first time buyers, home, home renters, home search, housing market, illinois real estate, iowa real estate, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Real Estate, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, rent prices, rental, rental homes, renter, renting, renting vs. buying, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes, sales volume
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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.
Tags: agents, buying, Buying a Home, caroline ruhl, first time buyers, home, home search, housing market, illinois real estate, Illinois Real Estate Market, iowa real estate, Iowa Real Estate Market, new construction, New Construction Home Sales, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, Real Estate, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes, sales volume
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