21588 Pony Farm Rd., Leon – http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?t=2099899&prt=10003

This acreage near Leon has a restored barn and amazing views of wildlife – the house features rustic pine flooring, a large living room with lots of natural lighting, and a great floor plan.

15036 Newbold St., Indianola - http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?t=2105521&prt=10003

Attention Horse People!  This ranch style home is on over 15 acres and features an amazing barn with indoor arena.

536 Rock Island Ave., Martensdale - http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?t=2109211&prt=10003

Want a small town vibe with an easy commute?  This 4BR ranch features a 4 car detached garage and is just 10 minutes from West Des Moines!

Selling a property in this tough market can seem like a challenge. Here are four factors that actually make this a good time to post a For-Sale sign.


1. Sell low and buy low. Because all property values are down, the loss on the property a home owner sells is really only a paper loss because the next property he buys also will be a bargain. If he buys smartly, when prices come back up in a few years, he’ll be in better shape.

2. Down-payment help is widely available. While nothing-down loans have disappeared, it is easy to find down-payment assistance for lower-income and first-time home buyers. Programs vary all over the country, but one good way to find them is to search online for “down-payment assistance programs” and the name of your region.

3. Your uncle has money to share. Besides the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit and the $6,500 move-up credit, there are an array of energy tax credits that can make home improvements pay off in cash.

4. Good help is available. Really talented real estate practitioners, contractors, and designers are available and eager for business.

Source: McClatchy Tribune, Kate Forgach (02/07/2010)

Just in time for Valentines Day – A sweetheart home that you will truly love!  This 1 ½ story home is located just east of Indianola on Highway 92 in Academy Oaks.  It includes an amazing floorplan with tons of room  - including a main floor master suite!  I will be holding this home open from 2:30-4:30 Sunday – stop by and check it out!  I always bring market information and real estate tips that I am happy to share!

RE/MAX Innovations & Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Present:

A HOMEBUYERS SEMINAR

Renters-
Want to Buy a Home?
Want to Use the $8000 in FREE MONEY from the TAX CREDIT?

Current Homeowners-
Looking to Move Up?

Do you qualify for the $6500 TAX CREDIT to help you move to your DREAM HOME?

Empty Nesters/Retirees
Thinking of Downsizing?

What better time than now with the $6500 TAX CREDIT to do so?

We will discuss options and strategies for each of these types of buyers – with a reputable, experienced team of professionals to answer your questions!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010
6:00PM – 7:00PM
 at RE/MAX Innovations
126 W. Ashland Ave., Indianola, IA

Have questions?  Contact us at 515.962.5555 or christine@innovations-realty.com

2010 has begun – and I am feeling optimistic about the New Year!  It is always great to have a fresh start, and there are exciting things happening:

This week RE/MAX Innovations welcomes two great agents:  Cy Phillips and Ronna Cross. 

Cy is in his 3^rd year of real estate and was awarded the impressive “2008 Rookie of the Year” by DMAAR. Cy specializes in residential real estate in the Des Moines western suburbs including Waukee, West Des Moines, Clive and Urbandale.

Ronna has been a REALTOR since 2007 and brings her experience in Des Moines and Warren County real estate to our office.

Please welcome them to the RE/MAX Innovations team!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4NLcYGqqJo

I am featuring 2 great homes this weekend on open house:

17119 Hwy 92

12-2pm

Now $329,900

Website

5BR Acreage 1 ½ story

1007 E Franklin Ave

2:30-4:30pm

$142,500

3BR Ranch near Emerson Elementary

Stop by and visit – I will have info on other properties on the market right now, as well as real estate tips and news.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EykuhVXM9zE

I just listed two great new ranch homes this week –

1007 E Franklin, Indianola - $142,500

3BR, updated kitchen and bath, great décor throughout!  This ranch has a unique mudroom with bench and hooks, finished basement plus tons of storage!  Huge fenced yard, in great neighborhood near Emerson Elementary. http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?t=2058380&prt=10003

130 Park, Carlisle - $158,000

3BR brick ranch home that has quality you just don’t find in today’s homes – nice updates, including professionally finished lower level and beautiful hardwood floors.  HUGE 1/3 acre lot plus nice storage building. http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?t=2059601&prt=10003

Join us for a little cheer, a little bit of food and to check out our new office space on Indianola's town square!

Thursday December 3rd, 4pm - 6pm

126 West Ashland Avenue, Indianola, IA 50125

It is a great time to be looking for an investment property!  I just listed one with great potential for a rental property at 6200 Welker, Des Moines.  1400 sq ft ranch on a double lot, just east of Valley Junction off of 63^rd, for only $49,900.  Needs work, but priced to sell!

If you would like to find out more about investment properties, give me a call and we can discuss your needs!

This Sunday I will be holding open two different homes in Indianola:

Sunday Open Houses - November 15
Open Sunday 12-2pm Perfect First- Time Homebuyer Home! 603 North 6th Street Indianola Priced at $107,500		Open Sunday 2:30- 4:30pm Spacious 5Br Acreage Home! 17119 E Hwy 92 Indianola IndianolaAcreageforSale.com Priced at $339,900

Come by and visit!  I always have information with me on all of the homes in the area market, and can give you tips and information on financing, selling your home - - anything about real estate!

Looking for an investment property or a winter project?  This 1 ½ story home at 128 W Logan in Osceola is PRICED TO SELL at only $29,999!  5+ Bedrooms, large lot, lots of original woodwork and character.  1 car tuck under garage, updated electrical panel, higher-efficiency furnace.  Last sold in the high $80s – take advantage of the buyers market to build your investment portfolio with real estate!

Just listed – a great 3BR, 2BA ranch for $112,500!  Brand new carpet, fresh paint, and beautiful laminate flooring!  HUGE 2 ½ car garage is a handyman’s dream – all with the countryside views just across the street.  Visual Tour at: http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?t=2044315&prt=10003

Click on the following link:

www.realtor.org/wps/wcm/connect/c5a24080403059f7af99ff205f470b6e/government_affairs_tax_credit_ext_chart_110409.pdf

It has been a busy week so far! 

I am pleased to have just turned in an accepted offer on my listing at 808 North T Court, Indianola (www.808NorthTCourt.com) as well as a sale for an investment new construction condominium in West Des Moines. 

Prices are great now for buyers, have you ever thought of buying an investment property?   I am the regional agent for INVESTORLOFT.COM, a great investment property listing service that gives you tools to determine cash flow and rate of return on properties. 

Signup for Your Free InvestorLoft.com Account

http://www.investorloft.com/signup.php?R=MISTYSOLD

This information came to me this morning from a mortgage partner, Matt Shaw at Heartland Mortgage:

The Retail Sales Report comes out this Thursday, giving us our first picture of consumer spending for the month of July. Last month's report came in better than expectations at 0.6%, but that number was slightly skewed by the high gasoline station sales. This month's reading is expected to come in at 0.4%. With this report, we will see, among other things, how much impact the government's Cash for Clunkers program has had on the retail picture. Another big mover this week could be the Consumer Price Index, which is due out on Friday. Last month's report showed that the cost of living in the US rose more than forecast, due largely to a jump in energy costs. Overall, core inflation remained in the Fed's comfort zone, but that didn't stop inflation concerns from becoming a hot topic. And for good reason - when lenders see changes in inflation or even anticipate a rise, they may increase their interest rates to make up for the losses they expect. With concerns already out there, lenders and investors will be watching this report closely. In addition to these reports, the Treasury's record auction of $75 Billion worth of 3-year and 10-year Notes could shake things up. The markets will definitely be paying attention to how the auction is received. Why? Let's look at it this way, the flood of auctions lately has been like an all-you-can-eat buffet of Treasury securities - as fast as the offerings can be bought, the Treasury keeps refilling the bowls with a seemingly endless amount of supply. In the end, investor appetites may slow down as more and more supply just keeps on coming. Should that happen, higher rates may be needed to induce further buying. I will keep an eye on this situation this week and keep you posted. Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result. As you can see in the chart below, Mortgage Bonds traded sharply lower due to strong Pending Home Sales, the announcement of another Treasury auction, and better-than-expected employment news. Chart: Fannie Mae 4.5% Mortgage Bond (Friday Aug 07, 2009)

Warren County Acreage Estate

Open House

Wednesday, April 8   Noon - 2pm

tour online at:

www.VictorianRanchon150th.com

Please join me this Sunday for the following Open Houses:

Open Sunday 12-2pm

609 West Salem, Indianola

$119,900

Open Sunday 2:30-4:30pm

902 Sunset Drive, Indianola

$265,000

I am back from Las Vegas, where I spent last week at the RE/MAX International Convention.

It was great!!!  They had so many amazing speakers, including Christopher Gardner, who wrote and inspired "The Pursuit of Happyness" www.chrisgardnermedia.com, Andy Andrews "The Travelers Gift" www.AndyAndrews.com, and Verl Workman, www.VerlWorkman.com , who always has great ideas on technology gadgets that help increase productivity.

I am now officially ready to take on the world!  Just as soon as I get through all of these emails... :)

From "The Home Front" by Luke Mullins on usnews.com

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit: 6 Things to Know

Looking for a luxurious townhome in the heart of Golf, Shopping, and Dining conveniences in West Des Moines?  I will be holding open my listing at:

841 Glen Oaks Terrace, West Des Moines

listed at $425,000

this Sunday from 1-4pm.

I love this home!!!  It is beautifully decorated, a wonderful floor plan, and to me, it would feel like I was on vacation somewhere every day.  Glen Oaks offers incredible amenities at their golf and country club, so if you are looking for your piece of an upscale lifestyle in a low-maintenance setting, this would be the home for you!

Despite all of the warnings of gloom and doom, I am feeling very optomistic about 2009!

In times of prosperity, being smart with your finances and planning for the future are forgotten - there is a feeling that you can get to it later.  Now is a time for us to get back to basics, and be efficient and wise with our finances and lifestyle - I think this helps us appreciate what we have so much more, and is a much deeper lesson for our children than that of getting everything you want with no consequences.

As Warren Buffet said:

Now isn't a time to live in fear and go hide under our shells, but to get out there and think about what kind of investments can pull us through until the market comes back.  Now is the time to think about finding investment properties, or to take the plunge and buy a home - with record interest rates and all real estate being "on sale" from a few years ago, it really is the smart thing to do.

I also am so optomistic about my company, RE/MAX Innovations.  In just over a year we have gone from 3 to 8 agents, and pulled in a market share that is impressive - and people are taking notice!  I look forward to working with you in the coming year.

Happy New Year!

Misty Soldwisch

As the stress of the holiday season sets in, this is a good reminder of how having a good attitude and being happy is contagious:

By Judith Graham

RISMEDIA, Dec. 17, 2008-(MCT)-You may think your attentive spouse, your loving children and your good friends are what make you happy. But something else may be going on: The people they're connected with are making you happy too.

So suggests a new study proposing that happiness is transmitted through social networks, almost like a germ is spread through personal contact. The research was published Thursday in BMJ, a British medical journal.

It's the latest in a growing body of work investigating how our social connections-neighbors, friends, family, co-workers, fellow congregants at church and other associates-affect us. The premise is that we live in a social environment that shapes what we do and how we think and feel.

“We've known for some time that social relationships are the best predictor of human happiness, and this paper shows that the effect is much more powerful than anyone realized,” said Daniel Gilbert, author of “Stumbling on Happiness” and a professor of psychology at Harvard University.

Previous research by the authors, James Fowler of the University of California-San Diego, and Dr. Nicholas Christakis at Harvard, has concluded that social networks influence obesity and tobacco use by altering perceptions of acceptable weight and desirable behavior.

Now they've turned their attention to the emotional realm, exploring how social ties influence our moods and our sense of well-being. Their primary finding: People who are surrounded by happy people are more likely to be happy themselves. And it's not only people in our immediate circles who make a difference-it's the people surrounding the people we know.

Imagine several pebbles thrown into a pool of water that send ripples outward, said Fowler, an associate professor of political science. Each pebble represents a happy person and the waves the impact of that person's mood on others. This impact, his study found, extends through several degrees of separation, to the friends of a person's friends.

Some experts question whether the researchers' statistical methodology can support that conclusion. It's difficult to sort out cause and effect in this kind of research and the authors may not have done so with enough rigor, said Charles Manski, a Northwestern University economics professor who studies how inferences can be drawn from social interactions.

He asks, is it that one person's happiness makes another person happy, or could it be that another factor experienced by both people is affecting both?

Say two friends are watching a TV show together, and one laughs after the other does, Manski said. It may look like the first person's chuckle is the cause of the second, but the jokes on the TV show might inspire both reactions.

Christakis said his research factored out such mutual influences. The study asked the subjects-4,739 participants in the famous Framingham Heart Study in Massachusetts-to complete a survey including four questions relating to happiness three times between 1983 and 2003. They also provided information about social contacts, which allow researchers to map their connections.

The study found that happy people form clusters and the happiest people are those most centrally located in the clusters.

“If you imagine the fabric of humanity as a patchwork quilt, it turns out if you're happy or not depends on if you're in a happy or unhappy patch,” Christakis said.

“We postulate that people who are in closer, more frequent contact with each other are more susceptible to catching each other's moods,” Fowler said.

The researchers stress that personal factors such as jobs or marriages also affect happiness and that although happiness may fluctuate, people tend to return to a personal happiness “set point” over time. It is this relatively stable emotional condition they examined in the paper, not the fleeting moods people experience day to day.

Richard Suzman, director of the division of behavior and social research at the National Institute on Aging, said the line of research holds “enormous promise in helping us improve interventions aimed at helping people change behaviors and improving public health.”

Such interventions may involve targeted programs designed to alter social networks that influence behavior. The institute on aging has provided funding for Fowler and Christakis' work.

An editorial accompanying the report in BMJ called its conclusions “intriguing” but advised caution. Framingham, a relatively small community, may prove unique in ways not yet understood, wrote Peter Sainsbury, director of population health in Sydney South West Area Health Service in Australia.

As for whether unhappiness is also spreadable, Fowler and Christakis plan to look at that topic in upcoming papers on loneliness, depression and social networks.

© 2008, Chicago Tribune.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

RE/MAX Innovations - It's our One Year Anniversary!

Please join me Thursday November 13

for an

OPEN HOUSE LUNCH

from 11am - 1pm

This has been a busy week for me and my office at RE/MAX Innovations!

We are welcoming Marilyn Cline, formerly of Peoples Company, to our office.  Marilyn is a great real estate agent with 3 years experience who will also be our front desk coordinator.  We are so excited to have you, Marilyn!

Congratulations to Brooke Gray, who just received her license last week and is starting her real estate career.  Brooke is an Indianola native with lots of enthusiasm and knowledge on the process of buying and selling. Visit Brooke's webstite at www.brookegray.net.

Ken and Kim Hass closed on their home in Prairie View on Monday, a new Van Dam Construction home that was my favorite plan I have seen in that neighborhood.  Ken and Kim and their two daughters have been stationed with the Air Force in Germany for the last 4 years, and it has been 6 years since they lived in the US.  They were an absolute pleasure to work with - welcome to Indianola and the US, Ken, Kim and girls!

Last of all, I cannot believe that it has been over a year since our office opened at the Wells Fargo building.  We are holding an anniversary open house luncheon from 11-1pm Thursday, November 13.  Stop by and grab a quick lunch with us and we can catch up! 

RISMEDIA, Oct. 29, 2008-With mortgage meltdowns, plummeting home prices and soaring foreclosure rates constantly in the news, it's no wonder people are wary of the housing market these days. But contrary to popular belief, things are not as dismal as they seem, according to Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors. Yun debunks 10 commonly held beliefs about the current housing market, and FrontDoor.com offers 10 related tips.

1. Peak-to-trough home price declines to date have been about 20%. Wrong. Measurements of home price declines can be skewed depending on which homes in which markets are being measured. For instance, the Case-Shiller Index, which indicates that home prices are down 20%, is heavily skewed towards homes with subprime loans and other distressed home sales. These troubled homes have experienced a steeper decline than home prices in general, says Yun, adding that both government data based on loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and data from the National Association of Realtors suggest much more modest price declines. TIP: If you're selling your home, the best thing to do is price your home right.

2. The much smaller number of new homes now under construction indicates the dismal outlook for the housing market. Wrong. The inventory of homes on the market is very high, so the last thing we need now is more new homes being built. Home builders have cut back sharply on production, which will help lower inventories and stabilize prices. The builders have done exactly what market forces are dictating under current conditions, Yun says. TIP: With many new homes completed but not sold, you can find great opportunities.

3. Even when the housing market recovers, home price growth will be only 4 to 6% per year — much less than historical average returns for the stock market. Most buyers put less than 20% of their own money into a home purchase; this borrowing power can translate to a greater rate of return. This is how Yun explains it: Home price appreciation historically has been about 1 to 2 percentage points higher than consumer price inflation, which translates into about 4 to 6% per year. But this growth rate cannot be viewed as a rate of return like the stock market. The reason is that most people do not buy a home for all cash, instead making a cash down payment and borrowing the rest. The leverage this borrowing creates can magnify returns — and losses. If price growth returns to historic norm, the price growth of 4% can easily turn into 20 to 30% rate of return if the home buyer makes a down payment of 10 or 20%. TIP: Get the fundamentals right when investing in real estate.

4. Impending baby boomer retirements and moves to small homes will cause a glut of homes on the market. Wrong. The first edge of the baby boomers has reached 60 years of age and the massive bulk of that generation will soon go into retirement, but far from trading down, many of these older homeowners are keeping their homes or moving to ones of comparable size. And even if more boomers do sell their larger homes in the years ahead, Yun points out, the rapidly growing U.S. population should absorb the inventory of existing homes on the market. TIP: Active seniors can find a retirement community that caters to their needs and interests.

5. The federal government takeover of secondary mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is a bailout that will cost taxpayers bundles. Too soon to tell, says Yun. It's conceivable that taxpayers may have to cover some losses. It's also possible that the government takeover will result in no loss of taxpayer dollars. Even if taxpayer funds are used, the bailout would be preferable to the global economic problems that would have occurred if Fannie and Freddie had gone belly up. TIP: Uncle Sam is “bailing out” homeowners facing foreclosure. Find out more about the Hope for Homeowners plan.

6. The Federal Reserve controls mortgage rates. Wrong. Yun explains: The Fed's activities influence mortgage rates but don't directly control them. What the Fed sets is a very short-term interest rate called the Federal Funds Rate. Mortgage rates are determined by global savings as well as credit spreads and inflationary pressures. Over the past two years, the Fed has raised the Fed Funds Rate to 5.5%, and then cut it deeply to around 2%. All the while, the 30-year mortgage rate has averaged in the 6 to 6.5% range. TIP: Today's rates don't look bad compared to the 10% we saw in the early '90s and 17% in the '80s.

7. It's the wrong time to buy. Wrong. All real estate is local. For those who are financially and mentally ready to buy, there has never been a better time to be a buyer in many markets. An abundant selection of homes and historically low interest rates give buyers an edge over sellers. The recently passed $7,500 federal tax credit for first-time home buyers creates an added incentive. For someone with a long-time horizon, Yun says, there is very little worry about home values since homes have historically provided a solid foundation for wealth accumulation. TIP: Compare the pros and cons of renting vs. buying to see what makes sense for you.

8. It's the right time for everyone to buy. No. All real estate is local, and everyone is unique. Someone who is not emotionally or financially ready should not be forced or induced to join the rank of homeowners, even when a market presents good buying opportunities. Potential homeowners clearly need to understand that the decision to move up to ownership requires sacrifices, like saving up for down payment and elevating their credit scores. Homeowners who lose their home to foreclosure serve no one's interest, Yun adds. TIP: Take a good hard look at your financial status and create a homeowner's budget to see if you're ready to buy a home.

9. It's a terrible time to sell. Wrong. In markets where home sales are picking up strongly, a seller can easily get an offer if the property is priced correctly. Also, Yun says, for those looking to trade-up, selling low on an existing home is more than offset by buying the new move-up home at a lower price. When the market recovers, home price appreciation on the traded-up home will bring bigger bang for the buck. TIP: Homebuyers want bargains in this market. If you price your home much lower than your competition, you might end up with a bidding war.

10. With the advent of the Internet, more and more homes are being sold by owners (FSBOs), and real estate practitioners are becoming obsolete. Nope. According to Yun, the share of home sellers who choose to go it alone when selling their home has actually decreased from about 20% in the late 1980s to about 12% today. Even after these sellers successfully complete a transaction, only 4 in 10 say they would sell their next home without the assistance of a real estate professional. TIP: You don't have to sign a listing contract to talk to a Realtor. Ask family and friends for referrals and interview a few. You might even get some free advice.

Brian Swanson, a Home Mortgage Consultant from Wells Fargo in Indianola, had some great information that he passed along today:

Changes in Attitudes, says it all in this market we are in currently!  As we have literally changed underwriting guidelines almost 180 degrees from approximately 1 year ago.  We have went from underwriting files with minimal documentation for income and assets to 2 year full tax returns, 2 months bank statements, 401K statements and proof of any and all assets we have available.

We have flip flopped from underwriting 80% conventional guidelines (easy files) and 20% Government files to 80% Government files and 20% FHA files.  This is why we are experiencing a little longer turn times in Underwriting. Extra underwriters have been added to staff in order to keep the flow at an acceptable pace. 

In lieu of the market conditions and the trouble some of our buyers have to move their current homes, I wanted to get some information out to you as I consider you all to be my real estate partners.  Here are the most recent changes to departure residences: 

• If the property the customer is selling will be closed prior to our closing on the new home, all things are standard.
• If the property is to be retained as a second home –
• OPTION 1 - If the customer has 30% equity in the home (may need to be documented by a separate appraisal) Both the current and new mortgage PITI payments must be used in the qualification ratios AND have at least 2 months PITI reserves for both properties. 
• OPTION 2 - If the customer does not have at least 30% equity in the property, They must qualify with both PITI payments AND have at a minimum of 6 months PITI payment reserves on both properties.
• If the property is to be retained as an investment property.
• OPTION 1 –  The property has at least a 30% equity in the home.  75% of the rental income may be used to offset the mortgage payment for qualifying for the new home.  We will need to document the lease agreement and obtain proof that a security deposit was received from the tenant and deposited into the borrower's account.
• OPTION 2 – The property does not have 30% equity.  No rental income may be used to offset the payments of the both the existing and new PITI payments.  We will need to document 6 months reserves for both properties PITI payments.