Cedar Rapids Real Estate Blog

Statistics always play a huge role in the real estate game, but now, they are huge!  Almost weekly, there is a report on the national news of the great decline in the housing market and how everything is collapsing because of sub prime lender tightening of the belt, higher interest rates, foreclosures looming in the near future, etc. Well, ...

Buyer's Alert!!!!  Folks, this is the most beautifully conditioned house in this price range for the entire city of Cedar Rapids.  What other property in this price range offers a oversized 2 stall, heated garage with a workbench the entire width of the garage.  What other property in this price range offers over 1900 square ...

Everyone wants to know, "What is my bottom line."   "What is my total, total, total."  "Does this include taxes, insurance, and the dreaded PMI?"  All of these questions and more can be answered by your Cedar Rapid's Realtor, Christopher Smith.  Here is what you do? If you see a property ...

Being a former elementary school teacher, I couldn't go very long without adding some content for the kiddos, and this site has it!  Websites for children under six, children seven and older, preschoolers, and gradeschoolers.  I'll add content from time to time, and delete links that are no longer active.   Kids, make ...

Have you updated your computers for this Sunday's Daylight Savings Time switch?  If not, you need to. This year, we're springing forward three weeks early.  Typically, we turn our clocks one hour ahead on the first Sunday in April.  But the government changed the rules without much fanfare back in 2005. The reason is to ...

When you apply for a mortgage loan and are approved as a buyer, this is your ticket to buy.  This gives you the clout to drive around with your Cedar Rapid's Realtor, view houses, choose a house, bid on a house, and buy that house.  Without credit reporting agencies or top loan officers like Jeff Harding of Skogman Mortgage ...

Owning a home is the American dream and it should not be denied to anyone who wants to be part of this dream.  However, owning versus renting comes with a certain level of financial responsibility that rewards the owner with one of the greatest investments still not taken by the IRS.  One of the items a lender looks at is debt to ...