Cedar Rapids Real Estate Blog

Entering my 3rd year in Real Estate after teaching for 12 years, I've learned one thing.  If you believe in something strong enough, spread that news to as many people as possible.  Then follow through with direct action and the results will follow.  Entering my 3rd year, I've sold my listings for 102.3% of the asking ...

Okay, you and your significant other have decided to sell your house and move.  You contact a Realtor to pay your home a visit and price it for the market.  Now what?  Most home sellers do not jump up and down with joy when they hear how much the Realtor believes their house is worth.  Why is this?  One reason and one ...

My how time flies.  In January, I'll be starting my third year as a Realtor selling Cedar Rapids real estate with Skogman Realty.  In that short time, I've learned an awful lot about the stereotypes that potential buyers and sellers have with us Realtor folk. For some, it's not unlike the used car salesman stereotype.  ...

As the year ends for all of us collectively, we as Realtors like to look at the trends that we have experienced over the course of the year as a tool to evaluate trends for the future.  From our collective experiences we have started to see a trend.  Instead of keeping up with the Jones, the new trend is moving down with the ...

Once a year, I like to blog about me.  This is the only time that this blog will be all about me, but I think it's important to know who you are working with, especially when it comes to one of the largest transactions you will ever undertake in your life.  If you want to cut to the chase and miss a great article, you can go to ...

Imagine going to a wedding of a dear friends.  You get all dressed up with your significant other and head off to the church.  You enter the church and everyone is in shorts and t-shirts.  Worse yet, the honored bride and groom arrive five minutes late and they are filthy.  Apparently they were cleaning out the garage and got a ...

When you are relocating to another state, it is a harrowing experience at best.  You are not only uprooting you and your significant other's lives but your childrens as well.  I'm speaking from experience here as I've moved to Austin, Texas in 1985 and then moved back to the Cedar Rapids area in 2004.  Five homes later, ...

If you are thinking about listing your house or buying a house in the spring, there are some things you can do now to prepare for that time when you are ready to commit to the sale of or purchase of a new house.  Here are some helpful hints to prepare sellers and buyers. SellersWhat could you do to your house between now and spring time to ...

 Not that the owner of this property (who is a licensed Realtor in Iowa and a friend of mine) needs any help selling this property, but I just had to mention this diamond in the rough.  Rarely does a home in this price range come along with the amenities and rich features as does this house.  Marble flooring in the master bath, ...

I guess Realtors will say anything right to get you to work with them.  They'll say, "Interest rates are at an all time low, better lock in your rate now and buy that home."   Or, you might hear the opposite; "Interest rates are on the rise." (As you see the Realtor's hand gesture upwards towards the ...