Way to go RE/MAX Agents! Another town where we have a lot less agents than the largest local company and yet again we have premiere market presence!

Based on Listing and Selling Units

32.3% - RE/MAX - 1523 Units
31.3% - Iowa Realty - 1476
11.3% - Coldwell Banker - 530
10.7% - First Realty - 505
14.4% - Others - 678

Data from the DMAAR MLS. 
DATE RANGE:  1/1/2007 to 7/31/2007

Property Types: Commercial, Multi-Family, Land, Residential
Both Number of Sold Listing and Selling Transactions

So, it seems the screw tightened a little more last week! If you want a full doc 80/20 loan and have a 720 or higher credit score, then your 2nd mortgage rate will be AT LEAST 10.5%!! HELOCS are not allowed. If your credit score is less than 720, you will only get a mortgage for 95% Loan to Value (LTV).

The Feds lowered interest rates last week - whoopeee! I am still trying to decide if that has actually helped us???  The rate could be 0%, but if the criteria  keeps  getting tougher, no-one will qualify. Imagine next month, "Please Mr mortgage man, I have an 849 credit score and $90,000 to put down on my $95,000 purchase and an income of $75,000 per year and no other debt - would you pleeeeeeeease give me a loan."

Sorry for the sarcasm, but this is getting really scary right now! I know it will settle down and when the dust clears things will get better.

If you have money to put down and want to get into investment properties in the Des Moines Area, please contact me - I will soon have a ton of contract buyers for you! :)

If you are a Realtor, Lender, Builder or investor - read this! This is an excerpt from Citi Mortgage Wholesale Division's recent bulletin. As always, I am sure other lenders will follow suit!

Real Estate Professionals - Applies to InterFirst CES Only

Loans to Real Estate Professionals are subject to the following:

• The maximum CLTV permitted is 90%.
• Stated income and/or stated assets are not permitted.
• The borrower’s income, assets and employment must be verified.
• Real Estate Professionals, as used in this policy, include:

 Real Estate Brokers, Real Estate Agents, and employees of Real Estate Brokers or Agents

 Property Managers and employees of property managers/management companies

 Home Improvement Dealers and contractors and their employees

 Home Builders and General Contractors, and their employees

 Real Estate Investors (Defined as any person who owns more than two properties)

 Mortgage Broker or any employee of a mortgage broker.

 Principals, officers and employees of any mortgage lender (excludes national banks).

 Title company principals, managers, or employees.

 Real Estate Appraisers or any employees of real estate appraisers or appraisal management companies.

Hi all

If anyone anywhere has any friends in the Des Moines area that may have in fill lots or spare land that can be divided off a residential parcel, please let me know. I have 3 builders all looking for this type of land with the view to build affordable homes - to service an increasing demand for low to moderate income new construction. Thanks!

For info on joining my office, please click here www.insiderec.com

About Us:

Wow! I sold many of these homes new, and this is the best! No builder grade flooring here! Buyers have installed quality carpet and hardwood. All appliances stay. Mud room off garage, 3 beds 2 baths.

Excellent tastefull interior decor.

Yard has been reseeded due to city drainage work on street.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO MEDIA TOUR

If anyone has any friends or family members moving to or from the Greater Des Moines area, please call me. I am never too busy for my friends at Active Rain Network! To search the local listings, please click here. Note - not all area listings are on here due to certain companies not wishing to share information.

First a little about me. The only time I ever watch a movie twice is after enough time has elapsed that I have forgotten most if it. I am currently re-watching movies from the late 1980's!

That being said, it is even more amazing that I have just returned from watching Triple Expresso at the Temple of Performing Arts in Des Moines! I watched it early 2003 and thought it was very funny. I went back tonight (after only 4 years!!).

It is a stage show, set in a coffee shop, where three old friends take us on a comedy journey through their lives. If you get chance to go, you should. It has music, singing (?), comedy, sarcasm - pretty much everything you need to help you unwind from a busy week selling real estate!  

I am conducting some research about agents likes and dislikes about real estate brokerages. PLEASE do not talk specifically about YOUR brokerage and DO NOT name any brokerage.

I would like to know (in general terms), the good and bad things brokerages do for their agents. Is forced floor duty normal? Is it benificial to the agent? How about technology? should we have more or less technology? Is your system paperless? everything online for worldwide access via the internet? 

What would be the perfect brokerage? what should they provide? What systems do they need? Does newspaper advertising work in your market? What client appreciation activities work and which do not?

Thanks in advance for your participation!