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2011 Wrap-Up

Monday, January 30th, 2012

The Ames real estate market posted gains in 2011:

12.5% more homes sold for a total of 527

Average sale price increased 0.7% to $181,580

It continues to be a buyer’s market:

Average supply of homes on the market: 6.7 months of inventory

55% of homes sold below assessed value

Hunziker & Associates agents outperformed the market:

Average list-to-sale price ratio for Hunziker & Associates agents: 94.7%

Average list-to-sale price ratio for all other agents in our MLS: 93.9%

Contact us with your real estate questions in 2012!

Data from the Central Iowa Board of Realtors for Ames only.

By: Tabitha Zesch, Relocation Director

Posted in Ames, Buying a home, Financial Information, Market Conditions | No Comments »

Ames Named A “Geekiest City” by Forbes

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

From Forbes Magazine….

America’s Top 20 Geekiest Cities

Ames, Iowa

10.7% of workforce
4,480 workers employed
In this March 10, 2011, photo Iowa State University researcher Lois Wright Morton is seen in a lab at Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. Wright Morton is leading one of three new major USDA-funded research projects on the effects of climate change on agricultural and forest production.

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efee45fied/ames-iowa/

Posted in Ames, Community News & Events | No Comments »

$1500 Closing Costs Paid on Hunziker Listings

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

Hunziker & Associates, REALTORS is pleased to announce our new special promotion. From now through January 31st, purchase an eligible Hunziker & Associates listing through a participating lender, and receive a rebate of up to $1500 in closing costs!

Click for details and to start searching for a home

Posted in Ames, Ankeny, Boone, Buying a home, Community News & Events, Financial Information, Iowa, Nevada, Uncategorized | No Comments »

The #1 Rule of Real Estate: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Ames continues to post unemployment rates at about half the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics currently lists Ames in a tie for the 7th lowest rate in the nation.

Interestingly enough, the Ames real estate market also continues to hold steady, with the average sale price almost identical to last year. Most of the metros listed for high unemployment rates are also the ones making news for high foreclosure rates and falling home prices.

Perhaps those of us in the industry should be quicker to comment upon hearing “the #1 rule of real estate” quoted. The reason that location, location, location matters, is due largely to the jobs, jobs, jobs.

http://bls.gov/web/metro/laummtrk.htm

Post by Tabitha Zesch, Relocation Director

Tags: ,
Posted in Ames, Community News & Events, Iowa, Market Conditions | No Comments »

Will Ames become the Next Silicon Valley?

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

Ames has attracted many high tech companies and start-ups over the last few years, many of which are located in the Iowa State University Research Park. Businesses from around the U.S., and even overseas, have relocated to Story County within the last few years.

The dramatic growth drew the governor and lieutenant governor to speak at the Ames Economic Development Commission celebration this week. And Ames has been touted by numerous magazines lately as one of the best places to do business, get a job, retire, or raise kids, etc. In August, Ames was labeled one of the geekiest cities in the U.S. by Forbes.

Now Business Insider Magazine is including Ames and Story County, Iowa on their list of 20 U.S. markets with the potential to become the next Silicon Valley. Certainly, as more high-tech jobs are established, the more the area becomes attractive to companies in need of a similar workforce base.

http://www.businessinsider.com/here-are-20-american-cities-and-counties-that-could-be-the-next-silicon-valley-2011-10#ixzz1bu0DUl3U

Post by Tabitha Zesch, Relocation Director

Posted in Ames, Community News & Events, Iowa, Market Conditions | No Comments »

Energy Star Builders in Ames

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

The Energy Star program website contains a detailed report on builders in Ames, IA. Our own HCS Builders has built 469 energy star certified homes in Ames!

Click to view the report. A sample section is below.

More ENERGY STAR Builder Partners
Name Builder Type Partner Since ASC Homes Qualified in Ames during Jul 2010 – Jun 2011* Homes Qualified in Ames Total* Homes Qualified Grand Total*
HCS Builders, Inc.
515-232-4224		 Site-Built Homes 2001 32 469 490
Rich Lepper Construction, Inc.
515-232-9287		 Site-Built Homes 2004 0 30 33
Hanson Homes, Inc.
515-292-3479		 Site-Built Homes 2008 3 7 8
Jon Hunziker Construction Inc.
515-296-1060		 Site-Built Homes 2008 4 9 9

Posted in Ames, Buying a home, Community News & Events, Current Homeowners | No Comments »

Take a peek inside Ames most expensive home

Monday, October 31st, 2011

The highest priced home listed in Ames is on the market for $1,250,000. Would you like to see inside? Take a peek at the photos on our website!

http://ames.hunzikerrealty.com/properties/dspProperty.cfm?propertyID=271891

Posted in Ames, Buying a home, Iowa | No Comments »

Help Ames become a Blue Zone!

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

Help Ames become one of the healthiest cities in Iowa! Vote for Ames to be selected at BlueZonesProject.com by October 28th.

About Blue Zones….

“There are places in the world where people live healthy, happy lives well into their nineties or even 100s. Dubbed “Blue Zones” by National Geographic researcher Dan Buettner, these longevity hotspots share nine lifestyle habits – Power 9™ – responsible for their remarkable results.”

“Ten communities that demonstrate the greatest passion, interest and ability to bring their community together will receive assistance from national experts to develop and implement a blueprint for making permanent environment, policy and social network changes that transition people into healthier behaviors.”

Please vote for Ames by October 28th at http://bluezonesproject.com/

Posted in Ames, Community News & Events, Iowa | No Comments »

Can You Buy a House Online?

Monday, October 17th, 2011

We have had the experience at Hunziker & Associates, Realtors®, of helping a customer purchase a home based entirely on what they saw over the internet. The purchase agreement was completed from a distance by fax. Even though this scenario is rare, it will soon be possible to purchase a home using an e-signature on forms that can be emailed to the buyer and seller.

The Iowa Association of Realtors® just instituted a new feature that will make preparing forms and collecting signatures electronically possible for subscribing Realtor® members. Although it will soon be easier to buy a house online, certainly most customers will still continue to view the home in person before signing the purchase agreement, regardless of if they do so using a pen or an iPad.

Post by Tabitha Zesch, Relocation Director

Tags: ,
Posted in Ames, Ankeny, Boone, Buying a home, Iowa, Market Conditions, Nevada, Selling a home | No Comments »

$25,000 Gift to Restore the Hunziker Youth Sports Complex

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

The Hunziker Youth Sports Complex in Ames sustained heavy damage during the record flood of 2010. The complex, which operates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, was built almost entirely through private contributions in 1993. It serves the Ames Little League Baseball Association, Ames Girls Softball Association, and the Ames Soccer Club.

In order to repair the fields and dugouts after the massive flood swept over the facilities last year, Ames Little League Baseball had to take out a $50,000 loan. The Hunziker family is gifting $25,000 in matching funds to help the organization retire the debt and prevent significant fee hikes to the children who use the facilities.

Those who wish to take advantage of this matching gift opportunity may mail their donations to: Ames Little League Baseball, P.O. Box 1713, Ames, IA 50010.

Posted in Ames, Community News & Events | No Comments »

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