This recent survey shows the value most Americans place on owning a home.
Source: http://bit.ly/n3dqYP
Archive for the ‘Financial Information’ Category
Relocation Due to Job Changes Increasing
Thursday, September 29th, 2011
We speak with newcomers to Central Iowa on a regular basis, and relocating for a job is one of the primary reasons people relocate here. As we have stressed many times in the past, real estate markets are local and individual regions do not always mirror national trends. However, troubled real estate markets elsewhere in the country have affected Central Iowa as fewer employees have been relocating nationally, and those who do have often been restricted in their ability to purchase a new home here due to difficulty selling in their previous location.
The Worldwide Employee Relocation Council® just released their 2010 member survey, which shows that relocation volume is picking back up again after being lower than average following the recession. Companies surveyed reported the volume of employees they relocated between 2009-2010 increased 15%. Respondents also anticipated they would transfer approximately 10% more employees in 2011 than last year. This increased has already been demonstrated by the American Moving & Storage Association, which reported corporate relocations have increased 13% in the 1st half of 2011 compared to the same period last year.
Post by: Tabitha Zesch, Relocation Director
385 New Jobs Announced for Ames since 2010
Thursday, August 25th, 2011The Ames Economic Development Commission has announced many expansions and new companies moving to Ames since November 2010. Most have been high tech firms creating quality jobs with excellent wages and benefits. Here is a brief summary of the new jobs that will be coming to Ames.
WebFilings 250 new jobs
HIPRA 75 new jobs
Flint Hills Resources 20 new jobs
Boehringer Ingelheim 20 new jobs
Rural Soluxions 20 new jobs
This is good news for the Ames economy and especially positive for the housing market as home values tend to increase when there is a healthy job market locally.
News from the Ames Economic Development Commission.
Post by Tabitha Zesch, Relocation Director
HCS Builders Recognized for Green Building Practices
Thursday, August 11th, 2011
From the City of Ames website:
“AMES, Iowa – HCS Builders is the recipient of a $64,214 Smart Energy rebate from Ames Electric Services and is the newest member of Mayor Ann Campbell’s “Green Team.” The company received a rebate check and recognition on Tuesday for its energy-saving construction on new residential housing in Ames.
Located at 105 S. 16th St., HCS Builders has been constructing energy-efficient residential houses in Ames for several years. Each home includes high performance wall and window systems, high performance insulation, installation of energy efficient appliances and water heating equipment, and high efficiency heating and cooling equipment. Since taking advantage of the Smart Energy rebate program, HCS Builders is estimated to have saved 224,786 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, reduced electric demand by 134 kilowatts (kW), and removed 184 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere annually. This commitment to energy efficiency has saved Ames residents an estimated $180,595….”
HCS Builders is affiliated with Hunziker & Associates, Realtors®. Their offices are located within our Ames building.
Mortgage Scam Hits Homeowners
Thursday, June 23rd, 2011Many homeowners have experienced having their mortgage sold to a new lender: they receive a letter in the mail notifying them of the sale which instructs them to begin making their payments to a new company. Unfortunately scammers, aware of this common practice, have started mailing fake letters telling owners that their mortgage has been sold. The scam letters look official and often includes the name of the homeowner’s original lender and loan amount.
Homeowners who follow the instructions on the scam letter often make 1 or 2 payments to the new “company” before they are alerted by their true lender that their mortgage payments are late. By the time they figure out the scam, they may owe several thousand dollars in missed payments and late fees, and the money they mailed to the scam artist is gone for good.
If a legitimate sales of your mortgage occurs, you will receive a letter from your current lender informing you of the change prior to any notification from the new lender. The letters from each lender should include your loan number. You should also receive a copy of a release of your mortgage that has been filed with the county recorder’s office at some point.
If there is any doubt if a letter instructing you to mail payments elsewhere is legit, call your lender to confirm. Just be sure to use the number from your regular mortgage statements or look up the number yourself. Any phone numbers listed on the suspicious letter will probably not connect you to your real lender.
By: Tabitha Zesch, Relocation Director
Guide to Ames
Wednesday, May 25th, 2011
Ames has so much to offer! Explore our 24 page guide at the link below.
Even long term residents can benefit from the “Things to Do” section or learn something they may not already know about the history of Ames or some of the businesses founded here.
Click on the guide to to view it online now!
Signs the High-End Market is Breaking Loose
Friday, May 6th, 2011
Homes above $300,000 in Ames have been the most challenged segment of our housing market since sales started slowing 2 years ago following several years of record sales activity. This price range represents the high-end of the Ames market, accounting for approximately 10% of the homes listed for sale.
This smaller segment has been impacted by the recession far worse than the remainder of our market. Inventory levels often floated above an 18 month supply or worse; far higher than the rest of the Ames housing market.
During the 6 month period from November to March, 2011, only 7 homes listed above $300,000 went off market pending a sale. April posted a strong turn around, however, as 8 homes went off market pending a sale in just that month alone. With only 32 high-end homes left on the market on May 2nd, the supply dropped to 4 months of inventory should sales continue at this pace. If the high-end market is building steam towards a healthy sales year is yet to be seen, but it certainly is a sign of improvement for sellers in this price range.
By Tabitha Zesch, Relocation Director
Why Iowa Housing Remained Strong
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011A key factors that determines if housing will remain strong or faulter in an area is the unemployment rate. The chart below is a good example of this affect in real numbers.
Unemployment rates remained relatively low in Ames and Story County, Iowa during the recession and our housing markets remained fairly stable. Nevada and California, two of the states with the highest rates of unemployment, also topped the list of states with excessive foreclosures & devistating declines in home values.
Fortunately, Ames continues to experience job growth and this bodes well for the housing market as well.
By Tabitha Zesch, Relocation Director
Hunziker & Associates, REALTORS Blog Feed