“These markets are showing signs of strength in several key metrics, including above-average price appreciation, a flourishing job market, a high rate of sales in proportion to population, a high level of home affordability, low foreclosure activity, a below-average share of distressed sales, a low vacancy rate, and other characteristics indicating a healthy housing market.”

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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

“Top 5 tax breaks for homeowners

Q: We bought a house this year! We put $33,000 down and the bank financed $28,000. Can I write this off on my 2011 taxes? How much of it?”

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“A Child’s Well-Being Is Strongly Related to the State Where He or She Lives. Child well-being varies tremendously from state to state, ranging from a 0.85 index value for New Jersey, the highest ranked state, to a negative 0.96 index value for New Mexico, the lowest-ranked state.”

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“A proposed 500-acre development in Ankeny could provide the growing school district with space for athletic facilities and offer more fields for area recreation programs, but public officials say they cannot move forward without more information….

The plan calls for a football stadium and Olympic-sized swimming pool as part of a 150-acre sports complex that would be surrounded by 12 million square feet of commercial development.”

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“With property values across the country at depressed levels and interest rates dancing around historical lows for months now, housing affordability has hit an all-time high. That affordability inched even higher this week, as mortgage interest rates broke through their previous record lows to fall further still.

Freddie Mac says all loan products covered in its regular weekly market survey eased to set new all-time lows for the week ending January 12, 2011. The average rate for the 30-year fixed mortgage has been below 4.00 percent for six consecutive weeks…”

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“If your home will be for sale this winter, it is important to master certain seasonal issues that are less significant or even non-existent at other times of the year. Here are 10 bits of sage advice….”

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In December 2011, 642 homes were sold in Greater Des Moines, a 13 percent increase from the previous year. For all of last year, 7,877 homes were sold, an increase of 200 from the previous year, the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors said today.

http://www.businessrecord.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=16196&SectionID=37&SubSectionID=100

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/

Buying and or selling a house often involves months of considering your options, preparing your finances, or sprucing up your property. Anytime you have a question or would like advice about your specific situation, give your Hunziker agent a call.

If you don’t have an agent yet, call any of our 4 offices to speak with an agent right away. Helping you get that new home is always part of our New Year’s resolutions.

http://hunzikerrealty.com/