Appraisers and REALTORS report that Exterior Home Remodeling Projects bring the highest return on investment for homeowners according to the 2008-09 Remodeling Cost Vs. Value Report.

Wood Deck Additions & Siding Replacement=more than 80% return of project cost upon resale

Window Replacements & Kitchen Remodels=more than 76% return of project cost upon resale

Least Profitable Remodeling Projects= Home Offices, Sunroom Additions, & Back Up Power Generators.  

Remodeling: Cost vs. Value.  The Residential Specialist.  Mar/Apr 09. p.7.

Are you wanting to get started farming or would like to add farmland to your current operation but can't come up with the 25-35% required down payment for an agricultural loan?

Davis County Realtors is working with several Buyers who are taking advantage of low 2-4% interest rates with loans through the Farm Service Agency.  The FSA loan many times requires only 5% or less down payment for up to 40 years FIXED RATE!!  These loans can be up to $300,000 with hardly any money down! 

There are requirements for this type of loan, such as farming history, access to equipment, etc.

Call AJ 641.680.9944.  He can put you in touch with a loan officer who can assist you in your ag land investment.

According to a recent study explained at the 2009 Iowa Land Investment Expo, 75% of all Iowa farm land is debt-free!  This means only 25% of all the cropland, hunting land, pasture land, recreational land, & any other farmland in Iowa is financed.  Iowa farmland seems to be in very STRONG hands!  However over 50% of the Iowa farmland is owned by people 65 years of age or older.

Time Is RUNNING OUT!  FIRST TIME BUYERS:  Take Advantage of Free $$!

• Credit amount up to $8,000

• Eligible for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before Nov. 30, 2009- Keep in mind: You Must CLOSE on Home Prior to 12/01...generally takes 30-45 days from purchase agreement date to close property.

•Available on single-family detached homes, townhomes and condominiums —newly constructed or pre-existing homes

• The tax credit does not need to be repaid unless the home is sold within the first three years after purchase

Thinking about selling your home or farm?  The time is now!  

We have many BUYERS!   Davis County Realtors has had a busy month.  Several homes & farms are under contract to close shortly.  Davis County Realtors is a member of the Ottumwa/Bloomfield Multiple Listing Service, which gives our listings added exposure with the 40+ Realtors in the Ottumwa area.  Together, we can design a marketing strategy unique to your property!  

Call Davis County Realtors if you would like to know what your property's current market value is.  We will keep all inquiries confidential.  

Thinking of putting your home on the market?  Then you need to think like a Buyer.  Sellers need to remember that Buyers generally are looking for something they can visualize their things fitting into neatly and that looks fresh and updated.  These tips can give your home an edge on the competition without breaking the bank:

Going Green = Tax Savings!

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 can mean tax savings for you! As of January 1, 2009, the law broadens to give those homeowners who make certain upgrades a tax credit! The benefits of going green not only lower your energy bill, increase indoor comfort & reduce pollution they also lower the amount of income tax you pay.

Check out this table to see how much you can save:

Bank owned properties made up 18.6 % real estate transactions in 2008.  In this economy, foreclosures can be very appealing to buyers with their advertised low prices. 

There are two major factors that set apart a traditional transaction and a foreclosure: the seller (who is the bank in a foreclosure) and the timeframe.  A short sale is a similar process- the property is sold for less than what is owed on it to prevent a foreclosure from happening.

Home owners can now take advantage of all-time low interest rates.  A 1% decrease  on a 30 year loan equals 10% home value increase.  People who are wanting to trade up into a more expensive home can really take advantage of this.  A 10% decrease in a $100,000 home they currently own means a $10,000 loss.  But it can be offset by a 10% decrease in a $200,000 home they are buying meaning a $20,000 gain.  This $10,000 dollar net savings can be increased if you can decrease the new 30 year home loan interest rate.  If you buy the house at the discounted $180,000 your loan savings could be $18,000 or more!  This could be a total savings of $28,000!!!

With all the talk about the country's recession, we seem to have many buyers "waiting" until the market hits bottom.  We never know when the absolute bottom hits until the "herd" starts driving the prices back up again, and then it's too late.  Once that happens we have shifted back into a seller's market.  The herd rushes to buy when prices are increasing to get in before the market shifts and goes down again.  Inversely, an investor will buy when prices are going down.  They don't know when absolute bottom is, but know that it will reach it someday and shift up again.