Some people are green thumbs and gardening comes natural to them and well, some people are not. (I’m in the latter category but I’m making it my goal to keep house plants alive this year!) But that doesn’t mean that you cannot learn how to do some landscaping and gardening in your own yard.  Experts […]

This is a great start to the spring market.  Despite all predictions of raising interest rates throughout 2019, rates for 30-year fixed mortgages are currently at their lowest in 14 months…coming in at around 4.04%. Just about 6 months ago we were at almost 5% so this is a nice change for homebuyers who want to […]

Buying and/or selling a home can be quite the process.  There are a lot of rules, regulations, and processes that you need to follow and unless you have first-hand experience in these areas – it can be a bit overwhelming and maybe downright confusing. Here are my top reasons why you should seriously consider having a […]

This is a great start to the spring market.  Despite all the predictions of raising interest rates throughout 2019, rates for 30-year fixed mortgages are currently at their lowest since this time last year…coming in at around 4.32%.  Just a few months ago we were at almost 5% so this is a nice change for […]

Becoming a homeowner is taking on a lot of responsibility. You’re now in charge of the safety and security of your home. This is likely one of the biggest investments you will make in your lifetime, so you better take care of it! Houses require maintenance and up keep. Neglecting some of these basic home maintenance […]

While they have been around a while – so many people still don’t know about this awesome non-profit located in Des Moines’ East Village!!  Formerly called the Des Moines Bicycle Collective, the newly named Street Collective of Greater Des Moines is this month’s Friday Find.  The organization is dedicated to helping create stronger communities, neighborhoods […]

Buying your first home is a big deal.  There is no doubt about that. There is a lot to consider before even beginning to search for your home like neighborhood, price range, what style of home, and so much more.  And then once you find a home there is another set of considerations and checklist […]

One of the most common concerns I hear from my clients is “Sara, I really want to sell my house. We’re ready to move but there’s nowhere for me to go.” I get it. I really truly do. Nobody wants to be homeless and moving is stressful enough that adding in the unknown of having nowhere to […]

The only way to avoid PMI (private mortgage insurance) is to have at least 20% for a down payment. For a long time buyers thought they needed this to move forward on a home. But in reality, when interest rates are as low as they are, sometimes it makes more sense to put less money […]

More and more sellers with their homes on the market are using surveillance cameras when it is being shown by agents to potential buyers.  Home surveillance cameras are allowing owners to monitor the activity inside and outside their home. While some agents have reported seeing them around homes, to date, multiple listing systems don’t require […]