There are millions of vacant homes in the U.S. right now.Today we want to talk about the number of vacant homes in the US and what impact this has on the market. Even though we’re in a desperate housing shortage right now, there are 16 million vacant homes in the U.S. That seems like an astronomical stat considering the state of the market. The sta…

How the SOLDwisch team gets involved and gives back to the community.The other day, we played dodgeball to help out Children’s Cancer Connection. We weren’t sure exactly how much our dodgeball skills would hold up, but when we heard there was a team costume contest, we knew we could at least compete there. We really enjoy being involved in the comm…

The Misty SOLDwisch team’s personalized marketing plan sells more homes.Barbara Corcoran, star of ABC’s Shark Tank, built the No. 1 brokerage firm in New York City by marketing luxury homes to the most qualified buyers.That same strategy is what will make the difference in our area. We’re creating customized marketing for the right buyers in Des Mo…

My interview with Matthew White, the director of marketing at Title Services.In today’s video, we’re casting our business spotlight on Title Services of Des Moines. Title is a critical aspect of the real estate process, so my interview with Matthew White, Director of Marketing, was really informative. He answered a few questions about his business,…

How does the Neighborhood Finance Corporation help revitalize neighborhoods?Today on the “Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard,” we’re joined by Stephanie Murphy and Terry Gearhart from the Neighborhood Finance Corporation, a nonprofit mortgage company. They’re here to share what the NFC offers and how they help buyers purchase homes.If you’re going…

Here’s how you can sell your home if you have pets to keep track of.Today I want to share another clip from my radio show, Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard, on 106.3 KXNO-FM. In case you don’t know, I do this show with Heather Burnside, and it airs every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. In this clip, we discuss how you can sell your home when you have pets.T…

This is why having a great agent is a lot like having a great mom.If you have a real estate agent you really love, they might do some things that remind you of your mom. From the latest episode of “The Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard,” here are 10 different ways that your real estate agent is just like your mother:1. She makes you clean your ro…

Here’s why buying a home is far better than renting, especially right now.We know that buying is more affordable than renting, but it’s not just because it’s a lower payment. One of the most powerful long-term savings plans is building equity in your home. You will be paying for where you’re living regardless, but with a home, these payments are bu…

Here’s all the info you need about our third annual Teacher Giveaway.I’m so excited to announce our third annual Teacher Giveaway. When we started this three years ago, we gave away $500 to five deserving Central Iowa educators. Last year, with all the challenges of 2020, we upped the number to $2,020 in gifts. This year, we decided to make our con…

Here’s how a pre-inspection can help you be a better seller.On a recent episode of The Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard, we discussed the importance of having a pre-inspection when selling your home. Adam McCarty, owner of RightWay Home Inspections and a licensed inspector himself, joined us to discuss.“We avoid inaccurate pricing with a pre-ins…

Our current low interest rates make properties more affordable.Today’s interest rates are so low that many people are surprised to find out how much home they can afford in the current market. Rates have been hovering in the 2s and the low 3s depending on your credit score and other factors (you’d have to be pre-approved by a lender to learn what k…

The modern farmhouse home is the most popular style in Iowa.As far as architectural styles go, what does Iowa find appealing? Like the rest of the country, modern farmhouses are the popular architectural style for new homes right now in Iowa. Is this the Joanna Gaines effect? It’s amazing what power a show like Fixer Upper can have in defining our …

Here’s a look at the role your credit score plays in mortgage qualification.On this episode of the ‘Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard’, we’re discussing the importance of your credit score when getting a mortgage. Chuck Simmons from Motto Mortgage joined us to offer his expertise.Right now, everything revolves around credit in the mortgage indust…

There are several advantages to buying a new construction home.What are the advantages of new construction?First of all, new construction homes feature the latest finishes, gorgeous decor, etc. You also don’t have to make changes to personalize the home to your tastes—the paint, cabinetry, appliances, and everything else have already been designed …

Here’s what happens when a natural disaster affects a for-sale home.Welcome back to the Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard. This time, we’re with Rob Keller of Country Financial and answering the question, “What happens when there is a natural disaster when a home is for sale?”If you do have damage that has occurred as the result of a natural disa…

Here’s the story of how Emily Burton become our Director of Sales.Emily Burton is originally from Indianola, Iowa, where she graduated from Simpson College. She worked as a bartender for many years before she stumbled into the real estate business. She had just received her degree in public relations and was looking for a job. She initially intervi…

Here are three mistakes not to make if you’re in the home-buying process.Today Chuck Simmons from Motto Mortgage Midwest joins us to discuss the three main things you shouldn’t do if you’re in the process of buying a home. Some of these things may seem obvious, but many people don’t know the ins and outs of how the process works. Don’t get caught m…

On this episode, we’re focusing on multiple-offer strategies for sellers.When you are a home seller who is receiving multiple offers, it’s very common for your agent to reach back out to buyers to ask for their highest and best offer by a certain time frame. I try a different approach because I’m not the biggest fan of the sense of finality conveye…

Here are six tips that will make your offer stand out in a bidding war.Nationally, multiple offers are becoming more and more frequent in the real estate market, and that’s certainly true in most segments of our Des Moines market. As a buyer, when you make an offer for the home you want, it has to be presented in a way that will actually win the ho…

I recently appeared on a talk radio show with Heather Burnside to discuss our certified pre-owned program for sellers.We’ve been doing the certified pre-owned program for several years now, and it is a great marketing feature for our sellers. However, there’s more intent behind it than just marketing to appeal to buyers.We find that when sellers ar…

Adam McCarty from Rightway Home Inspections is here to answer a few home inspection questions.In today’s message, I sat down with Adam McCarty from Rightway Home Inspections on my weekly radio show “The Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard” on 106.3 KXnO to discuss a few key questions people tend to have about his industry, including the importance …

Here’s what experts are predicting for our upcoming housing market.Today’s message is about what the experts see on the horizon for the housing market. If you’re considering buying or selling a home, I’m sharing what you need to know. According to the National Association of Realtors, 77% of potential sellers are preparing to sell their houses foll…

We have tools and services to help you buy a home virtually. Learn how here.Today I want to tell you about our virtual home buying services. The health crisis has people concerned about the safety of going into occupied houses for their home search. The great news is, our virtual home buying services help you decide on a property without having to …

Af Misty Darling

Af Misty Darling

Af Misty Darling

Af Misty Darling

Our 2019 Pumpkin Pie Giveaway was a huge success! 600 pies were shared with clients, the community, and organizations in need. It was fantastic to connect with so many old friends–thanks so much for being part of it! Wishing you a joyous holiday season! Check out the video for highlights!Af Misty Darling

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and we’re giving away 500 pumpkin pies to celebrate. Here’s how you can get yours.Thanksgiving is almost here, and we’re saying thanks this year with 500 pumpkin pies. If you’re a past client, current client, or someone who just needs some more deliciousness in their lives, visit this link to reserve your pi…

Max Wilker is an expert when it comes to home design and he has his pulse on the latest home color trends. Here’s what he’s been seeing lately.I’m joined today by Max Wilker of Better Homes & Gardens to talk about the latest home color trends. Max is the Syle Director for Better Homes & Gardens Brands and has a wealth of knowledge on all the latest…

Are you, or is someone you know, thinking about selling a home soon? Here are a few things that you’ll need to know.Are you, or is someone you know, thinking about selling a home soon? Here are a few things that you’ll need to know.On the September edition of my podcast with Van and Bonnie, we talked about some of the finer points of home selling i…

If you’re hosting or participating in a charitable event and would like to use our moving truck for it, please let us know. We’d love to help.Our team changes lives every day through real estate, but we also do so by supporting causes that our agents and our clients believe in. So if you’ve got a cause you believe in, we want to help you. One thing…

Thinking of selling your home this fall? Here are a few tips and tricks.If you want to sell your home in the fall, there are a few different things you can do to “pumpkin spice” it up. In the video above, you can listen to my interview with Van and Bonnie, during which I cover tips and tricks for preparing your fall listing. If you have any questio…

Realizing success in your home sale or purchase starts with who you hire, as you’ll learn from today’s video.My good friends Van and Bonnie invited me back on their podcast show to discuss the importance of hiring an agent you can trust and who will deliver results when it comes to your buying and selling needs. A professional agent will always wor…

What’s happening right now in our Central Iowa market? Find out with this quick message.I recently sat down once again with my good friends Van and Bonnie to talk about an important topic: Our market. Now that 2019 is more than halfway over, we thought now was the perfect time to share some insight into how the first half of this year played out in…

If you’re curious about buying a new construction home, this video may help you get off the fence.Often when we speak with buyers, they express frustration over the fact that they can’t find exactly the kind of home they’re looking for in the market. When this happens, one option we present to them is the possibility of building a new home from scr…

Real estate investing has had a huge impact on my life. It’s helped me to build wealth, support my family, and prepare for the future. Renting out investment properties is an incredible way to create passive income. Better still, paying down the mortgage on these properties becomes much easier when you’re using a tenant’s money to do so, as opposed…

I’m back yet again to share another great conversation that I recently had with Van and Bonnie. Instead of discussing the latest numbers or trends in the real estate market, this time we focused on real estate as a business. We talked about our unique team structure, how long it takes to get a real estate license, and much, much more. Cited below f…

We’re back once more with another conversation about our Central Iowa market, and this time we’re specifically discussing issues related to the home inspection. In today’s episode, we’ll share all the ins and outs of this important, yet sometimes confusing, step in the real estate process.**Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will …

Welcome back to another edition of my podcast with Van and Bonnie. In this third installment, we discussed a ton of things, including property tax assessments, how to protest them, and much more.Here’s an outline of the discussion, with timestamps so that you can skip around to the section(s) that interest you the most:0:50- Explaining the county’s…

There are many moving parts to a real estate transaction, and it’s a Realtor’s job to guide you through the process. Even in a hot market, you still have to prepare and market your home, and having the right expertise behind you makes all the difference in terms of maximizing your sale price. What does that expertise look like, though? I was recent…

I’ve got exciting news to share: I have partnered with WHO Radio hosts Van Harden and Bonnie Lucas to create a new real estate podcast!There aren’t many people out there who know more about what’s on the mind of Central Iowans than these two, so I am so excited to have the chance to cover our local market conditions with their help.“We’ll cover bre…

I recently sat down with Van and Bonnie to talk some more about Central Iowa real estate. Specifically, I talked about a few different projects I have going on with Kimberly Development Company. They have been around since 1978, and the quality and attention to detail in their homes really shines. I also talked about Woodland Hills Villas, what’s i…

I’ve seen so many situations in which people get excited about a home they’ve found and fall in love with it. It’s their dream home, so they’re willing to stretch and struggle to make it work. But unfortunately, that’s sometimes just not feasible.To gauge whether you’re stretching yourself too thin, keep an eye on the following five signs:1. Are yo…

The Misty SOLDwisch home selling team is so thrilled to have amazing relationships with different local builders, as this gives us a unique perspective and unique advantages in assisting our clients with their new construction purchases.“When you build a new home, you can pick out every detail.”There are a number of advantages to building a new hom…

As a seller, there are three main real estate myths that you need to ignore when putting your home on the market.Myth #1: You need to raise your listing price to leave room for negotiation.This is a tough one because it’s been reinforced time and time again, but just because people say it doesn’t mean it’s true. In our Central Iowa market, homes ty…

Everyone knows the basic steps of preparing a home for market. Things like decluttering and neutralizing are obvious, but in a competitive market there are three extra tips you can use to really polish your listing.1. Pay special attention to your entryway.The front door of your home represents such an important first impression for a buyer. When a…

Welcome to 12427 90th Avenue. This luxury, 15-acre estate provides the perfect setting for rustic living with a stylish twist.Conveniently located just 15 miles south of the DSM Airport and with quick access to the metro, this five-bedroom, five-bathroom home spans 3,870 square feet and showcases plenty of space both indoors and out. Whether you’re…

We’ve got a great chance for you to win the latest edition of the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. You might even find the home of your dreams while you’re at it.Want to sell your Central Iowa home? Get a free home value reportWant to buy a Central Iowa home? Search all the homes on the MLSAt Better Homes And Gardens Real Estate Innovations, we’v…

Frustrated homebuyers in the Central Iowa market may be able to use the backup offer strategy to their advantage.Want to sell your Central Iowa home? Get a free home value reportWant to buy a Central Iowa home? Search all the homes on the MLSA lot of Central Iowa homebuyers are frustrated right now. Certain segments of the market are on fire, and t…