When buying a home; the most important question a buyer should ask is: What’s the home worth?  Relying on one’s own opinion is “dangerous”!  Buyers have the potential of thinking w/ their hearts rather than their heads.  When this happens; the buyer may over-pay for the home.  I’ve seen this time and time again and especially when the house is For Sale by Owner.  It is imperative in my opinion that a buyer ask his/her agent what is this home in Ames, IA worth??

Ames Real Estate is still one of the best markets in the state of Iowa and even the midwest.  The Ames Area has many factors that make Ames, IA a stable real estate market.  The housing market has shown several signs of strength and has proven that what happens nationally doesn’t always affect us here in Ames, IA. It is still a great time to buy a home and a great time to own rental property.

This year’s tax credit was a big hit!  The numbers are in and it has been a fabulous spring in regards to home sales in Ames, IA.  The tax credit deadline definitely appears to have been effective in getting buyers to make that deadline of April 30th.  At the same time, this proved to make for a slower than usual May and June.  At the end of June we have seen an increase in showings to take us back to more of a normal showing pattern for Ames, IA Real Estate! Traditionallly July and August are much slower in regards to showing activity when compared to March, April, and May!

April 30th is the deadline for everyone in the nation!  But don’t worry; the sky will not fall on May 1st!  Although the Tax Credits have been a a big incentive; the market will continue to be strong through May and into June.  Typically July and August are much more quiet and less active than the spring months.  It is important to be positioned well if you are a seller and have a house to sell.  It is important to be priced agressively NOW!  If your home has not sold by July1st,  you may  not see much activity again until the “fall surge”.  If you are thinking about selling in Ames, IA, call me at 515-291-5153 to discuss your options.  Bill Jennings REMAX

Many people are asking what the real estate market will be like in Ames, IA once the tax credits have expired.  Property will continue to sell in May, June, July, and every month thereafter!  The tax credits although helpful, are not the cure-all and May 1st, 2010 will not be the “end of the world”!  Many people do not qualify as a first-time homebuyer nor do they qualify for the “move-up credit”.  Therefore, buyers will continue to buy throughout the rest of the year.  At the same time, March, April, May are the three best months of the year for total showing activity.  Call Bill Jennings or email at billjennings@remax.net for more information in Ames, IA

The deadline to have a home under contract is April 30th, 2010.  First-time homebuyer’s must have a home under contract by this date and then closed by June 30th, 2010.  In Ames, IA contact Bill Jennings at billjennings@remax.net for further questions or visit me online at www.billjenningsblog.com or www.billjenningsrealestate.com

It is important to remember that the first-time homebuyer’s tax credit is a credit and not a deduction.  A deduction is reduced or deducted from your taxable income whereas a credit is simply a credit independent of income.  In other words, a credit is “free money” providing you qualify as a first-time homebuyer. Feel free to contact me in Ames, IA at billjennings@remax.net or visit me online www.billjenningsblog.com or www.billjenningsrealestate.com

First-time homebuyers tax credits are still available! This is a credit and not a deduction.  That means that you will receive up to an $8,000 tax credit for being a first-time homebuyer or if you’ve not owned/bought a home in 3 years.  The credit is the lesser of 8,000 or 10% of the purchase price.  So a 70,000 purchase would equate to a credit of 7,000, but a 100,000 purchase would equal an 8,000 credit.  In Ames, IA visit our website www.billjenningsrealestate.com or email me at billjennings@remax.net for more information!  REMAX Ames, IA

If you are looking for a flat fee or a reduced commission in Ames, IA you need to consider the following:  A. What will I NET? B. What will I get for exposure? C. How soon will my house sell? D. How much activity can I expect?  What matters most is what you NET!  Net profit: sale price minus commission.  A good agent can net you much more while paying more commission compared to a flat fee or a reduced commission.  If you NET what you want; you wouldn’t really care what you paid in commission.  Often times, flat fee brokers offer a flat fee because all they have to offer is a flat fee.  They don’t offer what really sells the house and that is a “buyer”.  They don’t offer ”consumer confidence” and they don’t have “resistance to price” like a well-known professional full service agent.  Like any product and every product; you get what you pay for!  Avoid the 5 most common mistakes and call to let us explain why average more transactions than most agents.  billjenningsrealestate.com

There has never been a better time to buy a home in Ames, IA.  Great rates, tax credits, and affordable prices.  Sellers are reasonable and aware that buyers are looking for a “good deal”.  However, some buyers are looking for too good of a deal and losing opportunities to buy homes as they are sold out from under them.  Buyers need to remember that this is Iowa and not Phoenix, AZ or Southern California, or Las Vegas.  If you want to know how to effectively make an offer; contact us at billjenningsrealestate.com