Des Moines Weekly Real Estate Statistics 5/30/08

Ahhh the end of the month!  Many buyers choose to close near the end of the month when purchasing a home.  There are reasons to close at other times of the month (less competition for closing times with  your lender for one) but it seems that even REALTORS® look for that magic “month end” date when writing an offer.  As a result, this weeks statistics show an increase in closed properties.

Real Estate Statistics for the week ending Friday, May 30rd, 2008 for Des Moines, Iowa and surrounding communities.

Single Family Homes
4,112 Homes Currently For Sale – Down 28 from last week.
$228,312 Average List Price

1,147 Homes Pending - Down 1 from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$197,102 Average List Price
77 Average Days On Market

119 Homes Closed - Up 71 from last week.
$175,213 Average Sale Price
109 Average Days On Market

Acreages
193 Homes Currently For Sale – Down 5 from last week.
$331,702 Average List Price

37 Homes Pending - Up 7 from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$270,176 Average List Price 
91 Average Days On Market

1 Homes Closed - Up 1 from last week.
$198,000 Average Sale Price
50 Average Days On Market

Condos & Townhomes
1,787 Homes Currently For Sale – Up 3 from last week.
$189,455 Average List Price

306 Homes Pending – Down 2 from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$166,948 Average List Price 
125 Average Days On Market

13 Homes Closed – Up 1 from last week.
$159,621 Average Sale Price
99 Average Days On Market

If you have specific questions about real estate for sales in the Des Moines area, please feel free to contact me by Clicking Here. 
Les Sulgrove, RE/MAX Real Estate Group
Information on this blog posting is for informational purposes only and not intended as solicitation if you are already working with a REALTOR®  There is no obligation or fee for any information on this blog posting.

Data Source: Les Sulgrove, RE/MAX Real Estate Group – Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS® MLS.
Des Moines Metropolitan Area defined as: Adel, Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Des Moines, Dallas Center, Desoto, Granger, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Urbandale, Van Meter ,Waukee, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Winterset

Des Moines Weekly Real Estate Statistics 5/23/08

Sales continue to strengthen here in the Des Moines area.  According to the Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS® sales are up 29% in April over March of this year.  At the beginning of May, I reported that there were 1,044 Single Family Home Pending Sales on the books.  This week we see 1,148 Pendings – an increase of over 100 sales.  Doesn’t seem like a decreasing market to me.

Real Estate Statistics for the week ending Friday, May 23rd, 2008 for Des Moines, Iowa and surrounding communities.

Single Family Homes
4,140 Homes Currently For Sale – Up 15 from last week.
$228,192 Average List Price

1,148 Homes Pending - UP 40 from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$194,065 Average List Price
81 Average Days On Market

48 Homes Closed - Up 5 from last week.
$152,714 Average Sale Price
100 Average Days On Market

Acreages
198 Homes Currently For Sale – Up 11 from last week.
$331,303 Average List Price

30 Homes Pending - Up 2 from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$255,990 Average List Price 
83 Average Days On Market

0 Homes Closed - Down 0 from last week.
$0 Average Sale Price
0 Average Days On Market

Condos & Townhomes
1,784 Homes Currently For Sale – Down 27 from last week.
$188,640 Average List Price

308 Homes Pending – Up 10 from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$165,505 Average List Price 
122 Average Days On Market

12 Homes Closed – Up 3 from last week.
$144,115 Average Sale Price
125 Average Days On Market

If you have specific questions about real estate for sales in the Des Moines area, please feel free to contact me by Clicking Here. 
Les Sulgrove, RE/MAX Real Estate Group
Information on this blog posting is for informational purposes only and not intended as solicitation if you are already working with a REALTOR®  There is no obligation or fee for any information on this blog posting.

Data Source: Les Sulgrove, RE/MAX Real Estate Group – Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS® MLS.
Des Moines Metropolitan Area defined as: Adel, Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Des Moines, Dallas Center, Desoto, Granger, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Urbandale, Van Meter ,Waukee, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Winterset

Des Moines Weekly Real Estate Statistics 5/16/08

This past week, I was in Washington DC attending the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Mid-Year Legislative Conference.  I was able to attend many sessions thanks to my participation as Treasurer of my local Association of REALTORS®.  One session in particular was a presentation by NAR Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun.  He predicts that while the real estate market may continue to struggle during the next 45 days, the second half of 2008 will prove to be a positive time for buyers and sellers in most markets.

Real Estate Statistics for the week ending Friday, May 16th, 2008 for Des Moines, Iowa and surrounding communities.

Single Family Homes
4,125 Homes Currently For Sale – Up 38 from last week.
$229,054 Average List Price

1,108 Homes Pending - UP 26 from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$191,139 Average List Price
84 Average Days On Market

43 Homes Closed - Up 10 from last week.
$166,785 Average Sale Price
89 Average Days On Market

Acreages
187 Homes Currently For Sale – Down 4 from last week.
$328,350 Average List Price

28 Homes Pending - Up 1 from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$271,823 Average List Price 
79 Average Days On Market

0 Homes Closed - Down 1 from last week.
$0 Average Sale Price
0 Average Days On Market

Condos & Townhomes
1,811 Homes Currently For Sale – Up 8 from last week.
$188,637 Average List Price

298 Homes Pending – Up 4 from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$166,844 Average List Price 
124 Average Days On Market

9 Homes Closed – Up 7 from last week.
$147,344 Average Sale Price
98 Average Days On Market

If you have specific questions about real estate for sales in the Des Moines area, please feel free to contact me by Clicking Here. 
Les Sulgrove, RE/MAX Real Estate Group
Information on this blog posting is for informational purposes only and not intended as solicitation if you are already working with a REALTOR®  There is no obligation or fee for any information on this blog posting.

Data Source: Les Sulgrove, RE/MAX Real Estate Group – Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS® MLS.
Des Moines Metropolitan Area defined as: Adel, Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Des Moines, Dallas Center, Desoto, Granger, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Urbandale, Van Meter ,Waukee, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Winterset

Des Moines Farmers Market “Open For Business!”

It started off a little rainy but that didn’t stop people from coming out for the opening of the 2008 Des Moines Farmers Market! 

A few changes have been made this year to help keep the crowds moving in the right directions.  All vendors booths must face in towards the street and away from the sidewalks.  I had reservations over this change, but it really worked out nicely.  I was able to make my way down one side of the street and not have to weave from sidewalk to street in order to see all the products for sale.  Another change was no vendor vehicles or trailers left on the streets.  I’m sure it’s a pain for setting up, but again, the flow is greatly improved.

Many vendors have changed positions this year.  From chatting with a couple, the moves were not all by choice.  Fortunately, the market lays over three blocks with a couple of side streets and it’s very easy to make the entire round of booths in an hour and a half.

Des Moines Farmers Market is pet friendly.  You see dozens of dogs of all sizes and breeds on leashes.  New this year is the restriction that all leashes must not exceed three feet.  This didn’t seem to be an issue today as most pets are kept close to their owner anyway.

Since it’s early in the season, the majority of vendors are selling plants & flowers.  There were a few spots selling fresh vegetables including green beans, new potatoes, peppers & green onions.  I even saw some sweet corn… I didn’t ask, but I have to believe this was brought in from out of state… being the Farmers Market purist that I am, I did not purchase any corn on the cob today!  (If you recall, I have already had my first corn last month… yes it was from out of state, but I bought it from a grocery store..)

Purchases made today:  Breakfast Burrito – $4.00, new potatoes & green beans – $2.00 each, a wicker squirrel basket – $4.00 and Kettlekorn popcorn from Brandemeyers Popcorn – 1 Large bag & two small bags for $8.00

I will be out of town for next weeks Farmers Market, but I plan on making it to as many as I can this year!  The photo opportunites are endless.  I’m going to play around with a little video interviews as well this year.

Des Moines Weekly Real Estate Statistics 5/9/08

Spring is FINALLY here in Des Moines!  The photo to the right is from Waterworks Park located on the south side of Des Moines.  Apple Blossom trees are in full bloom.  Like the Apple Blossoms, the real estate market is also in full bloom.  Real estate agents are telling me that open houses are busier than they’ve been in months and buyers are out looking during the week.  It’s not just the local market that is making a turn around, here is an article from the Wall Street Journal this week titled “The Housing Crisis Is Over“.  This next week, I will be in Washington DC at the National Association of REALTORS® Mid-Year convention.  I’m anxious to hear what is happening elsewhere in the country.  I will report back next Friday!

Real Estate Statistics for the week ending Friday, May 9nd, 2008 for Des Moines, Iowa and surrounding communities.

Single Family Homes
4,088 Homes Currently For Sale – Down 29 from last week.
$228,852 Average List Price

1,082 Homes Pending - UP 38 from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$191,100 Average List Price
87 Average Days On Market

33 Homes Closed - Down 53 from last week.
$181,212 Average Sale Price
88 Average Days On Market

Acreages
191 Homes Currently For Sale – Up 8 from last week.
$325,067 Average List Price

27 Homes Pending - Up 3 from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$276,924 Average List Price 
71 Average Days On Market

1 Homes Closed - Down 1 from last week.
$345,900 Average Sale Price
235 Average Days On Market

Condos & Townhomes
1,803 Homes Currently For Sale – Up 3 from last week.
$187,894 Average List Price

 

294 Homes Pending – No Change from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$170,653 Average List Price 
125 Average Days On Market

2 Homes Closed – Down 13 from last week.
$130,400 Average Sale Price
181 Average Days On Market

If you have specific questions about real estate for sales in the Des Moines area, please feel free to contact me by Clicking Here. 
Les Sulgrove, RE/MAX Real Estate Group
Information on this blog posting is for informational purposes only and not intended as solicitation if you are already working with a REALTOR®  There is no obligation or fee for any information on this blog posting.

Data Source: Les Sulgrove, RE/MAX Real Estate Group – Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS® MLS.
Des Moines Metropolitan Area defined as: Adel, Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Des Moines, Dallas Center, Desoto, Granger, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Urbandale, Van Meter ,Waukee, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Winterset

Des Moines Weekly Real Estate Statistics 5/2/08

The big news this past week was all about Regency Homes.  On April 26th, news broke that the states largest builder in Iowa had laid off 103 workers.  It has gone down hill from there.  Today between Dallas & Polk counties, subcontractors have filed at least 600 liens against the builder.  The worse news is that Regency homes that finished building within the last 90 days will most likely not close leaving buyers scrambling to make other housing arrangements. 

Real Estate Statistics for the week ending Friday, May 2nd, 2008 for Des Moines, Iowa and surrounding communities.

Single Family Homes
4,059 Homes Currently For Sale – Up 11 from last week.
$228,648 Average List Price

1,044 Homes Pending - Down 32 from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$191,968 Average List Price
86 Average Days On Market

86 Homes Closed - Up 47 from last week.
$177,195 Average Sale Price
102 Average Days On Market

Acreages
183 Homes Currently For Sale – Up 4 from last week.
$326,209 Average List Price

24 Homes Pending - Down 1 from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$302,048 Average List Price 
80 Average Days On Market

2 Homes Closed - Down 1 from last week.
$357,500 Average Sale Price
16 Average Days On Market

Condos & Townhomes
1,800 Homes Currently For Sale – Down 20 from last week.
$193,166 Average List Price

294 Homes Pending – Down 1 from last week.
(Offers Accepted But Not Closed Yet)
$170,532 Average List Price 
130 Average Days On Market

15 Homes Closed – Up 9 from last week.
$160,923 Average Sale Price
124 Average Days On Market

If you have specific questions about real estate for sales in the Des Moines area, please feel free to contact me by Clicking Here. 
Les Sulgrove, RE/MAX Real Estate Group
Information on this blog posting is for informational purposes only and not intended as solicitation if you are already working with a REALTOR®  There is no obligation or fee for any information on this blog posting.

Data Source: Les Sulgrove, RE/MAX Real Estate Group – Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS® MLS.
Des Moines Metropolitan Area defined as: Adel, Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Des Moines, Dallas Center, Desoto, Granger, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Urbandale, Van Meter ,Waukee, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Winterset