Even if the groundhog did see his shadow at the beginning of February, worst case scenario: that should mean just a few more weeks of winter, right? You can feel it in the air: spring fever is going around! Whether spring is just around the corner or still weeks away, it’s time to start thinking [...]

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Down payment assistance of up to $3,500 is now available for a limited time to eligible home buyers who purchase their homes using the Iowa Finance Authority’s FirstHome and FirstHome Plus program through the end of the year, an increase of $1,000 above the normal amount of $2,500. The Iowa Finance Authority is a self-supporting [...]

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June is National Homeownership Month. The U.S. Department of Agriculture kicked off the month on June 1, highlighting the important role housing plays in creating jobs, maintaining viable rural communities, and contributing to the economy. Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, said this year’s Homeownership Month theme is “Rural Housing/Rural Jobs.” Communities across the nation [...]

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Despite their current situtation, Americans are optimistic about homeownership. View full article here: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2011060301?OpenDocument

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Despite the housing slump, Americans of all political persuasions have a visceral desire to own their own home. View full article here: http://www.nationaljournal.com/columns/cook-report/the-cook-report-homeownership-still-a-cherished-value-20110602

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Despite all of the news reports about how bad the housing market is, it is actually a great time to buy. Interest rates are low, house prices are more affordable, and many more reasons that make it a great time to buy. Here is the link to the full article: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Why-Its-Time-To-wallstreet-3012977435.html

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Unfortunately the downturn in the housing market has resulted in some attempts by unscrupulous individuals to try to make a buck off of the misfortune of homeowners. Check out the article below for tips to prevent yourself (or someone you know) from falling victim to a foreclosure scam: http://www.houselogic.com/articles/foreclosure-scam-watch-out-phantom-help/  

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The Des Moines Register reported today that property tax assessments in Polk county will decrease by an average of 3.1% as the latest assessment notices are sent to property owners. This is not entirely unexpected after the rough housing market of the last couple of years. However, the good news for property owners is that lower property tax [...]

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 Property owners often have questions about selecting a contractor to perform improvements or maintenance to property. Below are some resources with suggestions for selecting a contractor, agreeing on contract terms, and making payments to the contractor. Finding a contractor or handyman [ or handyperson ] Angie’s list is an online resource that allows consumers to [...]

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The Obama administration recently released three proposals that outline possible solutions to the problems facing the U.S. home mortgage industry. Illustrating one issue in the industry, CNN reports that today government-sponsored entities like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Authority now account for more than 90% of mortgage originations – up from 36% [...]

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