Central Iowa Real Estate Podcast with Misty SOLDwisch

Are you thinking of updating your home but don't know where to start? With so many new styles trending, it's easy to waste time and money on looks that won't last or don't fit your space. In this video, I'll walk you through 7 summer home trends that are popular right now and easy to add to your home. From Japandi style and reading nooks to wellness spaces and bold paint, these ideas can bring fresh energy and comfort without a full remodel. Check out the video to see which updates are worth trying this season.

What are buyers looking for in outdoor spaces this spring? As the weather warms up, many are seeking ways to make the most of their yards, but knowing what features matter most can be tricky. Today, we'll discuss the top outdoor features that are gaining traction, from outdoor kitchens to flexible yards. These features not only elevate a property but also help homeowners envision how they'll use their space. Learn more in my latest video.

Are you ready to buy a home in Iowa but unsure where to start? With so many factors at play, making the right decisions can be tricky. Today, we will cover key considerations for your home-buying finances, including how to manage finances and how market timing works. For example, you will learn why waiting for interest rates to drop might not be the best strategy. Learn how to make smart home-buying decisions in our latest podcast episode.

Are you wondering when is the right time to buy or sell your home in Central Iowa? If so, I have the latest insights and proven strategies to help you make the best move. Today, I'll share key trends, smart financing options, and modern design tips that make Central Iowa a market worth exploring. You'll learn how affordability, steady home value growth, and innovative financing programs can work in your favor. Check out my video for more actionable tips and expert advice.

Are high housing costs making you rethink where you live? You're not alone. Many people are searching for affordable states with stable markets. After all, living beyond your budget is not ideal—especially in this economy. That's why today, I will reveal the top 10 most affordable states and explain why Iowa is a standout choice. From low utility costs to a steady real estate market, Iowa offers financial security that many states can't match. Learn more in my latest video.

Have you ever wanted to paint a room with dark colors but didn't? I get it; many home design experts in the past have advised against deep colors, believing they will make spaces look cramped or uninviting. But in reality, dark tones can add warmth, depth, and a sophisticated edge to any room when used correctly. Today, we will discuss how to balance dark paint with lighting, furniture, and strategic design choices for a bold yet cozy look. Learn more in my latest video.

Are you unsure about which flooring to choose for your home in 2025? With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to find the right fit. Today, we highlight the top flooring trends that could elevate your home's look while offering long-lasting durability. From pre-engineered hardwood to easy-maintenance finishes, we cover the best options for every budget. Learn how to choose the perfect flooring for your space today.

Did you know that Barbara Corcoran, the real estate mogul and Shark Tank investor, has personally endorsed Misty Darling from the MistySoldTeam at Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Innovations? Not only that, but Barbara has been a trusted mentor to Misty for the past 11 years, helping her develop the most effective strategies to get homes sold—fast and for top dollar.

Are you confused by what "priced to sell" really means in real estate? Misinterpreting this term could lead to missed opportunities or setting the wrong expectations for your goals. Today, I will dive into the true meaning of priced to sell and uncover how it can influence decisions in the real estate market. Whether you're buying or selling, grasping this concept is essential for making smarter moves. Learn how to use this term to your advantage today!

Our team wants to wish you a very merry Christmas this holiday season.

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 states with the highest vacancy rates are Vermont and Maine at 22%. Iowa's is 10.7%. “There's a lot of hidden inventory out there.” There are a variety of reasons why homes are vacant. In the Des Moines market, a significant portion of the homes sold in 2021 were vacant. Often, homes are left unoccupied because the owners purchased a new house before putting their old home on the market. It could also be that the house is in foreclosure, is in a distressed state, or is a vacation home. Perhaps a couple had separate residences and then moved in together, leaving one property vacant. There's a lot of hidden inventory out there. With the market as hot as it is, there's comfort in buying your next home first and then putting your old home on the market. That way, you don't have to worry about bridging two loans or doing a delicate balancing act.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us by phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you.

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 community, and one way we do that is by asking what's important to our agents. This dodgeball tournament was Children's Cancer Connection's first one ever, but they have a volleyball tournament that we attend every year, at which we always have a ton of fun. We have an agent, Jason Henness, whose family was affected by childhood cancer, and they took advantage of the amazing program that Children's Cancer Connection offers. It's been a part of their life for a long time, and it's wonderful that he has brought us into that fold. Plus, the events are super fun! “If you have a cause that's important to you and in need, please reach out to us.” If you are not familiar with their work, Children's Cancer Connection sends kids with cancer to camps. That way, they can be around other children who are going through the same thing. It's definitely tough for kids with cancer, but the foundation also looks after the siblings. They have a camp for siblings as well so that they can find the support and friendship they need. It's such a wonderful idea, and it comes at little to no cost to the families. When you go to the events, you can tell that everyone there has benefited from the program, and they are so grateful. It proves how great the organization is. Also, a portion of every transaction our team does goes to charity. This past month, we heard that the Mighty Maddy Mission was doing a special drive for some of their projects, so we reached out to them. We also contributed to the Helping Hand of Indianola, a food pantry organization. We have funds available to donate in the coming months, so if you have a cause that's important to you and in need, please reach out to us. We'd love to help with causes that are part of our community. If you have any questions or would like to suggest a charity, just call or email us. We would love to hear from you.

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 Moines and Central Iowa. We are the team that Barbara trusts. Our personalized marketing plan sells more homes for more money, and if we can't find the right buyer on your deadline, we will buy the home.  Misty joined Barbara in New York City recently to talk more about real estate strategy, and the result is our newest commercial.  We are proud to work with Barbara for the past several years as her preferred agent in Central Iowa. To get the best marketing for your home, visit SOLDinCentralIowa.com and reach out to us by phone or email.

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, some key words related to his field, and how Title Services can protect homebuyers. What is Title Services of Des Moines? Title Services is a team of 17 professionals, all of whom contribute to the title process. Some are searchers, some help prepare the documents, some pick up abstracts from realty offices, and so on. Matthew himself is an attorney who has always worked with real estate law. When he graduated law school from Drake University back in 1993, he immediately started working at Iowa Title Guarantee, where he spent 21 years. “As a home purchaser, you can protect yourself by going through the Iowa Title Guarantee program.” What is an abstract, and what is a deed? An abstract is just a summary of all the matters that would affect a piece of real estate, including liens, second mortgages, and estates. Instead of putting all those documents into one folder, an abstract simply summarizes them, beginning when the property was deeded from the state to a certain person. It can trace back all of the title holders on a property, as well as anything that may have happened with those peoples' probates, deeds, dissolutions, marriages, etc. On the other hand, deeds are instruments of transfer and show who is the current owner of the property. What does Title Services do for homebuyers? As a home purchaser, you can protect yourself by going through the Iowa Title Guarantee program, who will help you make sure that there aren't any unforeseen issues with the title that could disrupt or derail your attempts to purchase a property. If you have questions about what kinds of specific protections you can get with Title Services or any questions about the real estate process in general, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We'd love to hear from you.

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 to take advantage of all the programs offered by the Neighborhood Finance Corporation, you need to be in an NFC lending area. What qualifies a place as an NFC lending area? The best way to find out is to visit the interactive map on their website. There, you'll find all the NFC lending areas shaded in green. You can even plug in the address of the house you're interested in purchasing, and it will show you if that property is located within an NFC lending area. If a buyer is looking at a home within one of the approved lending areas, the NFC can pre-qualify them and help create a budget that will get them ready to buy. “If you live in the house for more than five years, $10,000 will be forgiven.” As a nonprofit mortgage company, the NFC's mission is neighborhood revitalization. Every loan they offer is a renovation loan; a portion of each loan goes towards improving your new or existing home. If you live in the house for more than five years, $10,000 will be forgiven. Over time, these loans can even help get entire neighborhoods up to code. These loans are funded through the NFC's partnerships with local governments. Renovation loans allow someone to combine the cost of home improvements and repairs with the purchase of the home into the same loan. They won't have to do anything until after the loan is closed. Then, the NFC will do a yearly mortgage check-up with the buyer for five years. At the end of those five years, the lien for the forgivable piece of the mortgage goes away. These loans are great for those who otherwise love a house but realize that it needs something like a garage or kitchen update. These loans benefit everyone, whether you're a first-time homeowner or have lived in your home for decades. The great part is that there are no income limitations for these loans. As long as the home is in one of the approved lending areas, anybody can make use of them. If you have any questions about the NFC, its lending areas, or its loan products, visit www.NeighborhoodFinance.org. For any other questions you have about buying a home, give the Misty SOLDwisch Team a call or send an email. We'd love to help you.

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. The trick to selling your home with pets is to make it seem like they don't exist. This means making sure they're out of the house during showings, but it goes beyond that. Hide their bowls, beds, kennels, and anything else that reminds people of your furry friends. Also, make sure your property doesn't smell like wet dogs or litter boxes before folks visit. In past shows, I've mentioned that pet-friendly homes are in high demand right now. You might think that pet-friendly buyers wouldn't mind yours, but you'd be wrong. Just because someone is crazy about their pets doesn't mean they want to be reminded of yours. Plus, other pet owners know how much of a menace our animals can be. Even if you've deep cleaned everything, they could begin to wonder what Fido has torn up while you lived there. “Just because someone is crazy about their pets doesn't mean they want to be reminded of yours.” Speaking of which, you probably know you should repair any pet damage to your home before showings. However, you also may want to repair or remove any furniture damage. They aren't coming with the house, but torn-up couches can make buyers feel uncomfortable. For similar reasons, try to make sure your pets aren't present during showings. Not only is it stressful for your potential buyers, but your pets probably don't appreciate strangers poking around their homes either. A typical goal for an open house is to have 20 or 30 people view your property. That's a lot of people for your pets to deal with. If you have questions about today's topic or anything else related to real estate, please call or email me. I am always willing to help!

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 room. 2. She takes your calls late at night. 3 She worries about you when you don't respond to her many calls, text, and emails. 4. She teaches you how to save your money, set a budget, and helps you stick to it. 5. She makes you do your homework. You need to research what you want. 6. She's a good listener. 7. You drive her to drink. 8. She drives you around and doesn't ask for gas money. 9. She gives you tough love. 10. She's both happy and sad when you move on, but ultimately she's proud to see you pursue your dreams and have been part of the journey. As you can see, a good agent and your mom aren't so different after all. **We're both doing everything in our power to protect you and ensure a bright future for you and your family. ** If you have any questions for us about how we can help you or anything else related to real estate, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

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 building up equity. This is especially great when compared to renting, where you're practically throwing the money away. With interest rates as low as they are, you're building that equity quicker than ever. There is so much opportunity right now to build long-term wealth by buying a home. If you have any real estate questions, reach out to Misty at 515-575-9950. I'd love to talk!

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 contribution even bigger by giving $2,500 to 50 different Central Iowa educators. To enter, go to our website www.SOLDinCentralIowa.com/TeacherGiveaway, tag your favorite teacher (and the school they're from), like our business page, like the post, and share the post. Get the word out and help us celebrate our local teachers! I would like to give special thanks to Home Warranty of America and Eric Bokker at Mortgage Central for making this happen.  What are you waiting for? Head on over to our page and tag your favorite educators. We can't wait to see who wins! We'll announce the winners on Facebook Live on August 19 at 4 p.m. central. If you have any real estate-related questions in the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

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-inspection.” Anything can be fixed in a home, but it's a matter of what it's going to cost. Adam helps give his clients lists of features in the home that have been updated and areas that need work. It's all about getting the most accurate picture of the house as possible. We can avoid negative reports with a pre-inspection. Adam highlights everything that could possibly be wrong at an early stage so you can get ahead of any issues. Even simple maintenance is highlighted so you have an accurate picture. If you have any questions about home inspections, reach out to RightWay at (515) 802-0141 or visit them online. If you have any questions for us, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you.

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 kind of rate you'll get). In general, rates are so low that you could likely afford a house worth $10,000 more than you could just a year ago. So what can we anticipate in terms of big changes coming to the market? Well, the Fed recently said that they didn't anticipate raising interest rates. It's hard to say what will happen in the future given the pandemic, but it's safe to say that now is a good time to act if you're planning to buy a home. If you have questions about interest rates or anything else to do with the real estate market, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We'd love to help you.

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 kind of rate you'll get). In general, rates are so low that you could likely afford a house worth $10,000 more than you could just a year ago. So what can we anticipate in terms of big changes coming to the market? Well, the Feds recently said that they didn't anticipate raising interest rates. It's hard to say what will happen in the future given the pandemic, but it's safe to say that now is a good time to act if you're planning to buy a home. If you have questions about interest rates or anything else to do with the real estate market, don't hesitate to reach out to us at SOLDinCentralIowa.com or Eric Bokker at www.EricBokker.com. We'd love to help you.

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 tastes. Within the last two years, you're seeing a lot more people wanting a modern farmhouse style on an acreage or in rural areas that are relatively close to downtown Des Moines. They want to live that country lifestyle but they want it to be convenient. What are some of the characteristics of the modern farmhouse style? Shiplap above the fireplaces, around the surrounds, and in kitchens above all the cabinetry. A lot of new construction builders are jumping on that bandwagon because they know consumers want it. Large barn doors. A huge sink that you can practically take a bath in. Everybody wants it to be either  stainless steel or all white. Open shelving in the kitchen. Those open shelves are all professionally staged, they have beautiful dishes, and it's tastefully organized. However, the dream of how it will look is very different from the actual function of a family living there. If you have any questions for us about farmhouse-style homes or anything else related to real estate, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

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 industry. Your interest rates, the types of loans you qualify for, and your down payment amount will all be affected by your credit score. With the pandemic, lending requirements have tightened. “Chuck and his team focus on finding solutions for their homebuyer clients.” Typically, the best rates you’ll see are with a credit score of 740 or above. Below that, there are programs in increments of 20. From 720 to 739, there’s an adjustment to your rate. There’s an additional adjustment for rates between 700 and 719. Once you get below 700, your credit score will start to negatively impact the loans you qualify for. If your credit isn’t quite where you want it to be, that’s OK. Chuck and his team focus on finding solutions for borrowers who just aren’t quite there. They take a look at buyers’ credit, give recommendations to improve that credit, and show them what they would be able to qualify for if they did. In one instance, a buyer just had to remove themselves as an authorized user from an account, and their score went up by 100 points. Chuck and his team always find little things like that to take borrowers from barely qualifying to qualifying for a great, long-term loan. If you have any questions for Chuck about mortgages, feel free to reach out to him at (515) 778-8519. If you have any other real estate-related questions for me, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

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 according to your preferences. A lot of advances have been made in terms of energy efficiency for new construction homes as well. The materials used now are dramatically different than the materials used during the ’70s and ’80s. People are often surprised that, even in a more expensive home, their utility costs are much lower. Therefore, the net cost of owning a new construction home is more affordable.  There are also tax advantages to owning a new construction home. There are many metro communities that offer tax abatements. Even in areas that don’t offer tax abatements, property taxes are run in arrears here in Iowa, meaning that we pay them the following year. Last August was when homes were put on the Polk County assessor’s rolls for this fiscal year, so 12 to 18 months can pass by before your property taxes kick in. Plus, you’re only paying for the lot underneath, so that can save you $250 to $350 each month. That’s a tremendous benefit when you’re settling into a new place.  “People are often surprised that, even in a more expensive home, their utility costs are much lower.” As always, if you have questions about this or any real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via phone or email. We’re here to help, and we’d love to hear from you soon!

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 disaster, the seller’s disclosure needs to be updated. The owner of the home is responsible for fixing the damage, but if you are under contract and ready to close, it’s a bit of a different situation. From the mortgage company’s standpoint, they will require that appraisers recheck the property to make sure the asset they’re lending on still has the same value. Even if you’ve gotten past the appraisal already, the bank will send another appraiser and there is a charge for a second appraisal that would not be covered by insurance. “Nobody is obligated to move forward with the sale.” When you’re in the process of closing a home sale during a natural disaster, most insurance companies will also send a representative out to make sure the home is still there. We have verbiage in our purchase agreement that addresses natural disasters. If there is a significant amount of insurable damage, it’s up to the buyer and seller to come to an agreement. Nobody is obligated to move forward with the sale, but they can agree to that. It doesn’t work as well with a mortgage company involved, but it does work better with cash buyers. I came across a home in Polk City recently that was purchased by a homebuyer from Seattle. On the morning of closing, the listing agent called me and told me the ceiling to the kitchen was on the floor and the basement was full of water. Everything had been so smooth and easy, and then this happened. The buyer talked to their insurance agent, and we ended up having the buyers stay in a hotel for the month, but they also got to make all the selections for the repairs in their new home. A pipe burst and it ended up being a huge inconvenience, but the buyer also got new cabinets, new flooring, and the insurance company paid for it all, along with the hotel stay. If you ever run into a situation like this or have any other real estate-related questions, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

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 interviewed to be an agent’s assistant; that agent told her that she would be perfect as an agent and that she should get her license.  So Emily did; she worked as an individual agent for about seven months. It was a difficult time for her. She wanted real estate to be her career, but she was struggling. Solo agents don’t have the support that agents who work on a team do. “‘I can’t imagine doing this amount of business on my own.’” Eventually, in 2017, she received a call from the Misty SOLDwisch Team to schedule an interview, and she’s been with us ever since. The difference between her life as a solo agent and as a member of our team couldn’t be starker. We have multiple departments on our team designed to help our agents succeed, like our client services and transactions departments. Emily also doesn’t have to worry about marketing because our team has systems in place to take care of that so she can focus on working with clients. If you have any questions about working with the Misty SOLDwisch Team or are interested in beginning your real estate career, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you. Interested in talking to us about our current opportunities?  Go to www.JoinMistysTeam.com

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 making one of these mistakes: 1. Don’t change jobs. If you’re getting a mortgage, job stability is a crucial factor. If you do change jobs, let your lender know because there are many extra verifications needed. Not communicating leads to delays in your closing. Just wait a couple of weeks until you close on the house to change jobs. “Don’t get caught making one of these mistakes.” 2. Don’t take on new debt. People often get excited and buy new furniture for their new home right before closing, for example. Even if they won’t be making a payment for 18 months, we still have to stop the process, verify that debt, and build in a payment. In the worst scenarios, this can cause huge problems for buyers. Chuck had to call a client on Black Friday once and ask them to stop making purchases! 3. Don’t miss any payments. Don’t miss payments or pay them late. Keep showing your creditworthiness. We don’t have to pull credit again for four months, but if you’ve missed a payment during that time, it causes issues.  These blunders are why it’s so critical to work with an expert who educates you about the process, though occasionally we have to explain it again because some people don’t quite make the connection as to why this is such essential advice. The lesson from today: Keep your situation the same while you wait to close on a property. If you have any questions about these buyer errors or real estate in general, please reach out to me. I would love to help you. Visit the Motto Mortgage Midwest site here!

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 conveyed by this strategy. The approach I take involves going back to the buyers, letting them know that we have a multiple-offer situation, and asking if they’d like to make any adjustments to their offer before proceeding.  With this method, we can counter any of the offers that come in. It doesn’t just have to be the highest-priced offer; I think that’s something a lot of people get caught up on. A lot of agents don’t explain to their clients that price isn’t the only thing that should be considered; terms like the earnest money deposit or inspection period are very important, too. If you have any questions for me about how to choose the best offer or compete against multiple buyers in this market, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

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 home. If you work with an inexperienced agent who doesn’t have a strategy, you’ll end up making offer after offer with nothing to show for it. The key is to work with the right agent. Additionally, there are six tips to help make your offer stand out in a multiple-offer situation:  1. Have a strategy in the presentation. My team and I sell hundreds of listings each year, and I can tell you that your agent isn’t doing you any favors by just sharing your offer and not saying anything about it. This leads me to my second tip… 2. Share the love. We often have our buyers write a letter or take a picture of themselves to share with sellers because it’s a way of adding a personal touch and showing why they love the home. Many of us have a sentimental connection to our homes, which means sellers will want a buyer who will enjoy their home the way they did.  3. Shorten or waive contingencies. You don’t want to make it difficult for the seller to like you. Asking for things like closing costs, a 21- day inspection period (as opposed to the normal seven-day period), or professionally painted walls is a good way to do just that.  “Have a strategy to win and don’t try offering less than the list price.” 4. Pre-inspect the home. This is somewhat of a continuation of the previous tip, since getting a pre-inspection allows you to waive the inspection contingency in your offer. Plus, it will help you uncover any potential problems with the home.  5. Make your best offer. In other words, don’t test the seller by offering less than what you’re able. In a multiple-offer situation, it behooves you to put your cards on the table. You don’t want to miss out on the home you want over $500 or $1,000.  6. Make it easy for the seller. For example, they may have to wait to take possession of their next home, so give them extended possession of your home after closing to make the moving process easier.  Remember—win the bidding war for the home you want before worrying about the appraisal, inspection, etc. Have a strategy to win and don’t try offering less than the list price. If a home has hit the market in the last week and it has multiple offers, that means it’s priced or underpriced for the market, which means you’re underpaying by paying the asking price.  If you’d like to know more about how to win the home you want or there’s anything else I can assist you with, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

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 are going through the process, the home inspection is the most stressful stage because someone else is critiquing every aspect of the home.  Part of the stress comes from the fact that, after the seller has negotiated everything down to the penny, they’ll then have to go through a second negotiation 10 days later based on the results of their inspection. There are many things that can come up during the inspection that might scare buyers, even if those things aren’t that big of a deal. “With our certified pre-owned program, your home will be fully vetted, which allows you to choose what repairs you’ll take care of and know the cost of those items.” We explain to our sellers that we want to put them in the driver’s seat of this part of the process. With our certified pre-owned program, your home will be fully vetted, which allows you to choose what repairs you’ll take care of and know the cost of those items. That way, when you’re negotiating the sale price, you can have that in mind instead of having to take care of thousands of dollars in surprise repairs after you already thought your home was sold.  Our Certified Pre-Owned Home program also includes a 13-month home warranty through Home Warranty of America to help repair or replace any issues found with a seller’s major systems—home warranties usually last for 12 months, so you’ll get a bonus month from HWA! If you have any questions about our certified pre-owned program, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to give you more information and help you take charge of your home sale.

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 of pre-inspections, things that tend to surprise sellers about inspections, and the kinds of technology that help inspectors spot issues that homeowners might not even be aware of. “Do you need to be a certified home inspector?” There are a lot of really good inspectors in the state who were previously in the HVAC, plumbing, or construction industries, and that prior experience is a big plus for consumers. “How important is a pre-inspection?” Instead of having to negotiate twice, it just makes sense for a seller to get everything out of the way with a pre-inspection.  “What kinds of things do people need to do to prepare for an inspection?” If you already know there are issues with your home, Adam recommends taking care of them before he comes to your home for the inspection. In terms of preparing the house, that homeowners need to provide clear access to things like your furnace, electrical panel, attic, etc.  “Do the sellers need to be present for the inspection?” They don’t have to be, but it’s great if they are. That way, Adam can explain what items buyers are concerned about and what sellers should do to prevent issues later on in the transaction.  “What is a thermal camera?” Thermal cameras are a special type of camera that allows Adam to see differences in heat within the home. This allows him to spot issues that sellers might not know about because they can’t see them. “What are the biggest surprises during an inspection?” Sellers often don’t realize how hazardous electrical panels can be. For more information about home inspections and the services that Adam and Rightway Home Inspections offer, visit their website or call him at (515) 802-0141. In the meantime, if you have any questions about buying or selling homes, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Misty SOLDwisch Home Selling Team. We’re here to help. Listen to “The Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard” with Misty SOLDwisch and Heather Burnside Sundays 9:30am on KXnO.”

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 following the end of stay-at-home orders. Millennials in particular are predicted to lead the way back into a positive, purchase-driven housing cycle. Let’s connect soon to discuss your real estate goals! To learn more from the experts, watch the short video above.

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 necessarily go through the home physically. We have had many of these tools and services for quite some time and have used them successfully with out-of-state buyers or people who, for whatever reason, couldn’t go to the house. A few of the services we offer virtually are consultations, tours, open houses, electronically signing paperwork, and more. To learn further about buying a home during this pandemic, watch our latest video above. 

Showing homes to clients only makes up about 5% of what an agent does, but you can make it 100%. On the latest episode of my podcast with Van and Bonnie, I have exciting news to share: The Misty SOLDwisch Home Selling Team is looking for showing agents to show houses for our team.   It’s no secret that I love real estate. There are so many different aspects of it, and we’re making a difference in people’s lives. Being in real estate also means you have to be good at many different things. It’s not just about showing a house—you have to do paperwork, handle inspections, etc.  That’s the advantage our team brings to the table. We have people who fill specialized roles, and this new role we’re launching is designed for people who love focusing on the fun part of real estate and don’t want to handle the more challenging aspects of it.  “This position is a great fit for anyone that loves spending time with people and helping them find their dream home.” A lot of people tell me they want to sell real estate because they love looking at houses, but the reality is that showing houses is only about 5% of what a full-time agent does. This new role makes showing homes 100% of the job.  The agents in this new role will set their own schedule to show houses for our clients. Instead of working on commission, they’ll earn an hourly rate for simply being there for our clients during the fun part of real estate. Having a real estate license is a requirement for the job, but we’re flexible with schedules. This position is a great fit for anyone that loves spending time with people and helping them find their dream home. The right candidate can be part-time or full-time, depending on what their needs are.  No one else in the industry offers this role to the same degree that we do, but I’m excited about it because I know there are some great people out there who’d love to be in the business on a more expanded level. If they have a real estate license and aren’t putting it to good use, or their career hasn’t turned out exactly how they wanted it, this could be their solution. So if you know someone who wants to get paid to show a bunch of brand-new houses to families looking for their dream home, give me a call today or visit www.SOLDinCentralIowa.com. I’d love to hear from you.

If you’re a home seller, knowing the latest in home design and style will help your home shine much brighter. Here’s why. I’m back once again with Max Wilker, the Style Director for Better Homes and Gardens. This time, he’s here to give us some quick tips on freshening up your home decor to help maximize your sale price. Here’s an outline of our conversation, with timestamps so that you can skip ahead to the section(s) that interest you the most: 0:34- How to freshen up your dining room and kitchen spaces with the latest styles and trends 3:15- A great alternative to installing marble countertops 4:10- Some of the latest living room design trends 6:30- Bed and bedroom design trends and staging tips Thanks so much to Max for joining me and giving out so many great tips for freshening up the most important parts of your home before selling. If you have any questions for me in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I would love to hear from you.

Today Max Wilker from Better Homes & Gardens is here to talk about the trends and decorating motifs that are sweeping the housing industry. Today’s guest Max Wilker is the Style Director at Better Homes & Gardens, so he definitely has his finger on the pulse of the hottest trends in home decorating. He’s here today to share some insight about what’s in and what’s out in terms of home decor. Max informs me that butterflies, bugs, and insects are increasingly popular decorating motifs. This includes things like stylized dragonflies on dinnerware and/or butterflies on pillows. Additionally, textures are a huge trend right now, and manufacturers are coming up with unique ways to tap into it. For example, Max showed me a butterfly pillow where the butterfly itself was printed onto the fabric, but then an embroidery overlay was added to give the image some texture and depth. “A decorative motif that brings the outdoors inward can definitely give your home a warm, inviting, and comfortable feel.” Next, realistic bird motifs are gaining popularity. In the past, more whimsical bird motifs were popular, but the market has circled back around to realism, including things such as lifelike illustrations of native birds on dinnerware, fabric patterns, clocks, and more. Continuing in the vein of bringing the outdoors into the home, botanical prints are also coming back to the market. Whether they’re stylized and monochrome or they’re detailed and lifelike, these motifs are a classic, beautiful addition to a home that can give it an upscale feel. They would look great in a modern loft or an industrial farmhouse. Finally, given how bold, natural motifs are surging forward in the market, it follows that furniture, light fixtures, accessories, and decorative pieces made from rattan, bamboo, and reeds are becoming popular, too. Especially here in Iowa, where the winter gets bitter and everything outside is buried in snow, having a decorative motif that brings the outdoors inward can definitely give your home a warm, inviting, and comfortable feel. If you have any questions about this or other real estate topics, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you.

Homebuyers: Follow these 10 real estate commandments to ensure you make it all the way to the closing table. If you’re a homebuyer and you want to be sure to make it to closing, follow these 10 real estate commandments:  Thou shall not: 1. Change jobs or become self-employed. If you change your industry or how you’re compensated, it can really shake up how the mortgage approval process goes for you. 2. Buy a new vehicle. Even if your car is totaled, it’s very important that you wait until after closing to replace it; anything that affects your credit can really affect your ability to get approved. 3. Buy new furniture. Wait until after you’ve closed, no matter how exciting, because, again, changes to your bank statements/credit can negatively affect your ability to get a loan. 4. Fall behind on credit card payments. It can be tempting to skip a payment one month and just catch up next month, but this can have a massive effect on your credit score. Lenders do credit checks prior to closing even if you already had one. 5. Omit financial debts or liabilities from your loan application. If you forget to inform your lender of liabilities that don’t come up until later in the underwriting process—like deferred loans or loans you’ve co-signed—those can catch up with you later. “Anything that affects your credit can really affect your ability to get approved.” 6. Stop paying current mortgage or rent. Most lenders follow the guideline that if you’re more than 15 days past due with your mortgage payment, you then have to go a full 12 months of making on-time payments in order to qualify. 7. Allow additional credit inquiries. 8. Co-sign on a loan. Even if it’s for your kids, wait until after you’ve closed. 9. Make large deposits into your bank account. If your lender finds deposits that can’t be accounted for, that’s a red flag. Those funds need to be seasoned in your account so that it’s not considered a potential liability. 10. Change banks/accounts or do excessive transfers. Lenders want to understand where your money is coming from so they have a real sense of your ability to pay and what kinds of obligations you have. If you follow these 10 real estate commandments, it will make the process of getting all the way to the closing table much easier. If you have any questions about buying or selling a home, reach out to us. I’m always here to help.

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!

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 pie today.  You can pick up your pie on Monday, November 25 at our West Des Moines location or on Tuesday, November 26 at our Indianola location. While you’re picking up your pie at our Indianola location, there will also be a holiday shop there, and we’ll have all sorts of giveaways and prizes for you as well. “Make sure to reserve your free pie today!” If you have any questions for us about the event or real estate in general, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email today. We look forward to hearing from you soon. RESERVE YOUR PIE NOW: Just go to http://www.soldincentraliowa.com/pumpkinpie and complete the form or call 515-229-9764 to reserve yours. A special THANK YOU to our sponsors:

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 home design trends. Max says that the quickest way to update a home is with color, and he’s excited to show us how today. Here’s an outline of our discussion with timestamps so that you can skip ahead to the section(s) that interest you the most: 0:45- What paint colors are going to be the most popular in 2020? 1:30- Why black continues to be such a strong color, especially with furniture 2:15- The return to charcoal gray 3:42- Denim is making a comeback in many different forms 5:20- How to bring the outdoors inside with vibrant shades of green 6:16- How sand and sandstone are playing a role in the latest design trends 7:30- Max’s color design advice for Central Iowa homeowners Thanks so much to Max for joining me to talk about the latest color design trends. If you have any questions for me in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.

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 including supply and demand, communication, and the three most important things you need to know as a seller. Here’s an outline of our discussion, with timestamps, so that you can skip around to the section(s) that interest you the most: 0:30- The three most important things that you need to know as a home seller1:15- What’s your “competition” on the market?2:15- The role that market saturation plays in your home-selling strategy3:20- Why it’s so important to know your timeline as a home seller4:05- How our “Sold or I’ll buy it” program works5:00- How communication plays a major role in our sellers’ success If you have any questions about anything that I discussed in the video above, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

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 we love to do is allow you use of our moving truck. If access to our moving truck could help you with a charitable event you’re hosting or participating in at some point in the future, please let us know. We’d be happy to help. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

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 questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you. 

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 work to put your interests first and will go above and beyond in ways the standard agent won’t.   In the video above, you can listen to my full interview with Van and Bonnie, where I cover such topics as our Love It or Leave It Program, other special services and tools we offer our clients, the emotional side of moving, and so much more.      If you have any questions about what we covered today or if you’re looking for professional guidance in the buying or selling process, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you!  

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 terms of our real estate market.  In the video above, you can listen to my interview with Van and Bonnie, during which I cover topics like inventory, home values, and more.  If you have any questions about our market or would like help with your buying or selling needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

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 scratch.  New construction homes allow buyers to fully customize every detail of their next home. Working with an agent who has experience with these kinds of homes really opens up a lot of doors for buyers.  Some fear that the new construction process may be too long or too complex, but the truth is that many great builders in Central Iowa can make building a home easy and stress-free. “If your dream home doesn’t exist, why not build it?” Our team would be happy to streamline the process even more by offering our professional guidance throughout your home building experience.  A lot of communities in Central Iowa even offer tax abatements, and many builders have strong relationships with local lenders who can give you some generous financing incentives. So building a new home can actually be quite affordable with the right approach.  All in all, if your dream home doesn’t exist, why not build it? We would be happy to help you to do so. Or, if you’re still willing to search the open market, we would also love to guide you to a resale home that fits your needs.  If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon. 

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 to your own.  Tax benefits related to mortgage interest deductions and depreciation are also a major advantage for real estate investors. Beyond that, properties appreciate over time, making real estate a very powerful way to build wealth.  At this point, you may be thinking to yourself, “Well, that sounds great. But what about taking care of the property? I don’t want to get a phone call in the middle of the night from a tenant asking me to fix their leaky faucet.”  “Renting out investment properties is an incredible way to create passive income.” This concern is completely understandable, but also easy to resolve. Many rental investors feel this way, which is why they hire a property management company to take care of these tasks for them. Property management companies can handle all of the logistics of running a rental property for a very affordable price, depending on who you work with.   As for the kind of property you should invest in, there is no one correct answer. It simply depends on your goals. So if you are thinking of investing in real estate, please reach out to me. I would be happy to speak to you more about how investment properties work and connect you to an experienced, local mortgage professional.  If you have any other questions, would like more information, or would like to be on the mailing list of one of the real estate investing seminars my team will be hosting in the upcoming months, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

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 for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch the full message or use these timestamps to browse specific topics at your leisure:  0:35- Why our team structure makes what we do so special to our clients 1:45- A unique role that we’re hiring for right now 2:30- How long does it take to get a real estate license? 3:30- Why becoming a home buying specialist is a great way to start your real estate career 4:00- The type of person who’d be a perfect fit for this role 4:50- One of the first things I make our new agents do 5:35- How to take the first step if you’re considering a career in real estate I hope this conversation was helpful to you. Head on over to Joinmistysteam.com to get an even better idea of if a career in real estate on our team might be right for you. If you have any other questions for me in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

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 direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch the full message or use these timestamps to browse specific topics at your leisure: ** 0:14 - An introduction to today’s topic 0:39 - When do you need an inspection and who needs to order it? 1:41 - What’s the purpose of a home inspection? 2:25 - Who should you hire to perform a home inspection? 3:22 - Can (and should) inspections be ordered ahead of time? 6:17 - How much does a home inspection usually cost? 6:49 - Explaining the additional inspections you can order on top of the general one 8:32 - A few closing words If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

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 property assessment process 1:45- Is a high assessment good for home sellers? 3:15- What can you do if you’re not happy with your property’s assessment? 4:20- How can we help? 6:00- Why inaccurate information can hurt your home sale 7:05- Why I’m not shocked that most people’s assessments have gone up and why it’s actually a good thing If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.