Southwest Iowa Real Estate Info

Lake Ohana Virtual Tour

2008-04-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

Lake Ohana Lots Now Available in Phase 1A and 1B

2008-03-21T15:47:00.000-07:00

Located only 15 minutes from the metro....you'll feel a million miles away in this planned development that'll revolve around the family.

With all of its improvements geared around relaxing, country and outdoor living, Lake Ohana is more than just a place to call home, it's the perfect family destination.

Lake Ohana is truly one-of-a-kind. Offering incomparable building sites and carefully planned amenities to complement its natural assets, this development is definitely the first of its kind in the surrounding Omaha/Council Bluffs area.

The development's private lakes, meandering trails and green spaces yearns and beckons to be explored and used by its homeowners.

Due to the diverse topography, each lake has its own unique characteristics and is being developed for specific uses.

On the big lake or “Lake Ohana” all the necessary documentation, research and investigations required by the various agencies are being finalized and construction is anticipated to begin in the Spring/Summer of 2008.

Give me a call if you're interested in purchasing a lot or need additional information about the development.

Lake Ohana, Efanz, Bring Broadband Wi-Fi Internet to Rural Iowa

2008-03-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

Current and future residents of Lake Ohana, a 700 acre development just north of Glenwood, Iowa will enjoy their quiet, rural home and get affordable high-speed Internet. But, it’s not just your typical broadband Internet service that they will be using.

Efanz, Inc. a Wi-Fi Internet provider and Timberline Holdings, LLC, the developer, announce an agreement to launch Efanz’ Wi-Fi Internet access for the residents of Lake Ohana. The service, which is distributed above ground through a series of connected radio antennas, offers speeds, security and reliability that rivals or exceeds traditional “wired” service. But even that doesn’t tell the whole story. “The best way to describe the Lake Ohana deployment is that we are creating a large Internet “hotspot” that will ultimately provide mobile, wireless Internet access across the entire property”, said Roger Willey, Vice President of Marketing for Efanz. “Being able to access the Internet, through any Wi-Fi ready device, at any given time is true third-generation wireless service”.

Rural areas and smaller cities have long been neglected, or even ignored by traditional Internet providers. “In all fairness to the traditional providers of broadband Internet, the cost to deploy fiber cable in the ground prohibits them from servicing less populated areas” said Verlyn Veldhouse, President of Efanz. “And, the service quality of traditional wireless has not always met expectations”. “Our technology requires an investment, but we are able to blanket large areas with service at a fraction of the cost.” “Thus making it a reliable and capable service as well as a viable business”.

Timberline Holdings President, Craig Nakamoto, felt it was an important feature to bring to Lake Ohana. “High-speed Internet has become an important amenity for families today”. “Being able to work from home, complete school projects or enjoy the best of what the Internet has to offer is more of a necessity than a luxury.” “I felt that it was just as important to invest in this service as it was in other property improvements in order to meet the needs of Lake Ohana residents.”

Lake Ohana Wi-Fi is expected to be launched in late May and will offer each resident true broadband speeds. The service will include all the features traditionally offered with Internet service as well as an affordable price. “The price has yet to be finalized, but we expect it will be very competitive with other high quality service, “ said Mr. Nakamoto.

Lake Ohana is located 8 miles south of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Timberline Holdings has completed the first of two planned development phases, which calls for 300 plus homes, a small shopping center and two lakes.

Bluffs' newest shopping development: The Marketplace

2006-09-21T06:19:00.000-07:00

A March 2008 opening is anticipated for The Marketplace Council Bluffs, a 400,000-square-foot retail shopping center on the southeast corner of the South 24th Street-Interstate 80 interchange.

Joe Kutilek, a partner with John Hughes in Omaha-based Magnum Development Corp., confirmed that plans have been submitted to the Council Bluffs Community Development Department.

"We're just going through the site plan," he said. "Just a commercial development, retail, 50 acres."

Kutilek said the plans are expected to go to the Planning Commission for review on Oct. 10. Leases aren't finalized, but plans call for a 103,000-square-foot anchor tenant. The property already is zoned for commercial use.

Magnum has a concept for how the company would like to develop The Marketplace, but Kutilek said there are still a number of processes to go through with the city; and he can't say how many tenants eventually would locate there.

The Marketplace joins Metro Crossing Shopping Center as a new Council Bluffs retail development. The City Council has approved Metro Crossing's preliminary plans. That project is planned for 85 acres west of Interstate 29 between the South Omaha Bridge Road and the Lake Manawa Power Centre.

It is expected to offer more than 500,000 square feet of retails space with room for as many as 30 different stores, with Kohl's department store as a likely anchor. Mark Anderson of Anderson Construction, CB Richard-Ellis and Kimco Realty Corp., one of the nation's leading retail developers, are involved with Metro Crossing.

Mayor Tom Hanafan said he heard a proposal for The Marketplace a few months ago and wasn't certain that it would happen.

"We're seeing a lot of different developments we didn't see before," he said. "That's nice to see."

Magnum Development buys existing properties and upgrades them and often brings in new tenants, Kutilek said. The company is involved in a 60-acre project with a Super Target at 120th and L Street in Omaha where dirt is expected to begin moving this fall. Magnum is partnering with Cormac, an Omaha-based commercial developer, on that project.

The development of the former Ak-Sar-Ben Racetrack property is another Magnum project, and Kutilek said the firm does much of its work outside the metro area.

Mills County Not Giving Up Bid to Halt Lake Draining

2006-09-05T08:43:00.000-07:00

By John Ferak, Omaha World-Herald, Neb

A judge has cleared the way for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to drain part of a Mills County lake. Lake residents and the Mills County Board, however, are still weighing their options to preserve Pony Creek Lake.

In April, 15 homeowners at the Pony Creek subdivision near Glenwood received letters from the Department of Natural Resources saying their homes, built in the 1970s and 1980s, violated flood control rules. The department told them it planned to begin lowering the lake about 20 feet by April 30. The development includes more than 130 homes.

Several residents protested, saying homes along the lake have withstood numerous heavy rainstorms during the past 35 years without flooding.

The Mills County Attorney's Office received a temporary injunction from a judge to halt the project while the full court decision was pending.

Wednesday, months after hearing both sides' arguments, Mills County District Judge Gordon Abel issued his ruling in favor of the Department of Natural Resources.

Abel wrote that his court did not have proper jurisdiction for the dispute. The judge said the State of Iowa has delegated such matters of water control and floodplains to the Department of Natural Resources.

Assistant Mills County Attorney Eric Hansen said the Mills County Board would meet Tuesday to decide whether to appeal or begin discussions with the department to resolve the dispute.
"The ruling puts us back to square one," Hansen said. "I still don't look for any immediate action from the DNR. I suspect they would wait at least 30 days. They still have to follow all of their administrative rules and procedures."

Kelly Stone, a Department of Natural Resources representative, said Wednesday that his agency has not decided whether to drain Pony Creek Lake.

The manmade lake is about 11/2 miles long and is up to a half-mile wide and 30 feet deep. Cranes, bald eagles, geese and wild turkeys live along the banks and 240 acres of surrounding woodlands.

"Draining a portion of the lake is still the quickest and easiest method to mitigate the flood hazard," Stone said. "But it is not a certain yes. We are willing to look at any proposal. Everything is open to discussion. We hope to have a final resolution by next year's flood season."

Pricing Right Sellers' Job No. 1

2006-08-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

by M. Anthony Carr

It seems during a slowing market, the last person to get the message that the house needs a lower price is the seller. After all, the seller has the most to lose by "improving" the price and it's a tough decision to let go of a dream of cashing out.

A sellers market builds over time. If new jobs enter a particular area and housing doesn't keep pace, home shortages create a sellers market where prices increase and bidding wars begin. Then, one of two events happen to make a market cool down: the economy stops growing or prices become too expensive (combined with an ample supply of rentals). A normalized/buyers market is born and sellers need to get on board or hit the showers.

In the Washington, D.C. area, jobs are continuing to enter the market at a projected rate of 65,000 in 2006 (which is on top of more than 70,000 new jobs in 2005). According to the Center of Regional Analysis at George Mason University, the area has a deficit of housing by about 160,000 units. With plenty of rentals available this past year and skittish buyers, the area has just come off one of its hottest markets ever. It's cooled, slowed, normalized.

When people ask if it's crashing, I just point out that if you were driving at 120 mph and slowed to 75 mph, how would it feel? The lower speed limit may seem a lot slower, but it's still faster than the speed limit. We're running at that fast, but slower pace, now.

Nevertheless, as inventories grow and days on market increase, those in the business know what will sell a house more than anything else -- a price correction. Call it "reduced," "price cut," "realignment," "price improvement," "repositioning," or whatever you want -- the price needs to come down to where the buyers are biting.

I've collected quite a few excuses that sellers and some agents hold onto, instead of biting the bullet and bringing down the price.

"My house is worth it." Well, according to who? Usually, this statement is followed by a shopping list of items that have been added to the house: hardwood floors, 9-foot ceilings, new appliances, upgraded bath/kitchen, you name it. Yeah, your house is unique, just like everybody else's. The reality is while your house may have all those neat amenities, so do the other dozens, scores or hundreds of homes in your market area that are also on the market.

"It's a great looking house." It better look great if it's going to beat out the competition. Location, price and condition will always be a factor in any market. It may look great, but looks have nothing to do with real value. When you start thinking that your house pales all the competition it means one thing you probably haven't seen other houses like yours on the market.

"I have to get this much or I can't sell." Oh, I really like this one. What a seller needs doesn't matter to the buyer. The buyer is looking for as much value in a community of high-priced houses. In the DC area, the average price lingers around $550,000. For that price, many buyers want the house to look good, have plenty of amenities and be connected with a realistic seller who is motivated.

"If I can't get my price, then I'll take it off the market." My question to that statement is: "Then why are you on the market to begin with?" Look at what it's going to take to sell your home and realize your true goal -- getting that next property. Looking at only what your house will draw is too short sighted. The real question is, "What kind of deal can I get on the next house?"

The reality of most sellers, when they are dropping the asking price, is that they are still walking away with a boatload of money, just not as much as they wanted. They really haven't "lost" anything. They've doubled their gain. When pricing your house, look at these hard-core realities: what were the last few "solds" in my type of home; what is my true goal -- to get a certain amount of gain, or to get to the next house; and, finally, am I really in the game or am I playing around? Get serious. Price right. Get the next home of your dreams.

2006 Iowa State Fair

2006-07-31T09:39:00.000-07:00

The internationally-acclaimed Iowa State Fair annually attracts more than a million fun-lovers from around the world. In 2005, Midwest Living magazine named the event one of the "Top 30 Things Every Midwesterner Should Experience." The Fair's Sesquicentennial celebration in 2004 was named the #2 choice for summer fun in America by USA Weekend.

Considered America's classic state fair, Iowa's ag-extravaganza is also featured in the New York Times best-selling travel book, "1000 Places to See Before You Die." The book has been described as "an around-the-world, continent-by-continent listing of places guaranteed to give you the shivers." Iowa's Fair is spotlighted as the only Iowa destination and the only state fair in the country as one of the world's must-see events.

A proud tradition since 1854, the Fair inspired the internationally-acclaimed novel, “State Fair,” three motion pictures, plus Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Broadway musical. Special features include one of the world's largest livestock shows, the country's largest state fair foods department (approx. 900 classes), the state's largest arts show, hundreds of competitive events and wacky contests; 600 plus exhibitors and concessionaires selling quality and tasty treats, and 160 rolling acres of campgrounds.

Click here for additional information.

7th Annual Iowa Sales Tax Holiday

2006-07-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

Iowa's 7th annual sales tax holiday is set for Friday, August 4 and Saturday, August 5, 2006.

Follow the link for a list of items to determine if your purchase is taxable or not on August 4 and 5.

http://www.state.ia.us/tax/educate/STHList.pdf

New Winery Offers a Taste of the Old World

2006-06-18T11:45:00.000-07:00

NICOLE WEIS

GLENWOOD - Seeing King's Crossing Vineyard and Winery for the first time may make people think they have taken a step back in time - perhaps that they have taken a couple hundred steps back to the medieval times.

The old world-themed winery celebrated its grand opening Memorial Day weekend.
King's Crossing is just one of the latest wineries to emerge in southwest Iowa but stands out from the others with its original design.

"The theme is very different and distinct," said co-owner Karen Foster. "The whole thing is done in old world style. We chose the name King's Crossing to honor God, the creator of everything, and because King is an old family name. Also, with the old world theme, we thought it might be a place where a king might stop by in the olden days."

From the hand carved panels to the medieval styled doors to the vines painted on the floor, Karen and her husband, Rick, built the 1,600-square-foot winery building themselves. The pair also built their own house in 1998. The self-proclaimed risk-takers began their vineyard in 2002 with little experience in agriculture.

"We always liked having land and wanted to grow something," Karen said, "so we decided on grapes."

After attending conferences on grape-growing and becoming members of the Western Iowa Grape Growers Association, the couple can now speak about the grape-growing and wine-making process fluently.

Karen mostly tends to the 2½ acres of grapes and vines while Rick focuses on being the expert in the fermentation process of wine. Last year, the couple celebrated their first light harvest with about 7,000 bottles of wine.

While the seven different varieties of wines are ready to go for opening day weekend, Karen isn't quite sure if everything else will be finished.

"Well, we're going to have to be (done)," she said. "But there will always be more to do. We really just need to finish up the outdoor seating."

Next to the outdoor seating is the most unique part about King's Crossing - a giant checker board. The Fosters are hoping to host checker tournaments as well as other events once the winery is up and running.

"We're planning on having workshops to learn about the wine-making process and to have local craftspeople sell their crafts in the winery."

King's Crossing is located at 53086 260th Street in Glenwood, just south the corner of 260th and Dobney; two miles south of Mineola and two miles west of Silver City.

For more information or directions visit www.kingscrossingvineyard.com or call (712) 526-2873.

Another opportunity to visit King's Crossing and the other six Western Iowa wineries will be at the annual BBQ wine trail event held on July 15-16. Tickets will be available through the wineries or by visiting www.westerniowawinetrail.com.

FSBO or Not

2006-06-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

By Robert J. Bruss, Inman News

DEAR BOB:
Twelve years ago we successfully sold our home "for saleby owner" and saved the real estate sales commission. Now we aretrying to sell our townhouse without an agent and are encounteringnothing but problems. The additional legal paperwork and requireddisclosures are amazing. More important, we discovered that evenpaying a local Realtor to put our listing into the local multiplelisting service (MLS) for a $795 fee hasn't brought results. Thelocal agents aren't showing our home although it is reasonablypriced and we offer a 2 percent broker co-op commission. We had onevery serious buyer who came back three times. But she wanted us toreduce our sales price by 6 percent to compensate since we wouldn'thave to pay a sales commission. Any suggestions how we can sell ourhome and save the sales commission? --Norman V.

DEAR NORMAN:
No. As longtime readers know, I do not recommendattempting to sell your home alone without a professional realestate agent. Although I am a real estate broker, unless I sell arental house to my tenant, I always list it with a local Realtor.There are many reasons.

Full-time, professional real estate agents know local market values,whether they are rising or falling. By attempting to sell alone, youcould be vastly underpricing your home. Or maybe it is overpriced soprospective buyers will stay away.

Most prospective home buyers shy away from "for sale by owner"newspaper classified ads. They fear the seller is "strange" for notlisting with a realty agent. There is a good reason more than 80percent of home sales are handled by real estate agents.As a do-it-yourself home seller, although you paid $795 to put yourlisting in the local MLS, that doesn't mean it will be activelymarketed. The MLS is a very powerful marketing tool, but your homealso needs exposure on the Internet, such as www.Realtor.com, andother Web sites, which only a pro-active listing agent can provide.Offering a mere 2 percent sales commission to a buyer's agent is aninsulting joke. Get realistic. In today's competitive home salesmarket, you should list with a successful, aggressive real estateagent to get your home sold and to comply with today's disclosurerequirements to prevent future legal problems.

'For sale by owner' can be a hard sell

2006-06-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

By Joyce Cohen

How tantalizing it is: Sell your home yourself and pocket the hefty commission, typically 6%, that you would otherwise pay to the real estate agent.

That prospect sucked in Erla Skuladottir and her husband, Bradley Boyer. In August, they put their New York City home on the market "for sale by owner," an approach often known by its acronym, FSBO, or, even stranger, "fizzbo."

By Thanksgiving, in despair, they had hired a real estate agent.

"We didn't know what we were doing. We thought it would be easier," says Skuladottir, whose family, which includes a 9-year-old daughter, needed more space. "I would go through a broker again, not a question. After she took over, it was such a relief."

FSBO homes are losing ground. FSBO sales made up 13% of home sales last year, down from 18% in 1997 and a high of 20% in 1987, according to a biennial survey by the National Association of Realtors. FSBO sales tend to peak during seller's markets.

Why the decline? Sellers are finding the do-it-yourself approach increasingly time-consuming and complex, what with showing the house, awaiting financial documents and deciphering a mountain of paperwork that in some states includes disclosure forms for termites, mold and aircraft noise. Many are also reluctant to have random unscreened strangers traipsing through their home, says Walter Molony, a spokesman for the Realtors' group.

And in the rare cases in which a seller gets sued for failing to disclose required information — such as the existence of lead-based paint in an older property, which can cause lead poisoning in children — a solo seller won't have an agent to accompany him through the legal process.

In hindsight, Skuladottir realizes just how clueless she and her husband were. They inadvertently overpriced their home, a one-bedroom co-op apartment, at $495,000. That was the going rate for newly renovated one-bedrooms in their housing complex, Lincoln Towers, but they figured their 25th-floor view would compensate for the lack of updating.

Though few interested buyers came knocking, a glut of real estate agents did. The agents gushed over the view — glorious sunsets over the Hudson River. "They said, 'You can get more if you let me sell it,' and we said, 'No, no, no,' but that teaser was intriguing, so we started cranking up the price," says Skuladottir. They hit a high of $525,000.

Meanwhile, with her husband often gone on business, Skuladottir felt burdened. She arranged her schedule around potential buyers. She vacuumed and dusted. She was uncomfortable asking financial questions but rarely had to, since most of the lookers were curious neighbors.

With the delay jeopardizing the purchase of their new place, Skuladottir grew more anxious. So she called the broker who sold to them, Shelly Bleier of Bellmarc Realty.

Bleier immediately dropped the price. "It was a small one-bedroom with a small kitchen in a complex of nine brick buildings with no charm," she says. The apartment finally sold last month for $460,000.

Between paying for advertising, maintaining two residences for several months, and selling investments for the down payment on their new home, Skuladottir estimates the family lost $40,000 by forgoing an agent in the first place.

Though nearly half of FSBO sellers cite saving the commission as the big reason to go it alone, a home's price is negotiable, and selling at the low end of the range can cancel out any savings. Tim and Beth Connelly of Cromwell, Conn., found that buyers looking for FSBO homes were also looking for a deal.

"Everybody said, 'You are saving all this money and don't have to pay the commission, so we are going to lowball you,' " says Tim Connelly. "But you are taking time to show the house, and going through the labor and the cost for the advertising."

The Connellys, who have a 21-month-old daughter, decided that their four-bedroom house was too big for a family of three.

In November they bought a nearby house they found on forsalebyowner.com, one of several Web sites giving broad exposure to FSBO homes. It had been listed for just two days. All concerned had such a wonderful experience, says Connelly, that "at the end of the closing, there was a group hug."

So they had no reason to think it wouldn't be simple to sell their own home FSBO. They advertised their house, asking $394,500, on the same site and in several local papers. Their Web listing received 5,600 hits, but only about 30 people expressed serious interest, Connelly says. Of those who made appointments to view the house, a third didn't show.

After two months, he called a real estate agent. The Connellys have a tentative buyer, but the deal could still fall through. The asking price has dropped to $379,900.

Connelly believes the home has certain qualities that make it a bad bet for FSBO. It's located on a dead-end street, with no drive-by traffic. The backyard brook and in-ground pool don't show from the street. Nor did the extensive landscaping, which in the winter was blanketed by snow.

He says his experience was split between extremes. "The house we bought was an awesome experience through FSBO, and the FSBO selling experience was awful."

The decline in FSBO sales is driven more by the reluctance of sellers than buyers, says Molony, but some buyers fear that details are more likely to slip through the cracks with a FSBO home.

Debi Stanton of San Diego says that important information wasn't fully disclosed when she and her then-boyfriend bought a FSBO house five years ago.

Part of a tennis court, fenced off and unused, encroached on their yard. Only when the boyfriend wanted space to store some landscaping equipment did they learn the land belonged to the neighbor.

"It was too much of a headache and too expensive to do anything about it," says Stanton. "I wouldn't buy a FSBO house again. I am not familiar with what they can get away with not telling you."

In the real estate world, FSBO remains divisive. While the real-estate-agent camp offers plenty of reasons to hire a pro, the FSBO camp has as many reasons not to.

Always, the key factor is money. "The average homeowner understands that paying 6% is too much," says Colby Sambrotto of forsalebyowner.com. "It is better spent on a child's education or their own retirement."

On the site's exit questionnaire, two-thirds of sellers say they sold their home during the time it was listed.It's also the case that one-third of FSBO sellers have the easiest path of all: They sell to a neighbor, friend or relative, and never even go on the market.

MALVERN LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION PROGRESSING

2006-05-01T07:26:00.001-07:00

Work on Malvern Public Library's new addition continues to progress. Bev Dashner is a library trustee and member of the "Friends of the Library." Dashner told KMA News that the library is very excited about the project.

The addition will mean a very large increase in available space, as well as allow more services and provide better accessibility. Dashner hopes the the move into facility will take place in August. When finished, Dashner says the project's price tag is expected to range between 900-thousand to a million dollars.

WORK ON NEW TABOR FIRE STATION CONTINUES

2006-05-01T07:26:00.000-07:00

Tabor's fire and rescue units have the same home for the first time ever. Pat Weldon is the Tabor City Clerk, and tells KMA's Dale Sandquist that work on the new building continues. Weldon says work on the building's driveways and approaches has yet to be finished, and that projects get done as more money is raised. Fundraising efforts include an event coming up May 7th--a breakfast at the fire station from 7 a-m to 1 p-m.

Tornadoes strike fear in the hearts of Iowans

2006-03-29T08:15:00.000-08:00

You’re watching your favorite program and a weather map pops into the corner of the screen. Your county is in a “tornado watch.” Do you know what to do?

A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop. You need to listen for changes, particularly an upgrade to “tornado warning” status. A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. If you are in the path of the storm, you should take immediate action.

Protect yourself indoors
Before spring and summer storms hit, designate an area in your home where family members should take shelter during a tornado warning. A basement is a good place, but stay away from windows and sturdy furniture or a stairwell. Protect yourself from flying debris with blankets, quilts, or an unused mattress stored in the shelter area.

If you don’t have a basement or if you live in a multifamily dwelling, go to the lowest and most central part of the building. Avoid exterior walls and windows. Look for a small room, closet, or hallway. Ask if there is a designated area for the multifamily building.

If you live in a mobile home, evacuation is a must. Find shelter in a nearby permanent structure. Mobile home parks often have a designated area for residents.

Protect yourself outdoors
If you are caught outside, lie flat in a nearby ditch or low-lying area where wind and debris can blow above you. Cover your head and neck with your arms and hands. Rain can accompany a tornado, so be aware of potential flooding.

Have an action plan
Develop a tornado plan for your family and prepare for weather situations now. Practice what to do frequently so it becomes second nature to your family members. Have a weather radio and a map to take with you in the shelter so you can track the storm.

Cities Near Metro Area See Growth Spilling Over

2006-03-02T10:58:00.000-08:00

BY JOHN FERAK

Mills County is one of the 10 fastest-growing counties in Iowa.

In anticipation of future growth, Glenwood plans to build a new high school and convert its current building built in the 1960s into a middle school.

This fall, the largest housing development ever proposed in Mills County got under way. Craig Nakamoto's 350-unit Lake Ohana subdivision north of Glenwood calls for three private lakes and a small retail district for a restaurant, bank and grocery.

Inside city limits, several subdivisions with 25 to 50 units have popped up during the past few years in this city of 5,800. On the downtown's outskirts, a new $5 million YMCA is slated to open in May.

"Glenwood will continue to be a nice place to live," said Larry Winum, president of the Glenwood State Bank.

Winum has worked with Congress for several years to secure federal funding for a new four-lane bridge connecting Sarpy County, Neb., and Mills County at U.S. Highway 34. Construction is not anticipated for at least four years.

"It's taken longer than I would have liked to get done, but it will happen over time," he said. "We still need more commercial and industrial (businesses) to come to our area to help our tax base.

"But I see good things continuing for Glenwood and Mills County. Over the next few years, the Interstate 29 corridor is going to take off. There is nowhere for Omaha to go but south."

Copsey finishes perfect season

2006-02-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

STEVE SIGAFOOSE, Staff Writer

DES MOINES - Nobody can beat Glenwood's Ty Copsey. Heck, even the flu tried and the Ram senior beat that too.

Copsey (42-0) finally shook off the flu-like symptoms that turned his quarterfinal and semifinal performances into lackluster affairs and beat Blake Suckow (42-4) of North Fayette 3-1 in the Class 2A 189-pound final at the state prep wrestling championship at the Wells Fargo Arena Saturday evening.

"That's a lot better," said Copsey. "I knew what I had to do once I got the flu out of me. Our coaches got it in my mind that I am a state championship material."

The match "was about," said Copsey, "who was better on his feet. I got the takedown, but it was a good, close match."

"Ty did a good job," said Glenwood coach Bob Dyer. "He controlled the whole match."

"It's mind-blowing," said Copsey, "the best feeling in my whole life."

The news was not as good for the Rams' other two finalists. Ryan Collins (152) and Mitch Artist (160) had to settle for silver medals.

"They had terrific matches," said Dyer. "There's nothing to be ashamed of. Our kids worked hard and I proud of the effort."

Artist, added Dyer, is Glenwood's first four-time state medalist and holds the school records for pins and wins.

"They're the core of our team," said Dyer.

Creston was third in the Class 2A team race.

That one-two punch you heard out of the Wells Fargo Arena wasn't boxing. It was Creston sophomore Andrew Long and junior Tyler Linderman going back-to-back in winning state prep wrestling championships.

Long (103 pounds) mauled Cory Olson of Denver 21-5, 5:40, in a match-up of the No. 1 and No. 2-rated wrestlers (Long was top-rated).

Linderman, No. 2 at 112, knocked off No. 1 Dillon Minor of Spirit Lake Park 3-1.
"This is so big in Iowa," said Long, who got a lot of confidence for this year after wrestling light (sometimes as light at 84 pounds) last year at 103.

"He was bigger, but you can't let that get into your head. I stuck to my game plan."
Linderman worked a cautious match, watching for Minor's headlocks. The Panther build a 3-0 lead, then allowed a late escape.

"When I saw Andrew won," said Linderman, "I wanted to match it. I just made sure I wrestled smart. I avoided his tie-up because that's what he wanted to do."

"Both were outstanding," said Creston coach Darrell Frain. "They weren't threatened much in the tournament. They work out together and when they do, they get after each other."
Both, of course, will be back next year.

"This reality matches the dream," said Linderman, "but two years ago, I didn't even dream it. Now two (championships) would be nice."

Kirk Landon spent last year's state prep wrestling championships away from the mats.

After a third-place finish as a sophomore, Landon was the odd-man out in a strong sectional and did not advance.

Not again.

"I wrestled every chance I got," said the Audubon senior. "It paid off."

Indeed, Landon (46-1) won the Class 1A, 135 title, beating Cale Hall (40-7) of Nodaway Valley.
"I was mentally prepared," said Landon. "I was ready to dominate. I had had enough of the cliff-hangers (Landon won two early matches in last-second fashion), but I had to stay on what I had to do."

Landon wants to continue with his wrestling in college. For now, "this is awesome, but it hasn't sunk in yet."

CASTING CROWNS, Lifesong Tour

2006-02-23T09:40:00.000-08:00

Sunday, April 30, 2006 6 pm

Casting Crowns featuring Nichole Nordeman and Guest Speaker Tony Nolan and Introducing Josh Bates!

Tickets went on Sale Friday, February 10th at 10 am!

Reserved Tickets are $40, $28, $22, $15

Tickets are availabe at the Mid-America Center Box Office, online at ticketmaster.com or charge by phone 402-422-1212

Warmest January On Record Heats Up Housing Construction

2006-02-22T14:55:00.000-08:00

February 16, 2006 - A temporary sag in interest rates and the warmest January on record nationwide combined to bring about a 14.5 percent surge in new home construction for the month, the U.S. Commerce Department reported today.

The January pace of new-home construction rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.276 million units, the highest on record since 1973. The pace was 4.0 percent above a year ago.
Single-family housing starts rose 12.8 percent to a new record pace of 1.819 million units for the month. This was 2.8 percent above a year ago.

“Builders apparently took advantage of the good weather and low interest rates in January to pick up the pace of production after a cold and wet December,” said David Pressly, president of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Statesville, N.C.

“The January surge in housing starts was mainly weather-related,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. “Market fundamentals suggest that this pace of activity will be hard to sustain, and NAHB’s survey of single-family builders points toward some cooling down in coming months, largely because of eroding affordability conditions.”

All four regions reported strong increases in housing starts for the month. Construction of new homes and apartments rose 29.2 percent in the Northeast, 23.7 percent in the Midwest. 8.7 percent in the South and 16.9 percent in the West.

Multifamily housing starts increased by 21.9 percent for the month to a seasonally adjusted pace of 457,000 units. This was 9.1 percent above the pace of a year ago. “Our surveys of multifamily builders show that the rental market is firming up to some degree, with declining vacancies and rising rents,” said Seiders.

Issuance of total building permits increased 6.8 percent to a seasonably adjusted rate of 2.217 million units for the month. Single-family permit issuance was up 2.4 percent to a pace of 1.685 million units for the month. The pace of multifamily permit issuance increased 23.7 percent to a pace of 532,000 units for the month.

Spaghetti Feed- Sunday Feb 26

2006-02-21T14:35:00.000-08:00

It will be an opportunity to learn more about the new Mills County YMCA/Community Center and help the children of the community.

On Sunday, Feb. 26, the staff and volunteers of the YMCA will be hosting a Spaghetti Feed from noon to 2 p.m. at the Mills County YMCA , 110 Sivers Road . Free-will donations will be accepted for lunch. The money will go to the YMCA’s Strong Kids Campaign, which provides financial assistance to those who need help with YMCA membership and program fees.

The Mills County YMCA ’s Strong Kids Campaign fundraising goal is $25,000. That money will stay at the Mills County YMCA to provide membership and program scholarships to kids, teens and families in need. DeEtte VonEsson is serving as the campaign chair for the Mills County YMCA . “This is an opportunity for the community to visit with staff and volunteers about programs, charter memberships and to see the building,” said Leo McIntosh, executive director of the Mills County YMCA .

In addition to lunch, the event will include face painting and a space bouncer for the kids and hard hat tours, weather permitting. “This will be a great family event and opportunity for the community to get involved with the Mills County YMCA ,” McIntosh said. The new Mills County YMCA/Community Center project includes 31,000 square feet of new construction. The 16,000 square feet formerly occupied by the Iowa National Guard Armory (also called the Glenwood Recreation Center ) will become the YMCA’s Child Care Center.

The new Mills County YMCA/Community Center will be a state-of-the-art facility complete with a swimming pool, a community center, a teen center, a child care center and a health and wellness center with multiple exercise machines, cardio equipment, free weights and personal training. Services include aquatics, camping, child care, family programs, health and wellness programs, youth and teen programs, youth sports, older adult activities and community development. For more information on YMCA programs, membership fees or to become a charter member or volunteer, call 527-4352.

High School Moves Forward Another Step

2006-02-21T14:32:00.000-08:00

Written by Whitney Kamish

Members of the community met recently at a forum to discuss the proposed high school bond issue. Dr. Stan Sibley led the meeting, discussing the process of building a new school, along with examples of why our community is in such dire need of new facilities.

March 28 is the date set for the vote on the bond issues. Sixty percent approval is required in order for the bond issues to pass.

The site for the new high school, which would be at the current city athletic complex, has been determined and would be purchased from the city with the passage of the bond issues. The $19.7 million construction bond would be re-paid over a period of 20 years, with a minimal impact upon taxpayers. Dr. Sibley emphasized that this was a major board goal.

Prior to furthering this project, a feasibility study was completed to determine whether or not a new school was really necessary. Its conclusions were that in fact, we do need more room for our growing community.

Advantages of the new high school would include an auditorium for plays and performances, a larger, standard size gymnasium, more science labs, more space in the halls, and also better parking.

High school students are not the only ones who would benefit from this project. The current high school would be renovated into a middle school, creating more overall space for the students. The middle school was built for a maximum of 240 students, but currently has around 320 students.

If the bond issues pass, the bond would increase the taxes on a $100,000 home by $17.84 a year, or $1.49 per month.

With voting support from throughout the community, construction on the new building would begin with moving the athletic fields to an adjacent property over the summer. Construction of the actual building would begin this fall with completion projected for the summer of 2008.
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4TH ANNUAL COUNCIL BLUFFS HOME IMPROVEMENT & LANDSCAPING SHOW

2006-02-21T14:13:00.000-08:00

Friday, March 3rd: 3 pm - 9 pm
Saturday, March 4th: 10 am - 8 pm
Sunday, March 5th: 11 am - 4 pm

Admission:
$6 Adults
Children 12 & Under Free

See exhibits showcasing everything for the home, lawn and garden!

Sponsored By:Council Bluffs Building Trades Association

Council Bluffs Home and Landscaping Show
Council Bluffs, IA - Mid-America CenterMarch 3 - 5, 2006

SEMINARS

Friday, March 3, 2006
5:00 PM, Container Gardening, Sherbondy's Garden Center
6:00 PM, Attracting Birds to Your Feeder, Marge Knudsen
7:00 PM, Remodeling Kitchen & Bath , Gene & Katie Hamilton

Saturday, March 4, 2006
11:00 AM , Buying & Financing Your Home , Jennifer Doebelin & Blanchard Johnson
12:00 PM, Improve - Don't Move, Gene & Katie Hamilton
1:30 PM, Attracting Birds to Your Feeders, Marge Knudsen
3:00 PM, Remodeling Kitchens & Baths , Gene & Katie Hamilton
4:30 PM , Constructing Water Gardens , Sherbondy's Garden Center
6:00 PM, Improve - Don't Move , Gene & Katie Hamilton

Sunday, March 5, 2006
12:30 PM, Remodeling Kitchens & Baths, Gene & Katie Hamilton
1:30 PM, Container Gardening, Sherbondy's Garden Center
2:30 PM, Improve - Don't Move , Gene & Katie Hamilton

Another Record Year Predicted For Housing

2006-01-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

2006 outlook

Buyers
Will continue to have a lot of choices in houses and mortgage products. Should face only moderate price increases because of the big supply. May face slightly higher mortgage interest rates.

Sellers
Will face a lot of competition from other homes on the market. Should be able to sell if the house is priced right, is clutter-free and in good shape. May want to shop for an agent with experience in tougher markets.

Realtors
Will have to work harder to sell houses because of the number on the market. Should be an expanding rather than a shrinking field, increasingly attracting young people straight out of college. May take advantage of new technology such as podcasts, blogs and mobile Web access to conduct business.

Builders
Will go into the spring with more inventory than has been common in recent years. Could face hard questions from lenders about borrowing to add to the inventory. May see prices on materials decline, since suppliers have geared up production and rebuilding in hurricane areas is likely to be slow.

Presentation Marks Firm's 150th Year

2005-12-28T01:28:00.000-08:00

NP Dodge Co. officials Wednesday presented the Historic General Dodge House with an original photo of Gen. Grenville M. Dodge

This photo of Gen. Grenville Dodge will be on permanent display in the Historic General Dodge House.

The framed photo dates to 1899 and will be on permanent display at the house, 605 Third St. in Council Bluffs.

In 1855, brothers Nathan and Grenville opened the Dodge Land Office in Council Bluffs. Grenville went on to serve as a general during the Civil War and then as chief construction engineer for the building of Union Pacific Railroad. N.P. stayed in the land business.

Five generations later, NP Dodge is one of the largest full-service real estate companies in Nebraska and Iowa, with seven entities made up of 500 employees and 500 sales associates. The NP Dodge Council Bluffs sales office at 1730 Madison Ave. has 51 agents.

Dan Van Houten, manager of the Bluffs office, made the presentation of the photo as part of the company's 150th anniversary.

"We are proud to donate this portrait as part of our past, present and future commitment to the Dodge House and surrounding communities," he said.

Lake Ohana Development Information

2005-12-28T00:38:00.000-08:00

The Area's Most Prestigious New Development!

The 100+ acre lake will be fed via natural springs by Pony Creek which is a continually flowing live stream. Over a mile long, Lake Ohana is perfect for the avid water sports enthusiast. Its lakeside homeowners will enjoy having the option of having their own boat dock right outside their backdoor. Other homeowners will have the use of a private boat ramp. Future planned amenities include a marina with a full service restaurant and a clubhouse.
Encompassing almost 30 acres with its green spaces, the 20 acre no-wake lake is geared towards the more peaceful and serene side of lakeside living. At over 40 feet deep at its deepest point, the stocked lake will become a favorite for homeowners who like to fish, and with its perimeter walking trail and park-like setting, it will provide for countless hours of frolicking and picnicking for its privileged homeowners.
The five acre aesthetic lake will be a perfect setting to relax after a busy day at the office. As you unwind with your spouse, your children will love exploring its shores.
Now offering lots in Phase 1A
Available now, these 1+ acre lots will be the initial phase within the Lake Ohana subdivision. All lots are planned to have city water, sewer, and metered underground propane service for each home.
Phase 1B is anticipated to be completed in the Spring of 2006. In addition to the amenities in Phase 1A, these lots will have an extensive trail system as well as a community park.
Planned with a "village atmosphere" with water fountain and clock tower as it's centerpiece, the commercial complex will be developed with a sense of community. With numerous green spaces and individual architecturally-designed buildings, this area is destined to become not only a gathering place for the immediate community, but also the surrounding area.

White Christmas May Only Be Dream

2005-12-19T07:18:00.000-08:00

TIM ROHWER, Staff Writer

It looks like people in Council Bluffs and southwest Iowa will only be dreaming of a white Christmas.

The chances of it really happening look slim, said a spokeswoman for the National Weather Service in Valley, Neb.

"We're not looking at any storm systems coming through," said forecaster Becky Griffis on Saturday. "Tomorrow (Sunday) will be the coldest day in a while. We'll see temperatures begin to warm up by the holiday weekend, starting Thursday, Friday and Saturday."

According to her forecast, today's high temperature should reach around 18 degrees with an overnight low of 5 degrees.

The warmer weather will begin appearing on Monday with highs in the upper 20s as warm air comes in from the Southwest, Griffis said.

Toward the end of the week, the high temperatures will reach into the low 40s, she said, with sunny to partly cloudy skies throughout the week.

The best chance for Council Bluffs to have a white Christmas apparently occurred Saturday evening as a strong storm swept through northern portions of Kansas and Missouri with up to six inches of snow predicted between Kansas City and St. Joseph, Mo.

The Council Bluffs area was expected to receive an inch or less.

The long-range forecast beyond the Christmas weekend calls for temperature slightly above normal, Griffis said.

As far as moisture, she said, "We don't have clear signals."There's an equal chance that the moisture could be normal, above normal or below normal, she said.

Qualifying For A Home Loan Could Get Tougher

2005-12-19T07:12:00.000-08:00

by Broderick Perkins

If you've gotten off the fence and are just beginning your search for a home, get away from the fence and into a home as quickly as possible -- especially if you found it difficult to qualify for a mortgage.

Pressure is building again to make mortgages more difficult to land.

With interest rates ratcheting up on adjustable rate mortgages (ARMS), the feds are planning to put more heat on lenders to tighten underwriting rules on home loans, especially more risky home loans with rates that don't sit still. Federal regulators are also scrutinizing loans that require little or no documentation about a borrowers' income, expenses or ability to repay the mortgage.

Years of low-interest rates, combined with growing numbers of easy-money mortgages including interest-only loans, option ARMs and others have allowed buyers to cope with record-setting, skyrocketing home prices.

ARMs come with initially lower rates, hence smaller payments that lend borrowers more leverage to buy more expensive homes or homes for which they may not have otherwise qualified. In the land of high home prices fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs) with their higher rates and higher mortgage payments are pricing a growing number of would-be home buyers out of the market.

ARMs, however, could begin to price home owners out of their home.

ARMs' cheaper initial rates are tied to home loan indexes, the interest rate starting point to which margins are added to set and move the actual ARM rate. The indexes are up and rising this year, nearing levels double what they were at some points last year.

The popular prime rate, for example, is now at 7.25 percent compared to just 5 percent a year ago and a static 4 percent for the last half of 2003 through the first half of 2004.

Federal monetary system experts are concerned too many home owners may soon be saddled with home loans they can't afford as their monthly payment rises beyond their financial reach.

In the third quarter, mortgage research firm Loan Performance said 33 of first mortgages approved by lenders were nontraditional loans, compared with 1 percent five years ago.

Within the next week or two, federal monetary officials plan to release a second set of guidelines aimed at lenders with portfolios heavy with the riskier loans. The feds want lenders to roll back the number of originations on riskier loans through tighter underwriting standards. That will make it more difficult for home buyers to land a loan, especially home buyers already on the border line of qualifying for a mortgage.

"Too many consumers have been attracted to products by the seductive prospect of low minimum payments that delay the day of reckoning, but often make ultimate repayment of growing principal far more difficult," said Comptroller of the Currency John C. Dugan in an early December speech to the Consumer Federation of America.

"At the same time, too many lenders have been attracted to the product by the prospect of booking immediate revenue without receiving cash in hand, a process that often masks underlying credit problems that could ultimately produce substantial losses," Dugan added.

Earlier this year, on May 16, coinciding with a heightened level of warnings about escalating home prices, industry fraud, the potential for higher interest rates and other concerns, the Federal Reserve, along with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of Thrift Supervision and the National Credit Union Administration, issued the joint "Credit Risk Management Guidance For Home Equity Lending".
The advisory said the quality of lenders' home equity portfolios was of concern, especially if "interest rates rise and home values decline. Sound underwriting practices and effective risk management systems are essential to mitigate this risk."

However, months later, rather than tighten requirements for home loan approvals, almost 40 percent of domestic banks reported that over the past two years they had increased the maximum size of primary mortgages they were willing to provide, while about 30 percent, indicated that over the same period they had increased the maximum size of second mortgages, according to the Federal Reserve Board's "October 2005 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices".

What's more, about one-fourth of those surveyed said that they had narrowed spreads of mortgage rates over an appropriate market base rate (which means there are more loans with attractive rates available) and that they had increased the maximum loan-to-value ratio on such loans (which means borrowers are allowed to carry even greater debt loads).

In his speech, Dugan dissected a payment option mortgage to reveal what could be a very rude awakening for some borrowers.

During the first five years of payment options, the loan allows the borrower to select from a menu of payment possibilities, low to high. If the borrower chooses the lower monthly payment he or she will pay little if any of the principal during the period. Meanwhile, the loan balance grows, amortizing negatively until the sixth year when payments are adjusted to ensure the principal is paid off over the remaining 25 years of the loan.

With a typical $360,000 payment option mortgage that begins with a 6 percent interest, monthly payments could increase by 50 percent in the sixth year if interest rates do not change. If rates jump two percentage points, to 8 percent, monthly payments could double.

"Is this an appropriate product to mass market to customers who may be looking at the less than fully amortizing minimum payment as the only way to afford a larger mortgage -- at least for the five years before the onset of payment shock?"

Dugan also asked, "And are lenders really prepared to deal with the consequences - including litigation risk - of providing such products in markets where real estate prices soften or decline, or where interest rates substantially increase?"

Only time, and the fed's second advisory this year, will tell.

Buy Now!

2005-12-18T13:46:00.000-08:00

With interest rates so low and excess properties on the market, the time to buy is NOW . Prices are crashing down and you may not get homes cheaper in the spring! More properties on the market and longer list times means better prices for buyers. Don't be afraid to find out how long a property has been on the market and make an offer. A good rule of thumb - for every month on the market, take $5,000 to $2,000 (depending on the price range) off the original asking price.

Homeowners Warming Up to Bigger and Better Fireplaces

2005-11-07T09:21:00.000-08:00

by Michele Dawson

Fireplaces have traditionally been one of the top amenities sought by homebuyers. But now sophisticated buyers -- and smart homebuilders -- are taking it one step further with upgraded, additional and outdoor fireplaces.

A survey last year by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association revealed homebuyers include a fireplace among features they most want in their home. They also consider a fireplace a design feature that improves the home's value.

Nearly 60 percent of all homes built today include at least one fireplace, according to the National Association of Homebuilders. And 71 percent of fireplace installations are made by the builder.

The HPBA urges builders to look beyond the traditional fireplace in the expected family and living rooms and set themselves apart from their competitors -- and meet the demands of today's homebuyers -- by upgrading the fireplace. There are many ways to do this. For example, the association suggests:

A new super-size fireplace -- up to 50 inches wide and 55 inches high -- for the great room. Direct-vent fireplaces can sport reflection-free glass, so you'll see only the flame and not the glass.
Adding a mantel or cabinet, perhaps with gas controls incorporated into either.
Fireplaces that allow the homeowner to control the heat output without changing the height or quality of the flame. Some will even pull air from the room, transforming it into warm air and radiant heat.
Electric fireplaces, which are more advanced than ever. Technology makes them more beautiful than ever, and many can be operated by remote control. Users can turn on flame and heat, or just one. Another benefit is that they can be operated year-round in any climate and are easy to clean and maintain. And you can use real-looking artificial looks to complete the look.
New fireplace designs for smaller rooms, bedrooms and, yes, bathrooms. Imagine a see-through gas fireplace that can be built into an indoor/outdoor wall, allowing you to enjoy it from inside or outside.
Something different. For those modern types, portrait-style fireplaces can be built into the wall, resembling framed artwork. Corner models offer flames coming from a bowl, freestanding fireplaces are an option, as are more sleek, stylish designs.
Indulging. Think about a fireplace above the bathtub or in the kitchen, where the fireplace can warm the room while heating an oven.

A new spin on fireplaces is also seen among homebuilders and design professionals.

"Fireplaces will be put in at eye level in the adjoining family room, so the cook can enjoy it, too," Joan McCloskey, Better Homes and Gardens editor, said at the International Builders Show.

The NAHB says more than 25 percent of owners have a fireplace or freestanding stove in areas of the house other than the family or living room. Most often they're in the master bedroom, many are wall-mounted.

Hearth products are also hot outdoors these days, too. In fact, the HPBA earlier this year said outdoor hearth products sold in record numbers for the second consecutive year. Portable heaters, chimineas and outdoor fireplaces -- many weatherproof -- are key elements in today's outdoor room, which usually also includes a barbecue grill, dining area, lighting, and patio umbrella.

The HPBA says Americans are in a "hiving" and "connecting" phase, meaning people want to spend more time with family and friends in their own homes.

Another factor that's driving these overall fireplace trends is demographics. The percentage of home-buying couples with children has dropped significantly over the past 20 years, says National Association of Homebuilders economist Gopal Ahluwalia. That means empty nesters want different amenities.

"What homebuyers really want is something totally different from everybody else," McCloskey said.

Sugar Clay Winery in Loess Hills

2005-10-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

Nestled in the Loess Hills is a treasure. Acres of grape vines and a quaint winery with fantastic wines to sample.

Frank and Amy Faust started their journey in 2001 when they joined the Iowa Grape Growers Association and planted their first vines on their 6 acres of land. In May 2005 they opened their winery to the public.

The winery has a beautiful medium sized tasting room that can be rented for parties or small receptions.. A perfect woodsy backdrop gives the building a romantic feeling.

In the basement of the winery is where the magic begins. Barrels of wine fermenting at different levels. Even the bottling occurs on property.

The wines themselves have a fabulous bouquet and taste. This year they have bottled 7 different wines with a 2004 vintage.

But that's not all they sell, in the shop Amy has prepared gorgeous baskets with wine and other wine gift items that would make a perfect gift for the wine lover.

Food baskets with bread, Iowa cheese, and fruits are prepared to eat with wine tasted there or can be taken with you.

The name of the winery, Sugar Clay came from the soil itself. On each bottle they place the story,

IN THE 1800's, THE PIONEERS WHO SETTLED IN THE LOESS HILLS NOTICED THAT THE UNIQUE SOIL DISSOLVED LIKE SUGAR WHEN IT RAINED...THUS THE NAME "SUGAR CLAY" WAS COINED.

SUGAR CLAY WINERY & VINEYARDS IS NESTLED IN THE ROLLING LOESS HILLS, WHICH PROVIDE THE SOIL THAT GRAPEVINES LOVE.

THE FAUST FAMILY INVITES YOU TO COME ENJOY OUR HANDCRAFTED WINES AND THE REBIRTH OF GRAPE GROWING IN WESTERN IOWA.

Guaranteed Good Faith Estimates the Remedy to Settlement Sheet Shocks?

2005-10-21T09:57:00.000-07:00

by Kenneth R. Harney

When you apply for a mortgage to buy a house, do you want to believe the "good faith estimates" of closing costs your mortgage broker or loan officer sends you three days later?

Of course you do. But thousands of consumers complain every year to HUD in Washington, saying the estimates they received were shockingly lower than what they were actually charged at closing.

For example, say your lender's good faith estimate of title insurance costs came to $1,400. But on the final HUD-1 settlement sheet they are over $1,800. Or the good faith estimate listed your total loan origination, title, settlement and other fees at $2,100, but the bottom line on the final HUD-1 said $3,200.

Who typically picks up the difference? Not the lender that made the estimates at application. Not the title company. It is you. That's because under current federal regulations, all lenders have to do is to provide you the estimates within three business days. But they don't have to warrant that the estimates are correct.

That could begin to change, however, thanks to a new movement underway among key mortgage lending trade groups in Washington. Several of them recently have endorsed the concept of either guaranteeing or "hardening" all home buyers' closing cost estimates. The groups include the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, the principal lobby for the country's 60,000-plus brokers; the Consumer Mortgage Coalition, which represents many of the nation's largest banks; and the National Association of Independent Mortgage Bankers. The Mortgage Bankers Association of America also is considering its own version of the plan.

The brokers association proposes a 10 percent maximum wiggle room -- or "tolerance" -- between good faith estimates and final closing costs. If a lender discovers that there will be any increases whatsoever beyond the original estimates, the lender would be required to "re-disclose" -- that is, inform the home buyer in writing before the closing date so there are no last minute surprises. If the increases are not re-disclosed, the home buyer would have the right to sue for damages.

The National Association of Independent Mortgage Bankers favors absolute guarantees of all fees that are directly controlled by the lender or broker. For example, if a lender estimates the appraisal charge to be $300 and the bill comes in at $450, the lender would have to eat the $150 difference. Or if loan processing and underwriting are estimated at $300, the lender would be prohibited from charging $400 or $500 at closing, as is now permitted under federal rules.

The same group proposes that once an interest rate is locked on a loan, no origination fees -- including points -- can exceed the good faith estimates. It also wants no changes to be permitted in title charges to occur, once the title company confirms its fees to the lender or broker.

The mortgage lending groups' move toward tightening the good faith estimates comes as HUD continues its work on a new RESPA settlement cost reform proposal, expected sometime in 2006. HUD's reform plan of 2002 went down in flames last year amid severe criticism by some of the same groups now recommending changes in the good faith estimates. The earlier HUD plan floated a "guaranteed mortgage package" concept that would have provided consumers rate-locked loans and settlement fee packages up front, as they shopped from lender to lender.

Real estate, title insurance and mortgage groups opposed HUD's proposals because they might have put small businesses at a disadvantage against larger competitors who could assemble fixed-fee packages for less through volume-pricing discounts.

If the lender trade groups unite behind guaranteed or "hardened" good faith estimates, that could give HUD the political cover to build its forthcoming RESPA proposals around that concept, effectively abandoning federal incentives for guaranteed packages. The net effect for home buyers would still be a big plus: They'd get closing cost estimates they could actually believe in and count on, rather than 11th hour shocks at settlement. Meanwhile, lenders who already offer popular fixed-fee programs -- GMAC Mortgage, Ditech.com, Abn-Amro Mortgage and Suntrust Bank among others -- would be free to continue doing so.

Avoid these rookie renovation mistakes...You'll save money and grief -- and improve the odds that your project will turn out as planned

2005-10-10T06:14:00.000-07:00

You've just parted with serious cash to buy your first home. Now you need to part with more so the place no longer screams bad taste, broken pipes and bathrooms circa 1970.

Or maybe, with real estate prices through the roof, you can't afford to trade up from the starter home you bought two children ago. So you've decided to upgrade instead.

Whatever your reasons for renovating, take heed: Rookies often "don't understand how much it will cost, how long it will take or how proactive they should be," says Sal Alfano, editor of Remodeling magazine. Here are the pitfalls to avoid.

Mistake no. 1: Underestimating the cost

No matter how carefully you budget, count on spending at least 10 to 20 percent more than your initial estimate. That's because expenses invariably pop up that you couldn't anticipate beforehand.

Once workers knock down walls or rip up flooring, for instance, they may find mold, rotting pipes or other structural problems that need repair.

When Marc Siegel, a corporate underwriter in New York City, wanted to put a new floor on top of an existing tiled one, he was told by his contractor once work began that the tiles were too loose and the old floor would have to be ripped out. Extra cost: $3,000. Siegel agreed -- but only after negotiating the price down to $1,500.

To help minimize unexpected outlays, research the materials and brands you'd like to use before commissioning work, so you don't have to rely solely on contractor estimates. That $2,000 high-end fridge you choose after your kitchen remodeling begins may cost twice as much as the standard appliance he assumed you'd buy.

Mistake no. 2: Pinching pennies

Sure, you want to save a few bucks where you can. But sometimes it doesn't pay to scrimp, says Danny Lipford, host of the syndicated TV show "Today's Home."

With contractors, go with someone who's highly recommended and experienced in your type of renovation, not the cheapest guy. Favor quality products for anything installed in your walls; the cost to replace, say, a faulty shower valve is high since it involves breaking the wall and calling in a plumber.

Nor should you stint on items you'll use every day. Buy what you love. Otherwise, you'll kick yourself every time you turn on a faucet or open a cabinet.

Mistake no. 3: Failing to anticipate chaos

The stress of a renovation builds as the dust mounts, workers traipse through your home and everything takes too long.

"Remodelers count on at least one [client] explosion per job," says Alfano.

To minimize surprises, ask potential contractors lots of questions about the process, like "What's your time frame?" and "What time do you start and finish work?" Be clear too about your preferences, such as how often you'd like updates and how much the contractor can spend without consulting you.

Then tame your inner Felix Ungar. Good contractors will clean your place every day. But remember, "broom clean" doesn't mean "mop clean," Alfano says. Some dirt and debris are inevitable.

Mistake no. 4: Overestimating the payback

Not all renovations are equal equity builders. Typically, you'll recoup the most on bathroom and kitchen jobs. But the exact payback depends as much on where you live as on the project itself.

Talk to local real estate pros for the lowdown on what you can expect in your area.

What you can't measure in dollars and cents, of course, is the pleasure you'll derive from the improvements to your home. In the end, since you are the one who will be living there for a while, that's the payback that matters most.

Glenwood Homecoming 2005

2005-09-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

An overcast sky aside, last Friday was a perfect late September day for, Glenwood Homecoming 2005! The Homecoming festivities kicked off at 2PM with the annual and much anticipated Homecoming parade on the square in Glenwood. Following the parade Glenwood faced Lewis Central in a classic High School gridiron battle, under the Friday night lights.

Enjoying a light fall breeze and temperatures hovering around 70 degrees, a huge crowd lined the streets surrounding the square to see the annual parade of grade school floats, marching bands and returning alumni.

This years honor class was the Class of 1980. In addition to the Class of '80, there was representation from the classes of 2000, 1995, 1990, 1985, 1970, 1965, 1960, 1955, 1950, 1940 even the class of 1928! The parade also included the appearance of a float from the class of 1963 and the annual appearance of the class of 1976.

Not all agents or brokers are REALTORS® -- there is a difference.

2005-09-18T18:59:00.000-07:00

How to evaluate an agent

In making your decision to work with an agent, there are certain questions you should ask when evaluating a potential agent.

The first question you should ask is whether the agent is a REALTOR® .

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics (which in many cases goes beyond state law). In most areas, it is the REALTOR® who shares information on the homes they are marketing, through a Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Working with a REALTOR® who belongs to an MLS will give you access to the greatest number of homes.

You should then ask:

Does the agent have an active real estate license in good standing? To find this information, you can check with your state’s governing agency.
Does the agent belong to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and/or a reliable online home buyer’s search service? Multiple Listing Services are cooperative information networks of REALTORS® that provide descriptions of most of the houses for sale in a particular region.
Is real estate their full-time career?
What real estate designations does the agent hold?
Which party is he or she representing--the buyer or the seller? This discussion is supposed to occur early on, at "first serious contact" with you.

Take a bite out of closing costs

2005-09-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

With mortgage rates still as low as they are, financing a house is dirt cheap these days, right?

Not if you pay a fortune in closing costs.

As anyone who has shopped around for a mortgage knows, it's extremely difficult to compare one lender's offering to with that of another lender because the up-front fees vary so much and are not guaranteed. Lenders and their venders can, and sometimes do, add or inflate fees in the eleventh hour of a transaction.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been working on regulations that promise to simplify the mortgage process and save consumers as much as $1,000 off a typical mortgage transaction. When such rules will be rolled out, if ever, is still anyone's guess.

With no regulation in sight, borrowers should consider these strategies for keeping their closing costs in check.

Get friendly with your current lender

If you're looking into refinancing, the first call you should make is to your existing lender, who already has critical information about you and your house on file, said Keith Gumbinger, vice president for HSH Associates.

Since you have an existing relationship, a "streamlined" process might be possible. That can save you a lot of extra paperwork and money on everything from application fees to appraisal fees.

Although fees for title search and title insurance are not determined by the lender, you may also get a break there. If you recently refinanced or took out a loan, you can save as much as 50 percent on title insurance by asking for a reissue rate, which your lender can request on your behalf.

If you're a homeowner shopping for a new house, you should also try giving your existing lender first dibs on the new business. Assuming you've been a good client and your lender originates the kind of mortgage you're interested in, it's possible to get a better-than-market deal, according to Gumbinger.

Get nitpicky about fees...

There are more than a dozen kinds of fees that could show up on your final closing statement, including credit report fees, appraisal fees, document preparation fees, title fees, recording fees and underwriting fees.

All told, fees on a $200,000 mortgage could add up to anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 – that's not including any "discount" points you pay up front to get the best interest rate. (A "point" is a fee that equals 1 percent of the loan amount.)

Lenders are required to give you a good-faith estimate of your closing costs within three days after you apply for a loan. Some will give you such an estimate even before you apply if you ask for one. Even if it is no guarantee, this written estimate will give you an idea of what kind of fees you can expect to pay, as well as an opportunity to negotiate for a better deal.

"If you're a good credit borrower you can challenge fees if they seem excessive," said Gumbinger, noting that lenders don't control many fees that show up on your statement.

Keep in mind that the good faith estimate doesn't include such out-of-pocket costs as state mortgage taxes, homeowners insurance and property taxes, which you may be expected to pay at the time of closing. In fact, your total tab at closing could be several times more than originally estimated, said Gumbinger.

... but keep the big picture in view

Closing costs are certainly a consideration for both new loans and refinancing. But it's important to not lose sight of what should be your first priority – getting the lowest rate possible.

Indeed, the difference between paying, say, 6 percent and 5.5 percent on a new loan adds up to nearly $23,000 in total interest on a $200,000 30-year loan. If you have to pay a few hundred dollars in closing costs to get that rate, you can rest assured that it is a worthy investment.

It may even be worth it to pay a point or so up front in order to lock in the lowest rates. Let's say that you'll knock your rate down to 5 percent on that $200,000 loan by paying an extra point ($2,000) up front. Considering that you'll cut $62 off your monthly payment and about $22,000 from total interest by going from 6 percent to 5.5 percent, it makes sense as long as you plan to stay in the house long enough to recoup those up front costs.

In fact, if you're short on cash you might even consider rolling the closing costs into your loan, if that is an option. You'll want to consider how much more you'll pay each month as well as in interest over the life of a loan.

If you roll $2,000 in finance costs into a loan with a 5.5 percent rate, for example, you'll pay an extra $11 a month and about $2,000 extra in total interest. In this case you're still better off than if you had not refinanced at all.

New site helps Katrina victims find housing

2005-09-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

Serves renters, property owners

A new Web site, www.HurricaneHousing.net, designed to help disaster victims find housing in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, has launched, Louisiana's Realtor association said today.

The Web site allows property owners with rental units available to post information on those units and allows potential renters to search for temporary and longer-term housing in a seven-state area, the association said.

The Realtor association, Louisiana Realtors, created the site in partnership with federal response agencies.

Property owners willing to list available housing will be required to log into the Web site and then will be able to include basic information about the property for rent along with terms and conditions and contact information.

Potential renters will be allowed to search for properties by various factors, including by state, parish or county, city or ZIP code. The seven-state area includes Katrina-affected states Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, and surrounding states Texas, Arkansas and Georgia.

"We recognize the tragic disruptions that have occurred in so many lives, leading many on a frantic search for housing along the Gulf Coast," said Louisiana Realtors CEO Malcolm Young.

"While power remains an issue for many and Internet service may still be disrupted in some areas, we are trying to fill a need by creating a web site to match owners and renters," Young said.

Lafayette-area Realtors led by Bill BacquÃ© of Van Eaton & Romero Inc. and Patrick Caffery of Caffery Real Estate in New Iberia initiated the site.

The group turned to the Louisiana Realtors and also got help from a Lafayette-based technology company, CBM Technology, headed by Chad Theriot, and technology experts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Disaster Housing Resources, major U.S. technology companies and the National Association of Realtors.

Home Features Most in Demand

2005-09-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

By Les Christie

Feature Popularity

Home office 47%
Game room 30%
Mud room 26%
Home theater 24%
Guest wing 23%
In-law suite 22%
Laundry room 18%
Fitness center 13%

According to a new survey from the American Institute of Architects, the second quarter of this year remained a strong one for most of its members. More than 39 percent reported improved billings compared with the first quarter, with only 9 percent reporting lower billings.

And the future looks as bright: 42 percent of the respondents have experienced a rise in inquiries for new work during the corner and only 10 percent said they had seen fewer potential new customers.

The average architectural firm had a work backlog of 5.4 months during the first quarter, up from 5.2 months the quarter earlier.

Regionally, architects in the South report the strongest business conditions with 52 percent of architects there having more work in quarter two. Weakest was the Northeast where only 27 percent reported increased billings.

Popularity contest

According to the report, remodeling was the biggest source of business for architects during the second quarter, with additions and alterations and kitchen/bath projects leading the way.

The tastes of Americans continued to evolve, changing the popularity of specific home features. Residences are getting less formal and the Institute reported a marked decline in the kind of upscale entryways and foyers that had been much in demand in years past.

Less popular too, despite growing auto ownership nationwide are giant garages with bays for three or more cars.

Home offices led the list of amenities that have grown in popularity. The difference between the percentage of architects reporting increased demand for this kind of room minus those reporting decreased demand came to 47 percentage points.

Hobby/game rooms (30 percent difference); mud rooms (26 percent); and media rooms (24 percent) also showed increased popularity.

Another major home feature more Americans want is living space dedicated to other household members; 38 percent of architects cited increased demand for this feature with about 15 percent cited lower demand.

More and more, entire wings or suites, including separate kitchens and baths, are being incorporated in home design or added to existing houses. These may be used by aging parents or live-in child-care workers.

Using a 1031 Exchange

2005-08-26T17:48:00.000-07:00

A 1031 exchange allows you to defer the payment of capital gains taxes associated with real estate transactions. By selling one property and buying a higher-priced property, you can also get additional depreciation deductions, which can act to increase your after-tax income.

Only a few simple rules must be followed in order to qualify a real estate transaction as a 1031 exchange. First, only property held for business or investment purposes can be used in a 1031 exchange, and both properties in the transaction must be of "like kind". Like kind property is real estate or other tangible property that is similar in nature or classification.

It can be frustrating wading through online information on the 1031 tax exchange and how it can benefit you.

What are the tax advantages in a 1031 exchange?
You can defer the payment of capital gains taxes associated with real estate transactions. By selling one property and buying a higher-priced property, you can also get additional depreciation deductions, which can act to increase your after-tax income. In addition, you can eliminate paying taxes on the recapture of depreciation you've taken on the property.

Can I use my primary residence or second home in for a 1031 exchange?
No, only real estate property held for business or investment purposes can be used in a 1031 exchange, and both properties in the transaction must be of "like kind".

What is meant by "like-kind" property in a 1031 exchange?
Like kind property is real estate or other tangible property that is similar in nature, characteristics, or SIC classification in a 1031 exchange. Whether two properties are of "like kind" can also be dependent on state law.

Can I sell or buy multiple properties in a 1031 exchange?
Yes, you can exchange multiple smaller properties for a larger one and vice versa. The key is always trade up in value in order to maximize the amount of capital gains taxes that are deferred.

Are their time restrictions on a 1031 exchange transaction?
Yes, there is a 180-day time span in which the 1031 exchange must take place. During this period there is also a 45-day period where the exchanger must identify which replacement property will be purchased.

How can I defer the maximum amount of capital gains tax in a 1031 exchange?The main rule is that the replacement property being purchased must be equal or greater in value to the relinquished property being sold. The net effect must be that the entire net proceeds from the sale must be used to purchase the replacement property.

Does one receive cost basis for the replacement property?
No, cost basis from the relinquished property is carried forward to the replacement property in a 1031 exchange. This is one drawback and is often overlooked or misunderstood.

What is a Qualified Intermediary and must I use one in a 1031 exchange?
The Qualified Intermediary (QI), also called an accomodator, is a third-party that facilitates the transaction and is required by the IRS to qualify a 1031 tax exchange. The IRS does not allow your accountant, attorney, or escrow company to act as the QI.

Can I do multiple 1031 exchanges and avoid paying taxes altogether?
Yes, by continuing to sell and buy like-kind properties and following 1031 exchange rules, your estate when you die can avoid paying capital gains taxes.

Slow Market? Sell The Deal, Not House

2005-08-26T17:14:00.000-07:00

by M. Anthony Carr

If you find yourself with a house on the market and it's just not moving, there are several strategies to put in place to speed up the sale and get going with your next purchase.
Psychologically, the seller has to first prepare himself for selling the house -- not marketing it, not holding out for a higher price, not defending your price, not blaming your agent for not doing enough, etc.

Granted, all the above is important and you do want a professional agent with a viable marketing plan to draw as many buyers as possible. Just like any other commodity -- a lot of buyers trouncing through your house is a good thing, because more buyers means more potential offers. Thus, the seller needs to hire a company/agent that's going to create such an environment.

But let's say you've done that. You've even fixed up the house better than anyone else on the block and it's just not moving. Then move from selling the product to selling the deal.
We see this strategy in plenty of other products. The auto industry is famous for it -- zero percent financing, $500 above invoice, employee discount price … none of these items have anything to do with the product -- they are enticing you with the deal.

The Deal for real estate has everything to do about the buyer. Forget that you may still be in a sellers market and you're in the drivers seat. If your house is sitting on the market and you have to move in 45 days -- you're not so much in the drivers seat anymore. Get off your haunches and get the job done.

You could drop the price, but in reality, this doesn't help the buyer as much as cash back at the settlement table.

For every $10,000 you drop on a loan at 6 percent, the buyer saves only $60 per month in a mortgage payment. Is that really enticing enough? Think about it, they're borrowing $250,000 -- a quarter of a million dollars -- and you're dropping the price by $10,000 reduces their principal and interest payment from $1,498 to $1438.

Is that one move enough to get me excited?

Let's turn that around and offer $7,500 (3 percent of the loan amount) over to the buyer -- at a full price contract -- and see what it does for the buyer. They could use it for closing costs, which could be a lot of money in their pocket. They could use it to make payments over the next several months (nearly five months worth of payments at the above mentioned payment amount). Is that really more beneficial than $60 per month?

By dropping your price $10,000, it would take them more than 10 years worth of monthly payments to gain the actual financial benefit of simply handing over $7,500 in closing costs to them at the settlement table. Plus, you get to keep the remaining $2,500 for your own bottom line.

It's like this. If you're about to take a hit on the sale of your house, it might as well benefit someone, and the buyer who gets $7,500 at the table is going to get a lot more excited than the one who's price dropped $10,000.

Be sure to check with your mortgage professional to make sure the loan program your buyer is using will allow you to provide this much cash to the buyer.

One last thing. If you decide to market the deal, make it a lot more appealing than "closing costs to buyer." How you say it can be just as important as what you're saying: "No payments for 4 months," "$7,500 back to decorate your house," "Seller will pay off buyers debt (up to $7,500)," are three ways of saying, "Closing costs to buyer."

Which one gets you excited?

Seven Records Broken in Sale of Champions at Iowa State Fair

2005-08-21T14:28:00.000-07:00

Reserve ChampionFFA Market

Samantha Sell, Glenwood $12,500
Buyer: Featherlite, Inc.; Midwest Club Lamb Producers; Blue Grass Shows; Old West Barbeque, Pioneer; $6,300 local support

When the gavel fell silent and the sale ring was cleared for the final time, $182,900 had been raised in the 4-H and FFA Sale of Champions August 20 at the 2005 Iowa State Fair. Seven new record prices for the champions were set.

When added with the $88,500 of scholarships and performance and carcass awards, $271,400 was awarded to young livestock exhibitors through the auspices of the Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement.

Seven new records were set during the bidding including Reserve Champion 4-H Market Heifer, Grand Champion 4-H Market Hog, Grand Champion 4-H Derby Hog, Reserve Champion FFA Market Hog, Grand Champion 4-H Market Lamb, Reserve Champion 4-H Market Lamb and Grand Champion Broiler Pen.

Participants in the Sale of Champions were asked to find hometown supporters to set a floor price for bidding. The purchaser paid the difference between the floor price and the final sale price.

After the sale, a check written for 80 percent of the animal’s sale price goes to the exhibitor. The remaining 20 percent is retained by the IFFAA for the scholarship program and Sale expenses. In addition to their sale proceeds, the exhibitors of the Grand Champion FFA Market Lamb, Grand Champion 4-H Market Hog and Grand Champion 4-H Market Steer each receive the use of a new aluminum livestock trailer for one year courtesy of Featherlite Trailers of Cresco.

Property TaxHikes Ordered for Pottawattamie, Mills Counties

2005-08-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

BY TOM SHAW
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Homeowners in Pottawattamie and Mills Counties could be in for bad news on their property tax bills next year.

The Iowa Department of Revenue has tentatively ordered across-the-board valuation increases of 12 percent on all residential property in the two counties. That's because property assessments in those counties seem to lag behind the housing market.

The order could mean hundreds of dollars in extra taxes, if the Iowa Legislature doesn't adjust the complicated formula for figuring property taxes on homes.

Statewide, the Department of Revenue has proposed an average 7.3 percent increase for residential property, a 3.3 percent increase for agricultural land and a 5.1 percent increase for commercial property. The purpose of the orders is to equalize assessments and ensure that properties are assessed at actual value.

The state reviews assessments every two years. In 2003, the state left residential valuations alone in Pottawattamie County.

Counties have a chance to appeal the orders next month. Any changes would not take effect until next year.

Variables used in Iowa's complicated formula for deciding property taxes could change by then. Two state programs - the rollback and homeownership credit - reduce the taxable valuation of homes by about half. The programs are reviewed regularly by the state Legislature.

The state's proposed 12 percent increase would mean a property tax increase of just under $300 for those living in Council Bluffs and the Council Bluffs School District with a home valued at $100,000.

That would be at the current tax, rollback and homeownership credit rates. Local governments and school districts determine their tax rates based on budget needs.

Pottawattamie County Assessor Steve Palm said he does not plan to appeal the proposed state order. He said he does not have the staff to review all residential properties every two years, as required by law. Palm also said the sustained real-estate boom has caused property to increase in value.

"The whole thing is based on sales," Palm said, adding his office has reviewed hundreds of sales records.

The median sale price for a home in the Council Bluffs or Carter Lake area increased 13 percent from the first seven months of 2004 to the same period this year. The median price went from $99,000 to $112,125, according to the Southwest Iowa Association of Realtors.

For all of southwest Iowa, the increase was 12 percent - from $97,850 to $110,000, according to the association.

John Jerkovich, president of Heartland Properties, and Randy Carroll, a Heartland sales associate, said they've seen an increase in the number of high-end home buyers coming to Council Bluffs from the Omaha area.

The reasons cited by the homebuyers are a shorter commute to downtown Omaha and lower taxes.

The Bent Tree development on the outskirts of Council Bluffs, with homes from $450,000 to $900,000, has had a number of relocations by ConAgra and Union Pacific employees, Jerkovich said.

Southwest Iowa Association of Realtors President Sharon White said new home construction and people upgrading their homes also have had a big impact on the housing market.
Pottawattamie County has about 35,000 residential properties. Palm placed an increase of less than 1 percent on some of those residential properties this year. The state order would be on top of that increase.

Mills County also would see a 12 percent increase in residential valuations under the proposed state changes. That would be on top of a less than 1 percent increase in valuations for homes in the county from the assessor.

Mills County officials had not yet decided whether to appeal the proposed increase, said assessor Christina Govig.

Crawford County faces an 11 percent increase in commercial property taxes from the state. That increase would have an impact on 640 commercial properties and would be added to the less than 0.5 percent increase from the assessor.

Crawford County Assessor Duane Zenk said he believes some of the 11 sales reviewed by the state are not the best indicators of property value in the county. But he will not appeal the state order because state officials already told him they will not take the sales out of their review.
"It's not the best system . . . but it's something that we have to live with," Zenk said.

Agricultural property in Pottawattamie County would see an increase of 7 percent under the proposed state order. Palm said the state dropped agricultural valuations in the county two years ago.

Mineola 125th Anniversary Events Schedule!

2005-08-18T17:52:00.000-07:00

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
-SEPTEMBER 3RD -

COFFEE & DONUTS • starting at 9 am Mineola Community Center
FLEA MARKET • 9 am - 4 pm St. John Lutheran Church north parking lot
QUILT SHOW & HAT DISPLAY • 9 am - 4 pm St. John Lutheran Church
RURAL SCHOOLS REUNION • 9 am - 1 pm Mineola Community Center
QUASQUICENTENNIAL CANCELLATION STAMPS 9 am - 2pm Mineola Post Office
MINEOLA STEAK HOUSEOPEN FOR LUNCH BEER GARDEN • Opens at 11 am
HORSESHOES • 11 am - 1:30 pm south of the Mineola Fire Station
PARADE • line-up at 1 pm, starts at 2 pm sign-up at the Mineola Bank
CAR & TRACTOR SHOW • 3 pm Main Street in front of the Mineola Steak House
HORSESHOES • 3 pm south of the Mineola Fire Station
BINGO • 3 pm - 5 pm at the Mineola Fire Station
CHILDREN'S Activities & Carnival • 3 pm - 6 pm at the west end of Main Street
THE POLKA DUDES BAND • 3 pm - 6 pm will perform at the Mineola Community Center
BBQ DINNER • 5 pm buffet style, served in front of the Mineola Community Center - catered by Clay and Suzette Deitchler
THE BRISTOLS BAND • 7 pm - 11 pm performing behind the Mineola Steak House

2005 Glenwood Rams Varsity Football Schedule

2005-08-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

Friday 8/26 7:30 Shenandoah (away)
Friday 9/02 7:30 Underwood (away)
Friday 9/16 7:30 Harlan (home)
Friday 9/23 7:30 Lewis Central (homecoming)
Friday 9/30 7:30 Denison (away)
Friday 10/7 7:30 Creston (away)
Friday 10/14 7:30 Atlantic (home)
Friday 10/21 7:30 Carroll (home)
Friday 10/28 7:30 Jefferson (away)

NP Dodge Promotes New Broker to Glenwood Office

2005-08-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

NP Dodge Real Estate announces the promotion of Jeff Martin to Managing Broker of the Glenwood, Iowa sales office, located at 201 S. Locust St.

Jeff was born and raised in Southwest Iowa and has been a licensed Realtor since 1992. He obtained his broker's license and owned his own company until merging with NP Dodge in July of 2004.

Mr. Martin will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Glenwood office. He is an active member of the Southwest Iowa Association of Realtors, where he sits on the board of Directors, Professional Standards Committee, and is chairman of the MLS Committee.

The NP Dodge Glenwood sales office has a total of 10 agents. NP Dodge is a family owned company celebrating its 150th year of business in 2005. They currently maintain 14 offices in Nebraska and Iowa and have over 450 sales associates.

Protect Your Home Against Tornado Damage

2005-08-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

Even if you live outside “Tornado Alley,” the area of the country that runs north from Texas through eastern Nebraska and northeast to Indiana, you are still vulnerable to tornadoes. Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas may see more of these unpredictable and dangerous storms than other states, but the rest of the country also gets its share of twisters. You don’t have to be blown away when nature lets loose. It’s never too early to prepare and you can take several basic steps right now to protect your family and your home from disaster....

Read Full Story ->

Meeting the Seller Could Affect Deal

2005-08-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

by M. Anthony Carr

Realtors must take care how they approach the buyer and seller client of another real estate professional. To contact a seller directly, for instance, when the seller has listed his or her house with another agent, could be construed as "going behind the sign," as it's called in the industry and violates the National Association of Realtors' Code of Ethics.

On the other hand, it's not uncommon for buyers and sellers to meet each other and talk real estate, the transaction, moving plans, remodeling -- er -- be careful about that last one. It's true -- all the topics above may or may not cause a hubbub between a buyer and seller, but when you start discussing remodeling plans -- buyers beware.

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LAKE OHANA - "Your Family's Destination"

2005-08-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

"OHANA", the Hawaiian word for "family", is what this lakeside community is all about. Nestled in the Loess Hills of southwest Iowa, just 15 minutes from downtown Omaha, this planned development revolves around the family. With all of its improvements geared around relaxing, country and outdoor living, Lake Ohana is more than just a place to call home, it's the perfect family destination.

Lake Ohana is truly one-of-a-kind. Offering incomparable building sites and carefully planned amenities to complement its natural assets, this development is definitely the first of its kind in the surrounding Omaha/Council Bluffs area.

The development's three lakes, meandering trails and green spaces yearns and beckons to be explored and used by its homeowners.Due to the diverse topography, each lake has its own unique characteristics and is being developed for specific uses.

The 100+ acre lake will be fed via natural springs by Pony Creek which is a continually flowing live stream. Over a mile long, Lake Ohana is perfect for the avid water sports enthusiast. Its lakeside homeowners will enjoy having the option of having their own boat dock right outside their backdoor. Other homeowners will have the use of a private boat ramp. Future planned amenities include a marina with a full service restaurant and a clubhouse.
Encompassing almost 30 acres with its green spaces, the 20 acre no-wake lake is geared towards the more peaceful and serene side of lakeside living. At over 40 feet deep at its deepest point, the stocked lake will become a favorite for homeowners who like to fish, and with its perimeter walking trail and park-like setting, it will provide for countless hours of frolicking and picnicking for its privileged homeowners.
The five acre aesthetic lake will be a perfect setting to relax after a busy day at the office. As you unwind with your spouse, your children will love exploring its shores.
Ohana Ridge, the initial phase of this development, is an entirely seperate subdivision.
Available now, these 1+ acre lots will be the initial phase within the Lake Ohana subdivision. All lots are planned to have rural water, sewer, and underground utilities including propane.
Phase 1B is anticipated to be completed in the Fall of 2005. In addition to the amenities in Phase 1A, these lots will have an extensive trail system as well as a 5 acre community park.
Planned with a "village atmosphere", the 5 acre commercial complex will be developed with a sense of community. With numerous green spaces and individual architecturally-designed buildings, this area is destined to become not only a gathering place for the immediate community, but also the surrounding area.

Customize Your Home with Tile

2005-08-15T17:16:00.000-07:00

by Phoebe Chongchua

The next time you plan to tile an area in your home, instead of running to a tile store to pick out everyday squares, you might consider pulling out and thumbing through a box of your favorite photographs.

A San Diego company that specializes in visual legacies imbeds your artwork or photographs right into tiles, creating a customized look for kitchens, walkways, pools, bathrooms, fireplaces and other areas.

"I do everything from marble, tumble stone, glass, frosted glass on up to regular ceramics and then the ceramic tiles are in matte finish, satin finish and glossy," says Toni Renier of Square Meadows.

Whether it's photos you took of Yosemite waterfalls or a beautiful view of the Amalfi Coast that you captured and now want turn into tiles to put in your shower, in your kitchen for a backsplash, or simply to hang on your wall, tile photos can add a very personal touch to your décor.

Square Meadows can use your photos to create the desired look for a particular room. However, the actual photo is not put on the tile. Instead a special ink is used that turns into a gas when it is heated. The tile is treated with a special coating to allow the ink to become imbedded into the tile.

Renier says "What you do is scan the photo or create the artwork in Adobe Application, Illustrator, Photoshop or whatever. Then it gets printed out on a special paper that allows the ink to sit up on to the paper as opposed to being absorbed into the paper. Then you put it in a heat press and it depends on the tile how long and how you press it, but it gets placed in there at about 450 degrees. Once that pressure and the heat are happening, the gas then permeates the tile and the image then is permanently imbedded into the tile."

Depending on the project, the process can take a week to several weeks to complete and the cost varies from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the size of the project.
"Because I am a graphic designer and artist/illustrator, I can design whatever for you. So if you had something in mind -- a vision of what you wanted a certain area to look like -- I can illustrate it or design it, lay it out and do the graphics for it and then blow it up and separate it into the tiles," says Renier.

While the tiles are very versatile, Renier cautions that some environments aren't the best because just like photographs, the tiles can fade over the years.

"If you're taking it and you're putting it outdoors where it's going to get direct sunlight on a constant basis and a lot of heat -- I mean if you're in Tucson, Arizona and you do your pool -- you're looking at about probably only a three-or-four-year shelf life, if that," says Renier.
However, when the tiles are used indoors and out of direct sunlight and heat, Renier says they should last 50 years.

One important note, you're on your own for installation of the tiles. Renier says when you or a worker installs them make sure to use a non-sanded grout, "The sanded grout tends to scratch the tile more." Also seal with a top coat to protect the tiles.

Home Sales Near All-Time Peak

2005-08-11T06:17:00.000-07:00

Chief Economist David Lereah, in a monthly forecast, nudged his estimates higher for sales of previously owned and new homes in 2005.

He said existing home sales should rise 2.9 percent to 6.98 million this year, up from his previous forecast of 6.97 million and higher than the 2004 record of 6.78 million.
Sales of new homes should climb 4.8 percent to 1.26 million in 2005, which also would be a record high, the realtors' economist said.

Housing, now in a boom of more than four years, has defied economists' expectations for a slowdown this year as long-term mortgage rates remain stubbornly low. That has led economists over the past two months to boost their 2005 targets and forecast another record year for sales and construction.

But fixed 30-year mortgage rates have begun to trend higher over the past five weeks, according to mortgage finance company Freddie Mac. Industry analysts also have begun to point to anecdotal evidence of slowing sales and rising inventory of homes available for sale in some of the priciest areas.

Lereah said home sales should begin to ease off record levels during the second half of the year.
"The housing market is probably close to a peak right now in terms of sales activity, but there is tremendous momentum," he said.

IWCC 2005 Balloon Fair

2005-08-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

On the Campus of Iowa Western Community College.
August 19,20& 21, 2005
Free Admission!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Friday, August 19

5pm-9pm
Food & Beverage ConcessionsCreative Celebration Inflatable RidesFast & Furious Micro-Reality NASCAR racingUnder the Big Top - Artists/Vendors/ExhibitorsClowns & Face painting

6:30pm-8:30pm
Balloon WalkTethered RidesSerena's Song - Handicap accessible tethered balloon rides - sponsored by Craig H. Neilsen FoundationSky diving demo

7pm-7:45pm
The Magic of Jeff Quinn

8:30pm
Balloon Glow2 Balloons at Ameristar
(sunset at 8:17pm)

9pm-10pm
Live music by the Nace Brothers

Saturday, August 20

7am
Balloon AscensionSerena's Song-handicap accessible tethered rides - sponsored by Craig H. Neilsen Foundation(sunrise at 6:39am)

7am-10am
Pancake Man Breakfast

8am-9pm
Under the Big Top - Artists/Vendors/Exhibitors

9am-4pm
Hot Air & Horsepoer - Show & Shine Car/Bike Show

4:30pm-5:30pm
Pilot/Crew Picnic

5pm-9pm
Food & Beverage ConcessionsCreative Celebration Inflatable RidesFast & Furious Micro-Reality NASCAR racingClowns & Face painting

6:30pm-8:30pm
Balloon WalkTethered RidesSerena's Song - Handicap accessible tethered balloon rides - sponsored by Craig H. Neilsen FoundationSky diving demo

6:30pm
Balloon Ascension
(sunset at 8:15pm)

7:30pm-8:30pm
Magician - The Amazing Arthur

8:30pm
Limited Balloon Glow

9pm
3rd Annual Fireworks Display sponsored by Feltz Wealth Plan

Sunday, August 21

7am
Balloon Ascension
(sunrise at 6:40am)

6am-9am
Free Panera Bagels to the first 500 attendees Under the Big Top - Artists/Vendors/ExhibitorsPing-pong raffle drop

8am-10am
Serena's Song - Handicap accessible tethered balloon rides

11am
Awards Brunch @ Ameristar (pilots, crew, committee, and sponsors only) (if no flight, brunch moved to 10am)

Mineola Subdivision Encounters A Snag

2005-08-03T06:28:00.000-07:00

BY JOHN FERAK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has told the developer of the largest subdivision ever proposed in Mills County to take corrective action or face fines and a slowdown.

A department investigation in July determined that the Lake Ohana housing development west of Mineola, including a future lake and dam, is being constructed without proper storm-water management and soil erosion controls.

As a result of the permit violations issued July 19, developer Craig Nakamoto must resubmit his storm-water pollution prevention plans, said Thad Nanfito, a resources department environmental specialist.

Nakamoto could not be reached for comment.

In late May, the Mills County Board approved construction of the first phase of the 350-unit project, about two miles west of Mineola and five miles north of Glenwood.

About a dozen houses already are under construction.
Nakamoto's 700-acre development calls for three private lakes, including a 120-acre lake for watercraft and recreational boating. A four-acre parcel includes a business corridor for a bank, restaurant and convenience store.

As Nakamoto resolves the violation, he also is trying to work out plans to have his development served by a municipal sewer treatment system.

Earlier, he contracted with the Glenwood Utilities Board to extend water lines there.
Nakamoto wants his development included in the proposed Mills County Urban Renewal Plan for Barrus Road and 230th Street. An urban renewal plan is the first step needed to create a tax increment finance district.

In such a district, property taxes are frozen for several years to help pay for public infrastructure improvements. Tax increment financing would pay for a new wastewater collection treatment system to serve both the unincorporated town of Mineola and Lake Ohana. Homes in the town of about 200 have inadequate septic systems because of small lots.
If the wastewater treatment plan remains unresolved for too long, Nakamoto's development would have to offer private septics, said County Board member Joe Blankenship.

"The water is already on its way," Blankenship said. "The sewer system is still the biggest obstacle. The whole thing hinges on Mineola getting the money for the federal grant."
Mineola's effort to receive a federal grant last year was turned down, he said. Another application has been submitted.

In recent weeks, several rural landowners have asked Mills County to provide more oversight and scrutiny to Nakamoto's development.

"We don't want it overbuilt and not done properly," said area resident Paige Sowers. "If a municipal sewer is in place, he could easily build 700 houses out there. Who's to say he wouldn't change his plans at that point?"

Blankenship said the county will review all four phases of Nakamoto's subdivision plans.

Mortgage Rates Post Third Week of Gains

2005-07-27T12:26:00.001-07:00

Both long-term and short-term rates experienced increases for the week.
July 21, 2005: 11:35 AM EDT

Mortgage rates climbed this past week for the third straight week but rates still remain close to the low rates experienced in June of 2003, the government-chartered mortgage company Freddie Mac said Thursday.

The average rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages rose to 5.73 percent for the week ending Thursday, with an average 0.4 point payable up front, up slightly from 5.66 percent the previous week, according to the mortgage finance firm's survey.

Last year at this time, the rate on the 30-year fixed-rate loan stood at 5.98 percent.
The 15-year mortgage rate climbed to 5.32 percent, with an average 0.4 point payable up front, up from 5.25 percent the week before. The loan averaged 5.39 percent a year ago.

"Even though long-term rates rose for the third consecutive week, they still remain below six percent -- still relatively close to the phenomenally low rates we experienced in June of 2003," said Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist at Freddie Mac. "We believe that the housing industry, although poised to ease a bit, will still continue to bustle as the economy continues to expand steadily and long-term rates remain affordable."

Five-year adjustable-rate mortgages rose to an average 5.26 percent, with an average 0.5 point payable up front, up from last week's 5.15 percent.

There is no data available for year-over-year comparisons since Freddie Mac only began tracking these rates this year.

One-year adjusted-rate mortgages edged higher to an average 4.42 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, up from 4.39 percent last week.

At this time last year, the one-year adjustable-rate loan averaged 4.12 percent.

Newsweek Story Misjudges Traditional Agents

2005-07-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

by Blanche Evans

It's clear from the spoon-fed sameness of Jane Bryant Quinn's story "Cutting the Commissions" in this week's Newsweek that she, like other mainstream journalists, had fun skewing perspectives of "traditional" real estate agents. They're an easy target -- especially when she doesn't name names.

All the usual players were mentioned -- almost as if her piece were a paid advertorial for discount brokers. And just as tellingly, "traditional" brokers, who are allegedly standing in the way of discounts to consumers, went unnamed.

"No more," Quinn reports. "If their clients find a Foxton's house they like on Realtor.com, the broker can't escape showing it. CEO Van Davis says that outside brokers are accounting for half his sales."

She clearly doesn't see the slant of her perspective. If half of Foxton's sales are accounted for by other brokers, isn't it obvious that at least a few of those brokers don't have a problem with Foxton's business model? But Quinn prefers to suggest otherwise -- that they're trying to "escape," but can't, because of the all-seeing eye of the Internet.

Who are these brokers? What are their names? Where is the proof that a broker tried to "escape" showing a Foxton's listing? We don't get to meet them. We just get to read the inference.

It just goes to show you can twist any perspective. Could you answer this question without looking guilty, "Have you stopped beating your wife?" Now ask, "How can you charge six percent?" Try answering that without looking like you're justifying extortion. Why are you worth your salary, Ms. Quinn?

Ms. Quinn doesn't write that the Internet has opened the presentation of listings to all brokers. Presuming that listings on the Internet are an advantage only for discount brokers is silly. That's why her bold statement that "the National Association of Realtors was planning to set new MLS rules to let traditional brokers keep their listings off the discounters' sites" is so erroneous. All the NAR rules were designed to do is clarify what state law already empowers all brokers to do. That is -- control where they advertise their own listings.

Once a listing reaches the Internet, it is out of the control of the broker, yet the broker sustains liability. Any selling broker could put the listing on a site that violates fair housing laws or provides illegal incentives to consumers or lenders, for example. That's why brokers want control of where their listings appear online.

If brokers want to keep their listings off other brokers' sites, that's their prerogative. It's not anti-competitive, because no broker owes another broker listings, any more than Quinn owes another magazine writer access to her sources. Sharing listings is voluntary. The real estate "cartel" as Quinn so negatively puts it, is a business-to-business cooperative, a multiple listing service where listings are put in a neutral warehouse to be retrieved by participating brokers to show to clients.

Listings were never intended to be used by one broker over another as a means to get customers. And that's just too bad for some business models. The listings are to serve brokers with customers, not to help new brokers get customers. See the difference?

Would Newsweek help US magazine get new readers by sharing its stories with the newer magazine? Of course not. Like journalists, brokers incur costs in doing business. When brokers contract with a seller, they incur the costs and liabilities for marketing the listing. Included in their contracts is the right to expose the listing as they see fit. If sellers, not other brokers, don't like the way it's done, the marketplace will speak up and changes will occur accordingly.

It is some brokers, not sellers, who are contacting magazines like Newsweek, and whipping up the gullible press to stomp on their competitors. They complain that other brokers are peventing them from competing, but their real problem is that they want the rights to advertise what doesn't belong to them - other brokers' listings. They need other brokers' listings to serve customers, but what crosses the line into using the listings for advertising is that they want to get customers. See the difference?

Quinn then goes on to list money-saving services, without mentioning that full-service can save consumers money, too. As fiduciaries, brokers try to get the highest price for their sellers. For buyers, they try to get the best deal. Doesn't that count for something?

Quinn gets away with making unsupported statements like this: "Unfortunately, some of you aren't allowed to use all these money-saving services. Your state's self-interested real-estate brokers are driving them out. Six states (Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah) now curtail companies that offer discounts, according to Inman Real Estate News," without explaining what that curtailment actually is.

Gee, do realty brokers really have that kind to power to tell their state legislatures what to do? Are discount brokers really being unfairly "curtailed," or might these states be asking licensees to stick to state laws in their business practices? Real estate commissions oversee competitive practices, but their mandate is to protect consumers. Could it be that these states are strengthening their real estate laws in the name of consumer protection?

Quinn doesn't ask.

She also doesn't ask what her sources have to gain. Several in her story have undisclosed relationships, including two companies founded by the same person. A third source was founded by a protege of this same entrepeneur.

She also fails to observe that not all online companies want agents to make lower commissions. Some of the referral and rebate companies pay less to consumers if they negotiate lower commissions. These companies don't encourage agents to cut commissions, because it's not in their interest to do so. If the consumer pays more commission, the agent can afford higher referral fees.

Again, Quinn doesn't question. She closes with, "Hey, this is America -- we're supposed to support price competition. That means brokers, too."

Hey, this is America, Ms. Quinn. Brokers do support price competition.

The traditional brokers you namelessly accuse of maintaining a cartel include flat-fee brokers, "discount" brokers and referral-fee-only brokers, among others. They got their licenses to practice like everyone else -- by agreeing to follow state law. It's their tough luck that some have created business models designed to circumvent the more expensive, liability-ridden aspects of brokerage all of which are designed to protect the consumer.

It's not about competition at all, Ms. Quinn. Discounters have been here for generations, in case you didn't know, and many currently operate under so-called "traditional" brand names. That's because the industry is composed of independent contractors, and independents are going to do what they can to be profitable. Discount brokers, just like any other brokers, have to prove their value to the marketplace. The marketplace will decide what it wants, and real estate business models will adjust accordingly.

2005 County Fair Schedule

2005-07-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 22nd---Montgomery County Fair in Red Oak

Monday, July 25th---Mills County Fair in Malvern

Tuesday, July 26th---Union County Fair in Afton

Thursday, July 28th---Page County Fair in Clarinda

Friday, July 29th---Westfair in Council Bluffs

Saturday, July 30th---Audubon County Fair in Audubon

Tuesday, August 2nd---Cass County Fair in Atlantic

Monday, August 15th---Otoe County Fair in Syracuse

Tuesday, August 16th---Nemaha County Fair in Auburn

Planning Continues for Major Glenwood School Project

2005-07-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

Glenwood school officials have enlisted help in planning for a major building project.

Recently, Glenwood's School Board selected the D-L-R firm of Omaha to develop architectural designs for the proposed construction of a new high school facility and renovation of the current high school into a middle school building.

Glenwood School Superintendent Doctor Stan Sibley told KMA News that the board liked what they saw in the firm's conceptual designs. In addition, Sibley says the firm's proposal was affordable. Sibley says D-L-R's project estimate came in under the 17-million-dollar threshold the board anticipated. Sibley says the actual total cost has yet to be determined.

In addition, Sibley says the firm will assist the district in determining which of four proposed sites would be adequate for the new high school's location. In the meantime, school officials continue to discuss the proposal with patrons. Sibley says a forum held late last month on the building project was well-attended, and Sibley says solid support was indicated for the district's proposal. Sibley says another forum will be held in September.

Help! My House Isn't Selling

2005-07-21T20:48:00.000-07:00

Even in the best markets your house might sit if the price is too high or the place has no charm.

It's supposed to be the hottest housing market in history. But buyers are not exactly kicking down your door.

Your house has been sitting on the market so long the 'For Sale' sign feels like a permanent part of the landscaping.

It's usually one of three problems......

The price isn't right

Houses priced too high are not going to sell in any market. People get caught up in the frenzy of the marketplace thinking that if everything else selling for a million dollars, there's should sell at a million too.

A good real estate agent should give you a realistic range for what you can expect. But, that does you no good if you insist on going higher. Before you set your heart on a price, take a look at where similar houses have actually been selling (not just what sellers are asking) and adjust for your own home's features or flaws.

Price is always pivotal...if you price too high and sometimes even if you go too low.

You think the house will sell itself

In this market, you reason, selling your house should be as easy as posting a 'For Sale' sign and waiting for the phone to ring.

You could be waiting a long time.

Even in the best markets, you need to make sure your house gets exposed to the right buyers.

These days, the online listing may be as important as the sign in the front yard. Years ago people would show up you get in the car and start driving around. Now they start their search looking at properties on the Web.

The more pictures you have of your house, both inside and out, the better. Other information, such as maps, neighborhood info and details about your home's best features also bring in buyers.

The place is too lived in

Buyers might be rational about price, location and layout, but the decision to make an offer or keep looking is often emotional.

The reality might be that the flower gardens need weekly weeding and the dark wood floors require daily mopping, but there's no need to draw attention to these details.

Landscape the yard, clean the windows, touch up paint and take care of anything else that buyers might add to their mental "to do" list. Then put away garden hoses, cleaning products and other items that remind buyers that houses require maintenance.

Close your eyes, walk in your front door and think about how your house smells. Pet odor, cigarette smoke, mildew, cooking oil and other unpleasant smells make a lasting impression on buyers, say agents. Deal with the source of the stink, rather than try to cover it up with overpowering candles or air fresheners.

Clutter is a problem buyers have trouble looking past. Everything should be crisp, clean and very minimal. Remove excess furniture, packing up knickknacks, clear off kitchen and bathroom counters, and put away family pictures. Walk through a model home and use that as your model.

Fresh paint – in warm earth tones rather than stark white – and new linens on the beds and in the bathrooms can also make the difference between a house that sits and a house that sells -- assuming you still want to sell.

Your Appraiser May Need A Reappraisal

2005-07-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

By Gerri Willis, MONEY Magazine

They work for the bank, not you. Here's what you can do to ensure a fair and honest estimate.

Appraisers are supposed to be the referees of the home-buying process. Their job -- to provide an independent estimate of the value of a property -- protects the bank by guaranteeing that the brick-and-mortar collateral for the mortgage is appropriately valued.

Plus, a wise appraisal helps ensure that you haven't been lured into overpaying for your dream house -- or refinancing it into pipe-dream territory.

But the system isn't working so well these days. As the mortgage biz becomes more competitive, lenders have sought ways to cut costs -- and appraiser fees (currently around $300 a pop) have proved highly choppable.

An inflated bid or refinancing endorsed by an inept appraiser could pose especially big problems if the market were to falter and you were forced to sell earlier than expected. You could find yourself owing more than the property is actually worth. You'd either have to put your plans on hold or make up the difference from your own pocket.

What you can do

Put the lender on notice It's up to your lender to hire the best professional, but there's no harm in letting people know that you watch out for yourself. Tell the lender you'll want a copy of the appraisal report. (Federal lending laws guarantee you this.)

And request an appraiser who has an MAI or SAI designation from the Appraisal Institute, meaning he or she has a minimum of two years of field experience and 200 hours of classroom training.

Share your info If you are selling or refinancing, show the appraiser paperwork on recent remodelings or additions that may not have entered county records yet, says John S. Brenan of the Appraisal Foundation, the industry's standards-setting body.

Showing proof of recent inspections or repairs of your septic tank or roof or heating-and-cooling systems can demonstrate a high standard of maintenance on your part and enhance your home's value, he adds.

Do your own research Whether you are buying or selling, conduct a comparable price survey or ask a realty agent to do it for you. Look at local homes sold in the past six months that are similar to what you own or are prepared to buy, then determine the price paid per square foot. An agent can get you details on the most recent closings -- critical in hot markets where prices rise quickly.

Feel like you're doing grunt work for the appraiser? Get over it. Present the appraiser with the most recent info and assume he doesn't have it.

2005 State Sales Tax Free Holidays

2005-07-18T17:17:00.000-07:00

2005 State Sales Tax Free Holidays for Back to School Shopping

Single Parents, Step Parents, ALL Parents - Save money during the 2005 Sales Tax Free Holiday Friday and SaturdayAugust 5-6, 2005.

Cash in on the savings on back-to-school clothing. Research suggests a typical family spends around $250 on back-to-school clothes. An average 6 percent sales tax exemption, then, would represent $15 in tax savings to the family.

How to Save on Title Insurance Cost

2005-07-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

by Attorney William Bronchick

Whenever title passes, the seller usually gives a deed containing certain guarantees or "warranties" (hence the name "Warranty Deed"). The seller warrants that title is good, that is, no one will come challenge the integrity of the title. For example, if a deed that was passed before him was forged, all subsequent transfers are void. Other problems may be more subtle, such as a deed with an incorrect legal description or misspelled name. Any irregularities in the "chain of title" will place a "cloud" on the integrity of the title.

The Title Search

When you are ready to sell a property, a title search is performed by a title company or attorney. The title searcher follows the chain of title back about 50 years, tracing the ownership through deeds recorded in pubic records. The searcher also checks to make certain that previously recorded mortgages and other liens have been released. Based on documents found in public records, the title company or attorney will prepare a "title insurance commitment." A commitment is a statement that based upon certain documents found by a search of public records, the company will issue a title insurance policy for a certain fee.

The Title Insurance Policy

The title insurance policy, unlike most insurance policies, covers past events. For example, the daughter of a previous owner claims that her father conveyed a deed while not mentally competent, the current ownership may be in jeopardy. The title insurance company will defend the claim and pay for any damages (usually the value of the property). The policy does not cover claims based on events that occur after the policy is issued. Furthermore, the policy usually contains numerous exceptions, such as claims based on information undisclosed to the title company. Thus, if you are aware of any potential problems that might lead to a claim, your failure to disclose this information to the title company will lead to a denial of a claim based on those events.

Ask for a "Re-issue" Rate

A title insurance coverage starts from ancient history and ends from the date you transferred title. Since most transfers are insured by a title company, the longer you own the property, the more the policy costs. Consider this: if you buy a property and the transaction is covered by title insurance, then you sell it six months later, what are the chances that something went wrong in the last six months? The answer is that the chances are slim to none, so the risk of a claim against the title are slim to none. For this reason, title companies offer a "re-issue" rate. The re-issue rate is a discounted price (usually about 40%) on the title insurance policy if another policy from a title company was issued on the same property within the last few years. The rate is lower because any claims that arise from events before the previous owner are covered by the previous policy. Thus the new policy really deals with the risk of claims from events that occurred while you owned it.

Try a "Hold-Open" Policy

If you are buying a property with the intent of re-selling it within a year, ask the title insurance company for a "hold-open" policy. For a small fee (usually an additional 10% on the policy), the title company will hold a title commitment open for a year or more. Rather than issue a policy based on the first transfer (from the seller to you), they will issue a policy on the second transfer (from you to the next buyer). Since the seller usually pays for title insurance, you can pay the additional 10% when you buy, saving 90% on title insurance when you sell.

Can Foreclosure Investing be "Criminal"?

2005-07-12T07:25:00.000-07:00

by William Bronchick, Esq.

I recently attended a "free" seminar on how to "get rich quick" in foreclosures. The speaker had a different angle than the usual "steal it from the homeowner" method.

The speaker suggested that you approach the homeowner with the following plan:

Tell the homeowner you will make up his back payments and give him some cash
Take title to the property.
Lease it back to the former owner with an option to buy it back for one year

The speaker suggested that after one year, the house would be yours if the former owner didn't exercise his option. Sounds great doesn't it? You could beat out all your competition who are trying to "steal" the same house.

Well, here's the catch. The poor homeowner in foreclosure will be your best friend when you make up his back payments. However, when the year is up and he can't get his house back, the trouble will begin.

In a number of cases, these homeowners will go to court and claim that the "sale/leaseback" was really just a disguised loan. He or his attorney will ask the court to "re-characterize" the transaction as a loan and place title to the property back in his name (for an in-depth discussion of sale/leaseback re-characterizations, read "How to Structure Sale-Leaseback Transactions").

If the court agrees, the loan is illegal, since it is usurious.

Here's how it works:

Let's say that you find a house in foreclosure worth $100k. The balance of the loan $50k, and the homeowner is behind $5k. You agree to make up the back payments of $5k and take title. You then lease it back to the homeowner with an option to buy it back for $100k, its fair market value. What's the problem?

The problem is that if the court re-characterizes the transaction from a sale/leaseback to a loan, you have loaned the homeowner $5k at 1000% interest! Think about it . . . you give him $5k, and he has to pay $50k ($100k option price minus the $50k loan balance) to get his equity back. 1000% interest is usury, and the court will set aside the loan. You will lose the house AND your $5k.

If you're not familiar with the word "usury," it means charging more interest than permitted by law. The consequences of a usurious loan are usually civil; the court will declare the loan void and the borrower won't have to pay it back. If you get caught making usurious loans on a regular basis, you'll be hearing the words "loan-sharking" and "racketeering." These are CRIMINAL acts that will get you in jail. Many foreclosure real estate investors have been indicted on racketeering charges for doing exactly what I described above.

The Better Way to Do It

The safer way to deal with someone in foreclosure is to buy him out and get him to leave. If a person is in serious financial trouble, chances are he will get into trouble again. Thus, you will end up with a messy eviction and a court battle when the tenant/former owner. If homeowner insists on staying in the property, then simply lease it to him without an option to purchase.

If the homeowner is not willing to be just a tenant and has significant equity in the property, offer a partnership arrangement wherein the partnership will own the property. Your contribution to the partnership is the money to cure the back payments due on the loan. The homeowner’s contribution is the equity in his home. The partnership will lease the property to the former homeowner for market rent. If he defaults on the rent payments, the partnership evicts him. The former homeowner still has a partnership interest, but he does not have possession. At that point, you can buy him out of the partnership.

The partnership approach should not be approached without the assistance of qualified legal counsel.

How to Save on Title Insurance Costs

2005-07-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

by Attorney William Bronchick

If you have ever bought or sold real estate, you have probably paid for title insurance. What exactly is title insurance? Why do we need it? How can I save money on title insurance? These are common questions asked by real estate investors.

Whenever title passes, the seller usually gives a deed containing certain guarantees or "warranties" (hence the name "Warranty Deed"). The seller warrants that title is good, that is, no one will come challenge the integrity of the title. For example, if a deed that was passed before him was forged, all subsequent transfers are void. Other problems may be more subtle, such as a deed with an incorrect legal description or misspelled name. Any irregularities in the "chain of title" will place a "cloud" on the integrity of the title.

The Title Search

When you are ready to sell a property, a title search is performed by a title company or attorney. The title searcher follows the chain of title back about 50 years, tracing the ownership through deeds recorded in pubic records. The searcher also checks to make certain that previously recorded mortgages and other liens have been released. Based on documents found in public records, the title company or attorney will prepare a "title insurance commitment." A commitment is a statement that based upon certain documents found by a search of public records, the company will issue a title insurance policy for a certain fee.

The Title Insurance Policy

The title insurance policy, unlike most insurance policies, covers past events. For example, the daughter of a previous owner claims that her father conveyed a deed while not mentally competent, the current ownership may be in jeopardy. The title insurance company will defend the claim and pay for any damages (usually the value of the property). The policy does not cover claims based on events that occur after the policy is issued. Furthermore, the policy usually contains numerous exceptions, such as claims based on information undisclosed to the title company. Thus, if you are aware of any potential problems that might lead to a claim, your failure to disclose this information to the title company will lead to a denial of a claim based on those events.

Ask for a "Re-issue" Rate

A title insurance coverage starts from ancient history and ends from the date you transferred title. Since most transfers are insured by a title company, the longer you own the property, the more the policy costs. Consider this: if you buy a property and the transaction is covered by title insurance, then you sell it six months later, what are the chances that something went wrong in the last six months? The answer is that the chances are slim to none, so the risk of a claim against the title are slim to none. For this reason, title companies offer a "re-issue" rate. The re-issue rate is a discounted price (usually about 40%) on the title insurance policy if another policy from a title company was issued on the same property within the last few years. The rate is lower because any claims that arise from events before the previous owner are covered by the previous policy. Thus the new policy really deals with the risk of claims from events that occurred while you owned it.

Try a "Hold-Open" Policy

If you are buying a property with the intent of re-selling it within a year, ask the title insurance company for a "hold-open" policy. For a small fee (usually an additional 10% on the policy), the title company will hold a title commitment open for a year or more. Rather than issue a policy based on the first transfer (from the seller to you), they will issue a policy on the second transfer (from you to the next buyer). Since the seller usually pays for title insurance, you can pay the additional 10% when you buy, saving 90% on title insurance when you sell.

Lake Ohana Development Phase 1A In Mills County

2005-07-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

The subdivision will be 5 miles north of Glenwood and 2 miles west of Mineola.

The 21 lakeside lots in phase one will range in size from one acre to 1.2 acres and will be offered for $50,000 to $75,000, Nakamoto said. Houses are expected to cost from $250,000 to $500,000, he said. He expects to begin construction this month.

The 700-acre development calls for three private lakes, including a 120-acre lake for watercraft and recreational boating. A 4-acre commercial corridor could include a restaurant, bank and grocery store. One acre will be donated to the Oak Township Fire Department in Mineola for a new station.

GLENWOOD SOCCER CLUB REC LEAGUE FALL 2005 REGISTRATION

2005-07-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

Glenwood Rec League teams play all games in Glenwood.

Rec League teams use volunteer coaches who have varying levels of experience. Rec League teams will be formed for the U6 through U12 age groups if enough players sign up to fill teams and if enough coaches volunteer. Players on teams that don’t have enough players or don’t have a coach will be put on waiting lists so please volunteer to coach. Rec League signups will be held July 1 through July 22, 2005 as indicated below.

WAYS TO SIGN UP FOR A REC LEAGUE TEAM

1. Self Service at Rec Center. July 9 – July 22. Put check and form in drop box located in the Rec Center. If questions, contact Dawniel Johnson at 712-629-4800. New players must also include a copy of their birth certificate.

2. Walk-In Signups with Board Member Assistance July 9, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Glenwood Rec Center

3. Walk-In Signups with Board Member Assistance. July 12, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Glenwood Rec Center.

4. Walk-in Signups with Board Member Assistance. July 16, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Glenwood Rec Center.

5. Self Service Mail In. July 1 – July 22. Print registration form from this website and mail check and form to: Dawniel Johnson, P.O. Box 204 Tabor, Iowa 51653. Forms must be received by 7/22/05. New players must also include a copy of their birth certificate.

Team Age Brackets2005-2006 Season Division Birth Dates

U-6 8-1-99 to 7-31-01
U-8 8-1-97 to 7-31-99
U-10 8-1-95 to 7-31-97
U-12 8-1-93 to 7-31-95

Mortgage Rates Fell During Past Week

2005-07-05T06:03:00.000-07:00

As worries of inflation subsided, the 30-year mortgage rate fell to 5.53 percent from 5.57 percent over the past week, Freddie Mac reports. Interest on 15-year loans fell as well, slipping to 5.12 percent from 5.16 percent during the same period.

However, the five-year hybrid adjustable mortgage rate rose to 5.06 percent from 5.05 percent, and the one-year ARM edged up to 4.24 percent from 4.23 percent.

"With still little or no threat of inflation to be found, long-term mortgage rates this week had some breathing room, and that allowed rates to drift a little lower," Freddie Mac Chief Economist Frank Nothaft says.

Source: Wall Street Journal (07/01/05)

Buyer Wants To Know Why Broker Is Showing Agency Listings Only

2005-07-05T05:52:00.000-07:00

by Blanche Evans

A homebuyer wonders why a broker is showing her only the agency's listings and not all of the properties available that would be best for her.

"I am trying to find an article or piece of advice etc. to support my feeling that Realtors are supposed to show you all houses that would be best for you, the client, not just those that they are the rep for," writes Realty Times' reader Erin Giglio. "Can you help me?"

Realty Times responds:

Erin, you've just asked a question that is at the heart of some of the biggest controversies surrounding real estate brokerage issues the industry and its consumers are facing today. So here's the long answer.

Real estate brokerage is being intensely examined by government agencies from congressional committees to the Department of Justice in an attempt to lasso and rein in one of the last truly independent and entrepreneurial businesses in the nation. It just so happens that this profession of largely independent contractors accounts for or impacts one-fifth of the Gross Domestic Product.

Some factions claim that real estate agents make too much money, ignoring evidence far to the contrary. If all the housing sales were evenly distributed among the nation's 2.2 million licensees, each agent would gross approximately $29,529 in commissions in a perfect world

(average 2005 home price of $193,000 times Real Trends current estimate of commissions (5.1 percent) equals $9,843. With an anticipated 6.5 million transactions divided by approximately 2.2 million licensees, that yields a whopping annual production of three sales per agent for an annual gross income of $29,529.)

The reality for most agents is worse. If an agent spends even 10 percent of income on marketing, and remember that's one of the major things the seller is paying the agent to do, the gross drops to $26,576. Now take out the costs of doing business -- association, educational and licensing fees, office equipment and supplies, cars, etc. and you should be getting the idea -- there's not much profit for most agents.

On the other hand, for the agents who are good business people, real estate can be quite lucrative, especially if they can increase their number of "sides" per transaction.

One of the ways to insure more liquidity is to sell one's own listings -- representing the seller as a client (the seller pays the broker,) and a buyer as a customer.

This practice is not considered unethical because the listing agent has a contract with the seller to get the house sold. Unless the agent has a buyer's agency contract with you, then you are a customer. You only become a client when you have a contract.

When you enter a store, the salesperson has an obligation to help you find what you need so you will make a purchase, but ultimately, the salesperson represents the store. The same is true in real estate sales, but unlike stores which don't share their inventory, the real estate industry has figured out a way to make more sales and provide more inventory (choice) to consumers.

Over 50 years ago, independent real estate agents across the country banded together to create what's known as the multiple listing service (MLS). This unique business-to-business cooperative is unmatched in any other business vertical. The MLS is a voluntary community stockroom supplied by the listings of all contributing listing brokers for the benefit of other brokers to sell. To even the playing field, all brokers and agents with access to the MLS have to follow certain rules of cooperation, including announcing compensation to buyer's brokers. That means that the agreement between the listing broker and the seller allows the listing broker to share his/her compensation with the buyer's broker.

Everybody's happy -- sellers get more showings, buyers get to see all the listings, and both brokers get paid at closing.

There are over 850 MLSs in the nation, but many areas, because of technical costs, too much land, or the stubbornness of certain brokers, do not have an MLS, which means they have no means to cooperate except their word. So naturally, they want to show their own listings first, before they show a listing where it is a risk they won't get paid.

You may live in a place that does not have cooperative agreements between brokers. If so, you're out of luck because the only way the broker will get paid is if he/she sells his/her own listing.

If you're uncomfortable with your broker's behavior, say something. Ask why your broker is showing you only the agency's listings when you want to see all listings that are appropriate to your needs. Insist on a more consumer-friendly relationship, and you'll get it. If not, change brokers.

Dry Weather Helping Mills County YMCA Construction Schedule

2005-06-30T20:06:00.000-07:00

You won't hear Glenwood officials complain about the area's recent dry, warm weather. Glenwood City Administrator Mary Smith told KMA News that the recent dry spell has helped initial dirt work for the Mills County Y-M-C-A project back on schedule. Glenwood's City Council Tuesday night heard an update on the project's construction. Smith says the construction schedule calls for continued earthwork next week--weather permitting. Smith says rain last month and earlier this month did delay the project's ground testing--which proved costly. Council members also heard an update on the project's fundraising efforts. More than 382-thousand dollars in donations are in hand, with another 209-thousand pledged. Smith says other funding sources are set for the project. Smith adds the council Tuesday night approved the Y project's third alternate--the addition of acoustical tiling for the facility's indoor pool at a cost of 15-thousand dollars

Council Approves Bass Pro Wetland Area

2005-06-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

TIM ROHWER

Officials of Bass Pro Shops will be allowed to build a large wetland area at its new store now under construction in Council Bluffs.

The wetlands, which was approved by the city's Planning Commission earlier this month, was given the final nod Monday night by the City Council.

It would cover more than two acres on the southeast corner of the store.
Native grasses would be planted there and fallen dead trees would be laid there also, said a landscaping consultant.

"(The plan is) to make it look as natural as possible," said Ted Spaid. Migratory birds would be attracted to the site, he added.

The council's vote was not unanimous.

Councilman Dave Tobias expressed concern that the original plan to build a two-acre lake was washed away.

"People were excited about Bass Pro, and now it's changing," he said during the discussion. "We had a business agreement. We had a vision, and now it's going to change. I don't think it's proper."

Spaid said that water management issues made the lake impractical to build.

Fourth of July Celebrations Highlight the Region

2005-06-30T19:55:00.000-07:00

COMPILED BY JOSEFINA LOZA

Council Bluffs
Weekend festivities at Harrah's Casino in Council Bluffs include an outdoor concert Sunday and a fireworks show Monday. On Sunday, the band Big Head Todd & the Monsters is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. in the Stir Concert Cove. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for lawn seating and $25 for reserved seating. Monday's fireworks show begins at dusk and will be choreographed to music, which will be simulcast on radio at 99.9 FM. Concession stand food will be available. Parking is $5 or free to those with frequent-player cards.

Rosenblatt Stadium
Baseball and fireworks - an all-American treat for Omaha. Fans of both will come together at Sunday's annual Omaha Royals baseball game and World-Herald fireworks show at Rosenblatt Stadium. The fun begins hours before the game. A Family Fun Festival will be held on the grounds south of the pavilion prior to the game from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The event is free and available to people who have game tickets. A live performance by the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band's country-rock group Night Wing is at 3 p.m. The Royals will take the field at 6:05 p.m. (Gates open at 4 p.m.) against the Albuquerque Isotopes. The game will be followed by a fireworks show, choreographed to patriotic music that will be simulcast on radio station 104.5 FM.

Things Not to Do Before Purchasing a Home

2005-06-29T10:20:00.000-07:00

No Major Purchase of Any Kind
Any major purchase that would create debt of any kind. This includes furniture, appliances, electronic equipment, jewelry, vacations, expensive weddings…
…and automobiles, of course.

Don’t Move Money Around
When a lender reviews your loan package for approval, one of the things they are concerned about is the source of funds for your down payment and closing costs. Most likely, you will be asked to provide statements for the last two or three months on any of your liquid assets. This includes checking accounts, savings accounts, money market funds, certificates of deposit, stock statements, mutual funds, and even your company 401K and retirement accounts.

If you have been moving money between accounts during that time, there may be large deposits and withdrawals in some of them.

The mortgage underwriter (the person who actually approves your loan) will probably require a complete paper trail of all the withdrawals and deposits. You may be required to produce cancelled checks, deposit receipts, and other seemingly inconsequential data, which could get quite tedious.

Perhaps you become exasperated at your lender, but they are only doing their job correctly. To ensure quality control and eliminate potential fraud, it is a requirement on most loans to completely document the source of all funds. Moving your money around, even if you are consolidating your funds to make it "easier," could make it more difficult for the lender to properly document.

So leave your money where it is until you talk to a loan officer.
Oh…don’t change banks, either.

Should You Change Jobs?
For most people, changing employers will not really affect your ability to qualify for a mortgage loan, especially if you are going to be earning more money. For some homebuyers, however, the effects of changing jobs can be disastrous to your loan application.

How To Buy Land for a New Home

2005-06-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

From Janet Wickell,

You've found the perfect house, but the land it sits on isn't quite what you have in mind. Or maybe you've seen a great piece of land, but the house doesn't fit your needs. If nothing really says home to you, it might be time to consider building.

Buying land may seem intimidating at first, but it really isn't difficult at all if you plan a course of action and stick to it.

Know Your Budget
Talk with a loan officer to find out how much you can afford. Both down payments and interest rates can be higher for land than for homes, so it's important to get the facts before you go shopping. If you plan to build soon, the loan officer should explain construction loans, including the closing procedures you'll encounter while the house is being built.

Building Costs
Talk with area contractors to determine the average price you can expect to pay per square foot for the type of home you wish to build.

Include estimates for building a driveway or road to the homesite.
Don't forget estimates for well digging and septic installation if your home will not be connected to community water and sewer.
How will it take to construct the home?
To find the maximum amount you can spend for land, deduct building costs from your total budget, then deduct a bit more for unexpected expenses.

Target A Location

If you've already looked at homes in the area, you may know where you want to build.

Your Wants and Needs

Make a list of all features that would exist on the ideal piece of land. Review the list, highlighting your must-haves, such as a great view, privacy, or a waterfront building site.

Land Use Considerations

How will you use the land? If you plan to build a duplex, you must choose a site where zoning or other restrictions allow multifamily dwellings. If you know you want a manufactured, consider only tracts of land where those structures are allowed.

Consider Restrictive Covenants

Developments are governed by guidelines called Restrictive Covenants. I know of one development where cats are not allowed, even if they are indoor pets. Some prohibit metal roofs, which are very popular on log homes. Some dictate paint colors or have an architectural review committee that must approve your home plans. Study covenants carefully to determine if you can live with them.

Start Your Search

Look for 'For Sale' signs as you browse the area.
Search for properties on the Internet.
If you see interesting tracts of land, note their exact location. A visit to the county tax office is usually all it takes to find the owner.
Find a real estate agent who likes to work land sales. Talk with the agent about all of the categories above, and any others that might help her locate the perfect tract.

Does the Land Suit Your Home Plans?
Ask a builder to accompany you to your top choices, to offer advice about the best building sites, and to suggest home plans that will work with the topography.

Utilities
Be sure to consider well and septic installation expenses for land without community water and sewer hookups. Check availability of electric, gas, and telephone services.

Easements
An easement is the right to use another person's land for a stated purpose. Does someone else have the right to use the property you want to buy? Find out before you make an offer, or add a contingency to the offer that you must approve of existing easements or the offer is void.
One way to find easements is to take a look at past deeds for the property you are considering and for surrounding parcels, but a real estate attorney or other title researcher can give a more accurate opinion.

Surveys
Does the bank require a survey? Updates to existing surveys can often be used, and are less expensive than a new survey.

Road Maintenance
If the property is accessed from a private road, there should be a formal Road Maintenance Agreement. Some banks will not lend without a recorded agreement that shows all owners have promised to help with road upkeep Restrictive Covenants normally cover road maintenance issues.

Environmental Liabilities
If homes or other structures were on the land in the past, ask for a signed statement that discloses facts about buried items, such as oil or gas storage tanks. Their removal and cleanup can be expensive.

Contingencies
Before you make an offer, think about the what ifs--things that would make the property unusable for your purposes. Add these to the offer as contingencies, which means if they do not happen, the offer or contract is void.

All offers for land without sewer hookups should be contingent on your ability to obtain permits for a septic system.
If an architectural review committee must approve your home design, the offer should be contingent on obtaining that approval.
The offer should be contingent on obtaining the type of financing you desire.
There must be a deeded right-of-way to the property.

Code of Ethics Training Sets REALTORS® Apart

2005-06-28T17:08:00.000-07:00

By adhering to NAR's strict ethics, REALTORS® offer more value and accountability than non-member licensees.Read more >

Iowa's higher Interstate speed limit kicks in Friday

2005-06-28T16:59:00.000-07:00

DES MOINES (AP) - Iowans' need for speed will be met Friday, when the speed limit on some Iowa highways rises to 70 mph and a tax incentive for a new NASCAR-style racetrack in Newton goes into effect.

"The big thing people will notice is the speed limit," said Senate Republican President Jeff Lamberti of Ankeny.

On issues ranging from economic development to reducing the state's deer population, the Legislature approved a hefty batch of bills during its 131-day session, the longest in 25 years.
Most of the measures take effect when the state opens its new fiscal year Friday. Some, like the higher speed limit, will be noticed right away, while other changes will be more subtle.

"Much of it you won't see right away," said Senate Democratic Floor Leader Michael Gronstal of Council Bluffs.

The Legislature approved a speed increase on rural Interstate highways to 70 mph, but fines will double and Gov. Tom Vilsack has promised that enforcement will be tough.

Dena Gray-Fisher, spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Transportation, said almost all the new speed limits signs that will be needed are done and should be installed by the end of Friday.

"We're going to be ready by July 1," Gray-Fisher said. "We'll start at 9 a.m., and we'll be done that day."

In Newton, construction already has begun on the new racetrack, and many think it will turn into a big draw, Lamberti said.

"If you drive by Newton on the Interstate, you're going to see that," he said.

As an incentive to build the track, lawmakers agreed to let the operators keep the first $12 million they collect in sales taxes.

Perhaps the priciest measure to take effect with the new fiscal year is a $700 million, 10-year economic development plan. Starting Friday, it will provide incentives to lure high-tech businesses to the state and tax credits to reward companies creating jobs in the state.
Other laws that take effect Friday:

• Tougher penalties for sex abuse. Prison terms for conviction of lascivious acts with a child have been lengthened and supervision tightened on inmates after release.
• A new tax credit for small producers of electricity using renewable energy sources.
• Companies that offer health insurance policies must include limited coverage for mental health treatment.
• Registration fees for boats go up, depending on the size of the boat, from $3 to $36 a year. Revenue from the higher fees, estimated at $962,000 a year, will be used for boater education and programs to clean lakes.
• Higher hunting quotas will be allowed in some areas to help trim the state's deer population.
• Public officials who knowingly violate the state's open meetings law twice or more can be removed from office.

Home Staging Helps Bring Top Dollar Sale

2005-06-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

by Phoebe Chongchua

If your house could be sold looking the way a model home does, do you think it might bring in more money? Chances are it would. That's why home staging is a growing profession that's rapidly changing the way homes are sold.

Staging is not decorating. Decorating is optional, staging is mandatory in order to sell the house for the most possible money in the shortest amount of time. Really home staging is about de-cluttering and making a home desirable to the masses. Clutter eats up equity.

Today, hundreds of thousands of real estate professionals, decorators and sellers have come to understand the once-little-known term staging.

When your home is on the market it is no longer your home; it is a product and we're marketing it.

People don't see that a lot of things that are in their houses are part of themselves and when you try to sell a house you want to make it as neutral as possible, not necessarily in the colors, but in the way it's presented.

When people sell their homes they don't necessarily see their house as a potential buyer would see their house. They become attached to things. [The seller] doesn't notice things that other people would notice. So I do think it's important to have an opinion from someone else.

Here are a few home staging tips from professionals:

For the Inside:

Clear the clutter.
Put away all electrical cords and extra appliances.
Put away family photos.
Think open space.

For the Outside:

Shutters improve the look.
Paint/Power wash.
Plants, high, medium, low -- with lots of color.
Decks -- even small ones can be a big improvement.

Resale Houses Find Stiff Competition In New Homes

2005-06-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

by M. Anthony Carr

As you place your home on the market, don't forget to look at the competition in your marketplace to help determine a price for your house. Some home sellers have found that while they have a "newer" home, the even newer homes (i.e., just built) have created havoc on the sale of their "previously owned" model.

This is especially true for those who live near a development that is currently under construction and in a community where the economy is slipping. One such case came to me by way of my Inbox the other day. The owner in Charlotte, NC, had already moved and was now faced with selling her townhouse. Her home was on the market for 5 percent less than what she had paid for it six years earlier.

Now she's wondering if she should keep the house on the market longer at the current asking price or consider dropping the price.

First of all, home sellers need to analyze what's going on in both the resale and new-home market as they place their house up for sale. Whether it's a hot or cold market, the properties in pristine condition will always sell quicker and for the highest dollar. It's just commonsense and human nature. If offered a $5 bill fresh off the press or one that is mutilated, muddy and ink-stained, most people will go for the new dollar bill instead.

If you find yourself up against new properties, look at following these steps to maximize your selling possibilities.

Check out the condition of the new house. What you find may either depress you or stimulate you to action. New carpet, freshly painted interiors and impeccable decorating is what you'll find and have to take into account when preparing your home for sale. Come back to your house and walk through it as you just did at the new-home development. Where should you start? Get to painting, replacing old flooring and decorating down (meaning make it more vanilla) so that buyers can visualize how they would decorate the home if they owned it.
What terms are you up against? Is the builder offering decoration choices? Free finished basement or deck? How can you compete with that? Can you offer up front a decoration allowance of $5,000? This might be more advantageous than dropping the price outright. Hang on to your price, but give the buyer an incentive to work with you in decorating the house the way they want it.
Get serious about the trends in your market place. Your local real estate market is exactly that -- a market. The Realtors don't control the prices -- the buyers and sellers do. If home prices are falling it means buyers are holding off on the higher prices they face. If prices are escalating there's not enough inventory to meet the demand and buyers are willing to move on up on the offer. While you may have done a lot to your house, those hours of labor and tender care rarely mean more money. It's primarily what the buyer is willing to pay for it, regardless of the amenities.
Check out the curb appeal. What can you do to seriously spruce up your exterior? A lot of buyers simply drive by and get the brochure out of the sign box if the house doesn't wow them right from the start. Builders know this and have the model with all the upgrades outside -- flowering plants, fresh mulch, great facades, good looking grass. What can you do to make your exterior look fantastic. One way to get ready to sell your house is to plan out a few months in advance. A drab yard can be replaced within one growing season if appropriately cared for.

Always remember -- the way you sell a house is not the way you live in it. Buyers want new, clean, fresh and unstained. For the highest price and terms possible, give them what they want.

U.S. Supreme Court: Cities Can Seize Homes for Private Economic Development

2005-06-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

by Kenneth R. Harney

In a controversial 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that local governments can use their eminent domain powers to transfer private property to new private owners solely for local "economic development" purposes, including expanding the tax base. The decision in Kelo vs. City of New London puts all property owners at risk. Ken Harney reports. FULL STORY->

The Real Reason The Feds Want To Clip The Real Estate Industry's Commissions

2005-06-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

by Blanche Evans
While the National Association of Realtors politely testified at the closed hearings called yesterday by U.S. Rep. Mike Oxley (R-Ohio) that banks will cost consumers more if they are let into real estate sales and management, they little realized they are speaking to deaf ears.

Real estate transfer taxes are already happening in all but 13 states because states have oversight of transfer tax rates for real estate transfers. With federal oversight, it becomes a federal coffer-filler.

Remember, we're talking about a government that is $7.8 trillion in debt. While government distracts the public from its overspending by scaring the public about underfunded Social Security, it has thought of a brilliant way to siphon off some of the $6.75 billion annually paid to the nation's 1.1 million Realtors in commissions.

The trick is creating a new tax without a public outcry. By distracting the public with heroics as it strong-arms Realtors into extinction, the transfer tax will be slipped through on a Congressional housekeeping bill and quietly show up on HUD statements at closing. Consumers will never realize the difference because all they will know, thanks to the trumpeting of Oxley's heroics by The Wall Street Journal, et al, is that consumers are paying less in transactions costs, trimmed sharply by banking fees promised to be lower than commissions paid to Realtors.

Read the FULL STORY->

Builder Confidence Hits New High For 2005

2005-06-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

Encouraged by continuing low mortgage rates and robust demand for new homes, single-family home builders are more confident this June than they’ve been all year, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/ Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. The index rose one point to 71 in June, its highest level since a similar reading in December 2004.

“The favorable financing climate for new homes is proving too attractive for many buyers to pass up, so builders are staying very busy this summer,” said NAHB President Dave Wilson, a custom home builder from Ketchum, Idaho.

“In the past four weeks, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage declined 21 basis points, ending at 5.56 percent as of June 9,” noted NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. “Combined with the very solid appreciation rates we’ve seen, and the widespread expectation that mortgage rates will begin creeping up soon, that’s a powerful incentive to make a move,” he agreed.

Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for almost 20 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and expectations for sales in the next six months as either “good,” “fair” or “poor.” Builders are also asked to rate traffic of prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores for each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as good than poor.

June’s 71 HMI reading, up a single point from May, is the highest reading of the year to date. It reflects slight upward movement in all three component indexes, including a one-point gain in the current sales index, to 77; a two-point gain in the index gauging expectations for sales in the next six months, to 79; and a one-point gain in the index gauging traffic of prospective buyers, to 54.

The most optimistic builders are in the West, where an HMI reading of 88 far outpaces that of builders in all other regions. Moreover, the 88 reading reflected a solid four-point gain from last month. Southern builders were also a bit more confident this time around, posting a one-point gain in their regional confidence gauge to 76 in June. Builders in the Northeast maintained a healthy, 70-point reading on the confidence scale, while builders in the Midwest registered a two-point confidence boost, to 52.

Bass Pro Shops to Feature Wetland Area Instead of Lake

2005-06-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

TIM ROHWER

The Bass Pro Shops that's being built in southwest Council Bluffs will have a different feature on the outside than what was originally planned.

Instead of a lake, a wetland area will be created featuring all sorts of native grasses and flowers, which may attract many forms of migratory birds.

The city's Planning Commission approved the change at its monthly meeting Tuesday night.
"This is a better alternative," said Jim Gallagher, project manager. "This is more in keeping with what's happening around here."

The wetlands will cover more than two acres on the southeast corner of the store, the same size and location as the original lake.

The wetlands area will extend from the west parking lot and wrap around the south and the east side of the store. In addition to the natural aesthetics of the wetland and the expected migratory birds, it will also absorb drainage from the parking lot.

It will also be easier to maintain than a lake, officials said at the meeting. "This is what our headquarters in Springfield, Mo., has," Gallagher said of the wetland.

The commission's decision will now go before the City Council for final approval.

Gallagher said that construction is still on schedule for a Nov. 3 grand opening date.Bass Pro is building a 130,000-square-foot retail store south of the Mid-America Center and west of Bluffs Run Casino. It's been estimated that up to 2.5 million people annually will visit the store. Between 250 to 300 people will be hired.

The Bass Pro Shops in Springfield is considered Missouri's top tourist attraction.
In other action at the meeting, the commission approved the preliminary plans for a 35-lot residential subdivision to be known as Oak Ridge Estates Phase IV. This proposed development is a northerly continuation of Millard Avenue, which connects the first three phases of this project.

Farm Bureau to Hold Cooking Contest

2005-06-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

An outdoor cooking contest designed to promote Iowa meat is being planned by the Fremont County Farm Bureau.

Contest chairman and FCFB board President Charlie Zanker says "You don't have to be an expert chef to participate; you just need to enjoy cooking outdoors with quality Iowa meat."
This is the 42nd year for the Iowa Farm Bureau cookout contest.

Farm Bureau's cookout contest is open to anyone 13 years of age or older who is a resident of Iowa. Farm Bureau or affiliated company employees are not eligible.

Contestants can compete in one of seven categories - beef, pork, lamb, poultry, turkey, elk or combo/specialty. Combo is a combination of at least two of the six meats in one recipe and specialty is any other Iowa domestic raised product (this does not include wild game).

A Cookout Champion will be named, and awards will be given to winners in each category. Special recognition will also go to winners of the showmanship, teenage and team cooking categories.

The county contest will be held on July 17 between 11 am and 2 pm at the Fremont County Fair.
The county Cookout Champion will receive a hotel room of our choosing in Des Moines or $125 toward your choice of hotel room to attend the State Cookout contest.

Other category winners will receive a Farm Bureau Apron and Mitt.

The Cookout Champion, along with all first place category winners and winners of the showmanship, teenage and team awards will have the chance to compete in the state finals at the Iowa State Fair on August 16, 2005.

Anyone interested in entering the County Farm Bureau cookout contest should contact the county office at 712-374-2629.

Planners Picked for Mills County

2005-06-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

BY JOHN FERAK

Officials in Mills County, Iowa, on Tuesday named a planning and zoning commission, the first step toward regulating development in the fast-growing county.

By mid-fall, the commission is expected to come up with its list of recommendations for a zoning ordinance, said County Auditor Carol Robertson. Public hearings would be held in communities across the county before a zoning ordinance were approved.

"I would like to make sure the growth has some kind of plan," said Keith Johnson, a member of the new zoning panel and Mineola-area fire chief for Oak Township. "It's not to discourage development at all."

Mills County is the only county in southwest Iowa without zoning laws to govern land use. A subdivision ordinance requires developers to receive final plat approval from the Mills County Board, however.

For decades, the three-member County Board resisted adopting zoning laws. Area farmers and rural landowners said government-enacted zoning would infringe upon their rights.

These days, Mills County is changing from an agricultural economy into a growing bedroom community for Omaha and Council Bluffs. At more than 15,000 residents, Mills is one of Iowa's 10 fastest-growing counties.

This spring, 29 people applied to be on the newly created zoning commission. The County Board reviewed résumés and met with finalists before choosing the panel's members.

The commission members, in addition to Johnson, are: Ted Mintle, a general contractor in Glenwood; Lyle Mayberry, county magistrate and land surveyor; Doug Beckman, a farmer and Mills County Soil Board commissioner; Peter Franks of Alley Poyner Architecture of Omaha; William Thompson, a committee member for the Mills County tourism board and the Indian Creek Historical Society; and Clay Plumer, a farmer and trustee in Oak Township.

What Is A Modular Home?

2005-06-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

Modular homes are built in sections in a factory setting, indoors, where they are never subjected to adverse weather conditions. The sections move through the factory, with the company's quality control department checking them after every step. Finished modules are covered for protection, then transported to your home site. They are placed on a pre-made foundation, joined, and completed by your local builder.

How long does it take to build a modular home?

That depends on your design and the manufacturer, but some modular homes can be built in the factory in as little as 1-2 weeks. And since modulars are built indoors, there's never a weather delay. It usually takes another 2-4 weeks for your local builder to complete the home once it's delivered to the building site.

Don't all modular homes look alike?

No, and unless you were there to see the house delivered and assembled, you might not guess it's a modular home. Modular home manufacturers use computer aided design programs to draw plans to your specifications, or to modify one of their standard plans to suit your needs, so nearly any home plan can be turned into a modular home. Each manufacturer is different, so be sure to ask questions about flexibility if you would like to design your own home.

New Trends in Kitchen and Bath

2005-06-13T06:46:00.000-07:00

by Carla L. Davis

The recent 2005 National Kitchen and Bath Show, held May 9-12 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, showcased new products and trends to a sold-out exhibition hall.

This event gives professionals, and those interested in the industry, the chance to meet, greet, show, and discuss what is new and exciting in their fields. A press release from the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show and Conference noted that this event allows "dealers, designers, distributors, manufacturers, retailers, consumers, and home centers [to] participate in round table discussions, network with industry leaders, and enroll in professional development courses."

But how do these new trends affect actual homeowners?

If you are planning on staying in your current house long-term, then some of the amenities and improvements may be an easy way of improving your overall quality of life. For instance, many of the leading washer and dryer manufacturers have come out with taller units, which for anyone with lower back problems is a wonderful modification. With these advances improving in affordability, the average homeowner can customize their own house for a fairly reasonable price.

If renovation is on your mind, then perhaps you should consider some of the more modern layouts for kitchens. This year recommends opening layouts up, giving precedence to clean lines and great views. (Click here for a great example.)

To achieve these clean lines and open views, you may want to consider using "built-ins." Some of these featured at the kitchen and bath show: microwave drawers, refrigerator drawers, in-wall dishwashers, and built-in coffee makers.

If you plan on selling your home in the near future, the amenities could be just what buyers are looking for, or just what edges you in front of your competition. And then conversely, if you are looking to buy, some of the new innovations and standards may be something you want to specify to your agent when beginning your search. I recommend surfing the net a bit to see what new gadgets and gimmicks the big manufacturers have come out with recently.
What are the new trends?

Danny Lipford (contributor and host of "Today's Homeowner") said of the event on CBS' Today Show, "People are spending more on certain fixtures in their home and feeling like they can step out on the normal look of things, like [with the] waterfall sink ... . More than anything, we saw the furniture-style cabinetry and the European influence on a lot of the designs."

Some of the main trends for 2005 Kitchens:

open views
high tech appliances (smart fridges, built-in TV units, touch-pad screens)
detailing (inlaid surfaces)
furniture style cabinetry (light paint, dark stains)
clean lines (Asian and European influenced design)
built-in TVs
stainless steel

In the bathroom, look for:

touchless faucets
soft-closing toilet lids

As we entered the information age, many consumers and homeowners experienced technology overload. But savvy designers have started to turn that around. One no longer has twelve different appliances strewn across a counter top. Now, the counter top, whether it be marble or stainless steel, is the focal point of the room. Intricate design and inlaid tabletops are making a comeback. Simple beauty no longer has to be sacrificed for functionality nor vice versa. These clean lines and functionality are what kitchen and bath are all about for the coming year.

Female Painters Offer New Trend

2005-06-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

by Phoebe Chongchua

There's lead-free paint and now there is nearly testosterone-free painters. A Hillcrest, California, company is capitalizing on its mostly female staff. "We have a female painting crew that provides the labor and also a higher level of customer service. They are fantastic communicators with clients. They have all been trained by me on tinting colors on job sites for clients. They're also trained in any kind of faux finishes or plasters," says co-owner, Jennifer Guerin.

Guerin and the lone male in the company, co-owner, Eddie Wheatley, started the business three-and-a-half years ago. "I think when you let strangers in your house, people feel more comfortable having a girl group come in. It's just different from having a bunch of guys walking around in your house... also a lot of times women have a better sense of color," says employee Susan Suyao.

Ox and Olive Painting specializes in interior projects. Guerin says her female staff brings a warm, caring style to each job site.

The company offers a wide selection of wall finishes and painting styles including murals and Trompe l'oeil -- a style of painting that creates a three-dimensional illusion.
Another highly requested look is the Venetian Plaster.

"It's a specialty finish that is applied in thin, translucent layers to create a rich visual finish with the illusion of depth and substance. Its composition is of slaked lime and finely grounded marble dust that can serve as a luxurious accent wall, or throughout an entire home," explains Guerin.
Still another popular trend is the use of 100 percent natural clay. "American Clay plasters are the newest in finishes," says Guerin. They're dug from the earth in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The actual clay is then tinted, and applied to walls using a trowel.

Guerin says it's growing in popularity because there are "No fumes and it can duplicate the Venetian plaster (look by using) a Porcelina finish or it can have more of a rustic and organic (look) in the Loma finish. It comes in 32 different colors."

The American clay isn't just used for its appearance. The clay helps control the temperature in your home. It regulates arid, and humid air and absorbs and releases moisture as the weather changes. The non-toxic clay can be painted, stained or plastered. It also helps to absorb sound.
When it comes to paint, Guerin says "Color washes are really popular, which is a layer of translucent color applied on top of a coat of paint. Also what's really popular... is adding accent walls and splashes of color where (a owner's home) was completely white, now it brings personality into the walls."

Color blocking is a style that uses several colors painted in various sized blocks on the wall. It creates an interesting look that can often take the place of artwork on a wall in a living room. It's best to use varying intensities of color from the same color card.

Sheen striping uses vertical stripes of the same color, but different sheens to create a subtle design. Typically this style is used in the dining rooms. In rooms with low ceilings this look can create an illusion of height.

Finally, some tips for getting started on your painting project:

Call ahead for an estimate; the better contractors are booked in advance
Before you hire a painting company or become a weekend warrior, choose the complete color palette before you begin; re-do jobs just to change color can be a headache
Colors always come out two times darker than on the chip
After painting is complete, dispose of paints by calling your local Hazardous Waste program
Make sure there are contracts and written payment forms
Never pay full price for the service before work has begun

Iowa Town May Build New High School

2005-06-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

BY JOHN FERAK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

GLENWOOD, Iowa - Residents here could vote as early as September to decide whether to issue about $17 million in bonds to build a new high school. If the bond issue passes, the district would convert the 1960s-era high school into the district's middle school. This summer, the district hopes to find a suitable site for a new high school, said Superintendent Stan Sibley.

To cover the bonds, property owners could be asked to increase their taxes $40 a year for those with $100,000 of assessed valuation, Sibley said. "We can't be looking to build anything that would be a Taj Mahal," said high school Principal Dave Stickrod. "It will be practical, and it will be livable."

Sibley said inadequate facilities at both the middle school and high school are driving the bond project. About 600 students attend the high school, a building that has no fine arts auditorium and the smallest gymnasium in the conference.

For more than 10 years, the district has leased surplus building space at the Glenwood Resource Center campus to serve as its seventh- and eighth-grade middle school for about 300 students.
Today, that arrangement is no longer viable, several students and school officials said. "Mills County is one of the few counties in Iowa that is growing," Stickrod said. "We anticipate further growth."

The new high school would accommodate 600 to 800 students with room to expand, Sibley said. It would include seating for a 700-seat fine arts auditorium. Glenwood is one of only two high schools in the Hawkeye Ten Conference with no auditorium. A new gym would seat 1,500 to 2,000 spectators, the same size as most gyms in Glenwood's conference. Currently, the wooden bleachers in Glenwood's gym can seat 800. By far, it is the smallest gym in the conference.
During fall and winter sports contests, portable television screens are set up in the cafeteria for overflow spectators.

"The seating is just a flat-out embarrassment for us," Stickrod said. "A lot of people don't come to games because it is a hassle."

Junior student Kevin Tucker said the current gym would work well for a middle school setting.
"I hate our gym," said four-sport athlete Paige Hays, who will be a junior. "People have to stand on the floor, and our fans have to sit on the visitors side."

Travis Overhue, also a junior, said he hopes voters understand that complaints about cramped classroom quarters and lack of gym space are legitimate issues. "I just don't know why it would be a big deal to get support," he said. "New people are moving in all the time, and we're getting more students every day."

Iowa law requires public bond projects to receive voter approval of at least 60 percent.
In the early 1990s, Glenwood voters failed to pass two separate bond issues for a new middle school building, including a $4.8 million bond election that was defeated by a 2-to-1 margin in 1991. After both defeats, the district worked out its $1-a-year arrangement to lease space from the Glenwood Resource Center, Iowa's largest state mental institution.

Stickrod believes community support is more favorable than 15 years ago. "I also think it's easier to sell a high school than it is a middle school," he said. "The focus of the community is on the high school."

Larry Winum, president of Glenwood State Bank, said supporters must work hard in the coming months. Unlike neighboring Pottawattamie County, Mills County does not have a strong industrial or manufacturing tax base to help lower the burden on taxpayers, he said.

"It won't be an easy sell. It never is," Winum said. "This will probably come down to the people in the middle, those who say 'Give me the facts, tell me what it's going to cost, why it's needed. Let me digest them and make a decision.'"

30-Year Mortgage Rate Reaches a 14 Month Low

2005-06-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market SurveySM (PMMSSM) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.56 percent, with an average 0.6 point, for the week ending June 9, 2005, down from last week when it averaged 5.62 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.30 percent. The 30-year FRM has not been this low since April 1, 2004, when it averaged 5.52 percent.
The average for the 15-year FRM this week is 5.14 percent, with an average 0.5 point, also down from last week when it averaged 5.20 percent. A year ago, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.67 percent.

Five-Year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 5.01 percent this week, with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 5.07 percent. There is no annual historical information for last year since Freddie Mac only began tracking this mortgage rate at the start of this year.

One-year Treasury-indexed adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 4.21 percent this week, with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.26 percent. At this time last year, the one-year ARM averaged 4.14 percent.

"The May employment report came in at less than half of what was expected last month, which pushed bond yields -- and mortgage rates -- down further," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. "Consequently, markets are now speculating whether the Fed will continue raising rates at the same pace that it has been, or will it begin to moderate the frequency of its actions."

"Taking into consideration the fact that mortgage rates have fallen from the earlier peak at the end of March, we have lowered our forecast for long-term rates. We now expect that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rates will likely end up somewhere between 5.9 percent and 6.2 percent by the end of this year."

Mills County Establishes Planning and Zoning Commission

2005-06-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

With Mills County on the verge of a housing boom, officials are taking steps to regulate future subdivisions. At a special meeting in Glenwood Tuesday night, seven members and four alternates were selected to the county's fledgling planning and zoning commission.
Mills County Supervisors Chair Richard Crouch told KMA News that commission members were selected from almost 30 applicants. Crouch says the commission's purpose is to establish county zoning ordinances--something he feels is needed to order to oversee the increase in housing subdivisions.
Crouch says proximity to the Omaha-Council Bluffs area is fueling numerous development proposals in the county. Presently, Crouch says the only regulations in place are outdated. Crouch says R-D-G, a consulting firm based in Des Moines and Omaha, is assisting the county in the development of zoning ordinances.
Crouch says the commission could have the proposed ordinances formulate by mid-October, and begin the public hearing process shortly thereafter

Protect Your Acreage From Erosion

2005-06-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

Spring rains can contribute to soil erosion, especially in areas with minimum or no ground cover or where water flow concentrates. Rain can cause unprotected soil to dislodge; once detached, soil particles are carried away with excess water.

This excess water combines and forms concentrated flow. On slopes, the water's energy can lead to gullies, visible flow paths that can vary from a few inches to several feet deep.
What can an acreage owner do?

There are several ways to limit erosion. Make sure that every part of the acreage is protected by grass, plants, shrubs, trees, etc. Use mulch to cover newly seeded or unprotected areas. It will help to absorb the impact of rain, reducing soil detachment.

Make your acreage more absorbent so water runs less freely on the surface. Pave only where necessary; vegetated ground encourages water to soak in and recharge soil moisture. Properly installed vegetated swales - through-like depressions that stop or slow erosion - also help.

Do not allow concentrated water to run freely over long slopes. If these slopes are steep, erosion can be severe. Vegetated depressions with barriers or terraces may help. If the slopes are extremely severe, properly constructed erosion control structures that safely drop water to a lower elevation may be needed.

Finally, look closely at your land during and after spring rains to see where erosion is occurring and how preventive measures are performing. This will help you better understand the conditions when making future decisions. Also contact your local Extension office for helpful resources

Whoops, Hollers Greet Iowa Soldiers

2005-06-08T07:51:00.000-07:00

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Family members cheered, some cried and others just waited anxiously for a chance to hug their loved ones.

Emotional, tear-filled scenes played out in city after city across Iowa on Monday. Iowa National Guard soldiers who had spent the past 13 months in Afghanistan finally were home.

Police cruisers and firetrucks with emergency lights flashing led a troop bus into Carroll along a route lined with spectators. Dozens of relatives cheered returning soldiers at a sports complex near Fort Dodge. Gov. Tom Vilsack helped welcome soldiers at Camp Dodge north of Des Moines.

"I want to thank you for putting a face on our freedom," Vilsack said.
National Guard troops also returned to ceremonies in Davenport, North Liberty, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Sioux City, Denison and Corning.

Soldiers will be welcomed home today in Council Bluffs and Shenandoah.
About 700 soldiers from several Iowa units were mobilized in February 2004 and trained at Fort Hood, Texas, for three months before deploying to Afghanistan. Units included infantry, engineers, artillery, medical personnel and air assault battalions.

One soldier from Task Force 168 was killed in action in Afghanistan. Spec. James C. Kearney III, 22, of Emerson died Nov. 1 when his convoy was ambushed by rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire.

Task Force 168 was the largest mobilization of an Iowa National Guard unit for overseas duty since World War II, officials said.

"Personally, I thank you for your commitment to excellence, your dedication to duty, the sacrifices that you and your family have made and, above all, your willingness to serve," Maj. Gen. Ron Dardis, the Iowa Guard's top officer, told soldiers in Davenport.

Spectators cheered and waved flags when 46 soldiers marched into a high school football stadium. As the soldiers stood in formation in their battle dress uniforms of desert camouflage, Mayor Charlie Brooke told them, "On behalf of the entire Quad Cities and indeed all of America, I thank you for fighting our fight. Thank you for fighting for freedom."

Some 300 family members and friends welcomed 38 soldiers in North Liberty as the 1970s rock song "The Boys Are Back in Town" blared from speakers.

Spec. Jennifer Zarr, 22, who's from Iowa City and attends the University of Iowa, said it was strange in a way to be back home."I keep expecting to see mountains in the distance and there is no dust blowing all over," she said.

At Camp Dodge in Johnston, about 450 people hooted, hollered and cheered as 50 infantry soldiers marched into an armory. A soldier dressed in a blue cavalry uniform and riding a horse led the troopers while bagpipe music played in the background. "The first thing that I noticed when I got off the bus was the smell," said Staff Sgt. Ted Strait of Huxley. "Iowa smells good and looks green."

A crowd estimated at 1,000 cheered as 60 soldiers marched into a high school gym in Carroll. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, told the troops they were part of history, saying what they had done "makes all of us safe and we're a grateful nation."

When the Guard troops were officially dismissed from active duty, relatives mobbed them in a rush of tears, sobs, screams and hugs.

"I can't describe it," said Cade Iversen of Vail, who was mobbed by his four young siblings and his wife, Ann. "It's the best feeling in the world."

Growing Mills County Looks to Future Development

2005-06-07T13:31:00.000-07:00

BRIEN T. BOYCE, Staff Writer

GLENWOOD - Life in Glenwood is more tranquil than in the metro area just 25 short miles to the north - and people like it that way.

"We, in Mills County, have had two or three unfortunate circumstances that have received a good measure of media attention, but I don't see those negative things that have happened shaping our day-to-day outlook on our city," Glenwood Schools Superintendent Stan Sibley said, adding the influx of more people doesn't mean crime will increase either.

Real estate developer Craig Nakamoto also isn't worried about the media attention Mills County has received in recent months. Instead, he's more concerned about getting started on the largest development to date in the county, and the largest one he plans to oversee.

"I like Glenwood and the area, as it has lots of positive aspects," he said. "I'm trying to develop something that complements a lot of those aspects."

Each of Nakamoto's housing units will contain around 1.3 acres of land, and the entire area should be completed in five to seven years' time.

One thing that probably won't happen with the homes to be bought in Nakamoto's development will be a population increase to the Glenwood School District, Real Estate Broker and developer Jim Hughes said.

Families with younger children will tend to frequent the $200,000 to $250,000 homes that Hughes deals with, versus the up to $500,000 that people could spend on a home in Nakamoto's subdivision.

"Our experience is that with higher-dollar homes, you usually get less children," Hughes said. "Usually, this is the family's second or third house purchase, and the children are grown and out of the house by this point."

Denise Crawford, who works as director of the Glenwood Public Library, said the area desperately needs growth. "Glenwood is struggling financially. More things need to come in."
Mills County, as a whole, is seeing growth. According to www.locationone.com, which uses population figures from the United States Census Bureau, the county's growth is as follows:

- 1990: Population - 13,202;
- 2000: Population - 14,547;
- 2004: Population - 15,020;
- 2009: Population (projected) - 15, 161.

"I'm thinking that's low," said Jeannie Van Maasdem of the Glenwood Chamber of Commerce. "Those projected numbers (for 2009), I'm betting that's what we have now."

In addition to Nakamoto's 700 acres, Hughes is currently working on two subdivisions, plus he owns another 200 acres to the north of Nakamoto's land.

The proposed four-lane bridge stretching from Mills County into Bellevue, Neb., could be completed by 2010. The bridge would make access for those who work in Bellevue and at Offutt Air Force base but live in Mills County easier. It would also mark the end of paying a $1 toll at the existing bridge or going from I-29 to Interstate 80, then heading south on Highway 75.
Hughes hopes the new bridge would encourage new business to come to Mills County and Glenwood.

"I think we'll end up with some industry coming in here, and that's what we've been waiting for," he said.

Currently, the biggest employers in Glenwood are the Glenwood Resource Center and the Glenwood School District, which help comprise the educational, health and social services employment, according to city-data.com. That category provides 35.8 percent of the city's employment.

"I think Glenwood and Mills County will remain fairly rural, and the housing developments will still have a rural atmosphere," Nakamoto said. "That's why people are moving here, not to move to another area that will become crowded."

"We're a town of 5,500 people (in Glenwood)," Hughes said. "People moving here want some space."

You won't see what's happening to small communities in southwest and west Omaha happen in Glenwood, Hughes stated.

"We'll keep our countrysides. You're not going to see them covered with houses," he said.

"You've got a lot of people who want to live between Omaha and Lincoln. With us, we get the commuters to downtown Omaha and Offutt. We'll never see that much growth.

"More importantly, Glenwood will never lose its identity. There are too many people here who won't ever let that happen, no matter what kind of changes we see here."

Adjustable-Rate Home Loans Hitting Records

2005-06-07T13:30:00.000-07:00

A record 63 percent of all mortgages written in the latter half of last year were adjustable-rate and interest-only loans, the Mortgage Bankers Association calculates.

A drop in refinancings has prompted many lenders to offer such products first, boosting their sales volume. American Bankers Association spokeswoman Heather McElrath says adjustable-rate and interest-only mortgages enable buyers to make home purchases at a time when soaring prices make them unaffordable through conventional means, adding that most homeowners re-sell their dwellings before the higher payments kick in.

However, MBG Information Services President Charles McMillion believes regulators should be troubled by the popularity of such loans, as homeowners could face financial turmoil when interest rates rise.

Source: Washington Post (06/03/05); Downey, Kirsten

Online Curb Appeal Brings Buyers to Your Home

2005-06-06T07:21:00.000-07:00

by Phoebe Chongchua

Most of us have been to open houses where the wafting smell of fresh-baked cookies coming from inside a home lures us to the door. Curb appeal is a necessary tactic to get buyers and real estate agents into your home.

But nowadays the importance of curb appeal is taking on a more vital role, especially when the vehicle that first gets buyers to see your home is not a car, but an internet browser.

Curb appeal is no longer simply what you see from your realtor's car when you're driving by a house. Today, according to a study done by the National Association of Realtors, 74 percent of all home buyers use the internet as an information source when they are researching homes. Very often this is the first time a prospective buyer will see a home.

"The trend tends to be that they use the internet to do their window shopping and to get a lot of information and then they go to a realtor or licensed agent after they do their homework first," says Lorrie Mowat of the San Diego Association of Realtors.

That's why sprucing up photos of homes for sale is getting greater attention these days. Virtual tours of homes online are the next best thing to being there in person to view a home.
"A virtual tour will allow you to walk through the home online. You can see the front of the house, all the rooms on the inside, exactly how it lays out, which will give you an idea of the livability of the house before you ever go to look at the house or call an agent," says Christian Coleman, District Director for ZipRealty.

Online curb appeal can be the catalyst for getting buyers and real estate agents to your property. Consider these tips to enhance online curb appeal.

Use colorful plants surrounding the exterior. Stand back and evaluate your home. Does it need color or landscaping fill-in? Are there any eyesores that distract from the home?
Remember that when a home is photographed, lighting is very critical. Make sure you have light coming in from the outside so that the home appears cheerful and bright. Shooting with natural light rather than flash often gives a more desirable look.
Make sure photos are taken of those extra-special areas that make your home stand out, such as a sitting area in a master bedroom, the beautiful garden view from a window or a yoga/meditation room. Even if they're described in a written summary, capturing them with a photo speaks to people's senses.
Picture your home through the lens of a camera. Actually take a few photos with a digital camera. It's amazing what a camera can capture that the eye doesn't always see when the photo is being taken. You'll often find that a home is too cluttered; some furniture may need to be stored or moved to another room.
Virtual tours can be even more beneficial as they can show the community as well.

And the way that communities change, it can really help the buyers to not only see the property and the size and the way that their furniture will fit in, but the community they'll live in as well.

Curb appeal whether online or in person is the first step to getting buyers to notice your property, so, just like first impressions, make it a good and lasting one.

Dollars Available to Assist With Care of Your Well

2005-06-05T07:20:00.000-07:00

The Mills County Public Health / Sanitarian office would like to announce the continued availability of Grant dollars to assist with the care of your well. These dollars are provided by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and are available to assist with the following item:

Well testing, water test kits are available at no cost to test well water for bacteria and nitrates.
Well Closure, abandoned wells may be closed in an appropriate manner with cost share assistance up to $250.00 per well.
Well reconstruction, wells in need or repair may be maintained with a cost share assistance of up to $600.00 per well.

Please contact the Mills County Public Health office at 712-527-9699 regarding well testing. Please contact the Mills County Engineer's office at 712-527-4873 for additional information regarding well closure and well construction

168th Division May Arrive Home Monday

2005-06-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

By TIM JOHNSON and COURTNEY BRUMMER

Members of the 168th Infantry Division of the Iowa National Guard will likely return home Monday, officials confirmed Friday night.

Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood with the Iowa National Guard in Des Moines said while he could not confirm a specific time, Monday appeared to be the day the troops would return to Council Bluffs.

"I can't set a time, we haven't gotten those orders yet," he said. "It's looking very likely that they'll be back Monday."

Hapgood added that he should know more specifics on arrival time sometime today.

Whenever the time may be, a welcome-back reunion will be held soon after the troops arrive back in Omaha. The ceremony will be held at the Mid-America Center.

Why Use A REALTOR®?

2005-06-04T18:51:00.000-07:00

All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR "®" logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.

Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $100,000. If you had a $100,000 income tax problem, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a CPA? If you had a $100,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Considering the small upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a deal in real estate without the professional assistance of a REALTOR®.

But if you're still not convinced of the value of a REALTOR®, here are a dozen more reasons to use one:
1. Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power -- that is, your financial reserves plus your borrowing capacity. If you give a REALTOR® some basic information about your available savings, income and current debt, he or she can refer you to lenders best qualified to help you. Most lenders -- banks and mortgage companies -- offer limited choices.

2. Your REALTOR® has many resources to assist you in your home search. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your agent to find all available properties.

3. Your REALTOR® can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property. Agents who are REALTORS® have access to a variety of informational resources. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning. schools, etc. There are two things you'll want to know. First, will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?

4. Your REALTOR® can help you negotiate. There are myriad negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment. The purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

5. Your REALTOR® provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property. Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few. Your REALTOR® can assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written reports. You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the property. Title indicates ownership of property and can be mired in confusing status of past owners or rights of access. The title to most properties will have some limitations; for example, easements (access rights) for utilities. Your REALTOR®, title company or attorney can help you resolve issues that might cause problems at a later date.

6. Your REALTOR® can help you in understanding different financing options and in identifying qualified lenders.

7. Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.

8. When selling your home, your REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.

9. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. Often, your REALTOR® can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of your property. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. In many markets across the country, over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate agent other than yours brings in the buyer. Your REALTOR® acts as the marketing coordinator, disbursing information about your property to other real estate agents through a Multiple Listing Service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses for agents, etc. The REALTOR® Code of Ethics requires REALTORS® to utilize these cooperative relationships when they benefit their clients.

10. Your REALTOR® will know when, where and how to advertise your property. There is a misconception that advertising sells real estate. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® studies show that 82% of real estate sales are the result of agent contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, family and personal contacts. When a property is marketed with the help of your REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.

11. Your REALTOR® can help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal without compromising your marketing position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections and financing -- a lot of possible pitfalls. Your REALTOR® can help you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it through the process.

12. Your REALTOR® can help close the sale of your home. Between the initial sales agreement and closing (or settlement), questions may arise. For example, unexpected repairs are required to obtain financing or a cloud in the title is discovered. The required paperwork alone is overwhelming for most sellers. Your REALTOR® is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing (or settlement).

From Realtor.com

Long-term Mortgage Rates Drop for the Ninth Week Out Of The Last Ten

2005-06-04T14:26:00.000-07:00

Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey in which the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.62 percent, with an average 0.6 point, for the week ending June 2, 2005, down from last week when it averaged 5.65 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.28 percent. FULL STORY->

Parade of Homes Begins Sunday

2005-06-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

PHIL ROONEY, Staff Writer

The annual Spring Parade of Homes sponsored by the Council Bluffs Building and Trades Association is scheduled for Sunday, June 5th and 12th. The featured homes will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. on both Sundays.

Thirty-five homes at 14 locations created by 18 builders will be open for viewing in this year's parade.

The homes offer custom details for the discriminating homeowner, and many of the lots sit on high-tech additions with comfort, styling and decorating and scenic views that make them an outstanding representation of the personal pride these builders take in their product.

Subdivisions or communities with addresses for this year's Parade of Homes include:

Bent Tree: 23060 Breckmans Road.
Briarwood: 1314 Aster Circle,
1310 Berwick Circle,
1418 Oran Drive,
1605 Tipton Drive.
Coronado Keys: 470 Coronado Circle,
550 Coronado Circle.
Deerfield: 404 Fawn Park Circle,
412 Fawn Park Circle
Forest Ridge: 26 Norwood Drive,
30 Norwood Drive.
Fox Fun: 5109 Council Pointe Road.
Grandfield: 23539 Murphy Lane.
Greenview Village Townhomes: 107 Greenview Circle.
Parkwild: 745 Parkwild.
Ridge View Estates: 203 Delmar Ridge Lane.
315 Delmar Ridge Lane, 327 Delmar Ridge Lane, 334 Delmar Ridge Lane,
2303 Delmar Ridge Lane, 2311 Delmar Ridge Lane, 2318 Delmar Ridge Lane,
2502 Eagle Ridge Drive, 2506 Eagle Ridge Drive, 2507 Eagle Ridge Drive,
2510 Eagle Ridge Drive.
Lake Manawa area: 4428 Sioux
Glenwood: 22472 Grand View Ave.,
52106 230th St.,
52144 230th St.,
52262 230th St.,
53432 230th St.,
53442 230th St.
Minden: 33938 335th St.
Underwood: 415 Third St.

Sporting Event

2005-06-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

Mid-America Motorplex, south of Glenwood, Iowa, at exit 35 on Interstate 29. "Friday Night Street Legal Drags," 7 p.m. to midnight Friday at the Rolling Thunder Drag Strip. Spectator admission: $10; children ages 6 and younger, free. "Bracket and Junior Drag Racing," 5 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the drag strip. Spectator admission: $10; children ages 6 and younger, free. "Porsche Club Races," 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the road course. Spectator admission: $10; children ages 6 and younger, free. (712) 622-8122 or www.midamericamotorplex.com.

Latest Housing Consumer Trends Focus On Upscale Amenities

2005-06-02T19:55:00.000-07:00

2005 - Given the choice between more space or higher quality features, new home buyers are overwhelmingly opting for the latter, according to the latest survey data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

When asked to choose between a bigger house with fewer amenities or a smaller house with high quality products and amenities, 63 percent of the home owners surveyed by NAHB opted for the latter. To pay for those quality features, 57 percent said they preferred for them to be included in the base price of the home; while 43 percent wanted them to be offered as options at extra cost.

“One particular consumer trend stands out: While homes do not appear to be getting bigger, they are definitely getting better. There is a marked increase in quality, with updated features and amenities,” said Jerry Howard, executive vice president and CEO of NAHB.

The households who were surveyed indicated enthusiasm for just about every upscale feature available, Howard said, but became more realistic in their views when they were asked to choose among alternatives.

Among several other observations on what people want in their new homes:

- The top features home owners want in the kitchen are a walk-in pantry (84 percent), island work area (77 percent), special use storage (62 percent) and built-in microwave (62 percent).

- Thirty-seven percent said they wanted their kitchens visually open to the family room, with a half wall; 34 percent want the two completely open.

- The top bathroom features were a linen closet (91 percent), exhaust fan (88 percent) and separate shower enclosure (78 percent).

- Nine-foot ceilings are now a standard height, up from eight feet previously. “Consumers say it provides more openness, more light and makes the home feel bigger,” said Howard.

- Younger households prefer their washer and dryer to be located near the bedroom; older households prefer them near the kitchen.

- Brick was preferred by 44 percent of respondents as the front exterior wall material for their homes.

- Asked to choose between more space in the master bedroom and less in the master bath or the opposite, 69 percent chose more bedroom space. “Some of the master baths have been
getting bigger than the bedrooms themselves,” Howard said.

After growing steadily since 1970, the average home size leveled off during the past three years and stood at 2,340 square feet in 2004. This is close to the 2,426 square feet that home owners said they would like to have, according to Howard.

Looking at trends for the next five years, he predicted growing popularity for low-maintenance, natural materials; synthetic stucco; energy efficiency; and security on the outside of the home.

Inside, open space, quality features, technology and special purpose rooms are on the upswing.

An emerging trend in the higher end market is the advent of a “flex” room or “bonus” room situated above three-car garages.

“These rooms can be over 1,000 square feet and include a full-bath. We are finding that home owners are using them for a variety of purposes – as an in-law suite, a guest room, home office or media room,” said Howard.

Purchasing Land: What To Look For

2005-06-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

by Mercedes Hayes

It doesn't take long to realize that finding the right piece of property is the most important aspect of new home construction. In a development, restrictions and easements have already been sorted out, but if you are looking for a stand-alone piece of vacant land, you're on your own. Here are some of the factors you need to consider before spending your hard-earned cash on a pretty view that might be unbuildable.

THE PERC. No, we're not talking about coffee. But we are talking about percolate. If you are outside of a community, chances are that you will not be connected to city water and sewer; you will have to build a septic system for your own house. The septic system will be designed by a local civil engineer and probably approved by the county, but before the engineer knows what kind of septic you need he'll have to take a Perc Test. They will dig a big hole in the ground, fill it with water, then clock how long it takes for the water to seep into the ground. If the water drains too fast, you have too much sand. If it drains too slow, you have too much clay (or probably rock). There is an acceptable tolerance, outside of which the perc fails. If one perc fails, they dig another hole elsewhere to see if there's any improvement. If the land doesn't perc, you may be able to find an alternative septic system, but you can be sure it will be very problematic. Any wise buyer will make the purchase of the land contingent on the perc. Don't assume that just because you have a big piece of land that it will perc somewhere; this is not necessarily the case. The cost of the test is usually paid by the buyer. However, a motivated seller will perc the land for you, or even offer an approved septic system. This is a big bonus, and adds peace of mind, but the land will be more expensive as a result. In the long run, it's worth the extra dollars to bypass this big hurdle. The septic system will be designed to accommodate the number of bedrooms in a house, and you cannot add any bedrooms without redesigning the system.Once the land is perced, that hole is the spot where the septic will be installed. If it's in the front yard, you cannot change the location without doing another perc. Also remember that nothing can be built on top of your septic field, nor can you plant any trees there.

SETBACKS: This is the space between the property line and the building, defined by the township. Nothing can be constructed in the setback, including your driveway. Some townships require more than 100 feet of setback from the road; setbacks on the front and back perimeters are usually larger than those on the sides of your property. On your survey, a dotted line usually defines the setback, and the space inside is called the building envelope. If the footprint of your intended house and driveway is wider than the setbacks allow, you may have to apply for a variance, or change the orientation of the building.

EASEMENTS: Easements are the rights given to other named parties for public or private use of a stretch of your land. This may include a gas main that runs through your property, power lines, railroad tracks, water mains, or a strip leading to a land-locked neighbor (this strip would be the "flagpole" of a flag lot). This easement should be clearly delineated in the deed, although common usage has been known to claim precedence over perceived rights. If you're the one who requires this easement for a flag lot, make sure it is in writing before you purchase this land, or you might not be able to access it.

WETLANDS: I used to think that wetlands looked like standing water with cattails and ducks. Not necessarily so... in fact, we almost bought three wooded acres of wetlands before a friend gave us a timely warning. If there's a little stream running through the woods, you might be in trouble. Just to be sure, we hired an engineer who dug a row of soil samples, each marked with a little flag denoting the edge of the wetlands. When he had finished, there was enough land for Ken and Barbie to build a dream house - in the setback, at that. This little disappointment cost us $600, which is a lot better than the $110,000 we would have spent for a disastrous ruin of our plans. There are times when you might be able to get a variance to build in wetlands, but this can be a costly and time consuming process, with no guarantee of success. You could take your chances and build anyway, but if the township gets tipped off, they could stop your project at any point, or even force to to tear down what you have already constructed.

DEED RESTRICTIONS: These restrictions can be imposed by the former owner of the property, or the township depending on application. For instance, you might be limited as to what kind of house you can build; or what materials you can use. You might not be allowed to build a log home. Some restrictions limit the square footage of the house, or the use of the property. You may have to limit the height of your house, or even what type of fencing you can use. There might be a limit to the kind of livestock you can manage, or how many acres per horse. This has nothing to do with zoning, which is a separate issue.

MINIMUM ACREAGE: Townships have started battling urban scrawl by imposing minimum acreage on a building lot. Sometimes, the piece of land you are trying to buy is smaller than the minimum acreage. If the lot was subdivided before the law was passed, it is usually considered "grandfathered" and you should be able to build on it. Check with the authorities to be sure; you may have to obtain a variance to build on a "substandard" sized lot. Also, if you are purchasing a big piece of land with the assumption that you can subdivide later and sell off parcels, make sure these subdivisions will be allowed. Sometimes, even large parcels can only be divided once or twice by law, depending on deed restrictions, prec restrictions, township restrictions, or possibly land preservation issues.

CLEAR TITLE: If there is a lien on a property due to non-payment of bills or taxes, the title will be considered clouded and you might not be able to obtain clear title to your piece of land. There may be disputes about boundary lines, or adverse possession if you have an unwelcome long-term squatter. In most cases, a thorough title search will uncover any irregularities, and the mortgage company will require that you purchase a one-time title insurance policy against any future issues. This needs to be done before settlement.

WATER SOURCE: If you need to dig a well, consult with the local well driller. There's a pretty good chance that the driller will have a good idea about how deep he'll need to go. You will pay by the foot to drill a well, and it could add thousands to your budget.

When it comes to purchasing land, the old saying "Let the buyer beware" certainly comes to mind. If you do not thoroughly investigate your property with the township, civil engineers, or land use lawyers, no one else is going to protect you. A cooperative township office will give you access to the public records relating to your piece of land; if it's been perced in the past, those records become public. They may already have a file about your lot and block number, and a trip to the township office may enlighten you if there have been problems in the past. At the very least, you should have an idea what you can and cannot do with your land, before you make that big commitment.

Airport Plans Fly Smoothly

2005-06-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

TIM ROHWER, Staff Writer
06/01/2005

Not only is the expansion work at the Council Bluffs Municipal Airport on schedule, but two major projects in the plans have come in under budget, according to a local official.

The Council Bluffs Airport Authority recently awarded a bid to Cedar Valley Corp. of Waterloo to pave, mark and light the first phase of the new 5,500-foot-long runway. The company's bid of $2,760,613 was the lowest of four submitted, said Bill McGinn, chairman of the Airport Authority. The projected cost was $3.1 million, he said.

Excavation for the new runway will total $2.9 million, significantly below the projected cost of $4 million, McGinn said. The main feature of the airport's expansion plans is the new 5,500-foot runway, which will lie directly north to south. The airport's current runway is 4,000 feet and lies northwest to southeast.

Excavation for the first phase of the new runway is continuing, McGinn said, and paving it should begin later in the summer. "The completion date for paving is Nov. 15," he said.
The Iowa Department of Transportation doesn't want airport paving after that date because of the cold weather, McGinn said. The paving will involve the north side of the runway.
The installation of the runway lights and the runway markings should be done a month later, he said.

Next summer, paving will begin on the final 1,500 feet, located at the south end of the runway, he said. After that, the current runway will be repaved, McGinn said.
Additional hangars to hold more planes are also part of the expansion plans.
That's important, McGinn said, because the airport gets a nickel for every gallon of fuel purchased there. "It's good to have more based aircraft there because that means more fuel purchased," he said.

The total expansion project is about $20 million of which the Federal Aviation Administration is paying 95 percent, with remainder coming locally. So far, approximately $11 million in federal funds has been awarded, with $500,000 coming locally, McGinn said. Though not part of the original expansion plans, officials are considering a new terminal building that would be built closer to Old Highway 6, he said. It would offer easier access for airplane passengers than the current building, McGinn said. "It would be much bigger than the one now," he said.

Subdivision With Lakes Approved Near Mineola

2005-06-01T12:54:00.000-07:00

BY JOHN FERAK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

GLENWOOD, Iowa - The Mills County Board approved plans Tuesday for the largest subdivision ever proposed in the county.

On a 3-0 vote, the board gave local developer Craig Nakamoto permission to build the first phase of his 350-lot Lake Ohana subdivision near Mineola, Iowa.

The 21 lakeside lots in phase one will range in size from one acre to 1.2 acres and will be offered for $50,000 to $75,000, Nakamoto said. Houses are expected to cost from $250,000 to $500,000, he said. He expects to begin construction this month.

The 700-acre development calls for three private lakes, including a 120-acre lake for watercraft and recreational boating. A 4-acre commercial corridor could include a restaurant, bank and grocery store. One acre will be donated to the Oak Township Fire Department in Mineola for a new station.

Mills County Board Chairman Richard Crouch said the subdivision should have no trouble attracting professionals from Omaha who want to live on a lake.

The subdivision will be 5 miles north of Glenwood and 2 miles west of Mineola. Mineola is about 22 miles from Omaha. "It's 10 minutes off the Interstate, and people like that area because it's out in the open," Crouch said. "You don't have to battle traffic, and it's only 20 minutes into downtown Omaha."