Derek Veldhouse

If you’re one of the thousands of homebuyers waiting for rates to fall, you should know it’s already happening. And they recently crossed an important milestone. Rates officially dipped into the 5s - something that hasn't happened in about 3 years. This moment marked a critical threshold. Now, rates are sitting in the low 6% territory. And expert forecasts project they’ll hover near this range throughout the year. Why Current Rates Are Such a Big Deal A mortgage rate doesn’

January Housing Data Shows Growing Inventory and Steady Sales in Des Moines Metro Freezing temperatures were no match for the Des Moines metro housing market’s appeal in January. Increases in inventory and sales highlighted the frigid month, according to January housing statistics from the Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS®. “January’s numbers show the Des Moines housing market starting the year on solid footing,” said Scott Steelman, president of the Des Moines Area As

Preparing to buy a home can take time, especially if it’s your first one. A little forethought early in the process will go a long way when you’re ready to make your move. If you plan to buy a house next year, here are a few important things to start doing now. These simple steps will help streamline the process, make the experience less daunting, and provide confidence that you’re making the right moves, toward your big move. 1. Contact a REMAX Agent Buying a home on your ow

Saving money on everyday and big-ticket items often comes down to timing. Knowing when to buy specific products can unlock significant discounts and help you stretch your budget further. This guide breaks down the best times of year to purchase clothing, electronics, home goods, and seasonal items. You will find trends, sales events, and practical tips to maximize your savings. Follow the month-by-month breakdown to plan your shopping smartly and avoid paying full price. Seas

Planning to sell this spring? While you may be tempted to hold off until the first blooms or the spring showers hit, that’s actually waiting too long to get started by today’s standards. Buyers have more options than they did a few years ago. So it's worth it to tackle repairs now and make sure your house is set up to stand out. Because you don’t want to be caught scrambling right before the spring rush. Or, running out of time to do the work your house really needs.  The ke

1. Be Compassionate with Yourself Giving things away and getting organized can have an emotional component that can be a stumbling block. And when a project feels too overwhelming to tackle, it can seem like you’ve failed. It’s hard not to tie our sense of success and worth to how ‘together’ our spaces appear. Getting organized is an ongoing tool to make things easier. Give yourself grace as you navigate the process; how organized you are isn’t a reflection of your value or c

The new year is a perfect time for a home refresh to spark inspiration, open new opportunities and create a change of scenery. Whether you’re refreshing your own home or offering refreshing tips to a client, here are 10   ways to transform your space and embrace the year ahead. 1. Declutter   Before we can bring in the new, we sometimes have to say goodbye to the old, and decluttering your space can be the perfect way to kickstart your home transformation. As you collect and

Chances are, more than a couple of the top 10 most common resolutions will look familiar to you: Exercise more Lose weight Get organized Learn a new skill or hobby  Live life to the fullest Save more money / spend less money Quit smoking Spend more time with family and friends Travel more Read more Despite the best of intentions, once the glow of a fresh new year wears off, many people struggle to make good on their plans. According to a study published in the Journal of Cli

When you’re selling your home , it is natural to assume that anything you can safely remove is yours to keep—like the light fixtures you painstakingly cleaned and repaired, or the appliances you bought last year. But the truth is, the buyer may want some of those items, too, and sometimes it's better to part ways with these items for the sake of the sale. Rather than keep everything, you should decide what you'd like to keep and what you'll leave behind as a way to entice

Though winter began to make its mark on the Des Moines housing market, shifting into a seasonally-typical position in November, inventory and pending sales remained a bright spot across the metro.  “As winter rears its head, many communities brace for a traditionally slower housing market, we’re not seeing that just yet in the metro,” Eric Webster, Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS® president, said. “The energetic market we witnessed this fall, buoyed by decreases in in

How can more young people afford to buy a home?  It’s been the quintessential, million-dollar question concerning the American dream for the past few years.  With millennials finally breaking into the market—the new average age of a first-time home buyer in 2024 was 40—the focus is turning to the generation behind them: Gen Z.  A recent Realtor.com® survey of 1,000 adults aged 18–27 who currently own or hope to own a home found that 82% of respondents believe it’s harder fo

Ready for winter in your new home? As a first-time homeowner, make sure you’re prepared to handle whatever the snowy season has in store. Check out 10 items that will help you navigate and embrace the season ahead: 1. Snow removal tools A sturdy shovel is a must-have for clearing snow from your driveway, walkways and sidewalks – and be sure to keep one in your garage or near the front door for easy access ahead of winter storms. Have a car window scraper ready to go, too, for

It’s everyone’s nightmare: the turkey is ruined. Well, probably not ruined, but it certainly needs some major help or your beautiful holiday dinner will be a bust. So before you throw out that bird, here are a couple of quick tricks that might just save the day. Turkey Emergency Toolkit There are a few things you need to have on hand as part of your turkey emergency kit. These items will be necessary at the last minute so you better make sure you are prepared. An accurate mea

After several years of high mortgage rates and hesitation from buyers, momentum is quietly building beneath the surface of the housing market. Sellers are reappearing. Buyers are re-engaging. And for the first time in what feels like forever, there’s movement happening again. No, it’s not a surge. But it is a shift – and it’s one that could set the stage for a stronger year in 2026. So, what’s driving the comeback? Here are three big trends that are slowly breathing life bac

The Des Moines metro housing market settled into a typical fall rhythm in October following standout activity in September. Stable sales activity and continued increases in listings, proved to be a balancing force in the metro for buyers and sellers, alike. “The Des Moines metro continues to carry momentum as we head into fall,” said Eric Webster, President of the Des Moines Metro Area Association of REALTORS®. “Rising inventory and steady home sales provide opportunities for

The Raisin report found that homeowners save for an average of six years to afford a down payment. Meanwhile, likely buyers say they’ve already been saving for four years and eight months. But is this “too long” to be on the sidelines? Cetin Duransoy , Raisin CEO, says that while six years may sound like a long time to save for a home, it’s the financial reality for many Americans today. “With higher prices and interest rates, reaching a meaningful down payment takes time. T

Mortgage rates are up and still under 7%. Today’s national average on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 6.19%, according to Bankrate. If you choose a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, the average rate is 5.54%. Rates dropped ahead of the October Federal Reserve meeting, which concluded on Wednesday with another quarter-point cut to the federal-funds rate . Average 30-year mortgage rates are now 85 basis points down from where they started the year, according to Freddie Mac. Howeve

Ready to buy a house? The first thing you'll want to do is hire a real estate agent—the go-to pro whose sole goal is to help make your homebuying dream come true. But not all real estate agents are created equal. It's highly recommended by experts to interview at least three agents before deciding who you want by your side for this most important of all purchases. 1. How long have you been a real estate agent? You want a professional who knows the ins and outs of the business

September brought a surprising burst of activity to the Des Moines housing market. Total listings jumped more sharply than in previous years, signaling renewed energy this fall — potentially spurred by recent or expected changes in mortgage rates. “We say it over and over again, and this is just more proof that the housing market in the Des Moines metro  is active,” said Eric Webster, President of the Des Moines Metro Area Association of REALTORS®. “Even as we move into the f

Understanding the Importance of Fall Lawn Maintenance Fall lawn care isn’t just about appearance—it’s an investment in your lawn’s...