Derek Veldhouse

Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make, and many smaller decisions feed into it. One of the things first-time home buyers ask is “How much house can I afford?” The answer depends on some key variables: Salary Credit score Down payment The interest rate you qualify for The market you’re buying in With data from REMAX and input from our real estate experts, this guide goes through how each of these variables helps to answer the questio

You do not need a contractor, a permit or a six-month timeline to love your home again. Micro home makeovers, the practice of making small, intentional updates one room at a time, deliver a visible payoff in a single weekend. The idea has real momentum: Pinterest’s 2026 Spring Trends Report identified micro renovations as one of the year’s defining home trends, with users searching for ways to personalize their spaces without the cost of a full project. Whether you just got t

When weighing a condo vs townhouse vs single family home, the right choice comes down to lifestyle, budget, and how much ownership responsibility a buyer is ready to take on. Choosing the right property type is just as important as choosing the right neighborhood or price point. Condos, townhouses, and single family homes each come with their own rhythm of ownership. From what gets maintained to how much freedom buyers have over their space, each one is different. There is n

The Des Moines metro housing market continued to gain momentum in May, with rising inventory and steady sales signaling a healthy transition into the busy summer homebuying season, according to statistics from the Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS®. "May's housing data reflects a market that continues to provide opportunities for both buyers and sellers," said Scott Steelman, president of the Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS®. "Inventory is expanding, giving buye

Buying your first home used to come with a standard script. Start small, build equity, sell, and move up. That was the classic property ladder. But today’s market has made that path less predictable. Higher home prices, elevated mortgage rates, tight inventory, and changing lifestyle needs have many buyers asking a bigger question. Should I buy a starter home first, or stretch for the forever home from the beginning? The answer depends on your budget, timeline, and long-term

Many renters wonder whether renting is a waste of money or makes more financial sense than buying a home. Renting offers flexibility and lower upfront costs, but those advantages often come with long-term tradeoffs. For renters who have stayed in the same market for years, rising rent and lost equity can add up to a significant opportunity cost. The question is not whether renting always costs more, but whether it costs more for your situation. Key Takeaways Renting often cos

Curb appeal trends are plenty, but what will have staying power, what works with your budget, and even your regional style preferences are worth considering when choosing which updates to make. To help make your home's exterior give the best first impressions, we’ve checked in with an all-star crew of home design experts to outline the curb appeal trends worth investing in for 2026 and beyond. 1. Shades of Green Sara McDaniel, designer, renovator, and creator of Simply Southe

Porch season is nearly upon us, and this year, instead of simply jazzing up your space with a few new container gardens, it's time to create an outdoor living space that you never want to leave. The best part is, these so-called trends are anything but fleeting. We scoured out the best porch trends straight from the pros, ensuring every one of these design tricks, tips, and philosophies is made to last. 1. Multifunctional Spaces We need more from our spaces in 2026, and the p

Memorial Day weekend is one of the biggest shopping events of the year. Retailers across the country offer some of their best discounts, making it the perfect time to save on everything from electronics to home goods. If you want to make the most of this opportunity, knowing where to look and what deals to expect can help you shop smart and save big. Memorial Day sale on home appliances What Makes Memorial Day Sales Special Memorial Day sales stand out because they combine de

If you’re a veteran, active-duty service member, or surviving spouse, a VA loan can put homeownership within reach. Many of the people who are eligible for this outstanding benefit don’t fully understand how it works. Here are answers to important questions like Can you use a VA Home Loan more than once? What is a VA Remodel Loan? Can closing costs be included in a VA Loan? And more. What Is a VA Home Loan? A VA Home Loan is a mortgage that the US Department of Veterans Affai

The dream of owning land starts with a simple feeling: the desire to plant your feet on something permanent and call it home. That dream can sour fast if you jump into a deal without really understanding the process or how to buy land in a way that manages your risks. The key is to slow down just enough to check the land itself, learn the rules that come with it, and build the right protections into your offer and contract. We will walk through exactly what to do once you hav

Spring curb appeal improves fastest when you treat the front of the home like a simple “street-to-door” design. People notice cleanliness, sharp lines, and a strong entry focal point within seconds. When those are handled well, even a modest yard looks finished and well-maintained. The biggest reason spring refresh efforts fall flat is not effort. It is usually the lack of a clear visual plan. Materials get picked in isolation, plants get added one at a time, and the final vi

Moving marks the end of a chapter, and the start of an exciting new one. The anticipation of living in a new home brings endless possibilities – but the process to get there can feel overwhelming. Here are 10 pointers to help make the moving experience as smooth and stress-free as can be. 1. Book movers in advance Once your move-in date is set, secure a moving company as soon as possible. Booking early will avoid the hassle of having to make last-minute arrangements and give

Starter homes aren’t what they used to be. Prices are up, mortgage rates remain high, and inventory is tight, particularly at the lower end of the market. What was once considered an easy first step into homeownership now takes more planning and stronger finances. Selecting the right starter home means focusing less on style and more on function, value and flexibility at a time when budgets leave little room for error. What Is Considered a Starter Home? A starter home is your

The answer to the question “Should I get a home inspection?” is unequivocally “yes.” It can be tempting, especially in a seller’s market, to submit an offer without this condition, but that could wind up being a very expensive mistake. When you are touring a freshly renovated, beautifully staged house, it can be easy to get caught up in the dream of moving in and putting your pictures up on the walls, and it is easy to overlook serious problems. This is not to say that the se

Spring is finally here! And with it, one housing question is top of mind: After several slow, unaffordable years , is this finally when the market rebounds? The tea leaves are really hard to read right now. Let me run through the housing outlook —from macro to micro—to explain why. Let’s start with the macro picture: The war in Iran has injected a whole lot of uncertainty into the economy. Gas prices are up, and markets are rattled. As a result, mortgage rates spiked again

February’s housing market showed early signs of spring activity, with inventory, sales, and pending contracts all trending upward. While seasonal patterns continue to influence days on market, growing buyer activity and steady price movement suggest the market is gradually gaining momentum as the typically busy spring housing market approaches. "We’re starting to see the early stages of the spring market take shape," said Scott Steelman, president of the Des Moines Area Assoc

If you’ve been watching mortgage rates drop and thinking about how much you could save at a lower rate, you may be wondering when you can refinance your home loan to get a more favorable deal. There is no one right way to answer how soon you can refinance a home mortgage; it depends on your loan type, your lender, and your financial goals. What Is Mortgage Refinancing? Refinancing means replacing your current mortgage with a new one, usually to get better terms. When you ref

Should You Renovate Before Selling Your House? The housing market has cooled from its peak, and mortgage rates have started to settle. In many parts of the U.S., there aren’t enough homes for sale, so sellers have an advantage. But buyers now look more closely at condition and value than they did a few years ago. Maybe your place looks good from the outside with a new roof, fresh paint, and a tidy yard. But once someone steps inside, will it make the same impression? If parts

Getting your home ready for buyers can be stressful, and it is easy to slip up even with a good agent by your side. Most sellers may not realize what really matters when showing a home or how quickly small details can turn buyers off. Simple missteps like poor lighting and cluttered rooms can hurt your chances and your final sale price. We walk through the most common mistakes and share practical home showing tips to help you avoid them. Neglecting Curb Appeal First impressio