Derek Veldhouse

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

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