Derek Veldhouse

When you put your home up for sale, one of the best ways to determine the asking price is to look at comparable sales. There’s rarely a...

You’ve most likely heard the rule: Save for a 20-percent down payment before you buy a home. The logic behind saving 20 percent is solid,...

Unfortunately, our homes don’t always grow with us. What may have initially worked fine for a single person, a young couple’s starter...

When you own your home, things are going to break and, unless you want to spend your money on visits from a neighborhood handyman, you’re...

“Refinancing” is a scary word for many people, but that shouldn’t be the case for you. For many homeowners, refinancing can not only...

As unfortunate as it can be when homeowners fall behind on mortgage payments and must face the possibility of losing their homes, short...

Negotiation is a subtle art in real estate, but skilled negotiators can usually find some common ground that satisfies all parties. On...

Organic food usually tastes better, and is better for you, but it can also be very expensive compared to non-organic products. Organic...

When you’re getting ready to list your home, it’s of the upmost importance to ensure you are showing it in the best light. Taking time to...

Ever get the itch to do a DIY project? Whenever we do, our favorites involve getting outdoors and mixing up our landscaping features....

An evacuation plan is a necessity for every home, especially if you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and...

Ever wish you could become one of those rare morning people? The ones that wake with a start, feeling refreshed and energized. The ones...

For most of us, our bedroom is little more than a place to sleep and relax. However, just because it’s always been that way doesn’t mean...

When you put your home up for sale, one of the best ways to determine the asking price is to look at comparable sales. There’s rarely a...

Mattress construction: The most popular mattress types are inner spring mattresses, memory foam mattresses, and adjustable air...

Follow Derek as he goes over the current Des Moines real estate market statistics and how the industry is currently being effected by...

What you can do as a home seller or buyer to stay safe and healthy: What I am doing to keep myself and my clients healthy and safe: For...

Hanging out with your family or hosting friends on your old, dingy deck is not very appealing. Lucky for you, refreshing it doesn’t have...

I hope you all well. These are uncertain times but we will get through this together. The Simple Greek (Ankeny) is still open for...