Home construction continues to build momentum in Council Bluffs so far this year, but don’t celebrate on a record year just yet, according to a local real estate agent. “I’m optimistic, but cautiously optimistic,” said Jason James of Heartland Properties.
If you’re considering a kitchen, bath or bedroom addition or remodel, or adding a garage, there’s no better place to talk face-to-face with a professional than at the 8th Annual Council Bluffs Home Improvement and Landscaping Show, March 5-7, at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs. You’ll find a million ways to save green and go green on your next home improvement project.
The high volume of foreclosed homes on the market is allowing some astute buyers to turn eyesores into eye-catching properties with only minimal investment. While not every property can be fixed up affordably, there are some common projects that dramatically improve a foreclosed home’s appeal and value.
The Iowa Association of REALTORS(r) reports the average sale price of homes across the state remained steady, while the number of days on the market decreased. According to the IAR’s 2010 Housing Trends Report, the average sale price of homes in January 2010 was up 0.8 percent from last January.
Could this be a booming year for the housing industry in Council Bluffs? The numbers for January point that way. There were 12 permits issued last month for single-family home construction in the city, compared to just two in January 2009 and eight permits in January 2008, according to the city’s Building division.
Real estate pros often coach their clients on the value of making “curb appeal” improvements to help sell their homes. Outside painting and minor repairs signal that the house has been well cared for. That’s a great marketing tactic, but an even better advantage is offering multiple bathrooms. So if you’re planning to put your house on the market and want to make it stand out, consider going a step further and adding a new bathroom.
With the amount of time you spend in your kitchen, why settle for out-of-date features and decor - especially since it is easy to give your kitchen a 180-degree makeover? Try these six simple projects, and in no time at all you’ll have a kitchen where you will want to spend more time.
At first thought, winter might not conjure up words like spicy, bold or sunny. It should, though, at least when it comes to the inside of your home. While it might be gray and dreary outside, infusing color into interior decor is one of the quickest ways to create a cozy, inviting living area. And winter is the ideal time to do it.
Council Bluffs housing ended 2009 on a high note - at least when 2009 is compared to the previous year.
There were 126 permits issued for single-family home construction in 2009, up from 121 the year before, according to year-end totals from the city’s Building Division. These figures are far lower than those during the middle part of the past decade when housing permits were nearly double the number recorded last year, but 2009 was the first year since 2005 that permits exceeded the previous year.
Economists predict the worst of the recession is over, but the housing market still has a way to go to complete recovery. It pays to think positively and improve your home, both to boost its value as the market recovers, and to enhance its livability for your family now.
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