Mid-Iowa Homes by Gilreaths

Financing your new home

teamgilreath — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:24:10 +0000

Financing your new home is critical. Give it the attention it deserves. For more information go to: http://homesbygilreaths.wordpress.com/help-for-buyers/financing-your-new-home/

Many possible options are yours when financing a home purchase and how they fit into your future are difficult to understand. Comparing different loan options requires clear explanations you can trust. We recommend Becky Meyer at First American Bank. Her experience and training have been invaluable for our clients. Call her today at 710 7399 to prepare for your home buying adventure.

Des Moines is #15 of top 100

teamgilreath — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 01:40:45 +0000

Business Record Daily reports that since 2000 Des Moines has gained enough jobs to rank us #15 of the top 100.

Des Moines gained jobs in last 10 years, report shows
Des Moines lost private sector jobs in 2010, but was one of the top gainers in the past 10 years among the 100-largest labor markets, according to information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics compiled by Business First in Buffalo. Des Moines lost 100 jobs from December 2009 to December 2010, but gained 15,500 from December 2000, the 15th-most of the top 100 markets. That equaled a 6 percent increase. Des Moines had 256,400 private-sector jobs in December 2000 and 271,900 in December 2010.

More good news!! 6.3% unemployment in Iowa

teamgilreath — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 22:57:38 +0000

From the Business Record some good news. We’ve all known that things are better in Iowa and this is the evidence.
State unemployment rate drops to 6.3 percent
Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 6.3 percent in December from 6.6 percent in November, the largest monthly decrease in the rate for the year, Iowa Workforce Development reported. The state’s jobless rate stood at 6.5 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate also took a sharp drop in December, falling to 9.4 percent from a November rate of 9.8 percent. The monthly estimate of unemployed persons in Iowa dropped to 106,300 in December, the lowest level for the year. The December figure compared with 110,500 for November, and 109,800 for December 2009.

2 Problems with 1 solution

teamgilreath — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 03:24:24 +0000

Problem; some can’t afford decent housing. Problem #2; Des Moines has homes that are foreclosed that are not selling. Vacant homes tend to drag down the value of other homes in the neighborhood. Polk County has a solution; help eligible buyers achieve home ownership.
The Polk County Housing Trust offers families help with closing costs, down payment, and other costs. Buyers must have limited income and buy as a home to occupy.
Help is available and we can help so call us.

$230 million approved for Chicago-Iowa City passenger rail

teamgilreath — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:06:47 +0000

As reported in the Business Record today;

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded the Iowa and Illinois departments of transportation $230 million to initiate intercity passenger rail service on a route from Chicago to Iowa City via the Quad Cities, Gov. Chet Culver announced today.

“The Green Line between Chicago to Iowa City – and, in the near future, on to Des Moines and to western Iowa – which has been funded today in an extraordinarily tough competition with passenger rail proposals across America, will set a new national standard for reliable, cost-effective, fuel-efficient passenger rail service in the United States,” Culver said in a press release. “Today’s announcement will also inspire efforts to establish new passenger rail from Chicago to Dubuque and points westward from there.”

Twenty rail project applications from 10 states totaling about $7.8 billion were submitted to the FRA. Funds available in this round of the program were $2.1 billion.

The 219.5-mile route will provide twice-daily, round-trip service at maximum speeds of 79 mph, and have an expected trip time of less than five hours. The Amtrak trains will operate on a route that begins at Chicago’s Union Station and travels on the BNSF Railway Co.’s line to Wyanet, Ill., and then the Iowa Interstate Railroad’s line from Wyanet to Iowa City.

Each train can accommodate 230 passengers and offers coach seating and food service. First-year ridership is projected to be 246,800 people. New stations will be established at Geneseo and Moline, Ill., and Iowa City.

The Illinois and Iowa departments of transportation submitted a joint $248 million application under the FRA’s High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program. The total cost of the project is $310 million; the federal grant will provide $230 million. Each state will be required to provide a prorated share of the required match, based on the share of investment in each state.

Recession is so over

teamgilreath — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:36:26 +0000

The longest recession the country has endured since World War II ended in June 2009, according to a group that dates the beginning and end of recessions.

The National Bureau of Economic Research, a panel of academic economists based in Cambridge, Mass., says the recession lasted 18 months. It started in December 2007 and ended in June 2009. Previously the longest postwar downturns were those in 1973-1975 and in 1981-1982. Both of those lasted 16 months.

For the report go here http://preview.tinyurl.com/2fgyg66

Kiplinger's has named Des Moines among its "10 Best Cities for the Next Decade,"

teamgilreath — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:28:59 +0000

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine has named Des Moines among its "10 Best Cities for the Next Decade," the publishing company announced this morning. Des Moines was ranked No. 7 on the list, whose top three picks were Austin, Texas; Seattle and Washington, D.C. Other Midwestern cities on the list were Rochester, MN., and Topeka, Kan., at the sixth and 10th spots, respectively. "Des Moines is making strides to lure back young Iowans and attract global talent by developing its downtown and promoting jobs available in the many industries that flourish there," Kiplinger’s said in the article. "Other big draws include low-cost housing, the city’s reputation for family-friendliness, and easy commutes. Agricultural companies such as Pioneer Hi-Bred International create job opportunities as well as finance giant Wells Fargo and Meredith publishing." This year’s picks will be profiled in the magazine’s July issue, which will be on newsstands in June and is online now at Kiplinger’s website.

Kiplinger’s has named Des Moines among its "10 Best Cities for the Next Decade,"

teamgilreath — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:28:59 +0000

How much house does your family need?

teamgilreath — Tue, 04 May 2010 00:05:40 +0000

Our needs seem to vary with times. Te 1950’s homes in Des Moines were less than 1,000 square feet. Homes have continued to grow since that time and today the average is over 2,000 sq. ft. Most homes built before 1950 but after the 1930s were in the 800 sq. ft. range.

Today the size of homes varies greatly. The largest home listed for sale in Des Moines is the Rollins Mansion with 11,767 sq ft built in 1925. For a more complete description of this home click here . The largest McMansion built recently is the one now owned by the bank and is located at 3800 Fuller Rd. in West Des Moines. While not the largest this home was priced the highest of any home ever listed for sale at $4,900,000. The price has been reduced for quick sale to $3,200,000. To see what you can get for that kind of money click here.

Of course not every home is big; the cozy home at 2616 E 38^th in Des Moines is 320 sq. ft. and priced at $35,000 with a 3 car garage. This home is located on 17,600 square foot lot so there is plenty of room for an addition if you think it would be necessary. It also has 192 sq ft in the basement that could be finished if the family grows. You can see this home here.

As I consider what has happened to homes and families over the years I wonder if the need for a family room came with the breakdown of the family. How did the need for privacy replace a need to get along with your brothers and sisters? Now that families seldom have meals together the kitchen is bigger than ever.

What are your thoughts on the question; how much house does your family need?

Iowa makes Oprah’s list of 100 Things That Are Getting Better

teamgilreath — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:09:08 +0000

Iowa is #32! Click here to read more. Oprah’s list of 100 things that are getting better includes Iowa at #32. Part of the reason is that Iowa is ranked #2 in the Main Street.com Happiness index. Can you believe that Nebraska is #1. You can read it here.

Let’s begin to see what people in the rest of the world see; a beautiful state with much happiness! We even enjoy complaining about the weather.