Don Marple Earns REALTOR® of the Year for the Iowa Association of REALTORS®

Don Marple
Don Marple

Mel Foster Co. is pleased to announce that Don Marple of their Davenport Kimberly Road office was named REALTOR® of the Year during the Iowa Association of REALTORS® (IAR) annual convention held in Cedar Rapids last week.

Marple has been a licensed REALTOR® in Iowa for more than 37 years, and has worked at Mel Foster Co. in Davenport since 1995. He has been an active member of the IAR since 1980, serving on numerous committees, including past chair of the annual convention, and member of the education, consumers affairs, technology and member services committees. He served as IAR president in 2013, president-elect in 2011 and treasurer in 2010. He received the IAR President’s Special Recognition Award in 1995. He has also been a member of the REALTOR® Foundation of Iowa Board of Directors.

Marple is presently serving on the National Association of REALTORS®  (NAR) – Public Housing and MLS Policy Committees. Marple also served as a commissioner on the State of Iowa Real Estate Commission from 2004-2007.

Marple has also served in various leadership roles on his local board, the Quad Cities Area REALTORS® Association, including 2002 president, secretary/treasurer, and as a member of several committees. He received REALTOR® of the Year Award in 1998 and the Bert Frahm Award for Outstanding Dedication and Service to the Real Estate Industry and to the Community in 1995. He has earned several of real estate’s highest designations, including Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI), and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS).

Marple is very active in his community. He is currently a commissioner on the Scott County Condemnation Board. He has also served as past president for the Donahue Sportsman Club and was a founding member of the North Scott Soccer Club. He has been a Junior Achievement volunteer in the North Scott School District for the past 19 years, as well as a long-time volunteer with the Cub Scouts and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

 About Mel Foster Co. Real Estate

Founded in 1921, Mel Foster Co. is a real estate leader in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois serving Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, Rock Island and the surrounding Quad City area. It is one of Iowa’s largest independently owned real estate companies. Mel Foster Co. Real Estate specializes in residential and commercial sales and offers services for a broader spectrum of property transactions including farm and land, land development and management, relocation and new construction. Visit www.melfosterco.com for more information.

Three Reasons to List Your House Today.

With the welcome change in the weather, now is the time to put your home on the market. As a potential seller, you may have several reservations keeping you from taking the plunge. There are a few very compelling reasons why you should consider selling your home this spring rather than waiting.

1. Now is the time for an upgrade

If you are considering an upgrade to a larger or more expensive home, now is the perfect time to make your move. Prices are forecasted to appreciate by 4% by the end of this year, and nearly double that by the end of 2015. If you wait, your move could end up costing you more. Making a move this spring is going to get you more home for your money.

2. Competition

Housing inventory always grows steadily starting in spring and through the summer. Homeowners are also starting to see a return to positive equity in their homes as prices rise. Over time that is only going to increase, meaning more homes will be coming to market. Putting your home up for sale this spring will give you a jump-start and help you stand out to early bird buyers.

3. Demand

Buyers know that more homes become available during the spring and summer months. Nobody likes to move in the winter and parents don’t like to disrupt their children’s school year. Buyers wanting to move this summer are looking for a new home now! Don’t miss out on a potential buyer by waiting too long to list your home. Strike while the iron is hot and reap the benefits of listing your home this spring when most buyers are on the house hunt.

Why List your House Today?
Why List your House Today?

Renting vs. Owning

Rent vs. Own
Renting vs Owning

The decision to rent or buy a home depends on a number of factors. The speed at which home prices and rents rise and the length of time you anticipate remaining in your home or rental are key considerations. Costs are also something to strongly consider when making the decision to rent or buy. Read about the four types of costs you should take into consideration and what they mean.

Purchase costs

When buying a home, these costs are the costs you incur when closing. These include the down payment and closing costs, which can go toward the principle balance you owe on your home. When renting, these costs can be the deposit and/or broker’s fees, which you may or may not ever see again.

Yearly costs

As a homeowner, these include mortgage payments, association fees, renovations, maintenance, taxes and insurance. For a renter, these include rent and insurance. Although the yearly costs of homeownership can be substantially higher, these costs could be considered an investment, as the money you put in to your home could potentially be returned to you, or even grow, upon a sale.

Lost opportunity costs

For the homeowner, these are tracked for the yearly costs and the initial purchase costs. The latter can give the homeowner insight into how much could have been made had the down payment been invested instead of used towards the purchase of the home.

Selling costs

For the homeowner, these costs are incurred once the closing process begins. This includes fees and brokers’ commissions, as well as the remaining principal balance still owed. For the renter, these do not come into play, although there is no guarantee that all earnest deposit money will be returned.

 

Four Things To Tell Your Agent

Four things to tell your agent.
What to tell your agent.

Selling your home can be a complex process. How will you get the correct paperwork taken care of? Who will handle showings to potential buyers? A professional real estate agent can help ease your burden, and solve the majority of challenges you might face. However, when hiring an agent, it is important that you find a good match, and work with someone who will fit best with your unique situation. As a good rule of thumb, the following are four things you should feel comfortable expressing to your agent.

Negotiations

It is extremely important that your agent be equipped to handle any and all challenges that may come your way. The ability to negotiate is crucial. Let your agent know that you expect he or she to be aggressive and firm when negotiating with potential buyers or their agents.

Relocation

Your agent should be able and willing to help you with the moving process. Being without a roof over your head is not acceptable, and paying two mortgages may not be either. Ensuring that your agent can coordinate the closing of your current home with the closing of your new home simultaneously is key. Mel Foster Co. has an award-winning relocation department that can support your agent and provide you with the tools to make a smooth transition to your new city.

Timetable

Will your move into a new home revolve around the start of a new job or school year? Planning a move this structured can be mentally and emotionally draining. It is imperative your agent understands your time constraints and can work within your needed parameters. Be up front about your timing concerns and share this information with your agent before you agree to go under contract.

Sell My House!

You hired your agent to sell your home so you can focus on the changes you are undergoing, which prompted your move in the first place. It is ok to remind your agent of these motivations. Set your expectations with your agent appropriately and this could be one of the best working relationships you will ever encounter.


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