Heather Wright's Blog Posts

Buying a new home is one thing, but BUILDING a new home is a different beast on it's own. In this video we share a general timeline for building a house in the Greater Des Moines area. Watch it

We’ve got 3 tips for all home buyers in this new year that will help set yourself up for success in 2021! Tip #1 for buying a new home in 2021: Don’t expect perfection. No matter

If you've ever wondered what to expect when moving to Des Moines - this video has everything you need to know. Well, not everything, but it's a start. Oh, and to be clear, these are the tips you

Our final tip for getting your yard in tip top shape this fall. Don't forget to maintenance your equipment! Clean and inspect the mower, trimmer, leaf blower, pruner, and hedger. Make sure

Trim and shore up trees and bushes. Fall is the right time to look for and trim low-hanging branches that might break in the winter and cause damage. They say oak trees shouldn't be pruned between

When you can work from anywhere, why not work from West Des Moines, Waukee or Urbandale? Dallas County, Iowa was #10 on the Top 10 places remote workers can call home. You can

If you’re thinking about selling your house this year, have you been a little nervous about the market?I get it - it’s been a year!First, the economy tanked with COVID-19. But that didn’t

An easy way to update your kitchen or bath without breaking your budget is to paint the cabinets. It's definitely worth your while

2020 has been a strange year for all of us! And the real estate market is certainly no exception. A common question we've been hearing - is now a good time to sell?

We just had someone lock in at 2.87% interest. That is incredible isn't it?? But, just HOW incredible is it? Let's look at a price of $300,000 over 30 years and compare

Have you heard of forbearance and wondering what it is - or if it's something you should do? Here's the definition from:

A common question we get is "how's the market?" - and the answer is pretty complicated because there are so many variables! And COVID-19 is adding another layer of complexity, for sure.But, let me

Some people have asked us how they can get in on the 0% mortgage rates.Unfortunately, the Fed rate cut to 0-.25% does not mean mortgage rates are going to be 0%.This is basically the bank to bank

I know this is sort of a no-brainer - we should all pay our bills on time!But sometimes life happens.So, when you're in the process of buying a house and getting a mortgage, be on your best bill

Owning a home isn't for everyone. But there are definitely some upsides to owning! So, if you're going to pay a mortgage, doesn't it make sense to pay YOUR OWN and have some?

If you had to choose between granite or quartz, which would you choose?Or, maybe you're wondering what the difference is?Granite counters are mined from pure stone. The stone is sawed into slabs or

This is definitely a DON'T. Or, at least a "ask your mortgage loan officer first!"You probably think it's no big deal to co-sign a loan for your daughter's first car.But, when you're in process of

If you're buying a house, and you're closing next month on the 15th, should you open a charge account at Lowe's to buy your new stainless steel kitchen appliances?NO.What about a financing a 9 piece

When it comes to 🏡 real estate, there are many, many programs to help you buy a home. Whether you're in a union, a teacher, a veteran, or maybe just a regular person on the street -

So let's say you've got a few different accounts. You've got your main household checking account.You've got your personal checking account.Then there's your savings account.And don't forget your

Sellers often wonder if it's a waste of time to have their house for sale during the holidays or not. So, we've put together some info to help you decide if the timing is right for you: It's

How's the real estate market? Here's a snapshot of what happened in the Greater Des Moines market last month:Heather did a Facebook Live going into more detail. You can watch that here ===> 

What should you expect when buying a foreclosure?  Expect things to go wrong.  I’m a pretty positive person and as such, do what I can to avoid being sad, disappointed or insanely. &

If you’ve ever had your house for sale in the late fall/early winter (or thought about selling then) you’ve probably wondered - should you sell your house during the holiday season? Some real

A busy Realtor is a good Realtor!  Everyone should want an experienced agent who is going to get them the best deal possible—whether they are buying or selling.  A good agent is

When is the best time for selling a house?  While the change of seasons affects the real estate market, it always usually depends on the situation and the motivation.  Real estate sells

It is a BIG deal that not many people fully understand.  There are laws, processes, intricacies, and ideals that need to/should be followed. It’s for this reason, that I think it is

As the days get warmer (or colder in the case of this crazy weather), we naturally begin to ready ourselves for spring and eventually summer. We prepare fantasy baseball lineups, get pedicures,

The last few months have been really busy for us in real estate. We're pretty excited to announce a new team member! Catherine (Cadee) Arroyo joined us this spring and she's been selling

Happy New Year! Did you set any resolutions or goals for this year? In our business, we have both of those. When we reflect on our 2015, we feel so grateful to have known all of you and to have had

Well, 2016 is 1/4 done. Winter is gone (fingers crossed!) and Spring is in full swing (please, no more snow!). We've been pretty busy selling houses this first quarter. To date, we've sold 26 so we

Anytime you’re selling your house you need to consider how visitors (read: BUYERS!) are going to feel when they’re IN your house. Here are 3 basic rules to follow:1.  A CLEAN house will

"Home, home on the range!! Where the deer and the antelope play." Remember that song?  Why am I singing it?  When I think about filing for homestead credits it reminds me of this old

Basically, a short sale is a house that is upside down on their loan. They owe more than what the house is worth. They are in some sort of hardship where they’re at least 90 days past due on

This spring, buyers entering the real estate arena need to be prepared to fight like a gladiator. Ok, maybe that’s a little harsh, but seriously – it’s pretty competitive out there! We just

Sometimes, especially in real estate, nothing goes as planned. When it comes to SHORT SALES, however, you certainly never plan on things working FAST. Or, even working out at all. Meet Kris and

When deciding what size house you and your family need, you need to evaluate a number of factors.Most people lean toward the larger homes, but it is important to weigh the pros and cons of each

“Should I wait until spring to list my home?” - The question sellers often wonder during the winter and holidays. In my opinion, you shouldn’t have to hold off until spring. Buyers don’t

Winter is coming. Be prepared to put more effort in selling your home given the unpredictable weather. Good news is that most buyers looking in the winter are serious enough about finding a new

Turquoise of course!As a Realtor in the Des Moines area, I see a lot of houses on a daily basis. One of the perks of the job are amazing finds like this baby. This beauty was discovered in the

Boring – that’s what some people usually think when they see blank walls. Playing it safe with plain walls is OK, but a touch of color can take your wall from drab to fabulous.You don’t

As a first time home seller, you may be nervous about what will happen after you list your home for sale. And I, as a real estate agent, will talk you through all of the stages but understanding

One way to clean your foggy headlights is to rub them with toothpaste. It’s true!! Toothpaste naturally works well to polish things and remove really small scratches. It’s cheap and

For many of us, alarm panels aren’t a big deal – they’re just there, right?  I saw this post on Pinterest and though it was a nice idea to hide the alarm – make that space beautiful

Selling (and buying) a house is one of the biggest transactions you will ever make. One of the most important decisions you have in regard to selling your home, is selecting your real estate.

Trust – it’s a big dealWe don’t live in a world where trust is given freely.  But, we do have access to a great deal of information (thanks, interweb) and can research service providers

You might think that fancy fire pits are all the rage in a new trend but in fact, they’ve been around for a long, long time.  Cavemen used to gather around fires in prehistoric times! Fire

It has been said that knobs, pulls, and hooks are the bling to any furniture piece. And, if it hasn’t been said, then I just said it.  Custom and unique knobs can give your cabinets, chests

Are you sure you’re ready to take the plunge and buy your first home? It’s important to remember that a house is not just a home -- it’s a long-term investment that requires logical

Moving is stressful enough on humans, just imagine how it will be for your pets. They don’t like changes to their usual routine so you can expect them to behave differently when they’re

Hanging baskets are a creative way to add extra storage to any room in the house. Whether used as home décor or as storage, these hanging baskets are a great addition to any room.If you're 

If you’re getting ready to sell your house, you’ll want to get everything in tip top clean shape which includes your window treatments. And, even if you’re not interested in selling - this is

In real estate, you never know someone’s situation and I’ve learned not to make any assumptions. That works in both directions. Don’t assume someone DOESN’T have money and also don’t

Truth be told, every time I say “earnest money” my silly brain conjures up an image of Ernest from Ernest goes to camp.Thankfully, earnest money has nothing to do with that guy!;

It is a BIG deal that not many people fully understand.  There are laws, processes, intricacies, and ideals that need to/should be followed. It’s for this reason, that I think it is

True to its name, closing costs are what buyers pay for when the time comes to close on a purchase of a home.  These fees are related to legal documents, loan application, and title