Against the Grain. A Sioux Falls Realtor thought.

Against the Grain.

Have you ever seen furniture or a guitar made of quarter sawn oak or maple? The grains are tighter and there are these little ribbons of pattern that burst sporatically throughout the surface of the wood. It’s really quite amazing and the name for those ribbon like patterns is kind of spectacular too. They are called medullary rays. (possible rock band name?)

These natural patterns/rays can't be seen or admired from wood that’s just cut the typical plain old way. It reveals something exciting and interesting that is hidden beneath the surface. This is achieved because the cut of the log was done by “going against the grain.” And that is EXACTYLY why I can appreciate it. It becomes an allegory for a lot of what I believe in.

If told, Do something. I will reply “I will.” If told, Do something different. I will kick back my chair, hop on the counter, hold up the rocker finger horns and belt out “R-R-R-Right On!”

Give something new.
Don’t let fear stop you.

The concert in my mind repeats these kind of lines like the chorus of a heavy metal ballad. Hey, it's my path to encouragement :)

I believe in innovation and more than anything I appreciate it when others believe in it too. I love it. I admire it. It simply ROCKS!

If you are going to do something, look to the leaders of those who have done it before you. Find out how they operate. Find out what systems they used to put on their show. Mimic these things that make their work easier, better, smoother. Then take that last bit, the piece (of the furniture, or song if you will) that everyone sees and turn it. Mix it up. Blast something that is unique for the whole world to hear!

I try to do that with my real estate career. I try to see what the leaders in my field are doing to systematize and I work on that. Then I add my own style.

 I can tell you that sometimes an idea will flop. Other times it will work. Sometimes people will ‘get it’ and other times they won’t. But I know that the right idea for each unique home or buyer at the right time can make a plain old situation turn into ribbons and patterns of coolness! I hope one day to be able to pack a stadium with past clients.

Now, how can I form a rock band and convince them to market my real estate biz for me?....

Home For Sale in Sioux Falls - fun video play

6509 N 10th Ave, Sioux Falls

Like Living in the Country, but with a Sioux Falls Address!

$149,900

Dog Days of Summer in Sioux Falls

The Dog Days of Summer

Here we are in the thick of summer. Droplets of sweat form on our brows like condensation on a cold glass of iced tea. Our kids perch in front of oscillating fans to numb thoughts of impending school days. And our dogs lay spread eagle on shady cool grass.

Despite the heated discourse in Washington and searing concerns over the country's deficit and credit worthiness, house sales in Sioux Falls have been slightly higher than this period last year. I'm guessing, based on our pending sales numbers that this will continue through the rest of this quarter.

 

The immediate result of our S&P down-grade to AA+ will be stock market lows and peaks. But more importantly to our real estate market, it is estimated to bring yet another temporary dip in interest rates.

Both situations are ripe for opportunity. Long term investors and those who believe in home ownership will take advantage of the cheap money to reach their big picture goals.

It's like my dogs, they take advantage of the hot sun to warm their tummies and the dewy lawn to cool their backs. They seem to understand that every situation has multiple opportunities. Many people will be wise and do the same and see this time as the right time to invest for the future.

Kick back, cool down, unleash your dreams and enjoy the sunshine! Consider whether now is a good time for you to sell and/or buy some real estate.  Sioux Falls is ready when you are and so am I. Call, text or email me anytime.

John Maurer

THE AGENT

605-521-1183

John@GetTheAgent.com



Guess What? This Home is Worth.....

When Buying, Selling or Fixing Up Your Home, How Much Does a 'Guess' Cost?

How much is your home worth? Did putting in that privacy fence increase its value?

If you plan on doing improvements to your property, wouldn't you want to know what the current market return on your dollar investment is? Is it worth adding a 4^th bedroom? Should you spend $8k on new windows? Will you get your money back? A real estate agent SHOULD be able to answer this for you.

An agent can find an answer by asking a colleague or review numbers that an appraiser gave them a couple of years ago. In most cases, this can be a good enough solution. But it's still just a guess.

If you're okay with guessing, then I guess that's okay. But when investing in your home or selling it, guesses shouldn't be good enough. You need an agent who will put some research into it.

Figuring out the over-all value of a home is tricky business. Seems easy enough, but what if your house is a Ranch style home in a neighborhood of Split Foyers? Or what if your lawn has in-ground sprinklers and no one else in your neighborhood does? What 'value' can you place on these differences? 

Every agent has at their fingertips a vast database of information. It's called the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). An expert agent knows how to run data through this system to isolate the current values of everything from toilet stalls to garage stalls.

As an example:

An average can be obtained for sold prices of homes similar to each other that have one full bathroom and no more.  Let's say the average sold price is $150,000. Then the same analysis can be performed for homes with two full bathrooms (no more, no less).  Let's say the average sold price now is $152,500. By comparing the two average sold prices, we can confidently determine that the value of adding an additional bath is $2,500. 

This same procedure can be done on any number of other factors, additions or improvements.

This process can help home buyers as well as home sellers and even help home improvers! If you plan on buying, selling or doing some work on your place, don't guess at value, call an expert agent to help.

-John Maurer
THE AGENT

Hot Dogs and Sioux Falls Housing

Hot Dog!

These tubes of meat by-product have been on my mind lately. Quite frankly (I had to say it), I think the sounds and smells of hot dogs sizzling on the grill, and the taste of their bubbling hot juicy goodness is as fundamental to summer (and specifically the 4^th of July) as snow is to Christmas.

I champion the wieners for so many reasons. For one, they don’t play middle of the road. I cannot think of another food that is considered repulsive by so many and adored by so many more.  This awkward delight which has stolen its sleek design from its cousin, the sausage, actually has gotten its namesake from the derogatory and untrue comments that its ingredients could quite possibly be made up of dog meat.

How cool is this?! A food, falsely rumored upon its conception to be made up of remnants of a beloved household pet, has risen to such heights of popularity to be included in the exclusive group of universal favorites such as coffee, hamburgers, beer and fries.

What other food can get groups of people to stand in line in order to get one for free, when they could just as easily buy a pack of them for a couple bucks?  In 2010, consumers spent $1.6 BILLION dollars on hot dogs in U.S. supermarkets!  No data found for how many franks were slapped out for free for the sake of promotion.

Hot dogs have their own sales season (Memorial Day to Labor Day, Americans typically consume 7 billion hot dogs). Like frankfurters, in our area, houses have a season too. Is it coincidence that it is the same “season” as hot dogs? I think NOT! :)

NOW is the season for selling and buying homes in Sioux Falls, SD too.  Sure they get bought and sold year round. But when the weather is hot, housing is best round here.

We may not have people standing in line (although watch closely at foreclosed homes that are priced right) but smart buyers are out there.  Houses may not be free but we are tops in housing affordability for the country, right here in good ole’ South Dakota.

If you are waiting for house prices to go down here in the Sioux Empire. Wait no longer.  Real estate is already on SALE! And unlikely to go anywhere but UP in our area. Check out June 30, 2011 USA TODAY:

South Dakota and Alaska also appear among the states to be "least vulnerable" to further home price declines given their stronger economies, says Capital Economics economist Paul Dales. In the first quarter, Alaska house prices rose 2.7% year-over-year, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. They fell 5.5% nationally. South Dakota has one of the nation's lowest unemployment rates, at 4.8% in May vs. 9.1% nationwide.

Existing home sales data also show strong demand for housing in the state, Dales says.

States with fewer troubled loans are likely to have fewer foreclosures, which can be a drag on prices. As of May, the states with the lowest percentage of loans that were delinquent or in foreclosure were Montana, Wyoming, Arkansas, South Dakota and North Dakota, says Lender Processing Services.

So, belly up to the grill-out this 4^th of July holiday weekend. Slam down a few dogs. And take a minute to relax at your fire pit 'n think about the great American dream of home ownership. And if record low house prices and record low interest rates make sense to you and yours, give an agent and a lender a call.

If you want GREAT advice, give me a call and I’ll get you started in the right direction.

Until then, this is my quick salute to the American way and the polarizing perfectness of our patriotic food companion, the hot dog! UH HUH!

356 N Holiday - Sioux Falls, SD 57103

Introducing 356 N Holiday Dr - Sioux Falls SD 57103 

only $139,900

Incredible updates you won't believe...like GRANITE! If you are looking for that move in ready home with all the extras you deserve? Look no further! This home was remodeled with you in mind. GRANITE countertops in the Kitchen, both Bathrooms and even the folding table in the laundry room. Very spacious and open floor plan with a new walk-in GRANITE surround shower in the lower level. Even the toe-kicks are GRANITE. Fresh paint inside and out with a large garage and an extra parking pad. Fenced in backyard and deck off the dining area provide for great entertaining. This home has so much to offer that you need to read the captions to get it all in.