We've had record snowfall and, with water levels already high, it makes sense to take precautions against possible subsequent flooding as snow and ice melts.

Know your flood risk - If you've not previously done so, research your home's likely level of flood risk. If in doubt contact your local county for more information. Iron County publishes an emergency preparedness guide with specific flood instructions on pages 17 and 18.

Home insurance - Did you know that most homeowner policies don't include flood damage, so contact your insurer for specific advice. It also makes sense to photograph your home and possessions in advance to help with any future claims.

Water drainage - Ensure your gutters and downspouts are free of obstructing debris. If you have storm drains near your home, make sure they are also clear of debris. Landscaping should be carried out in such a way that water drains away from your home.

Plan ahead - Keep your car filled with gas, have a portable radio and flashlights with extra batteries, store food, water and critical medical supplies.

What happens if there's a flood?

• Try to keep yourself informed using internet and social media channels, paying particular attention to weather warnings.
• If asked to evacuate, do so immediately and get to higher ground. Don't forget to lock your home and take your pets with you, of course. If there's time, and it's safe to do so, shut off your main power switch, main gas valve and water valve.
• Keep away from floodwaters. Fast flowing and very cold mountain streams and rivers can be especially hazardous. Just 18 inches of water can be sufficient to sweep away a large vehicle and always remember that flooded roads may be hiding dangerous objects.
• The Iron County emergency preparedness guide contains further important information and we strongly suggest you study it.

After the flood:

• Keep away from flood disaster areas and let rescue and emergency services continue their vital work. Let family and friends know you're safe. The Red Cross Emergency website and mobile apps are great resources.
• Don't re-enter your home until the authorities tell you it's safe to do so and follow any safety guidance provided regarding switching utilities back on, usage of drinking water etc.
• Again, stay informed using internet, social media and other news resources for the latest updates.
• The Iron County emergency preparedness guide contains other essential information, so do please refer to it in advance.

We sincerely hope that you'll never need to use this advice. Nonetheless it pays huge dividends to be prepared for such an eventuality.

The first quarter of 2023 has seen a modest but encouraging reversal of recent negative trends in Iron County.

The above graph demonstrates that the number of sales have begun to climb again, following the downward trend over the past year. This is partially explained by the recent lower mortgage rates and, as can also be seen in the above graph, an overall drop in inventory of available homes for sale, putting sellers in a slightly stronger position. New listing numbers have been quite flat in the past couple of months, setting up a good situation for sellers who are already listing as the inevitably stronger spring market takes hold.

Looking at the Listing Prices graph below, we can also see a corresponding jump in sold median sale price in the area. Significantly, median listing prices are now more realistic and are closer to what homes are actually selling for than for some months. Another encouraging sign that sellers' expectations are becoming more in tune with actual market conditions and what buyers are able/prepared to spend.

With all these factors in play, March saw a significant drop in the average number of days a home is on the market before it sells (see final graph below). Another strong indicator that the market is moving more fluently again.

The next few weeks will see more buyers out and about and seriously looking for a home, so if you've been on the fence about listing at the moment, there is now some clear evidence that conditions are improving.

Please don't hesitate to contact us at 435-327-2090 today and discuss your best options and find out how we are continuing to achieve great results for our clients.

Can owners sell on their own? Answer: yes, without question. Yet, at what cost? How much are they potentially leaving on the table?

When solely focusing on an agent's commission, an owner might not truly understand the real VALUE a professional Realtor brings to the table. Not to mention a few other safety concerns when selling on their own vs. hiring a professional.

Maximizing Exposure - We've built a complete professional structure to market your home. This includes membership of the local multiple listing service (MLS), our website, social media and other market communications techniques and personal connections designed to reach ALL qualified and motivated buyers, not just locally but nationally and beyond.

Market Knowledge/Statistics - We study a wide range of MLS and industry market data that you don't have direct access to. This enables us to cast an experienced eye over stats and fine tune our marketing strategies and tactics to match ever-changing market conditions.

Handling Buyers and Showings - DIY selling means it's you who'll be making all the appointments to view your home. You'll also be showing it too! Unfortunately, because you've not hired an agent and have no MLS and little or no market exposure, you very likely won't be busy anyway...

Priced to Sell - We operate in this real estate market on a daily basis, meaning we totally understand it and your home is expertly priced to obtain the maximum amount of buyer interest, as opposed to being unrealistically priced on your emotions as to what you think it's worth vs. actual market value. 

Handling Negotiations - Just who is shopping homes for sale by owner? Quite often it's the buyer identifying the opportunity for a steal by dealing with an inexperienced seller/negotiator. We are skilled in the art of negotiating a sale to achieve top dollar for our clients, having identified and targeted buyers who are willing to make a reasonable offer, based on market value.

Better Safety/Security - Go it alone and you'll be letting complete strangers view your home. We ensure that all home viewers have been through a thorough pre-qualification process.

Dealing with Legalities/Paperwork - We oversee all legal documents and closing procedures for your home sale. Go it all alone and it's all down to you and that can be daunting and very risky, especially if you have no experience of handling these matters.

Still have questions or concerns? Call us today at 435-327-2090.

We're delighted to be able to bring you some really good news about our Iron County real estate market.

Mortgage rates have recently dropped to the low 6% range!

Today's typical rate for a 30 year fixed rate conventional loan is hovering around 6.25%!

This is what many buyers have been waiting to see and the results are already surfacing.

Above are three homes that are now pending, with buyers acting fast to take advantage of the best situation we've seen with mortgage rates for some time.

With Spring just over a month away, we can confidently expect to see more people looking for a home in the coming weeks, with the extra motivation that falling mortgage rates will inevitably stimulate.

More homes will start to appear on the market too, so why not get ahead of the crowd and beat the competition for a more robust realistic asking price.

Contact us today at 435-327-2090 to make the first steps.

Iron County real estate has started 2023 in much the same shape as at the end of last year with a more challenging market than the one we have been used to for the past few years.

Crucially, however, the market has corrected rather than collapsed and there's no question in our minds that the demand is there and, when interest rates drop significantly, we expect to see a lot more buyers entering, and indeed re-entering, the market.

But that doesn't mean to say that a good number of homes aren't selling right now. Not everyone needs a mortgage, after all, and some buyers simply have to move in a certain time frame, for a variety of reasons.

Given that selling a home isn't the comparatively easy process it was, even as recently as this time last year, it follows that teaming up with the right listing agent is more crucial than for many years.

Here are the some of the key qualities you need to look for:

Track record/reputation - Can the agent demonstrate an impressive list of recent and long term sales of listings? What are other clients' experiences in online reviews? You'd be surprised how many agents out there sold few, if any homes, in 2022.

Long term experience - Has the agent successfully operated in previous challenging market conditions? Agents who have only been running their business in the past few boom years will not have the essential experience of knowing how much more it takes to get a home sold when market conditions aren't as favorable.

Marketing skills - There was a time not too long ago when a high percentage of homes were selling almost as soon as they hit the market, sometimes even before they were listed! That's no longer the case, so you need to see evidence of the agent's marketing strategy to get your home sold in more turbulent conditions. Look for a detailed approach that covers a full range of online and other promotion, together with a plan to contact people who can influence the sale on a daily basis.

Straight shooter? - A high percentage of agents will seemingly do anything to avoid a tough conversation with a client. Right now, a bit of straight talking, often about asking price, is very necessary to achieve the right end result. Look carefully for this quality in an agent.

Be thorough - Make a list of questions and concerns that you'd like a shortlist of agents to answer. The answers will tell you a lot about how good a match each agent's approach is to your needs.

We believe we can match and indeed exceed all the above expectations. But don't take our word for it. Here are some snippets of recent client reviews that we believe speak volumes:

"They always gave us the very best advice at every stage, based on vast experience and in-depth knowledge of local market trends, enabling us to make informed decisions that led to success."

"Jared and his team was the best, we listed our house and within 10 days it was under contract."

"Made it simple and seamless."

"The team held my hand throughout the entire process. It was effortless to sell a home through them."

We'd love to help you too, so reach out to us today at 435-327-2090.

xo, the zimmers

Wishing you the most joyful holiday season and all things bright, happy and healthy in the coming New Year!

With Gratitude,

Jared Zimmer and Team

After many years of unparalleled boom in our local real estate market, in 2022 we witnessed what can only be defined as a long overdue market correction.

With average sold prices having risen by almost 40% in just two years, something had to eventually give and the long-anticipated mortgage rate hikes and a rather sudden relative absence of eager out-of-state buyers, no longer motivated by the fear of covid, finally halted this rampant growth.

And, as 2023 beckons, prices may yet have to fall further before eventually finding their level and climbing once more.

One of the biggest issues for sellers has been accepting that prices they saw neighbors achieving just a few months ago are now unattainable in the present market.

So there has been a difficult period of adjustment to the new conditions and, of course, it is a process not without some pain.

However, there are some important, and encouraging, points to remember:

• The market is only correcting, it is not in a collapse.
• Homes continue to sell, even if the process is considerably more complicated than in recent years.
• Iron County will remain a highly desirable area to move to.
• It's not just your house price that's dropping. It's happening to everyone, everywhere.

An appreciation of these factors should help anyone to realize that, with a realistic attitude to pricing and a willingness to present a home correctly, great things are still not only possible, but actually quite likely.

What is certain, however, is that the era of passive, order-taking agents is well and truly over. Relentless and professional marketing of your property and a huge daily effort by your agent to get it sold are more essential than ever.

Therefore, if you're considering listing in the coming weeks or months, why not talk to us now at 435-327-2090. We'll be happy to demonstrate how we continue to achieve great results for our clients in this challenging sales environment and suggest a strategic plan to do exactly the same for you.

As we approach the end of the year, and with the holidays in sight, many consider the option of pulling their property from the market. Others that are wanting to sell consider waiting until the New Year. With all that goes on during a busy holiday season these are very understandable concerns.

However, here are some things to consider when making a decision:

• Buyers vs. Lookers. At this time of year buyers are almost invariably very serious about finding a home, rather than casually viewing.
• When does your home look, smell and present better than during the holidays!
• Some buyers are very motivated to move in before the holidays, encouraging quick sales.
• Others need to complete their property transactions by year end for tax reasons.
• January is traditionally a time when most job relocation occurs and some buyers are already looking to complete their move before their new job starts at the beginning of 2023.
• The mid-term elections will be ending very soon, removing a further layer of recent uncertainty in the market.
• The approach of the holidays inevitably puts buyers in a more emotional state, making positive purchasing decisions more likely.
• Some buyers may feel that delaying their purchase until the New Year risks seeing even higher mortgage rates in operation.
• No matter how good the advice, some sellers will inevitably decide to take their home off the market until 2023. This means you'll have less competition in the coming weeks if you keep listing, improving your chances of finding a buyer and making your asking price more robust.

At the end of the day we understand the concerns and respect whatever decision works best for you and your family. We are here to help and look forward to assisting you in the best ways we possibly can.

Why not reach out to us today at 435-327-2090 and find out more about how we can still help you to get your home sold this year.

If you're selling and/or buying a home right now, you probably don't need reminding that the average interest rate on 30-year loans has continued to climb.

Unsurprisingly, this is a key focus and concern for buyers and the biggest current objection to going ahead with a home purchase.

This is why you might have heard more about temporary mortgage buydowns recently. But exactly what are they and how can they benefit your home sale and/or purchase?

Essentially a temporary buydown enables a borrower to obtain a lower payment by paying the interest up front as part of their closing costs

This is a one-time up-front payment, lowering the interest rate, usually for the first years of the loan.

The result is to reduce the borrower's monthly payments, making the home more affordable and, consequently, more attractive. It also helps buyers to actually qualify for the loan.

As a seller, you are in a great place to help buyers, and not have to keep dropping your price, if you pay down the rate yourself for the buyer. This commonly comes out of the proceeds of your home. According to Dewey Warner of Intercap Lending, Cedar City, sellers can volunteer to pay up to 3% on every loan program out there.

In competitive markets, sellers sometimes offer to pay the buyer's closing costs, or a share of them, so a buydown can arguably be seen as a variation of this.

We're grateful to Dewey for this typical illustration of how it all works:

For a $300,000 home loan at 6.75%, the monthly payment is $1945.

Below are the effects, over the first two years, of a buydown payment of $6,912:

At 4.75% the monthly payment is $1,564, providing first year savings of $381x12 months = $4,572

At 5.75% the monthly payment is $1,750, providing second year savings of $195x12 months = $2,340

Clearly, this makes payments a lot more manageable for the buyer over the crucial first couple of years, in the hope that rates will have fallen in that time, facilitating a more affordable refinance option down the line.

Offering to pay the buydown is a great way to make your home more attractive and affordable in today's challenging market, so why not reach out to us at 435-327-2090, or contact Dewey directly at 435-704-0037.

Fall is already here and we have some tips to help you prepare your home for the changing weather conditions and temperatures we'll be seeing in the coming weeks.

Roofs - A pair of binoculars helps you when inspecting the general condition of your roof. Look for signs of missing shingles/tiles, cracks or other damage and the integrity of flashings around vents, chimneys etc. Seek professional guidance if you have doubts over your roof's condition

Gutters/downpipes - Inspect your gutters to ensure that nothing is going to get in the way of rainwater run-off. Inadequate drainage can damage your foundations, so ensure water is drained away from downpipes to avoid sending water straight down to them.

Heating systems - There's nothing worse, or more likely, than a heating system that fails just as the temperature drops to the point that it's essential. Save yourself any unpleasant surprises by getting your heating system serviced now.

Air leakage - Poorly sealed windows and doors can make a sizeable dent in your wallet, by allowing expensive hot air to leak outside. Weather stripping and appropriate sealants will more than pay for themselves by keeping heat working efficiently for you.

External air conditioning unit - This should be covered for winter, when aircon is no longer in use.

Fireplaces - An annual maintenance regime is essential. A professional is again the best option here, to cover all bases, including flue cleaning, blockage clearance etc.

Faucets/sprinkler systems/general plumbing - Close off valves that serve outside faucets, then open to drain. If you have no shut off valve, consider purchasing an appropriate insulated cover for your faucet. Sprinkler systems will require the correct manufacturer maintenance regime, so make sure that information is to hand, or source it online, so you can make the appropriate preparations. Also look for any obvious areas of vulnerability to freezing in your overall plumbing set up.

Seal holes and gaps - Critters will be seeking shelter in the coming weeks, so sealing holes and gaps in your home's external envelope right now means they'll have a tougher time using your home as their fall/winter retreat.

Walkways/drives - Repair damage to these areas now to avoid potentially nasty consquences when it begins to freeze.

Ceiling fans - Don't forget to reverse your ceiling fan direction to force warm air down.

Trees and shrubs - Pruning of trees and shrubs is very important to greatly reduce the potential for falling branches etc. in storm conditions. Also keep looking for any signs that might indicate some necessary treatment, including very early leaf colour changes, thin or brown pines and dead branches.

Decks/fencing - Right now is a perfect time to restain if needed.

Snow removal items - Stock up with salt and have your snow removal tools ready. The first fall of snow usually catches us by surprise, so be prepared.