Wishing You A New Year Filled With Love, Health and Happiness

Thank you for all your wonderful support.

We're excited to help you realize your real estate goals in 2021.

Best wishes

Jared, Cheryl, Wyatt and Axel Zimmer

Low inventory = less competition
In the winter, there are fewer homes for sale. Low inventory can make winter an ideal time to sell your home. This is an especially relevant point in the current very busy market conditions, with high buyer demand chasing relatively low supply levels of available properties.

You get to show your home's winter-readiness
Selling in the winter gives you the opportunity to show that a home is designed to handle the harsh elements. Plus, during the winter months, homes with features like fireplaces and hot tubs are certainly more appealing.

New parents may be looking to upgrade
The baby boom in September may lead to more buyers later in the year. According to data from the Center for Health Statistics and the Social Security Administration, there are more birthdays in the month of September than any other time of the year. Therefore, there's likely to be a crop of growing families looking to buy a larger house.

Winter brings out serious buyers
Since more homes tend to go on the market in spring and fall, this is also when window shoppers are likely to be out looking. However, these looky-loos tend to be scarce during winter months.

Positive buyer mindset
The holidays put all of us in a happier mood. Home buyers are no exception and are consequently more likely to make purchasing decisions. A well decorated home at this time of year plays to their emotions.

Year-end financial bonuses & payouts
End-of-year financial bonuses or workers retiring with large payouts could mean opportunities for these buyers to upgrade their living situations or for first-times buyers to enter the housing market.

Taxation benefits
Closing before year end can offer some very attractive taxation incentives.

Job relocation
The biggest months for relocation are January/February. These are buyers who need to move quickly as they typically have a limited amount of time to uproot their families.

If you've been considering selling give us a call or drop us an email. We're here to get your home SOLD!! 435.865.7600.

The current real estate market here in Iron County is simply the best we have seen in our 16 years here!

That is an amazing fact, when one considers that this year has been like no other, and yet we're seeing such excellent conditions.

One of the market's key strengths is that buyers, able to borrow at unprecedented low rates, have so much to gain, while sellers continue to benefit from the consequent high demand and the constant struggle for inventory of available homes to keep up with it. This means reduced competition and very robust asking prices.

The holidays will very soon be here, of course, but that doesn't mean that this golden period for real estate in Iron County is going to diminish in any way.

Buyers will not be waiting to see if the New Year sees the continuation of low mortgage rates. They are very much dealing in the "now" and taking no chances.

Some sellers still, very incorrectly, believe that there's no value in keeping a home listed as the holidays approach. That's a mistake any year, but especially so when there's so much more activity in the market than we usually see at this point in the 12 month real estate cycle.

We'd be delighted to tell you more about why there's such an exceptional opportunity at the moment, so please contact us today. We'd love to help you realize your goals.

Of course all real estate agents will tell you what a great job they will do for you.

We prefer to let our clients do the talking...

Here are just some of our great five star reviews from this month alone:

"Wow! From the very first day (maybe the first minute?) Jared was on the job and all over it! Talk about energy! His advice and his predictions were spot on. Always accessible. Super patient with us! Cheryl and Cassie worked behind the scenes to get our house sold and get us into a new one - professional. Friendly. They resolved concerns quickly. Jared's got a fantastic team! They have our enthusiastic recommendation! You will not be disappointed!"

Victor Worth (Google Review)

"We had a great experience working with Jared and his team. They were very knowledgeable and helpful throughout the entire process. They were quick to respond to any questions or concerns we had. I would highly recommend Jared and his team if you are looking to buy and/or sell."

Melissa Wood (Google Review)

"Jared and his team helped us buy and sell our home. We spoke with other realtors and decided to have Jared represent us. He was very well prepared when we met him and began sending us listings that matched our needs even before we decided to have him be our realtor. His enthusiasm for helping us continued through the whole process. He is friendly, professional, responsive. And knowledgeable about the whole spectrum of the market. When we had questions for him, he knew the answers. His team was pleasant every time we had contact with them! Usually if something sounds too good to be true - it is. Not in this case. Jared and his team exceeded our expectations and I recommend him with reservations."

Sherri Worth (Google Review)

"I very much enjoyed working with Jared and his team. They were quick to respond when I had questions and were clear and precise in their explanations. They did an amazing job of keeping me and my ex-husband seperately informed and even called to let me know when he was in the office so I didn't accidentally run into him. All in all it was a great experience and I would recommend them."

Rebecca Warhurst (Google Review)

We'd love to help you realize your real estate goals too, so why not contact us today for an informal chat.

The following pictures of our very recent sold and current under contract listings speak for themselves in terms of the exceptionally busy market here in Iron County this fall. These are just a few examples...

Buyer sentiment is sky high, with mortgage rates continuing at very near record low levels, so the scene is set for a tremendous run-in to year end. Remember, too, that many buyers are keen to move in before the holidays or prior to the New Year for tax or job relocation reasons.

Why not contact us today to discuss the best way to take advantage of these superb selling opportunities and find out more about our exceptional track record of current success, as demonstrated below.

Here at RE/MAX Properties WE BACK THE BLUE and would like to show our heartfelt thanks and gratitude by providing lunch to ALL local law enforcement officers.

All officers are invited to stop by the Cedar City Chili's Monday 9/28, Tuesday 9/29, or Wednesday 9/30 between 11 & 4 and enjoy lunch on us!

THANK YOU for ALL you do for our community! YOU ARE APPRECIATED!

Please help us reach ALL of our local officers by sharing this video.

In case you weren't aware, next Tuesday will be the first day of fall.

And while the weather is holding up really well at the moment, temperatures will soon start to significantly drop and we could even be just a few weeks away from the first snow...

It therefore makes total sense to get your essential fall home maintenance done right now while it's still warm and before any uncompleted tasks begin to cause issues.

So here goes with a few suggestions:

Concrete - If any concrete areas have started to show cracks during this hot and dry summer, this could get a lot worse when the freeze gets here, so reparations now should be seen as a great preventive measure.

Outdoor lights - Even though it's best to have them all working all year round, it's very important to have safe and effective exterior lights as the hours of darkness increase.

Trees and shrubs - Falling branches can pose a safety risk in stormy conditions, so pruning right now minimizes the risks. Thin or brown pines, dead branches and even very early leaf color changes can all be strong indications of a need for treatment.

Critters - We all like to be cozy in our homes in the cold days and nights ahead and critters love to join us. Therefore now is the time to be sealing holes and gaps that might enable them to share your indoor warmth.

Gutters and downspouts - Take measures to avoid blockages caused by leaves as they fall into your gutters and downspouts. It's also vital to make sure that rainwater is directed at least three or four feet away from areas where it might seep into your foundations, causing potentially very expensive damage to repair.

Roofs - It's never a great plan to wait and see if your roof might have a leak when the weather takes a turn for the worse. Carry out an inspection now to locate broken or missing shingles, for example. Binoculars can really help.

Air sealing - Air leakage is a year round situation to avoid in your home. In summer it costs more to cool your home and you will also lose precious and expensive heating in fall and winter. Ensure doors and windows are sealed correctly with appropriate weatherstripping and/or sealants.

Heating system - At the very minimum, you should be making sure that furnace air filters are being replaced at the recommended intervals. A full service is ideal, not least as HVAC systems have a nasty habit of breaking down when you most need them, such as right in the middle of the holidays...

Sprinkler systems - These will very soon need to be winterized. Compressed air is a great way of clearing pipes of residual water that could freeze and create a burst, causing problems when everything is switched back on in the spring.

Lawns - Sowing of cool weather grass seeds is best done at this time.

Mulch - Laying mulch around flower, shrub and bush bases helps them to keep warm and healthy in the coming months.

Ice melt - Check that you already have a good stock of it to avoid problems when the first snow and ice arrives.

Propane - If you have a propane tank, be certain to make sure you are well stocked for fall and winter needs. If you're new to the area, you may be unaware that many local providers have contract payment plans that enable you to spread the cost over time and ensure that you always have gas in the tank.

Carbon monoxide/smoke detectors - Make sure you have adequate detectors for your needs and that they are all functioning correctly.

We hope that at least some of these tips will help you to compile your list of important tasks. As ever, please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions concerning real estate.

The Iron County real estate market is in fantastic shape at the moment and the best thing about it is that it equally benefits buyers and sellers!

Real estate market conditions are usually described as being in favor of either the buyer or the seller. But at the moment everybody stands to gain!

For some time now, mortgage rates have been at or very close to unprecedented lows since modern records began. This has of course been incredibly motivational for buyers, who recognize that right now is arguably an unrivaled opportunity to get on the home ownership ladder or upgrade and to be able to buy a better specification of property than would have been possible just a few months ago.

This means that demand is exceptionally high which also puts sellers in a very advantageous position and we are beginning to see more homes coming onto the market in recognition of this.

Inventory of available homes is still struggling to keep up with buyer demand, however, so asking prices remain very robust and there is the definite possibility of attracting multiple competing offers at this time.

And as we head into September, there are no signs of a let up and the fall market looks extremely promising, especially when one considers that we've had a shortened high season this year, due to earlier restrictions, so the peak selling period could extend much further into the coming months than is normal.

It really is a win-win for everyone, so why not contact us today and discuss the best strategy in your own situation.

It's always useful to know what today's home buyer is looking for in terms of features.

So we were very interested to read a recent report by Kiplinger.com that had the added advantage of taking several similar surveys into account to arrive at a definitive "Most Wanted" feature list.

And here it is, in descending order:

• Laundry Room
• Appliance and Window Energy Efficiencies
• Patio
• Ceiling Fans
• Garage Storage Space
• Exterior Lighting
• Walk-In Pantry
• Hardwood Floors
• Master Bedroom Walk-In Closet
• Eat-In Kitchen
• Dining Room

Of course no two buyers want exactly the same, but the list was drawn from the averages of different surveys, so it's arguably quite a reliable indicator of what's generally in favor.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect is that some of the features can be achieved relatively inexpensively.

A laundry room, wanted by 91% of all those questioned, just requires a spare room with appropriate electrical connections, plumbing and air venting. Garage storage space may simply be a matter of being tidy and decluttering. Adding more ceiling fans is another relatively inexpensive upgrade. Better energy efficiency can be achieved by sealing building envelope air leakages and, for example, applying special heat resistant film to your windows.

Of course should you decide to remodel to introduce some of the more expensive features in the list, as mentioned in our last email, you need to consider that, in most cases, the investment cost won't be recouped at sale time. That being said, of course, it's difficult to put a price on having a home that is likely to tick the most common feature boxes, greatly enhancing the quality perception of potential buyers.

Let's not also overlook that national averages also tend to gloss over regional variations. Here in Utah, for example, it's a fair bet that a basement would figure on this list.

We hope this information is helpful and we're always available to discuss optimal ways to present your home at sale time, so don't hesitate to get in touch with us.

Home remodeling projects are a great way of making your home nicer to live in and, should decide to sell, more attractive to buyers.

For those planning to sell in the near future, making the decision to upgrade poses the obvious question as to how much of the investment cost will be recouped in the home sale.

There is, of course, no simple cookie cutter answer here. Crucially, remodeling work will make a positive change in the overall perception of your home among buyers. There's simply no reliable way to put a price on that and it can be a defining contrast with competing properties.

To help us all, however, Remodeling magazine publishes a comprehensive annual Cost vs. Value Report which compares average costs for 22 typical remodeling projects with the value those projects retain at resale.

Even better, the Report is split into regions, with often contrasting results around the nation.

Below is a list of how much cost these projects recoup, on average, in the Mountain region:

Manufactured stone veneer - 100%
Garage door replacement - 96.1%\
Minor kitchen remodel (mid range) - 79.4%
Siding replacement (fiber cement) - 78.6%
Window replacement (vinyl) - 76.6%
Siding replacement (vinyl) - 74.9%
Deck addition (wood) - 70.1%
Window replacement (wood) - 69.8%
Deck addition (composite) - 66.7%
Bath remodel (mid range) - 62.7%
Roofing replacement (asphalt shingles) - 61.6%
Roofing replacement (metal) - 61.1%
Bath remodel (universal design) - 60.7%
Major kitchen remodel (mid range) - 58.1%
Bath remodel (upscale) - 57.8%
Master suite addition (mid range) - 56.9%
Entry door replacement (steel) - 54.6%
Bathroom addition(upscale) - 54.1%
Bathroom addition (mid range) - 52.1%
Major kitchen remodel (upscale) - 51.2%
Master Suite Addition (upscale) - 50.8%
Grand entrance (fiberglass) - 48.4%

Clearly using an exterior stone veneer or changing a garage door are quite easy decisions. Kitchens are always an extremely important element of buyer assessment and we can see that minor changes to a mid range kitchen recoup almost 80%, while more major refurbishments have a poorer return on investment. By their very nature, upscale upgrades generally tend to do less well in the cost vs. value equation.

As in all these situations, it's important to remember that the actual assessment of whether or not to embark on a remodeling project when you're thinking of selling is very specific to the condition of the home and the likely expectations of buyers in terms of your asking price and other available homes in your area and market sector.

We hope these figures are helpful and we're always available to offer specific home staging advice if you're planning renovations. Why not call us on 435-327-2090 or click here.