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  • Jim McDaniel
    Jim McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Jim a question about Polk County.
    There is no doubt that the housing market in 2021 has been challenging. The lack of resale inventory continues to haunt us. The natural solution to this problem is to build a brand new home. Where do you begin?

    Start by choosing a builder. Many mass builders will only allow you to pick your lot and home plan. They will not customize the plan for your needs and typically will not even allow you to choose finishes, only a color pallet. This can work well for many buyers who find the process overwhelming. All decisions from lighting to carpet have been made for you. If you are a buyer who wants a say in how your home will be constructed, start by choosing a custom home builder.

    Paramount Homes is one of those builders who will bring your dream to life. Start with a stock plan and change it to fit your needs, or completely build your home from scratch with an architect designing your home. Either way, Paramount Homes will treat building your home like it is their dream too. There is nothing more satisfying for the staff at Paramount Homes than seeing a home built from an idea to a foundation to a move-in-ready home. A custom home builder like Paramount Homes will also build at off-site locations. You are not required to find a home site in their current communities. Find a lot in Central Iowa regardless of the location, and Paramount Homes will work with you to build your dream home. With over 50 years of experience, this process never gets old for them.
  • Lisa McDaniel
    Lisa McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Lisa a question about Polk County.
    Polk County, IA
    Spring Is Here
    Spring is here! Bring in the sunshine and warm weather by attending The Des Moines Home & Garden Show. This event runs from March 25-28th. This is an amazing event that allows you to talk with local experts in remodeling, landscaping, building, flooring, and more! A perfect weekend outing for anyone with projects on their list! Use the link below for a $2 discount on admission.
    2021 Home & Garden Show Website
  • Jim McDaniel
    Jim McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Jim a question about Polk County.
    Polk County, IA
    CodeRed Emergency Alerts
    Did you know Polk County Emergency Management will send out CodeRed emergency notifications? If you sign up to receive the notifications you will receive a message for incidents like environmental disasters, search and rescue, crime, man-made disasters, and public works issues. This is a great tool to stay informed. For more information or to sign up for the alerts follow the link below.
    Polk County Website
  • Lisa McDaniel
    Lisa McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Lisa a question about Polk County.
    Polk County, IA
    What Is A Joy Score?
    When it comes to home renovations most homeowners will consider their return on investment. What will the renovation do to the value of their home? This is a big factor to consider as well as the potential buyer's response to the update as well. A Joy Score measures the value by determining which renovations make people the happiest. The cost for a high "Joy Score" does not have to be great. In fact, some of the smallest projects can project the biggest reaction.

    The top renovation projects that will create the highest "Joy Score" are kitchen renovations,
    bathroom renovations, fresh interior and/or exterior paint, closet storage updates, and pet focused updates such as a fence, laminate flooring, and a doggie door.
  • Jim McDaniel
    Jim McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Jim a question about Polk County.
    Polk County, IA
    Vote Today
    Now is the time for your voice to be heard. If you have not done so already remember to vote! Knowing where your polling place is located can be confusing. Use this link below to find out where you should go to vote.
    Polling Place Locator Website
  • Lisa McDaniel
    Lisa McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Lisa a question about Polk County.
    Polk County, IA
    Custom Home Builder
    Do you know what your dream home looks like? Have you thought about it? Building it just might be a reality with Destination Homes. This custom home builder has over 75 years of combined home building experience and has helped hundreds of customers bring their dream home to life. With their team of experts, the building process can be fun, simple, and stress-free. Modern software technology allows you to be up to date on the construction progress and abreast on the timing of your build. Every home constructed by Destination Homes is built like the builder himself will live there. You will love the quality of construction, attention to detail, and excellent craftsmanship.
  • Jim McDaniel
    Jim McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Jim a question about Polk County.
    Polk County, IA
    Halloween 2020
    While 2020 has turned life as we know it upside down one thing will remain in place. Trick or Treating for all the ghouls and goblins looking for treats is still happening in many metro cities. Visit the link below for a list of cities participating in Beggars' Night!
    Beggars' Night Info
  • Lisa McDaniel
    Lisa McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Lisa a question about Polk County.
    Polk County, IA
    Paramount Homes
    If you are looking to build your next dream home I would urge you to consider building with Paramount Homes. Why Paramount Homes? With over 50 years of combined construction experience, they have already helped hundreds of homeowners build their dream home. The employees and contractors have made the process of building a home less stressful and actually fun. The new software technology used to manage the construction of your home allows not only the contractors and staff real-time access to the build process but allows you to keep track as well. You will know if things are running ahead of schedule or if materials are on backorder and a delay has occurred. Paramount Homes will build anywhere within a 50-mile radius of the Des Moines Metro area. So if you are looking for remote acreage with tons of privacy or want a city home near Jordan Creek Mall Paramount Homes can assist. Paramount Homes will also purchase the lot you identified and carry the construction loan. You will close only once when the home is complete. The home building process made simple.
  • Jim McDaniel
    Jim McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Jim a question about Polk County.
    Simple, quiet, and maintenance-free best describes The Villas of Wolf Creek in Polk City, Iowa. This is peaceful neighborhood is located on the north end of Polk City and is very convenient to Big Creek State Park and the walking/biking trails. This Paramount Homes community offers stand-alone villas in both ranch and two-story floor plans as well as bi-attached options. The community homeowners association will take care of all your lawn and snow removal needs so you are not tied down to everyday maintenance. This community has several brand new homes to view with prices starting in the $290s. If you are looking for a maintenance-free lifestyle in a quiet setting but close to amenities, this might be exactly what you are looking for!
  • Lisa McDaniel
    Lisa McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Lisa a question about Polk County.
    Polk County, IA
    Builder Spotlight
    Building your dream home from scratch can be very exciting and also a little nerve-racking. Choosing a builder who can envision and execute your dream home is extremely important. There are hundreds of builders in the Des Moines metro area so how do you pick the right one for you? Hopefully, this builder spotlight will help you navigate the process.

    Bella Homes of Iowa not only specializes in individual single-family homes but they also create new developments and communities. This includes developments for active adults 55+ and older. Two of these communities are being built in Huxley, Bella Vista in Ankeny, and The Vineyard. Both of these active adult communities offer luxury living with a maintenance-free lifestyle and are within walking distance to shopping and amenities.

    Single-family building sites are also available in Ames at The Irons. This is an HOA maintained community for an easy lifestyle but provides the privacy of a single-family home. Some build sites are available to bring your own builder otherwise Bella Homes can build your customized dream home.
  • Lisa McDaniel
    Lisa McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Lisa a question about Polk County.
    Did you know the cities of Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Grimes, Polk City, Urbandale, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights have entered into a cooperative agreement with the purpose to preserve the existing affordable housing in their communities? If you are a homeowner there could be assistance for housing repairs and/or to correct code violations. To qualify for this program:

    * The home must be located within Polk County in the designated participating cities
    * Property has to be occupied by the owner
    * Assessed value of the home must be below $200,000
    * Income limits of the household must qualify (see local city administration for eligibility requirements)

    Contact your local city administration for more details
  • Jim McDaniel
    Jim McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Jim a question about Polk County.
    Polk County, IA
    2020 Home Show Expo
    If you are looking for something fun to do this weekend stop by the 2020 Home Show Expo presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines. The expo is located in the Prairie Trail District of Ankeny. The Home Show will run weekends July 17-19th and 24-26th from 8:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m. There are five homes to view in the Expo.

    The Expo is located in Prairie Trail, Ankeny at 50021 SW State St at SW Vintage Pkwy.
    Admission: Tickets are $100 for two admissions. This includes $60 in District Bucks to be used at any business in the District at Prairie Trail. Great time to try a new restaurant or shop!
  • Lisa McDaniel
    Lisa McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Lisa a question about Polk County.
    For many homeowners, the thought of having a little bit of land and privacy is very appealing. Finding acreage properties can be very difficult, however. Of course, buying a parcel of land and custom building your dream home is always an option as well. There are many things to consider when buying vacant land. The checklist below will help you navigate an acreage land purchase. Of course, make sure you consult a professional and do your homework before signing on the dotted line.

    1. Investigate the location of the land for concerns such as landfills, noisy highways, industrial or agricultural use. These things could affect your property value.
    2. Check maps prepared by FEMA to ensure the property is not in a floodplain.
    3. Is the land in conservation or protected resource areas that could affect use?
    4. Are utilities in the area that are available? How close to the potential homesite? Running utilities can be costly so have a good understanding of what is necessary.
    5. Double-check the zoning of the land. This may need to be adjusted for a residential building if
    it's currently being used for another purpose.
    6. Check county records to verify if there are covenants, easements, and/or restrictions for the property.
    7. Research what land was used for and if the potential for hazardous materials could be an issue.
    8. Inquire about endangered animals or plants on the land. These things cannot be moved or disturbed so have a good understanding of the property and what is living there.
  • Lisa McDaniel
    Lisa McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Lisa a question about Polk County.
    Being safe, self-distancing, and self-quarantine can become boring or make you stir crazy. If you find yourself looking for something fun to do while stuck inside here are some suggestions:

    Complete a puzzle - jigsaw puzzles are becoming super popular. These can also be done on your phone or iPad by downloading an app. Or you can go old school and try to solve a Rubik's Cube, Word Finder, or Crossword Puzzles. Other ideas include:

    -Dust off your high school instrument and try to play a song.
    -Read a good book. There are tons of free offerings for your iPad or Kindle if you don't have a bound book to read. Try an audio book or a podcast if you're not into reading.
    -Watch Oscar Winning movies on Netflix. Or, in honor of Tom Hanks recovering from COVID-19, watch every movie you can think of that he starred in.
    -Learn to knit or crochet.
    -Use Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, or Zoom to video chat with your friends and family.
    -Host a game night, and play Trivial Pursuit or charades with your friends/family using a video chat program.

    Staying safe and flattening the curve of this pandemic is the most important. Be creative and, use this downtime to relax a little and finish projects around the house. In the end, stay safe, social distance, and stay home.
  • Lisa McDaniel
    Lisa McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Lisa a question about Polk County.
    Polk County, IA
    Builder Spotlight
    DreamScape Homebuilders is the featured this week. With 30 years of new construction experience DreamScape Homebuilders builds custom homes around the Des Moines metro area. Quality is the focus when building with DreamScape. The partners TJ Clemons, Ryan Roberts, and Ou Meksay treat every home they build as their own. "We pay close attention to the needs, wants, and budgets of all our homeowners and deliver on these promises". If you are interested in custom building a home DreamScape Homebuilders might be your answer. They specialize in modern craftsmanship, unique architecture, and innovative design.
  • Jim McDaniel
    Jim McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Jim a question about Polk County.
    Polk County, IA
    Daylight Savings Begins
    Don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour this weekend, Sunday March 8th. We will lose one hour of sleep but gain more daylight.
  • Jim McDaniel
    Jim McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Jim a question about Polk County.
    If you are looking to purchase a new construction home in Polk County, IA there could be down payment assistance available to you. The Polk county Housing Trust Fund will match borrowers down payment dollar for dollar if you or the property qualifies for this program. Funds are limited and must be reserved prior to closing.

    In order to qualify:
    Homes must be new construction and located within Polk County
    Requires a dollar for dollar match from borrower so purchaser must have some down payment
    money
    Down payment assistance is limited to $15,000
    This is a forgivable loan prorated over 10 years
    Income limits per household are 1-2 person family $70,000 or 3+ person family $80,500
    First mortgage must be a fixed rate 30 year or less loan
    No bankruptcy within 7 years
    Borrowers must be US citizen
    Must attend Homebuyer education class
    Borrower cannot be a party to litigation or lawsuit
    Debt income ratio must be under 45% of monthly qualifying income
    Standard closing costs plus $150 processing fee for down payment assistance
  • Lisa McDaniel
    Lisa McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Lisa a question about Polk County.
    This week the spotlight is on Drake Homes. Drake Homes has been building homes around the Des Moines metro area since 2005. As a custom builder Drake Homes builds around 40 homes a homes a year. Their vision isn't to become the largest builder in the area but to focus on the customers unique needs and provide a hands on experience walking you through each step.
    At Drake Homes they know you don't want to build just a house but to build a home. If you are looking for a builder who will partner with you and implement your ideas in building a home Drake Homes is a good choice.

    Drake Homes is currently building in the following communities: Grimes, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Johnston, and Norwalk. They will also consider moving off site if you have land or want to build in a surrounding community not mentioned.
  • Lisa McDaniel
    Lisa McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Lisa a question about Polk County.
    Polk County, IA
    Coffee and Kittens
    By summer 2020 Valley Junction will be the home to Coffee Cats. The cat cafe will be just as it sounds. A place to relax, enjoy a cup of joe and pastry while adoptable cats roam around you. Mary Jankowski, owner, plans on partnering with the Animal Rescue League who will provide the cats for the cafe. This trend started in Taiwan and has quickly spread to Japan and now popping up in larger US cities and along both coasts.

    If you're looking for some kitty snuggles The Cat Cafe is scheduled to open in the summer 2020 and will be located in Valley Junction at 312 5th St.
  • Lisa McDaniel
    Lisa McDaniel
    RE/MAX Concepts
    Ask Lisa a question about Polk County.
    Polk County, IA
    Happy May Day
    May Day is the welcoming of the change of the season, celebrating spring. Over the years there have been many different celebration events and festivals. One of those events was the Maypole dance. Dating back to medieval times villagers would dance around a pole decorated with colorful streamers and ribbons.

    During the 19th and 20th centuries May Day Baskets were created with flowers, candies and other goodies. These baskets were hung on the doors of friends, neighbors, and loved ones. That tradition continues today.

    Happy May Day, Welcome spring!!
  • Ask a Local Expert a question about Polk County.
    Iowa has so much to offer. With great local and franchise restaurants, you will not have a hard time fining casual to fine dining. Social events include the famous Iowa State Fair. Trust me if you have not attended the fair, you should. Iowa has many parks and lakes, for boating, fishing, swimming and camping. Bike trails are found all over Iowa.

    I am a native of Iowa, I have lived in the rural areas and even Des Moines. I have raised my children here and feel that there could not have been a better place for them.
    Travel Iowa Website

Featured Local Expert

Jim McDaniel
Jim McDaniel
RE/MAX Concepts

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