Janet Munck facts and trends

Facts & Trends Real Estate

Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors

Summer 2015

Home Sales Strong and Prices Appreciating Record low interest rates fueled a strong first half of 2015 for home sales in our region. Some of our top performing markets were:

Janet Munck Realtor (563) 243-0627

% Change in Sales Volume

+21% Cedar Rapids Area

+23%

+27% Illinois Quad Cities

Muscatine, Wilton Area

IN THIS ISSUE: page­ 4

Home Prices Continue to Appreciate

page­ 6

Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors Awarded Coolest Places to Work

page­ 6

5 Questions to Ask Before Selecting a Home Service Vendor

page­ 7

New Home Sales Show Modest Improvement

% Change in Prices Metropolitan Statistical Areas 1 Year 5 Year +2.62% +3.39% Cedar Rapids, IA Davenport-Moline+3.71% +6.41% Rock Island, IA-IL +1.93% +9.56% Dubuque, IA +2.38% +6.63% Iowa City, IA

Last Chance to Refinance

JanetMunck@RuhlHomes.com

janetmunck.ruhlhomes.com

year through March 2015.

A complete chart is located on page 4.

Some of our weaker markets were: Months of Inventory

24.2

Galena & Galena Territory

16.9 Galesburg Area

Results in all 14 of our market areas are shown on the Regional Real Estate Activity Chart on page 2. As always, there is considerable variation from market to market.

Forecast for Second Half of 2015 We expect home sales to remain strong.

However, year over year the increase will not be as great as the first half of 2015.

This is because the first half of 2014 regional sales were down 4% compared to 2013. The second half of 2014 was up, so we will be comparing the second half of 2015 to stronger second half 2014 results.

Home Prices Continue to Appreciate

Home prices continue to appreciate in most of our metro areas. Statewide in Iowa, prices were up 2.40% year over

Mortgage interest rates have been volatile with the Greek financial crisis, but rates are still great, hovering in the following ranges: Conventional Fixed 15-year (no points)...........................3.375% Conventional Fixed 30-year (no points)...........................4.000% FHA/VA.........................................3.875%

“We expect home sales to remain strong.

However, year over year the increase will not be as great as the first half of 2015” ~ Caroline Ruhl

President, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors

Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen is stating rates will go up by the end of the year. But we’ve heard this for a couple of years, so who knows?

We do know rates will rise eventually.

Hopefully growth in employment and the subsequent drop in the unemployment rate will lead to wage growth and increasing incomes, and this will take some of the sting out of any rate increase.

2015 Regional Real Estate Activity Through June

Average 2015 Sales Price

% Change in Average Sales Price from 2014

$118,800 $173,000 $89,900 $152,400 $164,500 $194,000 $91,700 $117,100 $189,800 $196,800 $109,600 $130,700 $109,200 $128,500

+22% +6% -12% -1% -1% -1% +18% +10% +4% -6% -5% +8% +4% +3%

Burlington Area Cedar Rapids Area Clinton/Camanche/Fulton DeWitt Dubuque Area Galena & Galena Territory Galesburg Area Illinois Quad Cities Iowa Quad Cities Iowa City Area Maquoketa/Preston/Bellevue Muscatine/Wilton Area Washington Area Wisconsin (Southwest)

2015 Number Sold

230 2,113 245 56 483 61 277 1,048 1,075 1,445 87 268 72 220

% Change in Number Sold from 2014

-14% +14% +21% +6% +9% +9% -9% +15% +2% +16% +26% +14% +4% 0%

2015 Sales Volume

$27,328,000 $365,558,300 $22,019,200 $8,534,000 $79,446,500 $11,825,300 $25,392,300 $122,677,500 $204,068,200 $284,313,600 $9,534,600 $35,035,200 $7,861,600 $28,258,600

% Change in Sales Volume from 2014

+4% +21% +6% +5% +7% +8% +8% +27% +6% +8% +20% +23% +9% +3%

Active Listing Count 2015

221 1,895 285 39 421 393 294 883 743 1,389 82 183 111 314

% Change in Active Listings from 2014

-19% +1% -15% -11% -18% -4% N/A -2% -1% +4% -25% -13% +13% -28%

Months of Inventory

6.0 3.9 6.7 2.2 4.2 24.2 16.9 4.2 3.0 4.6 6.5 3.1 6.3 7.6

Several MLS mergers are causing some data to be suspect. The Washington MLS merged into the Iowa City MLS and data may be reflected in both markets.

The Clinton MLS recently merged with the Quad Cities MLS. Maquoketa MLS members are merging with either the Quad Cities MLS or the Dubuque MLS.

Summary of Regional Real Estate Activity Burlington Area

Listing Inventory: There are 221 properties listed for sale in Burlington, Iowa and the surrounding area, a 19% decrease from the same time last year when there was 272 properties for sale.

Properties Sold: 14% fewer residential properties sold in the first half of 2015 than the first half of 2014, comparing 269 sales last year to 230 sales in the first half of this year.

Average Sales Price: The average sales price was $118,800, a 22% increase from the average sales price in the first half of 2014 of $97,600.

Residential Sales Volume: Sales volume was up 4%, an increase from $26,252,700 through June 2014 to $27,328,000 through June 2015.

Cedar Rapids Area

Listing Inventory: There are 1,895 residential properties listed for sale in the Cedar Rapids area, 1% more than the same time last year when there were 1,884 properties listed.

Properties Sold: Through June this year 2,113 properties sold, 14% more than the 1,848 that sold through June 2014.

Average Sales Price: The average sales price was $173,000 through June 2015, 6% more than the average sales price of $163,900 through June 2014.

Residential Sales Volume: Sales volume increased 21%, from $302,887,500 in the first half of 2014 to 2 • RuhlHomes.com

$365,558,300 in the first half of 2015.

Clinton, Camanche & Fulton

Listing Inventory: There are 15% fewer properties listed for sale in the Clinton, Camanche and Fulton area; comparing 285 current listings to 337 properties for sale at this time last year.

Properties Sold: 21% more properties sold in the first half of 2015, an increase from 202 sales in 2014 to 245 sales in the first half of 2015.

Average Sales Price: The average sales price through June 2015 was $89,900, a 12% decrease from the average sales price of $102,500 through June 2014.

Residential Sales Volume: Sales volume was up 6% through June 2015, from $20,702,300 in the first half of 2014 to $22,019,200 in the first half of 2015. This follows a 16% increase in sales volume from the first half of 2013 to the first half of 2014.

DeWitt

Listing Inventory: DeWitt’s listing inventory is down 11%, from 44 properties listed for sale last year to 39 properties currently on the market.

Properties Sold: 56 properties sold and closed during the first half of 2015, a 6% increase compared to 53 sales in the first half of 2014.

Average Sales Price: The average sales price of homes sold through June 2015 was $152,400, 1% less than the first half of 2014 when the average

sales price was $154,100.

Residential Sales Volume: Sales volume increased 5% in the first half of 2015, from $8,165,300 in 2014 to $8,534,000 in 2014.

Dubuque Area

Listing Inventory: There are 421 residential properties listed for sale in the Dubuque region; a 18% decrease from the same time last year when there were 514 properties for sale.

Properties Sold: 9% more properties sold in the first half of 2015; an increase from 443 closings through June 2014 to 483 closings through June 2015.

Average Sales Price: The average sales price of homes sold through June 2015 was $164,500, a 1% decrease over the average sales price of $167,000 through June 2014.

Residential Sales Volume: Sales volume for the first half of 2015 was $79,446,500, up 7% from the same period in 2014 when sales volume was $73,994,000.

Galena & Galena Territory

Listing Inventory: There are 393 properties for sale in Galena, Illinois and the Galena Territory; 4% fewer than the same time last year when there were 411 listings.

Properties Sold: There was a 9% increase in the number of properties sold in the first half of 2015, comparing 56 sales in 2014 to 61 sales in 2015.

Summary continued on page 3

Summary continued from page 2

Average Sales Price: The average sales price was $194,000 through June 2015, 1% less than last year when the average sales price was $195,700.

Residential Sales Volume: Sales volume was up 8% for the first half of 2015, an increase from $10,960,900 through June 2014 to $11,825,300 through June 2015.

the first half of this year.

Average Sales Price: The average sales price increased 4%; from $182,500 through June 2014 to $189,800 through June 2015.

Residential Sales Volume: Sales volume went up 6% from $193,316,000 through the second quarter of 2014 to $204,068,200 through the second quarter of 2015.

Listing Inventory: There are 294 residential properties currently listed for sale in the Galesburg area. This is the first year we have tracked this data.

Properties Sold: Sales have decreased 9% from 304 properties sold through the second quarter of 2014 to 277 through June 2015.

Average Sales Price: The average sales price was $77,900 through June 2014, 18% more than the average sales price of $91,700 through June 2015.

Residential Sales Volume: Sales volume increased 8% in the second quarter of 2015, from $23,602,000 to $25,392,300.

Listing Inventory: The number of properties for sale in Iowa City is up 4%, an increase from 1,334 in 2014 to 1,389 properties currently on the market.

Properties Sold: 16% more properties sold during the first half of 2015, an increase from 1,250 sales in 2014 to 1,445 sales in 2015.

Average Sales Price: The average sales price was $196,800; a 6% decrease from the first half of 2014 when the average sales price was $209,800.

Residential Sales Volume: Sales volume increased 8%, from $262,306,200 through June 2014 to $284,313,600 through June 2015.

Galesburg Area

Illinois Quad Cities

Listing Inventory: The number of properties for sale in the Illinois Quad Cities is down 2%; from 899 in 2014 to 883 listings currently on the market.

Properties Sold: Through the second quarter of 2015, 15% more properties sold, comparing 909 sales through June 2014 to 1,048 sales through June 2015.

Average Sales Price: The average sales price was up 10%, from $106,000 through June 2014 to $117,100 through June 2015.

Residential Sales Volume: Sales volume increased 27% in the first half of 2015, from $96,317,100 to $122,677,500.

Iowa Quad Cities

Listing Inventory: There are 743 properties for sale in the Iowa Quad Cities, 1% fewer than the same time last year when there were 750 for sale.

Properties Sold: 2% more properties sold through the second quarter of 2015, an increase from 1,059 sales in the first half of 2014 to 1,075 sales in

Iowa City Area

Maquoketa, Preston & Bellevue

Listing Inventory: There are 82 properties for sale in the Maquoketa, Preston, and Bellevue area, 25% fewer than the same time last year when there were 110 properties for sale.

Properties Sold: 26% more properties sold during the first half of 2015, an increase from 69 sales in 2014 to 87 sales in 2015.

Average Sales Price: The average sales price of homes sold through June 2015 was $109,600, 5% less than the average sales price of $115,400 through June 2014.

Residential Sales Volume: Sales volume increased 20%, from $7,965,600 in the first half of 2014 to $9,534,600 in the first half of 2015. This follows a 14% decrease from 2013 to 2014.

Muscatine & Wilton Area

Listing Inventory: There are 183 homes and condominiums listed for sale in the Muscatine and Wilton area,

13% fewer than the same time last year when there were 210 properties for sale.

Properties Sold: 14% more residential properties sold in the first half of 2015, comparing 235 sales last year to 268 sales in the first half of this year.

Average Sales Price: The average sales price was $130,700, an 8% increase from the average sales price in the first half of 2014 of $121,000.

Residential Sales Volume: Sales volume was up 23%, from $28,426,900 through June 2014 to $35,035,200 through June 2015. This follows a 7% decrease from 2013 to 2014.

Washington Area

Listing Inventory: There are 111 properties for sale in Washington, Iowa and the surrounding area, a 13% increase from the same time last year when there were 98 properties for sale.

Properties Sold: Through the second quarter of 2015, 4% more properties sold, comparing 69 sales through June 2014 to 72 sales through June 2015.

Average Sales Price: The average sales price was $109,200, 4% higher than the average sales price of $104,500 in the first half of 2014.

Residential Sales Volume: Sales volume was up 9%, an increase from $7,207,900 through June 2014 to $7,861,600 through June 2015.

Wisconsin (Southwest)

Listing Inventory: There are 314 properties for sale in the southwest Wisconsin region, a 28% decrease compared to the same time last year when there were 434 properties.

Properties Sold: There was no statistical change in the number of properties sold in the first half of 2015, comparing 221 properties sold in 2014 to 220 properties sold this year.

Average Sales Price: The average sales price was $128,500 through June 2015, 3% higher than through June 2014 when the average sales price was $124,300.

Residential Sales Volume: Sales volume was up 3%, an increase from $27,470,400 through June 2014 to $28,258,600 through June 2015.

Quad Cities MLS Statistics - Iowa & Illinois Combined Through June

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Current MLS Listings Average Sales Price Total Sales Volume Total # of Sales YTD

2,106 $132,600 $216,732,100 1,634

1,883 $142,800 $259,519,200 1,817

1,636 $146,800 $295,570,400 2,014

1,649 $147,200 $289,633,100 1,968

1,626 $153,900 $326,745,700 2,123

% Change 2014 vs. 2015 -1.4% +4.6% +12.8% +7.9%

RuhlHomes.com • 3

Home Prices Continue to Appreciate The eastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois region continues its steady climb in home price appreciation – with all of our markets showing positive gain.

Nationally, home prices have appreciated 4.96% over the last year.

In our local markets the gains, while not as large, continue to be positive. We did not have the significant decline in home prices that other markets across the nation suffered, insulating our communities from the super highs and lows. The majority of our metro areas showed 1-year gains over the Iowa statewide average of 2.40%.

Home prices are up: 1.93% in Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)

Cedar Rapids, IA Davenport-MolineRock Island, IA-IL Des MoinesWest Des Moines, IA Dubuque, IA Iowa City, IA USA

Reg Through June

Dubuque; 2.38% in Iowa City; 3.71% in the Quad Cities and 2.62% in Cedar Rapids. This compares to other cities: Des Moines up 3.54% and Chicago, IL up 5.35%. This data is provided by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) for the first quarter of 2015 (see chart and website below).

“Now is a good time to sell,” said Caroline Ruhl, President of Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors. “Buyers are ready to buy but there are simply not enough listings, especially in certain price ranges. If you have considered selling, please contact a Realtor for a consultation.”

Burlington Area (Burlington Board of Realtors)

Cedar Rapids Area (Cedar Rapids Area Assoc. of R Southeast Cedar Rapids Northeast Cedar Rapids Southwest Cedar Rapids Northwest Cedar Rapids Hiawatha & Robins Marion

East of I-380: Mechanicsville, Anamosa, Mt. Vernon, L West of I-380: Walford, Fairfax, Atkins, etc.

Corridor Area: Solon, Ely, Swisher Condominiums

Clinton, Camanche & Fulton (Quad City Area Realto DeWitt (Quad City Area Realtor Assoc.)

Dubuque Area (Dubuque Board of Realtors) Dubuque North, South and West Dubuque

Percent Change in House Prices 1 Year 5 Year

2015 1st Quarter National Ranking of 276 MSAs*

Illinois Wisconsin

+2.62%

+3.39%

230

Galena & Galena Territory (Realtor Assoc. of North

+3.71%

+6.41%

180

Illinois Quad Cities (Quad City Area Realtor Assoc.

+3.54%

+5.92%

190

+1.93% +2.38% +4.96%

+9.56% +6.63% +14.23%

251 241

Information courtesy of Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) for first quarter 2015. FHFA stats always run one quarter behind. Their full report is accessible at www.fhfa.gov. *Rankings based on annual percentage change in house prices.

Galesburg Area (W. Central IL Association of Realto Rock Island Milan & Rural Rock Island County Moline Coal Valley, Rural Moline, Miscellaneous East Moline & Silvis Port Byron, Upper Rock Island County Mercer County Henry County

Mid-Year Comparison of Quad Cities Real Estate Activity IA

Sales IL

Totals

IA

Listings

Iowa Quad Cities (Quad City Area Realtor Assoc.)

Davenport Bettendorf & Riverdale Blue Grass, Buffalo, Durant & Walcott

IL

Totals

2015

1,075

1,048

2,123

743

883

1,626

2014

1,059

909

1,968

750

899

1,649

2013

1,140

874

2,014

743

893

1,636

2012

977

840

1,817

934

949

1,883

2011

901

733

1,634

973

1,133

2,106

2010

1,064

833

1,897

972

1,067

2,039

2009

884

749

1,633

957

981

1,938

2008

1,029

907

1,936

1,081

1,079

2,160

2007

1,171

1,011

2,182

1,108

991

2,099

2006

1,218

1,054

2,272

1,107

985

2,092

2005

1,200

1,102

2,302

960

885

1,845

2004

1,257

1,074

2,331

989

959

1,948

2003

1,139

971

2,110

931

835

1,766

2002

1,137

996

2,133

813

844

1,657

2001

1,154

997

2,151

843

913

1,756

2000

1,059

1,028

2,087

700

726

1,426

4 • RuhlHomes.com

Condominiums

LeClaire, Pleasant Valley & Princeton North Scott County Miscellaneous Condominiums Iowa City Area (Iowa City Area Assoc. of Realtors) Iowa City Coralville Northwest Iowa City Northeast Iowa City Southeast Iowa City Southwest Iowa City Corridor Area Miscellaneous Condominiums Maquoketa, Preston & Bellevue (Jackson Co. MLS

Muscatine & Wilton Area (Muscatine Board of Real Muscatine Wilton Muscatine Outlying Condominiums

Washington Area (Iowa City Area Assoc. of Realtor Wisconsin - Grant & Lafayette Co. (S. Central Wisc

This representation is based in part on data supplied by the REALTOR Associations or Several MLS mergers are causing some data to be suspect. The Washington MLS me

gional Residential Real Estate Activity Current MLS Listings

Realtors)

Lisbon, etc.

or Assoc.)

hwest IL)

% of Active Listings

2015 Avg. Sales Price

2015 Sales Volume

2015 # Sold

% of Unit Sales

Sales/ List

2014 # Sold

2014 Avg. Sales Price

2014 Sales Volume

221

$118,800

$27,328,000

230

94%

269

$97,600

$26,252,700

1,895

$173,000

$365,558,300

2,113

98%

1,848

$163,900

$302,887,500

166

9%

162,900

27,371,600

168

8%

96%

164

164,700

27,010,200

212

11%

183,800

61,199,600

333

16%

98%

266

161,700

43,019,900

169

9%

143,300

28,373,500

198

9%

98%

197

137,600

27,115,900

137

7%

156,400

26,278,500

168

8%

99%

141

136,200

19,205,400

38

2%

241,300

10,375,100

43

2%

98%

37

258,500

9,565,000

160

8%

202,300

51,396,200

254

12%

99%

232

204,900

47,546,800

225

12%

155,000

28,823,200

186

9%

94%

178

149,200

26,560,700

250

13%

149,000

28,897,300

194

9%

96%

142

129,800

18,432,300

149

8%

286,700

39,274,200

137

7%

98%

115

276,400

31,785,100

389

21%

147,200

63,569,100

432

20%

100%

376

140,000

52,646,200

285

$89,900

$22,019,200

245

90%

202

$102,500

$20,702,300

39

$152,400

$8,534,000

56

91%

53

$154,100

$8,165,300

421

$164,500

$79,446,500

483

95%

443

$167,000

$73,994,000

255

61%

166,700

62,167,100

373

77%

95%

350

170,600

59,710,000

117

28%

154,000

12,011,600

78

16%

93%

67

153,600

10,293,200

35

8%

162,300

4,382,500

27

6%

93%

19

154,700

2,939,200

14

3%

177,100

885,300

5

1%

94%

7

150,200

1,051,600

$194,000

$11,825,300

61

83%

56

$195,700

$10,960,900

393

ors)

294

$91,700

$25,392,300

277

91%

304

$77,900

$23,602,000

.)

883

$117,100

$122,677,500

1,048

97%

909

$106,000

$96,317,100 12,456,000

169

19%

94,900

16,804,700

177

17%

96%

154

80,900

54

6%

148,300

8,746,800

59

6%

97%

65

120,800

7,850,000

178

20%

113,000

28,130,500

249

24%

96%

218

103,700

22,605,400

65

7%

125,700

9,804,300

78

7%

96%

32

115,500

3,696,000

83

9%

101,000

11,105,600

110

11%

96%

132

99,300

13,105,900

57

7%

164,100

7,382,400

45

4%

98%

36

177,000

6,372,700

66

8%

101,000

5,657,300

56

5%

95%

52

103,200

5,364,600

149

17%

125,900

27,323,900

217

21%

97%

174

82,800

18,738,100

62

7%

5%

96%

46

133,200

6,128,400

98%

1,059

$182,500

$193,316,000

129,500

67,868,900 71,220,000

743

ltors)

7,722,000

57

$204,068,200

1,075

359

48%

143,400

78,890,000

550

51%

97%

524

143

19%

331,400

72,578,800

219

20%

99%

229

311,000

35

5%

146,100

6,426,800

44

4%

98%

30

178,000

5,341,500

76

10%

217,100

12,808,100

59

6%

98%

65

227,400

14,782,400

22

3%

218,200

12,218,200

56

5%

97%

53

221,400

11,736,000

25

4%

116,800

3,971,300

34

3%

96%

41

91,700

3,760,300

83

11%

152,000

17,175,000

113

11%

98%

117

159,000

18,606,900

1,389

& QCARA)

135,500 $189,800

$196,800

$284,313,600

1,445

98%

1,250

$209,800

$262,306,200

338

25%

257,900

88,981,500

345

24%

98%

318

251,200

79,887,600

100

7%

304,500

2,740,700

90

6%

97%

91

303,700

27,632,700

169

12%

288,900

45,070,300

156

11%

98%

126

278,300

35,070,000

32

2%

170,100

5,103,800

30

2%

96%

32

147,900

4,733,900

33

3%

150,700

3,917,700

26

2%

97%

22

164,400

3,617,700

87

6%

169,200

13,198,700

78

5%

96%

69

156,600

10,807,200

71

5%

284,300

12,226,400

43

3%

97%

40

300,000

12,001,500

154

11%

178,500

40,522,800

227

16%

97%

155

160,900

24,938,200

405

29%

161,200

72,551,700

450

31%

99%

397

160,200

63,617,400

$109,600

$9,534,600

87

96%

69

$115,400

$7,965,600

82 183

$130,700

$35,035,200

268

96%

235

$121,000

$28,426,900

103

56%

129,000

23,601,300

183

68%

96%

156

125,500

19,574,800

9

5%

153,000

2,141,800

14

5%

98%

17

152,700

2,595,600

60

33%

125,900

7,428,600

59

22%

95%

47

93,700

4,403,100

11

6%

155,300

1,863,500

12

5%

102%

15

123,600

1,853,400

rs)

111

$109,200

$7,861,600

72

94%

69

$104,500

$7,207,900

consin)

314

$128,500

$28,258,600

220

90%

221

$124,300

$27,470,400

r their Multiple List­ing Services. Neither the Boards nor their MLS guarantee or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Boards or their MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. erged into the Iowa City MLS & data may be reflected in both markets. The Clinton MLS recently merged with the Quad Cities MLS. Maquoketa MLS members are merging with either the Quad Cities MLS or Dubuque MLS.

RuhlHomes.com • 5

Regional New Construction Home Sales Through June Cedar Rapids Area Houses Condos/Villas Dubuque Area Houses Condos/Villas Illinois Quad Cities (Rock Island County) Houses Condos/Villas Iowa Quad Cities (Scott County) Houses Condos/Villas Iowa City Area Houses Condos/Villas Total Regional Combined

Active Inventory 6/30/13

Active Inventory 6/30/14

Active Inventory 6/30/15

% Change in Inventory from 2014

Sales 2013

Sales 2014

Sales 2015

% Change in Sales from 2014

133 75 58 55 33 22 12 2 10 86 45 41 216 138 78 502

163 109 54 57 36 21 6 2 4 104 62 42 249 168 81 579

133 93 40 42 34 8 5 3 2 110 78 32 360 202 158 650

-18% -15% -26% -26% -6% -62% -17% +50% -50% +6% +26% -24% +45% +20% +95% +12%

145 93 52 34 33 1 3 2 1 107 82 25 204 112 92 493

146 85 61 36 36 0 4 3 1 110 89 21 180 116 64 476

157 89 68 30 30 0 5 4 1 112 83 29 177 102 75 481

+8% +5% +11% -17% -17% 0% +25% +33% 0% +2% -7% +38% -2% -12% +17% +1%

Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors Awarded Coolest Places to Work

Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors celebrates the honor of being one of the Coolest Places to Work!

Pictured (left to right): Travis Hiatt, Iowa City Manager; Connie Larsen, Sales Associate; Caroline Ruhl, President; Chris Beason, Broker/Owner

Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors received recognition as one of the Coolest Places to Work by the Corridor Business Journal.

Founded 153 years ago, Ruhl&Ruhl is one of the oldest real estate brokerages in the country. And while that fact doesn’t necessarily scream “cool,” Ruhl&Ruhl sales associates and staff highlighted the flexible atmosphere as one of the company’s greatest strengths.

“We focus on personal mastery. We want our agents not to just set business

goals, but we also ask them what they want to accomplish in their personal lives, because that goes hand in hand,” said Chris Beason, Broker/Owner of Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors.

“We have more tools for our agents to use than they can even make use of,” said Travis Hiatt, Managing Broker of Ruhl&Ruhl’s Iowa City Office. “It’s like a carpenter’s toolbox with everything at your fingertips.”

Learn more at JoinTheRuhlTeam.com.

5 Questions to Ask Before Selecting a Home Service Vendor We often hear that buyers, sellers and current home owners have a hard time finding trusted partners for basic home services. They often ask for recommendations and then decide based on who gets back in touch with them the quickest.

Here are some questions we’ve developed for you to ask before deciding what company to partner with: 1. Are they bonded and/or licensed?

2. Do they have up-to-date insurance?

3. Have you heard from three or four people that they are trustworthy and 6 • RuhlHomes.com

do good work?

4. Are they established in the community?

5. Have you received a few quotes to price compare?

If you need help finding a home service partner, Ruhl&Ruhl has a program developed to make your move or house projects as easy and stressfree as possible.

All of our partners have been highly recommended by Ruhl&Ruhl clients and associates and have the proper insurance and licensing. In addition,

their work meets our high-quality standards.

For more information, you can visit RuhlHomes.com/Vendors.

New Housing Starts Through June

2012 2008

2013

2014

2015

Burlington Area Burlington West Burlington Cedar Rapids Area Cedar Rapids Marion Rural Linn County Hiawatha & Mechanicsville Areas Dubuque Area Dubuque East Dubuque Galena Jo Daviess County Peosta Surrounding Dubuque Area Illinois Quad Cities Moline & Coal Valley Rock Island East Moline & Hampton Colona Port Byron Geneseo Rural Rock Island County & Milan Silvis Whiteside County Iowa Quad Cities Davenport Bettendorf Rural Scott County Eldridge & Long Grove LeClaire & Princeton Blue Grass - city of Iowa City Area Iowa City Coralville North Liberty Rural Johnson County West Branch Williamsburg, Wellman & Kalona West Liberty Muscatine Area Muscatine Muscatine County Wilton Other Areas Clinton DeWitt Maquoketa, Preston & Bellevue Washington Area Total Regional Starts

7 7 0 233 117 88 21 7 188 63 1 0 16 4 104 64 11 14 2 0 0 7 12 2 16 200 59 70 26 21 21 3 236 75 29 84 29 7 12 0 10 6 3 1 14 2 2 9 1 952

12 11 1 249 107 90 37 15 167 48 1 0 17 8 93 66 9 7 6 10 1 1 16 0 16 282 48 81 66 26 58 3 203 76 20 57 36 6 7 1 13 2 10 1 11 2 4 4 1 1,003

12 7 5 253 153 60 27 13 162 39 7 0 16 10 90 50 5 17 0 4 1 2 12 2 7 202 46 89 30 15 19 3 225 85 15 98 24 1 2 0 16 2 9 5 24 6 7 10 1 944

18 7 11 307 161 96 43 7 135 36 1 1 10 4 83 42 8 1 0 1 1 8 10 1 12 191 33 70 40 24 20 4 197 58 13 73 45 1 5 2 22 8 14 0 22 8 5 8 1 934

Des Moines Area*

881

1,049

1,042

1,211

% Change 2014 vs. 2015 +50% 0% +120% +21% +5% +60% +59% -46% -17% -8% -86% +100% -38% -60% -8% -16% +60% -94% 0% -75% 0% +300% -17% -50% +71% -5% -28% -21% +33% +60% +5% +33% -12% -32% -13% -26% +86% 0% +150% +200% +38% +300% +56% -100% -8% +33% -29% -20% 0% -1% +16%

Source: Municipal offices. There may be additional new homes built which are not included with this data. *Des Moines Area is comprised of Adel, Altoona, Ankeny, Clive, Des Moines, Indianola, Johnston, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Urbandale, Waukee, & West Des Moines.

New Home Sales Show Modest Improvement New home sales across the region slowed slightly in the second quarter, but still left us with a 1% increase in overall unit sales year-to-date, as reported by our regional Multiple Listing Services (MLSs). While house sales were down 6%, the sales of new condos are up 18%, compared with the first six months of 2014. This accompanies a 12% increase in overall unit inventory, with houses up 9% and condos up 19%. Sales and inventory figures for regional markets are available on page 6. The price breakdown for house and condo sales follows: Houses: Condos: Below $300K = 44% Below $200K = 66% $300-$400K = 32% $200-$300K = 29% Above $400K = 24% Above $300K = 5% Even with increased sales, condos represent 37% of the new homes market.

Ranch style homes were preferred by 74% of buyers, with 19% of buyers choosing 2-story houses.

New homes represent about 1 of every 9 homes purchased. Overall new home sales and inventory are higher than 2014, but results vary across the region. For a detailed look at housing starts, by market, please consult the chart to the left.

Following is a brief summary of activity in each of the major market areas: CEDAR RAPIDS: A strong second quarter helped sales to show an overall increase of 8%, with houses up 5% and condos up 11%. The city of Cedar Rapids led the market up-tick with a combined increase of 24% in sales. These sales consumed available inventory, which dropped by 18% compared to the same time last year.

DUBUQUE: House sales for the year are down 17% and, for the second quarter in a row, there were no condos sales reported in the MLS. With overall unit inventory down 26%, Dubuque seems to be in need of an infusion on new spec homes. The strongest segment for homes in 2015 is $225-300K, with a 73% increase over last year. No new construction sales over $300K have been reported in 2015.

IOWA CITY: Sales here slowed after a great start, with second quarter sales 11% below those of last year and overall year-to-date sales down 2%. For 2015, houses are down 12% while condo sales are up 17%. At the same time, overall New Home Sales continued on page 8 RuhlHomes.com • 7

Corporate Relocation Center 5403 Victoria Avenue, Suite 100 Davenport, IA 52807 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

New Home Sales continued from page 7

unit inventory is up 45% over 2014, with the number of new condos on the market nearly doubling that of last year. There are also 20% more houses available.

New development in Tiffin should spur sales and help to continue to even out

the local market shares between North Liberty, Iowa City and Coralville/Tiffin.

QUAD CITIES: With both overall sales and overall inventory up slightly, compared to 2014, the area continues a slow new homes recovery process.

House sales at both ends of the price

spectrum showed gains, while condo sales below $175K were up 128%, helping condos to an overall increase of 36%. This sales increase contributed to a 26% decrease in condo inventory. House sales dropped by 5%, despite a 27% increase in inventory.

The Largest Privately-Owned Real Estate Company in Iowa!

With its flexible and rewarding environment, a career in real estate could be for you!

Enjoy the comfort of a stable, successful company supporting you every step of the way.

The way to

Janet Munck Realtor (563) 243-0627 JanetMunck@RuhlHomes.com

janetmunck.ruhlhomes.com

a new

career .

Since 1862

YOUR NAME REALTOR®

To see if a career in real estate is right for you, visit RuhlHomes.com/Careers or JoinTheRuhlTeam.com.

Follow Us Online At:

For further information or to be added to our mailing list, contact Caroline Ruhl or Veronica Pianca • 563.355.7474 5403 Victoria Avenue, Suite 100 • Davenport, Iowa 52807-3925 • CarolineRuhl@RuhlHomes.com or VeronicaPianca@RuhlHomes.com 8 • RuhlHomes.com