Monthly Archives: July 2013

Simply Delightful

I scheduled an appointment yesterday for a buyer to view one of my cheaper listings this afternoon. I arrived at the home nearly right on time and found that he had not arrived yet. I waited about five minutes and then called him to see if he had forgotten the appointment or was held up at work. He answered and said he was running a few minutes lat … continue reading
Posted on July 31, 2013

Cut your Retirement Costs

So many people approaching retirement are looking for ways to insulate themselves against the rising costs of goods and services due to the shrinking buying power of their retirement incomes. One way to help with the housing costs would be for a retiree to purchase an upper scale duplex. In years past, an owner occupied duplex was not uncommon. I … continue reading
Posted on July 30, 2013

Overgrowth of Fear

The age in which we live is has indeed changed dramatically due to the information that we are bombarded with via the television and internet. So much information at our disposal at the click of a mouse. Of course the unfortunate thing about the age of information is that if we've seen it on TV or read it on the internet, then it certainly is true. … continue reading
Posted on July 29, 2013

Missing Pieces

As downtown Mason City continues towards its re-birth of vibrancy, I find it more and more exciting. I was delighted to find in one of my old histories of downtown several buildings that had balconies that overlooked Federal Ave. Those upper floor apartments must have rented at a premium back in those days. Every time is see photos of balconies fac … continue reading
Posted on July 28, 2013

If a Tree could Only Talk

Since I was a small child I have always considered trees and plants to be more than just greenery used for food or landscaping. Much has been written these last years about how plants respond to outside stimuli, be it positive or negative. I was reading an article not long ago about how photos were take of a leaf from a tree that had part of the le … continue reading
Posted on July 27, 2013

Roman Brick

I listed a home several weeks ago that is really quite the special 3 bedroom ranch. Some of the features that are quite unique to Mason City are namely; it is built out of Roman brick and the color of the brick is a soft limestone/light gold, there is an open staircase in the living room that leads to the basement as well as a staircase in the gara … continue reading
Posted on July 26, 2013

Just a Stone’s Throw

There is a listing we have that is one of those “under the radar” homes that offers many extras you wouldn't normally find in the range of listing price that it's in. It's a two bedroom but with not so much effort and money, it could be a 4+ bedroom due to the layout. The basement is finished with a ¾ bath and laundry as well as another finish … continue reading
Posted on July 25, 2013

Every Age has its Beauty

Each season that passes, it seems to me that more and more of the people who are decades past the years of considering themselves legally adults, I find making more and more of an attempt to return to their youth via the clothes they wear, the hair styles and colors, the makeup, the body art and piercings, and finally the “cosmetic” surgeries t … continue reading
Posted on July 24, 2013

Rays of Hope

After my rocky road day today with having to travel to Des Moines for a closing on one of my listings that sold here in Mason City, and dealing with a person who was being exceptionally difficult for whatever reason I will never know and don't care, it seemed my mid-afternoon returned to a bit more of a normal state. Two separate appointments broug … continue reading
Posted on July 23, 2013

Demand and Supply

Whenever someone talks about supply and demand, I always think of it in the opposite. We can use numerous examples like the rage of the smart phones, the tablets, fashions, autos and on and on. The reason so many billions of dollars are spent on visual advertising is that it creates a “false” need. So, when we have been convinced that we want s … continue reading
Posted on July 22, 2013