Blog - Katie Brockman

Selling a home

Selling Your Home During the Holidays? Don’t Put Your Life on Hold!

The holiday season is magical—twinkling lights, the smell of fresh-baked cookies, and the joy of gathering with loved ones. But if you’re selling your home this time of year, it’s easy to feel like you need to press pause on your traditions to focus on the process. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to […]
Buying a home

Why You Shouldn’t Call the Listing Agent When Buying a Home

If you’re in the market to buy a home, you’ve likely browsed online listings and found one that caught your eye. Your first instinct might be to call the listing agent directly. After all, their name and number are right there! But before you pick up the phone, it’s important to understand why calling the […]
Buying a home, Selling a home

Real Estate Market Now: What You Need to Know

Let’s take a moment to dive into the real estate market now as of November 2024, with some honest, straightforward advice. November 2024 is shaping up to be an interesting time for both buyers and sellers, and navigating these conditions can feel a bit tricky. Here’s my take on what’s going on and what to […]
Buying a home, First Time Home Buyers

Expensive Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Make (And How to Dodge Them)

Buying your first home is a huge milestone—it’s exciting, a little nerve-wracking, and let’s be honest, a whole lot of paperwork. But as thrilling as it is, jumping into homeownership without all the right info can cost you big time. Let’s dive into some of the most common (and expensive) mistakes first time homebuyers make […]

Selling a home Selling Your Home During the Holidays? Don’t Put Your Life on Hold! The holiday season is magical—twinkling lights, the smell of fresh-baked cookies, and the joy of gathering with loved ones. But if you’re selling your home this time of year, it’s easy to feel like you need to press pause on your traditions to focus on the process. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to […]

Buying a home Why You Shouldn’t Call the Listing Agent When Buying a Home If you’re in the market to buy a home, you’ve likely browsed online listings and found one that caught your eye. Your first instinct might be to call the listing agent directly. After all, their name and number are right there! But before you pick up the phone, it’s important to understand why calling the […]

Buying a home Real Estate Market Now: What You Need to Know Let’s take a moment to dive into the real estate market now as of November 2024, with some honest, straightforward advice. November 2024 is shaping up to be an interesting time for both buyers and sellers, and navigating these conditions can feel a bit tricky. Here’s my take on what’s going on and what to […]

Buying a home Expensive Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Make (And How to Dodge Them) Buying your first home is a huge milestone—it’s exciting, a little nerve-wracking, and let’s be honest, a whole lot of paperwork. But as thrilling as it is, jumping into homeownership without all the right info can cost you big time. Let’s dive into some of the most common (and expensive) mistakes first time homebuyers make […]

Buying a home Buying a Home in Today’s High-Rate Market Thinking about buying a home, but those high mortgage rates have you feeling a bit uneasy? Don’t worry—you’re not alone! The good news is there are ways to make buying a home more manageable, even in today’s market. Here are two smart strategies to help you prepare and get the best deal possible. 1️⃣ […]

Interior Design Make a Beautiful Fall Centerpiece with a Pumpkin and Garden Flowers As the seasons shift from summer to fall, bringing that cozy, autumn vibe into your home is as easy as repurposing what you already have in your garden. One of my favorite ways to celebrate fall is by creating a pumpkin centerpiece using fresh flowers. Not only is it stunning, but it’s also super simple […]

Interior Design Fall Decor on a Budget: 3 Simple Tips for a Cozy Home Fall is here, and there’s nothing quite like that warm, cozy feeling when the weather turns crisp. If you’re looking to refresh your home for the season with some new fall decor but don’t want to break the bank, I’ve got you covered! These budget-friendly tips will have your space looking autumn-ready in no time, […]

Buying a home 5 Red Flags to Watch Out for During a Home Inspection Buying a home is exciting, but it can also be a bit nerve-wracking, especially when it comes to the home inspection. You want to make sure that the dream home you’ve found doesn’t turn into a nightmare after you move in. That’s where a good home inspection comes in. But what should you really be […]

Buying a home How to Tell When Your Agent Is Only Working for Themselves Buying a home is one of the most exciting, and sometimes nerve-wracking, experiences of your life. You’ve done your research, saved up for a down payment, and now you’re ready to find that perfect place to call home. But what happens when the real estate agent you’ve hired to guide you through this journey seems […]

Buying a home Debunking Common Home Buying Myths Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all the things people say about buying or selling a home? It seems like everyone has an opinion, and it can be hard to know what’s true. That’s why it’s so important to have a trusted real estate agent on your side (Hi! That’s me!), especially in today’s market. […]

Buying a home Is The Affordability Crisis Improving? Over the past few years, buying a home has been tough for a lot of people because of the affordability issue. While it’s still not easy, there are signs that things are getting a bit better and might continue to improve as the year goes on. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of […]

Buying a home Should You Buy a New or an Existing Home? If you’re considering selling your house and moving, you’ve probably noticed that there haven’t been many options available. But here’s some good news: more homes are hitting the market this year, both new and pre-owned. So, the big question is: should you buy an existing home or a brand-new one? The choice is yours, and […]

Buying a home Navigating Today’s Affordability Issues for Home Buyers If you’ve been keeping an eye on the housing market lately, you’ve probably noticed that buying a home feels a bit like reaching for the stars. Prices are soaring, interest rates are climbing, and it seems like the dream of homeownership is slipping further out of reach as affordability issues continue to arise. As your […]

Buying a home Understanding Your Home-Buying Budget: The 28/36 Rule Explained One of the most frequent questions potential homebuyers ask is, “How much can I afford?” Determining a realistic home-buying budget is crucial to ensure you can comfortably manage your mortgage and other expenses. We’ll break down a straightforward method to help you set a sustainable budget: the 28/36 rule. What is the 28/36 Rule? The […]

Buying a home The True Cost of Waiting to Buy a Home Imagine this: You’re at an amusement park, eyeing the roller coaster that everyone’s talking about. The line is long, but you decide to wait, hoping it will shorten later in the day. Instead, more and more people arrive, and the line only grows. By the time you decide to join, the wait is twice as […]

Selling a home Stop Underestimating the Power of Curb Appeal: It Can Make or Break Your Home Sale When it comes to selling your home, first impressions matter more than ever. While many sellers focus on staging the interior and setting the perfect price, one crucial aspect often gets overlooked: curb appeal. It’s time to stop underestimating the power of curb appeal, as it can truly make or break your home sale. […]

Selling a home Maximizing Your Home’s Value: Top 5 Renovations That Pay Off Renovating your home before selling can be a strategic move to enhance its market value and attract potential buyers. However, not all renovations are created equal. To ensure you get the best return on your investment, focus on these top five upgrades that are proven to add significant value to your home. Kitchen Makeover […]

Uncategorized Why Choosing a ‘Relationship First’ Agent is the Best Decision You’ll Make If you’re in the market to buy or sell a home, you’ve probably been inundated with advice, tips, and recommendations. The real estate world can be overwhelming, to say the least. But let me share a little secret with you: the most crucial factor in your real estate journey isn’t the house, the neighborhood, or […]

Buying a home How Much House You Can Actually Afford If you’re in the market for a new home, first off, congrats! It’s an exciting journey. But let’s be real for a second—figuring out how much house you can actually afford can be a bit tricky. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and start dreaming big, but I’m here to give you […]

Selling a home Should I Wait To Sell? Or Make The Move? There’s no denying mortgage rates are having a big impact on today’s housing market. And that might leave you wondering if it still makes sense to sell your house and make a move, or if you should wait to sell. Let’s dive into three top questions you might have and look at the data to […]

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Signature Resources, Inc. fully supports the principles of the fair Housing Act and Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. All agents are licensed to sell real estate in the state of Iowa. 2300 NW 128th St, Urbandale, IA 50323.