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Are you searching for Cedar Rapids real estate for the very first time?  Are you a first time home buyer?  Do you know the ins and outs of a real estate transaction from A-Z?  Do you know how much money (if at all) you need to put down for a home purchase?  Do you know that the guidelines for an FHA loan stipulate that you now have to put down 3.5% instead of 3% for a mortgage loan application?  Do you know that a Realtor that works with a buyer charges nothing for his services. 

All of these questions and much more can be answered by going to http://www.christophersmithrealtor.com.  Hello, my name is Christopher Smith and I consider myself an educator of real estate to my clients and customers.  There is nothing more frustrating than having to go through…

Got Cedar Rapids real estate listings?  If not, go to Cedar Rapids's premiere home search site for the latest Cedar Rapids real estate listings directly from our very own MLS (Multiple Listing Service).

Go to http://www.christophersmithrealtor.com , fill out search criteria, submit and you're receiving listings via your email inbox within minutes!  It's that simple!  Unofficially, the busy season in real estate has begun, and you're going to see more and more listings enter our MLS.  Inventories will start to increase dramatically in all price ranges, so check back often for more listings. 

Christopher Smith

Traditions Real Estate

www.christophersmithrealtor.com

christopher.smith.realtor@gmail.com

319-329-5988

Licensed Realtor in the state of…

Scenario A:  Couple moves into a house and both have full time jobs working 40+ hours a week.  After a year or two, one of the partners quits job and becomes an independent contractor earning money on a commission only basis.  Some months are good, and some are non existent as far as bringing income to the family.

Scenario B:  Couple move into a house that they can comfortably afford.  Then come the little punkin' heads.  Two kids later and three years down the road, the couple's expenses are such that they cannot afford to save money anymore for college, savings, retirement, etc...

Scenario C:  Couple moves into house and lives comfortably for five years.  Then husband loses his job.  They collect unemployment but it's not enough.  Then they take out a…

If you have answered yes to any of the five questions, then I have great news for you!  I have just added a wonderful new tab onto my website.  It is entitled Sellers 101.  Everything you've ever…

If you're like me, when I purchased my first home 21 years ago, I had no idea as to what happens first, next, two weeks from now, etc.  My lack of education gave me fear of the unknown.  That is until I met my Realtor.  He sat us down and explained the buying process from A - Z, and left no questions unanswered.  After that meeting, our minds were put at ease and we could concentrate on finding the home of our dreams.

I have just added a new tab to my website:  BUYING 101 explains the entire buying process from initial interest in buying a home, all the way through to a successful closing and possession of your very first home.  It's primarily written for First Time Home Buyers, but can also apply to anyone who hasn't purchased a house in the last five…

Being a former elementary school teacher for 12 years, I feel uniquely qualified to educate my buyers (and sellers) regarding Cedar Rapids real estate matters.  Education is in my blood and I take this process of buying a house in Cedar Rapids very seriously for my first time home buyers.

The following are important bullet points I made in a recent slide show presentation to first time home buyers.  Here are the important points to make when buying a home, or your first home.

• The seller pays the commission to both Realtors, so the buyer pays nothing out of pocket to his/her Realtor.
• It has never been a better time to buy Cedar Rapids real estate.  Interest rates are at historic lows and one national mortgage lender expert says they are going…

Every once in a while, a home comes along that is special because of the quality of build, and not the quantity that the builder puts out every year.  This such home is 5507 Mayfair Drive SW near the Stoney Point subdivision in Southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Priced at $214,500, this home is built like the President-Elect's new limosine; solid!  The MLS # is 2808181.  However, you can visit http://www.christophersmithrealtor.com and the home is one of my Featured Homes on the homepage.

This home is built by Thomas Dostal Developers, the 2008 Cedar Rapids Area Homebuilder's Association "BUILDER OF THE YEAR."  This home is one of several that are deemed high performance and can save the home owner literally thousands of dollars over the lifetime ownership of…

The national forecast for real estate continues to spill over into 2009, spelling more doom and gloom.  Foreclosures will continue to escalate into all time records for some parts of the country.  It has been widely reported (in error) that banks and credit unions don't have money to loan people with good credit.  It goes on and on and if you continue to read the negative reports, you too will start to believe it's impact felt here locally in Cedar Rapids.

The facts are that Cedar Rapids real estate took a big hit with the floods of 2008.  The 700+ billion dollar bailout also took the wind out of our sails.  But there's something encouraging about starting a new year.  We tend to be optomistic about the future, especially in our financial markets.  Real…