Presley Sparks

Working here in the Central Iowa market, I can tell you that I regularly hear from buyers who prefer brick because they associate it with better durability, lower maintenance, and overall higher quality aEUR" it has a longaEUR'standing reputation that sticks with people. That said, buyers ultimately respond to whatever looks clean, updated, and wellaEUR'caredaEUR'for, so if the brick is in rough shape or dragging down curb appeal, new siding can absolutely help the home show better. But if the brick is structurally sound and just needs a refresh, keeping it often preserves that " solid homeaEUR? perception many Iowa buyers already have.

As someone who works right here in the Des Moines and Indianola real estate markets aEUR" and who actually started out as a partaEUR'time agent aEUR" I can tell you there are some great partaEUR'time agents out there. But I'm also very honest in saying that I became a much stronger agent once I went fullaEUR'time. Real estate in Central Iowa moves quickly, and when you're only able to give it 50%, you tend to get 50% back. When you're fully dedicated, you're more available, more responsive, and far better equipped to advocate for your clients. And to answer your question directly: no, agents don't have to disclose whether they're partaEUR'time or fullaEUR'time, but it's absolutely a fair thing for a homeowner to ask aEUR" especially in markets like Des Moines and Indianola where timing, communication, and availability can make or break a deal.

Before anything else, I'd want to know whether you're looking at buying just the mobile home itself or a mobile home that already sits on land. Prices can be really deceiving aEUR" a mobile home might be listed super cheap, but if it's not on land, you'll either be paying lot rent every month or you'll need to buy land and pay to move and set it up, which adds a lot to the total cost. In my experience here in the Des Moines/Indianola/Central Iowa area, true mobile homes also tend not to hold their value well because they simply aren't built to last the same way a traditional home is. And just for clarity: anything built before 1976 is considered a mobile home, while anything built after 1976 is a manufactured home, which follows HUD construction standards and is generally better built. So the key is understanding exactly what you're buying aEUR" the home, the land, or both aEUR" because that makes a huge difference in longaEUR'term value and affordability.