- Plan on a few weeks of prep before the home goes live.
- Time on the market depends on price, condition and the season.
- Closing is usually about 30 to 45 days after you accept an offer.
- Iowa closings include a few local steps, like updating the abstract of title.
1. Prepare (about 2 to 4 weeks)
We walk through the home, decide what's worth fixing, set a price from recent sales and schedule photos. You'll get a net sheet so you know roughly what you'd walk away with.
2. On the market
Your home goes live on the MLS and the major search sites. Showings and feedback start. In the Waterloo–Cedar Falls area over the past year, the typical home has spent roughly seven to ten weeks on the market, depending on the season.
3. Offer to closing (about 30 to 45 days)
- Accept an offer and receive earnest money
- Buyer's inspection, then any repair negotiation
- Appraisal, if the buyer is financing
- Abstract of title updated and reviewed by the buyer's attorney
- Buyer's final loan approval
- Final walkthrough and closing
Seller costs to plan for
Common seller costs include the commission you agree to, Iowa's real estate transfer tax ($0.80 for every $500 of the price after the first $500, so about $319 on a $200,000 sale), the abstract update, your share of prorated property taxes, and paying off your mortgage. Your net sheet estimates all of this.
Common questions
How long does it take to sell a house in the Cedar Valley?
It depends on price, condition and season. Over the past year the metro's median days on market ranged from about 46 to 73 days, plus roughly 30 to 45 days from accepted offer to closing.
What is Iowa's real estate transfer tax?
It's $0.80 for every $500 of the sale price after the first $500, usually paid by the seller. On a $200,000 sale that's about $319.
What is an abstract of title?
In Iowa, an abstract is the written history of a property's ownership. The seller typically has it updated, and the buyer's attorney reviews it before closing.
I'll build your Game Plan from the real sales around your home, with a net sheet, move planner and these videos built in. No pressure. When you're ready to sell, I'd like to be the one who sells it.
