Customer Update

Every month I like to keep my customers up-to-date on the numbers from northiowahobo.com

We had a great month advertising on KIMT-TV's website with 142,295 ad views. Basically, this is the number of computer screens in which our ad appeared. I will continue with this type of advertising as I've found it's been very effective.

Also, look for more on-air advertisements on KIMT at the beginning of the New Year.

Our own website, http://www.northiowahobo.com/, had 3206 visitors- a little more than 100 different people each day.

I want to thank you for your business and allowing me the opportunity to advertise your home for sale!

Stephanie Scholl

Housing Headlines

by Stephanie Scholl

Wow. We've seen a lot of headlines about the housing market this past week. Mortgage rates rose a bit, President Bush and lawmakers are trying to step in and help homeowners who are struggling with rising mortgage payments, and now news from Fannie May that a housing recovery may not come until 2009. Here are some articles from USA Today to help keep you informed.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2007-12-14-fannie-housing-recovery_N.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2007-12-14-senate-mortgage-program_N.htm

October 2007 Good Month for northiowahobo.com

October was a very good month for advertising on our website. We had an average of 105 visitors per day compared to 92 per day the month of September. In all, we had 12,910 page views!

I'm very happy with the consistent growth and increased visibility of northiowahobo.com. But we still have a long way to go. My goal is to see those numbers rise and that's what I'm striving for.. bringing buyers to your home via the Internet!
Thank you,
Stephanie

Housing Troubles Not Improving

I hear from a lot of homeowners who are frustrated with the market. They have beautiful homes and no takers. Unfortunately, the housing market remains in a glut. And while it's worse in other parts of the country, many homeowners are feeling it here in north Iowa.

Everyone wants to know when home sales will pick up. I don't have a crystal ball, no one does. But there are lots of opinions out there. Here's an interesting article from USAToday.com


http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2007-10-29-countrywide-ceo_N.htm

Another Home Sells

Congratulations to Greg Jennings for selling his home in Fertile- fsbo!

Here's what he had to say about advertising on northiowahobo.com "It was very good. People called and said they saw it on the site. It worked great!"

Customer Update

Every few months I like to touch base with my customers and let them know what northiowahobo.com is doing to get the word out about your home. Summer may be over, but homebuyers are still looking. In fact, visitors to our site are higher now than in June. I’m convinced it’s because people are still learning about northiowahobo.com!

During the last week and a half of October, we began another on-air advertising campaign on KIMT Television. Each ad reaches an average of 11,000 people in North Iowa/Southern Minnesota. This worked very well for us in July.

In addition to advertising on-air, northiowahobo.com is always advertising on the KIMT website, (kimt.com). In September, our ad reached more than 129,000 computer screens. Once again, we had the most number of ‘click-throughs’ to our site- compared to other businesses advertising on the same site. (A ‘click-through’ is somebody who is browsing the KIMT website, sees our ad and actually clicks-through to get to northiowahobo.com.)

At northiowahobo.com, we are also committed to finding the house hunter who is not from the area. We are a member of the Mason City Chamber of Commerce. Last month, approximately 30 of our visitors came from the ‘relocation’ section of the Chamber’s website.

I am also targeting the number one search engine, Google, to bring more visitors to northiowahobo.com. During the last two months, we have had 200 or more click-throughs from Google and Yahoo!.. Double our numbers from July.

I’d like to personally thank you for your business. If you have any questions, please feel free to call or e-mail me.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Scholl

Two More Homes Sell

I just wanted to congratulate two of our homeowners for selling by themselves during the month of September... saving approximately $25,000 in commission fees. Here's proof that persistence and patience can pay. Don't give up!
Stephanie

Confused by the Market Slowdown?

by Stephanie Scholl

Are you wondering why your home isn't selling? In today's tough housing climate, it's necessary for homeowners to stay on top of market trends. That involves a little continuing research. At northiowahobo.com, we try to make that research easier by posting some relevant news articles on a regular basis.

The following article is from usatoday.com. It gives some background into the mortgage industry and explains why fewer people are qualifying for mortgages... hence, fewer potential homebuyers.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2007-08-30-mortgage-brokers_N.htm

Here is another interesting article from cbsnews.com. It includes tips for homebuyers who want to apply for a mortgage, plus explains how the process is tougher and what to expect.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/30/business/realestate/main3220384.shtml

Look for northiowahobo.com advertising on KIMT-TV

At northiowahobo.com, we are doing everything we can to get the word out about your home for sale!

Last week, we started another round of on-air advertising on KIMT-Television. Each ad reaches an audience of approximately 11,000 people in North Iowa and Southern Minnesota. The 30-second commercial includes a testimonial from one of our clients from Mason City. She and her husband sold their home earlier this summer- just 30-days after putting a northiowahobo sign in her front yard!

We also continue to advertise on the kimt.com website. During the month of May, our ad had more than 115,000 'ad views' from their site.

North Iowa HOBO: Welcome!

Welcome to our new BLOG. Here, we will post exciting new homes listed for sale by owner in the North Iowa area, as well as tips for homebuyers and homesellers. Enjoy!