The Week of April 16, 2012: Real Estate, Rotary and Community

Windy weather and plenty of work ahead for the Week of April 16th ...
Our local association of REALTORS meets ever third Wednesday of the month for lunch. Various programs on a variety of real estate related topics are discussed monthly. This month's spotlight should be very interesting.

CRAAR April Real Estate Today Show

Agenda: Working with Physical Disabilities: Become aware of how to work with hearing and visually impaired clients

Featured Speakers: Babs Haggin, Iowa Realty and Jonathan Ice, Rehabilitation Teacher, Iowa Department for the Blind

Monday morning: Government Affairs meeting with members of the Cedar Rapids Association of Realtors looking at local, statewide and national issues.

Attending my weekly Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting. This week's program is on Linn County Conservation efforts.

April 17Th is Federal Tax Day

April 18Th will attend CRAAR monthly luncheon and at 5:30 pm, the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission holds its monthly meeting.

April 19Th is Patriots' Day in America.

A system of signals and word-of-mouth communication set up by
the colonists was effective in forewarning American volunteer militia men of the
approach of the British troops. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "Paul Revere's
Ride" tells how a lantern was displayed in the steeple of Christ Church on the
night of April 18, 1775 as a signal to Paul Revere and others.

One if by land, and two if by sea;

And I on the opposite shore will be,

Ready to ride and spread the alarm

Through every Middlesex, village and farm,

For the country folk to be up and to arm.

If we can be of help to you for your real estate buying or selling needs, please let us know.

Tommy Tucker Realty Realty Co. has been licensed in the practice of real estate in Iowa, since 1958. We provide services in property management and general brokerage.

April 26, 2011: Easter Monday

It is back to the office, after enjoying the past Easter weekend with family and friends.

We learned today that 226 31St Street NE will be coming on the market July 1St for rental. The current tenants will be moving out at the end of June.

Do you have a property underutilized that would be good for a person or family to rent in the greater Cedar Rapids area? We may be able to help match you with customers in the area.

The property at 830 14Th Street NE is pending. We expect new tenants to move in at the end of the week. The two bedroom house at 1625 12Th Avenue SE will be available June 1St. The tenants have given notice to vacate.

At my Rotary luncheon at Noon, Mayor Ron Corbett spoke on the May 3Rd L.O.S.T.T. [PDF], an extension of the local option sales tax for infrastructure purposes. Four tenths of each cent will go for existing roads in the City of Cedar Rapids. The breakdown is as follows:

• Property tax relief (10 percent),


• Flood protection systems for the east and west side of the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids (50 percent) and


• Existing road infrastructure (40 percent)

The Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors have endorsed the tax for Cedar Rapids. For more information on the local sales tax in Linn County, you can visit the County Auditor's site. For more information on the "yes" side of the vote, you can visit the following web site.

Talked to a prospect for a house for sale on the west side. We do anticipate some Executive Houses coming this Summer for Rent.

ttrco

Local Realtor Association supports extention of the Local Option Sales Tax for the City of Cedar Rapids

We attended an interesting broker's meeting today, as part of the Cedar Rapids Association of Realtors. Also previewed a possible new listing this afternoon. Nice visit with a contractor on a couple possible projects.

At the end of the day, we noticed the following e-mail from our local association of Realtors ...

At the February Board of Directors meeting the Local Option Sales Tax
extension was discussed. It was agreed that although the Corp of Engineers has
recommended a plan that only protects the East side of the river, both sides
need protection. Without flood protection on both sides another flood could
result in a significant loss of jobs and a corresponding impact on both
residential and commercial real estate sales. Property values in the downtown
commercial district and residential neighborhoods could decrease in value which
would affect the overall tax base of the City. The Board of Directors feel the
best way for the city to acquire matching funds for any state and/or federal
funding to create the flood protection plan needed is to support the extension
of the local option sales tax. The Board of Directors unanimously voted to
support the extension.

My father, I.L. 'Tommy' Tucker, has been a Realtor in Cedar Rapids, since 1955. He strongly believes flood protection is needed on both sides of the river. Ahead and during the Flood of 2008, we reflected on past floods that impacted our family and our local businesses in the past.

My grandfather and father were impacted by floods over the years at the business my grandfather began in 1945. Many of our former locations were impacted by the Flood of 2008. My father's neighborhood, when he first moved to Cedar Rapids was impacted. My grandfather and father first lived in the old Hayes School neighborhood of SW Cedar Rapids. We have had former business locations on both sides of the river that were impacted by the Flood of 2008.

ttrco

Mayor Ron Corbett speaks to area Realtors on local economy, flood protection and upcoming May 3rd local option sales tax

On Wednesday, February 16, 2011, Mayor Ron Corbett was the program at the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors luncheon. Mayor Corbett gave a detailed presentation of the local economy aiming it at a Realtors prospective, the ongoing work on flood protection for both sides of the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, how it will be financed, as well as reasons for the upcoming May 3Rd extension of the local option sales tax.

Mayor Corbett didn’t need a name tag at Statehouse - The Gazette
At noon on Wednesday, Corbett spoke to more than 100 Cedar Rapids area Realtors, telling them that Iowa lawmakers aren’t apt to help the city fund its flood-protection system unless city residents are willing to put some local dollars into the pot. Federal dollars for the system also will require local dollars, he said ...

After the Mayor's thirty minute presentation to Realtors, which may have served as a warm up to his scheduled State of the City address on March 2Nd, the Mayor took questions from the audience on a variety of subjects.

• Dredging
• Project Labor Agreements
• Questions on the local option sales tax
• Discussion of Federal funding
• Discussion on State funding
• The Mayor's visit to the State House this week on funding flood protection for Cedar Rapids
• Property tax vs. sales tax for funding flood protection and residential street repairs
• The options and powers of local government
• The term "urban myth" was discussed, regarding the use of the current LOST monies and charges monies have not been used as stipulated by the public measure
• What happens, if the LOST vote is not approved by the voters?

Clearly, the Mayor supports financing flood protection and additional street repairs with sales tax, as opposed to increasing property taxes on the community. It was a candid and strong presentation from Mayor Corbett.

ttrco

Next week, Realtors from across the State of Iowa will meet in Des Moines and make a visit to State House to speak to state lawmakers on issues that concern our industry.

Attended Government Affairs Meeting for January 24, 2011 at CRAAR

1. Introductions and update on the Chamber Government Affairs meeting on Friday was presented


2. IAR Bus-In Day is February 22


3. New Business


4. Old Business


5. IAR Video Conference

• Recap of Chamber Legislative update


• Sen Rob Hogg's promotion of Flood Control for Community legislation was mentioned again


• We discussed the local ordinance change on Chapter 69 of the municipal code, which covers our local civil rights laws


• Some discussion on Government Leases and Crime Free Leases

First IAR Video Conference of the 2011 Iowa Legislative Session

• Children in need of assistance - impacts of a Meth House and proposed legislation. What will the impact be on property owners, including Landlords


• Minnesota adopted a strict bill that lead to occupancy being pulled, foreclosure


• SF 24 - Mandates for home inspectors to be licensed in Iowa


• Property Taxes - Iowa House has proposed legislation


• Schools and Mental Health expenses being shifted to State to relieve property taxes?


• State Boards and Commissions


• Realtor proposed legislation: unlicensed, out of state companies doing business in Iowa

ttrco

Like Our Assoication, we will be closed Thursday and Friday, and we added Monday, as well for our offices at Tommy Tucker Realty Co.

We received the following e-mail today from our local association ...

The Cedar Rapids Area Association of REALTORS® office will be closing today at
3:00 p.m.

The office will also be closed Thursday, December 23rd and
Friday, December 24th .

We want to wish everyone a safe and happy
holday!

The
Cedar Rapids Area Association of REALTORS®

*** *** ***

Good News for Downtown Cedar Rapids reported on Wednesday.

Rockwell bringing hundreds of new jobs downtown - The Gazette
UPDATE: Rockwell Collins will move 400 employees into downtown office space being restored from the June 2008 flood, giving ... More

ttrco

Robin Tucker is attending our Realtor Legislative Breakfast as we welecome the first day of December 2010

We want to welcome the month of December to all. Busy morning, with the Realtor Legislative Breakfast for our local association. We are meeting with local legislators, ahead of the next session of the Iowa Legislature in January 2011. Then, off to a walk through with our new residents of a five bedroom executive home in NE Cedar Rapids.

If we can be of assistance to you this Holiday season, please let us know. ~ Robin Tucker

ttrco

Happy Thanksgiving Week from all of Us at Tommy Tucker Realty Co. of Cedar Rapids, IA USA

Last week, we enjoyed the 2010 CRAAR Realtor® Inaugural on Thursday night. It was a disappointing weekend of College Football in Iowa with all three regent institutions going down. Congratulations to the University of Northern Iowa making the 2010 FCS Playoffs.

Congratulations to our new Association President ...

Cedar Rapids Area Association of REALTORS®
Congratulations to Kevin Heinbuch, Why USA Eastern Iowa Realty, on his
Inauguration as 2011 CRAAR President.

Our local association is now on Facebook: Cedar Rapids Area Association of REALTORS® fan page. You can follow Tommy Tucker Realty Co., as well on Facebook and on Twitter.

Monday, the week of Thanksgiving, Robin Tucker is scheduled to attend his Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting.

Downtown Rotary will host our Rotary District Governor Roger Kuetter, District 5970. The Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids is Club 2185 and is the 33rd largest club in Rotary International.

Iowa Hawkeye basketball fans on Monday can catch online or on radio the final game of the Paradise Jam Tournament when the Hawks face the Long Beach State 49ers, who are coached by former Gonzaga/Minnesota coach Dan Monson. Tip off is 2:30 p.m. Iowa time.

On Tuesday, we begin organizing for the 2011 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration held at St. Paul's UMC in Cedar Rapids. Robin has participated with the event for many years.

Thursday, November 25, 2010 is Thanksgiving. Our offices are scheduled to be closed November 25-29, 2010 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Realtors will be working via appointment. Service calls will be followed up by calling 319.365.6956 x 102.

We are getting closer to the end of the 11Th month of 2010. The year is passing by quickly.

Please contact Tommy Tucker Realty Co., if we can assist in your real estate needs. You can reach our offices at 319.365.6956 or by e-mail.

ttrco

Update on Housing, Licensing and Registration in the City of Cedar Rapids

We received notice from the City of Cedar Rapids that we have our License for the new Chapter 29 of the Municipal Code, which is requiring all owner / operator /landlord providers for rental housing in Cedar Rapids to obtain. Further, everyone needs to register or re-register all rental properties in the City by the end of the month. Registrations have been a requirement for some time, but the License with the City is new. Regardless, new paperwork is needed and the City's web site has the following message:

NEW LANDLORD LICENSE & REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
All Landlords must apply for a landlord license and re-register all of
their residential rental properties within the city limits by October
31st, 2010. All forms are found on this page. If you have any questions
feel free to give us a call at (319) 286-5197 or stop by our office.

We are working with our property owners to re-register all the properties we manage for various clients here in the City of Cedar Rapids. The process is pretty straight forward, but it does require time.

The Gazette had an article in the Thursday paper titled 'Few of C.R.'s landlords in compliance with new law.'

If you own rental property in the State of Iowa, you should likely check with the municipal authority to determine what your local licensing requirement are. The City of Marion has a different system, for example, than the City of Cedar Rapids.

In other business activity, meet with fellow Brokers with the Cedar Rapids Association of Realtors this morning. Good meeting and everyone was reminded about Chapter 29 in Cedar Rapids.

ttrco

Qualifying Round at Gardner Memorial Golf Course on Monday for 2010 Rotary Pribyl Junior Boys Golf Tournament

The 2010 Rotary Pribyl Junior Boys Golf Tournament will be held this week at various local golf courses. As a Rotarian, I look forward to volunteering at this event each year.

• July 26Th, 2010 - Qualifying Round - Gardner Memorial Golf Course


• July 27Th, 2010 - Cedar Rapids Country Club


• July 28Th, 2010 - Hunter's Ridge Golf Course


• July 30Th, 2010 - Elmcrest Country Club

Today's Rotary Club meeting for the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids will be Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett giving a City Progress Report. Mayor Corbett began his first term for our community at the first of the year.

ttrco

News from our local Realtor Association

Robin is scheduled to attend the monthly Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors meeting. Highlights of the July meeting:

CRAAR July Real Estate Today Show
Where it's all about you!

Agenda: Fire Safety
Observe the devastating effects and progression of a fire in a home, realize the importance of smoke detectors, and be made aware of laws regarding in-house sprinkler systems and hard wired smoke detectors in new construction.

Featured Speaker
Deb Krebill, District Fire Chief with the Marion Fire Department

Date: Wednesday, July 21st
Location: A Touch of Class (5977 Mt Vernon Road SE)

***1 Continuing Education Elective Hour

Fire safety is an important in all housing, regardless of age. Always remember to have your smoke detectors in good working condition.

ttrco

Attended CRAAR Government Affairs meeting this morning

The Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors® meeting this morning hosted Linn County District 1 Supervisor candidate Dennis Petersen as a speaker for our June Government Affairs meeting. Candidate information on incumbent Lu Barron and Dennis Petersen, who will face off in the November 2, 2010 general election.

Further, we discussed the pending City of Cedar Rapids changes on Chapter 29, which will have a first reading on Tuesday, June 22Nd. Many in the housing community have concerns with some of the language proposed.

A common theme among Realtors: "Now, personally I believe landlords need to take more responsibility for the folks they rent to and a form of this needs to be implemented, but this just goes too far," a fellow Realtor suggested today.

Our company has been using a Crime Free Lease Addendum for eight or nine years now. We recommend it to our clients. We have concerns over the recommended form and mandate by the City of Cedar Rapids, however.

For more information on the Iowa Property Owners Alliance organization, click here.

ttrco

June Real Estate Today Show will recognize 33 local scholarship winners

I will present a scholarship to one of the 33 local students receiving an Association scholarship ...

CRAAR June Real Estate Today Show - Where it's all about you!
Agenda: Positive Attitude - If you want it, you can get it!
Learn how to identify stressful situations in the business and deal with the situations objectively in order to assist customers and clients.
Featured Speaker: Ralph Palmer

Date: Wednesday, June 16th
Time: Lunch: 11:30 a.m./Meeting: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: A Touch of Class (5977 Mt Vernon Road SE)
1 Continuing Education Elective Hour

ttrco

Attended monthly CRAAR Government Affairs meeting this morning

Republican 2Nd Congressional candidate Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks was our guest at our May Government Affairs meeting for the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors®.

• She spoke on her background, along with Realtor issues, including the 2008 response by our current representative in Congress to the Flood of 2008 in our District. She primarily took questions and had a conversation with Realtors in attendance.
  

The primary in the State of Iowa for both Democrat and Republican candidates will be held on Tuesday, June 8Th. Auditors' offices in each county in Iowa will be open for absentee voting on the next two Saturday's ahead of the June 8Th primary.

After discussions with Dr. Miller-Meeks on various topics, our committee visited a little about some local issues coming up in our community...

• 13 year low in new mortgages locally
• Editorial on FHA and mortgages
• Small Business Recovery
• Flood Recovery in Housing - impacted Realtor® commented
• PCI project and impact to Downtown and community in closing 2Nd Avenue SE from 10Th to 12Th streets
• Proposed changes in Chapter 29

ttrco

Attended monthly Realtor® Luncheon for the CRAAR ...

The Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors® meets monthly and this month's meeting had a variety of items ...

• World War II Honor Flight - presented by 2010 CRAAR President Russ Nading


• Liz Mathis spoke on Four Oaks and a variety of youth and housing programs


• CRAAR Scholarship Committee - presented by BofD member Kathy Hall


• Jen Neumann of deNovo spoke on Social Media

Local Realtors will present 33 - $500 scholarship to youth in Linn County at our June 2010 membership luncheon. We look forward to presenting one in the name of Realtor Robin Tucker next month.

ttrco

Realtor® = Member of the National Association of Realtors®

Our real estate brokerage began in 1958, when my father, I.L. "Tommy" Tucker decided to branch out on his own. In 1969, we located to our current location of 613 2Nd Avenue SE in Downtown Cedar Rapids.

On Thursday, April 29Th, the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors® held a brokers' meeting, in which we are a part of. My father, Tommy, has been a broker for 52 years now.

We discussed various topics, as well, as comments were made about City of Cedar Rapids staff's interest in changing Chapter 29 of the Municipal Code (Rental Housing). Many in the real Estate industry have concerns on the proposed change in Chapter 29, as well as the process being used to adopt changes. Not all providers of Rental Housing in Cedar Rapids would be classed as investors, but it can include people facing unemployment and those who have a family home that they need rented, while they are gone.

ttrco

Real Estate Today Show and news on Rental Housing in Cedar Rapids

Attended the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtor's monthly meeting on Wednesday, which covered the subject: Credit, Financing and Underwriting Process. There is a lot of changes that have happened in the mortgage lending process, since 2008.



The City of Cedar Rapids is exploring a change in Municipal Code 29 (current code), which governs rental housing. Unlike the City of Iowa City, Cedar Rapids is not utilizing a citizen board or commission in the review of our current rental housing ordinance. This is disappointing when you consider the language found in our current Local Home Rule City Charter, which embraces the use of citizen boards and commissions.



Cedar Rapids Landlords Protest Proposed Fees‎ - KCRG - Mark Geary
Cedar Rapids' rental fees are, in some cases, as much as four times lower ... out of the general fund or taxes,” Chief Housing Inspector Al Pansegrau said. ...

ttrco

Our local Realtor® Government Affairs meeting for Apirl 2010

We will meet with one of the candidates for U.S. Congress in the 2Nd Congressional District. This month's special guest is Steve Rathje, who is one of the four candidates for the Republican nomination. The primary will be held on Tuesday, June 8Th in the State of Iowa and in the 2Nd District. In May, our committee is scheduled to meet with Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, one of the other candidates.

Iowa Property Owners Alliance - Home
Information for Iowa property owners. Resources, legislation, and legal updates. Contact Iowa legislators regarding property ownership in Iowa.

Recent Legislation in the State of Iowa
Realtors are often involved in the community at the local, State and even Federal level regarding property rights and affordable housing. Robin Tucker participated in the 2010 Realtor Bus-In held during the 2010 Iowa Legislative Session that ended in March 2010.

ttrco

This month's CRAAR Real Estate Today Show highlights Homeowners ...

Realtor® Robin Tucker will join fellow Realtors and affiliates at ...

CRAAR March Real Estate Today Show - Where it's all about you!

Agenda: Helping Homeowners Faced with Difficult Housing Situations
Come to understand the issues facing homeowners and learn about the resources available to help them.
Featured Speakers: Scott Shook and Rebecca Lain with Horizons

Date: Wednesday, March 17th
Time: Lunch: 11:30 a.m./Meeting: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: A Touch of Class (5977 Mt Vernon Road SE)

We enjoy the opportunity to participate in networking, CEUs and our meeting with peers at the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors®. Tommy Tucker Realty Co. was founded in 1958 and we have been affiliated with our local board, now association, since our beginning. Robin currently serves on two committees of the CRAAR, as have other Realtors with TTRCO.

ttrco

Attended the March Government Affairs Meeting of the CRAAR

Robin Tucker attended the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors® this morning at 8:30 a.m. at the Association's conference room.

• Meeting with Federal Candidates discussed
• RPAC
• Federal Hill Visits
• IAR Video Call on State Legislation update
• House will hopefully work on Private Transfer Fees this week as the State Legislature works to close out the Legislation Session by the end of the month: Budget
• Discussed legislation that have passed and failed
• Chapter 29 and other local public policy issues

ttrco