If you haven’t seen the episode of Welcome Home that featured the Brownstones on Grand you’ve missed some comedy gold my friends. And it’s not comedy in a mean way, it’s just plain funny.

To start, you have an over-enthusiastic host (which tv personalities must be) and the two people being interviewed really couldn’t look more uncomfortable. That’s okay, it’s not a big deal to be a little nervous when you’re being filmed, but it is funny. When the host is answering questions for you…….even funnier.

The answers are great too.

Host: “This place is really moving like hotcakes now right?”

Realtor: “Yeah, we actually have people living here now!”

You can’t make this stuff up! That’s a hilarious answer when you really think about it.

Host: “How many units are here?”

Realtor: “18 of which 5 are sold.” (hotcakes anyone?)

My favorite quote of all was at the end though. The host, barely able to contain her enthusiasm blurts out the reason for the units “selling like hotcakes,” as–”It’s gotta be the rooftop gardens!!”

I don’t blame the Realtors for agreeing on that one, because you can’t say, “No, it’s the $100,000 discount that’s reeling them in!”

This video is funny on so many levels. They do have excellent pictures of the property, and a great description is given. 90% of the video is great, well made and does a great job of showcasing this property to the millions of people that watch this show. That tiny 10% though……pure comedy gold.

And speaking of comedy gold, check this out. The Brownstones on Grand range from $324,900 all the way up to $424,400. What does $100,000 buy? Four square feet!! If you’re needing that extra space for a pair of shoes, or perhaps a standing mirror it’s an option I wouldn’t pass!

If you live on planet earth there’s just no way you haven’t heard about Oprah’s stop in Des Moines (at Hy-Vee Hall) on Saturday.� There was a turn out of almost 20,000 people, some of whom weren’t from the media.� (ok, that was a joke)

The media has been all over this as Oprah is one of the most influential people in the world, she’s also a billionaire and one of the most beloved women in America.� I’m not going to rehash what you’ve already heard, but here’s what I’ve been hearing from the event.

“Oprah is the best speaker I have ever heard.� She knew exactly when to make a joke, as well as how to build the audience anticipation through the roof.”

Many people praised Obama’s speaking skills as well, which frankly is all I really know about the guy.

“Couldn’t believe it, most of the people stayed around to here Obama speak.”

And

“Obama + Oprah = The Audacity of Hype” (this is hilarious for those that get it)

Even though the weather was bad this ticket turned out to be a winner.� Many people have openly said it was the biggest event and draw that the caucuses have ever had here.� That’s huge if you ask me!

Here’s a few links to display what the media has had to say about this.

MSNBC - The ‘One’�

Des Moines Register - Oprah packs em in

LA Times - Oprah hits the road�

New York Times Blog - Oprah in Des Moines�

Each month I like to provide an overview of how the downtown real estate market did in the previous month. I do this to provide everyone looking for information about buying downtown an accurate gauge of how sales are moving along.

Both September and October saw a total of 3 units each month sold, with both months showing a full 10 year supply of homes on the market based upon the current rate. This means that there were over 350 homes listed on the MLS for downtown proper, and each month saw 3 units sell.

November, as most expected, saw these numbers drop. Anyone who’s spent any time in Iowa real estate knows that during the winter sales really fall off because nobody likes to move when it’s cold and snowy.

November saw a 66% decline in sales, and for you math majors out there, that means that downtown had a total of 1 sale in November. One is of course better than zero, but I highly doubt there are lots of people downtown jumping in the streets for joy in the amazing sales figures that November brought about.

I have done some talking with realtors that are outside the downtown scene, and primarily focus on (gasp!) the suburbs. What I’m hearing from them is that where the most change in the market is happening is in new construction. Out in the burbs builders are going belly up left and right and agents are seeing some really good possibilities for great deals as the banks are forced to sell portfolios of homes that they do not want. What I’m being told is that existing inventory isn’t changing much (or changing hands much either), and that new construction has been horrible.

Which leads me to this thought. Is the downtown market suffering the same effects that the suburbs are? Is the market oversupplied, is it overpriced? Are buyers seeing that builders and developers are taking a beating and waiting for prices to plummet? While I’m not convinced this is the case, I’m not convinced it’s not either. There is a reason for new construction to be taking the beating right now that existing homes are not–I just can’t quite put my finger on why exactly that is.

The one sale in November downtown…….A resale at Brown Camp Lofts. Interesting.

If I were looking to sell my unit downtown I can tell you what I’d be doing about right now. I’d put a renter in it because the chances of finding someone to rent are quite high, the chances of my unit being the 1 out of 350+ that gets picked to be purchased is quite low.

Saturday the most powerful woman in the world, as some say, will be making her way to Hy-Vee hall to make an appearance for the Obama campaign.� This event is sure to be attended by every member of the media on planet earth, as well as a few local voters who will get the chance to see Oprah in person.

This town has seen everyone running for President so much that when a candidate is in town it’s really not a big deal at all.� Grabbing dinner at Azalea or Centro you may see several candidates enjoying dinner–big whoop.� Up to this point nobody as big as Oprah has appeared on the scene, and just a prediction here, this event is going to be HUGE.

For full disclosure I am not a supporter of Obama and this is not an endorsement or a sneaky way for me to get you hear him speak.

Bringing Oprah to Iowa has “biggest event in years” written all over it.� Trust me, you’re going to want to do one of 2 things with this.� You’re either going to want to get as far away from this circus as possible–or you’re going to regret anything but watching it all unfold first hand.

If you’d like to attend and watch this play out follow this link for tickets.

Colder weather is in sight….

Those of you who grew up locally aren’t going to find this story to be groundbreaking, but there are a lot of people moving to the area, or that recently arrived that will enjoy this!

Have you seen this tower of light at night? Do you find yourself wondering why it’s always a different color, and why it flashes sometimes?

This is the weather beacon. KCCI uses it to let everyone know what tomorrow’s weather is going to be.

Weather beacon:

• White–colder weather is in sight. (BOOOO)
• Red–warmer weather is ahead.
• Flashing night or day–precipitation on the way.
• Green–no change foreseen.

There you have it, one of your mysteries have been solved right here on the Downtown Des Moines Blog…….No just keep your hopes up for RED!

In case you missed it, and I will say that with how many people forwarded this story to me not many of you did, there was a fantastic piece about downtown Des Moines in the New York Times over the weekend.  The writer did an excellent job of portraying what many of us have been saying for awhile—the transformation of downtown Des Moines is amazing!

Here are a few highlights:

THERE was a time when being told that I would be spending New Year’s Eve in Des Moines would have, well, sobered me up in a New York minute.

But the Iowa presidential caucuses are being held on Jan. 3, so it looks as if I will indeed be spending New Year’s Eve in Des Moines. And that does not bother me at all. In fact, I’m rather looking forward to it.

Remember, this is from the New York Times.  Is there a more famous place to celebrate the New Year than New York City?

For you foodies:

There have historically been a few places to go if you are into political celebrity-spotting (and now we are addressing the real groupies out there, those of you who get excited at spotting David Broder or Candy Crowley): Centro for one, but also 801 Steak and Chop House — a classic Iowa steakhouse with New York prices — and, late at night, the bar at the Hotel Fort Des Moines.

But these were places to go less for the food and more for the experience. In this new Des Moines, there are easily a half-dozen places you can go for the food. Lucca is certainly one, as well as Azalea, an American restaurant with soaring ceilings and an open kitchen tucked into the lobby of one of the city’s historic buildings. So before I left town the other day, I stopped in at one of them — sorry, I’m not divulging which one — and snagged a Dec. 31 dinner reservation before it was too late. I never thought I would say this, but believe me: Des Moines is going to be jumping this New Year’s Eve.

And this is what I would say has got to make city leaders absolutely giddy:

I’m not sure I would go so far as to say that Des Moines has become a vacation destination. But it has most certainly become cool. More than that, if you have any desire to witness presidential candidates in the most close-up and intimate of settings, there is arguably no place better to go than Des Moines. If the city itself was once a reason not to come, it has now in fact become an added draw.

It is a change that has crept up on people who live here and comes as a surprise to the occasional visitors. That struck me a few weeks ago when I found myself responding with mild irritation — O.K., defensively — to what sounded to my ears like a hint of condescension to this city from the plane loads of Washingtonians who had arrived for a Democratic gala known as the Jefferson Jackson Dinner. It wasn’t snobbery so much as they assumed they were visiting the Des Moines of 1984.

How about that, a New Yorker defending Des Moines!

This article is a great example to all of us of how far downtown Des Moines has come.  And for all of it to happen so fast is simply amazing.  Kudos to the folks that made it happen, I hope you enjoy the great publicity that the caucuses are affording everyone in Des Moines!

Downtown Des Moines’ newest rental property will soon be opening up units!  Marketplace Lofts on Court Avenue will be opening up the units in January, which means that this property is finally nearing completion.

Hubbell is advertising these units with a “farmers market” feel to them.  I think it’s a good idea seeing as how popular the Farmers Market is…..Of course there’s a lot of other good things going on downtown as well that could be highlighted!

Ok, we know that not everyone is quite ready to buy a home, but you still want to live somewhere hot, right? Well it doesn’t get any better than MarketPlace Lofts! Located above the new Dos Rios restaurant, MarketPlace Lofts lets you live right on Court Avenue at a price you can definitely work into your budget.
Wait until you see the layouts of these units – large windows, the newest appliances, spacious rooms – this is what you have been waiting for. And from the length of our waiting list at the Court Avenue Lofts next door, we know you have been waiting for this. If for no other reason, you want to live here so that you can roll out of bed on a Saturday morning at around 11:45, and still have enough time to grab a breakfast burrito at the Downtown Farmers Market before they close at noon.

I’m sure this property will be awesome, and the rental market downtown really couldn’t be hotter.  I haven’t seen the inside of this property yet and I would love to know how it’s shaping up.

What really excites me about the revitalization of Court Avenue is that in 1993 the place was dead.  A ghost town in the middle of the city.  Then ideas from a casino (thank goodness this didn’t happen) to all out entertainment district were passed around as a way to bring the area back to life.  Looks to me like whoever made the decision to go in the direction that was taken made the right choice!

Anybody moving into this place?  Anyone actually talk to the property manager?  What is everyone else out there hearing about this project?

Downtown Des Moines has a very diverse crowd. There are young folks, old folks, rich and poor folks–each will obviously have their own taste.

We will soon have an upcoming poll to decide what truly is the best–so here’s the question for you. What is your favorite nightspot and why? Is it inPlay, IMAX, Starbucks, Liar’s Club, or maybe even El Bait Shop?

When someone is looking for the best night that downtown has to offer where do you tell them to go? And why? You can comment below or send an email with your answer, poll to follow soon!

The day has finally arrived that version 3.0 of Downtown Des Moines Blog can be revealed. This time around the changes weren’t minor, and there wasn’t just a few changes made. We’ve completed overhauled the site and created what we feel is a better site in every way.

The site now is in more of a news or magazine format, and no longer follows a traditional blog format. This is a good thing–here’s why.

The articles can still be read here in order of release, meaning you can still read each new article as it appears. Our new layout allows us to also display articles by subject, or to feature certain types of articles in a very specific way. For instance, we have a whole section now that’s just for housing related articles. If you’re looking for housing you can simply jump to that section and everything is displayed for you there. If you’re looking for events, or restaurants–it’s all right there.

We now have a lead story, which this particular article will remain at for about a week.  This story will be the best, hottest, or must see story that we currently have.  Typically this lead story will remain for about a week.

In the lower right column is where you can find the newest articles, listed in the order they were published, with the newest at the top.  In the middle section we’ve separated articles into specific subjects, housing, events, restaurants, nightlife and video to be exact. Each of these sections features only articles about that certain subject, so if you’re looking for information about one of these features we’ve centrally located them for you.

This change you see today is just the first of many that will be released this week.  Keep your eyes open–we’ve got some really awesome features on the way!