Summer is peak season for the housing market, which means competition will be sizzling. If you're selling this season, strike while the iron (like the weather) is hot by getting your home into tip-top shape before you even list it. How? Follow these tips and make your house the stand-out property of the season.

The thermometer may still be showing winter, but spring will be here before you know it! Get a jump on these home maintenance tasks now (or as soon as weather allows), and you'll be ready to relax and enjoy the return of sunshine and warm breezes when Mother Nature sends them our way.

Saving the planet is a good reason to make your home more environmentally friendly, and so is lowering your energy and water bills. Now you can add a third benefit: A faster home sale and higher asking price when it's time to move on.

Succeeding in business is like playing a game of chess. You've always got to think several moves ahead if you want to win.

Inflation may be pinching your budget, but it doesn't need to derail your long-term financial plans. Instead of waiting and worrying about economic factors beyond your control, feel more empowered by focusing on these fundamental tips for managing your money.

Inflation is surging at its highest level in 40 years, and mortgage rates have already risen by roughly 2% since the beginning of this year. The Federal Reserve recently hiked interest rates by a whopping 75 basis points, and more increases are on the way. Combined with record-high home prices, many homebuyers are starting to feel like their dream home is out of reach.

There's an old (and very rude) saying that guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days. But what if the guests are paying, and you don't have to be around them? For most people, that suggests the sweet, sweet smell of success. But is renting out your home to vacationers really that easy? And is it right for you?

Are you ready to make a move in 2022? Understanding what's happening in the housing market can help you avoid surprises as you embark on your homebuying journey.

Spring is known as the housing market's busy season, but if you followed the trends last year, “busy” doesn't even begin to describe how things went down. In 2021, intense bidding wars, record-high home prices, and rock-bottom inventory levels made for one of the most competitive homebuying seasons in history. Is a similar climate in the forecast for 2022? Here's what to expect for this year's spring homebuying season.

Having a social media presence is essential to capturing the attention of today's consumers.

Northwest Bank is named a Top Mortgage Lender in 2021. The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) recently announced its 2021 top mortgage lenders. The awards were given to the lending institutions and loan originators who assisted the most homebuyers through IFA programs in 2021.

By keeping up with low-cost home maintenance and repairs now, you'll end up saving money in the long run. Here are a few basic home maintenance tasks that you can keep up on for a minor expense, and a look at what it might cost you if you ignore them for too long.

The spring housing market is expected to be a hot one. As homebuying demand intensifies, more people are turning to the internet to conduct research and assemble their homebuying teams. So, all we have to do is sit back and watch the leads flow in, right?

Before you can make any kind of sale, you first must understand the customers wants and needs. What motivates them? What problems do they hope to solve? What do they expect from you? Only then can you guide your clients to the best solutions and deliver an outstanding customer experience.

Building a thriving career involves more than meeting your business and performance goals; it requires an ongoing investment in your professional development. Dedicating time to your professional growth makes you more valuable to your business and your customers, equipping you with the tools you need to be successful. Here are five areas of focus to help you become the best version of your (professional) self.

'Tis the season of making lists and checking them twice. While you're busy planning holiday festivities and shopping for gifts, don't forget that your home has a wish-list of its own. No, we're not talking about the latest gadgets or furnishings (though those would be nice, too). With winter around the corner, certain parts of your home require extra care and attention. Here are six home maintenance tasks to check off your list for the winter.

Your existing customer base is your most valuable resource for finding new business. Compared to any other lead type, referrals are the most likely to convert and the least expensive to acquire. In an industry that relies primarily on word-of-mouth to drive new business, having a referral strategy is imperative. The key to bringing in a steady stream of referrals is to operationalize your referral process and make it a consistent, repeatable part of your overall sales strategy.

Haunted houses may be a fun Halloween pastime, but living in one is an entirely different thing. No, we're not referring to the paranormal or those terrifying scenes that conjure thoughts of your favorite scary movie. We're talking about a house that's got bigger problems.

Northwest Bank continues to invest in the newest systems and technology available to provide the best security for our online banking customers, and will soon be changing our website from a .com to a .bank domain.

Neal Conover and Dwight Conover of Northwest Financial Corp. have announced that Greg Post has been named President and CEO of the holding company, Northwest Financial Corp. in Arnolds Park, IA.