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.

We've spent the better part of a year nestled safely within our four walls, with few opportunities to network or strike up unexpected conversations with strangers at a coffee shop. But now that things have returned to a close semblance of “normal,” it's time to shake off the dust and make sure you're ready to put your best foot forward.

Achieving full home automation doesn't come cheap. A few smart speakers and a smart thermostat won't set you back much, but for a fully connected home with all the bells and whistles, you could be looking at upwards of $15,000 for a typical three-bedroom, two-bathroom home. When thinking about resale value, is smart tech a smart investment?

Is your home overdue for some upgrades? Are you finally ready to design your dream kitchen? You're not alone. Home remodeling activity is booming right now. Despite the economy shrinking 3.5% in 2020, home improvement spending grew by 3% last year — and it's projected to rise another 4.8% through Q1 2022.

Reviews from satisfied customers are one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. They provide feedback about your product or service that helps shape the future of your business and attract more customers. Let's explore best practices for collecting and managing your online reviews.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed nearly every facet of our lives. And as our daily routines morphed, so did what we need from our homes. Our houses became offices, classrooms, gyms, and entertainment centers. In fact, the housing market was a prime driver behind the country's economic recovery, with buyers looking for bigger homes on more land and consequently spending more money.

It's one of the hardest-working rooms in your house — and most of the time, it's not even a room unto its own! Your entryway should help you get organized as you're heading out the door and help you stay organized when you get home.

Between a hot housing market and an ocean of summer activities at our fingertips, we've got plenty of things vying for our attention this season. While you're busy balancing work and play, thinking about what to post on social media may be the last thing on your mind.

Summer is on its way, and while more sunshine and warmer days are wonderful, melting in to your sofa ... isn't. But how can you keep your home at a comfortable temperature without blasting the A/C? Here are a few tips to help you — and your house — beat the heat this summer.

If you typed your name into Google right now, do you know what would show up? If a new customer or prospective business partner did the same, you'd want to be confident that they're going to like what they find — or that they can find you at all. Your online presence is typically where you make your first impression, so it's essential that your information is consistent across platforms and aligned with your brand and business goals.