Now that spring appears to have sprung in the Dubuque area, I thought it would be a good time to update the photos at 7474 Ridgeview.  We haven’t felt 40 degree temps since December 1st, 2009!

The sellers have moved on to sunny California (winter, what winter?).  Well, with the home now vacated and having received a new coat of paint in the lower level family room, it’s time to preform a refresh on the listing photos  (sorry Bears fans, the team colors had to go!).

Click any of the thumbnail images to open the viewer window, there are also arrows embedded in each photo so you can scroll through the series…

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As reported late yesterday in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, John Deere Dubuque Works will be bring back 65 workers to the plant as a part of a total of 117 recalls in the construction and forestry divisions.

Deere & Co. will recall 65 workers to John Deere Dubuque Works, effective early next month.  The recalls are part of 117 recalls total in the construction and forestry division, including the Dubuque plant and John Deere Davenport Works.  Company spokesman Ken Golden said the recalls are needed to meet market demand and to replace normal retirements in the work force.  It is the second round of recalls since the company laid off 220 workers in March of last year. (courtesy of Eileen Mozinski Schmidt of the TH).

From the Deere website:

The Dubuque Works, which opened in 1947, manufactures crawler bulldozers, crawler loaders, backhoe loaders, tracked harvesters, tracked feller bunchers, knuckleboom loaders and skid steer loaders.

It’s all good!  But, I’ve got to ask, what’s a knuckleboom loader??? Find out Here!

Tonight, the Dubuque City Council passed the first-in-Iowa ban on usage of cell phones while driving, at least of hand-held use while driving.  Hands-free devices apparently are still OK.  In an early report from the Chicago Tribune, it was reported that, by a 7 – 0 vote, the council’s action will go into effect on Friday, February 19th….

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Dubuque will be the first Iowa municipality to prohibit drivers from using hand-held cell phones while behind the wheel.

The city council approved the ordinance 7-0 Monday.

But the Telegraph Herald reports that the measure could be negated if the Iowa Legislature passes a measure of its own as expected.

The statewide legislation could ban municipalities from adopting their own ordinances and instead require compliance with state law. And it’s possible the state law could only target text-messaging while driving.

The temptation to use cell phone while driving is pretty strong, I’ll openly attest to that, in fact, I did – here.  I have noticed a few studies recently published that claim bans on hand-held cell phone usage don’t, categorically reduce accidents.  One of a few of these recent studies comes from the Highway Loss Data Institute (news report link here from Christian Science Monitor).  The report says that while taking away  hands-on devices usage “may” reduce the risk, the reality is that actual accident rates stay about the same when hands-free usage remains available to drivers.

Perhaps the bigger problem isn’t the actual fumbling around done while dialing numbers, texting, and answering calls.  Maybe the real issue is the lack of mental concentration the driver experiences while engaged in a conversation.

Either way, I’m not categorically opposed to the ban, I think ultimately the problem will be solved by technology that maybe doesn’t exist.  Maybe cell phones could self-disable when in motion at speeds faster than walking? If I only had a bazillion dollars, I’d be patent protecting that fine idea already.

But, guess what? Even walking while texting is dangerous, see NPR story here…

After a month-long hiatus off off the active market, 7474 Ridgeview in Dubuque a has come back to market, reduced in price by $14,600…

Rob Cook | Ruhl & Ruhl Realtors | rob@riverbankstocornfields.com | 563-542-7278 7474 Ridgeview Dr., Dubuque, IA Country Living Just Outside of Dubuque! 3BR/2BA Single Family House offered at $163,900 Year Built 1974 Sq Footage 2,364 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size .87 acres HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Country Living Just Outside of Dubuque! Large Walk-out Ranch South of Dubuque Offers the Freedom You Crave. Updates Including All-New Flooring, Doors, & Trim. Huge Master Bedroom, 3 Seasons Room with Great Wooded Views. Includes Extra Lot to Enjoy see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES - Central A/C - Central heat - Fireplace - Tile floor - Family room - Living room - Bonus/Rec room - Breakfast nook - Dishwasher - Refrigerator - Stove/Oven - Microwave - Basement - Laundry area – inside - Balcony, Deck, or Patio - Yard ADDITIONAL PHOTOS 7474 Ridgeview Kitchen Kitchen & Dining Dining & Kitchen Three Seasons Living Room Master Bedroom Main Bath LL Bar LL Bar & Family Room Garage Entry Second Bedroom Contact info: Rob Cook Ruhl & Ruhl Realtors rob@riverbankstocornfields.com 563-542-7278 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Mar 5, 2010, 1:24pm PST

A pair of useful new tools were added to the River Banks to Corn Fields Blog today.  On the side of the page (scroll down if need be) you’ll notice both Current US Mortgage Rates and a Mortgage Payment Calculator.  These useful tools will allow folks a quick read on current US mortgage rate averages as well as plug in potential loan numbers to see how your payment may be affected given purchase price, down payment, interest rate, property tax, and homeowners insurance.

From last night’s news report for KGAN CBS 2 News at Ten, there was a report about a so-called loop hole that disallows certain newly married couples from enjoying the benefits of the Home Buyer Tax Credit.

Hundreds of millions of your tax dollars are being used in an attempt to stimulate the economy, including a tax credit for home buyers. First timers could get $8,000 back; people who have lived in their homes for five plus years could get $6,500 back; unless you’re married. It’s a loop hole that could spoil the American dream, the fine print that could cost you thousands of dollars, or make that dream house vanish altogether.

Click the image here to see (and read) the KGAN report:

Click for KGAN.com Video Report

Geeky amateur economist types (such as myself) will certainly enjoy this latest creation by Econstories.tv, an epic rap battle between John Maynard Keynes and Friedrich August Hayek.

Free Markets vs. Government Stimulus – who’s right?

You decide…

An escalator can never break: it can only become stairs. You should never see an Escalator Temporarily Out Of Order sign, just Escalator Temporarily Stairs. Sorry for the convenience.

Mitch Hedberg

Time for a timely update on Dubuque’s real estate stats!  The Dubuque market is making it’s annual climb back out of our usual winter lull in activity.  Inventory is certainly down, this time standing at a minimal 4.5 month supply of homes.  In fact, immediately following the start of the new year, the Dubuque market was down to a paltry 4.3 month supply of homes.  However, as is with most years, the number of new listings starts to climb back to a more normalized level, likely peaking somewhere in the April – May – June time frame.

Perhaps 2010 will present a slightly accelerated rate of listings arriving to the market.  Sellers should be aware that the still-in-effect home buyer tax credit will expire later this spring.  Buyers wanting to take advantage of the credit will need to have the home they want under contract April 30th (and close sale by June 30th).  If you’re a seller, waiting until May or June to list into the MLS, you may want to re-think your position and/or timing of the market.

Dubuque Listings Inventory Analysis

Current Total Listings: 366 ( – 21 )

Active/Available Listings: 294 ( – 16 )

Pending Sold Listings: 72 ( – 5 ) or 19.7 % of Current Market  ( – 0.2% )

Dubuque Sales Previous 12 Months: 785  ( + 11 ) or 65.4 Homes Sold per month ( + 0.9 )

Supply of Homes: 4.5 Month Supply ( – 0.3 )

Percentage Selling Per Month: 22.3% (  + 1.5% )

Click to Enlarge

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Dubuque Year to Date Sales & Averages

2009 YTD: 785 Sales – Average Price $155,806 ( + 5.3% ) – Mean Sales Price $138,500

2008 YTD: 720 Sales – Average Price $148,011 ( – 2.2% ) – Mean Sales Price $130,000

2007 YTD: 927 Sales – Average Price $1510,334 ( + 3.9% ) – Mean Sales Price $129,500

2006 YTD: 1022 Sales – Average Price $145,704 ( + 4.3% ) – Mean Sales Price $125,000

2005 YTD: 927 Sales – Average Price $139,745 ( + 10.0% ) – Mean Sales Price $121,500

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

It was announced today the federal government ruled that texting while driving commercial trucks and buses is illegal.  In fact, if you’re busted doing so as a bus or truck driver, you could face a fine of up to $2,750.  On the state level, the Iowa legislature has been considering a state-wide ban on texting while driving for all drivers.  At least four bills have already been introduced during this year’s legislative session to that end.  Even some local communities, namely the City of Dubuque, have plans to visit the idea of issuing a city-wide ban on texting while driving.

Which group of citizens, outside of snot-nosed teeny-boppers, is likely as guilty as anybody when it comes to texting while driving?  Of course, you probably guessed Realtors – and you’d be right! I was privileged interviewed by KWWL’s Jamie Gray about the issue of texting while driving and I have to admit that I struggle with it.

As a Realtor working to earn a living for my family, the urge to be a responsive as I can to my clients sometimes likely does compromise paying proper attention to my driving.  The more I think about it, the more I support a texting while driving ban.  Ask anybody who knows me – I’m am reflexively against piling on more and more rules, laws, and bans.  However, in this case safety is job one.  If there’s a measure of punishment attached to it, maybe, just maybe I’ll let that phone ring, not look at that text, or respond to my voice mails until I get back to the Ruhl & Ruhl Realtors office.

Mea Culpa completed, please share your thoughts…