3500 HAWTHORN DR SW Bondurant, IA 50035

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/HTMGE2

Customize this amazing floor plan in Wolf Creek Plat 6. This plan has everything youve been looking for in a ranch home. The kitchen has a raised bar for seating, pantry and vaulted ceiling. From the dining area, walk out the sliders to the patio. The vaulted great room has a fireplace and has a large amount of space that wont disappoint. The master bedroom sits at the back of the home and has a bathroom with double sinks and large walk-in closet. The basement is large enough that there is even enough room for a home theater room. Check it out!! Directions From I-80 go North to 32nd St. SW then East to Poplar Drive SW. Go South to 33rd and East to Hawthorn then South to the home. See map in the photos

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2.00

Square feet: 1,341

Price: $212,900

For more information about this property, please contact Kathy Kidd at 515-689-5478 or KathyKiddRealtor@gmail.com. You can also text 3351832 to 67299.

See more listings at: kathyakidd.remax-central.com

MLS ID: 456958

3916 53rd ST Des Moines, IA 50310

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/D8FFJ3

Cute 2 bedroom, 1 bath bungalow in fantastic Northwest Des Moines location. Great home for 1st time home buyers or an investor to rent out. New roof, windows, siding, furnace, kitchen, bathroom and 1 plus car detached garage, all done in 2012! Come check it out, a must see!

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 1.00

Square feet: 720

Price: $82,500

For more information about this property, please contact Angie Robinson at 515-230-3683 or angie.robinson@remax.net. You can also text 3349133 to 67299.

See more listings at: angie.robinson.remax-central.com

MLS ID: 511822

1330 11th ST Des Moines, IA 50314

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/VZ9D6P

Great opportunity for investors or a large family looking to build some equity. Spacious 4 bedroom home with potential 5th bedroom on 3rd floor. Large front porch, family room and dining room. Kitchen and 1.5 bath are ready for your renovation ideas! Home is centrally located within minutes of downtown, freeway access, schools, bus routes and Mercy Medical Center. Come check it out!

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 2.00

Square feet: 1,984

Price: $39,900

For more information about this property, please contact Angie Robinson at 515-230-3683 or angie.robinson@remax.net. You can also text 3345177 to 67299.

See more listings at: angie.robinson.remax-central.com

MLS ID: 511809

Eight ways to help kids hone their homework habits

"Whether your kids are just learning to read, write and spell, or they are studying for the SATs, we parents have an opportunity to help instill work and study habits that will stick with our children for life," says education and parenting expert Dr. Michele Borba, who is the bestselling author of 22 parenting books and a frequent TODAY show contributor.



Borba offers parents some easy tips to help children of all ages develop skills that will help them reach their academic goals:



* Give them space - Create a dedicated space for homework and study. This underscores the importance of homework to kids. If you don't have room for a homework desk, consider keeping all homework and study tools in a bin or box that children can take out and use every day. Keep all essentials in one place to help avoid time wasted looking for the dictionary, ruler, calculator or other tool.



* Create a routine - Choose a time that works best for your child to do homework, then stick to that time every day. A set and predictable schedule helps minimize homework battles. "Work before play" can motivate kids to get their homework done, but if your child plays sports or has other after-school commitments, doing homework after dinner may be the best option.



* Give them smart tools and study aids - Just as your mechanic can't fix your car without the right tools, it's hard for kids to do homework without the proper tools. Choose tools like the new Post-it Study collection (www.Post-it.com), which is designed to help students stay organized and use time efficiently. For example, Post-it Study Message Flags are restickable flags that feature helpful reminders like "Study," "To Do" and "On Test" that help kids highlight material that needs additional attention. Note Tabs, Page Markers, Flags and other products in this collection by Post-it Brand stick securely to papers, notebooks, textbooks and more - yet remove cleanly - to help kids organize information during homework and study time.



* Avoid distractions - Establish a technology-free zone for homework and studying. Turn off TVs, ban text messaging and ensure kids are using their PC for research, rather than Facebook. This measure may seem obvious to you, but remember - kids are so tied to tech these days that they may be surprised to find out they can more efficiently use their time without the distractions of technology.



* Map out assignments - Help children plot homework on a schedule so they have simple reminders of daily, weekly or long-term assignments. Include other engagements like sports or music lessons to help kids have a clearer picture of their own schedules. This can help build basic time management skills, like working on a long-term project every day over time, or avoiding a late-night cramming session for a big test.



* Lessons in planning and prioritizing - Teach kids to make lists of what they need to do each night in order of priority. As your child accomplishes each item, have him cross it off the list. For children who had difficulty staying on task, breaking large projects into smaller, more manageable tasks can help. Encourage kids to do the hardest homework first to help relieve the pressure of a long to-do list.



* Emphasize the effort - Stressing perseverance and effort in a task helps children work longer and harder, because they recognize their success is based on how hard they work. Instead of asking "What score did you get?" ask "How hard are you working?"



* Effective study habits - Spreading out study sessions and practice testing were the two most-effective learning tactics, according to a recent report by the Association for Psychological Science. Both techniques involve strong time management skills. Help children think of study sessions or pieces of a larger project as daily to-dos, and just as important as the homework assignment that may be due tomorrow.

For richer or poorer: Don't let newlywed bliss turn into financial nightmare

"Communication is a key part of a strong marriage, and it's also the basis for a strong financial partnership," says Barrett Burns, president and CEO of VantageScore Solutions. "Being proactive before and planning ahead of the wedding while sticking to a financial plan will help guard against common financial mistakes that can occur early in a couple's life together."



To start your new life together with a strong financial foundation, check off a few important money to-dos before you say "I do!"



1. Have the debt talk



All couples must have the debt talk. It may not be romantic, but it is necessary in order to plan a bright future together. Be open and honest about debt, savings and spending habits, even if they are less than perfect.



Financial turmoil is one of the top reasons cited for divorce, so understanding each other's finances today and what goals you have for the future will help reduce stress on your partnership. With the average college student graduating with $26,600 in student loan debt, according to The Project on Student Debt, young couples need to create a plan for managing debt and saving for the future.



2. Control wedding spending



The "big day" is a defining moment in life, but it's important for couples to remember it's just one day of many that they will spend together. Weddings and related events cost a whopping $28,427 on average, according to theknot.com, and that doesn't even include the honeymoon.



"When it comes to young couples planning a dream wedding, the plastic tends to be relied upon," says Burns. "It's important to be realistic about how much you can spend. Becoming over extended on credit cards is a common mistake, and this type of high-interest debt is not the wisest way to begin your lives together."



The best course of action when it comes to wedding planning is to create a budget and stick to it. It's not necessarily bad to use credit, especially if you can take advantage of a credit card rewards program, but Burns advises only charging or borrowing what you know you can pay back in a reasonable amount of time as keeping high balances and missing payments can have significantly negative impacts on your credit score, which in turn leads to stress.



3. Work together to build a positive credit profile



Married couples do not have joint credit files or credit scores. Each individual has their credit files with the credit reporting companies and their own credit scores, but in some cases like when joint accounts and co-signed loans are created, the actions of one can impact the other.



"It's common for younger people who are just beginning their financial independence to not have much, if any, credit history. It's important to be proactive and take steps to build a positive credit profile and score so you can demonstrate to lenders that you are a good manager of credit," says Burns.



Get a copy of your credit report and resolve any issue you may have with the information presented in it. If you have a limited credit history, carefully consider the benefits of joint accounts, but keep in mind that the positive financial actions like paying bills on-time and keeping balances low, as well as actions that can have negative impacts like missing payments will influence the couples' individual credit scores.



"The importance of paying bills on time cannot be understated," says Burns. "A single missed payment can drop each person's credit score 80 to 100 points. This can affect a couple's ability to get the best interest rates and terms for a loan."



Another important step in building credit after a marriage is to make sure that all financial lenders are aware of name changes. "If you choose to change your name after you are married, make sure all your accounts have your current information, otherwise positive actions may not get reported correctly or in a timely manner," Burns says.



4. Shop around for rates



"Whether you're taking out a personal loan or selecting a credit card, you absolutely must shop around for rates," advises Burns. "Don't just take the easiest or first option. You want to get the best deal available with low interest rates and reasonable terms."



When shopping for rates, Burns notes to do so within a two week period of time. Credit inquiries from auto and mortgage lenders and credit cards issued from banks and credit unions are only counted once if done in a two week period causing just a slight decrease to credit scores.



Finally, couples soon to be married or those that recently were married can also test their knowledge about credit scores at www.CreditScoreQuiz.org, a website created by VantageScore Solutions and its partner, Consumer Federation of America, one of the largest consumer advocates in the country.

1107 Ford ST Kelley, IA 50134

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/DFCE5W

Enjoy small town living, just minutes from Ames. This 2 bedroom, 1 bath bungalow, would be a great starter home or pet owners dream house! 2 car detached garage, fenced in back yard, enclosed side porch and lots more potential. Come check it out, a must see!

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 1.00

Square feet: 735

Price: $84,900

For more information about this property, please contact Angie Robinson at 515-230-3683 or angie.robinson@remax.net. You can also text 3340581 to 67299.

See more listings at: angie.robinson.remax-central.com

MLS ID: 511599

3513 Hawthorn DR SW Bondurant, IA 50035

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/TMHHXV

This home backs to a pond and greenspace! The Fillmore ll has everything youve been looking for in a ranch home. The kitchen has a peninsula for seating, Quartz countertops, a large walk-in pantry, hardwood floors and lockers by the back door. From the dining area, walk out the sliders to the patio which overlooks the pond. The vaulted great room has a fireplace and large amount of space that wont disappoint. The master bedroom sits at the back of the home and has a bathroom with double sinks and large walk-in closet. The lower level is stubbed for a bathroom and has more than enough space for another bedroom and a large family room. The basement is large enough that there is even enough room for a home theater room. Directions From I-80 go North to 32nd St. SW then East to Poplar Drive SW. Go South to 33rd and East to Hawthorn then South to the home. See map in the photos

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2.00

Square feet: 1,453

Price: $231,900

For more information about this property, please contact Rob Davies at 515-208-5957 or RobDaviesTeam@gmail.com. You can also text 3340580 to 67299.

See more listings at: www.daviesandkidd.com

MLS ID: 511589