Post from: Kansas City Real Estate Home

Post from: Kansas City Real Estate Home

Have you have surrendered and changed all the light bulbs to CFLs (compact fluorescents). That is actually a great first step because that one little change affects about 20% of a home’s lighting cost!  Step up your plans and look for any way that you can show your utility bills decreasing after changes occur.

• Check the sealing of windows; if you cannot afford new windows, then look at weather stripping, caulk, and fresh paint.
• Check your attic insulation
• Have the foundation of your basement and garage checked for cracks.
• Consider finishing your basement to improve heat loss.
• Trim hedges and bushes to improve air circulation around your home’s foundation, as well as provide a natural windbreak.
• Update appliances to new energy efficient ones.

When going green also think about the quality of life potential small things can have for a potential buyer for your Overland Park Home. .

• Use paint that is low in VOC’s (volatile organic compounds). Many people who suffer from asthma and allergies, or who have small children will certainly appreciate the fewer use of chemical paint additives.
• Start a garden, even if it is a container garden on a deck. While you are at it, invest in a composting container (many easy to use one cost under $200).
• Wall to wall carpeting is less appealing than it was for homebuyers these days. Carpeting attracts and retains dust, allergens, and dirt. If you cannot replace all your carpeting, consider doing so in smaller areas such as, entryways, hallways, and at least one bedroom. Make sure you have your current carpeting professionally cleaned prior any home showing.
• Search out hidden pockets of mold and mildew in bathrooms and basements. It is time to grab the bleach, be prepared to replace tile, and make sure the toilets in your home are fastened securely and sealed properly against leaking. If necessary, consider installing a sump pump as well as longer drain spouts to wick water away from the foundation and the house.

There is always something green you can do to improve your life in a house, which will make it attractive to a potential buyer.

Find Overland Park Homes for sale here!

©mg2

Post from: Kansas City Real Estate Home

While the wearing of the green is associated with St. Patrick’s Day, going green should be on the thoughts of homeowners towards the end of the month, whether actively looking or not to sell their home in 2010, as spring officially arrives across the country.

Never Underestimate Your Buying Audience

When it comes to selling a home, you have to understand what buyers are looking for – what is important to them in terms of how they are choosing to live their lives, as well as where they are choosing to live. The trend towards ‘going green’ and environmental friendliness and compatibility is no passing fancy. The world and the buying public are smarter regarding green awareness, and thus, anything you can do, to make your home trend towards this path will benefit you twofold.

1. It provides yet another built in and tangible value that can be reflected in the asking price of a potential home sale.

2. It provides you the seller and your agent something of real marketing value. In a soft market, a home with a healthy respect and care for and about its environment is a home that will attract attention.

Your personal opinions regarding environmental awareness aside, there is no doubt that homes ‘gone green’ have a decided appeal towards today’s home buying audience.

Check out the easy updates.

Check out our website for additional ideas

©mg2

Post from: Kansas City Real Estate Home

According the article in Money Magazine: “1st home buyer and move-up tax credits worth $8,000 and $6,500, respectively, will expire April 30, 2010. Buyers who qualify get a dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxes or a cash payment if they don’t pay enough taxes to cover the credit.

Other factors that should get the attention of buyers:

Low mortgage rates today! If the Federal Reserve stops buying mortgage-backed securities at the end of March 2010, 30-year rates will almost certainly rise to more than 6 percent.

Rising prices. About 30 percent of markets are already experiencing price increases. Prices are falling in 12 percent of markets, says Fiserv (but that only helps if you want to live there).”

Source: Money Magazine, Beth Braverman (03/02/2010)

To Find Your Dream Home:

www.HomeInfoKansas City.com

Post from: Kansas City Real Estate Home

With Tax Credit ending April 30,2010, we see the next few months to be very Active!! People are out there looking for Value! So Don’t Wait!, more and more buyers are checking things out. So the homes that offer Great Condition & are Priced very well–are Moving Very Quickly!! So Don’t Delay!

Buyers should do a little homework to maximize their purchasing power before buying. We make sure our buyers have their ducks in order via having their credit reports up to date, all of their mortgage loan information in order, and we do plenty of research on the housing information and housing conditions!

As for our sellers need to continually study their marketing position as current housing is sold and as new inventory enters the marketplace. Properties that are sitting a long time send out a negative message, so the right priced properties that show well and that have easy access are the ones that buyers will most likely want to see. With the timer running out soon on the tax credit incentives, all parties have to be ready to make their decisions or lose the transaction. My advice to sellers is to review the current marketing position with your agent. Take a close look at sales & inventory of homes that come on the market & arrive at a more realistic and competitive pricing range.  Sellers need to do what’s necessary to attract serious buyers and get their property sold in Overland Park real estate.

Our goal is to get our sellers the best prices we can and helping our buyers get into the market while prices are down and interest rates are at historic lows. As our motto says…..Experience Matters!!

To find your dream home to go:
www.HomeInfoKansasCity.com

Post from: Kansas City Real Estate Home

Owning Investment Properties in Overland Park is still a good viable opportunity! We haven’t seen the huge losses in prices in the residential properties.  In fact, recently there has been a few lenders that has opened up their guidelines to loaning on the rental properties in Kansas City! I have just helped a couple of my investors refinance their properties down into the mid 5% ranges!  it’;s awesome!  Which has made it so affordable for them!!

According to the Wall Street Journal:
Despite falling rents and rising vacancies, the profitability of residential rental property is improving.

Investments in apartment complexes are generating annual returns of 7-8 percent immediately because purchase prices have declined.

Buying a rental property isn’t for everyone. Buyers need to be able to hold the property for at least three to five years or more to give the investment time to gain value.

Local Market Monitor, which analyzes real estate investments, identifies these good and not-so-good markets for landlords:

Good Markets

• Columbus, Ohio
• Washington, D.C.
• Raleigh, N.C.
• Greenville, S.C.
• Columbia, S.C.
• Kansas City, Mo.
• Oklahoma City, Okla.
• Fort Worth, Texas
• El Paso, Texas

Bad Markets

• Detroit
• Cleveland
• Wilmington, Del.
• Dayton, Ohio
• Orlando
• Tampa-St. Petersburg
• Boise, Idaho
• Stockton, Calif.
• Las Vegas
• Phoenix

Source – WSJ.com on Feb 20,2010.   So it looks like Kansas City – is still the best kept secret!! If you are looking for investment properties in Overland Park - let us know!  We’re happy to assist!

Post from: Kansas City Real Estate Home

Post from: Kansas City Real Estate Home

Of course, since the museum open in 1933, they have one of the best Chinese collections! “With over 7,500 works of high quality, the Chinese collection comprises masterpieces from every historical stage and in every medium of China’s artistic activity – from Neolithic times to the 20th century.” It’s something to see to enjoy!  Whether you live here or are a visitor to the area, take the time to visit our fabulous museum!

Kansas City is so fortunate to have such a quality museum for the residents and visitors of the area!  I hear it said so many times, Kansas City is the best kept secret! This is “one” of the many reasons!!

Post from: Kansas City Real Estate Home

December 2009 sales for properties in Johnson County turned out to be a little slower than expected for closed sales.  For the month of December,we were down for resale closings 11%, but for the year – ending ahead in resale sales were up 6%. That’s great news!!  Meaning – we have seen some stabilization!!  We saw that 13% of the resale homes in the Kansas side sold during December, with 28% of them sold in 30 days or less!  So again for our sellers–Offer Value!  Great condition & right pricing can equal Quick Sales!!  The 1st time buyers are fueling these sales.  The price range of 180,000-200,000 Had the most activity in sales of 15% of inventory sold!  50 Homes out of 328 sold in December of 2009.  In December we had 2586 resale homes for sale  in Johnson County available with 382 of them sold & closed.

With the Tax Credit available until April 30, 2010, We anticipate seeing a very active late winter/early spring market!  SO-Don’t wait!  More & More buyers will be out there-including move up buyers as the next few months move in!!  This tax credit extension for both first time buyers and trade up buyers is a real boost to the marketplace, and what that means is that with stabilized pricing and a new deadline on the tax credit program, serious buyers and sellers will have to be very prepared during the negotiation process.

The first quarter of 2010 will be driven by the tax incentives which will create stronger competition for inventory.  That said buyers should work with their agents and their loan originator to be completely pre-approved for their mortgage.  Pre-approved buyers command more confidence for sellers, especially when there are multiple offers on the table.

My advice to sellers is to review the current marketing position with your agent.  Take a close look at year-end sales to arrive at a more realistic and competitive pricing range.  Sellers need to do what’s necessary to attract serious buyers and get their property sold in Overland Park real estate.

I am very proud to say that again in 2009 my team is one of the ReMax’s  top home selling team in the Kansas City area!  We are working very hard at getting our sellers the best prices we can and helping buyers get into the market while prices are down and interest rates are at historic lows.  As our motto says…..Experience Matters!!

To find your dream home to go:  www.HomeInfoKansasCity.com

Post from: Kansas City Real Estate Home