The New Trend in Fixed Rate Mortgages...the 15 Year Loan   How would you like an extra $125,000?Last week, interest rates dropped to their lowest point in 2011.  We saw fixed rates as low as 4.375% for 30 years, 4.25% for 20 years, and 3.75% for 15 years.  We also saw adjustable rates as low as 2.875%!  The current trend in fixed rate mortgages is to pay a little extra and get a 15 year loan instead of a 30 year.  What's the advantage?  Let's take a look:If you have a 30 year mortgage of $200,000 at 5% interest, your payment would be $1,074 /mo (Principal & Interest only).  If you refinanced that to (or start off with) a 15 year mortgage at 3.75%, your payment would be $1,454 /mo (P&I).  For a difference of $380 /mo, you could pay your mortgage off in 15 years instead of 30 and build eq... 07/07/2011

New Price! Beautiful 4 Bedroom in Lakeview Estates, Shawnee, KS now only $385,000!   Don't Miss This One ~ Gorgeous 4 Bedroom/3 Bath home in Lakeview Estates!! Only $385,000!!! SPECTACULAR LAKEFRONT HOME in small subdivision. The Builder custom built this home for his parents...only the best for Mom and Dad! Granite counters, new carpet, decorator paint colors...nothing skimped on. New $3500 TANKLESS Hot Water Heater, central vacuum system, custom lighting. Huge walkout finished basement, sun room overlooking the lake, main level office, workout room. This home has the most wonderful setting, you'll fall in love! Email, call or text us (913-787-1870) for an immediate showing or more information on the area, plus other homes for sale from all listing companies 07/01/2011

The chart below is for the Grey Oaks subdivision in Western Shawnee. Keep in mind, that since this is still a community with new construction, there may be a few stats missing or skewed here and there, but overall, you can get a good idea what the market is like here: If you live in Grey Oaks or are looking for homes in this area and have a question, please feel free to give us a call or send an email. We're here to help! 06/16/2011

The affordability of homes is lower today than it has been in years...and to top it off, mortgages hit a historic low in 2010 and continue to remain at relatively low levels.  Take a look at this chart to help put things in perspective:   The cost of a loaf of bread and a gallon of gas has more than tripled since 1989 and car prices have nearly doubled.  While the median price of a new home has increased by 70%, mortgage interest rates, which stood at 10% back in 1989, are now less than half of what they were back then.  The impact of today's super low interest rates is that the monthly mortgage payment on a median priced home in the US has increased by only $4 since 1989.   Unless a buyer is paying cash, the monthly payment tends to be a far more relevant number than the home's actual... 06/15/2011

Attention, Western Shawnee residents!  Weather permitting, on Thursday/Friday, June 16-17, new traffic changes are scheduled to take place on the K-7 and 55th Street/Johnson Drive interchange project in Johnson County.  The traffic changes that are scheduled to occur are as follows: ·         On Thursday, June 16, after morning rush hour (weather permitting), access from northbound and southbound K-7 to Clear Creek Parkway on the west side of K-7 will be closed to all traffic.  Utility work as well as construction work will begin on the new bridge that will span over K-7 at Clear Creek Parkway. ·         On Friday, June 17, before morning rush hour (weather permitting), 55th Street will be reopened to traffic for all through eastbound and westbound movements from 55th Street to Johnson... 06/15/2011

If you're thinking of listing your home, bookmark our blog and don't miss this series.  Over the next few weeks, we'll introduce you to some statistics and tips to help you view your house not as your home, but as the future home of the buyer you need to attract.  Our first topic was Pricing to Sell Your Home...this week, it's all about Curb Appeal.  So here's the skinny!   KW Research shows that approximately 47% of sellers enhance their curb appeal.  Most spend between $150-1000 to make those first few seconds count for buyers who may be driving by or checking out photos  online.  What do they do?   73% trim trees and bushes 54% mulch 51% bring in new plants 44% wash windows 40% power wash 23% add a fresh coat of exterior paint 11% add new door hardware For those sellers that DID enh... 06/09/2011

Top 10 Most Common Home Inspection Concerns   Buyers and sellers may think that their home is unique, but more often than not, home inspectors find that most home defects are very similar.  Below are 10 common home defects that inspectors can typically identify.  And it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with them, so that you can start planning ahead for repairs or work you may have to do if you are on the buying or selling side. Poor Drainage:  Inspectors will review whether water moves away from the house properly and/or whether the roof needs new gutters and downspouts. They will also check to see if ground-level drainage systems have been properly graded. Faulty Electrical Wiring:  If electrical wiring hasn't been properly installed or grounded, a home may be susceptible to fire... 06/02/2011

Now that school is out and summer is almost officially here, you'll start to see more and more homes pop up for sale.  Unfortunately, not all sellers will know how to make the most of today's market.  If you're thinking of listing your home, bookmark our blog and don't miss this series.  Over the next few weeks, we'll introduce you to some statistics and tips to help you view your house not as your home, but as the future home of the buyer you need to attract.  So let's get started!   Sellers can still get the highest possible list-to-sell ratio and sell their homes as quickly as possible if they are willing to put their trust in two time-tested principles of real estate:  condition and price.  These are the only two factors that sellers have control over, and they are the only two that... 05/27/2011

Shawnee Kansas Real Estate Market Update May 25th, 2011 Overview of Shawnee KS Real Estate Market 452 Shawnee KS homes for sale 236 Shawnee KS Homes sold in last 6 months Nearly 40 Shawnee KS homes sold per month for the last 6 months on average 11.5 months of inventory based on current supply and recent demand Overall Shawnee KS Real Estate Market is strongly buyer advantaged based on supply and demand Most often there are significant variations in the above stats based on price range Shawnee KS is a large and growing city in suburban Kansas City with a bunch of homes for sale. Let's break down the Shawnee real estate market by price range. New Shawnee KS neighborhood information pages including homes for sale and locations Crimson Ridge subdivision Lakepointe subdivision Granite Falls... 05/25/2011

...in the 1830's, ketchup was sold as a medicine. In an effort to boost sales, one enterprising manufacturer bottled it as Dr. Miles Compound Extract of Tomato, reputed to cure anything from baldness to athlete's foot, and all points in between. 03/21/2011

Many people assume that pizza boxes are recyclable because they are made of corrugated cardboard.  And in most cases, they really are.  However, it's what goes inside that pizza box that makes parts of it non-recyclable...the grease, leftover toppings, and cheese from the pizza.   Unless you remove the tainted portions, you're causing more harm than good.Food is one of the worst contaminants in the paper recycling process. Grease and oil are not as big of a problem for plastic, metal and glass, as those materials are recycled using a heat process. But when paper products, like cardboard, are recycled, they are mixed with water and turned into a slurry. Since we all know water and oil don't mix, the issue is clear.Grease from pizza boxes causes oil to form at the top of the slurry, and ... 03/20/2011

The MLS we Realtors use here in Kansas City has come out with some new tools and I thought I'd share one of them with you today.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Well, I'll let you be the judge in this case:All of the charts below are for the Grey Oaks subdivision in Western Shawnee.  Keep in mind, that since this is still a community with new construction, there may be a few stats missing or skewed here and there, but overall, you can get a good idea what the market is like here. If you live in Grey Oaks or are looking for homes in this area and have a question, please feel free to give us a call or send an email.  We're here to help! 03/19/2011

Today's market is more of a buyer's market, meaning that there are more homes for sale right now than there are buyers.  Homes typically take longer to sell and prices can fall.  If you want to make sure that your home sells faster and for a higher list-to-sell percentage, then follow these steps: Prepare the property to sell.   Consider a prelist home inspection to address any possible issues before your house goes on the market and take care of any repairs that may be needed.  This will eliminate any surprises later on.   Upgrades always attract buyers...the most common include flooring, paint, light fixtures, appliances, and plumbing hardware. On average, staged homes had 2 more showings and sold for a significantly higher list-to-sale percentage than homes that were not staged.  Thi... 03/18/2011

New on the market is this Shawnee KS home with great room and finished lower level. OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 3/20.Located at 10805 W. 70th Terrace, this Shawnee home is  MOVE-IN READY with large and very  APPEALING 4 bedroom floor plan*open great room w/majestic firelpalce PLUS a finished lower level* seperate living & dining rooms*true eat in kitchen with loads of countertops & cabinets leads out to uniquely large entertaining deck & PARK LIKE fence backyard *1st floor laundry room *master with private bath *modern interior colors*newer roof. This "don't miss" home offers a unique private 4th large bedroom that would also be perfect for in home office or extra den*some newer carpet*1/2 bath in finished lower level*great curb appeal*so many more appealing features that are hard to find in anot... 03/17/2011

Here's a breakdown on the housing market in the Kansas City area:We saw a decrease on the average new home price in February ($279,802), which was 4% lower than the same month last year.  However, the average existing home price for last month is 4% higher at $127,449 than one year ago.   New home sales decreased 22% from last year and 2% from last month.  Existing home sales also saw a decrease...down 7% from last year, but up 4% from last month. There is still a slight buyer's edge present in the new home market, existing home and combined markets.  Interest rates are still at historic lows, but are predicted to rise in 2011...so if you're currently "on the fence" this information may be of benefit.  To see any of the available homes in nearby communities in Shawnee, Overland Park, Ol... 03/17/2011

We've had a lot of rain, and a little snow, and as a result, the new traffic changes set to begin at the latest this week, have now been pushed back to the week of April 4th.What do you have to look forward to?  First of all, northbound and southbound K-7 will be reduced to one lane...moving you over to the new northbound lane so that crews can complete construction on the new southbound lanes.  This will last through late fall, weather permitting.Second, and this is a biggie, the east leg of Clear Ceek Parkway will be closed for bridge constuction that will take Clear Creek traffic over K-7.  In other words, no more direct access to K-7 from Clear Creek.  Detours will take you to either Shawnee Mission Parkway or 47th Street, depending on where your destination is.Lastly, access from ... 03/15/2011

Studies show that owning a home not only instills a sense of comfort and pride, but it also brings higher academic achievement, more cohesive communities, better connected families, improved health and safety, and a stronger economy.  Home owners: are 15% more likely to vote live 4 times longer in a community are 16% more likely to belong to parent-teacher organizations, book clubs, etc. are 1.3 times more likely to read the newspaper are 10% more likely to attend church have a net worth 45.9 times that of a renter's For more information, check out the National Association of Realtors' Field Guide to the Benefits of Home Ownership. When you are ready to buy or sell your next home, please give us a call.  No matter the need, Pickett Property Group can help! 03/11/2011

If Mother Nature decides to play nice over the next week or so, new traffic changes will be set to take place on the K-7 and Johnson Drive interchange project in Johnson County the week of March 7th or March 14th.What do you have to look forward to?  First of all, northbound and southbound K-7 will be reduced to one lane...moving you over to the new northbound lane so that crews can complete construction on the new southbound lanes.  This will last through late fall, weather permitting.Second, and this is a biggie, the east leg of Clear Ceek Parkway will be closed for bridge constuction that will take Clear Creek traffic over K-7.  In other words, no more direct access to K-7 from Clear Creek.  Detours will take you to either Shawnee Mission Parkway or 47th Street, depending on where yo... 03/01/2011

4 Bedrooms 2 Full & 2 Half Baths 2 Car Garage 2 Fireplaces 2796 sq ft MLS#1713626 $225,000 Character & spacious rooms abound! Featuring brick/vinyl exterior; formal living & dining rooms; kitchen with silestone counters, island, pantry, desk & breakfast room; family room with wet bar & fireplace; main level laundry & master bedroom; his/her closet & his/her vanity in master bath; large bedrooms; sunroom & screened in deck; finished walkout basement; oversize garage & more... 02/21/2011

Good news!!  If you are a first-time homebuyer, you may not need a 20% down payment.  According to a recent survey, nearly 75% of first time buyers only put down 3.5% or less.  Of course, with interest rates still low, now is a great time to buy!  Contact your mortgage professional for your situation; then give us a call to help get you started.   Check out this video for more info: 02/15/2011