Though we are only 2 months into the new year, signs are peeking everywhere that consumers are feeling better: an increase in the food & services industry indicate we're eating out more, vacations are on the rise due to an 8% increase in the travel industry, and believe it or not, household net worths are increasing thanks to a strong stock market and the focus on shrinking personal debt.  What does this mean for the housing industry?  For now, buyers can benefit from historically favorable buying conditions and sellers can enjoy increased stability in the market. We are still seeing an upward trend in existing home sales activity.  Though sales remained 2.9% below the level seen last year, this trend is a welcoming sign. Home prices softened in December, down 1% from the year befor... 02/14/2011

Lakepointe has several homes available right now if you're looking to live in Western Shawnee. Lakepointe currently has 8 active homes listed for sale ranging in price from $189,950 to $299,000, four to five bedrooms/2+ baths available. In the past 60 days, 3 homes have sold, with an average sale price of $244,333 and about 67 days on market. This is a great location and when the price is right, these homes will move. Lakepointe is located in Western Shawnee, just off Johnson Drive and Monticello Road. This community is part of the Award Winning De Soto School District, has great highway access, and is close to restaurants and shopping. To see any of the available homes in this neighborhood or any of the nearby communities in Shawnee, such as Crimson Ridge, Monticello Farms, Brittany V... 02/10/2011

Some interesting statistics out now explain it best....Don't wait until Spring!  NOW really is the time to sell your home.  For starters, 89% of all homebuyers start their search on the internet and catering to those buyers will give you a jump on those sellers waiting until Spring.  When there are fewer houses on the market, those that are priced right and staged well will stand out even more.  On average, it takes about 12 weeks to sell a home, so those listed right now are in a better position to market to buyers looking to buy now and close in the Spring.  Check out the video below for more information: 02/07/2011

As I sit here witnessing a blizzard outside my window, it's only appropriate that I bring up how this type of weather can wreak havoc on your home as well.  Let's be honest, streets and sidewalks aren't the only areas that become dangerous when there's snow and ice.   According to many roofing experts, snow, ice, and strong winds could cause roofs to fail and collapse....think Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN this past December.  But this could happen to residential homes as well.   Approximately 16 inches of snow equals about 20 extra pounds of weight per square foot.  But if there's a layer of ice underneath, there's even more weight.   Growing up with winters in Minnesota as a child, I remember my dad climbing on top of the roof to shovel off snow and chip away at any ice in the gutters... 02/01/2011

If you're looking to be a part of this great neighborhood , there are a few to choose from. Woodsonia currently has 6 active homes listed for sale ranging in price from $169,900 to $235,000, three to five bedrooms available. In the past 60 days, only two homes have sold, from $154,000 to $218,000, with an average cummulative days on market of 85. Woodsonia is located in Western Shawnee, just off K-7 Highway and Johnson Drive. It features a neighborhood park, community pool, part of the Award Winning De Soto School District, great highway access, and close to restaurants and shopping. To see any of the available homes in this neighborhood or any of the nearby communities in Shawnee, such as Crimson Ridge, Brittany Heights, Brittany Valley, Lakepointe, Woodland Park, Grey Oaks, Monticello... 01/14/2011

Here is a community market snapshot of Clear Creek Community in Shawnee, KS.  Clear Creek currently has 4 active homes listed for sale ranging in price from $229,900 to $310,000, four bedrooms available. In the past 60 days alone, 4 homes have sold with an average days on market of 63 days, which is great for this price point. Clear Creek is located in Western Shawnee, just off Shawnee Mission Parkway and Johnson Drive. This community is part of the Award Winning De Soto School District, has great highway access, and is close to restaurants and shopping.   To see any of the available homes in this neighborhood or any of the nearby communities in Shawnee, such as Crimson Ridge, Brittany Heights, Brittany Valley, Lakepointe, Woodland Park, Grey Oaks, Woodsonia, Greens of Chapel Creek, Gre... 01/14/2011

Lakepointe has quite a few homes available right now if you're looking to live in Western Shawnee. Lakepointe currently has 7 active homes listed for sale ranging in price from $189,950 to $350,000, four to five bedrooms/2+ baths available. In the past 60 days, 6 homes have sold...ranging from $173,000 to $292,859 with an average of only 102 days on market, which is great for this price range and time of year. This is a great location and when the price is right, these homes will move. Lakepointe is located in Western Shawnee, just off Johnson Drive and Monticello Road. This community is part of the Award Winning De Soto School District, has great highway access, and is close to restaurants and shopping. To see any of the available homes in this neighborhood or any of the nearby commun... 01/14/2011

It's that time of year again!  The Plaza lights will be turned off Sunday to officially signal the end of another holiday season.  Head down there this weekend and take in their beauty one last time...at least until November 2011, when you can see them come on all over again! 01/14/2011

Take 1 minute to update yourself on what is happening in your housing world.  This month's eNewsletter is filled with local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by MLSs and the National Association of Realtors, U.S. Census Bureau key market indicators, consumer videos, blogs, real estate glossary, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, and REALTOR.com local community reports.   To see your 1 Minute Housing Market eNewsletter, click here.     01/11/2011

Woodland Park has a few available homes to choose from if you're looking for something in Western Shawnee. Woodland Park currently has 3 active homes listed for sale ranging in price from $175,000 to $189,950, three bedrooms available. The average days on market for this community has been 109 days so far. However, nothing has sold here in the past 120 days.  This is a great location and when the price and timing is right, these homes will move. View Larger Map Woodland Park is located in Western Shawnee, just off Shawnee Mission Parkway and Monticello Road. This community is part of the Award Winning De Soto School District, has great highway access, and is close to restaurants and shopping. To see any of the available homes in this neighborhood or any of the nearby communities in Shaw... 01/08/2011

As this time of year typically dictates, Grey Oaks in Shawnee, KS was pretty quite in terms of real estate activity over the holidays. If you're looking to be a part of this great neighborhood, there's a few resales to choose from, in addition to the new lots that are available in the next phase. Grey Oaks currently has 17 active homes listed for sale ranging in price from $265,000 to $485,000, four to five bedroom floorplans, with average cumulative days on market at 219 so far. In the past 60 days, only 1 home has sold and 1 home pending. Grey Oaks is located in Western Shawnee, just off K-7 Highway and Johnson Drive. It features a neighborhood park, community pool, walking trails, part of the Award Winning De Soto School District, great highway access, and close to restaurants and s... 01/07/2011

I wrote about this subject a few months back, but feel it's important enough to revisit....so much so, that I'm re-posting the whole article and not just the link.  These rules are applicable for being able to obtain approval for a home loan, but are even more important once you have that hot "you're approved" letter in your hands.    Getting approved for a home loan can be a nail-biting experience for some people. There's the whole uncertainty of the entire process, the waiting, and the overall anxiety that comes from getting approved for a home loan. However, below are some simple ways to calm your nerves and ease your fears regarding the process: 1. Pay Everything on Time! Even though this sounds pretty obvious, many borrowers will get so wrapped up in their every day lives that they... 01/04/2011

When putting your house on the market, everyone wants their home to sell quickly...for top dollar and in the least amount of time possible.  Yes, pricing and staging are obvious factors and key elements to do just that.  But there is one more tip to help your home get noticed and sold fast.  Check out the video below to learn more.... 01/03/2011

Everyone is wanting to know what is going to happen in real estate in the new year.  Unfortunately, there is no way to predict one way or another, but there are signs out there indicating that the market is improving.  Take a look at these recent statistics: According to the National Association of Realtor, pending home sales rose 3.5% in November.  Based on trends from the 5 months prior, this is indicating a gradual recovery into 2011.  Affordable housing and the improvements in the economy are bringing buyers into the market. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is forecast to rise gradually to 5.3% around the end of 2011; at the same time, unemployment should drop to 9.2%. Existing-home sales are projected to rise about 8% to 5.2 million in 2011 from 4.8 million in 2010, with an addition... 01/03/2011

You're not the only one making resolutions this year...so is the state of Kansas.  Only, their's will stick!  Starting today, January 1st, anyone caught texting, emailing, or IM-ing behind the wheel will be given a ticket...and in the city of Shawnee, it's going to cost you $110.  Kansas is one of 30 states to enact the no texting-while-driving law.   To illustrate why this law is so important, check out these interesting facts below:   Texting while driving increases the risk of accident 23.2 times over unimpaired driving.   Texting while driving results in longer response times than even drunken driving. While an unimpaired driver can respond quickly to changes in traffic and begin braking within half a second, a legally drunk driver needs four additional feet to begin braking and a ... 01/01/2011

Buyers who have been waiting for that perfect deal on a home are now finding themselves in a more costly predicament.  Record low interest rates over the past few months have made it the best time to buy a home in the fifty years...unfortunately, it doesn't look like they are going to hang around much longer. Those who "choose to wait until prices come down more" are gambling that interest rates will hold steady or drop. However, the truth is even a 10 percent drop in home prices is nullified by a 1 percent increase in interest rates. The figure below illustrates how this works for a $250,000 home purchase and the relative likelihood of each scenario. When thinking about which is more likely: an increase in mortgage rates or a further drop in home prices...consider the findings below ba... 12/31/2010

Studies have shown that it takes about a twentieth of a second for Web surfers to make a decision about a site (so I may have lost some of you already) and only about seven seconds to make a good first impression in person. Believe it or not, this includes homes too! Within seconds after entering a home, potential homebuyers are already deciding whether or not they want to buy your home. Your goal is to create an inviting, beautiful, spacious atmosphere that will create that emotional "I want to make an offer" trigger. How do you do that? Simple...through staging. Check out this short video below to see what staging can mean for your wallet: Read my previous post for 10 Tips to Staging Your Home. When you're ready to list your home or if you're needing some help getting it ready, feel f... 12/28/2010

  During this holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our success possible.  As Real Estate Consultants, there is no greater pleasure for my wife and I than helping our clients achieve their Real Estate dreams...whether it's selling their home so they can move closer to family or buying a new home to make room for baby #2.  It is in this spirit we say...Thank you!  Best wishes for the holidays and a Happy New Year!! 12/25/2010

Interest rates are starting to climb and now we're hearing talk of that ugly word...inflation! And believe me, once inflation starts increasing, the rates are going to go up right along with it. With the holidays literally right around the corner, NOW really is the time to buy. Interest rates are still low and there is fewer competition. And if you're currently renting, this means even more for you! Check out this short video below to learn the "secrets" of home ownership: 11/16/2010

Grey Oaks in Shawnee, KS has been busy in terms of real estate activity this Fall. If you're looking to be a part of this great neighborhood, there's still quite a few to choose from. Grey Oaks currently has 17 active homes listed for sale ranging in price from $262,900 to $399,950, four to five bedroom floorplans for the picking. In the past 30 days alone, 3 homes have sold ($268,000 to $342,480) with an average days on market of 260 days, and 4 more homes are pending. Grey Oaks is located in Western Shawnee, just off K-7 Highway and Johnson Drive. It features a neighborhood park, community pool, walking trails, part of the Award Winning De Soto School District, great highway access, and close to restaurants and shopping. To see any of the available homes in this neighborhood or any o... 11/11/2010