This weekend we were supposed to travel to the Lake of the Ozarks, but a last-minute illness prevented that from happening. So were were left without any plans! I did a little research to see if there were any lakes within driving distance that offered marinas to rent boats or jetskis and I was pleasantly surprised that there were three in the area! When I called I realized that last-minute rentals are impossible to come by, but it's good information to have on had for future weekends. I would recommend making reservations two-three weeks in advance if you actually want to have a rental! SMITHVILLE LAKE Located northeast of Smithville, Missouri on U.S. 169 and Hwy. 92. Two full-service marinas offering boat rentals, equipment and dining facilities are listed on the website, but I could... 06/16/2008

I continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep my clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below you will find real estate statistics for the South Platte County area for the month of MayNew homes on the market: 175Total homes Active on the market: 759Average Listing Price: $266,995 Number of homes sold: 123Average Sales Price: $233,365Number of homes taken off the market: 97To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home eval, please visit: http://www.scottsellskc.com If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Kansas City, or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, then call or email:Scott Finley  - ScottSellsKC@gmail.com - 816-885-6901 06/07/2008

I continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep my clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below you will find real estate statistics for the Platte County area for the month of April 2008New homes on the market: 236Average Listing Price: $225,303 Number of homes sold: 93Average Sales Price: $227,431Number of homes taken off the market:  73To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home eval, please visit: http://www.scottsellskc.com If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Kansas City, or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, then call or email:Scott Finley  - ScottSellsKC@gmail.com - 816-885-6901 06/07/2008

Credit cards are one of the most pervasive forms of your financial picture. On a daily basis, they provide the flexibility and freedom to reserve a hotel room, travel without carrying cash, and purchase just about anything at anytime. As such, your credit cards can have a major impact on your financial wellbeing and even your credit score. But did you know that your credit score can also impact your credit cards...specifically your interest rates? Although some companies have abandoned the practice, many won't hesitate to raise your interest rate if your credit score declines--even if you are paying them on time! By following these tips, you can help avoid inflated interest rates on your credit cards: Understand the terms. The best way to protect... 06/07/2008

 The Kansas City Star has launched a gambling blog called Lucky Numbers that offers a ton of local gambling information. One of the cool things is that the site ranks the Missouri Scratchers tickets and the loosest slots in Kansas City. You might want to check it out and see where your best odds of winning are. Examples Odds of Missouri Scratchers4 Million Dollar Cars -1 in 3.08Lifetime Riches - 1 in 3.33Example Casino OddsArgosy 1 cent - 88.77% 5 cent - 91.82% 25 cent - 93.62% $1 - 95.23% Visit the website to check out all the odds and read a lot of great gambling articles : http://luckynumbers.kansascity.com/ Brad Papa is a licensed real estate agent in Kansas and Missouri and can be reached at bradleypapa@remax.net , 913-526-4985 or www.papasinthehouse.com 06/03/2008

I read an article recently in the Kansas City Star about a new concept in urban living. Single family, detached homes are currently being built in the River Market. They are unlike any house I have seen, and truly have an urban look. They are being marketed to people who want urban living, but don't want to share walls with their neighbors in the traditional condos or town homes. The homes range from $425,000 - $505,000 and are 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathrooms and an attached 2 car garage. While you do get at 25-year property tax abatement of 100% for 10 years and 50% for the remaining 15 years, the properties are actually classified as condominiums, so there is also a 12 cent per square foot association fee. Brad Papa is a licensed real estate agent in Kansas and Missouri and can be reached at... 05/29/2008

Free movies are back for the summer! Films will be shown at the Crown Center Square on an outdoor movie screen. Admission is free and the movies begin at approximately 9:00 pm. Make sure and bring plenty of chairs, pillow and blankets! C 2008 Schedule: June 29th: The Goonies'July 4th:No Movie due to Holiday July 11th:Monty Python and the Holy GrailJuly 18th:My Big Fat Greek WeddingJuly 25th: My Fair Lady More information: http://www.crowncenter.com/Entertainment/Event.asp Brad Papa is a licensed real estate agent in Kansas and Missouri and can be reached at bradleypapa@remax.net , 913-526-4985 or www.papasinthehouse.com 05/27/2008

  Did you know that real estate agent's license information is public record? It's always in your best interest to double check that your real estate agent has a current license to work in your state. Kansas Real Estate Commission: https://www.accesskansas.org/ssrv-krec-verification/index.do Missouri Real Estate Commission: https://www.accesskansas.org/ssrv-krec-verification/index.do All Other States : http://www.homes-and-real-estate.com/stateinfo.htm Brad Papa is a licensed real estate agent in Kansas and Missouri and can be reached at bradleypapa@remax.net , 913-526-4985 or www.papasinthehouse.com 05/27/2008

Traveling is just getting more and more expensive! Last month many airlines announced they would charge passengers $25 for second checked bags, and now according to a Kansas City Star article, American Airlines is taking it a step further and will charge $15 for the FIRST domestic checked bag. This could cause all kinds of problems and slower travel as more people will likely opt for carry-on luggage and there is only limited space in the overhead compartments! So pack lighter and carry on! American Airlines also announced that they will cut flights and possibly lay-off workers, but now word whether that will affect the 14 daily flights at the Kansas City International Airport and the nearly 1,000 employees in the area. Click here for the full article. Brad Papa is a licensed real esta... 05/22/2008

According to the 2nd Annual Visitor's Survey by the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association, these are the top tourist spots: Favorite BBQ : Fiorella's Jack Stack Favorite Restaurant: Stroud's Best of Kansas City: Country Club Plaza Favorite Nightflife: Kelly's Westport Inn Favorite Shop: Hall's Favorite Hotel: Hyatt Regency Crown Center Favorite Casino: Ameristar Kansas City Casino and Hotel Favorite Museum: National World War 1 Museum at Liberty Memorial For more information and to see the 2007 favorites, visit http://www.visitkc.com/ Brad Papa is a licensed real estate agent in Kansas and Missouri and can be reached at bradleypapa@remax.net 913-526-4985 or www.papasinthehouse.com 05/21/2008

Looking for a great, and fun way to raise money for local charities? Then look no further than the Kansas City Crawl 4 Cancer! The Spring edition was this past weekend and it happened to be one of the most beautiful days of the year. The pub crawls are held annually in May and October, but make sure to register early since they have sold out the past few years! Here is some basic information: Teams of 10 people will travel to 5 Westport bars, where each team will finish 4 pitchers of beer before moving onto the next bar. The after-party is held at the Beaumont Teams should have 10 people, but can have 12 Each team member gets a great t-shirt The crawl lasts from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm. Those are just some of the basic rules, but this pub crawl is so much fun and benefits some great local ... 05/19/2008

I got a call today from a buyer, a savvy buyer who is looking to purchase apartments in Kansas City . I talked with her at length, her goal is to own less than 5 years and liquidate to move up. Currently looking for about a twelve unit property of more, her goal is to leverage.Good strategy, moving up is a great plan, so I am looking for about twelve units in the KC market that will provide upside potential. None of the usual over-inflated rent rosters, none of the "projected" income crap that I see everyday. If you have a small multifamily property that fits this criteria, give me a call 816-313-8876.She mentioned the Northeast Kansas City area, Northeast Kansas City is a diverse, complicated market. There are areas of intense crime, drugs and prostitution are a real issue. We have man... 05/07/2008

I got an email today from some SEO promoter telling me I had no ranking under the search term "Kansas City Real Estate" Seems this guy Gabe figures I'm willing to pay for ranking by that term. So the question is; am I willing to pay someone who sent me an email for his efforts to improve my SEO score with a particular keyword? NO! I've done a lot of reading, and put in hundreds of hours building keywords that are relevant to me. While I am involved in Kansas City Real Estate, I have focused on having keyword success in more specific markets. For instance, if you Google terms like Kansas City Investment Property or Kansas City Property Management, I hold very high rankings and have worked hard to get them. Here's the email: I was looking at websites under the keyword Kansas City Real Est... 05/07/2008

Darn kids! I was visiting a listing of mine today and I noticed this sign nearby. The first thing I thought was where the heck are the parents! I often encouraged some of my neighbor kids to go play in the street, our city is now posting signs to warn us of the practice. 04/18/2008

Scott Finley | Remax | 816-885-6901 5603 NW 92nd Ter., Kansas City, MO This home is our past model, which means the extras and style that most need to bring in to their new homes over the first 5 years is already done for 4 Bdrm Single Family House offered at $379,000 Year Built 2008 Sq Footage 3,600 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 full, 1 partial Floors 3 Parking 3 Car garage Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $400 per month DESCRIPTION Buy this fantastic two story floorplan with all the extras, including finished basement with a bar! see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES Central A/C Central heat Fireplace High/Vaulted ceiling Walk-in closet Hardwood floor Tile floor Family room Living room Bonus/Rec room Dining room Breakfast nook Dishwasher Refrigerator Stove/Oven Microwave Granite count... 04/09/2008

Timing is crucial! The deadline for filing your 2007 taxes is quickly approaching, but you may want to be early if you want your tax rebate sooner, rather than later. That's because tax rebates will start going out on May 2... but only to taxpayers who have their returns processed--not just sent--by April 15. The closer it gets to mid-April, the more the IRS gets backed up to process the flood of returns. Sometimes it takes a couple of weeks to complete. E-filers will get their rebates more quickly, since electronic returns can be processed faster. However, even e-filers should have their returns in by April 10 to be safe. Would You Like Paper? Or Electronic? Tax rebate checks will start going out on May 2. But here's the deal... taxpayers who chose direct deposit will be first in line.... 04/08/2008

With spring in full swing and summer fast approaching, I know I want to have my car looking good. Driving a nice clean car just feels good, but did you know that it can also help to preserve its appearance and resale value.What's the Best Way to Clean Your Car... at the Car Wash or at Home?Believe it or not, an automatic car wash is not only more convenient, but it can also be much safer for your car than washing the car at home. Why? If your car is washed by hand in direct sunlight, the drops of water turn into mini magnifying glasses, which can cause the sun's rays to burn spots into the paint--and this could cost you big when going to resell the vehicle. Additionally, many people use harsh household soap products, which remove protective wax and leave a chalky residue on the surface.... 04/08/2008

Investing in Real EstateForeclosures Fixer-Uppers Condos, Apartments & Single Family Vacation Homes ForeclosuresAre foreclosures a good investment?A foreclosure property is a home that has been repossessed by the lender because the owners failed to pay the mortgage. Thousands of homes end up in foreclosure every year. Economic conditions affect the number of foreclosures, too. Many people lose their homes due to job loss, credit problems or unexpected expenses.It is wise to be cautious when considering a foreclosure. Many experts, in fact, advise inexperienced buyers to hire an expert to take them through the process. It is important to have the house thoroughly inspected and to be sure that any liens, undisclosed mortgages or court judgments are cleared or at least disclosed.Are there ... 04/04/2008

I continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep my clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below you will find real estate statistics for the South Platte County area for the month of MarchNew homes on the market: 165Total homes Active on the market: 746Average Listing Price: $266,557Number of homes sold: 71Average Sales Price: $211,745Number of homes taken off the market:155To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home eval, please visit: http://www.scottsellskc.com If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Kansas City, or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, then call or email:Scott Finley  - ScottSellsKC@gmail.com - 816-885-6901 04/03/2008

If you're considering a Home Purchase, here are  8 Steps to Getting Your Finances in Order: 1. Develop a family budget. Instead of budgeting what youd like to spend, use receipts to create a budget for what you actually spent over the last six months. One advantage of this approach is that it factors in unexpected expenses, such as car repairs, illnesses, etc., as well as predictable costs such as rent.2. Reduce your debt. Generally speaking, lenders look for a total debt load of no more than 36 percent of income. Since this figure includes your mortgage, which typically ranges between 25 percent and 28 percent of income, you need to get the rest of installment debtcar loans, student loans, revolving balances on credit cardsdown to between 8 percent and 10 percent of your total income.3... 04/02/2008