Missouri's SALES TAX HOLIDAY!

Monday, July 16, 2007

Missouri's Sales Tax Holiday for '07

Just a reminder for all you parents in with children going to school.
There is another sales tax holiday coming on August 3rd thru 5th.

The sales tax holiday does not have mandatory participation, local jurisdictions and declare not to participate.

Be sure to ask when going into a store if they are participants of the sales tax holiday.

The Missouri Department of Revenue's site has a list of counties that have opted out. It can be found here: http://dor.mo.gov/tax/business/sales/taxholiday/counties.htm
I do not see Clay County or Platte County listed!

Here are the limitations for the exemptions:

Clothes - any article having a tax value of $100 or less
Computer Software/Programs - tax value of $350.00 or less
Personal Computers - cannot exceed $3,500
School Supplies - cannot exceed $50 per purchase
Computer Peripherals - (such as printers, etc.) cannot exceed $3,500
Additional information on qualifying items found on the Missouri Department of Revenue site: http://dor.mo.gov/tax/business/sales/taxholiday/consumers.htm

Happy Shopping! And if I can help you with any of your Kansas City Real Estate needs just email me franwhite@kc.rr.com or give me a call 816-682-3897

The Roasterie...Yummy Coffee...New Blends

My favorite coffee to enjoy while working on Kansas City Real Estate! The Roasterie has new blends!!


Now is the time of the year for friends and family, barbecue, little league baseball and sitting by the pool and reading a book. Enhance the experience of summer with hot or cold coffees and teas prepared with passion by your friends at The Roasterie.

Only the Best Get Canned:Our Limited Reserve Coffee Cans symbolize the uniqueness of the coffees within. Many of these coffees have won awards and have been reviewed as some of the highest rated coffees in the world. We are currently offering all Limited Reserve Coffee Cans at a discounted price of 20%.
Santa Isabel of Nicaragua - Cup of Excellence®http://www.theroasterie.com/shopping/detail.asp?DOM=1&productID=722

Guatemalan Huehuetenango:http://www.theroasterie.com/shopping/detail.asp?DOM=1&productID=687

San Cristobal of Guatemalan - Cup of Excellence®http://www.theroasterie.com/shopping/detail.asp?DOM=1&productID=723

Santa Sofia of El Salvador - Cup of Excellence®http://www.theroasterie.com/shopping/detail.asp?DOM=1&productID=721

Kimel Estate of Papua New Guinea:http://www.theroasterie.com/shopping/detail.asp?DOM=1&productID=666

Pitalito Estates of Colombia:http://www.theroasterie.com/shopping/detail.asp?DOM=1&productID=665

Try one of the above tasty beverages in our new diner mug.http://www.theroasterie.com/shopping/detail.asp?DOM=1&productID=728

It's “Never Summer” with Iced Coffee:When that muggy heat starts rolling into your neighborhood, it’s time to get equipped. The Never Summer Blend is a coffee dedicated to retaining a complex flavor while having the ability to quench the summer thirst.

Brewed Iced Coffee Recipe:Grind 2 oz. (4 tablespoon) of coffee to every 6 oz. of water. Refrigerate in a glass or plastic container. Pour coffee over a cup of ice and serve. Never Summer! Revolt against the summer heat.

Employee Pick of the Month:Clint is our Event Coordinator here at The Roasterie and has recently been raving about Gotham Espresso. “It’s a sweet, smooth espresso (good drip too) and has an insane crema!” Try this wonderful and underrated espresso and let us know what you think!http://www.theroasterie.com/shopping/detail.asp?DOM=1&productID=520

In The News:The Roasterie’s Santa Sofia of El Salvador was recently featured in Barista Magazine as one of this summer's spotlighted coffee products. Also Imbibe's May/June issue has an article on Kansas City’s hard working coffee community and features The Roasterie while mentioning some of the restaurants that serve our coffee. You can check out either of these magazines by visiting your local magazine retailer.
Imbibehttp://imbibemagazine.com/
Barista Magazinehttp://www.baristamagazine.com/

The Roasterie1204 W 27th St. • Kansas City, MO • 64108816.931.4000 • www.theroasterie.com

Kansas City Missouri Heating and Cooling Experts

I learned a couple of things yesterday that will help me in my Kansas City Real Estate adventures!

Of course I try to learn something everyday, but yesterday was something that will definitely help my clients!

Ever since we moved in our home five years ago we've maintained a maintenance contract with A.M. Heating and Cooling. (it was a stroke of luck that we found such a wonderful provider)

Some may think a maintenance contract with a Kansas City Heating and Cooling company is foolish, we find it very wise.

Regular maintenance of your a/c and heating units are essential in keeping a safe and healthy environment for your family. And you personally should change your furnace filters once a month.

Mark Avinew of A.M. Heating and Cooling is amazing when it comes to knowledge, customer service and maintaining your heating and cooling units.

We were visiting with him yesterday about heat pumps... and here's what I learned:

Kansas City Power and Light (KCP&L) gives customers a discount if they
have a heat pump...

In the Kansas City area, if the temperature
gets below 40 degrees, A.M. Heating and Cooling suggests switching over to your gas furnace which will save on the life of the compressor in your heat pump.

It's amazing the things we learn!

After talking with Mark yesterday, I'm going to start suggesting, in addition to a general home inspection, that my buyers get a mechanical inspection on the heating and cooling units of the home they are interested in. It makes sense.... who knows heating and cooling in Kansas City better than the specialists like A.M. Heating and Cooling?

For your Kansas City Real Estate needs, call me 816-682-3897
But for your Kansas City Heating and Cooling needs, Call A and M. Heating & Cooling....913-268-6203:: Tell them Fran White sent you!

BBQ Capital of the World Event Supports Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Association (MFCAA)

From the B.B.Q. Capital of the world....... one of the things that Kansas City, Missouri is FAMOUS for.... B.B.Q.
McGonigle's Market was the location today for a great benefit for Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Association (MFCAA)
McGonigle's Market donated $5.00 from every slab of ribs purchased to MFCAA and of course we were there!
You cannot find a better place for fresh, tender meats to cook at home or purchase their smoked meats and fish if you prefer not to do it yourself.
Smoke filled the air and the aroma of the neighborhood was mouth-watering! McGonigle's predicted that 3500 slab of ribs would be sold.

REALTOR® Says "No Thank You" to Listing Home Above Value

Don't be surprised if you want a REALTOR® to list your home and they say "No Thank You." It could happen to you if you fall into the following senerio.

Last week I went on a listing appointment. Before I go on an appointment I spend a lot of time getting my presentation packet all in order and I also spend a lot of time studying the comps (comparable: what other homes in the neighborhood have sold for) for the area.

I entered this home as I always do with an open mind and the ability to visually remove the contents.

This home was totally outdated (carpet, bathrooms, kitchen), it had rotten windows, it was cluttered and messy and bottom line the sellers wanted me to list it for 20K more than the highest comp.

The sellers were wanting to build a new home and the husband wasn't up for making any repairs. They had no cash for a downpayment and wanted to get their down payment out of this poor house that they already had mortgaged to the hilt.

In this tight market, your realtor has to price your home accordingly and still expect (in the mid-west) for someone to come in and offer you 5K immediately off the asking price.

Sellers need to be able to do some work or be willing to have it done, or not expect top dollar for your home.

A simple comparison would be (although I'm not fond of car salesmen) trading in a vehicle for a new shiny one.

Would you take a filthy car and expect top dollar as a trade-in if you had Micky D's fries in the cracks of the seats and popcorm remnants on the floor from the drive-in the night before?

Another thought: When you go to an outlet that carries scratch and dent products - you pay scratch and dent prices.

Buyers thing the same way about houses. Sure every home has some issues - but if it presents itself product, expect scratch and dent prices.

Even the best REALTOR® in town cannot perform miracles (although I like to think I can)... at some point they have to step back and say "no thank you." And that's a really difficult thing to do.

If you need assistance in the Kansas City Real Estate market...... give me a call 816-682-3897

Help Desperately Needed: Bone Marrow Donor

The following post was posted on Active Rain, a real estate network that I participate in.
I have the permission of the poster: Julie Ferenzi to re-post it in it's entirety.
If there is ANYTHING you can do to help.......please don't hesitate


This has nothing to with Real Estate but everything to do with humanity...
I wondered and thought for such a long time before I decided to use the Active Rain forum in this way. After speaking to the grandmother of this little boy this afternoon I really don't feel like it's even a choice. Trevor Kott needs a bone marrow donor now. I can't worry myself with whether or not someone will be upset that I posted this here on Active Rain. I will take any and all critism for posting about Trevor here, but the truth is that now with over 25,000 members I know that 25,000 people have the potential to hear and act on behalf of this little miracle.
I am writing today about something very important. This isn't a forward, and this isn't about an imaginary child floating around on the internet.
This is about a real baby boy named Trevor Kott. From the second I first laid eyes on him he stole my heart.
I first heard about Trevor's story a few weeks ago from someone on Cafe Mom, which is an on-line forum that I belong to. Rather than me go on an on about what led me to this point I will share a open letter from his parents that I took from his website: Help Save Trevor Kott
The rest of this is a message was included in a personal e-mail to my family and friends. I decided I needed to harness the power of Active Rain to help this family and share it with you.
"SAVE THE LIFE OF A CHILD!
A hundred years from nowIt will not matterWhat your bank account was,The sort of house you lived inOr the kind of car you droveBut the world may be differentBecause you were importantIn the life of a child
Trevor is our son -- a beautiful baby boy who fills us with joy -- but he is fighting to survive. He was diagnosed with AML a rare form of leukemia at birth and must have a bone marrow transplant -- but the doctors informed us on March 15, 2007 that they were not able to find a match for Trevor in the International Bone Marrow Registry. Trevor 's need is urgent. His life depends on finding a match immediately. Since that news, the doctors have given Trevor about 6-8 weeks unless a match can be found. This lack of matching donors is a crisis that affects thousands of families every year. It only takes one match to save a life. It could be you, and it is so easy to find out if you do match. It does not require a blood or marrow sample, simply a swab of some cells from your cheek, and the compassion to help save a life. You don't even need to be a blood type match for Trevor, just a tissue match. Trevor's life will depend on your prompt action. Please take action by booking an appointment today. Time is of the essence.
Please forward this information to everyone you know and encourage each of them to do the same. We are attempting to reach millions with a national grass roots campaign and need your help. We are praying for a miracle for Trevor.
Thank you and God bless you. Bob and Angela KottSacramento CA"
I can't get this little boy out of my mind or the agony his parents and family must be going through. I need to act.
Some of you may, or may not know, the effects that cancer has played in both mine and Tony's lives. We have been touched by this disease from the farthest corners of our social circle, to the inner sanctum of our daily lives.
I can't explain why I feel so called into action. I don't know why I feel it is my duty to help this family find this very special person who will save their little boy... but I do know one thing. Trevor hasn't given up and neither am I!
I should also mention that Trevor's mom Angela, just underwent surgery to remove skin cancer from her arm that she developed during her pregnancy with Trevor. This is one strong family!
I have been in touch with his mother, Angela, and I am going to do all that I can to help her find the miracle Trevor so desperately needs.
That is why I need your help. I will be hosting a Bone Marrow Registry Drive next month in Trevor Kott's honor.
I need you to be there and say that you will become a member of the National Bone Marrow Registry. You will not only be giving hope to Trevor's family... but to the many families who are waiting for their angel to find them. Registrants must be between the ages of 18 and 60 and never have had cancer or blood related illnesses.
Normally there is a $52 fee to become a member of the registry. This fee covers the cost of the Tissue type testing that matches donors with recipients. Because I am organizing this drive during the "Thank Mom" campaign, this fee is being waived by the National Bone Marrow Registry!
It is important to understand though that even though you may not be a match for little Trevor, you could someday be a match for someone else!!! Can you think of anything more precious than the gift of life?!
Testing is painless. I did it last week at a drive at Midwestern University in Downers Grove. 4 quick and simple swabs from the inside of your mouth, and that is it!
My drive will be hosted sometime between May 7th and May 21st. I am working with a coordinator at Life Source and at the National Bone Marrow Registry to plan this event. Most likely this will take place sometime between May 12-14th at the Babies R Us store in Shorewood, IL.
You can host your own drive by contacting the National Bone Marrow Registry!
Please tell everyone you know about little Trevor. When I have all of the details I forward you all of the details of this drive.
Thanks for listening!
Click here to watch this beautiful video of little Trevor....

~Julie Ferenzi
UPDATE: Trevor's grandmother, Linda Kott, called me today to ask if there was a way that I could help gain national publicity for his story.
I have contacted all 4 major news networks in my area as well as Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, 20/20 and Primetime. We are all only 6 degrees from being connected from to every single person in this world!
Do you know someone who could help us? A celebrity? A contact at your local news station?
Active Rain is such a great community of people always willing to help. I thought this was a great place to start. If you have any support or contact information to offer, please contact me at 630-673-6233. THANK YOU!

Consumer information on Appraisals - Online Radio Show Interview

Kansas City Real Estate goes LIVE on BlogTalkRadio w/ Nick the Appraiser
Great information for consumers...... regarding appraisals and what to expect!
Click on the link.
Here is its.. Fran interviewing Nick

Fran White's Blog.. Kansas City Real Estate
Office Phone: (913) 262-7755 Cell Phone: (816) 682.3897
Nick the Appraiser's Blog.. West Palm Beach AppraiserCell Phone: (561) 337.5040

Dunn Brothers Coffee Discovery!

I'll take a Mocha Latte With Goats Milk @ 140 degrees with a Splash of Coconut
Kansas City (Red Bridge)
535 E. 111th St
Kansas City, MO 64131
Phone: 816-941-8585
email: dunnbros123@dunnbros.com
Location Map
If there's one thing my wonderful husband likes, it's a good cup of coffee! In our travels today we meandered into this local coffee shop that is in our neighborhood in Redbridge. We've had our eye on it and have been meaning to stop but just hadn't done it yet.... our loss because it was the coolest place and had GREAT COFFEE.

Yes, Kansas City is dotted with your typical chain coffee shops but this Dunn Brothers Coffee we hadn't heard of and we're always ready for something new and exciting. It's tucked away in the Redbridge strip mall.

When we walked in I was pleasantly with the ambiance! It was hip and the employees were extremely friendly!

We ordered and looked around some more.... there's free Wi-Fi, comfy chairs, nice looking tables and chairs, a conference table and even a couple computers you could use by the hour. It was extremely inviting!

Now let me tell you, I didn't really ask for a Mocha Latte with goats milk @ 140 degrees with a splash of coconut but I did get a killer Mocha Latte De-Caf!! It was good.

Just a word to the wise, even if you haven't heard the name Dunn Brothers Coffee, don't hesitate to stop because you are certain to enjoy the aromas, the taste and surroundings!

Kansas City Easter Activities

The Northland's Zona Rosa is taking on the Plaza Easter traditions! Kansas City's longest standing, traditional Easter parade has moved to Zona Rosa! http://www.zonarosa.com/

Put on your new Easter outfit and those snazzy shoes and join the fun and activities in the 2nd Annual Easter Parade, April 7th at 11 A.M.

Powell Gardens is sponsoring Breakfast with the Easter BUnny on 3/31 and 4/7 in addition to an Easter Egg Hunt at 11 a.m. on April 7th for children 10 and under. Visit their website for details. http://www.powellgardens.org/

Ward Parkway gets some BLING!

If you are one of those individuals that travels Ward Parkway on your way to and from work, you've probably noticed the new addition of trees.
224 trees have been planted in the median of Ward Parkway and you can thank the Ford Family Foundation of Russell Stovers Candies for their generosity of beautification.
The Swamp Oaks will turn a nice yellow in the fall and the Urbanite Ash will turn a red brick color to a orange red which will certainly brighten up your drive.

In the summer you can enjoy their lush green!

Thank you Ford Family Foundation for adding to the beauty of our community!

Here's a link to a story about Ward Parkway.

Kansas City SNAPSHOT

I came across a great project that is just it it's beginnings here in Kansas City!
In honor of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the American Institute of Architects they have started a program called Blueprint of America. It's a nationwide, grassroots community service program that will empower each cities residents to participate in developing new visions for their community's design priorities.
So where does Kansas City come in? Well if you live here you know that our town is made up of sprawling urban and suburban as well as exurban and transurban areas, no different than many other cities. The Kansas City portion of this nationwide program is being dubbed "The Kansas City SNAPSHOT" and will engage the diverse people and places that inhabit the Johnson Drive / Van Brunt corridor.
I don't want to take away any excitement from their project, so please take a moment to visit the website they are developing for this project Kansas City SNAPSHOT at www.kcsnapshot.org.
It's interesting and perhaps it will help all of us in Kansas City to see each other again.

Guess Who's L@@King at Your Credit

-->
Insurance Companies Want to SEE Your Credit Score
I previously wrote about how you should get your homeowners insurance during the inspection period when you are buying a home.
Now I SEE more than ever the importance of that when buying a home in Kansas City, Missouri.
At sales meeting this morning we were discussing how more and more insurance companies are using individuals credit scores to determine their insurability and their premium rates.
We all know it's important to pay our bills on time to keep our credit as healthy as possible, and now it's even more vital!
Insurance companies are lining up to look at your credit score to decide if they want to insure you and if they do what the likelihood is that you will have a claim.
Do I feel this is right? Well, not really, but they are doing it.
Again let me stress the importance of getting your insurance during the initial inspection period after you sign a contract. If a problem arises around homeowners insurance you will know at the front end of the deal rather than wait till it's time to close and it becomes a major problem.
I believe that everyone deserves to own their own home and with all the mortgage possibilities out there it is possible. A word to the wise: protect your credit because it may affect the premium you will pay for homeowners insurance.

It's SPRING in Real Estate in Kansas City

It's SPRING in Real Estate: Getting Ready to Sell your Home in Kansas City, MO

Have you been enjoying this taste of warmer temperatures? Nice huh. Yes we've been busy getting our own house ready to sell. At first you don't think there's that much to do, but once I got in to it, one thing just led to another.

We've painted and made pretty our home sweet home and within a few days she'll be ready for market.

Here's some ideas of things you can do to get your home ready for spring, and believe me it's time. Each day I look at the new houses that come on to MLS and every day it seems more and more from absolutely nothing in November and December.

Wash your windows

Make sure all your mirrors are clean inside your home

Take down family pictures not to distract buyers

Spiff up your front door

Bag up any left over leaves from last fall

Shampoo your carpets

Paint the trim

Brighten a room with a coat of paint and higher watt lightbulbs

DeJUNK... all that stuff you have sitting around that you don't use, get rid of it.

Seem overwhelming? At first, but you feel great when it's done and it will help your home sell more quickly!

If there's anything I can do to help you with selling your home or buying another, give me a yell 816-682-3897

If you have a question about whether you should or shouldn't do something particular to get your house ready, leave a message here...

Kansas City Area Economic News from Carol Poppe

Economic News From Carol Poppe, VP of Residential Lending
Here's the most recent economic news from Carol Poppe.
First Community Bank Mortgage Division Carol L. Poppe, Vice President
(913) 652-7302 ph (913) 707-1153 cell
ECONOMIC NEWS FOR THE WEEK: 02/13/2007
The question is simple enough: What’s going on with mortgage rates? What makes them rise or fall? Is it the Fed? The economy? Inflation? The banks?
The answer is that rates are moved by a number of related factors, and believe it or not, you—Joe/Jane Consumer-- are one of those factors.
Most mortgage money comes from “capital markets” which is where investors interested in purchasing certain kinds of investments come to buy these items. In order to attract investors, sellers of bonds must compete with one another to get investor’s money. They do this by offering a variety of products with differing structures of risk and return over given periods of time.
Who are these investors and why are they so fickle? Mostly, they are people like you, and you want two opposing things, low payment on your mortgage and high return on your investments. You will buy only so many low yielding bonds before you take your money elsewhere for better returns. Investors have 100’s of places to put their money in a crowded marketplace. If the demand falls enough, a change in strategy to attract investors is to raise the rates. Mortgages are priced for sale to attract investors who seek safe, fixed income investments, such as retirement accounts.
Rates have to be high enough to attract investors and low enough to attract mortgage borrowers.
The big unknown in the bond market is “volume.” No one really knows how many mortgages will be originated and then made available for sale (as bonds) in a given period of time. Recently, a quick drop in rates produced a large buildup of loans to be sold to investors as homeowners rushed to refinance. This made way too much bond supply available in too short a time and investors could not absorb it all at once. Too much supply, not enough demand; bond prices had to go down and yields went up. When the yields went up, so did the mortgage rates.
Inflation impacts Treasury, mortgage, and other fixed-income investments. Rising inflation reduces the actual return on a fixed interest rate investment, so with 2% inflation, that 6% mortgage note returns only 4% “real interest.” If inflation is expected to decline for the foreseeable future, you can bet that mortgage rates have some room to fall. Conversely, an outlook which suggests higher inflation ahead will see mortgage rates rise, sometimes very quickly. This is another reason that the Feds watch inflation very carefully. The higher rates can cool demand (slowing economic growth) helping to keep inflationary pressures from forming.
However, contrary to belief, the Fed (The Federal Reserve) doesn’t control mortgage rates. The Federal Funds rate is the overnight interest rate which banks charge each other when a bank needs to borrow money to meet end-of-day reserve requirements. i.e. A bank must have so much cash on hand when the books close at the end of the day and those funds can be borrowed from another bank at this interest rate. It is literally an Overnight Loan. The Fed Funds rate is the shortest of short-term rates and a 30 year fixed-rate is at the opposite end of the scale.
In some ways, expectations of what the Fed might do can be more important than what the Fed actually does.
GOING ONCE…GOING TWICE…SOLD, FOR $36 BILLION! That’s right, if you were in the market to buy new Bonds last week, it was your week! The US Treasury offered $36 Billion in new bonds. The auction was well received during the week. Lackluster buying would have meant that buyers feel that rates will be higher down the road. It was helped along by foreign buyers who love our US Bonds as a safe investment with a high rate of return. Their investment has helped keep bond prices high, and therefore, home loan interest rates low. Bond prices and mortgage rates improved throughout the week, but then lost some ground on Friday, to end the week right back where they started. Some Traders saw prices as topping out and decided to sell and take their profits.
Remember, when the price of Bonds move lower, home loan rates move higher-----------------------------------------------
Thanks Carol for your wisdom and kindness to share this information with my readers!
If you have questions about home loans, please feel free to give Carol a call.
Fran White, Realtor 2007

First Important Step - GET PREAPPROVED

First Important Step... Get Pre-Approved

The first step in beginning to shop for a home is to get pre-approved. If you don't know who to go to, ask your REALTOR. More than likely they have three or more mortgage people that they work with on a consistent basis and know which ones have a good track record for excellent customer service to the buyers.
I had a gentleman call me this week. He'd driven by a house and wanted to see it. "Great, I'd love to show it to you! Are you pre-approved?" He said no he wasn't, so I suggested someone for him to call. It doesn't cost anything to get pre-approved, it's FREE. It's also free to get second opinion from another mortgage lender too!
Well, unfortunately, when the gentleman went to get pre-approved there were some dings on his credit that need to be taken care of and he would not have been able to qualify for the mortgage on the house he wanted to see.
The other important part about getting pre-approved is during that process the lender will tell you what you qualify for. They determine this by taking into consideration your credit score, your income and your debt. So why set yourself up for disappointment looking at something that is out of your comfort zone? So after you are pre-approved you and your REALTOR will both know how much you qualify for... which will tell you what price range you should be looking in.
Plus after you are pre-approved, the mortgage person will give you a pre-approval letter that should be included with any offers you make to show your serious and you are ready to make a purchase!
If I can answer any questions for you regarding Kansas City Real Estate, please feel free to e-mail me at franwhite@kc.rr.com or give me a call at 816-682-3897,
Fran White, REALTOR Reece and Nichols Residential

Kansas City Area Economic News from Carol Poppe

Here's Economic News for this week from Carol Poppe, VP of Residential Lending

REAL ESTATE: As is no surprise, new home sales plunged 17.3% in 2006, the biggest drop in 16 years. The median home price for December was still below the year-earlier price reading, another sign of weakness in the market. However, since the median home price hasn’t changed from a year earlier, some prognosticators feel we have hit the bottom. This is why conforming limits are unchanged from the year before, $417,000. Major homebuilders around the country, like Pulte Homes, saw sharp declines in earnings in 2006 with the slump. What this means to you is it is still a buyer’s market.
BONDS: The Bond prices slipped after this report hinted at stabilization in the housing market. Also the stock market slumped with fears that this information would revive worries about higher interest rates from the Feds. Strong economic growth is good for corporate profits but if growth is too strong, it will cause the Feds to start raising rates again to curb inflation. The Federal Reserve has a policy meeting this week (Tues. & Weds) which at this point, is expected to keep the interest rate unchanged. Since the middle of last year, the focus of the markets has been whether the Fed will be tempted to lower rates to stimulate the economy and avoid a recession. This would have been good for the real estate market. However, now, it is thought that we will see a continued pause, encouraged by solid job growth reports, higher payrolls, and tumbling oil prices. Durable good orders climbed in December, higher than expected. These are items that are meant to last more than 3 years. Excluding defense and aircraft orders, non-defense capital goods orders jumped, following declines in the previous two months. Motor vehicle and parts orders posted the strongest gains/month since August, 2004.
RESULTS: What all this means is that interest rates continue to edge slowly up, rather than the anticipated decline. Since it appears we are not going to see a decline in the second mortgage rates for awhile, be sure your buyers who are needing 95-100% financing look at all options, not just 80/20’s. There are some great new options out there for 100% financing which will give a lower payment than 80/20’s.

Carol Poppe,
VP/Mortgage Lending
10740 Nall Avenue • Suite 210 • Overland Park, KS 66211 Office: 913.652.7302 • Fax: 913.649.3222
Cell: 913.707.1153www.fcbankonline.com

Does Sharing a Drive-way Have to be Miserable?

-->
Are the Neighbors Keeping Your Listing from Selling?
Are the neighbors keeping your listing from selling?
We were showing some clients today and one of the homes had a shared drive-way and shared garage.

The home was situated on a busy two lane street with no off street parking.
We arrived first because I wanted to have the lights on and the place looking inviting before my clients arrived.

We pulled up in the drive-way (which was icy) to the left of the proper side of the garage. We no sooner get out of the car and go inside than the neighbor comes out, opens the garage door and pulls her car out half way.

My clients arrived...they pull in front of the appropriate garage door...the neighbor comes out and yells something at them. I couldn't exactly hear it, but from the look on the prospective buyers face it wasn't nice. We moved our car so they could move their car closer.

Now why in the world would you be nasty in a situation like that? Would
you rather have a vacant house next to you?

I know it takes all kinds when it comes to real estate and Real Estate in Kansas City Missouri isn't any different.

While filling out the feedback online for the seller's agent I explained what happened and ended it with "good luck selling it with the attitude of that neighbor."

It doesn't take that much to be nice.... does it ?

Fran White, REALTOR® 2007 816-682-3897 for your Kansas City real estate needs

Hope on Jackson County's Horizon

There's Hope on the Horizon for Property Taxes in Jackson County, Missouri
How are property taxes figured in your County? There's hope on Jackson County's horizon!
For about the last two years Jackson County, Missouri taxes have been climbing at an enormous rate due to a process called the C.O.V. (Certificate of Value).
When the Jackson County Executive seat was up for re-election, I wanted to make sure that we got someone in there that would do something about the Real Estate tax situation.
I took a look at all the candidates and Mike Sanders was concerned that high property taxes were making it difficult for middle class families to live in Jackson County. He confirmed when county had adopted a certificate of value standard to assess the market value of property, that approach made property taxes jump. He wants to reevaluate the COV approach. (My comment: It makes the property/real estate tax about 1 and 1/2% of the sales price)He stated: "I think we have to go back and evaluate what happened to cause this dramatic rise in property taxes," said Sanders. "If COVs was the way to go, was that process fair? Did we do this correctly?"
Yes, I voted for Mike Sanders.... after looking at all the candidates I felt he had integrity.
Today in the Kansas City Business Journal I read that Mike Sanders laid out a six-point plan. He said he wanted to study why county property taxes have climbed so sharply in the last two years. Of course this makes Kansas City less competitive in recruiting and retaining businesses, but Sanders also cares that people will be able to afford homes.
I'm glad I voted for Mike, perhaps he and I together can do our part to get more folks a home in Kansas City, MO .
Fran White, REALTOR 2007

To Grieve or Not to Grieve

To Grieve or Not to Grieve... That is the question
My broker is the chairperson on the grievance committee for the area Realtors association. He was discussing yesterday in sales meeting how the majority of the complaints brought to the committee involved procuring cause.
It really made me think of a transaction I had a year ago and again made me wonder why we do what we do?
I had a home listed and a realtor with another company called me for information on the home for a showing. She wasn't familiar with the area, so I proceeded to tell her all about it.
It was clear across town and my seller offered to turn on the lights in the house since she was in the immediate area (it was an evening showing)...
My seller went down to turn on the lights. Her grandchildren were with her and enjoyed running through the house and helping her flip on on the switches. After turning on the lights they went over to visit with her soon-to-be former neighbor across the street.
As sellers will do they were peeking out the window and saw three people arrive, a couple and then a gentleman.
About 30 minutes into when the showing was suppose to take place I receive an email from the agent showing. It said the buyers really liked it and she may have an offer for me tonight. I'm thinking, WOW, these people really move, they couldn't have been in the house more than 10 minutes MAX. So I called my seller at home to tell her we may have an offer this evening. Her husband said she wasn't at home that she was still at the house they had for sale. I asked if he would please have her call me when she arrived.
An hour and a half later she called and the conversation went something like this:
"I just got back, when I went back to the house to turn off the lights the people were still there with their agent, HE was really nice. We talked about the house and I answered a few questions they had. The couple seem to like it."
I said, "who is HE?" She replied with, "The gentleman that was with them, their agent."
I'm thinking what the heck is going on ? I told my client that a woman was suppose to show it and that I needed to call the agent who had the appointment and find out what is going on.
I called and she answered. I said, "There's something really weird going on here.... my seller went to turn off the lights and there was a gentleman showing the house to a couple, what happened?" She said, "Oh not to worry, my car started over heating on the way out there and I asked them to reschedule for another night but they were so excited..... and besides, the front door was unlocked."
While those grand kids were having fun running through the house flipping on the light switches, my seller went out one door, the grand kids went out another leaving the front door unlocked. Honest mistake.
So the couples went in and showed themselves the house, my seller arrived and told them all about the house and showing them things in the house and the buyers agent wasn't even there. The gentleman she thought was the buyers agent was the parent to one of them.
Call me weird, but if I walked up to an unlocked home, would I enter. NO WAY.
Could the buyers agent have called me and said I can't make it, would you mind showing them? WAY!
They made an offer, we negotiated a contract, it closed, the buyers agent got paid, she never saw the house.
Maybe I'm being petty...but this isn't the way I sell real estate in Kansas City, Missouri. I prefer to call myself ethical, professional and mindful of the way I do business.
Was it worth taking her to the grievance committee? Well I didn't think so... but let's check ourselves folks and the way we do business.
We should be working together to make the process smoother and helping one another.
What's your opinion of this situation?


Fran White, REALTOR, 2006
http://www.kansascity-realestate.net/

Real Estate Blog - Sex Offender NABBED by concerned mother

Sex Offender NABBED by concerned mother
A few days ago Broker Bryant wrote
Prepare to be shocked. Read this!!!!! regarding the use of the website www.FamilyWatchdog.us
I have subscribed to this site and get occasional emails from them with success stories.
If my Kansas City Real Estate clients raise this as a concern I recommend that they do a search on the site themselves, it's extremely user friendly and informational!
Below is the contents of an email I received from them today.

FamilyWatchdog.US used to bust registered offender who attempted to lure a child from his mother


FamilyWatchdog.US was recently used by a Florida mother to identify, locate and arrest a registered offender who attempted to lure her four-year-old son from a Florida park.

The mother, who remains unidentified citing privacy and security issues, told her son not to talk to strangers when an unknown man approached him while playing in Navarre Park in Santa Rosa County, Florida. The young boy later told his mother the man asked if he wanted to go home and play ball at the man's house. Growing concerned, she searched the area around Navarre Park for registered offenders using FamilyWatchdog.us, the nation's leading offender registry resource. After viewing just one other registered offender, the woman found a picture of the man who just hours earlier approached her son in Navarre Park. According to the Santa

Fran White, REALTOR 2006 Kansas City Real Estate
"