Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Kansas City Kicks Off The Holiday Season
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The Holidays are officially kicked-off in Kansas City. Thanksgiving is over, the Plaza Lights are shining bright. The Mayor’s Christmas Tree is sparkling and Zona Rosa is all a twinkle with those beautiful crowns that use to call downtown Kansas City home.
But is it time to buy home in Kansas City? Of course it is! There are many amazing homes on the market at utterly amazing prices, now is the time. If you’ve even remotely considered buying a home in the last 6 months NOW is the time to do it, you’d be shocked at what you can get for your $$$!
If you’d like some assistance looking in the North Kansas City area I’d be more than glad to assist you!
Please feel free to call my cell 816-682-3897 or email me at FranWhite@kc.rr.com
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
1108 NW 73rd Terr., Kansas City, MO
Click the details button at the bottom of the visual tour to get additional information on this property. If I can be of assistance with your real estate needs, please feel free to contact me at franwhite@kc.rr.com or 816-682-3897
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Oct 2007
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Meet Lola... well her name really isn't Lola, it's Dolores, but I have permission to call her Lola.Lola is a dear friend of mine - we worked together in television.
In 2004, Lola was diagnosed with breast cancer.
With her son and husband to care for she wasn't quite sure how she was going to manage. Friends and family were eager to help with meals, car-pooling and housekeeping.
Keep everything straight on who was coming when and to do what was taxing - this normally vivacious, beautiful, spunky gal didn't need one more thing to keep track of while trying to concentrate on healing.
Being Lola...she created an online schedule system where friends and family could log in and sign up for whatever duties on whatever date and time was available.
It worked beautifully and everything got accomplished when it was suppose to.
Now 3 years later Lola has won her battle with cancer and just today launched her own dot.com.
MyPinkPlanner.com is a free online service offered to breast cancer survivors to give them an extra edge on organization while undergoing chemo or radiation.
I'm proud of Lola - she's helping make lemonade out of lemons for breast cancer patients.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month please consider sharing this website with someone you know whose life has changed by breast cancer.
Good going Lola!
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Fall is Upon Us...... Tree, Yard and Lawn Tips for Fall
Help Lawns Recover from Summer
Fall watering can go a long way
If your lawn looks a bit rough after the heat and dry conditions summer normally brings, get out your hose. Fall watering is one of the best things you can do to bring your lawn back after a hot, dry summer.
We usually suggest watering each area of your lawn at least 30-90 minutes each time you water, depending on your sprinkler type. If you are restoring your lawn without seeding, plan to water every week in the absence of rain. As the days shorten and the nights become cool, there is less evaporation and watering lasts much longer.
If you have seeded your lawn, you should water daily for three weeks. Continue to water every 2-3 days once this time has passed.
Protection Next Season Starts Now
Our plant protection products prevent disease
As leaves begin to fall for this season, take time to think of next spring. With rake in hand, it is easy to think of deciduous trees, like crabapples and hawthorns, that are commonly susceptible to fungal diseases in the spring.
We must also turn our attention to susceptible evergreens. Scotch and Austrian pines are commonly infected by tip blight during wet spring months. Tip blight was especially bad this year, which means there is a greater risk of tip blight next spring. Of the steps you can take to minimize your pine's risk of infection, prevention is the best method.
All pines can be protected on a preventative basis. Proper timing of our applications can control the fungi and enable you to enjoy healthy trees next season. You can rest easy by placing your trees on our program now. Contact your RYAN Certified Arborist today.
Ready, Set, Rake!
Leaf clean-up important during fall months
As trees begin to shed their leaves for the fall season, grab your rake. It is important to keep up with leaf clean-up, especially on newly seeded lawns.
It may be tempting to use your mulching mower to grind up your leaves. However, this is not the best method. Large amounts of leaves can significantly increase the amount of organic matter in your lawn and may contribute to low pH levels.
High levels of organic matter in the soil in your turfgrass areas can cause lawns to dry out extremely fast during dry spells. If you would like to use your mulching mower to grind up your leaves, be sure to move them to your landscape beds where organic matter is needed. Otherwise, bag the leaves.
Mowing Season is Winding Down
Final mowing height, mower maintenance important
Soon we will be packing away our lawn mowers for the winter season. Before parking your mower, be sure to do a final mowing. (Both warm season and cool season turfgrasses should be cut at two inches for their final mowing.)
Mowing at two inches has improved cold tolerance among warm season turfgrass. It also prevents cool-season turfgrasses to from falling over under the weight of snow.
After mowing the lawn the final time, there are a few important maintenance things to do. First, sharpen the blade. Also, change the oil and add a fuel stabilizer to the gas tank. This will reduce hassles in the spring when you are ready to get outside and work.
Fall Optimum Time for Feeding Trees
Give trees, shrubs nutrients they need to thrive
Trees and shrubs undergo many stresses throughout the year. This year is no different. From freezing temperatures late in the spring to typical summer stresses, many trees and shrubs would benefit from fertilization.
In addition to assisting with stress recovery, root fertilization can increase plant health and vigorous root and shoot growth.
Landscape Calendar: October
Water cool-season lawns to help recovery from summer stress.
Continue to water newly seeded lawns every 2-3 days.
Call RYAN to fertilize your trees and shrubs.
Plant spring blooming bulbs for early color next season.
Plant pansies to complement spring flowering bulbs. Simply plant the pansies over spring bulbs for a dramatic display. Mulch well.
Remove begonias, caladiums, dahlias and other tuberous plants for overwintering indoors.
Empty ornamental containers and store for winter.
Continue to water and weed landscape beds as needed.
Fall watering can go a long way
If your lawn looks a bit rough after the heat and dry conditions summer normally brings, get out your hose. Fall watering is one of the best things you can do to bring your lawn back after a hot, dry summer.
We usually suggest watering each area of your lawn at least 30-90 minutes each time you water, depending on your sprinkler type. If you are restoring your lawn without seeding, plan to water every week in the absence of rain. As the days shorten and the nights become cool, there is less evaporation and watering lasts much longer.
If you have seeded your lawn, you should water daily for three weeks. Continue to water every 2-3 days once this time has passed.
Protection Next Season Starts Now
Our plant protection products prevent disease
As leaves begin to fall for this season, take time to think of next spring. With rake in hand, it is easy to think of deciduous trees, like crabapples and hawthorns, that are commonly susceptible to fungal diseases in the spring.
We must also turn our attention to susceptible evergreens. Scotch and Austrian pines are commonly infected by tip blight during wet spring months. Tip blight was especially bad this year, which means there is a greater risk of tip blight next spring. Of the steps you can take to minimize your pine's risk of infection, prevention is the best method.
All pines can be protected on a preventative basis. Proper timing of our applications can control the fungi and enable you to enjoy healthy trees next season. You can rest easy by placing your trees on our program now. Contact your RYAN Certified Arborist today.
Ready, Set, Rake!
Leaf clean-up important during fall months
As trees begin to shed their leaves for the fall season, grab your rake. It is important to keep up with leaf clean-up, especially on newly seeded lawns.
It may be tempting to use your mulching mower to grind up your leaves. However, this is not the best method. Large amounts of leaves can significantly increase the amount of organic matter in your lawn and may contribute to low pH levels.
High levels of organic matter in the soil in your turfgrass areas can cause lawns to dry out extremely fast during dry spells. If you would like to use your mulching mower to grind up your leaves, be sure to move them to your landscape beds where organic matter is needed. Otherwise, bag the leaves.
Mowing Season is Winding Down
Final mowing height, mower maintenance important
Soon we will be packing away our lawn mowers for the winter season. Before parking your mower, be sure to do a final mowing. (Both warm season and cool season turfgrasses should be cut at two inches for their final mowing.)
Mowing at two inches has improved cold tolerance among warm season turfgrass. It also prevents cool-season turfgrasses to from falling over under the weight of snow.
After mowing the lawn the final time, there are a few important maintenance things to do. First, sharpen the blade. Also, change the oil and add a fuel stabilizer to the gas tank. This will reduce hassles in the spring when you are ready to get outside and work.
Fall Optimum Time for Feeding Trees
Give trees, shrubs nutrients they need to thrive
Trees and shrubs undergo many stresses throughout the year. This year is no different. From freezing temperatures late in the spring to typical summer stresses, many trees and shrubs would benefit from fertilization.
In addition to assisting with stress recovery, root fertilization can increase plant health and vigorous root and shoot growth.
Landscape Calendar: October
Water cool-season lawns to help recovery from summer stress.
Continue to water newly seeded lawns every 2-3 days.
Call RYAN to fertilize your trees and shrubs.
Plant spring blooming bulbs for early color next season.
Plant pansies to complement spring flowering bulbs. Simply plant the pansies over spring bulbs for a dramatic display. Mulch well.
Remove begonias, caladiums, dahlias and other tuberous plants for overwintering indoors.
Empty ornamental containers and store for winter.
Continue to water and weed landscape beds as needed.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Mortgage News of the Week
Here's the Kansas City area mortgage news from Carol Poppe
Carol Poppe, Vice President Mortgage
Ph 913-652-7302 cell 913-707-1153
www.fcbloan.com/CLPoppe
MORTGAGE NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF 09/27/2007
UPDATE ON MORTGAGE INSURANCE TAX DEDUCTIBILITY:
A House of Representative panel has met recently to enact a bill that will help ease problems in the housing crunch. Top on their list was changing the law that taxed homeowners on the amount of forgiven debt by lenders. As the law stands, homeowners who short sell their home back to their lender to avoid foreclosure get taxed on the forgiven debt because they treat it as income. The legislation was approved to change this rule.
The big news is that the committee proposed legislation to extend income tax deduction for private mortgage insurance. A temporary one is in place but is expiring December 31, 2007. The new legislation will extend this through December 31, 2014.
The new bill is backed by The National Association of Home Builders, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and the National Association of Realtors.
This new bill will be presented to the House of Representatives for a full House vote after the House Ways and Means Committee approved the bill by voice vote.
Carol Poppe, Vice President Mortgage
Ph 913-652-7302 cell 913-707-1153
www.fcbloan.com/CLPoppe
MORTGAGE NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF 09/27/2007
UPDATE ON MORTGAGE INSURANCE TAX DEDUCTIBILITY:
A House of Representative panel has met recently to enact a bill that will help ease problems in the housing crunch. Top on their list was changing the law that taxed homeowners on the amount of forgiven debt by lenders. As the law stands, homeowners who short sell their home back to their lender to avoid foreclosure get taxed on the forgiven debt because they treat it as income. The legislation was approved to change this rule.
The big news is that the committee proposed legislation to extend income tax deduction for private mortgage insurance. A temporary one is in place but is expiring December 31, 2007. The new legislation will extend this through December 31, 2014.
The new bill is backed by The National Association of Home Builders, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and the National Association of Realtors.
This new bill will be presented to the House of Representatives for a full House vote after the House Ways and Means Committee approved the bill by voice vote.
Pick Your Pumpkin!
The Frost Will Soon Be On The Pumpkin
Ready for some old fashioned fun for your family weekend adventure?
It's time for Kansas Citians to visit one of the area Pumpkin Patches!
Weston Red Barn Farm
This farm was puchased in 1989 by Steve and Cindi Frey. They have a pumpking patch, orchards, sheep to pet and pony rides in beautiful and historic Weston.
Johnson Farms
With over 30 acres you can pick your own pumpkin or buy them already picked! The wagon rides and animal corral are great fun for the kids. They have gourdes, squash and flowers too.
KC Pumpkin Patch
Here you will find 10's or 1,000's of U-Pick pumpkins and many other activities to keep your children busy all day!
Carolyn's Country Cousins
In Liberty, Missouri is just plain fun! A "mega" pumpkin patch, animal barn, pig races and you can even make your own scarecrow!
http://www.pumpkins-etc.com/
Located east of Platte City they have a down home pumpkin patch, gourds and beautiful mums.
It's a family run farm, not heavy on the bling but full of old fashioned fun.
Check out the websites of these Pumpkin Patches for more information
Monday, September 24, 2007
Proposed Changes to FHA Loan by Brian Brockman with Plaza Mortgage
NOTE: this bill has been proposed but not yet passed.
FHA Modernization Bill. Key provisions include a sales price limit increase to $271,050 in our area. There is a possible increase to $417,000 and to $730,000 in some areas. The increase to $271,050 would be effective immediately and higher limits may follow depending on how the bill is passed.
It is possible that the down payment would be lowered to 1.5% but then the upfront MIP would have to be included for a total of 3%. The House version includes a $0 down provision but it's doubtful it will be adopted.
The bill would also facilitate the acceptance of Fannie and Freddie condominium projects.
The Senate Banking Committee has approved this bill and there is bi-partisan acceptance. We should expect the process to be completed and signed by the President in the next 30 days.
What does it mean to you? More sales qualify for FHA due to a higher loan limit.
Since FHA is credit history and not credit score driven, more buyers are eligible.
Some FHA reminders - 1) Seller may contribute up to 6% of the sales price, 2) no termite inspection required unless appraiser sees obvious damage, 3) no non-allowables required to be paid by the seller, 4) buyer may currently be in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, 5) loans are assumable - important if rates go to 8%, 6) Occupying borrower not required to have income. Great for parents buying for a college student!
Remember this bill has been proposed and not yet passed!
FHA Modernization Bill. Key provisions include a sales price limit increase to $271,050 in our area. There is a possible increase to $417,000 and to $730,000 in some areas. The increase to $271,050 would be effective immediately and higher limits may follow depending on how the bill is passed.
It is possible that the down payment would be lowered to 1.5% but then the upfront MIP would have to be included for a total of 3%. The House version includes a $0 down provision but it's doubtful it will be adopted.
The bill would also facilitate the acceptance of Fannie and Freddie condominium projects.
The Senate Banking Committee has approved this bill and there is bi-partisan acceptance. We should expect the process to be completed and signed by the President in the next 30 days.
What does it mean to you? More sales qualify for FHA due to a higher loan limit.
Since FHA is credit history and not credit score driven, more buyers are eligible.
Some FHA reminders - 1) Seller may contribute up to 6% of the sales price, 2) no termite inspection required unless appraiser sees obvious damage, 3) no non-allowables required to be paid by the seller, 4) buyer may currently be in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, 5) loans are assumable - important if rates go to 8%, 6) Occupying borrower not required to have income. Great for parents buying for a college student!
Remember this bill has been proposed and not yet passed!
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Fall Lawn Care Tips From My Ryan Lawn Guy
Fall Seeding Instructions
Improve your lawn through seeding
If your lawn hasn't performed well this summer, now is a great time to seed. RYAN can help you improve the quality of turfgrass in your lawn, from seeding for you to selling you our Gold-Tag seed.
If you would like to seed yourself, follow these instructions:
Measure the area to be seeded.
Buy the seed you need. Great lawns start with the best grass. Call RYAN to buy Gold Tag seed.
Mow lawn at lowest setting.
Call RYAN if you think you have thatch. We'll suggest a plan to remove it.
Flag all sprinkler heads and valve boxes.
Put down starter fertilizer.
Apply seed carefully with a cyclone-type spreader.
Rent a verticutter and set it to cut grooves 1/4" deep.
Verticut area twice AFTER SEEDING.
Start watering right away.
Soak lawn thoroughly the first day.
Water daily for three weeks, keep newly seeded area continually moist.
Protect Crabapples, Pines Next Season
Our plant protection products prevent disease
Certain plants are susceptible to fungal diseases during wet spring months. Many crabapples, pines and hawthorns are commonly affected.
Crabapples and hawthorns are affected by apple scab and cedar-apple rust. A common symptom of these diseases is yellowing leaves with spots. Premature defoliation is a common result. Austrian and Scotch pines are prone to tip blight, a foliar disease that causes needles at the tips of the trees to brown.
This can be frustrating as a homeowner because the trees must be protected on a preventative basis. If you noticed any of the above symptoms, give your RYANPro a call. Through our preventative program, we can prevent these diseases from occuring. Proper timing of our applications can control the fungi and enable you to enjoy healthy trees next season.
Iron Chlorosis Still Evident
It's not too late to relieve this condition
In August's issue of our landscape guide, we brought iron chlorosis to your attention.
Pin oak and river birch are commonly affected by this condition. If you would like to learn more about iron chlorosis, visit our resource library: Iron Chlorosis.
Without proper treatment, trees may lose leaves prematurely, or suffer branch and limb dieback. Death can result from severe cases.
If you have questions, or have a tree that needs treatment, give your RYAN Certified Arborist a call. It isn't too late in the season to relieve this condition. We can provide the tree with the iron it needs by injecting an appropriate mixture of iron and water directly into the trunk of the tree.
Feed Trees To Assist Stress Recovery
Give trees, shrubs nutrients they need to thrive
Many of us were affected by the freezing temperatures earlier this spring. This added to typical summer stress, making this a particularly rough year on trees and shrubs.
Your RYAN Certified Arborist recommends our deep root fertilization this fall to help your trees and shrubs recover from all of this season's stresses. In addition to assisting with stress recovery, root feeding can increase plant health and vigorous root and shoot growth.
You can learn more about root fertilization by visiting our resource library: Root Fertilization. Contact your RYAN Certified Arborist to schedule this application this fall.
Landscape Calendar: September
Seed lawn if needed. Remember to water daily for three weeks after seeding.
Prepare new landscape beds for planting in the spring: Kill the grass and till in compost.
Fertilize your lawn to help it recover from summer stress.
Continue to water and weed landscape beds as needed.
Improve your lawn through seeding
If your lawn hasn't performed well this summer, now is a great time to seed. RYAN can help you improve the quality of turfgrass in your lawn, from seeding for you to selling you our Gold-Tag seed.
If you would like to seed yourself, follow these instructions:
Measure the area to be seeded.
Buy the seed you need. Great lawns start with the best grass. Call RYAN to buy Gold Tag seed.
Mow lawn at lowest setting.
Call RYAN if you think you have thatch. We'll suggest a plan to remove it.
Flag all sprinkler heads and valve boxes.
Put down starter fertilizer.
Apply seed carefully with a cyclone-type spreader.
Rent a verticutter and set it to cut grooves 1/4" deep.
Verticut area twice AFTER SEEDING.
Start watering right away.
Soak lawn thoroughly the first day.
Water daily for three weeks, keep newly seeded area continually moist.
Protect Crabapples, Pines Next Season
Our plant protection products prevent disease
Certain plants are susceptible to fungal diseases during wet spring months. Many crabapples, pines and hawthorns are commonly affected.
Crabapples and hawthorns are affected by apple scab and cedar-apple rust. A common symptom of these diseases is yellowing leaves with spots. Premature defoliation is a common result. Austrian and Scotch pines are prone to tip blight, a foliar disease that causes needles at the tips of the trees to brown.
This can be frustrating as a homeowner because the trees must be protected on a preventative basis. If you noticed any of the above symptoms, give your RYANPro a call. Through our preventative program, we can prevent these diseases from occuring. Proper timing of our applications can control the fungi and enable you to enjoy healthy trees next season.
Iron Chlorosis Still Evident
It's not too late to relieve this condition
In August's issue of our landscape guide, we brought iron chlorosis to your attention.
Pin oak and river birch are commonly affected by this condition. If you would like to learn more about iron chlorosis, visit our resource library: Iron Chlorosis.
Without proper treatment, trees may lose leaves prematurely, or suffer branch and limb dieback. Death can result from severe cases.
If you have questions, or have a tree that needs treatment, give your RYAN Certified Arborist a call. It isn't too late in the season to relieve this condition. We can provide the tree with the iron it needs by injecting an appropriate mixture of iron and water directly into the trunk of the tree.
Feed Trees To Assist Stress Recovery
Give trees, shrubs nutrients they need to thrive
Many of us were affected by the freezing temperatures earlier this spring. This added to typical summer stress, making this a particularly rough year on trees and shrubs.
Your RYAN Certified Arborist recommends our deep root fertilization this fall to help your trees and shrubs recover from all of this season's stresses. In addition to assisting with stress recovery, root feeding can increase plant health and vigorous root and shoot growth.
You can learn more about root fertilization by visiting our resource library: Root Fertilization. Contact your RYAN Certified Arborist to schedule this application this fall.
Landscape Calendar: September
Seed lawn if needed. Remember to water daily for three weeks after seeding.
Prepare new landscape beds for planting in the spring: Kill the grass and till in compost.
Fertilize your lawn to help it recover from summer stress.
Continue to water and weed landscape beds as needed.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
President Bush is Reading My Blogs?
I wrote previously about the Saturday morning that we stopped by the Corner Cafe for some of their delicious bisquits and gravy. It was so good.... good enough for the President I guess.
There are many things President Bush did while he was in Kansas City yesterday: snarled traffic, addressed the VFW Convention and ate breakfast at the Corner Cafe.
The Corner Cafe is in Riverside, Missouri, a very small suburb of Kansas City. Most people don't even know that it's there and usually only locals go to Riverside. So I'm thinking that someone in the President's immediate group or the President himself has been reading my Active Rain blog.... how else would he know about their yummy bisquits and gravy?
Mr. President enjoyed his breakfast with other well known Kansas City figures such as George Brett, here's what Wikipedia says about George; Carl Peterson with the Kansas City Chiefs; Terry Dunn from Dunn Construction and Ann Dickinson.
The owner of the Corner Cafe, Ed Rule, just agreed to reserve a room for a "business meeting".... little did he know that it was the President.
So I say keep on reading Mr. President, I'll keep you informed on what's going on in Kansas City and the Kansas City Real Estate market.
*Photo Courtesy of bethanyll22 on Flickr
NKC School District Receives Good News
NKC School Districts Scores Improve
The North Kansas City School District received good news last week that the district's test scores on the National ACT and Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) have gone up.
Their MAP scores outperform the state average in nearly every category measured.
Their ACT scores exceed state and national averages.
This was good news for the district since they were previously placed on the "No Child Left Behind" watch list.
Antioch Shopping Center Gets A Face Lift
New Site Plan Breaths Life Into My Old Stomping Grounds= Antioch Shopping Ctr.
I've written previously about Antioch Shopping Center and how it was dying a miserable death.
Well now they have a new and smaller budget to cover the cost of re-developing my old stomping grounds.
The new budget has been approved by the Kansas City Tax Increment Finance Commission.
The total cost of the project is now estimate at $72 million vs. $82 million
The size of Antioch Center is going to be reduced by 55,000 square feet. Sears will stay in it's current location and they will tear down the rest of the mall around Sears and rebuild it.
The area will be reborn and things should start thriving again once the project is done.
If you'd like to look at any Kansas City Real Estate by Antioch, please be sure and get ahold of me!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
How to Avoid Being A Victim of Identity Theft - BE WISE
How To Help NOT Being a Victim of Identity Theft
Imagine this: You are sitting at your desk or the kitchen table balancing your check book and preparing to pay your monthly bills. You open your credit card statement and you realized there's an $1100.00 charge you are sure you didn't make...
Unbelievably upset with that sick feeling in your gut you realize you've becom a victim of identity theft.
Immediately you wonder what you did or what you didn't shred to cause this.
Here are a few things you can do that could help prevent the headaches involved with identity theft:
Only give out your social security number when it's absolutely necessary. Some states give you the option of using your social or NOT as your driver's license number. NOT is the correct answer. And never carry your social security card with you. And for Pete's sake do NOT put your social security number on your personalized checks!
Cancel credit cards that you are not using or do not need. When canceling, be sure to request that a notation be made that the "card was cancelled at the cardholders request."
Don't leave outgoing mail in your own mailbox. I'm not talking about the birthday card to Uncle Bubba. I'm talkin about anything that includes your personal or banking information.
It's far too easy for identity thieves to target mailboxes even in nice neighborhoods, or perhaps I should say ESPECIALLY in nice neighborhoods. Instead, drop those off at the box at the post office.
SHRED, SHRED, and SHRED some more!!!
Shred credit card receipts, debit card receipts, insurance bills.... anything that you don't need to keep that even remotely tells and inkling of your personal information. This is a big prevention tool. Thieves will ransack trash just to make a buck.
Use complicated passwords on your computer, email and Internet accounts. The bst combination would be a the use of upper and lower case letters in addition to number. Don't use your house number, your birth-date, your phone number or maiden names that will help in making you a target!
NEVER (did I make that clear?) NEVER give out personal information over the phone, email or on the Internet. I bought my 81 year old father his latest computer, my rulse was simple. If you don't know who the email is from, do not even open it.... and if you do don't EVER give out personal information over the Internet. Most companies you do business with have a policy against asking your personal information over the Internet.
Call your bank or credit card company if you feel a statement or bill should have arrived and it hasn't. A missing bill or statement could indicate that you are being targeted.
Upon receiving your charge card bills or bank statements each month, take a careful look to make sure no unauthorized activities have occurred.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) an many as 9 million individuals have their identity stolen each year. It seems the thieves also like to target older individuals due to vulnerability issues.
My mother is a sharp old gal, but received a phone call from someone claiming to be with the FTC stating that someone was trying to get into her account. She freaked and spilled her guts to anything they asked her. She immediately realized after hanging up that her moment of panic could have cleared out her checking. She immediately went to the bank and closed the account.
No one immune to these predators.
Thanks for stopping by!
Monday, August 06, 2007
The Latest Kansas City Mortgage News
Here's the latest Kansas City Mortgage News from my friend at First Community Bank
Mortgage Division
From: CAROL POPPE 913-652-7302
WEEKLY NEWS REPORT: 8/6/2007
Well as we say in this business, “the wheels are falling off the bus.” Last week was The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. The good news last week came in the form of friendly inflation and employment news which helped rates on CONFORMING home loans improve over the course of the week. I just locked a $390,000 loan (80% LTV) in at 6.375%. Conforming home loans are those under $417,000 and subject to very standard credit, income and asset qualifying, nothing exotic, outside the box, or fancy.
A little bad news came by way of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, revising previous personal savings rate estimates higher, but showing that Americans still save less than 1% of their income.
The Ugly last week – well, was really ugly. The media screamed all week about issues in the mortgage industry particularly impacting what are called Non Conforming home loans; those that are dollar amounts higher than $417K, or with credit, income or assets not falling under traditional guidelines. Many of those rates got excessively ugly, in many cases, overnight. Why? Over the past several yeas, many loans were made to homeowners with somewhat non-traditional or “non-conforming” situations, be it poor credit, inability to document income, or any number of factors that do not fit within the traditional box for home loans. These loans are often called “Sub-Prime” or “Alt-A”, meaning that they were somewhat riskier in nature than A credit, prime or traditional loans. Another type of “non-conforming” home loan is one where the credit and income might be perfectly fine, but the loan amount is higher than $417K, which is the current maximum loan that can be done using pools of money from mortgage giants Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FHLMC). These are known as Jumbo Loans – but the end money comes from private institutions, not from the large government sponsored entities of Fannie and Freddie. Most Non-Conforming loan product rates popped significantly higher in the last week even though Jumbos have not suffered from the increased delinquencies like the Sub-prime and Alt-A. This was due to the fact that these pools of mortgages are being purchased by smaller private entities that can’t afford to take on the margin of risk of foreclosures.
From our pool of investors, Wells Fargo jumped the highest in their Jumbo rates. The 100% financing options are deteriorating very quickly and the rules are changing overnight. Several large companies have shut their doors in the last week including American Home Mortgage (huge in stated and no income programs) and Fieldstone (a Sub-Prime company). US Bank has announced today that they are no longer doing “No Income” and “No Ratio” mortgage loans. BE WARY OF OLDER PRE-APPROVALS whether you are putting a contract on a home or are receiving one. Everything is changing so quickly it is hard to keep up with all the changes. Some investors have raised the credit score minimums for 100% financing. We are seeing that those people who have credit scores under 680 and make more than $82,000 are going to be challenged in 100% financing if they purchase over the FHA limit (approximately $210,000). Their options are dwindling. This is the group buying $225,000-$350,000, and even though some of these are buying their second home, they are not netting enough out of the sale of their first home to have much downpayment after they cover their costs.
Remind your buyers that now is NOT the time to be playing the risky game of trying to scour the entire nation to find someone who promises to save you a paltry amount on costs, or deliver a rate that seems too good to be true. A smooth closing and being reassured that it will close on time are just too important, and the times have changed. I am here to help and advise during these volatile times – and would welcome calls from you and your clients.
Lawn and Tree Tid-Bits from My Ryan Lawn and Tree Expert
Lawn Diseases of Summer
Fungus problems common during summer months
To be sure, watering during the hot summer months is a necessity. Most lawns need 2" of water a week to thrive when it is hot. This should be spread out throughout the week so the turfgrass has the ability to absorb the water, instead of it running off the lawn.
Watering should be avoided during the evening hours, from 4p.m. until 4a.m., to avoid fungal problems. However, the rains that we receive often happen in the evening hours, leaving our turfgrass vulnerable to infection.
Although brown patch is on the decline, pythium blight can become more of a threat because the night temperatures are higher than average during this time. To learn more about brown patch and pythium blight, visit our resource library: Lawn Diseases.
Your RYANPro can apply a preventative fungicide to help protect your lawn against summer fungal problems. The product we use helps prevent both stress and fungus from occurring.
Look out for Yellow Leaves
Iron chlorosis common problem
Some trees, like pin oak and river birch, are commonly affected by a condition called iron chlorosis. Iron chlorosis is caused by the tree's inability to absorb the iron existing in the soil. Look for lighter green or yellow leaves with dark green veins.
If left untreated, trees may lose leaves prematurely or suffer branch and limb dieback. Death can result from severe cases.
If you have questions, or have a tree that needs treatment, give your RYAN Certified Arborist a call. We can provide the tree with the iron it needs by injecting an appropriate mixture of iron and water directly into the trunk of the tree.
Brown Spots in Your Lawn?
Soil Problems may be at fault
New homes are especially vulnerable to hot spots. These occur when there is little good soil and the rocks and cement left over from constructing the new house is left in the lawn and the sod is laid on top. The high heat that we are experiencing will result in the lawn being bleached out.
The best way to fix this problem is to remove the rocks or debris below the turf, followed by reseeding or sodding this fall.
Heavy clay soils, common to older areas of town, can hold water which can also cause brown spots to appear in your lawn.
If you have brown spots in your lawn and are unsure of their cause, contact your RYANPro today.
Sprinkler System Confusing?
Your RYANPro can help.
If you have a sprinkler system, you may be among those who are unsure of how to set them properly. Did you know that a common problem when watering with sprinklers is the length of time?
Drought stress is a common problem during this time of year. People are not watering enough. If you need help setting your system up to meet your landscape's needs, contact your RYANPro. Many of our associates are comfortable helping you set up your system. We also have a referral list of sprinkler companies that we trust. We can refer you to someone who can help set up your system and make sure all areas are getting hit evenly.
Lawn Not Performing Well?
Seeding may be your best option
If your lawn isn't performing to your expectations, consider seeding your lawn to improve the quality of grass. Some cool-season lawns contain inferior grass types that will never perform well. These lawns should be killed-out and reseeded, a process that can begin in August.
If you would like to thicken up your existing stand of turfgrass, consider overseeding with high-quality seed. Your RYANPro can advise you which method is best for you.
If you would like us to assist you with your seeding needs this fall, contact your RYANPro today for a FREE seeding estimate.
Landscape Calendar: August
Water your lawn and landscape plants with 2" of water if rainfall is lacking.
Check shrubs for mites and other insect pests. Call RYAN if control is needed.
Weed flower beds regularly.
Evaluate lawn for seeding needs this fall.
Fungus problems common during summer months
To be sure, watering during the hot summer months is a necessity. Most lawns need 2" of water a week to thrive when it is hot. This should be spread out throughout the week so the turfgrass has the ability to absorb the water, instead of it running off the lawn.
Watering should be avoided during the evening hours, from 4p.m. until 4a.m., to avoid fungal problems. However, the rains that we receive often happen in the evening hours, leaving our turfgrass vulnerable to infection.
Although brown patch is on the decline, pythium blight can become more of a threat because the night temperatures are higher than average during this time. To learn more about brown patch and pythium blight, visit our resource library: Lawn Diseases.
Your RYANPro can apply a preventative fungicide to help protect your lawn against summer fungal problems. The product we use helps prevent both stress and fungus from occurring.
Look out for Yellow Leaves
Iron chlorosis common problem
Some trees, like pin oak and river birch, are commonly affected by a condition called iron chlorosis. Iron chlorosis is caused by the tree's inability to absorb the iron existing in the soil. Look for lighter green or yellow leaves with dark green veins.
If left untreated, trees may lose leaves prematurely or suffer branch and limb dieback. Death can result from severe cases.
If you have questions, or have a tree that needs treatment, give your RYAN Certified Arborist a call. We can provide the tree with the iron it needs by injecting an appropriate mixture of iron and water directly into the trunk of the tree.
Brown Spots in Your Lawn?
Soil Problems may be at fault
New homes are especially vulnerable to hot spots. These occur when there is little good soil and the rocks and cement left over from constructing the new house is left in the lawn and the sod is laid on top. The high heat that we are experiencing will result in the lawn being bleached out.
The best way to fix this problem is to remove the rocks or debris below the turf, followed by reseeding or sodding this fall.
Heavy clay soils, common to older areas of town, can hold water which can also cause brown spots to appear in your lawn.
If you have brown spots in your lawn and are unsure of their cause, contact your RYANPro today.
Sprinkler System Confusing?
Your RYANPro can help.
If you have a sprinkler system, you may be among those who are unsure of how to set them properly. Did you know that a common problem when watering with sprinklers is the length of time?
Drought stress is a common problem during this time of year. People are not watering enough. If you need help setting your system up to meet your landscape's needs, contact your RYANPro. Many of our associates are comfortable helping you set up your system. We also have a referral list of sprinkler companies that we trust. We can refer you to someone who can help set up your system and make sure all areas are getting hit evenly.
Lawn Not Performing Well?
Seeding may be your best option
If your lawn isn't performing to your expectations, consider seeding your lawn to improve the quality of grass. Some cool-season lawns contain inferior grass types that will never perform well. These lawns should be killed-out and reseeded, a process that can begin in August.
If you would like to thicken up your existing stand of turfgrass, consider overseeding with high-quality seed. Your RYANPro can advise you which method is best for you.
If you would like us to assist you with your seeding needs this fall, contact your RYANPro today for a FREE seeding estimate.
Landscape Calendar: August
Water your lawn and landscape plants with 2" of water if rainfall is lacking.
Check shrubs for mites and other insect pests. Call RYAN if control is needed.
Weed flower beds regularly.
Evaluate lawn for seeding needs this fall.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Fun in the Sun!
The Sun Always Shines on People Who are Cool!
It's going to be another hot day here in Kansas City!
Generally August is really how as you probably know if you've lived in Kansas City for any amount of time.
There are a number of ways to stay cool!
There is Oceans of Fun the largest tropically themed water park in the Midwest, offers 60 acres of splashing excitement and fun for every member of the family and all the sunburn you can handle!!
There's Tiffany Springs Aquatic Park with loads of fun for the whole family with reasonable prices.
There's also Gladstone Aquatic Center that's recently had a major face-lift.
Or you can visit a neighborhood pool and if none of these are an option..... try the old fashion cooling system of letting the kids play in the sprinkler while watering the yard. This way you kill two birds with one stone.
BUT REMEMBER to always use sunscreen...... and don't forget about your pets.
Try to remember not to leave your pets outside in this horrible heat and humidity.... ESPECIALLY if they don't have a dog house or any legitimate protection from the sun. Water in a dogs bowl outside in these temperatures heats up fast..... how would you like to lay in the sun with a fur coat on?
Have fun in the sun, but be safe!
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Convert a Can Light into a Pendant Light
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In our new home we had a can light over the sink. I really didn't like it.
During one of our many trips to Lowe's I found a Pendant Light I fell in love with.
If you'd like to read how to change out a can light and install a Pendant light ,
read about it here: http://fountainhillskcmo.blogspot.com/
Thursday, July 19, 2007
We're Not in Kansas Anymore!
Now it's rather funny, but at the time it was really scary!
My husband and I were sitting on the deck with the cat. I'd just gotten up to put down the umbrella because we were seeing the storm coming in. I commented as I looked to the left of the above picture...."Look at all that dust!" Then it hit.
It had to have been a micro burst. I threw open the door and yelled at the cat to get inside and then proceeded to hold on to the umbrella for all I was worth. It blew some of my plants off the deck to the ground below and actually was blowing the b.b.q grill, moving it on the deck.
Now I know how Dorothy felt in the Wizard of Oz. We're all safe and there was no major damage. It went away as quick as it came. Ken had just snapped these pictures before the wind began to blow and I stitched them together.
We have a beautiful view from this little piece of Kansas City Real Estate!
The Only Name You Need To Know in Real Estate
Fran WhiteREALTOR®Reece and Nichols816-682-3897
It had to have been a micro burst. I threw open the door and yelled at the cat to get inside and then proceeded to hold on to the umbrella for all I was worth. It blew some of my plants off the deck to the ground below and actually was blowing the b.b.q grill, moving it on the deck.
Now I know how Dorothy felt in the Wizard of Oz. We're all safe and there was no major damage. It went away as quick as it came. Ken had just snapped these pictures before the wind began to blow and I stitched them together.
We have a beautiful view from this little piece of Kansas City Real Estate!
The Only Name You Need To Know in Real Estate
Fran WhiteREALTOR®Reece and Nichols816-682-3897
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