FHA Mortgages

FHA Mortgage Information
I had a wonderful and interesting chat with Jeff Belonger today my Blog Talk Radio Show about FHA Mortgages.

Jeff Belonger, also known as The FHA Expert, took the time to lend some interesting information about FHA Mortgages in general.

Jeff comes equipped with over 15 years experience in the mortgage industry and is packed full of knowledge about FHA mortgages.

If you would like to listen to the radio show in it's entirety please feel free to listen in using the link below.
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Kansas City Home Inspectors

I don't mind telling you that 95% of my clients have chosen to used First Choice Home Inspectors when buying Kansas City Real Estate.

I have always found them to be thourough, investigative and correct in their inspections.

Now they are offering mold inspections as one of their services. Read below the effects of mold.

If you need help with your North Kansas City Real Estate needs, please call me.

Fran White, REALTOR®
816-682-3897
Reece and Nichols Residential



First Choice is Now Offering Mold Inspections!
Chris McCullough at First Choice Property Evaluations, Inc. is now certified to perform Mold inspections. We have added this service to provide a complete package of home inspection services.

We now offer Whole House, Whole House with Licensed Engineer (PE), Certified Radon Testing, Termite Inspections, Mold Inspections, Thermal Camera Inspections, Foundation and Structural Inspections.

Asthma has increased 300 percent in children in the past ten years. Research by WHO, in Germany, finds prostate cancer, breast cancer, and other cancers increasing due to mold-related problems.

Mold is the number one health problem with one in every three persons affected by mold and one in ten with a severe problem related to mold. These can range from the common cold, tonsillitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, and pneumonia, to cancer.
Check your home's humidity levels; buy or borrow a hygrometer and watch the changes in R.H. that occur throughout a typical day in different rooms of the house and over the heating season. To inspect your home for mold growth, winter is the best time except for basements which should also be inspected in the summer. With a flashlight and some simple tools, go through the entire house, both inside and outside, searching for moisture damage and mold growth and their potential causes.

The Stachybotrus species of mold is dangerous; it will start growing in 80 percent humidity but, once established, can grow at 55 percent humidity. This mold can develop from the decay of building materials and is much harder to control. If more than ten square feet develop, it is advised that a professional clean it up. When you see a small speck of mold, that's only part of the problem - the remainder being inside the walls.

Some of the causes of mold include: brush and trees within 30 feet of the building; venting the clothes drier inside the home; furniture against outside walls; plants and aquariums; standing water, such as keeping cold water in the kitchen sink; hot tubs; using several gallons of water to wash floors. 'Sick Building Syndrome' is caused by moisture and mold growth. It migrates through foundations up from the soil.
A dehumidifier is not the final answer as it only does the air and not the walls. What is required is a combination of ventilation, circulation and heat. Carpenter ants and termites will smell moisture from miles away and they only attack damaged wood. Ventilation alone won't help a crawl space. In the summer the vents bring in warm, moist air.

Mold forms on the coldest space. The only way to deal with it is with heat. Wall heaters with fans are more efficient than baseboard heaters.

Pull furniture and store material away from exterior walls and off basement floors; leave closet doors ajar; leave bedroom doors open as much as possible; undercut doors; don't block or deflect warm air registers; open drapes, blinds, and curtains; set the furnace fan to run continuously. This will use more electricity but can be offset by installing a two-speed energy-efficient motor; don't cut off the heating supply or close off unused rooms.

Uninsulated or poorly insulated areas such as exterior corners or foundation walls, should be improved with additional insulation. Be sure to install an air-vapor barrier, usually polyethylene, on the room side of the insulation to prevent hidden condensation behind the insulation. Seal hidden opening into the attic, tighten the attic hatch, weather-strip and caulk around windows and doors, gasket electrical outlets, caulk baseboards and seal the top of foundations. Using an air conditioner on muggy summer days also helps take out the moisture.

Humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air-conditioning units and filtration systems can be a source of mold growth if they are not regularly cleaned.

Key areas to check for moisture sources leading to condensation inside the home are roof leaks (especially at chimneys and skylights); wall leaks (especially at window sills and doors); foundation leaks (especially where the ground slopes toward the foundation); and plumbing leaks (especially at toilet bases and under sink drains).
Check any fuel-burning equipment - furnaces, hot water heaters, boilers, fireplaces and wood stoves - to ensure that they are venting properly. A blocked chimney could mean that combustion products, including large amounts of water vapor, are spilling into your house. Along with that moisture come dangerous combustion gasses, such as carbon monoxide, which cause deaths every year. Have heating equipment and venting systems checked by a trained service person.

If your moisture remedial work includes extensive air sealing, be sure that all fuel-burning equipment has an adequate supply of combustion air. High efficiency furnaces, for example, have their own air supplies and exhaust fans but conventional equipment may rely on house air for combustion and on 'natural draft' to move combustion products up the chimney flue. If starved for air or overpowered by an exhaust fan somewhere else in the house, such equipment can spill combustion gasses indoors. Examples of this include stains near the vent of a gas water heater, smoke entering the room from a wood-burning fireplace or stove, and pilot lights being blown out.

Mold growth often occurs in out-of-the-way areas like closets, corners, walls behind furniture and unused rooms. Increasing air circulation to these areas warms the cold surfaces and lowers local humidity levels.

To solve moisture problems, cover any exposed earth in a crawl space or basement with heavy polyethylene; slope soil away from foundations to keep basement walls and slab dry; patch foundation leaks; don't use humidifiers; avoid drying firewood indoors; operate bathroom exhaust fans during a shower; use your range hood exhaust when cooking; and, avoid steam-cleaning carpets in winter.

Molds are parasitic micro-organisms that appear as black, white or multi-colored stain or fuzz. In addition to causing asthma, they can cause other allergies and serious health problems. There are tens of thousand of varieties of molds and are difficult and expensive to identify, even for experts. Health officials recommend eliminating all molds from inside your home.

Most mold spores need condensation or damp materials to germinate and once are established, many colonies generate their own moisture and can continue to survive even under dry conditions. They also need mild temperatures and a source of food, such as house dust or drywall paper.

First Choice Property Evaluations, Inc.
705-B SE Melody Ln. # 199 Lees Summit, MO 64063
Phone: (816)-554-1199 Email: support@firstchoicekc.com

The State of Things

Home Price Forecast For Kansas City Missouri

Home Price Forecast for Kansas City Missouri (edit/delete)
The Kansas City Business Journal reported that the Kansas City area house prices should fare better than other cities'.

In other words the home prices in Kansas City will avoid the price declines expected in the next two years in other markets.

PMI Mortgage Insurance Co released their Winter 2008 U.S. Market Risk Index and their forecast is that there is a less than 5% chance that prices in Kansas City will fall through 2010.

So if you have been sitting on the fence trying to wait out home prices, wait no more. The odds of prices going down any further are slim.

If you need help with your North Kansas City Real Estate needs, don't hesitate to contact me.

Fran White, North Kansas City Real Estate, 816-682-3897

NOW Is the Time To Buy A Home In North Kansas City.

I was poking around over on Chris Lengquist's Kansas City Real Estate Investing blog reading his blog on 2007 and it got me to thinking! (Imagine that!)

We as REALTORS should be the mouthpiece for what the real estate industry.

You hear on the news that "oh the housing market is bad" and immediately prospective buyers/sellers think "Oh I shouldn't buy or sell a home now." That's ridiculous!

Yesterday in sales meeting they said that 30 year fixed rates were at 5.75%.. people are you listening? That is the lowest the rates have been in the last 2 years and 6 months.

What's wrong with this picture? Rates are down and people are still afraid to buy. Why?

If I can help you with your North Kansas City Real Estate needs or you have any questions you can call me or post them here.

Happy New Year North Kansas City Real Estate Owners

Happy New Year to all of my wonderful readers. The holidays are over and it’s time to get back into “real estate” mode.

If you are planning to get your home on the market for Spring, start to get it ready now!

A fresh coat of paint will brighten any room. Clean the carpets. Touch up the molding. Do whatever needs to be done now to get it ready.

My experience has been that Spring market starts in March. It begins to warm and people get in the mood to begin to look for their new homes.

If you need assistance with some ideas on what you could do to get your North Kansas City home ready for spring market, give me a call. I’d love to come by and give you some ideas.

Fran White 816-682-3897

To see more, go to my http://activerain.com/blogs/franwhite blog

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Well I'm getting all prepared for the upcoming icestorm using Utterz! Traditionally in Kansas City we get horrible ice storms and we are in for 18 hours of it starting now!
I'll keep you up to date on the weather through my Utterz.

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7 Tips To Spruce Up Your Home This Winter

When it's cold and the weather encourages us all to spend more time inside it makes us look at our surroundings.

Here are some ideas of things you could do to spruce up your home this winter season!

First determine the kind of lifestyle you live in your home and a budget.

Ask yourself, "what's my style?"

Do you have children or visiting children? Do you entertain a lot? Do you prefer contemporary or casual?


Paint works wonders. Dollar for dollar, paint
gives you the greatest bang for your buck. You
can totally change the look of a room by painting
the walls, trim or ceiling a different color.

Wallpaper is back! And it’s better and more
fashionable than ever. Today’s styles are more
varied, with textured vinyls that can simulate
stucco and grasscloth. You can get BIG looks
without spending a bundle, especially if you do
it yourself.


Toss it up. Bring life to that old sofa with some
fresh new toss pillows in different shapes and
complementary colors. Along the same lines,
throw rugs can add interest and instantly warm
up a room.

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize!
Little things mean a lot. Give your home
personality with touches like floral arrangements,
plants, candles and artwork.

Visit flea markets and yard sales for unique items that can be
re-purposed. For example, transform an antique
milk can into a functional umbrella stand.

Turn on the light. Lighting can set the tone
for a room, so it’s important to choose the right
lamps and installed lighting.

Rooms should have a lighting source about every 10 feet, so consider
using both floor lamps and table lamps.


Treat them right. Custom window treatments
can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, so
you’ll want to work with off-the-shelf shades,
swags and curtains.

Drapery panels that are positioned high above
the window and flow to the floor are “hot” right
now, as are Roman shades and eco-friendly
bamboo shades.

If you are just starting to look for a home in the North Kansas City real estate market and need some help, I'd be glad to. 816-682-3897

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Happy Holidays!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Kansas City Kicks Off The Holiday Season

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

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

Halloween Greetings!

If you are needing a REALTOR®, give me a call.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Oct 2007

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!

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.