Kansas City Real Estate Blog

The Kansas City Zoo Announces October and November are F R E E

2008-10-05T17:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read right..... The Kansas City Zoo is offering free admission to Kansas City, Missouri residents for the months of October and November.

Of course you have to prove that you live in Kansas City, Missouri and rightfully so.

You will need proof of residence and a state-issued ID which is required at the admissions gate.

You can also verify that you are a resident with a bill or credit card statement, even a bank statement, with your name and Kansas City, Missouri address.

It is free during normal zoo hours.

Gladstone Residents Will Be Paying More Personal Property Tax

2008-09-03T13:09:00.001-07:00

In 2005 Gladstone voters approved a 39-cent property tax increase. That tax increase will begin showing up in your personal property tax bill this year.

The City Council has voted to set the city's 2008 tax levy at 93 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. So in other words if you buy a new car that cost $25,000 you are going to pay about 32.00 more in personal property taxes beginning this year.

This voter approved raise in taxes gave Gladstone leaders the authority to set the tax levy no higher than 93 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Up until this year Gladstone council decided to stay at the existing tax rate of 54-cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

The reason for the decision to raise it is unexpected expenses which includes the May 2 tornado which cost the city more than $357,000 in payroll costs and repairs to city-owned facilities. In addition salt for road treatment went up $75,000 and fuel cost for city vehicles went up $71,000 over this past year.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-03T13:13:00.001-08:00

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

The Holiday Season is Officially Started!

2007-11-26T03:53:00.000-08:00

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

1008 NW 73rd Terr, Bradford Place, Kansas City - Clay County, Missouri $205,000

2007-11-14T15:15:00.000-08:00

Can you SEE ME Now?

2007-03-30T04:21:00.000-07:00

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.

Why You Should Take Care of Your Credit like a Family Heirloom

2007-02-27T13:16:00.000-08:00

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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.

Home Owners Warranties...Are they a good thing?

2006-12-06T05:46:00.000-08:00

What about Homeowners Warranties? When negotiating a deal I suggest to my buyers to ask for a Home Owners Warranty from the sellers. It's sense of security for the buyers. In return I always suggest to my sellers to offer a homeowners warranty to buyers, again it creates a sense of security. But I also tell my buyers about a personal experience I'd had when purchasing a home with a homeowner's warranty. One of the first things I suggest they do when they get into their new home is call a good heating and air conditioning company and have them service the furnace and air conditioner. When my husband and I purchased our current home in 2002 we negotiated a homeowners warranty. It was a chilly April and one week after moving in the furnace motor went out. We called our Home Owners Warranty company (their name will go un-mentioned) and they sent out one of their contract service people. The service man went in, looked at the furnace and said it hadn't been maintained and that's why the motor went out. I was sure to tell him we'd only lived in the home a week, but that didn't matter he told me it wasn't covered because it hadn't been cleaned and maintained. Had I called for someone to service the furnace immediately upon moving in the furnace wouldn't have been filled with an accumulation of dust and dirt and would more than likely been covered. Do I feel homeowner's warranties are valuable? Yes, I do, but I always suggest to my buyers to have their heating and cooling maintenance done immediately upon moving in! Posted by: Fran White http://www.kansascity-realestate.net/

Seller's Disclosures: EXAMPLE of the Importance

2006-11-28T14:04:00.000-08:00

Importance, again, of Seller's Disclosures
Last week I wrote about the importance of Seller's Disclosures.
This past weekend I had a prime example. I was showing Mr. And Mrs. Buyer a really nice patio/villa home with a lake view in the 340K range. There were no seller's disclosures in the home which I knew since this was our second showing. I called the listing agent for it at 9 AM and she faxed it to me after noon. When we received the seller's disclosure each page had been X'ed through and not completed. In addition there was an engineer report because there had been heaving in the basement floor, repairs made by the owner, and of course no warranty on them. These two documents managed to totally turn my buyers against the property even though they were ready to make an offer. Not to mention the agent calling me and telling me that she just got word that another agent was sending her an offer. I can't stress the importance of Seller's Disclosures! Granted the current owner (the builders of the community) bought the property back from the owner and did the repairs on the basement.... And still didn't update the Seller's Disclosure after doing the repairs. It literally killed the deal!
This showing was Sunday. Today (Tuesday) the listing agent calls me and says, "what happened to you, you fell off the face of the earth".... She continued with, "well we're hammering out the details of this offer I got from the other agent and........" I just told her that my clients were no longer interested and why they weren't. I said it in a really nice way...... but as we hung up I had to wonder..... was she shopping offers?
Here's a taste of a home for sale in Kansas City Mo area. And it has a Seller's Disclosure.
© Fran White, REALTOR 2006

Seller's Disclosures in Kansas City MO

2006-11-23T07:43:00.000-08:00

It seems lately I have seen a drastic amount of information missing on the sellers disclosure. When I say missing ... I mean left blank.
I don't know about you but when I am getting ready to show buyers the Sellers Disclosure is EXTREMELY important to me as a showing and selling tool.
In my neck of the woods, Kansas City MO, rarely do the buyers ever come in face to face contact with the sellers - so there's never an opportunity for the buyers to ask the sellers questions... so the sellers disclosure pretty much answer the basic major questions.
If I turn to the sellers disclosure and the age of the furnace or central air unit isn't filled in - my mind normally says "really old" especially if none of the rest of the house has been updated.
If there is information not complete, I really begin to wonder to wonder what else they don't want a prospective buyer to know. I guess it suits to say lacking information puts me on guard.
As a listing agent I go through the sellers disclosure with a fine toothcomb to make sure everything is completed.
I also make sure there are extra copies left in the home should the buyers agent not have one.
Another situation that I have come across ... if the sellers had a contract on the home and the sale fell apart during the renegotiation process after inspections - I always have the sellers update that sellers disclosure!
Take a look at this home for sale in Kansas City MO

©Fran White, REALTOR 2006

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Buyers Get Insurance During Inspection Period

2006-11-22T11:35:00.000-08:00

Acquiring Insurance During the Inspection Period

The real estate company that I work for, Reece and Nichols, is going to start requiring that buyers get an insurance commitment with a binder during the 10 day Inspection Period... and I think it's a great idea.

I have to say that I have been telling my buyers for the past 8 months that this was coming. I haven't had any last minute problems with clients not being able to get their prospective homes insured because I've been suggesting that they contact their insurance company during the 10 day inspection period.

It saves a lot of time and hassles and you are not hung out to dry one week before closing because the insurance company went out to take pictures and prepare for insuring the property and they found something not pleasing. There isn't anything worse than a call from your insurance company that says:

"Houston we've got a problem!" (I guess that would be Kansas City in this instance :)

Surprisingly enough, yesterday in sales meeting our broker told us that with the contract changes for the upcoming year, he's heard changes that include the requirement that the insurance commitment with a binder will be required within the inspection period.

Quite frankly I'm glad! I guess when you lead the industry in Kansas City Real Estate, you should lead by example.

© Fran White, REALTOR 2006

Kansas City Real Estate / Real Estate Network

2006-11-17T06:07:00.000-08:00

14400 Bristol, Grandview, MO $149,900.00

2006-11-04T08:05:00.000-08:00

Make an online slide show at onetruemedia.com

This absolutely gorgeous, well maintained home has been meticulously cared for by it's original owners. It's located in River Oaks Subdivision in Grandview, Missouri and is for sale for $149,900.00. If you would like to see this home, please give me a call: Fran White, REALTOR ®, Reece and Nichols Residential, 816-682-3897

Larger Houses...Smaller Yards?

2006-06-03T05:08:00.000-07:00

New Homes Get Bigger, Yards Get Smaller (June 2, 2006) -- Apparently, bigger is better when it comes to new single-family homes. Despite the dwindling size of households, new homes are getting bigger and bigger — averaging 2,400 square feet in 2005, according to the National Association of Home Builders. That’s a 50 percent increase over the typical 1,600 square foot new home built in 1973. Among other facts and trends revealed in the association's report on new homes:
One-fourth of new homes have at least three bathrooms.
Ceilings are at least 9 to 10 feet on the first floor and upscale houses have a standard ceiling height of 10 to 12 feet on the first floor and 9 feet on the second floor.
Front doors are single and wider.
The living room in homes with less than 3,000 square feet are being replaced by a room known as a den, parlor, retreat, library or music room. In homes larger than 3,000 square feet, living rooms are remaining.
Stairs are moving from the front of the house to the middle or the rear.
Master baths have shower stalls and a compartmentalized toilet. Mid-to-upscale homes have multiple shower heads and a tub. Upscale homes will continue to have whirlpool tubs even though nobody ever actually uses them.
Yards are shrinking. The American yard is expected to decline to 7,000 square feet from today’s 9,000 square feet in the next few years. Source: Chicago Tribune (06/02/2006)

Kansas City Real Estate

2006-05-08T05:09:00.000-07:00

Kansas City Real Estate is the best way to explain ME!
I've grown up in the Kansas City area and am licensed in Missouri and Kansas.

This lovely 4 bedroom, 1 bath, story and a half is located in beautiful Liberty.

To see a virtual tour of this property visit either of my websites:
www.kansascity-realestate.net OR www.franwhite.reeceandnichols.com

It's a beauty and will not be on the market long....don't miss your opportunity to own it!

Visit My Kansas City Realtor Websites

2006-03-20T06:11:00.000-08:00

Visit my Kansas City Realtor Websites:

www.kansascity-realestate.net
www.reeceandnichols.com

2005-07-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

Kansas City Real Estate Agent. I'll have your best interest at heart!

2005-06-08T06:25:00.000-07:00

43% of my clients seek me out after spending
4-6 months in a relationship with a realtor they
don't feel is working for them..... do it right,
call Fran White 816-682-3897

Hi, my name is Fran White and I'm a Realtor with Reece and Nichols.

I'm available to assist you in Missouri and Kansas whether you are buying or selling.

http://www.kansascity-realestate.net
http://www.franwhite.reeceandnichols.com/

I'll have your best interest at heart.

Buy or Sell Your Home with

Fran White