The Kansas City Scoop

Existing-home sales rose unexpectedly while inventory declined, led by a surge of sales in the West, according to the National Association of Realtors®.Existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – jumped 6.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.74 million units in December. The number compares to a downwardly revised pace of 4.45 million units in November, but 3.5 percent below the 4.91 million-unit pace in December 2007.

Full Story Available by clicking the following: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2009012601?OpenDocument&WT.cg_n=RMO&WT.cg_s=RSSDaily

With so many changes going on in the market, it is often hard to find a reliable source for accurate information. In response, the Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors has put together a site specifically for the Kansas City area and the loan programs available here. You can look up the terms, and research the different loan types available, and whether or not they could be for you. It also has tons of useful information, statistics, answers to frequently asked questions, and more. Lastly, it also has information on many grant programs available through the state and various cities around the area to help many residents throughout the area with their downpayment. While there are income qualifications and maximums, it is still worth investigating and checking out. For more information, visit: www.KCHOMEPROGRAMS.com

Well, contrary to all the media “coverage” you hear about how bad it is–GOOD NEWS–IT’S NOT!!! I have been absent in my blogging because I have been BUSY with Real Estate! Believe it or not–People are still BUYING, houses are still SELLING, and the world is still TURNING! YES!!! So, while I apologize for my absence, I want to sincerely thank all of my wonderful clients who have been keeping me busy–as always, YOU are my top priority!

Drum roll please…The winner of the $30.00 Cheese Cake Factory Gift Certificate is #079! If this is you, Congratulations! It’s your lucky day! Keep your card and call me to claim your prize–I’ll get it to you ASAP! Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! And remember, true Irish men don’t drink and drive…

Finally, a great, great, GREAT article on the housing market from the Kansas City Star. If you are planning on buying or selling real estate anytime within the next 12 months in the Kansas City area, this article is a MUST READ!!!

Area housing industry experts discuss KC real estate market

The state of the housing market, both here and across the country, has become Topic A in recent economic discussions.

A long, unprecedented boom in construction and home price appreciation has given way in recent months to a glut of unsold homes, a sharp construction slowdown and pressured home values.

To gauge the state of the market heading into the spring buying season, The Kansas City Star’s business editor, Chris Lester, recently convened a panel of local housing industry experts to discuss the marketplace. Read More…

Here is an interesting article from the Kansas City Star and the overall market value of housing around the Metropolitan Area in 2007. There are many surprising results. It is broken down by zip code so you can get a pretty good idea of what the overall trends in your neighborhood are. However, it is not set in stone. For a more detailed market analysis based on your particular situation, consult your local realtor.

Read More…

A city wide public smoking ban has been a hot topic across the Kansas City area, with heated perponents on each side. On Thursday, January 24th, the city council approved a ban on smoking in most restaurants, but not bars, by a final vote of 8-4. The ban is set to go into effect in 60 days. Here is the latest from the Kansas City Star of how the ban will affect Kansas City citizens. Read More…

A heated debate occurred in Blue Springs on Monday night. The main topic: whether or not the city will follow suit of Lee’s Summit and Independence in establishing a “Clean Air Act.” While this is a hot topic on the minds of many around the Kansas City area, the real topic it seems to be boiling down to is that of personal choice and personal freedom. While I can understand both sides of the argument, my personal opinion is that it should be up to the establishment whether to allow smoking. It is not as much the particular topic of smoking that distrubs me as it is the slippery slope we may be headed towards. Regardless of my personal feelings on how “I feel” everyone else should live their life, the value of living in America is the freedom we possess to make our own decisions. So, we can both be thankful that I can’t tell you how to live your life, and that you can’t tell me how to live mine, regardless of how either of us feels. It seems to me this is what the true heart of the matter boils down to. It’s smoking now, but what’s next is the scary question…  Comments welcome, as I’d love to hear all sides.

Read the full article here: http://www.examiner.net/stories/010808/new_234174726.shtml

From the Kansas City Star:

Traffic light synchronization aims to cut gridlock on 160 miles of area roads

By JEFFREY SPIVAK

Drivers who are beginning to notice they can zip along some major suburban roadways, hitting green light after green light, might think someone above is looking out for them.

They’re right. Someone is — a traffic engineer.

After years of planning, a computer-coordinated effort to synchronize traffic lights on many main thoroughfares in the five-county metro area is quietly starting to change our driving experiences.  Read More…