Olathe Neighborhood News

2010-01-13T12:07:00.001-06:00

Kansas City social media seminar - How to create and promote a Facebook Fan Page - http://ping.fm/zUO4z

2010-01-12T11:16:00.001-06:00

Kansas City Social Media Seminar - http://ping.fm/ExB2a

2010-01-05T22:27:00.001-06:00

Ex-Kansas City Chief testifies before congressional committee - http://ping.fm/Hey2i

2010-01-04T22:38:00.001-06:00

Derrick Johnson ends year as defensive player of the week - Derrick had 2 interceptions for touchdowns - http://ping.fm/Tg9n4

2010-01-04T22:34:00.001-06:00

K-State mens basketball game will be on tv Monday night and Tuesday afternoon - http://ping.fm/tRSRa

2010-01-04T22:32:00.001-06:00

Kansas City police report increase in Hate Crimes, read more . . . http://ping.fm/KsJno

2010-01-04T22:25:00.001-06:00

Olathe, KS. police still looking for 5 men who did armed robbery on Jan. 1st - http://ping.fm/ZjXyy

2010-01-04T22:23:00.001-06:00

Johnson County, KS. jail in Olathe closes down! Inmates moved to New Century - http://ping.fm/lSwP5

Find out the value of your Olathe, Kansas home, today!

2010-01-04T19:41:00.000-06:00

Find out the value of your Olathe, Kansas home, today!

Posted by the Olathe Real Estate Guru
http://Olathe.DowellTaggart.com

2010-01-04T17:36:00.001-06:00

Thinking about selling an Olathe, KS. home? go to: http://ping.fm/UVHZL

2010-01-03T23:05:00.001-06:00

Looking for a Job in Olathe, Kansas? Go to: http://ping.fm/OdPHF

2010-01-03T21:13:00.001-06:00

Search Kansas City properties for sale, including listing from MLS - http://ping.fm/LQchU

2010-01-03T19:34:00.001-06:00

View the updated list of Sexual Predators in Johnson County, KS. including Olathe - http://ping.fm/ofMaR

2010-01-03T16:50:00.001-06:00

Eastern Olathe, Kansas updated economic data - http://ping.fm/dWFj4

2010-01-03T16:10:00.001-06:00

Kansas City Chiefs lead league in dropped passes - 50 dropped passes for the year!

2010-01-03T16:08:00.001-06:00

Olathe Home Buyers: Calculate your monthly mortgage payment - http://ping.fm/d9Bgu

2010-01-03T15:24:00.001-06:00

Wow, they KC Chiefs scored a touchdown in their first drive against the donkey's. A first for the season.

2010-01-03T14:29:00.001-06:00

Looking to sell a home in Olathe, KS.? Checkout the Olathe Real Estate Marketing Master http://ping.fm/rwrk8

2010-01-03T13:36:00.001-06:00

Looks like Fox Sports Midwest needs to hire competent engineers. The KSU game is still not on.

2010-01-03T12:28:00.001-06:00

Timewarner blamed the Kansas State basketball outage on Fox Sports Midwest. Doesn't FX Sports Midwest want to increase their rate?

2010-01-03T12:19:00.001-06:00

Been on the phone with Timewarner for a long time. They keep sending me to the wrong department. What happened to the Kansas State game on Fox Sports? The Big 12 conference report is on instead.

2010-01-03T11:03:00.001-06:00

Thinking about selling your Olathe home For Sale By Owner ( FSBO )? Go to: http://ping.fm/0wYvL

2010-01-02T21:56:00.001-06:00

Olathe, Kansas real estate stats: http://ping.fm/MyRgj

2010-01-02T19:32:00.001-06:00

Olathe New Home Guide - Find the perfect builder and/or new home in Olathe, Kansas: http://ping.fm/FFRtZ

2010-01-02T18:32:00.001-06:00

View Olathe, KS. Real Estate Foreclosures for Sale: http://ping.fm/AcK9q

2010-01-01T01:40:00.001-06:00

Kansas State Basketball Coach, Frank Martin, Earns Honor From CollegeInsider.com http://ping.fm/hPmK3

2009-12-31T20:53:00.001-06:00

After I eat the cheesecake, I will not eat anymore unhealthy food for the rest of the year.My wife and friends don't think I can do it.

2009-12-31T18:33:00.001-06:00

It is still not to late to have my son drive tonight. The snow banks should soften the crashes.You may want a helment.

2009-12-31T17:46:00.001-06:00

Heading to drop off the kids before the New Years festivities.

2009-12-31T07:54:00.001-06:00

Watch Out For Kansas State men's basketball team! http://ping.fm/q0yxW

2009-12-31T07:46:00.001-06:00

Will you become a Millionaire in Kansas today? One lucky person from Kansas will become rich by noon. http://ping.fm/lLyL8

2009-12-30T20:34:00.001-06:00

Just a Reminder: If you are looking for a designated driver for New Years Eve, my son can help. You need to provide the car and insurance. HE has had his learners permit for 1 week. The ride will be eventfull.

2009-12-30T19:47:00.001-06:00

The new model train store in the Great Plains Mall is really cool.Kids really liked it.

Stonehurst Subdivision in Olathe Kansas

2006-08-03T15:55:00.000-05:00

Stonehurst Subdivsion in Olathe, KS. has 180 homes. Fifteen of the 180 homes have gone on the market the past 6 months. Out of the 15 homes 11 sold, 1 is currently on the market and 3 are currently on the market. The maximum sold price is $204,000 and the average days on the market is 36 days.

For more information on Stonehurst Subdivsion or another subdivision in Olathe, Kansas, go to: http://OlatheStats.DowellTaggart.com

Thank You!

Dowell Taggart Team

www.DowellTaggart.com

Applewood Subdivsion in Olathe Kansas

2006-08-01T21:24:00.000-05:00

Applewood is a subdivsion in the South Eastern part of Olathe. According to the tax records there are 96 home in the Applewood Subdivision. In the past 6 months here is the real estate activity according to the Heartland MLS.

Total Homes Listed: 4
Homes Off the Market: 2
Sold Homes: 3
Homes Still Active: -1
Min. Price Sold: $176,950
Average Sold Price: $201,483
Median Sold Price: $221,500
Max. Sold Price: $221,500

With only 3% of the homes in the Applewood Subdivsion selling the past 6 months, Applewood appears to be a slow moving subdivsion.

When homes do come on the market, the sell fast. According to the Olathe Heartland MLS, current homes are selling within 3 weeks.

To find more information on the Applewood Subdivsion or any subdivsion in Olathe, contact the Dowell Taggart Team.

The Dowell Taggart Team
www.DowellTaggart.com

Amber Hills Estates Subdivision Stats

2006-07-31T19:24:00.000-05:00

Amber Hills Estates Subdivision Stats
Total Homes Listed: 23
Homes Off the Market: 6
Sold Homes: 7
Homes Still Active: 10
Min. Price Sold: $212,500
Average Sold Price: $237,142
Median Sold Price: $240,000
Max. Sold Price: $295,000
Average Days on the Market is currently 33 days on the market.

With only 7 homes out of 23 selling the past 6 months, Amber Hills Estates is experiencing a slow market. This would be a great time to buy a home in Amber Hills Estates.
For more information, please contact The Dowell Taggart Team. (913) 980-5809.
www.DowellTaggart.com

Olathe News

2006-02-07T12:27:00.000-06:00

For Immediate Release

February 6, 2006Alice Snider, Communications Specialist (913) 971-8784
City Council Recognize Several Honors at February 9 MeetingThe Olathe City Council will recognize at their February 9 meeting the Cedar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant biosolids dewatering project for recognition by the Environmental and Utilities Division of the Kansas Contractors Association. The Association recognized the project for its innovation, enhancement of the plant's operation and savings in operation and maintenance costs as part of their 2004 Recognition of Excellence in Public Works program. The Cedar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant project included the construction of a new sludge dewatering building, equipment, and odor control system.

The City Council will recognize Olathe students who contributed to Olathe?s standing as a City of Champions through their accomplishments during the fall 2005 semester.

The Council will recognize 2005 State champions Brianna Willard, Olathe North High School, girls? gymnastics, floor exercise and vault; Haley Craig, Olathe South High School, girls? singles tennis; the Olathe East High School Boys? Soccer Team; and the Olathe South High School Girls? Volleyball Team.

Twice a year the City Council will recognize Olathe students, from both public and private schools, who placed first in a state championship including, but not limited to academic and athletic competition.

Also, the City Council will issue a proclamation designating February 2006 as Black History Month in Olathe. The City will also recognize the rich culture and history of the African American population with banners on the light poles in downtown Olathe. The banners portray the images of two famous black Americans, civil rights advocate Martin Luther King Jr. and baseball great Buck O?Neil. The banners are displayed annually during January and February.
Dispose of Household Chemicals Safely SaturdayOlathe residents are asked to safely dispose of household products at Olathe?s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off site, located south of the Olathe Municipal Services Center, 1385 S. Robinson, Saturday, February 11. The HHW collection site is open the second Saturday of the month year-round from 8 a.m. to noon. HHW also can be disposed of at other times by appointment. Call 913-971-9311 to schedule an appointment.

Household chemicals such as motor oil, antifreeze, paint, batteries and pesticides can be harmful to the environment and should not be thrown away with trash or dumped down the sink. Disposal of these types of chemicals at a HHW facility ensures proper disposal of the chemicals and helps protect the environment.

For more information, please call the Olathe Municipal Services Center at 913-971-9311.
City to Host Legislative Coffee: Public Invited to AttendThe City of Olathe will host the second in a series of legislative coffees at 8 a.m., Saturday, February 11 at Olathe City Hall, 100 E. Santa Fe. The series is designed to address key issues and provide opportunities for citizens to ask their State Legislators important questions. The event is free and open to the public. It also will air live on Olathe Cable Channel 7. The next event will be held Saturday, March 11.
February 7 Council Meeting RescheduledThe Tuesday, February 7 Olathe City Council meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday February 9 so that Council members may attend the Kansas Chamber of Commerce annual dinner in Topeka. The council meeting will be shown live on City Cable Channel 7 and rebroadcast on Friday, February 10 at noon; Saturday, February 11 at 6 p.m.; and Sunday, February 12 at noon.

Tim Talbott, Historic Site Manager, ttalbott@olatheks.orgAlexis Radil, Interpretative Specialist, aradil@olatheks.org(913) 971-5111
Children Can Enjoy Historical Stories at Lucinda Mahaffie?s Story time Saturday, Feb. 18Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site will present "Stories about the Presidents of the United States" at Lucinda Mahaffie?s Story time from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Santa Fe Building, 100 W. Santa Fe in Olathe. Enjoy stories with an historical theme, along with a period craft activity and a snack related to the themes. The next story time will be held March 11 and will focus on the Civil War.

This story time is for three to six year olds and pre-registration is required. The registration deadline is February 13. Participants can register through the City of Olathe?s Parks and Recreation Department at (913) 971-6263 or visit www.olatheks.org/ActiveLife. The registration for Olathe residents is $10 per child. The cost for non-residents is $11 per child.

Eastbound I-435 Traffic to be Detoured

2006-02-01T20:05:00.000-06:00

City of Olathe News

Eastbound I-435 Traffic to be Detoured onto Oalthe's 119th Street Saturday Night

A KDOT project to construct an interchange at I-435 and Antioch will necessitate the temporary closure of nearly two miles of I-435 from Saturday night into Sunday morning.
All north-bound I-35 traffic headed for eastbound I-435 will be routed onto eastbound 119th Street from 10 p.m. Saturday, February 4 until 10 a.m. Sunday, February 5.
As a result, travelers on 119th Street east of I-35 will experience heavier than normal traffic. This includes the heavily traveled intersection of 119th and Strang Line near the Olathe Station shopping area and movie theaters. Motorists should plan ahead to find other alternate routes and avoid the area as much as possible.
City of Olathe traffic personnel will be staffing the City's Traffic Operations Center to monitor traffic flow.

Overall Mortgage Applications Dropped

2006-02-01T13:18:00.000-06:00

Overall mortgage applications dropped 5.1 percent last week on a seasonally adjusted basis from the week before, with purchase loans taking the biggest hit, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported.

The seasonally adjusted purchase index decreased by 8 percent to 435.7 from 473.7 the previous week whereas the refinance index decreased by 1.5 percent to 1,747.2 from 1,773.9 one week earlier.

The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 43 percent of total applications from 42.8 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate-mortgage share of activity increased to 30.5 percent of total applications from 29.5 percent the previous week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 6.2 percent from 6.04 percent one week earlier. Points including the origination fee decreased to 1.17 from 1.24 for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio loans.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 5.79 percent from 5.66 percent. Points including the origination fee increased to 1.22 from 1.14 for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio loans.

The average contract interest rate for one-year adjustable-rate mortgages increased to 5.48 percent from 5.44 percent one week earlier, with points increasing to 0.96 from 0.95 for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio loans.

Washington, D.C.-based Mortgage Bankers Association is a national association representing the real estate finance industry. The survey covers approximately 50 percent of all U.S. retail residential mortgage originations, and has been conducted weekly since 1990. Respondents include mortgage bankers, commercial banks and thrifts.
***

Olathe First Time Home Buyer Seminar

2006-02-01T10:08:00.000-06:00

You are invited to a

"FREE" Homebuyers Information Workshop!!!

Learn how to qualify for Homebuyer Grants!

Thursday March 9th, 2006

Space is limited, RSVP at 913-980-5809

Learn how to buy a home with zero down!

Learn the A to Z's of buying a home!

Will the Olathe housing market slow down in 2006?

2006-02-01T07:01:00.000-06:00

As Predicted, NAR Sets Fifth-year Sales Record -- What's Next?
By Blanche Evans

Despite a nearly six percent decline in home sales in December 2005, existing housing sales easily set a fifth annual record, but what does 2006 hold in store?

Total existing-home sales, which include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, were up over 4 percent for 2005. Over 7 million homes were sold, up from 6.8 million in 2004.
David Lereah, NAR's chief economist, says he expected the monthly sales decline. "This is part of the market adjustment we've been discussing, with a soft landing in sight for the housing sector," he said. "The level of home sales activity is now at a sustainable level, and is likely to pick up a bit in the months ahead. Overall fundamentals remain solid, driven by population and employment growth as well as favorable affordability conditions in most of the country, so we expect the housing market to remain historically high but lower than last year's record."
The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $211,000 in December, up 10.5 percent from December 2004 when the median was $191,000. The median is a typical market price where half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less.

But this may be the last year that housing sees double-digit gains for a while.
NAR President Thomas M. Stevens from Vienna, Va., said it may take a while for home price growth to cool. "We're coming off of five years of tight supply, and many sellers are accustomed to expecting very strong price gains and exceptional returns on their investment," said Stevens, senior vice president of NRT Inc. "With the supply of homes improving and buyers having more choices, the rate of price growth should come down to more normal levels this year."
Currently, says the NAR, there's a 5.1 supply of homes nationwide at the current sales pace, which is getting close to the 6-month benchmark of a "normal market," which neither overfavors the buyer or seller. Below six months of inventory, homes are said to be in a seller's market, where conditions favor the seller due to demand. Above six months, conditions favor the buyer, due to increased inventory.

Is it time to panic? Will sellers be unable to sell their homes?

"The sky is not falling in the housing markets, only cooling," reasons Lereah. "After five years of record-breaking performances, the housing sector is taking a breather -- home sales are falling and price appreciation is slowing. The great fundamentals that were in place that initially generated the boom -- historically low mortgage rates, favorable demographic trends (substantial home buying from boomers, immigrants and boomer children), and reduced home buying costs from technology innovation (Internet home search and mortgage application and closing processes) are still in place today."

Interest rates, according to Freddie Mac, are dropping. The national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage was 6.27 percent in December, down from 6.33 percent in November; and is 6.10 percent currently.

"If lower interest rates are sustained, the housing market could see some unexpected lift," Lereah says.

Yet, according to the California Association of Realtors, home prices are rising, but sales decreased nearly 18 percent in December. Why are sales trending toward softening?
"As the boom winds down, investors are exiting the markets, cleansing the speculative element in housing," explains Lereah. "There may be a handful of interest-sensitive local hot housing markets that experience a short-term contraction, but for the nation, as a whole, the boom is winding down to an expansion."

RE/MAX chairman, Dave Liniger predicts 2006 will be the second best year the real estate industry has ever experienced.
"I don't think the last two months are anything worse than a normal cycle of the real estate business. November and December declines were a normal reaction to fluctuating interest rates. This year we would anticipate that resales will probably drop 4 to 5 percent from the record pace that they were last year. I think we are going to see an outstanding year for the real estate business."

Like Lereah, Liniger expects housing prices to retreat more in some parts of the country than others, but for most regions, housing is unlikely to show a dramatic collapse, although he suggests, "You do certainly have to be a little concerned with properties that have shown double digit appreciation on both coasts."

He says the market will be much more "normal." "You're going to see price appreciation, depending upon the region you're in, somewhere between three and six percent."
One of the reasons that the housing market has been on a record setting pace is historically low interest rates. Liniger believes that rates may climb somewhat in the upcoming year, but not enough to derail the real estate market. "I think you're looking at very reasonable rates in the neighborhood of six-point-five percent before the year is over."

For clues to the future, Liniger advises keeping watch on the Baby Boomers. "They'll continue to keep the market hot," he predicts. "They see real estate being a very, solid investment, unlike recent experiences in the stock market. So, I think you're going to see second home sales continue to be very, very strong."

Copyright © 2006 Realty Times. All Rights Reserved.

Mortgage Outlook

2006-01-31T21:35:00.000-06:00

Market Comment

Mortgage bond prices fell last week pushing interest rates higher. The durable goods report released Thursday was stronger than expected leading to the majority of the losses.
For the week, interest rates on government and conventional loans rose by about 3/8 of a discount point.

The Fed meeting Tuesday will be the most important event this week. Personal income, outlays, employment cost index, consumer confidence, ISM index, productivity, employment, and factory orders data will also be important.

Fundamental Week
Mortgage bonds traded in negative territory last week as traders prepared for an expected Fed rate hike this week. Fear and emotion dominated trading. The abundance of fundamental data this week provides a good opportunity for mortgages to recover from the beating they took last week. If the data this week reinforces the view that the economy is strengthening, mortgage bonds will continue to fall pushing mortgage interest rates higher. However, if the data comes in weaker than expected then a portion of the recent losses may be recouped.
Mortgage interest rates rose last week. Despite the negative movements, rates remain historically low. Now is a great time to avoid the uncertainty surrounding continued market volatility by locking your loan. Capitalizing on current levels protects against future volatility.

2006-01-31T21:32:00.000-06:00

City of Olathe News Brief

2006-01-18T11:51:00.000-06:00

City of Olathe News Brief
January 18, 2006

Residents Say Improvement Continues in the Most Recent Citizen Survey

The City of Olathe has released the results of its 2005 annual citizen survey, showing continued improvement in citizen satisfaction. The survey, conducted by ETC Institute, gauges resident satisfaction with city services as well as identifies key priorities.

The survey, DirectionFinder, has been used in Olathe since 2000. In addition to gauging resident satisfaction and priorities, it compares Olathe to other metropolitan and similar national cities. It has been an effective tool for the city and the City Council to set spending and personnel priorities to mirror resident wishes.

The 1,280 sample survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent.

Since the city began using the survey, DirectionFinder, the overall composite score for satisfaction has increased from a baseline of 100 to 115. It was 114 in 2004. Olathe has gone against the Kansas City metropolitan area trend, as the overall satisfaction index for the metropolitan area has decreased from the baseline of 100 in 2000 to 97 in 2005.

According to ETC Institute, Olathe's satisfaction increase during that time has not only been the highest in the metropolitan area, it is about double that of the next closest city. According to ETC?s Chris Tatham, Olathe is doing very well. He said, "Clearly, Olathe has made significant progress in resident satisfaction." He said, ?Each year they do a good job of applying limited resources to citizen priority areas.? He said, ?Olathe?s improvement is particularly impressive considering there has been a decline in satisfaction in many of the other communities during the past few years.?

When originally tested in 2000, Olathe ranked toward the middle in the major service categories tested in the survey. In 2005, the city ranked in the top 25% in seven of the eight categories tested.

And, for the first time, Olathe became the metropolitan area leader in citizens? rating of the overall quality of city services.

According to Olathe City Manager Michael Wilkes, measuring that improvement is of great value. He said, ?When we released the original survey from 2000, we announced this was a tool for residents to hold us accountable.? He said, ?We were pleased with the results, but we said residents should always expect us to improve?no matter how well we had done the year before.? Wilkes said, ?That remains our commitment?the results are again very positive, but we are committed to improving each year.? He said, ?Our City Council certainly expects such, and our residents should expect nothing less.?

According to Wilkes, the survey?s benefit is not just measuring areas that are doing well, but identifying areas that can be improved. He said, ?The survey allows us to identify areas needing attention and determine what should be done to address them.?

The survey now includes a mapping component that can identify areas of the city where satisfaction levels with various services could improve.

Other key findings include:
East/west traffic flow remains residents? single largest priority. Two major projects currently underway, the 127th Street overpass and the railroad grade separation projects, are designed to help with that issue.
The percentage of residents who felt police/fire/ambulance services should receive the most emphasis saw a statistically significant increase of 4 percent from 24 percent to 28 percent. The 2005 and 2006 budgets reflect that need and the Council direction prioritize public safety.
Satisfaction with residential trash collection, which was already rated the top in the metropolitan area, saw an increase from 87 percent to 91 percent after the city adopted the smart cart system.
Residents felt continued emphasis should be placed on snow removal on residential streets, which saw a 4 percent decline in satisfaction.
The percent of residents who use the city?s website as a primary source of information has more than doubled since 2003. It again increased from 17 percent in 2004 to 23 percent in 2005.
Residents feel more emphasis should be placed on teen recreation opportunities and walking and biking trails.

Olathe is Metro's Best at Providing City Services

2006-01-18T09:23:00.000-06:00

Study: Olathe is metro's best at providing city services
By Dan J. Smith, The Olathe News

Olathe residents rank their city as a good place to live, work and raise children in, but city officials acknowledge there still are areas that need improvement.

An annual resident satisfaction survey, presented Tuesday to the Olathe City Council, shows the city is tops among Kansas City-area communities when comparing residents' perceptions of their city services.

In measuring resident satisfaction of broad-based categories, including utility service, communication and overall public safety, Olathe ranked among the top 25 cities in the metro area in seven of eight categories. Enforcement of city codes was the lone exception.

"Overall, it's impressive that Olathe's done so well compared with the rest of the area," said Chris Tatham, vice president of Olathe-based research firm ETC Institute, which conducted the 2005 survey last fall.

The survey, which includes responses from 1,280 residents selected at random, has a 2.8 percent margin of error.Most encouraging, Tatham said, was that 81 percent of respondents — a new high for the metro — said they were satisfied with the overall quality of city services.Also, 95 percent said Olathe is a good or excellent place to live, 92 percent liked the city as a community in which to raise children and 72 percent said Olathe was a favorable environment in which to work.

Routine since ETC's first survey of Olathe residents in 2000, easing the city's east-west traffic congestion and boosting public safety staffing levels rank among residents' top mandates for city leaders to focus future budget and policy talks on.Councilmembers have approved millions in recent budgets to build a highway overpass at 127th Street, raise railroad tracks over four downtown intersections and beef up the city's fire and police forces to address those concerns.

"The practical place where we find ourselves is those are longer-term projects with long-term rewards hopefully," City Manager Michael Wilkes said. "They've taken us several years to get them cranking, and it'll now take a couple of years, I think, before we see some results."

A lack of recreation programming and slow progress in rejuvenating downtown are emerging concerns.The survey showed 53 percent of respondents — 5 percent more than in 2004 — weren't satisfied with the city's slate of senior recreation opportunities. Also, 57 percent gave a dissatisfied or neutral response — up from 49 percent last year — when asked about recreation programs for teenagers.

City leaders have discussed how best to tackle the issue.Talk continues about funding a community center using revenue from the city's eighth-cent parks and recreation sales tax.Ideally, the facility would address Olathe's lack of indoor fitness opportunities, but the council hasn't decided where it will be built, how soon it will open or, most importantly, how much to spend.Scheduling delays and differences of opinion about Olathe's plan to dress up and rebuild a section of Santa Fe Street through downtown, coupled with debate about whether to expand the city's existing parking garage, likely has contributed to a drop-off in residents' support of downtown initiatives.Compared with 2004 numbers, 5 percent fewer respondents are satisfied with the maintenance and preservation of downtown Olathe, according to the survey.

"If you go back to 2000, the first time we did this, and then track where we've spent our money in the last five years, you're going to see that the things that (residents) told us about in 2000 are the exact areas where we spent our money," Wilkes said. "The things that we're seeing now are the areas where we'll be spending our money in the future."

Four percent fewer respondents than last year — 56 percent — were satisfied with the city's enforcement of codes and ordinances. But that result comes with a caveat.

"When you just talk about code enforcement, there's not a lot of people that are really upset about it," Tatham said, "but there's not a lot of people thinking that it's being done in a positive way, so we're getting a lot of neutral responses as well."In general terms, city leaders can claim success from the survey's findings.

The city's overall composite satisfaction score — similar to a consumer confidence rating in economics — increased one point this year to 115 and is up 15 points from when the surveys began. By comparison, the score for the combined Kansas City area is down to 97 from 100 in 2000.

Olathe also earned high satisfaction marks for residential trash collection, which was up 4 percent in 2005 to 91 percent. Tatham and Wilkes credited introduction of the city's automated cart-based system for the improvement.

"We're putting our money exactly where we need to be putting it as a governing body and as an organization," Wilkes said. "That's why we do this (survey) — for people to give us their opinion on our service and how we spend our money, and the results show we're doing the right things and making the right decisions."

More Home Buyers and Seller Use Internet

2006-01-17T20:38:00.000-06:00

More Home Buyers and Sellers Use Internet, Practitioners(January 17, 2006) --

Technology is transforming how Americans buy and sell homes in unexpected ways, including how they work with real estate salespeople and brokers, according to one of the largest surveys of real estate consumers ever conducted and released today by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

The 2005 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, based on more than 7,800 responses to a questionnaire mailed to a large national sample of consumers located through county deed records, is the latest in a series of surveys evaluating demographics, marketing, and other characteristics of home buyers and sellers.

According to the survey, nine out of 10 home buyers use a real estate professional in the search process, but use of the Internet to search for a home has risen dramatically over time, increasing to 77 percent of buyers in 2005 from only 2 percent in 1995; it was 74 percent in 2004. The next largest source of information for buyers is a yard sign, mentioned by 71 percent of buyers.

When asked where they first learned about the home purchased, 24 percent of buyers identified the Internet, up strongly from 15 percent in 2004 and only 2 percent in 1997. Although most buyers use a practitioner to complete the transaction, 36 first learn about the home they buy from a real estate professional and 15 percent from yard signs; five other categories were 7 percent or less.

NAR President Thomas M. Stevens from Vienna, Va., says the findings underscore the complexity of the homebuying process. “Buyers who use the Internet in searching for a home are more likely to use a real estate practitioner than non-Internet users, and consumers rely on professionals to provide context, negotiate the transaction, and help with the paperwork,” says Stevens, senior vice president of NRT Inc.

The real estate industry today bears little resemblance to how the the real estate industry conducted business 10 years ago, Stevens says. "It is hard to find another industry that has adopted technology so readily to its customers," he says. "REALTORS® have invested a lot of time and money in building information technology, and because of these efforts, more consumers than ever are using the Internet in their home search.”

The survey shows 81 percent of buyers who use the Internet to search for a home ultimately purchase through a real estate practitioner, while 63 percent of non-Internet users buy through a practitioner; non-Internet users are more likely to purchase directly from a builder or an owner they knew in advance of the transaction.

“We find that the level of for-sale-by-owners is on a sustained decline and is now at a record low," Stevens says. "In addition, a growing share of FSBO properties are not placed on the open market—they’re private transactions.”

A clear downtrend in FSBOs has been seen since that market share experienced a cyclical peak of 18 percent in 1997. Only 13 percent of sellers conducted transactions without the assistance of a real estate professional in 2005, and 39 percent of those FSBO transactions were “closely held” between parties who knew each other in advance, up from 32 percent in 2004. The FSBO market share was at 14 percent in both 2003 and 2004. NAR began tracking the FSBO market in 1981; the record was 20 percent in 1987.

“In reality, the term ‘FSBO’ is a misnomer when used to broadly describe homes sold directly by owners," Stevens says. "Since two out of five of these transactions are between related parties, and those properties are not placed on the open market, we believe that ‘unrepresented sellers’ would be a much more accurate term to describe this segment.”

The median home price for sellers who use a practitioner is 16.0 percent higher than a home sold directly by an owner ($230,000 vs. $198,200); there were no significant differences between the types of homes sold. “While many unrepresented sellers are motivated to save on paying a commission, we think the price difference speaks for itself,” Stevens says. “Owners without professional assistance also have problems in understanding and completing paperwork, prepping the home for sale, getting the right price, and selling within the time planned.”

Survey data don’t explain the price difference, but Stevens offered some context. “Real estate professionals know best how to prepare a home and maximize value, and they provide broader exposure to the market and are more likely to generate multiple bids, while the portion of sales that are between private parties are likely to be at a lower price than those on the open market.

“The housing market today contrasts sharply with predictions a decade ago that the Internet would ‘disintermediate’ real estate professionals, including speculation that NAR membership would fall in half," Stevens says. "In reality, it’s grown dramatically—selling real estate is not like selling a book or buying an airline ticket.”

REALTOR.com was the most popular Internet resource, used by 54 percent of buyers, followed by MLS Web sites (50 percent), real estate company sites (38 percent), real estate practitioner Web sites (31 percent), and local newspaper sites (15 percent); other categories were smaller.

Married couples make up the largest share of the housing market, accounting for 61 percent of transactions. Single women purchase 21 percent of homes while single men account for 9 percent. Unmarried couples were 7 percent of the market, and 2 percent were listed as other. In 2004, single women were 18 percent of buyers and single men were 8 percent.

The typical buyer walked through nine properties, searched eight weeks to buy a home and moved 12 miles from their previous residence. The typical seller placed their home on the market for four weeks, had lived in it for six years, moved 15 miles to their new residence and previously owned three homes, including the one just sold.

NAR’s senior economist Paul Bishop says both buyers and sellers use traditional methods to choose a real estate professional. “Word-of-mouth recommendation is the most common way to learn about real estate professionals,” Bishop says. “The most important criteria, whether you’re buying or selling, are the individual practitioner’s reputation and their knowledge of the local market.”

In finding a real estate professional, 44 percent of buyers were referred by a friend, neighbor, or relative, 11 percent used a practitioner from a previous transaction, 7 percent found a practitioner on the Internet, 7 percent met the practitioner at an open house, and 6 percent saw contact information on a For Sale sign. Six other categories accounted for smaller shares each.

The most important factor in choosing a real estate professional was reputation (41 percent of home buyers), followed by a practitioner's knowledge of the neighborhood (24 percent). In terms of desired qualities in a real estate professional, three categories were rated as very important by more than nine out of 10 buyers: knowledge of the purchase process, responsiveness, and knowledge of the market. Of buyers who use a real estate professional, 63 percent choose a buyer representative. Satisfaction with real estate professionals is very high, with 85 percent of buyers saying they were likely to use the practitioner again.

Seller responses are comparable: 43 percent chose practitionerd based on a referral by a friend, neighbor, or relative, and 28 percent used their practitioner previously; 10 other categories were 5 percent or less. Fifty-seven percent of sellers said reputation was the most important factor in selecting a real estate professional, followed by their knowledge of the neighborhood (17 percent). Eighty-two percent said they were likely to use the same practitioner again or recommend to others.

Four out of 10 respondents are first-time buyers, a finding that is consistent for more than a decade. The median age of entry-level buyers is 32 years, also typical over time, and the household income was $57,200. They made a down payment of 2 percent on a home costing $150,000, but 43 percent purchased with no money down. Of first-time buyers who made a down payment, 23 percent received a gift from a friend or relative.

The typical repeat buyer is 46 years old and had a household income of $83,200. They placed a down payment of 21 percent on a home costing $235,000, but 11 percent of repeat buyers paid cash for their home. In all, 94 percent of buyers and sellers believe their home purchase is a good financial investment.

“To underscore the value of housing as an investment, all you have to do is look at the difference in how repeat buyers purchase their next home—the wealth effect of home ownership provides the greatest source for their downpayment, which is significantly larger,” Bishop says. Aside from sellers who pay cash for their new home, 66 use the equity from their previous home for a down payment.

The most important factors in choosing a location to purchase a home are neighborhood quality (68 percent), close to a job or school (43 percent), close to family or friends (36 percent), and the school district itself (23 percent); seven other categories were under 20 percent.

NAR mailed an eight-page questionnaire to a national sample of 145,000 home buyers and sellers, based on county records, who purchased their homes between August 2004 and July 2005. It generated 7,813 usable responses; the response rate was 5.4 percent.—NAR

Bass Pro Sets Opening

2006-01-17T18:28:00.000-06:00

Bass Pro sets opening
Store is first phase in $268 million retail center
By BRANDON BABCOCK

The grand opening of Olathe’s Bass Pro Shops is planned for Nov. 9, less than 11 months away and in time for holiday shopping, said Larry Whiteley, company spokesman.
Today, dirt has been turned at the 119th Street and Renner Road site, and that’s about it.
Within a week of Olathe’s tentatively scheduled opening, the Kansas City area’s second Bass Pro could open its doors in Independence, according to Whiteley.
In Olathe, the company’s more detailed, final plans are coming together and the Planning Commission is scheduled to review those publicly for the first time Jan. 23.
It’s the first opportunity for citizens to see something beyond conceptual drawings for the $268 million, 625,000-square-foot destination retail center that was granted $55 million in economic incentives to come to the city. The center, located in by far the city’s busiest corridor, has been newly named Olathe Gateway.
Bass Pro will be the first phase.
Senior planner Sean Pendley said Thursday’s review by city staff yielded only minor revisions, and a November opening seems feasible.
“It’s certainly ambitious, but they have every intention of opening in November of this year,” he said.
Whiteley said as with all construction projects, weather will be a factor in the ultimate timeline.
Pendley said the city planning process should move quickly, but any delays there and the timing of nearby road improvements might make a difference. He expected to soon see a more detailed timeline that would clarify some of the potential roadwork issues.
North of Bass Pro, north of what will be a newly built 120th Street and east of Renner Road, the second phase of the project is getting closer to reality, but commissioners likely won’t discuss it the same night as the Bass Pro phase, as had been planned.
Pendley said the developer, Maefield Development, is asking for more time to revise plans as negotiations proceed. Preliminary plans called for eight retail buildings.
This portion of the project has been described by developers as a “festival marketplace” concept featuring clusters of one- and two-story retail buildings lining a pedestrian walkway through the middle of the site, with a strip-style retail building closer to the interstate.
If continued, Pendley said the item would likely return to the commission agenda in February.
To the west of Renner, the third and fourth phases would eventually stretch nearly a half-mile west and to the Benchmark furniture complex to the south.
This portion of the development has yet to resurface since financing was approved.
The Olathe Planning Commission meets at City Hall the second and third Mondays of each month at 7 p.m.

Area Cities Trail Olathe in Births

2006-01-17T18:27:00.000-06:00

Area cities trail Olathe in births
Leawood birth rate low by contrast, survey says
By MICHELLE BURHENN
The Kansas City Star
Where do babies come from?
Well, in Johnson County, your safest bet is Olathe.
The latest vital statistics released by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reinforce the notion that young people are flocking to the fast-growing suburb in southwest Johnson County. In Olathe, young families can find affordable homes and a school district planning for its burgeoning population.
The Annual Summary of Vital Statistics, released in November, compares cities and counties on the touchstones of a Kansan’s life: birth, marriage and death. It tells us which county gained the most population in 2004 (Johnson County) and which county lost the most (Ness County).
Out of the 11 Johnson County cities surveyed for live births in 2004, Olathe recorded the highest birth rate: 20.1 people out of 1,000 gave birth. That translated into 2,181 births last year to Olathe women. Only Overland Park, with 2,202 live births, topped Olathe by sheer volume. In contrast, Mission Hills and Leawood had the lowest birth rates, with 6.2 and 9.7 people out of 1,000 giving birth.
Olathe first broke the 2,000 births mark in 2002. A similar milestone was hit in Olathe this year: The Olathe Public Schools had its first 2,000-student kindergarten class. The school district is growing at a tremendous rate, Chris Gralapp, the district’s growth planner, said.
Gralapp said the district is now seeing the effects of the housing boom that hit Olathe earlier this decade.
“There’s not a lot of new construction now,” he said, “but the populations continue to rise because young families have bought these houses years ago and their kids are just now getting into the school system.”
With 2,181 births in 2004, compounded with the number of families that move to Olathe seeking better schools, the numbers are only going to get bigger, he said. Gralapp predicted Olathe would pass the Shawnee Mission School District within three years to become the second-biggest district in Kansas following Wichita Public Schools.
The Olathe district now has four high schools, which serve three grades each. Gralapp said Olathe has acquired land to build a fifth senior high school to deal with the demand.
Other survey tidbits:
■ Teen pregnancy rates continued to decline, but out-of-wedlock births were at an all-time high with 32.6 of babies born out of wedlock in 2004 compared to 25.9 percent in 1994.
■ Half of the state’s abortions were performed on non-Kansans.
■ Kansans were waiting longer to get married. Fewer brides (8.9 percent) and grooms (3.4 percent) were under 20 when they married in 2004 compared to 1995 (11.9 and 4.6 percent, respectively).
The survey results prove what many Johnson Countians have long known to be true. The cities near Kansas City are losing population and the cities that extend outward are gaining. But what the report shows is that the birth and death rates are compounding the exodus and tipping population totals toward the newer suburbs.
People who live in northeast suburbs are dying at a higher rate than those who live on the county’s outskirts. Merriam, Prairie Village and Mission topped the list with 8.5, 8.2 and 7.9 people per 1,000 dying last year. In contrast, those cities finished in the lower half of the birth rates as well, with only Mission Hills and Leawood reporting lower birth percentages.
Gordon Davis, aging information specialist at the county’s Department of Aging, said the department provides services to all areas of Johnson County, but his staff does note higher percentages of older residents in the inner-ring communities, such as Prairie Village and Mission.
“There are older pockets of housing there that traditionally are older neighborhoods that have people aging within them,” he said.
The lowest death rate for 2004 was Fairway’s, which had only 3.6 of 1,000 people dying last year. But its five-year rate crept up to 7, and the city with the lowest death rate over the past five years was – no surprise here – Olathe, where only 4.6 people per 1,000 population died in 2004.
Births, deaths and population growth
Johnson County posted the highest population growth statewide, above-average birth rates and below-average death rates in 2004, the most recent year for which figures are available. Here is how cities in Johnson County compare. Birth and death rates are the number per 1,000 people.

Birth rate in 2004
Births in 2004
Death rate in 2004
Deaths in 2004
Population in 2004
% change 2003-2004
Statewide
14.5
39,553
9
23,720
2,735,502
0.4
Johnson
15.4
7,651
5.7
2,827
496,691
2.1
Fairway
15.8
61
3.6
14
3,849
-1
Leawood
9.7
286
5.2
153
29,504
2.1
Lenexa
15.1
644
5.8
247
42,615
1.5
Merriam
13.3
143
8.5
92
10,774
-0.6
Mission
12.3
120
7.9
77
9,772
2.2
Mission Hills
6.2
22
4
14
3,524
-0.8
Olathe
20.1
2,181
4.7
508
108,390
3
Overland Park
13.5
2,202
5.8
948
162,728
1.5
Prairie Village
12.3
264
8.2
176
21,511
-1
Roeland Park
15.3
107
5.3
37
6,997
-1.1
Shawnee
16.5
927
5.4
301
56,178
3.9
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment did not include in its study complete data for De Soto, Edgerton, Gardner, Spring Hill, Westwood, Westwood Hills or Mission Woods.
County vs. state
Here is how Johnson county stacked up against statewide averages in 2004:
■ Population
County: up 10.1 percent.
State: up 0.4 percent.
■ Birth rates
County: 15.4 per 1,000.
State: 14.5 per 1,000.
■ Teenage pregnancy rates
County: 14.6 per 1,000 girls.
State: 26.1 per 1,000 girls.
■ Death rates
County: 5.7 per 1,000.
State: 8.7 per 1,000.
■ Marriage rates
County: 5.3 per 1,000.
State: 7.0 per 1,000.
■ Divorce rates
County: 0.8 per 1,000.
State: 3.2 per 1,000.

City of Olathe News Brief

2006-01-17T18:22:00.000-06:00

Council to Consider New Option for Ridgeview and Kansas City Road AreaThe City Council will consider at their January 17 meeting an application to create a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district for the southeast corner of Kansas City Road and Ridgeview. The proposed TIF district includes the vacant Atmos Energy site and the two single-family residential properties to the south.
City Council will hear a presentation from KC Road Partners, LP, the applicant.

Recycle Cut Christmas Trees and Cardboard through January 31Olathe residents have through January 31 to recycle cut Christmas trees, cardboard and paperboard often associated with toys, electronics and other gift items.
Recycling drop offs are available at Black Bob Park, 14500 W. 151st Street and Prairie Center Park, 555 N. Olathe View Road, for cut Christmas trees, cardboard and paperboard through the end of January. Residents should remove all items from the tree (plastic bags, tinsel, ornaments, etc.) and flatten boxes and remove all non-cardboard items including Styrofoam, packing material, plastic and metal ties before recycling.
A permanent recycling drop off is available in the parking lot of the City's West Santa Fe Building, 200 W. Santa Fe (southwest corner of Kansas Ave. and Poplar St.).
Residents also may dispose of their tree as yard waste for Monday curbside collection in January. Trees must be cut to lengths no longer than 5 feet and be free of decorations or plastic bags.
The City will grind the trees in February and make wood chip mulch available to residents for use in their gardens. To verify wood chip availability or for more information, call 913-971-9311.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tim Talbott, Historic Site Manager, ttalbott@olatheks.org or Alexis Radil, Interpretative Specialist, aradil@olatheks.org - (913) 971-5111
Girl Scouts Learn about Valentine?s Day at Mahaffie?s "Historic Value of Valentines"
Participants will make Valentines to keep or give away at the Jan. 28 program.

Olathe, KS - Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site?s first Girl Scout Valentine program, Historic Value of Valentines, will be Saturday, January 28 from 1 ? 3 p.m. at the Santa Fe building, 100 West Santa Fe.
Girl Scouts ages five to 17 are welcome to participate, where they will learn the historical origins of Valentine?s Day and the meanings of flowers, as well as make Valentines to keep or give to someone.
Each participant will have an opportunity to earn several badges through this program. Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts can earn their Artistic Crafts and Service Project badges; Junior Scouts can earn their My Heritage, Time Travel, and Across Generations badges; and Brownies can earn their Creative Composing Try-It, Caring and Sharing Try-It, and Colors and Shapes Try-It badges.
Girl Scouts ages 12 - 17 can arrive at 1 p.m. for their Valentines and then assist the younger scouts from 2 ? 3 p.m. Girl Scouts ages five -11 can arrive at 2 p.m. for their portion of the program. A variety of Valentines will be available to make and give away. Girl Scouts will be limited to three Valentines each.
Historic Value of Valentines for Girl Scouts is for ages five - 17 and pre-registration is required. The cost is $5 per scout and adults are free.
Participants can register individually or entire troops can register by calling Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop at (913) 971-5111 or email mahaffie@olatheks.org. Registration deadline is Friday, January 27 by 5 p.m.
The Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site is operated by the City of Olathe. Open hours, stagecoach operations, living history activities, special events and programs vary seasonally. Access is limited in the winter months and the site is closed all major holidays. Please call or visit our website for current times and dates, http://www.olatheks.org/Admin/News/www.olatheks.org/Visitors/Mahaffie, (913) 971-5111.

Mortgage Outlook

2006-01-16T21:41:00.000-06:00

Market Comment
Mortgage bond prices remained stable last week holding rates steady from the previous week. Interest rates rose earlier in the week, however, they recovered Friday with the release of some bond market friendly news. Retail sales and core producer price index data were lower than expected boosting hopes that the Fed may cease raising rates in early 2006.
For the week, interest rates on government and conventional loans remained unchanged.
The consumer price index Wednesday will be the most important release this week. Industrial production, capacity use, Fed "Beige Book", housing starts, Philadelphia Fed, and consumer sentiment data will also be important.
LOOKING AHEAD.

Fed "Beige Book"
The Fed "Beige Book" is a summary of economic conditions from each of the 12 Federal Reserve regional districts. The release takes place eight times a year approximately two weeks ahead of each of the Federal Open Market Committee meetings. The report is used at the FOMC meetings, which tends to be one of the most influential events in the market.
Market participants are continually attempting to determine what FOMC interest rate policy will be ahead of the next meeting. Any deviation from expectations usually results in extreme short-term market volatility. The timing of the "Beige Book" provides analysts a valuable look at one of the many factors the FOMC considers in setting interest rate policy. If the "Beige Book" shows signs of inflationary pressures, the Fed may decide to raise interest rates. However, if the report shows signs of difficulties, the Fed may lower rates to stimulate the economy.
Most analysts believe the Fed will raise interest rates again at the next meeting. Now is a great time to take advantage of rates at these favorable levels and to avoid future volatility.

City of Olathe News Brief

2006-01-16T21:38:00.000-06:00

City Council Special Business Items Recognize Employees and Martin Luther King Day
City of Olathe Considers Company for Grade Separation Project's Utility Relocations
City Offices Closed January 16
Children Can Enjoy Historical Stories at Lucinda Mahaffie's Storytime: First of Three Storytimes Begins on Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Santa Fe Building
Winners of Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest to be Announced at Noon Observance

City Council Special Business Items Recognize Employees and Martin Luther King DayScheduled special business for the Tuesday, January 10 City Council meeting:

The Council will recognize Olathe Environmental Program Coordinator Carly Adams for receiving the KACEE (Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education) Rising Star award at the 2005 Kansas Environmental Education Conference in October. The award recognizes individuals who are new to the environmental education field in Kansas, but who are already making an impact. Carly was nominated for this award for her efforts to help develop and implement new environmental programs for the Olathe Municipal Services Department. These programs include the Lake Olathe Watershed Protection project, Olathe AquaFest, the Earth News feature in the Olathe Link, Think WOW! (Wise Outdoor Watering), stream stewardship activities, and teacher workshops. KACEE is a private, non-profit association whose mission is to promote and provide effective, non-biased and science-based environmental education throughout the state of Kansas.

Major Andrew Rook, a field services supervisor in the City?s Municipal Services Department, will present the Council with a certificate from the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, recognizing the City of Olathe as a "Patriotic Employer." This designation recognizes the City for contributing to national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America?s National Guard and Reserve force. Major Rook has 21 years of military service as a combat engineer and is currently a member of the Missouri Army National Guard.

The Council also will recognize 40 City employees for assisting Gulf Coast cities following Hurricane Katrina and proclaim January 16 as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

City of Olathe Considers Company for Grade Separation Project?s Utility RelocationsThe Olathe City Council will consider awarding a contract to Dennis Johnson Construction Inc. for the utility relocations necessary for the construction of the East Track Grade Separation project at the Jan. 10 City Council meeting. This is first of three phases for the $32 million project that will lift the eastern tracks over four major downtown intersections.
The project consists of the relocation of sanitary sewers, storm sewers and waterlines necessary for construction of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Grade Separation - an elevated double track structure adjacent to the west side of the existing BNSF Fort Scott subdivision tracks to eliminate the exiting at grade crossings at Loula, Park, Santa Fe and Ridgeview.

The utility relocation project is Phase I of the Santa Fe Grade Separation project and will be funded with GO Bonds. The work on the first phase is expected to begin in February 2006 and is expected to be completed in April 2006.

The bid opening for Phase II is Feb. 21 and consists of the majority of the work - construction of four bridges and the elevated rail structure. Phase II construction will begin in April 2006 and is expected to be completed in September 2007. Phase III will be bid in 2007 and will include the reconstruction of Loula St., Park St., Santa Fe Ave., and Ridgeview Rd. Reconstruction of the streets could begin in September 2007.

City Offices Closed January 16City offices will be closed Monday, January 16 in recognition of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Residential trash, yard waste and curbside recycling will not be affected by the holiday.

Children Can Enjoy Historical Stories at Lucinda Mahaffie?s Storytime:First of Three Storytimes Begins on Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Santa Fe BuildingMahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site?s first Lucinda Mahaffie?s Storytime will be from 10:30 ? 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 14, at the Santa Fe Building, 100 W. Santa Fe in Olathe.

There are three to choose from this winter. All will be at the same time and location.
Join us for a cozy morning on a winter Saturday. Enjoy stories with an historical theme, along with a period craft activity and a snack related to the themes. The following are the storytimes schedules and themes:
January 14-Mahaffie staff dressed in historical clothing will read about stagecoaches. The day?s activities will include making thaumatropes and snacking on biscuits.
February 18-Stories about the Presidents of the United States
March 11-Stories about the Civil War
Storytime is for three to six year olds and pre-registration is required.

Participants can register through the City of Olathe?s Parks and Recreation Division at (913) 971-6263 or visit www.olatheks.org/ActiveLife. The registration for Olathe residents is $10 per child or you can register for all three storytimes at once and save $5. The cost for non-residents is $11 per child.

The Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site is operated by the City of Olathe. Open hours, stagecoach operations, living history activities, special events and programs vary seasonally. Access is limited in the winter months and the site is closed all major holidays. Please call or visit our website for current times and dates, www.olatheks.org/Visitors/Mahaffie, (913) 971-5111.

Winners of Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest to be Announced at Noon ObservanceWinners in the 2006 Annual Dr. martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest cosponsored by the City of Olathe, Olathe District Schools, the Olathe Human Relations Commission and the Olathe Chapter of the NAACP will be announced at a noonday celebration honoring the civil rights leader on Friday, January 13.

The celebration will be held in the Olathe City Council Chamber, 100 E. Santa Fe, and will be presided over by Mayor Michael Copeland.

A record 1,047 entries were received from students in the Olathe school district?s eight junior and four senior high schools using the theme, ?If you look at schools today, what would Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. say about his dream of diversity.?

After a preliminary screening by the school district, a panel of judges from the Olathe Human Relations Commission and the Olathe Branch of the NAACP narrowed the finalists down to three junior high and two high school essays.

On Friday, the high school finalists will read their essays during the hour-long memorial. A panel of judges from the community will judge these finalists on several criteria including delivery.

The high school winners will be vying for cash prizes of $200, $100 and $50 and the junior high students will be competing for savings bonds awards of $200, $100 and $50.
The winners also will be invited to appear at the NAACP banquet to be held on Monday, January 16.

Interpreters for the hearing impaired will be provided. For more information, call 913-971-6490.

For more up-to-date City of Olathe info. including Construction Areas and Job Opportunities, visit the City website at www.olatheks.org.

City of Olathe News Brief

2006-01-16T21:35:00.000-06:00

January Council and Planning Commission Schedules and TV Rebroadcasts ModifiedThe Olathe City Council will not meet on Tuesday, January 3 because of the New Year's holiday. The next regular City Council session will be Tuesday, January 10.

Because the January City Council and Planning Commission meetings both occur during the same weeks, the Channel 7 rebroadcast schedule will be modified. Each City Council and Planning Commission meeting will be shown live and then rebroadcast that same week on the following schedule:
The City Council meetings will be rebroadcast the following Wednesday at 6 p.m., Friday at noon, Saturday at 6 pm. and Sunday at noon. Note: the January 13 rebroadcast will be delayed until approximately 1 p.m. to accommodate the live broadcast of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at noon.

The Planning Commission meetings will be rebroadcast the following Thursday at 6 p.m., Saturday at noon and Sunday at 6 p.m.

Dispose of Household Chemicals Safely SaturdayOlathe residents are asked to safely dispose of household products at Olathe?s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off site, located south of the Olathe Municipal Services Center, 1385 S. Robinson, Saturday, January 14. The HHW collection site is open the second Saturday of the month year-round from 8 a.m. to noon. HHW also can be disposed of at other times by appointment. Call 913-971-9311 to schedule an appointment.

Household chemicals such as motor oil, antifreeze, paint, batteries and pesticides can be harmful to the environment and should not be thrown away with trash or dumped down the sink. Disposal of these types of chemicals at a HHW facility ensures proper disposal of the chemicals and helps protect the environment.
For more information, please call the Olathe Municipal Services Center at 913-971-9311.

City Council to Recognize Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday: Special Event Planned The Olathe City Council will recognize the 2006 Martin Luther King Jr. holiday with a proclamation at their Tuesday, January 10 meeting. The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is officially recognized on Monday, January 16; City offices will be closed.

A Martin Luther King Jr. observance will be held at noon, Friday, January 13 in the City Council Chamber, 100 E. Santa Fe, and will feature essay readings by senior high school students. The theme of this year?s annual essay contest is "If you look at schools today, what would Dr. Martin Luther King say about his dream of diversity?"

A panel of judges representing the community will determine the final high school winners as the top three finishers read their essays at the public gathering. The winners also will be honored at an evening banquet sponsored by the Olathe Branch of the NAACP on Monday, January 16 at the Doubletree Hotel in Overland Park.

The January 13 observance also will include Olathe Mayor Michael Copeland who will present a proclamation honoring King. It will be shown live on City Cable Channel 7. The noon event is sponsored by the Olathe Human Relations Commission and Olathe District Schools and endorsed by the high school SASH (Students Achieving Social Harmony) groups.
Interpreters for the hearing impaired will be provided. For more information, call 913-971-6490.

Mortgage Outlook

2005-12-17T06:21:00.000-06:00

Market Comment
Mortgage bond prices rose last week pushing interest rates slightly lower. Despite the Fed rate increase, there is hope that the continued Fed rate hikes may soon come to an end. For the week, interest rates on government and conventional loans fell by about 1/4 of a discount point.
The producer price index Tuesday will be the most important event this week. Housing starts, income, outlays, leading economic indicators, durable goods orders, consumer sentiment, and new home sales will also be important.
The market closes early Friday in advance of the holiday the following Monday. The shortened trading week and likely thin trading conditions may lead to mortgage interest rate volatility.

Inflation Data
The mortgage bond market received some great news last week. The consumer price index, a major gauge of inflation at the consumer level, fell a remarkable 0.6% in November. This was the largest drop in over 50 years. Signs that inflation remains in check bode well for fixed income securities such as mortgage bonds. The lower than expected consumer price figure also helps reinforce the belief that the Fed is near the end of continually raising rates. However, the consumer price core rate, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.2%. While this number remains tame, others point out that the Fed will need more than data from one month before they change their course.
If future data echoes that of November’s consumer price data, then it is very likely mortgage interest rates will remain the same or even push lower. However, there is still worry that the energy markets remain volatile and therefore the threat of inflation still remains. The good news is that mortgage interest rates remain historically favorable for homeowners. It is a great time to take advantage of rates at the current levels.

City of Olathe News Briefs

2005-12-12T16:42:00.000-06:00

City of Olathe News BriefsDecember 12, 2005

Trash Collection Schedule Unchanged by Christmas and New Year's Holidays: City Offices Closed for Both Holidays
This Week?s Council Meeting Scheduled for Thursday: December City Council and Planning Commission Meeting and Channel 7 Rebroadcast Schedules Modified
Coffee Creek Meadows Recommended for approval by Planning Commission

Trash Collection Schedule Unchanged by Christmas and New Year?s Holidays: City Offices Closed for Both HolidaysBecause Christmas and New Year?s Day both fall on a Sunday, the City of Olathe residential trash and recycling collection schedules will be unchanged. Trash and recycling will be collected as usual. The Olathe Transfer Station, 1681 S. Valley Road, and the City's Composting Facility, 127th and Hedge Lane, will be closed December 24 and 31 and open regular hours the Mondays following each holiday.

City offices will close for the Christmas holiday at noon Friday, December 23 and remain closed through Monday, December 26. Offices will be closed Monday, January 2 for the New Year?s Day holiday.

This Week?s Council Meeting Scheduled for Thursday: December City Council and Planning Commission Meeting and Channel 7 Rebroadcast Schedules ModifiedBecause of the Christmas holiday, the December City Council meeting schedule and City Cable Channel 7 meeting broadcast schedule have been modified. This week?s City Council study session is scheduled for Thursday, December 15. Council meetings are typically scheduled on Tuesdays.

The next regular Council meeting will be held Tuesday, December 20. The meeting will be broadcast live and rebroadcast Wednesday, December 21 at 6 p.m.; Friday, December 23 at noon; Saturday, December 24 at 6 p.m.; and Sunday, December 25 at noon.

The December 26 Planning Commission meeting has been canceled due to the Christmas holiday.

For more information about the Olathe City Council, Planning Commission or City Cable Channel 7 visit www.olatheks.org or call 913-971-8600.

Coffee Creek Meadows Recommended for approval by Planning CommissionThe Olathe Planning Commission recommended approval of the most recent development in Coffee Creek at its Nov. 28 meeting.

Coffee Creek Meadows, located at the northwest corner of future 167th St. and Mur-Len Road, will have 191 single family residential lots, 232 planned single family villa lots and 118 attached two-family dwelling units. The total development area is 142 acres and the overall density is 3.8 units per acre.

Coffee Creek Meadows will have three different zoning districts, R-1 (Single Family Residential), RP-1(Planned Single Family Residential) and RP-2 (Planned Two-Family Residential). The rezoning applications are scheduled for the Dec. 20 Olathe City Council meeting at City Hall.

So far, these projects have been approved by the City Council for the Coffee Creek Master Plan area:
Cedar Ridge Park
Fairfield at Heritage Park
Forest Hills Estates
Heritage Manor
Stonebrook Farms
For more information on the developments in the Coffee Creek area, contact Sean Pendley, senior planner, (913) 971-8662.

Mortgage Outlook

2005-12-09T18:06:00.000-06:00

Mortgage bond prices rose last week pushing interest rates slightly lower. The Treasury auctions were moderately bid and did little to help mortgage bonds. However, market sentiment was positive most of the week as market analysts expect the Fed to change their continuous course of rate increases soon.

For the week, interest rates on government and conventional loans fell by about 1/8 of a discount point.

The Fed meeting will be the most important event this week. Retail sales, trade data, consumer price index, industrial production, and capacity use will also be important.

Fed Meeting:
The United States central bank, the Federal Reserve, coordinates the borrowing and lending activities of federally chartered banks. The principal reason the Federal Reserve was created was to reduce severe financial crises. One way of accomplishing this goal is to control the amount of money that flows through the economy. By manipulating the US money supply, the Fed influences inflation, unemployment, and the level of US economic activity. The Fed has a variety of tools that it uses to control the money supply, but its chief policy tool is the manipulation of short-term interest rates.

While every Fed meeting is a major event in the financial markets, this week’s meeting may carry additional weight. While another rate increase is expected, traders are eagerly hoping that the Fed revises its outlook for the future with a sign of an end to the rate hikes. A revised outlook by the Fed could result in a rally for mortgage bonds pushing rates lower. However, indications that the Fed will continue to raise rates may not bode well for mortgage bonds. The good news is that despite the consistent rate hikes mortgage interest rates remain historically favorable for homeowners. It is a great time to take advantage of rates at the current levels

Keller Williams Realty raises $4M for Katrina survivors

2005-12-09T08:33:00.000-06:00

Keller Williams Realty raises more than$4M for Katrina survivors

AUSTIN, TEXAS (Dec. 09, 2005) - In a concerted effort to help its Gulf States market centers recover from Hurricane Katrina, Keller Williams Realty Inc. and its public charity, Keller Williams Realty Cares (KW Cares) has raised $4.4 Million.The amount is not far behind the collective fundraising efforts of the National Association of REALTORS®, which has raised $5.8 million for hurricane relief.

Keller Williams Realty Vice Chairman Mo Anderson says Keller Williams Realty's giving culture has enabled the real estate franchise operation to "respond meaningfully" to its associates in need. As of mid-November, individual donations from Keller Williams Realty's 55,000 associates had reached $3.4 million. Additionally, the company's 500-plus market centers across the United States and Canada had donated $945,000 - earmarking 10 percent of their profits to KW Cares.

"We are making history in real estate with KW Cares, which has been supporting our associates in times of extreme hardship since 2003," Anderson says. "At Keller Williams Realty, we believe you have to give to get, and we're determined to hit our goal of raising $5 million for our Gulf States associates."

In addition to the fundraising campaign, KW Cares launched a long-term relief program called Heart 2 Heart, which is helping more than 700 Keller Williams Realty associates rebuild their lives and businesses. The adoption program enables volunteer Keller Williams Realty market centers in other regions to assist specific Gulf States associates impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

Olathe residents may experience delays

2005-12-08T12:58:00.000-06:00

Released 12/8/05As a result of the snow storm, some residents may experience delays in curbside collection. City crews will continue working despite the snow, but may not be able to complete routes as quickly as usual.

Any delay should be minimal and only impact a small number of customers. If a route is not completed on the scheduled day, crews will collect trash and recycling the following day.
Residents are asked to place trash and recycling containers by the curb as usual. They are asked to leave the containers at the curb until crews are able to remove the trash and recycling.
The city deeply regrets any inconvenience caused by potential delays. Crews will be working as hard as possible to collect all trash and recycling. If necessary, crews will be working on Saturday to get back on schedule.

City plow crews have been working non-stop since yesterday morning. All major streets have been plowed, and the majority of residential streets have received one pass. Nearly all residential streets should be plowed by the end of the day, and crews will continue working around the clock clearing the remainder of snow from streets.

Chris Dowell
www.DowellTaggart.com

City of Olathe News Briefs

2005-12-05T15:58:00.000-06:00

City of Olathe News BriefsDecember 5, 2005
Olathe Housing Authority Receives Family Self Sufficiency Grant from HUD
Olathe Named Among Top Ten Digitally-Savvy Cities in Nation
Dispose of Household Chemicals Safely Saturday
Still Time to Enter the MLK Jr. Essay Contest

Olathe Housing Authority Receives Family Self Sufficiency Grant from HUDThe Olathe Housing Authority is a recipient of a $47,500 grant from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to enhance their Family Self Sufficiency Program. Nationally HUD is awarding $45.5 million dollars in grants to help low income families become employable, self-sufficient and first-time homeowners. This is the second year in a row that Olathe Housing Authority has applied for and received this national HUD grant. Olathe Housing Authority is one of only six Housing Authority's in Kansas receiving this grant.

The Olathe Housing Authority?s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program provides Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher tenants an opportunity to become self-sufficient within five years by entering into a contract with the housing authority. The five year plan outlines major goals and accomplishments that will need to be met in order to meet the self-sufficiency goal.

To become self-sufficient the head of household and/or other adult will explore job training or placement programs, continuing educational classes, counseling, parenting and childcare, transportation, money management and homeownership opportunities.

Tenants who participate in the program will not only be improving their family?s financial situation but will also learn the value of savings and investment accounts. As the family?s income goes up the housing authority will place funds in an interest-bearing escrow account. This savings account could be used by the tenants to help them accomplish their goals such as paying educational expenses or a down payment on a home purchase. Once the family successfully completes their contract, any funds in the escrow account are given to the graduate of the FSS program.

This grant will be administered by Olathe Housing Authority staff with some of the services and classes offered through an inter-agency agreement between the City of Olathe Housing Authority and Catholic Community Services.

Olathe Named Among Top Ten Digitally-Savvy Cities in NationThe City of Olathe has been named one of the most digitally-savvy, cutting-edge cities in the nation, according to the 2005 Digital Cities Survey, an annual study conducted by the Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute on information technology in government and education. The City of Olathe was ranked seventh of cities with a population of 75,000-124,999. Olathe ranked eighth in the 2004 survey.

The annual study examines how city governments are utilizing digital technologies to better serve their citizens and streamline operations. Mayors, city managers and chief information officers in more than 300 cities across the nation were invited to participate in the survey.

The Center and the National League of Cities (NLC) developed the survey and annually invites more than 600 city mayors, managers and chief information officers to participate. Survey questions focused on implementation and adoption of online service delivery; planning and governance; and the infrastructure and architecture that make the transformation to digital government possible. Open-ended questions allowed cities to discuss their initiatives on collaboration, enterprise activities, spatial data, policy priorities, and structure data.

For more information visit www.centerdigitalgov.com/center/05digitalcities.php

Dispose of Household Chemicals Safely SaturdayOlathe residents are asked to safely dispose of household products at Olathe?s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off site, located south of the Olathe Municipal Services Center, 1385 S. Robinson, this Saturday, December 10. The HHW collection site is open the second Saturday of the month year-round from 8 a.m. to noon. HHW also can be disposed of at other times by appointment. Call 913-971-9311 to schedule an appointment.

Household chemicals such as motor oil, antifreeze, paint, batteries and pesticides can be harmful to the environment and should not be thrown away with trash or dumped down the sink. Disposal of these types of chemicals at a HHW facility ensures proper disposal of the chemicals and helps protect the environment.

For more information, please call the Olathe Municipal Services Center at 913-971-9311.

Still Time to Enter the MLK Jr. Essay ContestOlathe junior and senior high students are invited to submit essays in the Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest sponsored by Olathe District Schools, the City of Olathe, the Olathe Human Relations Commission and the Olathe Branch of the NAACP. The essay contest is open to junior and senior high students in the Olathe school district or Kansas School for the Deaf (KSD) who are sponsored by their Students Achieving Social Harmony (SASH) organization. KSD students are sponsored by the Olathe North SASH group.

This year?s theme, "If you look at schools today, what would Dr. Martin Luther King say about his dream of diversity," is taken from King?s ?I Have A Dream? speech delivered in Washington, D.C. in 1963.
Students are to submit an essay of no more than 450 words in length to their language arts or activity advisor at their respective schools. Schools must have their student essay entries collected and submitted to the school district by 4 p.m. on December 9, 2005.

Junior high school entries will be judged on theme, originality, organization and grammar. Senior high entries will be judged on the same criteria with the addition of oral presentation.
Cash prizes in the amounts of $200, $100 and $50 will be awarded to the top three senior high finalists while junior high winners will receive savings bonds in the amounts of $200, $100 and $50.

Top entries will be presented and winners will be announced at the City of Olathe?s Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at noon January 13, 2006 in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 100 E. Santa Fe. The senior and junior high winners will read their presentations at the Olathe Branch of the NAACP celebration at 7 p.m. on January 16, 2006 at the Double Tree Hotel in Overland Park.

The goal of the Olathe Human Relations Commission annual essay contest is to increase positive awareness, foster greater understanding, and celebrate the diverse groups which make up our community.
For more information contact George Dunmore, Olathe Human Relations Commission, 913-390-0078.
For more up-to-date City of Olathe info. including Construction Areas and Job Opportunities, visit the City website at www.olatheks.org.

Sales Of New Homes Jump 13% In October

2005-11-30T20:48:00.000-06:00

Sales of New Homes Jump 13% in October(November 30, 2005) -- New-home sales rose 13 percent last month to an annual rate of 1.42 million units, the U.S. Commerce Department reports. Some analysts believe the surprising figures can be attributed to buyers rushing to beat higher interest rates or take advantage of builders' incentive programs.

Regionally, new-home sales surged 47 percent in the West, 43 percent in the Northeast, and 1.9 percent in the South but slipped 9.5 percent in the Midwest. However, the big increase is being questioned by David Seiders, chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders, and David Lereah, chief economist for the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, both of whom anticipate revisions in the report. Source: Washington Post (11/30/05); Fleishman, Sandra

Chris Dowell
www.DowellTaggart.com
Keller Williams Realty Partners, Inc.
Serving Greater Kansas City, including Olathe, Gardner, Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee & Leawood.

If You Are A Victim Of Identity Theft

2005-11-30T20:24:00.000-06:00

If You Are a Victim of Identity TheftCall The Federal Trade Commission's identity theft hotline immediately at 1-877-438-4338 to file a complaint and to get information and more help on what steps to take.

Chris Dowell
www.DowellTaggart.com
Keller Williams Realty Partners, Inc.
Serving Greater Kansas City, including Olathe, Gardner, Overland Park, Lenexa, Leawood & Shawnee.

Mortgage: Defaults Rise on Subprime Mortgages

2005-11-30T20:16:00.000-06:00

Defaults Rise on Subprime Mortgages(November 30, 2005) -- The delinquency rate for subprime adjustable-rate loans rose to 6.23 percent between January and September, from 3.72 percent during the same period last year. Many of these borrowers opted for interest-only, low-documentation loans with interest rates that will adjust after two years, when some analysts predict a surge in delinquencies. Mark Agah, analyst at Portales Partners, says ARMs likely will hit $440 billion by the end of the year, up from $400 billion in 2004 and $220 billion in 2003. Some of these borrowers will find themselves in financial turmoil if home prices stall, preventing them from refinancing to extract cash or to make their monthly payments more manageable. Source: Wall Street Journal (11/30/05); Eisinger, Jesse

Chris Dowell
www.DowellTaggart.com
Serving Greater Kansas City, including Olathe, Gardner, Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee & Leawood.

For Sellers: How to Sell Your Olathe & Gardner Homes at the Highest Price

2005-11-30T09:10:00.000-06:00

Making a mistake in selling an Olathe or Gardner, Ks. home can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars in lost profit. Often home sellers make the same mistakes over and over. Avoiding these mistakes is easy and takes little time and effort on your part. Take the time with your home sale and follow the guidelines in this report.

1. Distress Selling: At times, selling quickly is unavoidable. That’s when knowing the right techniques to sell your home without looking desperate and making yourself a target for low bidders really pays off. Know all there is to know about the market before listing and work hand in hand with the right real estate professional. Ensure that you are not settling for the first offer through the door.

2. Best Home in the Neighborhood: Your home is one of your most personal possessions. Don’t be blind to flaws and needed cosmetic improvements. This will cause overvaluing of the home, hurting it’s chances to be sold. Listing with the right agent gives you a well informed third eye that will help you price your home at a fair market price.

3. Limited Home Viewing: Buyers want to view a home on their own time schedule. Unfortunately their time schedule does not always coincide with your time schedule. Leave a lockbox or key with your agent so your home can be shown when you are not around. You never know if the one who got away was your buyer.

4. Restrain Emotional Decisions: Don’t allow a few hundred dollarsto ruin a sale. That money will mean very little to you in the long run. Take a look at the big picture and react rationally. Use sound business judgment!

5. Make Cosmetic Improvements: Prospects make up their minds within the first twenty minutes. First impressions can make all the difference in selling your home. Spending $1,200 on new carpet might add another $4,000 to the price of your home. Get an objective point of view from your real estate professional. They can provide you with a list of items that will maximize the profit of your home sale.

6. Disclose Property Flaws: Property disclosure laws require sellers to list any flaws required by your state. If you are unaware of flaws or attempt to cover them up, you risk losing the sale and finding yourself in court. Get professional assistance from your agent who can introduce you to qualified inspectors and ensure the smooth sale of your home.

7. For Sale By Owner: Most homeowners who decide to sell their own home do so because they believe they can save the commission paid to the real estate agent. Everything has a price and selling a home carries a high one. The enormous amount of time and effort required to sell a home often surprises the “For Sale By Owner.” Furthermore, many costly mistakes can be avoided with the right guidance.

8. Refusing to Trust Your Agent: Would you tell a physician that you’ve decided to run your own tests and come to your own diagnosis? By choosing the right Realtor, you can relax and trust their judgment. The right agent is a valuable team member who will protect your best interests and make your sale as profitable as possible.

9. Know Your Market: Most homes that do not sell in their first listing period are priced too high. Conversely, most homes that sell quickly are priced too low and cheat the homeowner out of profits. You need to understand the market and evaluate the value of your home based on fact, not gut instinct or conventional wisdom. A professional agent knows the market, just as you know the market for your business.

10. Choosing a Realtor Based on Personal Relationships: Home sellers often pick a friend or family member as their agent. Choose an agent with a strong track record and aggressive Marketing Plan. A top producer knows the market well and can generate many buyers. Selling your home is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make! Base it on good, sound business sense and the rewards will add up.

Before you make one of your most important decisions regarding your home sale shouldn’t you become as informed as possible? By aligning yourself with a top agent you ensure that all the important issues and seemingly insignificant but... very important... details are handled professionally. Your home sale should not be a grueling ordeal. The more informed you are, the better chance you have of making a sound business decision.

I sincerely hope these tips and ideas are of value to you. If there is any way I can be of service, please contact me. I would consider it a privilege to be of service to you! If you would like a FREE consultation, call me at: 913-980-5809.

Chris Dowell
www.DowellTaggart.com
Keller Williams Realty Partners, Inc.
Serving Greater Kansas City, including Olathe, Gardner, Overland Park, Lenexa & Shawnee.

Mortgage: Conforming Loan Limits Increase

2005-11-29T14:24:00.000-06:00

As home values increase in Olathe and Gardner Kansas, their has been a need for conforming loan limits to increase. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have made a new announcement regarding conforming loan limits.

Here are the new conforming loan limits that were just announced by Freddie and Fannie.

New Loan Limits for single family homes have been increased to: $417,000

Chris Dowell
Keller Williams Realty Partners, Inc.
www.DowellTaggart.com
913-980-5809
Serving Kansas City, including Olathe, Gardner, Overland Park, Lenexa and Shawnee.

Mortgage: Trendy Mortgage Falles From Favor

2005-11-29T14:00:00.000-06:00

A Trendy Mortgage Falls From Favor

(November 29, 2005) -- Demand for option adjustable-rate mortgages have declined 25 percent in recent months, according to estimates by UBS AG, as short-term interest rates rise and regulators express growing concern over the risks associated with these loans.

As recently as this summer, option ARMs accounted for more than 30 percent of jumbo mortgages, global financial firm UBS says. Many borrowers flocked to option ARMs due to their attractive introductory rates—some as low as 1 percent—that are used to establish the minimum payment for the first year.

However, the "teaser" rate is in effect for just a short period of time and is then followed by a jump to above 5 percent or 6 percent and on up as short-term rates creep higher.

As option ARMs fall out of favor, fixed-rate loans are becoming more popular again. Some analysts now say this is likely the end of the era in which creative new mortgage products have made it easier for a wider range of borrowers to afford increasingly pricier residences.

Source: Wall Street Journal (11/29/05); Simon, Ruth

Chris Dowell
www.DowellTaggart.com
913-980-5809

2005-11-28T16:14:00.000-06:00

Existing-Home Sales Show Markets Cooling(November 28, 2005) -- Sales of existing homes eased in October, with a moderate decline in both single-family and condo sales, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Total existing-home sales—including single-family, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops – were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 7.09 million units in October, down 2.7 percent from September’s pace of 7.29 million. Sales were 3.7 percent above the 6.84 million-unit level in October 2004.

David Lereah, NAR’s chief economist, says markets are getting into better balance between demand and supply. “We are returning to more balanced markets between homebuyers and sellers, one that places buyers on a more even footing. Housing activity has peaked and is coming down a bit, and we expect further cooling in the coming months. We feel confident that housing is landing softly as rates continue to rise.”

The national median existing-home price for all housing types—including single-family, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops—was $218,000 in October, rising 16.6 percent from October 2004 when the median price was $187,000. The median is a typical market price where half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less.

Total housing inventory levels rose 3.5 percent at the end of October to 2.87 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 4.9-month supply at the current sales pace.
“The rise in inventory means that buyers will have a wider choice available to them, and the significant price appreciation over October last year shows that demand is still there, as markets continues to balance themselves,” says NAR President Thomas M. Stevens from Vienna, Va. “Buyers know that housing is a good investment,” says Stevens, senior vice president of NRT Inc.

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage was 6.07 percent in October, up from 5.77 percent in September; the rate was 5.72 percent in October 2004.

Single-family home sales dropped 2.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.23 million in October from 6.39 million in September, but were 3.3 percent above the 6.03 million-unit level in October 2004. The median single-family home price was $216,200 in October, up 16.6 percent from a year ago.

Existing condominium and cooperative housing sales fell 4.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 862,000 units from a pace of 902,000 in September. Last month’s sales activity was 6.7 percent above the 808,000-unit level in October 2004. The median condo price was $229,800, up 15.3 percent from a year ago.

Regionally, existing-home sales fell 1.2 percent in the West in October to a pace of 1.64 million, and were 3.8 percent higher than October 2004.

The median price in the West was 316,000, up 16.2 percent from October 2004.Total existing-home sales in the South declined 1.8 percent to an annual sales rate of 2.76 million units in October, and were 7 percent above October 2004. The median price in the South was $196,000, up 18.1 percent from a year ago.

Existing-home sales in the Midwest fell 1.9 percent to annual pace of 1.58 million units in October, and were 1.3 percent higher than a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $170,000, which was 10.4 percent higher than October 2004.

Total existing-home sales in the Northeast declined 7.4 percent to a pace of 1.12 million units in October, and were unchanged compared to a year ago. The median existing-home price in the Northeast was $252,000, up 10.5 percent from a year ago.—NAR

Information supplied by: Chris Dowell www.DowellTeam.com
Serving greater Kansas City, including Olathe, Gardner, Overland Park, Lenexa and Shawnee Kansas.

City of Olathe News Briefs

2005-11-28T13:50:00.000-06:00

City of Olathe News Briefs

November 28, 2005

City Council Meets This Week - December City Council and Planning Commission Meeting and Channel 7 Rebroadcast Schedules Modified

Olathe Housing Authority Recognized

The City of Olathe to Host First Annual "Olathe Recreation Night" at MNU on Dec. 3

City of Olathe Employees Exceed United Way Goal

Celebrate the Season with Winter Fest and Mahaffie Christmas Open House

City Council Meets This Week - December City Council and Planning Commission Meeting and Channel 7 Rebroadcast Schedules ModifiedBecause of the Christmas holiday and in order to allow council members to attend the National League of Cities Conference, the December City Council meeting schedule and City Cable Channel 7 meeting broadcast schedule have been modified to the following:
- Tuesday, November 29 - Regular City Council meeting - The meeting will be broadcast live and rebroadcast Wednesday, December 7 at 6 p.m.; Friday, December 9 at noon; Saturday, December 10 at 6 p.m.; and Sunday, December 11 at noon.- Thursday, December 15 ? City Council study session
- Tuesday, December 20 ? Regular City Council meeting - The meeting will be broadcast live and rebroadcast Wednesday, December 21 at 6 p.m.; Friday, December 23 at noon; Saturday, December 24 at 6 p.m.; and Sunday, December 25 at noon.

The December 26 Planning Commission meeting has been canceled due to the Christmas holiday.

For more information about the Olathe City Council, Planning Commission or City Cable Channel 7 visit www.olatheks.org or call 913-971-8600.

Olathe Housing Authority Recognized

For the fourth consecutive year the City of Olathe Housing Authority has earned an Outstanding Risk Control Award from the Housing Authority Insurance Group. Olathe qualified for the recognition by implementing the required nine risk control standards. Only 60 housing authorities nationwide were recognized with the award. By meeting the nine standards, Olathe will earn a $1,182 credit on the Housing Authority insurance premiums for 2006.
The Olathe's Housing Authority also earned a Low Loss Achievement Award from the Housing Authority Insurance Group. The award recognizes Olathe?s consistent positive performance in achieving a low loss ratio in general liability claims since 2001.

The City of Olathe to Host First Annual ?Olathe Recreation Night? at MNU on Dec. 3

Do you enjoy the excitement generated by a great game of basketball? Then, you should attend the City of Olathe?s first annual ?Olathe Recreation Night? at Mid-America Nazarene University (MNU) this Saturday.
Olathe Recreation Night will feature the MNU Pioneer men?s and women?s basketball teams competing against the Lindenwood University Lions of St. Charles, Mo. The women?s and men?s games will begin at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., consecutively, on Saturday Dec. 3 at MNU?s Cook Center, 2030 E. College Way in Olathe.
Those attending ?Olathe Recreation Night? will be eligible to win great prizes as well as to purchase $1 hot dogs. The admission is free for families with a child wearing a youth basketball jersey to the game. Otherwise, the admission is: $5 for adults; $2 for students (college age & under); FREE for ages 5 and under.

The Olathe Community and Neighborhood Services Recreation Division and Mid-America Nazarene University are the sponsors of the event. For more information about ?Olathe Recreation Night,? call (913) 971-6263.

City of Olathe Employees Exceed United Way Goal

City of Olathe employees recently wrapped up their 2005 United Way Giving Campaign with a total of $38,347. This is over $7,000 more than the goal of $31,000. The money collected will be donated to the United Way of Johnson County to help fund programs provided by the 27 United Way supported health and human services agencies in Johnson County.

Celebrate the Season with Winter Fest and Mahaffie Christmas Open House

Usher in the holiday season this weekend with two free family holiday events. Olathe WinterFest, featuring the Mayor's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, will be held the evening of Friday, December 2 and Mahaffie's Christmas Open House will be held all day Saturday, December 3.

WinterFest

WinterFest festivities will be held from 5-7:30 p.m., Friday, December 2, on the R.R. Osborne Plaza located on the west side of City Hall, 100 E. Santa Fe. The event will feature performances by music groups from Olathe high schools and elementary schools, as well as groups from MidAmerica Nazarene University, the Olathe Civic Orchestra, the Olathe Civic Band, and more. Children can visit with Santa Claus and ride the kiddie train. Plus there will be an ice carving by Johnson County Community College and Olathe North High School student art on display. Dinner from Celebrity's Sidewalk Café will be available for purchase with part of the proceeds benefiting the Mayor's Christmas Tree Fund.
Donations to the Mayor?s Christmas Tree Fund will benefit The Children?s Shoe Fund, Catholic Community Services, Temporary Lodging for Children and Families, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Cypress Recovery, Salvation Army and Foster Children of Johnson County.
The event is coordinated by the Olathe Noon Optimist Club and co-sponsored by the City of Olathe with K.C. Pumpkin Patch, the Olathe News and the Kansas City Star.
For more information visit www.olatheks.org or call 913-780-8181 or 913-971-6263.

Mahaffie Christmas Open House

The annual Mahaffie Christmas Open House will be held Saturday, December 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm historic site, 1100 Kansas City Rd. The home?s formal parlor will showcase a tree decorated in the manner of the 1860s, while the sitting room will feature a tree reminiscent of the World War I era. Enjoy music by the Shady Grove String Band in the morning and a variety of children?s activities will be offered all day.
Meet Father Christmas, string popcorn or make an ornament in the stagecoach dining room to take home. Weather permitting, enjoy 19th century games and stagecoach rides outside. Shop for unique holiday gifts in the Mahaffie shop and with craft vendors displaying their wares in the house, including baskets from well-known basket maker, Robbie Wisdom.
For more information visit www.olatheks.org/Visitors/Mahaffie or call (913) 971-5111.
For more up-to-date City of Olathe info. including Construction Areas and Job Opportunities, visit the City website at www.olatheks.org.

Thank You!

Chris Dowell

www.DowellTeam.com

Six Helpful Tips to Help Save Olathe & Gardner First-Time Homebuyers

2005-11-28T09:30:00.000-06:00

Six Helpful Tips To Help Save Olathe & Gardner First-time Homebuyers Money… And Anxiety!

With interest rates on the rise, a multitude of flexible and low cost loan programs are available as well as a wide variety of assistance programs that can help virtually anybody experience the joy of homeownership. In short, the economic environment simply couldn’t be better to buy your first home.

However, if you have always been a renter than you probably aren’t as well informed of the intimate processes of obtaining a home mortgage, as you’d like to be. To guide you through this exciting but often confusing time, this report details six tips that will help make your purchase a much smoother experience, save you money and eliminate your anxieties.

1) Get Pre-qualified Before Starting Your Search
Before you begin your home search, before you make one single decision regarding a home purchase, get pre-qualified by a mortgage professional. Pre-qualification is free and will give you a definite advantage in the buying process.

During the evaluation stage, it will clarify your financial situation, indicating how much home you can afford. This may influence your decision for location, narrowing your search. You’ll also know exactly how much home you can afford, further clarifying your search.

Pre-qualification will also give you a step up on your competition. Homebuyers that are pre-qualified have increased leverage with Realtors and sellers over buyers who are not. Essentially a pre-qualified buyer becomes a “cash” buyer.

2) Shop Around For A Mortgage Professional
Like most industries, the quality of mortgage professionals can and does vary significantly. With the advancements in lending practices, consolidation between companies and aggressive start-ups there is significant awareness of the value of your business. So don’t immediately settle on the first lender you talk to. Shop your mortgage around to at least three lenders until you find one that you completely and unconditionally trust.

While rates are certainly one of the most significant factors in choosing a lender, compare closing costs, are their “points” involved or not (which is the percentage of the mortgage that the originator takes as commission) and how long is your pre-qualification good for. Traditionally, to get a prime rate you had to pay “points” at the closing, but this isn’t true anymore. Also, the pre-qualification should be good for at least three months and up to six months. In the past, some lenders only approved you for one month.

3) Don’t Become Fixated On The Interest Rate Alone!
Be careful! The lowest interest rate does not always translate to the best deal. Look at the loan programs that are being offered, not just the rate. There are several factors that have to be taken into account when evaluating programs – the loan type (fixed or adjustable), the loan term (15 year or 30 year), the rate and the down payment requirement.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage’s (ARM’s) are typically very low at the beginning but can escalate quickly. These are good for short-term purchases, but long-term mortgage holders are typically better off with a fixed rate.

If you can afford it, you may consider a fifteen-year mortgage. Typically the monthly payments are only 20% higher, and you cut off half the duration of your loan. Additionally, your credit will play a big part in what program will be offered to you. “A” paper, lender lingo for an applicant who has perfect credit may find a 6.5% rate with only 10% down. But if you have some credit history problems, sometimes referred to as “B” or “C” paper, you may find that to receive the prime rate you need 20% down. So shop around!

4) Clean Up Your Credit
By getting pre-qualified, you will be made aware of any potential credit problems in your credit history. Don’t despair if the credit report is not stellar. Even if an incident cannot be taken off the report, by knowing the background of your financial history your lender may be able to put your financial situation in a better light when submitting the actual loan application.

Review your credit report carefully. It is very common for non-payments to be listed that are not even yours. Your mortgage professional will help you address problems showing up on the credit report. Many times, a simple letter to the creditor explaining the circumstances at the time of the incident will rectify the situation. However this may take a few months, so start early.

5) Get A Realtor
As a first time homebuyer, the biggest mistake you can make is believing that you can save money if you do not use a Realtor ®. Although the seller pays the commissions, some listing agents will tell you they can represent both you and the seller fairly. While in some cases this may certainly be true, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Get a real estate agent that represents your interests solely. A buyer agent will make sure the home is inspected properly, do diligence on any hidden discovery and more times than not the money they save you on negotiating the price of your new home will more than off-set any reduction in price due to the commissions not being paid by the seller.

6) What Do You Want In A Home?
There will be many decisions as you start this process. Your Realtor will take you to several different homes, some you will like, some you won’t but most will land somewhere in between.

“You love this home except it doesn’t have…” or “That home would be perfect if it only had…” will be common phrases during this process.

Decide now what features you feel are “necessities” in a home and which features are items that would be “nice to have”. This list will no doubt change the farther along you go but the list will be extremely useful as you begin to look at homes. It will also be useful to the Realtor so he can better qualify the homes that he shows you.

We sincerely hope these tips are of value to you. If there is any way we can be of service to you please contact our office. We would consider it a privilege to be of service to you! If you would like a free consultation, please call our office at 913-980-5809.

Chris Dowell
Serving Greater Kansas City
www.DowellTeam.com
913-980-5809

FSBO: Why People Are Afraid To Buy From You!

2005-11-10T19:13:00.000-06:00

Many homeowners believe that to maximize their profit on a home sale they should sell it themselves. At first glance, they feel selling a home is simple and why should they pay a broker fees for something they could do themselves? In fact, close to 15% of all the homes sold last year were sold for sale by owner (FSBO).

However, close to half of the FSBO’s said that they would hire a professional next time they sold. Thirty percent said they were unhappy with the results they achieved by choosing FSBO. Why?

Many FSBO’s told us that the time, paperwork and everyday responsibilities involved were not worth the amount of money they saved in commissions. For others, the financial savings were even more disappointing. By the time they figured the amount of fees paid to outside consultants, inspectors, appraisers, title lawyers, escrow and loan officers, marketing, advertising... they would have been better off having paid the broker’s fee which would have included many of these charges up front.

Selling a home requires an intimate understanding of the real estate market. If the property is priced too high, it will sit and develop a reputation for being a problem property. If the property is priced too low, you will cost yourself serious money. Some FSBO’s discovered that the lost money as a result of poor decisions outweighed the commission.

Before you decide to sell FSBO, consider these questions and weigh the answers of assuming the responsibility versus employing a professional. A little time spent investigating up front will pay off tenfold in the end.

Questions To Consider:

1) Do I have the time, energy, know-how, and ability
to devote a full forced effort to sell my home?

One of the keys to selling your home efficiently and profitably is complete accessibility. Many homes have sat on the market much longer than necessary because the owner was unwilling or unavailable to show the property. Realize that a certain amount of hours each day is necessary to sell your home.

2) Am I prepared to deal with an onslaught of buyers who perceive FSBO’s
as targets for low balling?

One of the challenges of selling a home is screening unqualified prospects and dealing with lowballers. It often goes unnoticed... how much time, effort and expertise it requires to spot these people quickly. Settling for a lowball bid is usually worse than paying broker commissions. Why are you selling FSBO. Of course to save the commission and make more money. Why would a buyer, who can have a knowledgeable agent with all of their tools, turn down a tour from home to home, to buy a FSBO. Of course, to buy under value. Now how can th seller and buyer both be saving the same money?

3) Am I offering financing options to the buyer? Am I prepared to
answer questions about financing?

One of the keys to selling, whether it’s a home, a car... anything, is to have all the necessary information the prospective buyer needs and to offer them options. Think about the last time you purchased something of value, did you make a decision before you had all your ducks in a row? By offering financing options you give the home buyer the ability to work on their terms and open up the possibilities of selling your home quickly and more profitably. A professional real estate agent will have a complete team, from lenders to title reps for you to utilize...they’ll be at your disposal.

4) Do I fully understand the legal ramifications and necessary
steps required in selling a home?

Many home sales have been lost due to incomplete paperwork, lack of inspections or not meeting your states disclosure laws. Are you completely informed of all the steps necessary to sell real estate? If not, a professional would be a wise choice.

5) Do I have the capability of handling the legal contracts, agreements
and any disputes with buyers before or after the offer is presented?

Ask yourself if you are well versed in legalese and if you are prepared to handle disputes with buyers. To avoid any disputes it is wise to put all negotiations and agreements in writing. Many home sales have been lost due to misinterpretation of what was negotiated.

6) Have I contacted the necessary professionals... title, inspector (home and pest),
attorney, and escrow company?

Are you familiar with top inspectors and escrow companies? Don’t randomly select inspectors, attorneys, and title reps. Like any profession there are inadequate individuals who will slow, delay and possibly even cost you the transaction.

If these questions raise some concerns you may want to speak with a professional. I sincerely hope these tips and ideas are of value to you. If there is any way I can be of service please contact me. I would consider it a privilege to serve you!

Chris Dowell
www.DowellTeam.com

For Buyers: 10 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers

2005-11-10T18:56:00.000-06:00

10 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers

1) Be picky, but don’t be unrealistic. There is no perfect home.

2) Do your homework before you start looking. Decide specifically what features you want in a home and which are most important to you.

3) Get your finances in order. Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your downpayment and your closing costs. I recommend Ronnie Yarbrough from Firstrust for your mortgage needs. www.OlatheHomeMortgage.com

4) Don’t wait to get a loan. Talk to a lender and get prequalified for a mortgage before you start looking.

5) Don’t ask too many people for opinions. It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second opinion. A good real estate agent will be able to advise you if you have explained to them your needs, wants and goals.

6) Decide when you could move. When is your lease up? Are you allowed to sublet? How tight is the rental market in your area? Can you get the seller to pay the amount to break your lease?

7) Think long-term. Are you looking for a starter house with the idea of moving up in a few years or do you hope to stay in this home longer? This decision may dictate what type of home you’ll buy as well as the type of mortgage terms that suit you best. Most people buy off of emotions rather than what fits their goals. Write your goals down and make sure the home you buy fits those goals.

8) Don’t let yourself be “house poor”. If you max yourself out to buy the biggest home you can afford, you’ll have no money left for maintenance or decoration or to save money for other financial goals. Most foreclosures happen because people fail to plan.

9) Don’t be naïve. Insist on a home inspection and, if possible, get a warranty from the seller to cover defects within one year. A good home warranty will cover the mechanical items in your home for upto one year. Some warranties can be extended beyond 1 year.

10) Get help. Consider hiring a REALTORÒ as a buyer’s representative. Unlike a listing agent, whose first duty is to the seller, a buyer’s representative is working only for you. And often, buyer’s reps are paid out of the seller’s commission payment. Agents get paid the same, whether they represent the seller or the buyer. Doesn't it make sense to have the agent represent you. With all of their tools, it is well worth it.

Thanks,

Chris Dowell

www.DowellTeam.com

Selling: How to Get Every Dollar You Deserve... by Getting

2005-11-10T16:51:00.000-06:00

The ability to reap additional profits on the sale of your home can be accomplished easily enough if you make the right improvements. Many changes can provide the prospective buyer with enhanced feelings about your home. Feelings of more space, more light, more rooms, more closet space, greater privacy, warmth and security. Basic, simple and inexpensive improvements can provide an improved emotional response in a potential buyer.

An example could be something as small as a crack in the paint on a wall. Simply by applying some plaster and touch up paint, you eliminated what may be an unstated concern that your home was poorly maintained. Though the feeling may be unconscious, it’s just as important that the potential buyer feel an overall desire for your home. If you are working with a small budget these simple techniques will work absolute wonders:

1. The Magic of Mirrors!

Mirrors can provide a greater sense of space and elegance when properly placed. Be careful not to overdo it, but when placed properly throughout your home, each area will seem larger to the potential home buyer. Try looking in your attic or basement for any old mirrors, but be sure they have a nice frame or at least give the frame a new coat of paint. You may also want to visit a local flea market or garage sale, you can almost always get a great deal on an old mirror or two. Putting one foot square mirrors on a closet door in the master bedroom is always an attractive touch.

2. Adding Additional Closet Space

One of the biggest complaints heard from potential buyers is that there just isn’t enough closet space! Simply purchasing an inexpensive closet organizer and installing it in any or all of your closets can make all the difference. You can also try putting a rod across one corner of a bedroom for hanging clothes. Also you could try hanging a screen made from a variety of materials. The screen could match the material of the bedspread, drapes etc. The idea here is to be creative so that the “fake closet” looks as though it was a part of the room.

3. Make a Bare Wall Beautiful

Wallpaper is inexpensive, quick and easy to do! The right wallpaper can brighten the room or hallway and bring it back to life. Be careful to choose something with a neutral design or pattern, remember you’re trying to move out.

4. Bring Old Floors Back to Life!

Nothing turns off a potential buyer quicker than dull, dingy, disgusting looking floors. Whether you have wax, wooden or tiled floors do whatever you can to make them shine again! For wax floors, either rent a floor machine and do it yourself or, if it’s in your budget, hire a professional. Have a professional give you an estimate and explain exactly what they would do to bring your floors back to life. If you have them explain what they would do, it may be just as easy to do it yourself. If you have carpeted floors you should either have the carpet steam cleaned or install new carpeting. This may sound expensive but new carpeting can add thousands of dollars to the value of your home.

5. Add Attractive Plants

Having plants in the house is not only healthy for you but you create a warm feeling with them. Many indoor plants are far less expensive then you might imagine. Attractive pots such as ceramic, brass or even designer plastic will add a designer flair to your home. Hanging plants such as Boston ferns are inexpensive, easy to care for and would go great in your new home wherever you move.

6. Adding a Room Without Calling in the Contractor!

This simple but seldom used technique, can give a buyer the feeling there are more actual rooms in your house. Floor to ceiling room dividers are inexpensive and simple to install. When a buyer walks through your home, they will generally count the rooms in a subconscious manner. Each room will present an emotional response as they walk through your home. By dividing and designing each side of your room, you create a “ separate room” feeling in the potential buyer. It may sound crazy but it works!

7. Clean Up the Bathroom

We’ve probably all heard that phrase a hundred times growing up as children! Well guess what? It’s still valid. Give your bathroom a face-lift if needed: fresh paint, decorative moldings, tile grout, new designer faucets are allattractive eye catchers.

8. What is That Smell?

Though people don’t like to admit it, everyone's home has a certain smell to it. We just never notice it because we live with it day in, day out. Strategically placing fresh scent devices throughout the home will be pleasant to the nose of any potential buyer. As a matter of fact, an old Realtor trick is to pop some cinnamon rolls in an oven 5 minutes before a showing. I bet you thought all Realtors just had a sweet-tooth!
I sincerely hope these tips and ideas are of value to you. If there is any way I can be of service please contact me anytime. I would consider it a privilege to be of service to you!

Chris Dowell
Serving Kansas City, including Gardner, Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee, Overland Park, Leawood & Johnson County
www.DowellTeam.com
(913) 980-5809

2005-11-10T14:17:00.000-06:00

School is Starting next week!

2005-08-11T10:30:00.000-05:00

Are the kids ready for school? The teachers have been busy training and preparing before school starts. If your kids are like mine, they are ready. They are getting tired of each other, even though we have gone to the county fair, camping and tubing in the past 2 weeks.