JANUARY 2012 Newsletter by Carolyn & Karen

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Carolyn and Karen

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.

Please click on this link to view the Housing Trends JANUARY 2012 Newsletter:
http://carolynandkaren.housingtrendsenewsletter.com

Continue reading →

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Going it Alone: Do You Need an Agent?

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Carolyn and Karen

Representing yourself can be a lonely, expensive road.

Representing yourself can be a lonely, expensive mistake.

Representing yourself can be a lonely, expensive mistake.

It’s 2012.  You can find nearly anything and anyone on the Internet. Do you really still need a to put an agent in the middle of your real estate transaction? What’s to stop you from finding a home online, going straight to the source, and saving yourself a few percent on the commission?

Nothing at all.  But before you decide to buy or sell a house without an agent, take this to heart: You’ll probably lose money on the deal.  A lot of it. We’ll repeat that for emphasis. Even if you save on commission, you’ll probably lose money in the end. Why?  For the same reason you don’t represent yourself in court, or fix your own transmission.  You’re not an expert.

There’s nothing shameful about that.  No one can be an expert in everything. You should certainly educate yourself as much as possible about your market (it’s your house, after all), but you don’t spend all day, every day working in the field.  You may have researched comparable homes in your area, but you don’t know what other buyers and Continue reading →

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SOLD in Lone Jack!

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Carolyn and Karen

SOLD in Lone Jack!

Click on the photo to view the You Tube Video!

On half acre plus all major items replaced! Replaced 2011: steel siding, 30yr timberline roof, vinyl windows, exterior doors, gutters, furnace and a/c, carpet in family room put in 2010, insulated garage doors installed in basement by owners, redone 15×10 deck with stairs, 12×20 storage shed, newer interior paint, nice rock landscaping, 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in Lone Jack.

Click on the link below to see the listing information:

http://portal.heartlandmls.com/de.asp?ID=1870171128

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2012 Home Sales: Positives on Many Fronts

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Carolyn and Karen

NAR released its latest pending home sales index figure last week and for the second month in a row the index is up. But more than that, the index has broken 100. This is significant because the only time since the housing boom collapsed that the index has broken 100 is when the home owner tax credit was in effect. The fact that the index has returned to that level a year since the credit has been in effect means the housing market is strengthening completely on its own, without any stimulus.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun is upbeat about 2012 because in a number of areas indicators are pointing upward. Not only are home sales up but housing starts are up and home prices are stabilizing in many markets and heading up in some. In areas where they’re still down, the declines aren’t that great. More fundamentally, broader U.S. economic signs are looking positive, including the all-important jobs picture. About 100,000 job are being created a month, and that could rise to 150,000—still not a quick enough pace to get us back to where we were before the downturn but the headwinds are in the right direction.

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DECEMBER – 2011 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Carolyn and Karen

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.

Please click on this link to view the DECEMBER – 2011 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter:

http://carolynandkaren.housingtrendsenewsletter.com?Newsletter_ID=280&Period_ID=386

The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau, Realtor.org reports and other sources.

It also includes press releases with charts and videos, key market indicators and real estate sales and price statistics, a video message by a nationally recognized economist, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, plus local neighborhood information and more.

If you are interested in determining the value of your home, click the “Home Evaluator” link for a free evaluation report:

http://carolynandkaren.housingtrendsenewsletter.com?Newsletter_ID=280&Period_ID=386

Sound decisions can only be made with accurate and reliable information, and I am happy to be a trusted resource for you. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with this monthly eNewsletter, and I look forward to answering any questions you may have and to the opportunity to be your REALTOR® in the future.

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Lone Jack, MO Buyers – Protect Your Credit

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Carolyn and Karen

Protect Your Credit When Buying or Selling a Home

Great Advice from: Trisha Goodale
First Community Bank
1251 SW Oldham Pkwy
Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 816-554-5611
tmgoodale@fcbankonline.com

If you are listing your home for sale, and/or preparing to buy a home, it’s important not only to protect your credit, but to guard against credit or identity theft as well as the theft of valuables. From Bankrate.com, here is a checklist that can help you do that during the buy/sell transaction period:

•   Apply with care –Be mindful when applying to multiple lenders. To some versions of the FICO software, all applications submitted within 30-45 days of each other only count as one hit on your credit report. However, many lenders may still use older versions of the software. Play it safe by submitting all applications in a 14-day period. This will ensure that your credit report doesn’t show multiple hits, which will in turn better your overall score.

  • Prepare for lookers – When selling your home, pack up small, valuable belongings before strangers begin to walk through the house. Additionally, all bills or financial papers should be put into a locked box or drawer. Protecting your finances and account numbers should be your number-one priority because identity and credit theft can happen.
  • Protect your documents: When buying a new home, only potential mortgage lenders need to see all of your personal information. Agents and sellers only need to know how much you can afford. When dealing with a lender, stick to the same representative to minimize the number of people who have access to your documents. Avoid sending any files with your social security number through email. Opt for mail or fax instead.
  • Stay on top of your finances: Even if you are on top of paying bills on a monthly basis, you may want to consider checking into your accounts weekly. By logging into your credit card accounts regularly, you can make sure that all of the charges are legitimately yours. Credit watch services are also a good idea. If a fraudulent charge is made, the service will pick up on it and alert you of the charges. It’s important to act quickly with regards to your credit.

Copyright© 2011 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished without permission from RISMedia.

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Lone Jack Realtors Urge You to Purchase

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Carolyn and Karen

Is Now the Right Time to Buy a Home?

Myth:        Banks and Mortgage Lenders are not making loans.

Truth: The good news is that mortgage loans are being made.  It is true that credit score matters more than before there are still loans being done with FICO scores as low as 600.

Myth:        I can’t buy a house because I’ve heard I need 20% down?

Truth: Veterans quality for 100% Financing and FHA only requires a 3.5% downpayment which can be a gift from a relative.  Missouri First Time Buyers could qualify for a 3% Downpayment Assistance requiring the buyers only bring in ½% Downpayment.  Also USDA will loan 100% in certain areas, which include Lone Jack.

Myth:        I can’t afford to buy a home.

Truth: It has never been a better time to buy a home.  Mortgage Rates are lower than they’ve been in any time in recent history.  Potentially a borrower could obtain a 30 year fixed rate at 3.75%.  These low rates coupled with the homes selling below market provide extra buying power.

 

This scenario is an estimate, and actual interest rate will depend on the specific characteristics of the loan transaction and credit profile up until the time of closing. The displayed APRs include total points and additional prepaid finance charges but do not include other closing costs. For an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM), the Monthly Principal and Interest payment is based on the initial interest rate, which is subject to change after consummation, which may result in a different monthly payment amount. Rates available as of date of printing and subject to change without notice.

 

As you can tell, our sales in Lone Jack school district have been down, but are starting to rise in December…..let’s keep the trend going up!

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New Listing in Lone Jack

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Carolyn and Karen

Check out this new listing which is a great buy in Lone Jack!

Straight ranch with walkout!  Newer roof, gutters, exterior & interior paint – tile floors in all wet areas, fireplace in vaulted great room, 10 X 10 deck w/stairs to patio under at walk-out -  family room, 4th bdrm, 3rd bath & storage in walkout, plus 3-Car garage and treed green-space behind.

Check out the link below to get additional listing information.

811 N. Walnut, Lone Jack,MO 64070

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NOVEMBER – 2011 Newsletter by Carolyn & Karen

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Carolyn and Karen

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.

Please click on this link to view the Housing Trends NOVEMBER – 2011 Newsletter:
http://carolynandkaren.housingtrendsenewsletter.com

The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau, Realtor.org reports and other sources.

Housing Trends eNewsletter is also filled with local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by MLSs and the National Association of Realtors, U.S. Census Bureau key market indicators, housing market video reports, blogs, real estate glossary, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, community reports that map shopping, schools, recreation and more.

If you are interested in determining the value of your home, click the “Home Evaluator” link for a free evaluation report:
http://carolynandkaren.housingtrendsenewsletter.com/dispContent.cfm?loadid=2&loadtype=0

Sound decisions can only be made with accurate and reliable information, and I am happy to be a trusted resource for you. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with this monthly eNewsletter, and I look forward to answering any questions you may have and to the opportunity to be your REALTOR® in the future.

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Ranch on 5 Acres with 50×100 Barn

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Carolyn and Karen

On paved road, ranch/reverse floor plan that is very open lots of big windows for natural light, great room is open to kitchen/dining with stone fireplace, master suite and 2nd bedroom on the main level with a large 3rd bedroom with full bath down in full walk-out that has family room w/wet bar. Exterior of home is stone veneer and vinyl with full length covered front porch, breezeway that leads to the 3 car garage. Morton outbuilding is 60 x 100 with 16′ sidewalls plenty of room for stalls and indoor riding or RV storage or whatever you needed space. Property is fenced and cross fenced on paved road.

Click the following URL to see the listing: http://portal.heartlandmls.com/de.asp?ID=1785931480

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