Shawnee KS Real Estate Blog

Day Trip from Shawnee, KS: Lake Shawnee at Topeka

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:37:15 -0700

Day Trip from Shawnee, Ks to see the tulips in Topeka, KS. Day trips are fun. From my Shawnee, KS home, it's an easy drive to Topeka, Ks. Topeka has an amazing Tulip Festival that just ended today. When my mom was visiting from Iowa, we took a day trip to Topeka and enjoyed the beautiful tulips and other flowers. Hats off to Topeka residents who invest time, energy, and money in creating such a beautiful place. Happy Spring!

Pictures by Lea Deo, Kansas City, Serving Your Real Estate Needs in Shawnee Ks. Olathe, Overland Park, Mission, Lenexa, and other parts of the Kansas City metro area

Goode Estates Neighborhood in Shawnee, KS

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:30:51 -0700

Goode Estates is a subdivision comprised of 166 homes built in the mid seventies to early eighties. Located in the heart of Shawnee, it features mature trees and larger lots consistent with that era of building.

It is conveniently located close to the Benninghoven Elementary School and Shawnee Mission Northwest. Goode Estates homes are served by Trailridge Middle School which is just down the street at 75th and Quivira.
According to Heartland Multiple Listing Service data there were four homes that sold in 2009 and in the first quarter of 2010 there are three homes with contracts pending. Homes often sell quickly in Goode Estates with offers being received in 60 days or less on the market. Shawnee homes in Goode Estates have generally sold between the higher $170,000's to lower $190,000's.

Typical Shawnee Homes in Goode Estates neighborhood

Google Map of Neighborhood

View Goode Estates, Shawnee, KS in a larger map

Search for Shawnee, KS homes, Lenexa homes, and Overland Park homes for sale, priced between $165,000 and $200,000

Go Home Shopping Today!

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:06:52 -0700

This morning as I left my home, I remembered when my husband and I had bought this home. We were working hard and having a hard time making it financially. To this day I remember exactly where I was standing in my kitchen. I remember what he was wearing and the look on his face when he came into our farm home in Iowa and asked me what I thought about moving back to Kansas City. My response, "I'm packing!"

In the space of 30 days we sold our acreage, our livestock, and our equipment. We both got our old jobs back and bought a house in Shawnee, KS. We closed on the house in October, 1979 at an incredibly good interest rate of 9.75%. As you may or may not remember, interest rates at that time climbed to over 18% for 30 year mortgages. If we had not bought at 9.75%, we would have probably not been able to buy at all. Certainly we could not have purchased as much house as we did. So many times in subsequent years we talked about how that move had been ordained--how if we had not bought when we did, we would not have been able to buy our home.

I regard that moment in our kitchen as a moment of destiny.

This morning as I left my front door, I was grateful for the house that has been my home all these years. Then this thought crossed my mind. I wonder how many buyers will let their moment of destiny pass by. The tax credit that exists for buyers today is like the cherry on top of the sundae. It is a great time to buy a home. Interest rates are lower today than they are likely to be in the future. I don't know how high they will go, but I'm very confident that the direction is up. Higher interest rates mean less house for the same money. There are great values in homes today. Housing prices in our market are lower today than in recent years. Over the long haul we can be fairly confident that houses in our market will appreciate. In short, your housing dollars go a long way today.

How many of today's potential buyers are in that moment of destiny?

How many of today's potential buyers may miss the opportunity to own a home because of hesitancy?

If you are thinking of buying a Shawnee, KS home and hesitating, I invite you to examine the reasons for yor hesitancy. It may not be the right time for you to buy a home, based on your individual circumstances and situation. At times I have advised potential clients to rent because that was in their best interests.

On the other hand, it may be your moment of destiny. It may be the cornerstone of your future net worth. Make sure that you are carefully considering your situation.

Mama D Talks About "That Gary Keller Feller" and KW Family Reunion 2010

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:42:05 -0700

When I got back from Keller Williams Family Reunion, I brought Mama D with me. Mama D is just the name that my kids' friends used to call me. Mama D is a composite character of a few people I have known through the years and some I haven't. She believes that life is way too short not to have fun.

After I had presented Mama D to my fellow agents in a team meeting, they encouraged me to videotape her recap of Family Reunion. Writing the script was easy. Finding the costume and props were easy. Videotaping and editing were not so easy. Bill and Donna Wilting of DeSoto Youth Ministries, helped me tape it and we had help from Martin Oehmler in editing it and making it postable. I've always said that if I don't know how to do something technological, find a teenager. I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to hang out with teenagers at DeSoto Youth Ministries.

It is said that laughter is like a mini vacation so when you have time, take an "almost 10 minute vacation" and listen to Mama D tell you about "That Gary Keller Feller."

Sorry, My Crystal Ball is Having Technological Problems

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:21:41 -0800

It happens to all of us, whether we're selling Johnson County, KS real estate or anywhere else in the country - probably anywhere on the planet. We're talking with a client or potential client and they ask you to predict the future of interest rates, prices, or the market in general.

I reply with this answer, " Sorry, when I checked my crystal ball this morning, it was having technological problems."

"However, this is happening in the market place right now" and "we know that these factors affect supply and demand in this way" or "we know this about the neighborhood". Follow up the crystal ball remark with intelligent information that communicates that you know what you're doing and you know the market where you work.

I've found that the crystal ball remark disarms them and they laugh and realize that, of course, I can't predict the future and it gives me a great opportunity to show that I do understand economic forces and market realities.

Teaching Sellers How to Sell The Family Home

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:38:49 -0800

This morning I drove to Independence, Mo. to talk with a group of widows and a widower. This

group is a part of Skillbuilders which is a program designed to assist widows and widowers

in adapting to a new lifestyle and teach them life skills which they suddenly need, One

class has to do with personal safety, another has to do with managing finances, another is geared

toward maintaining an automobile, a couple are geared toward grief support. It is a wonderful program

where people who are dealing with deep painful emotions can find safety and share their experiences,

pain, and achievements.

I talk about the real estate market and getting your home ready to sell. Generally, these

people are not ready to sell their homes. Their grief is too fresh. I encourage them to

take time and make their own decisions and not feel pressured by someone else who "means

well". Not all of the widows and widowers are older. There's no guarantee that you will

have a long life together before you're faced with widowhood. Today, most of the audience

were older and had owned their homes for several decades.

I explain a little about the real estate market, the way to choose a good real estate agent,

and the importance of pricing the property to sell. Then I talk a little about improvements

that make sense,staging and home warranties, as well as the home buying process including

inspections and appraisals. Many times these people have lived in their homes 30-40 years.

Some of the questions they asked today were:

Should I choose a friend to list my home? (My answer- I don't know. Sometimes it can be a

good choice. Sometimes your friend is selling real estate as a hobby and not a career. Do

you feel comfortable if your friend knows about your finances? Do you feel comfortable with

your friend telling you that you need to lower your price, clean your shower, or any other

type of honest feedback that real estate agents must give if they are doing their job.)

If I find a house that I want to buy, do I call the listing agent so that I have to make

multiple phone calls to see multiple homes? That lead to a great discussion of buyer agency

and seller agency and designated agency.

If I list my home and someone wants to see it, should I leave? Should I answer questions?

How can I explain all the idiosyncrasies of the house and how to take care of it.

I don't want to do extensive fix up work. Can I still sell my house? That lead to a great

discussion about the market and how buyers think and who the competition is and who the

target buyer is, as well as the observation that price overcomes all obstacles.

I'm writing this post to remind agents that this particular market segment may have very

basic questions. As real estate agents, we tend to think of first time home buyers, but

sometimes first time sellers have those same basic types of questions.

Homeowners to Be Eligible for Government Payments in New Short Sale Guidelines

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:29:26 -0800

On March 4, 2010 the Obama Administration published detailed program guidelines and authorized

servicers to begin modifications and refinancings under the plan. The plan is designed with

the goal of preventing foreclosures and streamlining and expediting the short sale process.

You can read the complete Treasury press release

In the short sale process, lenders agree to accept less than what is owed on the property

due to declining home values and hardship on the part of the borrower. The process is

fraught with frustration for both buyers and sellers due to protracted time frames involved.

Highlights of the program involve:

Borrower eligibility: Before a foreclosure is initiated, participating servicers must

evaluate the appropriateness of a short sale based on property conditions, marketing

conditions, and whether a short sales agreement is likely to be yield more money than

foreclosure.

Incentive Payments: Servicers may receive compensation of up to $1,000 for successful

completion of a short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosre. Borrowers may receive compensation

of up to $1,500 to assist with relocation expenses, and Junior lien holders may receive up

to $1,000 to release their claims.

Standardized Documentation: The program will develop one standard set of documents to be

used in the short sale process and outline timeframes for performance.

Property Valuation: The servicer will independently establish property value and minimum

acceptable net return and will provide instruction to the borrower regarding list price and

permissible price reductions.

Minimum and Maximum Duration for Marketing: Servicers will allow a minimum of 90 days to

market and sell the property and a maximum of one year to market the property provided there

are no extenuating circumstances.

Selling Commissions and Fees: The Servicer will allow reasonable and customary real estate

commissions and selling costs. The Servicer will not be allowed to negotiate a lower sales commission

after an offer has been received.

Fees and Charges: Sericers may not charge borrowers fees for participating in this program

Property Eligibility: The servicer can proceed with a short sale or deed in lieu of

foreclosure if there is reasonable belief that all liens can be cleared. Any junior liens,

mortgages, or other debts attached to the proerty must be cleared for the property to be

sold as a short sale or deeded to the servicer in lieu of foreclosure.

So, that's the short sale program highlights. What say you, real estate professionals, do you think

this program will help?

Another Chapter for "The Book"

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 10:31:32 -0700

Most of us who have been in real estate any length of time at all have come across situations that would be a great chapter in a book. I may never write "The Book", but thinking of these incidents as a chapter helps me close the door and go on and focus on the next chapter.

I met this woman through an internet lead. We emailed and talked on the phone for awhile. She called me and told me that she was driving from Tennessee to Kansas City to look for a house. She and her fiancée were getting married. He was preapproved for a particular price range but they wanted to stay under that range. We had talked about the Kansas City real estate market extensively. I had emailed her listings and arranged a meeting at another Keller Williams office that was more convenient for them. When I met them, it was very evident that they weren't on the same page, but that happens. I scrambled around and found some listings that might more closely make them both happy.

He didn't have his preapproval letter with him and I broke my rule and took them out anyway (because she had driven several hundred miles to look for a house, of course they were ready to go. Lesson learned). My car was in the shop and I rented a larger car so they would be comfortable. She also was unfamiliar with the area so we did a wider tour of areas. The next day I took her alone to search for their home.

We found the house and she was excited. It was brand new - well within the price range and had everything she wanted. When she told him that she had found the house, he had something to tell her. As it turns out, this man had another wife here in the city and had no intentions of getting married, buying a house, or anything else. This woman had already bought her wedding dress, was in the process of putting her own home up for sale, and making arrangements for her children to change schools.

I was angry for her and angry at myself for allowing myself to get duped. If I had stuck to my own rules requiring proof of the preapproval, it wouldn't have played out like that. She and I had some interesting conversations and perhaps I was put in her path to minister to her at a very difficult time. I can only trust that God had bigger ideas than my idea of selling them a home. I have talked to her since she returned home and reassured her that she will be all right. She's a strong woman who is better off now than she was before we met. And I am going on to find the next chapter for the book.

Olathe,KS Home for Sale

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:38:08 -0700

Lea Deo | Keller Williams Legacy Partners | 913-233-9547

26448 W. 109th Ter, Olathe, KS

Beautiful home with great view. Huge kitchen with granite countertops. First floor master overlooking amazing view. Finished LL with fireplace

6 Bdrm Single Family House

offered at $449,900

Year Built	1995
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	6
Bathrooms	4 full, 2 partial
Floors	2
Parking	3 Car garage
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$76 per month

DESCRIPTION

Hurry, this beautiful property overlooks an amazing view of the trees. Enjoy your coffee in the oversized breakfast nook. Main Floor master and gorgeous master bath lets you enjoy the privacy of having the other bedrooms upstairs or down. Finished lower level has plenty of play space with fireplace and bar. Ready to entertain.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Tile floor
Family room	Living room	Dining room
Breakfast nook	Dishwasher	Granite countertop
Basement	Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio
Jacuzzi/Whirlpool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Clubhouse	Fitness center	Swimming pool(s)
Golf course	Playground

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Gorgeous home

Amazing resort type community

Huge kitchen with Granite Counters

Main Floor Master

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Lea Deo

Keller Williams Legacy Partners

913-233-9547

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 17, 2008, 9:06am PDT

Kansas City Real Estate Market Report, as of October 31, 2007

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 21:45:25 -0800

From time to time I get questions about Kansas City real estate investments. The Kansas City area is a great place to invest in real estate. I have helped many saavy buyers invest in Kansas City real estate through outright purchase, or using a 1031 exchange to get into our affordable housing market in Kansas City. Rental income and demand for rentals is increasing with the credit crunch so it's a great time to buy rental property in Kansas City.

Our market has historically seen steady appreciation, not subject to wild swings up or down. While our current market is a little slower than it was a couple of years ago, we are still not faced with extreme conditions. Sellers do need to be competitive in price, condition and location. Well priced properties in good locations and in great condition are still selling relatively quickly, sometimes with multiple offers. I recently sold a home that had 4 offers come in on the same weekend--and it had been on the market about 60 days. We didn't change anything to elicit the offers. Our strategy just seemed to kick in at once.

As of the end of October, overall, in the Heartland MLS that serves the greater Kansas City real estate market, we have almost 6% more inventory than we had last year, with about 9% fewer buyers. Agents are seeing buyers write lower offers and having higher expectations in neogtiating for repairs during the inspection period. Prices are generally down somewhat, varying by county. For the Heartland region in total, the average selling price in 2007 was $176,751 compared to $184,719 in 2006. In Johnson County, KS real estate market, the average selling price in 2007 has been $260,552 compared to $258,444. In Wyandotte County, KS real estate market, the average selling price in 2007 is $103,758 compared to $108,772 in 2006. On the Missouri side the average sales price in Jackson County dropped to $141,429 in 2007 from $148, 574 in 2006.

Properties that are selling, generally are selling quickly, with 51% of the properties being sold within the first 60 days. On the other hand, 26% are taking more than 120 days to sell. These statistics point out the importance of being competitive in the market place if you want to sell. Buyers, too, need to realize that in this market not all properties are lanquishing on the market. Some buyers have the idea that a low ball offer will buy any property and that's just not the case.

All in all, the Kansas City real estate market is a little slower than it has been. It certainly is a more normal market than many other parts of the country are experiencing. If we do have a freeze on the adjustable mortgage rate increases, I would expect to see our market normalize a bit more and pick up a little. Sellers who found themselves between a rock and a hard place in needing to sell to avert the higher mortgage payments, but unable to sell because of inadequate equity will find a breath of relief and probably stay in their homes until appreciation does work on their behalf. I am expecting to see an uptick in the market this spring, especially if interest rates stay low. They are currently below 6%, and that's a good deal historically. Kansas City offers some of the most affordable housing anywhere and that fact is quickly being recognized acorss the nation.

In Memory of My Dad

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:34:17 -0700

It has been a tough two weeks. It started out routinely enough--regular Tuesday office meeting and then tour. I was skipping tour because I had a coaching session and needed the time. The cell phone rang about 11:00 with unidentified caller ID. I usually don't answer those, but that day I did. I heard my mom say, "Your dad has a mass and it's inoperable. We're on the way to Des Moines to the hospital and you don't need to come." I said, "I'll be there as soon as I can."

When I got to the hospital, I learned that Dad was scheduled for an ERCP Wednesday morning to relieve an obstruction and hopefully allow him to eliminate some bile to make him more comfortable. They were unable to do that procedure as his organs started shutting down. Friday evening, I cooled the wash cloth on his brow, pushed his pain medication, and kissed him good night with an "I love you, daddy." I went to my room for a few minutes. When I returned to his room twenty minutes later, the nurse told me that he had passed away. It would be just like my dad to make it easier on everyone else and make sure he was alone.

Now, I feel alone. I feel like I've lost my biggest cheer leader. I feel like I've lost my life lesson teacher, and I feel like I've lost my mentor. My dad was always there for me. I remember when I got my driver's license and took the car for the first time. I drove to a little town 20 miles away because my boyfriend and future husband had been in a motorcycle accident. I had an accident there and hit the juvenile court judge's brand new car. He was not happy! In fact he was so unhappy that the policeman told me that he didn't want to give me a ticket, but it would be his job if he didn't. I was charged with reckless driving when in fact I had stopped at a stop sign and turned too wide. My dad went to court and argued that I hadn't been reckless, but had made an error in judgment--something everybody had done at least once in their life. He was my hero. I knew I still had to pay a fine and lose my driver's license for 6 months, but my daddy had defended my intentions.

My dad was the one who taught me to count the cost and in order to do that, you had to know your multiplication tables. I admit that I liked spelling words better than memorizing multiplication tables, but today when I'm figuring prices and discounts and costs of doing repairs, I am grateful that he insisted on all those multiplication tables and math skills.

My dad was the one who taught me to change a tire and take care of myself. Before I could get my driver's license, I had to know how to change a tire. I thought it was silly because I didn't think I had the strength to do it, but he was insistent that I know how to take care of myself.

My dad was the one who taught me priorities in life. When I was a little girl, he ran the wrecker (tow truck). In those days in my little Iowa town, they didn't have ambulances. The hearse would be there to pick up the person and transport them to the hospital or the funeral home. The guys who ran the wrecker got into some horrible accident scenes. My dad was affected by that. He always said "Cars can be replaced, metal can be repaired. If no one is hurt, it's not a big deal." When I watched other dads and husbands react to news that there had been a fender bender, I will always remember him saying, "it's not a big deal" if it can be repaired.

My dad was the one who taught me honesty in life--even in the little things. I remember him telling the admissions people at the amusement park or movie our true ages when it would have been easy enough to shave a year to save a few dollars. I remember him talking to my mom after some of their friends had lied about their kids' ages that he was not going to teach his kids that it was ok to lie to save a few dollars. I remember that at a time when a few dollars were a lot of money to my family, but honesty was more important.

My dad taught me to be grateful for the little things. He would sometimes stop the car along the side of the road and pick some wild asparagus or bring mom a wild rose that was growing in an Iowa ditch. He wasn't much for ordering flowers from a florist, but he often picked a bouquet and presented it to mom.

My dad was not formally educated beyond high school, but he was so smart and was always learning. He had become quite interested in gardening and flowers. He was saving seeds to plant the next year. When I had seen him in early September, I'd teased him that I thought he was working awful hard for $.35 worth of seeds. On Sunday before he died, he wanted to go with mom on the Cub Cadet and drive all over the back fields of the farm. He wanted to pick wild flowers and save the seeds. They spent the afternoon picking wild flowers and came back with a big bouquet. He couldn't name them all so he so he got on the computer and tried to identify them. I think it's neat that my dad was learning up until the very last. That love of learning is something that he gave me. I hope I can do as well as he did.

Throwing away things was difficult for dad. He didn't hoard things for himself, but somebody might need that some day, and he didn't want to waste something that might be needed. My dad donated over 12 gallons of his own blood because somebody needed it. When the blood mobile came to town, if he was able, he was donating blood.

He liked trying some new things. At the age of 62 he began a new career at the post office as a rural mail carrier. When he was 65 he bought a motorcycle and he and mom rode from Iowa to Branson, MO, and Nashville, TN, and who knows where else. He wasn't much for just traveling. He liked the farm best of all, but when I needed him, he was at my door.

I know this isn't real estate related, but I just wanted my Active Rain friends to know a little bit about the man my father was. I'm going to miss him.

Hope is a Life Preserver

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 22:06:19 -0700

Reading Sarah Cooper's post "How Do You Do It" and the comments, along with reading yesterday's devotional from Turning Points Ministries inspired this post. Sarah wrote about how hard it is to stay in the middle when things are neither new and exciting nor winding down to an end with the ultimate prospect of something new and exciting. She wrote about the weariness of keeping on keeping on and she wrote about how hard it is to see friends suffer. Sometimes life seems like you're treading water and getting nowhere and you wonder if it's worth it to keep treading. In yesterday's devotional, David Jeremiah wrote about the following experiment,

An experiment was conducted in which a group of scientists observed some rats in a tank of water to see how long they would survive before drowning. The average time was 17 minutes. They repeated the experiment, this time rescuing the rats just before drowning. When the "rescued" rats were submerged in the water again, the average survival time increased to 36 hours! The scientists explained that the second time around, the rats had hope and believed they could survive because they had been saved before.

Isn't that a great story? And how many of us have ever felt a like drowning rat? It is my desire to offer a little HOPE--not a weak namby pamby wishin' and hopin" kind of hope, but the kind of hope that drives people to believe they can overcome.

There are times in life when you just have to hold onto what you know is truth and go through the motions of life. Do the actions and have faith that they will pay off someday. I'm not suggesting that people should be robots. Perhaps it is time for some to think about new careers. Sometimes restlessness and discomfort force us to take risks and do new things that we would not do if our place in life continued to be comfortable. Sometimes restlessness and discomfort cause us to improve in areas where we can capitalize on that improvement and provide better service or serve more people. Sometimes it is time to call it quits and do something else. That's not failure--it's a new beginning with new opportunities for success. Each person will have to make their own decision about where they are.

I could write a book about feeling like I'm in the middle. At times I've talked to God and said, "God, You said You wouldn't give me more than I can bear, but are you paying attention?" Or I've had times when I said to Him, "You may have eternity, but I'm on a schedule. Can we just move on?" It is good that my God is gracious.

When those hard times come to me and my lesser mind and feelings start driving the train, truth has to get control of the engine. I start by making lists. The first list is all of the things I have to be grateful for. That is a very long list and helps get me in the right frame of mind for the next list. The next list is a list of things that I have accomplished. So I'm feeling lower than whale poop and don't feel like I've accomplished much, I can start with -OK- you learned to walk and you fell down a lot doing that. You learned to drive a car in the city--Remember the first time you did that and how relieved you were to pull into the parking lot. Remember how you had to learn to pump gas for the first time. (I can get pretty good at talking to myself.) If I keep going, I'll finally figure out that I've accomplished a fair amount and overcome some significant adversity. The next list is a list of things I want to do and experiences I want to have. There was a time in my life when this was the hardest list of all. I absolutely could not see a future. When I couldn't see a future that I wanted for myself, I focused on the future that I wanted for my loved ones. My next list is a list of what is keeping me from having that future. Most of the time that's a short list and it's located between my ears-stinking thinking and bad habits. The next step is just developing an action plan to make a change. By going through this exercise, I have gained hope.

As far as helping our friends, it is hard to see our friends challenged by circumstances. It is enormously freeing to believe that there is a God and I'm not Him. As long as I thought I had to "fix it" for others, I felt a heavy burden. Once I realized that my only responsibility is to express God's love to them in words and deeds, I was freed of the responsibility of the outcome.

I don't know how the painful experiences we have will be used in the future, but I do know one thing. God loves us too much to waste our pain.

The Captain is a Lady --Women on Water

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 23:03:23 -0700

I have been around boats since I was a little girl and my dad built a little red rowboat that we put on Lake Nodaway in Greenfield, Iowa. That lake was too small for any kind of motors, and I have fond memories of my dad rowing the boat, catching bluegills and being on the water. When I got a little older, my parents bought a little outboard and then a bigger, but still a little outboard. We had so much fun with that. I was never sure whether my husband fell in love with me or with my dad's boat. Several yars after we were married, we bought our first boat----it was an 18' 1963 Duratech outboard--not too impressive, but again, so much fun. Then finally we were able to get a 24' foot and keep it at Lake of the Ozarks. That's certainly not an impressive boat by Lake of the Ozarks standards, but again, so much fun. I've often said that if it floats, I like it. I enjoy canoeing with Living Waters Canoe Ministry where I also serve on the Board of Directors. Canoes, power boats, sailboats, jet skis, parasailing, and even a floating lawn chair with a good book are all good times as far as I'm concerned.

After many years of being a great first mate, the time had come to be the captain. I read up on all the Missouri watercraft regulations and made sure my boat was properly registered and equipped. paid the insurance with Boat U.S. and had it checked out by the mechanic. I am comfortable driving on the open water. I love the feeling of the wind as I drive down the lake. I'm not so crazy about the feeling I get in my stomach when it's time to dock the boat. I learned that Marine Max at Lake of the Ozarks offers a free class they call Women on Water. They offer it all over the country and their mission is to teach women to feel comfortable with their boats and docking. I signed up and Saturday was the class.

J.D. Schmid was our instructor. He is from St. Louis and teaches there, as well as at The Lake. The class was two parts--a classroom session where we learned the names of the parts of a boat, some boating safety and maintenance, and how a boat operates differently from a car. Then we went to the boat. SeaRay builds a beautiful boat, and Marine Max let us use one to learn to dock. J.D. was amazingly patient and helpful. In addition to teaching us the basic mechanics, he knew each of our personal boats well enough to be able to point out some nuances and things that we might encounter in our own watercraft. I know we all felt more confident in our knowledge and abilities at the end of the class. We all got certificates. Normally, I'm not a big fan of certificates, but this one has already been framed! Thanks, J. D., I am looking forward to practicing and perfecting the skills you taught us. Sometime soon I'll think about the connection between docking and real estate but that will be another blog!

Seeing God at Work in Real Estate

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 22:34:10 -0700

Do you ever have God remind you that you are in the business of changing lives and not just selling houses? I was reminded of that when I received a newsletter from a ministry that is very close to my heart. I won't cite the whole letter, but will give you a glimpse of what warmed my heart.

Chad wrote:

Dear Family and Friends

A little over three years ago, Allison and I were able to buy our first home. I won't go intogreat detail, but we could tell God definitely wanted us in this house.. it involved the homeowners going way down on their price, and the two realtors working together to get us into the home. It didn't take us long to realize possiby why God had placed us in this particular house "for such a time as this"...enter our neighbor, "Tim". It was evident right away that Tim needed the Lord. He shared his family struggles and addictions. God gave me a real burden for Tim and I began to pray consistently for him. His life went from bad to worse.About 3 weeks ago, Tim came to me and asked for help in finding an AA recovery group. I went with him to a Christian recovery group. Tim asked where we went to church and if he could go with us. The pastor was preaching on The Prodigal Son and Tim was there by divine appointment. Since that Sunday Tim has continued to go to several different AA meetings and to church with us on Sundays.

We give all praise to our God who hears our prayers. God works in His own time and in his own ways, but He does hear our prayers. I hope this story encourages you to keep praying for those that your heart is burdened for, and to not lose hope. Tim could also use any added prayers on his behalf. God is bringing him through it. ......

Chad and Allison
DeSoto Youth Ministries
DeSoto, KS

I remember what a joy it was to help Chad and Allison get into their home. We had no doubt it was a "God thing." We had no clue how God would use that home to witness to a hurting neighbor and build His Kingdom. So...I am reminded that we are on this earth for a time and sometimes selling and buying homes is just the vehicle to get people positioned where God wants to use them and us. And that, I believe, is The Secret of life.

What a thought. I love this business.

Lea Deo, Realtor, Shawnee, KS

Shawnee, KS named as All-America City Finalist

Thu, 10 May 2007 13:54:58 -0700

National Civic League has named Shawnee, KS as a finalist for the 2007 All-American ity Award. This is a great honor for Shawnee, KS--one of 21 finalists for the award. The award, one of the oldest and most prestigious for civic contributions, has been called "a nobel prize for constructive citizenship." by George Gallup.

According to the president of the National Civic League, Gloria Rubio-Cortés, "This program spotlights hope and a can-do spirit behind the ability to achieve results. Every year people from finalist communities tell us how they're transformed through the application process and the competition." It is a great honor for Shawnee, KS to be among the finalists. Our city will compete in the finals June 6-8, 2007 in Anaheim, California. The winner will be announced June 10. Regardless of the outcome, we who live in Shawnee, KS know we're real winners for living life in Shawnee. It is nice to be recognized nationally.

Actual Case Study, Shawnee, KS Home 2003-2006--Effects of Overpricing

Thu, 03 May 2007 22:17:25 -0700

I loved case studies when I was in school. It was so fun to read about real life companies that made decisions and what the results/fallout of those decisions were. Then, with the benefit of hindsight, we "smart college kids" could jump on the better way of doing things. I felt sooo smart sometimes.

I was teaching some new agents in our office this week about market statistics and where to find them in our systems. We digressed into a discussion about the need to price properties right if we intend to get them sold. I told them about this actual case study. Here's what happened:

I was a new agent sitting on an open house and this couple came in and invited me to interview for a listing they had. (Score!--or so I thought.) I made the appointment for a listing presentation and looked over their home. They told me the price they wanted and although it felt a little high and the home was covered with wall paper, I, in my early real estate experience, took the listing and proceeded to try to sell it. Another more experienced agent in our office who had also interviewed for it and turned the listing down told me that the house was at least $15,000 overpriced at $359,900. In addition it was competing with new construction in the same subdivision. I went about trying to convince myself that the killer back yard overlooking green space with trees was worth a lot to the right person and worked very hard at marketing the home. Needless to say that person who would think the back yard was worth the $15,000 never came in the door. All the time I was also working on the sellers for a price reduction. They agreed to come down to $355,000--still over priced.

I hosted a broker open tour and asked the top agents and more experienced agents to come give me feedback. They showed up and the feedback was to immediately reduce the price to $345,000 or at most $349,000. I steeled my backbone and made my plan. I decided that I had spent enough money on this house and that the sellers were becoming more demanding in their expectations of an agent. It was my moment of truth. I took the feedback and a price reduction form. I presented the information and their response was, "We're not going to sign that." I said, "I didn't think you would so here's a cancellation form because I'm not putting any more of my money and time into trying to sell this house at this price." They quickly signed the form. I left, pulled my sign, and felt almost as good as if I'd had a closing.

Another agent came in and took the listing. The home would almost certainly have sold in the $340's at that time. I have included a graph of the pricing history. It finally did sell--2 years later at $318,000. As the old song, "The Gambler", said, "You gotta know when to hold them--Know when to fold them--Know when to walk away and When to run." Lesson Learned.

Thanks to our Men and Women Serving in the Military

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:10:10 -0700

Our men and women serving in the Armed Forces are some of our finest. We need to remember them in our prayers and say thanks to them for giving up their time and their lives for us. My niece and her husband recently returned from Iraq. I am grateful for that. She was in Kansas City last weekend and we met for dinner. She was here for training. Her unit's responsibilities are shifting from postal services to military honor guard. She was being trained to provide final honors to our fallen, learning how to deliver somber messages to families, and how to be helpful at that time. It's a job that most of us would not apply for.

This morning someone sent me this YouTube video. I was extremely moved and inspired. The pictures are wonderful, powerful, and realistic. A part of the reality our young men and women face is that some do not return. Some of the pictures capture the pain of loved ones when that happens. I say that as a warning for those who may be dealing with that kind of grief. I would not want you to be emotionally unprepared.

Our young men and women are doing great jobs. Do you know someone who would appreciate a letter or card? If you personally do not know a member of our Armed Forces, but would like to say thank you to someone, Xerox has made it easy to say thanks. Use this link and say thanks to our troops.

This Sign and Frog on My Desk Keep Me Sane

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:37:00 -0700

One of the things that is very meaningful to me is my "Believe" sign. One of our market center owners gave a presentation and asked that we "believe in the possibilities". She talked about how our mind often limits our life and asked that we really focus on what we would want in life and our real estate business. She demonstrated the power of visualization as a force and gave several examples. She had been to a Keller Williams International event and came back pumped. Her idea was to share those ideas and "infect the agents in the office". Positive energy is contagious. Anyway, she bought these "Believe" signs and gave them to us. Sometimes in our lives dreams come easier than other times. She encouraged us to imagine the possibilities and dream big dreams.

The other thing that I have on my desk is a half eaten plastic frog. I hadn't thought about it before, but this frog was a gift from another owner. We were doing some master minding in our office and this owner shared a book called "Eat That Frog: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating" by Brian Tracy. The premise of the book is to tackle the tough jobs first. We were to put these frogs in plain sight as a symbol that we were doing activities that should not be interrupted. I confess that eating the frog first is not my greatest quality and I need to work on that. Interestingly enough I had the frog at home and my son's new puppy ate the feet off of him. I picked it up, started to throw it away, and decided instead to bring it back to my office as incentive to "eat that frog." With ownership like that, we should all be successful! Dream the Dreams and Do the Activities.

Six Things to do to Thrive in a Shifting Market

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:54:15 -0700

Wow, I just completed a class put on by Keller Williams, Millionaire Systems, and taught by Tony Dicello, here in Kansas City. The class is "Make Your Own Market --Thrive in a Shifting Market." I recommend it to anyone who gets an opportunity to attend. Tony makes the point that all markets shift and a buyer's market requires more skill to succeed than a neutral or a seller's market. Here in Kansas City, we're not really in a true buyer's market, but it isn't as easy to sell property as it was a couple of years ago. However, some of you in other parts of the country would love to work with our housing affordability and our relatively stable market. Perhaps our market should be called an "unrealistic sellers and unrealistic buyer's market." Sellers seem to think their property is worth more than the market says it is. Buyers seem to think we're in the same kind of market that the national news loves to talk about. In the Johnson County, Kansas real estate market property that is priced right for the condition still sells. In fact, 92% of the listings sold last month had been on the market less than 60 days. However in general, we have about 9 months of inventory. We seem to have 2 markets operating simultaneously--a seller's market for those willing to price their property correctly at the outset (the real market) and the unreal market for those unwilling to face pricing realities.

Anyway, the take away points that I got from the class are:

Know Your Numbers
Lead Generate. Lead Generate. Lead Generate. Lead Generate. Lead Generate. Lead Generate.
Enhance and improve your skill set. A buyer's market requires a higher skill set.
Keep a Positive Mind Set
Work consisitently, intentionally, with discipline and accountability.
Did I mention Lead Generate?

The class is rich with information - most of which isn't new. Heck, some of these lessons I learned on a pig farm. There aren't any silver bullets. I think I'm finally beginning to understand that the last silver bullet went off the air with The Lone Ranger and Tonto in the 50's. (Who Was That Masked Man?) I highly recommend the class to any real estate agent who has an opportunity to attend. In addition to the nuggets in the class, I won the prize of $600 worth of coaching from the MAPS system at Keller Williams. Woohoo! It was definitely worth my time and it will be worth yours too if you can attend.

Free Web Site for Youth Ministry Leaders

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 22:39:28 -0700

Youth ministry makes my heart beat a little faster. Perhaps some of you can identify. Here is a web site that offers free drama scripts that you can use. Check it out if you have a need. www.fea.net/bobsnook. At Easter the youth in a little country church in Fontanelle, Iowa presented www.fea.net.bobsnook/stg/nt/press.htm and it was powerful. Salvation's free, but ministry costs money. It's nice to have some free resources sometimes.

Blessings

Lea Deo, Realtor

Shawnee, KS

www.LeaDeo.com

This Business Called Real Estate

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 21:02:15 -0700

By Lea Deo, Realtor
Serving Overland Park, Kansas real estate, Shawnee real estate and Kansas City Metro area real estate needs.

I just returned from a Life Celebration. The man, Bill, is dying from leukemia and is in hospice care. His family planned an event to honor his life and share with him what he means to them. It was a wonderful event. I was invited because I knew his son and had helped Bill and Joanne move into a cute little bungalow in February. Immediately after they had closed on their house, Bill was diagnosed with terminal leukemia.

When I entered the reception, Bill wanted me to sit with him so he could hug me and tell me how much they enjoy their new home. Joanne shared how much easier it is to provide the care that Bill needs in their new home that's all on one level. It is so much easier for Bill to face what he's facing with the knowledge that Joanne will have a nice place to live without worrying about all the repairs that were a part of daily life in their old home. They loved on me like I was special. I loved on them because they are.

I suppose this business can be reduced to commission checks and closings, but I hope it never is. I hope I never lose the wonderful feeling of helping make someone's life better by helping them get a home that works for them. I love this business.

Blessings,

Lea Deo, realtor
www.LeaDeo.com

Market Lessons from a Pig Farm

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 10:04:48 -0700

By Lea Deo, Realtor

Serving Overland Park, KS, real estate, Shawnee real estate and the metro Kansas City area real estate needs

When my husband and I were young marrieds, we moved from Kansas City back to Iowa. The hog market was high and my husband had raised pigs in high school so he knew how to raise pigs. I had no clue and really didn't want to have much to do with that business. However, he also was working at a construction job that entailed really long hours away from home. So, I learned how to be a pig farmer. It's one of those experiences where I can always look back and remember that I'm glad I'm not still raising pigs. Yet, there were a number of lessons I learned that I can apply to real estate today.

The Market Will Have Its Way. It didn't matter what we thought we were going to make when we bred those sows. What mattered was what the market said they were worth on the day I loaded them in the pick up truck and took them to the auction.
You can't time the market. Wow, did we learn that lesson well. We were getting into the business along with everyone else. Guess what, markets go up and go down in cycles. The same thing happens in real estate. We have to work with the cycle we're in.
Manure happens. What a lesson! Sometimes no matter what you do in a real estate transaction manure happens. Just shovel it out and get on with it.
Sometimes there are great side benefits to the job. Much as I disliked taking care of pigs, I have to admit that I never needed a fitness club membership during those years - and I was fit. I admit that I love real estate and a side benefit is the wonderful people that I get to serve.
You can't lose what you didn't have. My dad always said that. I would be whining because the market went down and "I lost this much money by not selling a week earlier." Dad always said, "You can't lose what you didn't have." Your house might have brought more money last year, but you have to work with today's market.
"Smells like money." If you can put up with the mess, you might be able to make some money in real estate investment. Just be realistic about the mess and cost of fixing it and make sure it's money that you're smelling. It can bear a strong resemblance to the smell of something very different. Plan on making your money going in, not on the appreciation. Appreciation is like frosting on the cake.
You Have to Be the Best Deal. When you take your pigs to market, the buyers are comparing them with everything else on the auction block that day. We cleaned them up, slicked them down, made sure they weren't stressed, and made them look good. We wanted our pigs to show well in the auction ring. Buyers in the real estate market are comparing your house to every other house out there, and they are pretty good at spotting the diamonds. In a market like we have now with plenty of inventory out there, it's doubly important to be the best. Buyers are being very choosey and your house has to show well in the ring.
You have to keep the banker happy. The reality of the real world is that the banker has to be paid. Make sure the deal that you're doing today is the one that you can reasonably afford tomorrow. Don't get tempted into buying more house than you can afford. Don't be "house poor".
Even with our best laid plans, things don't always go like you planned. I remember one very cold January day on the farm. We had a problem with our water because the pipes in the ground had broken. My husband quickly identified the source of the problem and began digging the pipe. It was in the barn yard. He worked so hard to dig up the pipe to fix it and it was so cold. We had a farrowing house (a baby pig birthing barn) and several sows were having pigs. They were in crates and periodically needed to be let out to exercise. The weather warmed a bit so we let the sows out to exercise. One silly thing went straight for the hole in the ground and proceeded to fall in the cold water. We couldn't get her out and got my dad's pick up truck to pull her out. Finally we got her out and got her back in the barn, warmed her up, and proceeded to take care of the baby pigs that were scouring (diarrhea). My husband had to go to work and I was left with a 6 year old, a 1 year old, no water, sick baby pigs, and a sow that we were hoping wouldn't develop pneumonia. I had the baby's play pen in the farrowing house and worked feverishly back and forth all day to try to keep our livestock healthy. My 6 year old went off to school and even though it was his birthday we had our hands full. About 3:30 in the afternoon I received a call from my mother in law who had learned from her neighbor that my 6 year old was bringing home a bus load of boys so that he could have his birthday party. I had no water, no cake, no party favors, nothing but sick pigs and a baby. Grandma rescued me by bringing out chocolate Ho-Ho's, pop, and the boys all thought they had quite an adventure. I felt guilty for a long time for not having a birthday party for him, and some of the pigs died. Eventually the plumbing got fixed and we sold the pigs that lived though I'm not sure it was at a profit. That day made history in our family, and we often laughed about it later though at the time nothing seemed funny.
If you pick a baby pig up by its back leg and dangle it head down, it won't squeal. I don't know why. I just know it works. If you try to pick it up and hold it like a puppy, it will squeal and then Mama Pig gets really upset. You don't want to upset Mama. We all have ways we like to be handled and if the relationship isn't right, somebody squeals. Nobody wins when Mama's upset.

I'm really glad that I'm not still raising pigs. God bless the farmers who take on all the risks they do every day and produce our food supply and the food supply for much of the rest of the world. It's not an easy job. Thanks.

Blessings,

Lea Deo, Realtor

http://www.leadeo.com/

First Blog

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:37:00 -0700

Well, here it is my first blog. I admit to feeling a little like I did when I entered my Composition 101 class and learned that I had to submit some piece of writing every single day for the class. In the end that turned out to be a great experience and I learned a lot. I do admit to getting creative a couple of times. One time I had a brain block and submitted a paper titled "The Empty Composition." with only the title on the page being the required writing. Another time I wrote a post card to my family and asked the instructor to drop it in the mail when he was done with it. I guess he appreciated my creativity and the fact that I took him seriously most of the time because I did great in the class.

On to real life- I've been working with a couple of first time homebuyers who are really fun for me. I've known the guy since he was in the third grade. I've spent most of the last 15 years working with DeSoto Youth Ministries (DYM) as a sponsor and volunteer. DYM is a nonprofit nondenominational ministry committed to helping teens make right choices. I go on ski trips with the kids, serve as a sponsor for activities, serve on the board of directors and generally invest in the lives of young people who are part of the DeSoto School District. This young man came up through the program and even interned for awhile with us. He introduced me to a friend by saying "That lady and her husband changed my life." I'm not sure exactly what we did, but I'm glad it impacted him in a positive way. It was a humbling moment and made me hungry for more of those types of moments.