With the go-go lifestyles we lead, it can be easy for life's to-do list to be overwhelming. My monthly home & lifestyle maintenance checklist will help you stay organized, show you how to do a little at a time, and how to get everything DONE.

Indoor Cleaning Tips

• Use your vacuum and dishwasher to clean more efficiently. Start at the ceiling line with the vacuum: Vacuum walls, baseboards, and furniture before vacuuming floors. Empty the bag as soon as it starts getting full.
• Use the dishwasher for everything that fits. On some models, you can take out the top shelf for oversized items you might not have considered like the bathroom garbage cans, broiler pans, and bath caddies.
• Clean and shampoo carpets. If you can, hire someone to do this; it will save a lot of time and free you up to do other things. Wash floors, then treat per manufacturer´s instructions. Wash woodwork including moldings, baseboards, and doors.
• Take down curtains and drapes. Wash or dry clean. Wash mini-blinds, blinds, or shades. If damaged, repair or replace.  Clean lamps and ceiling fans, removing light bulbs and covers to wipe/polish.
• Take down pictures and artwork. Clean frames and glass. Move appliances and heavy furniture. Clean underneath.

With the go-go lifestyles we lead, it can be easy for life's to-do list to be overwhelming. My monthly home & lifestyle maintenance checklist will help you stay organized, show you how to do a little at a time, and how to get everything DONE.

Outdoor Projects

• Start spring yard clean up. Edge and lay a fresh layer of mulch in beds
• Top dress and reseed lawns. Mow when grass gets to be 4" high. Be sure not to mow it too short.
• Fertilize almost everything.
• Double check all gutter extensions and splash blocks to ensure water is being carried away from the foundation of the house.

So you're driving down the street, and you see a beautiful home for sale.  You pull a flyer out of the box in front, and it looks like THE perfect home for you. The next thing you do is call the number for the listing agent and set up a showing - right?  WRONG!  At least not if you want an agent that's working for YOU.

When you're ready to buy a home - one important thing you need to understand is "Agency".  There are many ways a consumer can work with an agent in the KC Metro, and it's important to know who is working for whom.

In most cases, the agent who lists a home for sale is representing the seller - and the seller only.  So if you call the listing agent to view & write an offer on a home, you're on your own.  What's worse is not only will they not be able to provide you advice on purchase price and terms, but any personal information you tell them about yourself WILL be passed on to the seller.  (Why you're moving, what you can spend, how interested you are in the home, etc..)  This can definitely jeopardize your position at the "negotiating table."

What you need is an Exclusive Buyer Agency Agreement with a qualified Realtor, so that your interests are represented.  A Buyer's Agent will be working for you to get you the best price and terms possible, and all of your information and motivations will be kept confidential.  Best of all, buyer representation is at no cost to you in Kansas and Missouri.

So, rather than driving around looking for homes, and calling several separate Realtors to view the ones you like - get your own Realtor first.  Having a qualified professional on your side will save you time and money.  Although buyer representation is "free", having someone to guide you through the process from start to finish is "priceless."

For more information about buying a home in the Kansas City Metro Area, call or email me any time.  I stand ready to answer your questions and help to guide you through the process.

The Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) is currently offering an incentive program to first-time and repeat buyers in Missouri, called the Home Ownership Purchase Enhancement (HOPE) Program.

MHDC has allocated $15 million toward the HOPE program. Qualified Missouri families that purchase a home in 2010 are eligible for a HOPE incentive equaling the amount of the 2009 real estate tax bill associated with the property they purchased, up to a maximum of $1,250. Additionally, homebuyers who are approved for the real estate property tax HOPE incentive may also be eligible to receive an additional amount if they bought a qualified newly constructed energy efficient home or bought an existing home and remodeled or purchased items, such as Energy Star appliances, to make the home more energy efficient. The maximum combined total of the HOPE property tax incentive and the HOPE energy efficiency incentive is $1,750.

This is a great opportunity for new homeowners to get a little extra cash in their pockets!  For program details, and to see if you qualify, visit #mce_temp_url#

"My friend Mary just got an awesome deal on a foreclosure!  She got the house for $35,000 below market value."

In this market, who among us has not heard a story similar to that?  Sure, when you know just what you're up against and have an experienced Realtor to guide you, foreclosed and distressed homes can be a fantastic opportunity for some walk-in or sweat equity.  But there is a lot of the story missing; and buyers out to get a steal in the the real estate market often have to find out the hard way that it is not just making a low-ball offer and signing on the dotted line.

First, when you're negotiating to purchase a foreclosed home - you are at the mercy of the bank, investor, or servicing company who is handling the sale of the property.  The whole process will happen on the terms of the seller; and while it may take them days to answer a buyers offer, they expect all counter-offers and documentation from the buyer to be submitted immediately.

They will outline the closing date, inspection and financing timelines.  Many of these homes are without utility service and/or have been winterized, which can add $200-$300 in additional inspection expenses.  In most cases, the home will be sold as-is (except for the case of termite infestation, which all sellers in this area are compelled to treat by law), therefore many of these homes will not pass FHA or VA Appraisal requirements.

Buyers can spend up to $1000 on inspection costs, only to find that the condition of the house is unacceptable to the lender, or buyer - or both.  Having to start again the search and negotiation process can be frustrating, especially with a lot of time and money having already been spent.

So if the process to buy these foreclosures is so difficult, why do buyers even bother with the process?  Simple!  They remain in charge of one major aspect of the sale - the price.  Buyers have quite the advantage in this current real estate market because there are so many distressed homes for sale.  Many of these homes are being sold for thousands (and even tens of thousands) below a "typical market value."

Even the homes that need some work can represent a great profit opportunity to the savvy buyer.  However, a lot of the available homes out there are in terrible condition, and will require thousands of dollars in repairs and updates. Therefore, what a buyer will spend in total on the property must be considered.

Many buyers who have already purchased homes are surprised to find that they have little room to "make demands" like they have in past transactions. First-time buyers - for whom the buying process is already full of surprises, can be easily (and understandably) overwhelmed by the additional difficulty added when buying a foreclosed home.

This is why it is essential to have an expert Realtor in your corner.  Now more than ever, having a skilled agent guiding you through the process step-by-step will help ease what is likely to be challenging at the very least.  With all the changes happening in lending and the housing market - consumers need someone on their side who stays informed, and is out there "fighting the battle" for their clients every day.

So before you decide to "hop aboard the foreclosure train", be sure to contact an experienced Realtor who will help you examine the pros and cons.  Each buyer's situation and home for sale are unique, so be sure you have an expert to help you decide what's right for you.

The Show Me State has something new to share with its citizens. It’s called a real estate transfer tax, and its effects will be felt by property owners for years to come. A real estate transfer tax is a one-time tax paid at the closing of a property. Like a sales tax, a transfer tax would charge every seller a percentage of the total sale price.

With unemployment spiraling out of control, a credit crisis of epic proportions crippling our economy and the number of home foreclosures at an all-time high, the government is looking for ways to generate revenue. And they want to dig into your pockets to do so. The real estate market has already been taxing on Missourians. But the government thinks not nearly taxing enough. Wasteful spending has our state government falling into an unprecedented deficit, and they want the citizens to provide the bailout.

Real estate transfer taxes are nothing more than double taxation, and are often paid by the people who have lived in their home for years and have already paid thousands of dollars in annual property taxes. With banks demanding larger down payments, a transfer tax would make it more costly and much harder to buy a home, especially for first-time home buyers. The government collects a transfer tax any time you transfer ownership of your home, land or other real estate.

Currently, Missouri is one of 13 states that do not impose transfer taxes. However, real estate transfer taxes are happening in other states, including Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Arkansas. We need to send a clear message that now is not the time to for new taxes that target already struggling property owners.

The Missouri government currently has the power to enact a transfer tax at anytime, but the Missouri Association of Realtors is leading the charge to amend the state constitution and prohibit the real estate transfer tax for good. A 2010 ballot initiative is already in place. A “YES” vote means changing the Missouri constitution to prevent the state or local government from ever charging new taxes on the sale of a home or property. As the real estate market struggles to recover, new taxes are not the answer.

It’s time to keep the American dream alive and say “YES” to no more taxes . Visit www.yestosavehomes.com or call (877) 710-8683(VOTE) for more information. 

Great news out today – as the National Association of Realtors reports December 2009 the fifth-highest volume residential home sales month in two years. December’s national totals increased 10.9% over December 2009.

This data certainly points to a trend of improvement. While some may point out that those numbers are skewed due to the massive response to the Federal First Time Home Buyer credit, I say “So what?”

In what has recently been an oversaturated market, homes are finally being sold. With the first-time buyer and move-up credits – everyone wins! Sellers in distress are finally being able to get out of trouble, and sellers in better situations are able to move up to larger homes in a “deal-rich environment”. First-time buyers are finding homes at deep discounts, and enjoying a big financial bonus to do so.

One of the greatest benefits of rising sales will be firming home prices. “For several months now we’ve been seeing stabilization in all of the home price measures as inventory is pulled down,” Says Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors. “As a result, the housing wealth for many middle class families has begun to stabilize.”

Yun projects the extended and expanded tax credit will encourage 2.4 million households to take the credit in 2010. “While new-home sales will remain low due to a lack of construction, existing-home sales are projected to rise to around 5.6 million in 2010,” Yun said. Last year there were 5.16 million existing-home sales.

There’s still time to make the deadline – but you must act fast! Buyers who have a contract in place to purchase a primary residence by April 30, 2010, have until June 30, 2010, to finalize the transaction to qualify for a tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time buyers and $6,500 for repeat buyers.

Although the tax credit has been extended and expanded in the past – there’s no guarantee it will happen again. After all, all good things must eventually come to an end.

Contact me for more information on how you can cash in on this credit before it’s gone.

The race is on to “cash in “on the $6,500 tax credit now available to all home buyers that have owned their most recent home for 5 out of the last 8 years! In real estate terms this is a short race, you might even say a bit of a dash! To receive the tax credit, you must get a home under contract by April 30, 2010 and close by June 30, 2010. This means a homeowner needs to put their current home on the market to get it sold as soon as possible. For details about the $6,500 tax credit and who qualifies, visit: http://www.realtor.org/home_buyers_and_sellers/2009_first_time_home_buyer_tax_credit

Here is some info thanks to the National Association of Realtors.

Then below is a blog Re-posted wiit thanks to Stephanie Roulier

NAR Opposes Mortgage Interest Deduction Provision on Obama's Budget Proposal
National Association of Realtors ^ | February 27, 2009 | NAR

Posted on Friday, February 27, 2009 8:06:50 PM by free-n-TX

February 26, 2009 - President Obama released his budget proposal this morning. A small section of the sweeping budget plan has the potential to become a major impediment to a recovery in real estate markets across the nation. NAR is 100% opposed to the provision that modifies the Mortgage Interest Deduction and is prepared to use its formidable array of resources against its enactment.

As currently drafted, the plan changes the Mortgage Interest Deduction by reducing the amount of mortgage deductibility on families earning over $250,000. This proposed change in the Mortgage Interest Deduction will result in further erosion of home prices and home values. If this proposal is enacted it will set of a new round of price depreciation, will cause greater distress on the balance sheets of banks as the collateral value of mortgage backed securities declines. A second credit crisis could emerge before the first one is resolved.

As you read this NAR is launching a multiphase plan of action to eliminate this provision from the budget plan. In the next 24 hours, NAR will be expressing our concerns directly to President Obama, to all members of the United States House of Representatives and the Senate, placing advertisements in the publications read by Washington, DC decision makers. Additionally, NAR will be forming a coalition with other groups affected by this proposal.

With all the recent financial troubles daunting many American families, we've seen a huge increase in listings called "Short Sales."  While short sales can represent a "sweet deal" for the buyer looking to buy a bargain - in many cases, they can be more trouble than they are worth.

WHAT IS A SHORT SALE?

A short sale is when a homeowner is unable to sell their home for enough money to pay off their mortgage.  (This is either because they have been loaned more on the home than the market will bear, or because values in the area have decreased substantially.)  Therefore, the bank agrees to accept less than the mortgage payoff in order to avoid foreclosure proceedings (which can cost the lender up to $60,000).

BEWARE - THE ASKING PRICE IS THE AGENT'S "BEST GUESS"

When a home is listed as a short sale, it is extremely rare that the lender has already been consulted in order to approve the list price.  The listing agent will attempt to estimate an amount far enough below market value to attract buyers, which is still high enough to receive approval from the lender.  For that reason, the asking price that attracts the buyer in the first place may not be the amount the bank will accept.  In addition, it's not only unusual to negotiate less than the agent's estimated short sale price, but also fairly common to end up being asked to pay more than that price.

THE HOME WILL BE SOLD AS-IS

Before a buyer begins negotiation on a short sale home, it is important to know that the lender (who is paying all the fees in the transaction) usually will not make any repairs (including pest inspections or treatment, and home warranties). This means that any questionable items that come up as a result of a home inspection are for the buyers' knowledge only.  However, it is imperative to go through with the inspection process, and leave this contingency as a "loophole" in case serious issues come to light.

THE CLOSING DATE IS ANYONE'S GUESS

It can take 2-6 weeks just to receive an answer from the lender on the original purchase offer!  If there are two lenders involved (a "first mortgage" and a "second mortgage"), those two entities have to agree on how to split the loss - so it can take even longer to reach an agreement.  In addition, the short sale closing process takes an indefinite amount of time.  It is extremely unusual to close in 60 days or less - and pretty common to take several months before finalizing the sale.  So buyers in a time crunch may not be able to coordinate a closing fast enough to meet their needs.

HIRE AN AGENT WITH SHORT SALE EXPERIENCE

Once a buyer has decided to pursue a short sale "eyes wide open" - it's very important to have a Realtor on their side that is familiar with the short sale process.  Although buying any given short sale home is never a "done deal" until closing - having the right agent can literally make or break the deal.  A great deal of communication, understanding of the process, and follow up is necessary to give a short sale its best chance for success.   

While buying a short sale home can represent a great "deal," there are many potential stumbling blocks along the way.  It is important to know just what you're getting into going in, so you're prepared for the possible pitfalls you may experience during the sale.  Most of all, hire a Realtor with experience in all kinds of sales (short, foreclosure, traditional, etc.) so that he or she can help you explore your options, and choose the best route for you.

If you would like more information about buying or selling a home in your area, please don't hesitate to contact me!  I am always available to answer your questions - and ready to serve your real estate needs.  Your complete satisfaction is my goal - because I want to be your Realtor for life!