The Senate approved the Tax Credit Extension through May 1, 2010. First Time Homebuyers can still receive an $8000 Tax Credit if they purchase before the date. In addition, a $6500 Tax Credit has been approved for repeat buyers providing they have lived in their home for 5 of the previous 8 years. The cap for home price is $800,000.

Income limits have been expanded to $125,00- for single filers and $225,000 for joint filers. There are prorations for incomes up to $145,000 single and $245,000 married.

Buyers with contracts in place by April 30 have an additional 60 days to close. Military personnel serving overseas for at least 90 days between January 1, 2009 and May 1, 2010 have an additional year.

To redeem the credit, buyers make the claim on their income tax return. If the amount of your credit exceeds taxes, the government issues a check - just like a refund.

Tax Credit May Be Approved Soon

The $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit ends November 30, 2009 - just 26 days from now. The House and the Senate are near agreement on extending the credit.

The Senate is voting today and the House will, hopefully, vote on or before Friday of this week.

The new measure will extend the credit to include homes under contract by April 30, 2010. There is a possibility that the new bill will include people beyond First Time Buyers. There is also verbiage in the bill to increase the income limits.

OCT

Halloween is just around the corner! Only 12 more days to go!

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This home in Kansas City is definitely ready for Halloween. The trick or treaters are going to love it!

Our block gets quite a few trick or treaters but I know that some people take their children to school, church, or community parties for safety reasons.If you do go out trick or treating, remember to travel in groups, carry flashlights, consider luminous clothing, and beware of homemade or unwrapped treats.

Here are a few ACTIVITIES TO HELP YOU CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN IN KANSAS CITY:

Terror at the Train Station at the Midland Theater in the Power & Light District. This is the largest Halloween Party in Kansas City and proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House. 

• October 31st 8pm-3am
• $37.50/ticket in advance at the Midland Box Office or http://terrorparty.com

Lew's Bar and Grill at 75th & Wornall is having a costume contest on Halloween night; the prize is $500 for the winning costume. Drink and eat specials on both Friday and Saturday night.

Maritini Corner bars (all 5) are having drink specials Halloween Night. Located at 31st & Main, this is a great place for adults to take the bus, or cab, to one spot and bar hop without driving.

The VooDoo Lounge at Harrah's also has a costume contest. $1000 in prizes. DJ Spider will be hosting the Party Monster. Tickets are $10 www.voodookc.com or 816.889.4237 for VIP reservations. Party Halloween night from 9pm - 3am.

OCT 24th @ the Midland: FREAKER's BALL hosted by 98.9 The Rock. Tickets are $35 available at Ticketmaster. Bands this year include: Five Finger Death Punch, Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, 2 cents and All That Remains.

OCT 24 & OCT 25 - BOO AT THE ZOO - 9:30am - 6pm Family Event. Safe place to Trick or Treat. Not scary for younger children. Costume Parades at 1pm and 3pm both days. Ride the Scarecrwo Train Express, watch spooky animal shows, and check out the Boneville Graveyare.  (small fees for riding train, spooky show and graveyard)

El Dia de los Muertos Fiesta (The Day of the The Dead) in Westport Sunday NOVEMBER 1st - 9pm - 2:30am Costumed fun with a fashion show, dance, and party @ The Beaumont Club.

SAFE TRICK OR TREAT AT ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY 5401 TROOST HALLOWEEN NIGHT 6PM - 8PM This event is FREE for children under age 12 years accompanied by an adult. Enjoy candy, play games, tour a haunted house.

HARVESTERS' FOOD DRIVE IN OLD SHAWNEE TOWN OCTOBER 24th from 6pm - 8:30pm The Admission Fee is a donation of few cans of food to Harvesters. Activities include hayrides, face painting, magic by The Laughing Matters, a costume contest and SAFE trick or treating for children.

The Chambers of Poe Haunted House is a haunted house based upon stories by Edgar Allen Poe. 1100 Santa Fe. Every Thursday & Friday @ 8pm Oct 22 - Nov 1. Saturdays & Sundays @ 7pm Oct 22 - Nov 1. $15 admission.

The Beast @ 1401 W 13th St downtown, claims to be the largest Haunted House in the USA. OPEN Oct 2 - Nov 1 from 6:30pm. Admission $20. Offers a maze, a Werewolf Forest, Jack the Ripper London streets and more. Children under the age of 12 years MUST be accompanied by an adult who is willing to sit up with them all night when they have nightmares.

Edge of Hell @ 1200 W 13th St downtown, focuses more on your Primal Fears. Add live Rats and the touch of a Python to this one! Also features a 5 Story Slide into Hell. OPEN Oct 1 - Nov 1 from 6:30pm Thursday & Fridays. $15 Admission or $33 for both the The Beast & the Edge of Hell. Not for the faint of heart or young children.

Alcott Arts Center @ 180 S. 18th St in KCK puts on an event for children every year featuring a walk through a Haunted Forest with treats at the end. ?Free.

Halloween Family Concert-Fest at the Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College in Lenexa. 12345 College Blvd. FREE EVENT FOR FAMILIES. OCTOBER 30TH @ 6pm - Reception. 7pm Stage Parade for Children. Performance by the Overland Park Orchestra and Children's Ballet by Legacy School at Yardley Hall. Animal balloons, free face painting by Zonta International Clowns, cookies & punch, and a free gift bag to children at events' end. Put on by the Friends of Overland Park Arts.

Family Friendly Haunted House Oct 24 @ 6 - 8:30pm @ Westport Presbyterian Church 201 Westport Rd. KCMO Ghouls and monsters haunt the church's Community Life Room. Admission $2 - benefits Boy Scout Troop 60. Presented by the Westport Center for the Arts.

The Boneyard Jamboree - live performance by StoneLion Puppet Theatre @ St. Theresa's Academy in the Plaza/Brookside area. 5601 Main St. KCMO OCT 27th, Tuesday from 6 - 8pm. FREE ADMISSIOM Decorated pumpkins, surprises, and the Trick or Treat Costume Parade for children in costume.

~ Well, I hope you were able to find something to fit your idea of celebrating Halloween in Kansas City. If none of the above appeal to you, check out the Kansas City librarys' website for free readings throughout the month of October. Also, try your school, church or community center.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL!

Thanks for reading.

The Defeat ALS Walk - Because You Can happened today. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a disease of the neuro system that affects muscular movement such as walking, talking, swallowing, and breathing. Life expectancy, once diagnosed, is a few short years.

Hundreds of people turned out to walk today; many have lost friends and family to the disease. Some afflicted with the disease also walked, limped, or wheel-chaired it the three miles around Corporate Woods. At 6 am this morning, it was raining; by 9 am, it had stopped raining; by 10:30, when the walk began, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds.

What struck me most about the morning were the variety of people who participated. The old song with the lyrics "short ones, tall ones, fat ones, skinny ones" comes to mind. Ages ranged from still in strollers up through the 80's. There were multiple inflatable play structures for the children. There was a Harley Motorcycle Club. Many walkers brought their dogs - some with backpacks or costumes. There was a guy on stilts and a clown who painted faces. There were business executives and carpenters and secretaries and printers and photographers and students and homemakers - even a candle stick maker!

You could tell that some of the walkers were in above average physical condition while others struggled, with literal support from friends and family, to complete the 3 miles. Before, during and after the walk the general atmosphere was one of happiness. Not the exuberant happiness of a 10 year old unwrapping a Wii on Christmas morning; just a calm, gentle attitude of "happy and grateful to be here" permeated every individual in the crowd.

Laughter could be heard at times; and tears being shed as someone walked by the sign with their loved ones picture and name in memory. T-shirts worn over jackets and sweats displayed names of those who had lost the battle with ALS - a gentle reminder of why we were all there. 

It was a good morning walk. A walk with friends and strangers alike. A walk with determined purpose. The kind of determination that is measured to last as long as it takes to reach the goal. The goal being to find a cure for ALS. We walked today because we care; we walked today because we can. The slogan "Because We Can" really touched me; just as the quiet intent of purpose of all of the people touched me. 

As often happens, doing something for someone else has actually benefitted those doing the giving. I feel blessed to have been a small part of this large action.  "Because We Can" is my new slogan for life in general. I love the intention of that phrase.

YouTube Video of Walk to Defeat ALS - Because We Can - Overland Park, KS 10.17.2009

Walk to Cure ALS - Kansas City

Tomorrow is the big fundraising walk to defeat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, otherwise known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease. ALS effects the neuromuscular system which means that the disease makes it difficult for people to walk, swallow, speak, eat, and breathe. It is a fatal disease with no known cure at this time. The treatment is supportive.

So, tomorrow, we will raise money to support those who are afflicted with this disease. Besides research, monies raised go to provide medical equipment to help make life a little easier after diagnosis. Life expectancy after diagnosis is about 3 years (give or take).

I will be walking tomorrow; if you could donate a dollar or two, that would be wonderful! If you're in the Kansas City area, please come out and support this cause. There will be some fun activities for adults and children. (music, balloons, face painting, etc.) The gathering starts at 9 AM; the walk starts at 10:30 AM. 

This link to WebMD will explain more about the disease.

Lou Gehrig played for the New York Yankees until stricken with ALS.

Thank you for reading and thank you, in advance, for your support.

It's 40 degrees here with wind and rain. Brrr! After a lovely summer we are definitely heading into winter here in Kansas City. The leaves are turning and the guys are hanging up the Christmas lights that will be turned on during the Plaza Lighting Ceremony on Thanksgiving evening. A tradition for 80 years, it is a joyful time full of music, merriment and thousands of colored lights outlining the buildings.

The guys start hanging up the lights in August. There are literally thousands to be checked and hung. Then, between 7 and 8 pm on Thanksgiving Day, they are all switched on at once. It's worth bundling up to see! The lights will stay on until January 17th.

Speechless Sunday in Kansas City 4

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Kansas City Real Estate Market Report

The buyers are out in full force as they try to find and buy a home prior to the deadline for the $8,000 Tax Credit. They are putting quite a dent in our inventory.

One of the things I look at when I'm listing a home for sale (or helping buyers determine what to offer) is the Market Absorption Rate. This number tells us how many months supply of homes are available for sale in Kansas City. Here are some of the numbers by zip code:

Zip Code 66208 Months’ Supply of Homes For Sale Last 180 days 4.4 - Last 90 days 4.2

Zip Code 66205 Month’s Supply of Homes for Sale Last 180 days 4.5 - Last 90 days 4.5

Zip Code 64113 Month’s Supply of Homes for Sale Last 180 days 6.14 - Last 90 days 6.5

Zip Code 64114 Month’s Supply of Homes for Sale Last 180 days 4.77 - Last 90 days 4.68

Zip Code 64131 Month’s Supply of Homes for Sale Last 180 days 6.22 - Last 90 days 6.30

More than a 6 month supply means that we are in a Buyer's Market.

Less than a 6 month supply means that we are in a Seller's Market.

As you can see, some areas of the Kansas City Real Estate Market have flipped into a Seller's Market while other areas are hovering on the edge. In the areas desired most by buyers, I have noticed an increase in multiple offers. This happens when several buyers want a particular home in a particular area. Getting multiple offers on a home requires careful positioning prior to going Active with the listing.But I digress; back to the general stats.

Do the numbers we're looking at mean that the Kansas City Real Estate Market is turning around? Have we indeed hit bottom? No one will know that until we have many months of decreasing inventory and a slow, steady increase in the average sold price. And we do want the increase in sales price to be slow so that we can sustain growth for the long term.

Is the $8,000. Tax Credit responsible for the turnaround? IMO, it has had a huge effect on our market. Will the trend continue after the Tax Credit expires? Unknown but I expect some buyers will be less likely, perha;s unable, to purchase without it. How about the slacking off of some buyers during the winter months? Well, in Kansas City, if someone is out looking at homes in the cold, wet snow, they are serious about buying.

The numbers above show only a few of the many zip code areas within our Kansas City area and each zip code has many subdivisions within that zip code. Overall, it seems that things are looking up in our market but please remember to check all of the available data with a professional before listing your home for sale. There are many nuances that affect the value of any given home.

As always, the homes that sell the fastest for the best price are those that are most popular with buyers. The areas that are preferred by the most people buying homes will be the first to convert into a Seller's Market. Hopefully, we will see some of these conversions stick in 2010. Statisticians are predicting another round of foreclosures in the coming year and that will have an effect on the turn around we are now seeing.

**If you are a buyer who wants to receive the $8,000 Tax Credit, you need to close before November 30th - that's only 57 days from now! Title Companies and Mortgage Lenders do not process on weekends and holidays. (Thanksgiving & Columbus Day for instance.)

Speechless Sunday in Kansas City 3

Kansas City fountains come in many shapes and sizes.

Fridays in Kansas City

First Fridays in Kansas City are always full of music, art, wine & socializing. This friday, remember to check the art galleries downtown in the Crossroads Art District. The weather is perfect for strolling from one gallery to another sampling wine, enjoying art, and meeting people.

And don't forget that this is the weekend of Irish Fest! KC Irish Fest runs from Friday through Sunday. The Elders, Pogey, Scythian, and Eddie Delahunt are just a few of the bands that will play on one of two stages. The O'Riada Academy of Irish Dancers will also perform. Activities for children will keep the wee ones entertained and involved so that the whole family can enjoy the day. Plenty of food and drink vendors will be there from across the country.

Here are some photos from last year's event:

Irish Fest takes place at Crown Center.