Kansas City Real Estate with Maria Morton

Speechless Sunday in Kansas City 6

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:41:43 -0600

Speechless Sunday in Kansas City 6

Kansas City Real Estate with Maria.

Not Just for CALIFORNIANS ! to make a difference in 'politics as usual'.

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:18:21 -0600

This post by Gene Wunderlich, a realtor in California, makes me wonder if we are begininning to see a grass roots movement of change in our country.

Yessterday I heard 5 more stories, just from people I talk with in passing, of people being laid off from jobs they have had for more than 10 years. Every time someone loses their job, there is stress about where the money will come from for health insurance, mortgage payments, and food and education for the children.

Our government is supposed to be "of the people, by the people, and for the people" but I'm not sensing that the peoples' voice is being heard clearly in Washington. Does anyone else have this impression?

Via Gene Wunderlich - Realtor®, Government Affairs Director (Southwest Riverside County Association of Realtors):

CALIFORNIANS ! Are you tired of politics as usual in Our state? Have you had it up the kazoo with the stalemate in Sacramento that has lead us to sky-high taxes, reduced services, massive prisoner releases, water shortages, record unemployment and an education system that ranks among the worst in the nation?

Did you know that through the last several election cycles we changed some faces (due to term-limits) but didn't manage to change any parties lines? Because the politicians drew their own district lines and if there's one thing politicians do well, it's protect their own ASSets.

Well now regular folks like you and me (hopefully more like me) now have a shot at changing the stranglehold imposed on us by these hacks. The Citizens FIRST Act we voted for overwhelmingly in 2008 says we now have the right to draw those district lines in a simple, efficient and straightforward manner that makes sense for US, not THEM.

If you care, please follow the links in the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association newsletter and lets get our state moving again. California has always been a leader, lets start leading in a positive direction for a change.

You Can Help Draw the Lines and Make Elections Fair

Before the Voters FIRST Act, California lawmakers were charged with
drawing their own legislative districts. This means the politicians
could select the voters they wanted and virtually guarantee their
reelection.

But no more!

California voters changed all that when they authorized the creation
of the Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) in the
November 2008 General Election. Now YOU can apply to serve on an
independent Commission that will draw district boundaries for the
state Senate, Assembly, and Board of Equalization.

The official Web site of California's new Citizens Redistricting
Commission is www.WeDrawTheLines.ca.gov.

At www.WeDrawTheLines.ca.gov you will find:

- Application and selection process details
- News and program updates
- Regulation and public meeting information

WeDrawTheLines.ca.gov is where you can apply for the commission
during the application period: Dec. 15, 2009 - Feb. 12, 2010.

LET'S MAKE SURE TAXPAYERS ARE REPRESENTED
IN THIS IMPORTANT PROCESS!

For more information visit Visit our site at http://www.HJTA.org

Funny Fridays? Shuttlecocks in Kansas City

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:57:04 -0600

These are shuttlecocks on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art here in Kansas City. They always make me smile so I thought they might make you smile too.

The shuttlecocks are the work of Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen. They created quite a stir here when they were originally placed in 1994. You can just imagine some of the letters to the editor in the Kansas City Star, can't you? ^_^ There's another shuttlecock, not in this photo, on the front lawn and yet another around back - as if giants were playing Badminton and the main building of the Nelson were the net.

Many people, such as myself, felt joy the moment we saw the humongous shuttlecocks while others felt that such whimsical art was unsuitable right out in front of the Beaux Art, symmetrical, traditional and stately building. The Nelson-Atkins building, in the background, has housed major art collections since its' opening in 1933.

Permanent collections include paintings by Caravaggio, Poussin, O'Keefe, Van Gogh, Manet, and more. 33,000 pieces are housed within the Nelson. Sculptures, furniture, vases; Ancient, Chinese, European, African, Japanese and Native American works are represented amongst the vast collection. As a matter of fact, a new building was built not long ago to provide more space for displays in storage. Ah, but that's another story for another post.

Thanks for stopping by; hope this made you smile.

Another Rainy Day in Kansas City

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:55:56 -0600

Yet another rainy day here in Kansas City did not stop workers from testing the Plaza lights.

There are thousands of lights which are all turned on simultaneously every Thanksgiving.The lights are strung along the roofline, windows, doors and sometimes architectural dteails of each building on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City.

They started stringing the lights in October.

Picture on the right is of workers going up on cherry pickers to get one of the towers.

It's rained every single day since the testing process began.

For those of you unfamiliar with Kansas City, the Country Club Plaza consists basically of the blocks bordered by 46th Ter on the North, Ward Parkway on the South, Jefferson on the West & Baltimore on the East. For some reason, the Google map zoomed in when inserted into this post, so to get the whole picture you'll need to minimize one click.

View Larger Map

2 Flat Tires in the Rain

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:44:03 -0600

2 Flat Tires in the Rain

It was a cold and rainy day in Kansas City.

Not the preferred time to have TWO flat tires, but better now than in the snow and ice.

At the moment, I am enjoying coffee & football at the Firestone on 75th & Wornall. Brandy & Bob helped me select the appropriate tires and now the mechanics are putting them on.

My car is also getting an alignment. I can bring it back twice annually to have it aligned at no charge.

The Kansas City Chiefs are WINNING!

13-10 Chiefs against Raiders YAY!

Now, if only KC can keep it going in the second half; that's where we tend to drop the ball. And Oakland is fierce in second halves.

Come on KC! Go, go, go!

Speechless Sunday in Kansas City 5

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:31:36 -0600

Speechless Sunday in Kansas City 5

5pm in Kansas City.

Google Wave - 5 Things You Need to Know

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:09:57 -0600

Mike provides an excellent review of the next "wave" in internet communication. I find the advances being made in computers, and the way we use them, fascinating.

Via Mike Conner, City Realty Inc. Olympia, WA (City Realty Inc.):

The 5 Things You Need to Know about Google Wave

You may have heard some rumors by now about Google's new venture, Google Wave. If you aren't one of the lucky ones who have had a chance to explore it first hand, here are 5 things you need to know:

1. Email as we know it is on its way out the door. The format of Wave provides extreme flexibility in its use. You can use it just like traditional email with some extra bonus features. Or you can incorporate multiple people into a conversation thread at any point and have the entire conversation history available to them without needing to forward anything. You can use it as a virtual conference room, where multiple invited users can collaborate and share ideas in real time. Or you can use it as an public forum/chatroom where anyone can add their thoughts over time.

2. No more screen changes. One of the best features of Wave (IMO) is that everything happens within one browser window and there is no need to change pages or reload information. On Facebook (and others) you have to leave one friend's profile to go view another's. On Wave, everything is on one screen right in front of you, all the time! Even in traditional email you have to either open a new window to reply to a message or at the least you are sent to a new page if you use web based mail. In Wave, your replies happen right on the page as you're looking at it. In fact, everything happens so simultaneously in Google Wave that you are actually able to watch as people type their messages (so practice your typing skills!). This adds a new conversational element that so far has not been seen in online communication. Rather than most instant messenger programs where you see the "so and so is typing" message while you wait for their reply, Google has made that typing visible to you as it is happening. It becomes more like a phone conversation where you can know how you want to respond before the other person is done talking. (Note: you can make your typing invisible if you don't like being watched)

3. Conversation playback. Yes, you already have the ability to track the history of your email conversation by scrolling through the thread, but Google has taken this a step further. They have turned that thread upside down, made it disappear, then created a playback button so you can watch the entire conversation unfold in the order it all happened! In traditional email you would have to scroll to the bottom of an email thread, then read backward through the conversation to get to the present (if you are lucky enough to have the whole conversation still intact on the thread!). Google's playback feature fixes that problem once and for all.

4. Go public or keep it private. In Wave, as opposed to traditional email, you have the ability to make your thoughts and information viewable by the general public or only to those you choose to invite. Public Waves are searchable much like Google's famous search engine, so you can find (and join) conversations about almost anything. On the flip-side, if you are sharing sensitive information you still have the ability to control who is invited to read it. Private waves are not searchable to everyone, only to those who are involved in them. Just be aware though, before you post anything you wouldn't want to be seen, anyone you invite to join your Wave can in turn invite others (who can then use the playback feature to see exactly what has been said). One nice feature around the public vs. private topic is the ability to post private replies within a public or multi-participant wave. If you join a public Wave, or any Wave with multiple participants, and you want to comment in private to someone else in the Wave you can do that right within the same Wave, and nobody else can see it.

5. The sky is the limit. Google decided to roll out its product slowly and started by allowing web developers to play with it and begin designing new applications that will cooperate with Wave. There are some very interesting tools being developed and perfected so that when Wave is released for public use the kinks will hopefully be worked out. For now however, there are still some issues with various features and with compatibility on different browsers, etc. But, because Wave is still in the initial stages, the direction it will go is somewhat unknown. It will be defined by the creativity of its users, and that is where the genius lies. The door has been left open for you and I to decide how we want to use these new tools.

I have to say that from a marketing standpoint, Google has been brilliant in their release of Wave. They are releasing it slowly enough that the demand is quickly building, and when it is finally available to everyone it should take off very quickly. So, even if you don't have access yet you may want to take the time to learn about it so you can hit the ground running!

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Autumn in Kansas City

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:20:48 -0600

Merry Autumn

It's all a farce,—these tales they tell
About the breezes sighing,
And moans astir o'er field and dell,
Because the year is dying.

Such principles are most absurd,—
I care not who first taught 'em;
There's nothing known to beast or bird
To make a solemn autumn.

In solemn times, when grief holds sway
With countenance distressing,
You'll note the more of black and gray
Will then be used in dressing.

Now purple tints are all around;
The sky is blue and mellow;
And e'en the grasses turn the ground
From modest green to yellow.

The seed burs all with laughter crack
On featherweed and jimson;
And leaves that should be dressed in black
Are all decked out in crimson.

A butterfly goes winging by;
A singing bird comes after;
And Nature, all from earth to sky,
Is bubbling o'er with laughter.

The ripples wimple on the rills,
Like sparkling little lasses;
The sunlight runs along the hills,
And laughs among the grasses.

The earth is just so full of fun
It really can't contain it;
And streams of mirth so freely run
The heavens seem to rain it.

Don't talk to me of solemn days
In autumn's time of splendor,
Because the sun shows fewer rays,
And these grow slant and slender.

Why, it's the climax of the year,—
The highest time of living!—
Till naturally its bursting cheer
Just melts into thanksgiving.

~Paul Laurence Dunbar

Autumn in KC

New England in the Fall has nothing on Kansas City. Walking along tree lined streets in any part of town at this time of year is a joyous pleasure.

Photo #1 taken at Forest Hill Cemetary.

Photo #2 taken in the little park between the Sophia and the Nelson Art Museum.

Photo #3 was also taken in the little park.

Photo #4 taken on the south lawn of the Nelson.

Photo #5 taken in the Morningside neighborhood.

Photo #6 taken just a block or two southeast of the Brookside shops.

The poem is by Paul Laurence Dunbar. All photos were taken in Kansas City by Maria Morton.

Best In Show

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:44:59 -0600

Best In Show

Tuesdays are Agent Tour in Kansas City. This is when all of the real estate agents from all of the companies hold open listed homes that have recently come on the market, are going to come on the market, or have had updates or staging done. The agents holding the homes open provide lunch so that we can have a slice of pizza or a tacqita as we take in all the new inventory. The object is to see as many homes as you can between 11am and 1 or 2pm. Oh, and exchange information with all the other realtors along the way.

My favorite house today was 30 W Concord Avenue, on the Missouri side. Offered at $360,000, it was the most inviting home on the tour and the best value in Countryside. The location is perfect! Two blocks east of Loose Park; 2 blocks west of UMKC. It's a 4 bedroom, 1.1 bath built in 1915. Stone basement, craftsman style with the nice front porch and good woodwork. The dining room has the most fabulous painted design you have ever seen. Two of the bedrooms have vanities, Euro style.. The kitchen is perfect. This is what all of those buyers moving in from the suburbs once the children are off to college are looking for - "we want that Brookside character." Well, this is the one.

See it here: 30 W Concord Ave.

The home is listed for sale by Jim Kraus with Brookside Realty. Good job on pricing and staging this one, Jim!

Check out the location:

View Larger Map

Tax Credit Vote In

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:21:42 -0600

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

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:06:07 -0600

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.

Halloween Kansas City Style

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:36:09 -0500

OCT

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

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.

Defeat ALS Walk - Because You Can

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:41:01 -0500

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

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:06:08 -0500

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.

Stringing the Plaza Lights

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:31:09 -0500

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

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:12:51 -0500

Speechless Sunday in Kansas City 4

A in Kansas City, MO.

Kansas City Real Estate Market Report

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 06:21:47 -0500

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

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:24:43 -0500

Speechless Sunday in Kansas City 3

Kansas City fountains come in many shapes and sizes.

Fridays in Kansas City

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:29:13 -0500

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.

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Kansas City Home Buyers - HGTV is looking for YOU!

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:44:13 -0500

Kansas City Buyers - HGTV is looking for YOU!

Has anyone ever watched the show House Hunters on the HGTV channel?

Well, they are coming to Kansas City and they are looking for buyers to be on the show with their realtor. If you, or someone you know, is ready to buy and close in the next 1-4 months, they can apply to be on the show. Just call me and I'll send you an application.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with House Hunters, the show follows buyers around as they tour three different homes in their price range. Then the buyers choose one, write an offer, and the audience finds out after the commercial break which home they chose. Fast forward and we see whether or not their offer was accepted. Sometimes we (the audience) gets to see the buyers in their new home a few months later.

HGTV will film the buyers and their agent for 4 days over a 4 week period. They are looking for enthusiastic homebuyers who are planning on buying a home within 90 minutes of Kansas City in the next one or two months.

Could it be you?

If you think this might be fun, give me a call so I can get the application to you ASAP. What a hoot! Can you imagine?

Maria Morton SRES, WHS 816.560.3758 mobile 816.410.5500 office

licensed in Kansas & Missouri

Prudential Kansas City Realty - Plaza Office 435 Nichols Rd. 3rd Floor Kansas City, MO 64112

Balance in Design

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:45:02 -0500

Balance in Design

Sometimes I find myself drawn to buildings that are symmetrical in design. There is something reassuring about the organized layout of the details as well as the repetition. When looking at buildings like this, I find that my eyes will zero in on the details and then zoom out to see the whole. It's a very relaxing exercise. Perhaps the relaxation is part of the reason I such an affinity for this type of architecture.

Prairie Village, KS Market Report 2009 - Midyear

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:47:14 -0500

Prairie Village Market Report for the 1st Half of 2009.

There are currently 151 homes for sale in Prairie Village. Of those, 62 are Ranch style homes.

Prices range from $82,900 - $3,500,000.

The Average List Price is $267,908. Most are 3 bedroom, 2 bath homes with an average of around 1500 square feet.

37 homes have Contracts Pending.

19 homes have contracts but are accepting Back Up Offers.

January 1 - June 30 of 2009:

190 homes SOLD in Prairie Village. Of those, 104 were Ranch style homes.

The lowest Sold price was $54,945. On the market for less than 1 day.

The highest Sold price was $1,681,457. On the market for 522 days.

Average Days On Market for All homes Sold = 83. For Ranch style homes = 68.

In Johnson County, on the Kansas side, prices are up 11.5% from 2002 levels and down 5.3% from last year. Sales volumes are equivalent to 2002 levels. Inventory is up 37.7% from 2002 and down 10.1% from last year.

Prairie Village, KS, is a "close-in" suburban community of the Greater Metropolitan Kansas City Area. The last census count put the Prairie Village population at 22,072. The entire metropolitan area is counted at more than 2million. Kansas City, MO was incorporated in 1850. Prairie Village began development in the early 1940's.

Drummond Ranches in Prairie Village

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 01:45:56 -0500

Drummond Ranches in Prairie Village

There are three Drummond built ranches for sale in Prairie Village right now. (8.6.2009) Don Drummond was the builder who pioneered the modern style of architecture in Kansas City. Architect David B. Runnels worked with Drummond on most of the homes built in KC. When you walk into a ranch in Prairie Village, you know it's a Drummond by the quality of workmanship and the vaulted ceiling in the main living area.Though many builders emulated his style, you can feel the difference when it's a true Drummond.

7716 Chadwick, listed at $259,000, is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath boasting 1680 square feet which is a bit larger than the average 3/2 ranch in PV. The brick fireplace has that no-frills, modern look and the entire house has been updated with modern amenities. It's a dazzler!

2222 W 71st Terrace, listed at $229,000, is also a 3 bedroom, 2 bath built on a slab (no basement). It is smaller than the one on Chadwick by about 400 square feet but it has a pool! With temperatures headed in the high 90's starting tomorrow, this might be the preferred home.

4600 W 78th Street, listed at $225,000, is a 3 bedroom, 1 and 1/2 bath with 1040 square feet. It is triplex rather than a ranch, but has the look of a ranch from the road. To me, this is the most striking home from the outside.

Prairie Village is located just south of Mission Hills and west of State Line Rd. Originally PV was bounded by 67th and 71st streets; over the years it has expanded to encompass 6.2 square miles. After J.C. Nishols finished the Plaza and had a good start on the affluent residences in Mission Hills, he began developing Praire Village. This neighborhood, he envisioned, would allow people of modest means to afford a home.

Prairie Village Shopping Center, across from Indian Hills Country Club, was within walking distance of the earliest homes and people today still walk, bike and skateboard to the center. There are 2 other shopping centers within "The Village" as well as eleven (11) parks. The convenience of being so close to the Plaza, easy access to downtown, and preponderance of ranch homes makes Prairie Village a popular place to live.

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Your Opinion, Please, On Some Radical Thoughts Regarding Banking:

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:11:29 -0500

Your Opinion, Please, On Some Radical Thoughts Regarding Banking:

The other day, at the 7-11, I noticed a petition on the counter. It was protesting bank charges on credit cards..We all think about the charges from banks from the consumer end, but who thinks about these charges from the perspective of the small business owner?

Friends owned Mom & Pop type stores for 3+ generations. The businesses provided enough money for a family to thrive on during two World Wars and The Great Depression. Both families told me, in the 1990's, that they could not afford to pay to have an ATM machine in their stores. Every small business owner I've listened to for the last 15 years has told me that the cost for them to process credit card transactions was sometimes not viable because of the bank fees & charges.

Do you suppose that these bank charges could have something to do with the number of small business owners going out of business in the last decade? Deutsche Bank Profits

(later in the day, someone sent me This video which got me thinking)

The National & International banks are charging consumers up to 30+% on their balance every month. Plus they are charging the businesses serving the consumers a monthly fee and/or a per transaction charge. How many transactions occur every day? How much money is that for the bank every month?

What does any of this have to do with our present housing crisis?

To whom do usury laws apply? Is it acceptable that National and International Banks are not required to follow the same regulations as State and Local Banks?

How about this story in the Washington Post about a woman who had a medical emergency, borrowed $2,000, then paid $11,000 in interest and charges over the next 18 months?

When did the politicians allow the world banking oligarchy to take our country hostage?

Was the economic contraction of 1907 engineered by powerful bankers who wanted to pass the Aldrich-Vreeland Act?

Who met in secrecy on Jekyll Island to create the original Aldrich bill which did not pass?

When congress passed the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, what power did that give bankers over our country? Were fears of plutocracy justified?

Is this history of the Bank of North America (1781), and the First and Second Bank of the United States true and complete – or has some recorded history been conveniently altered?

Is the Federal Reserve Bank part of our government, or is it privately owned and operated – above the law?

Is any of this important to us today? Is the answer to our recession, housing market problems, and fluctuating stock market to be found in the history of banking?

How many people in the United States could pay their debts if it were not for the exorbitantly outrageous interest and fees tacked on by banks?

Is there a way for our country to rise above our current economic crisis without addressing the issue of International Banking?

This video gives a history of the money changers from the time of Julius Caesar up until the 1990’s. Milton Friedman, Nobel Prize Winning Economist, is quoted. Bills passed during the Andrew Jackson, the Lincoln, and the Reagan administrations are examined. The “gold standard” is discussed. The history of the Bank of England as it relates to our present banking system is covered. The video is 3 and ½ hours long (yikes) but I found it to be absolutely riveting.

"The most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control and outnumbers both of the other classes."

~Aristotle

Your thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Wordless Wednesday in Kansas City V

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:37:10 -0500

Wordless Wednesday in Kansas City V

Window shopping on the Country Club Plaza, Kansas City in August of 2009. Photo taken by Maria Morton.