Michael J. 's Blog

Johnson County, Kansas makes Top Three in "Best Places to Raise a Family!"

2008-08-16T14:12:02Z

Johnson County, Kansas makes Top Three in "Best Places to Raise a Family!"

Confirming what we've known for a long time. Schools + affordability + amenities = grade place to raise children. Johnson County is confirmed as one of the three best places in the country to raise a family. Great news for an area that continues to get great reviews from the media.

Michael

TITLE: Best places to raise a family in the U.S. Schools matter - but so do commutes, affordability and other amenities

By Zack O'Malley Greenburg

Forbes updated 11:19 a.m. CT, Fri., Aug. 15, 2008 <script type="text/javascript"></script>

Steve Schwartz and his wife, Lori, have spent the last 30 years running Schwartz's Bait and Tackle in Noblesville, Ind. Just 15 miles north of downtown Indianapolis, they sell fishing equipment and rent canoes to locals like Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri and former Formula One racer Derek Daly.

They've also discovered something most Americans are still searching for: the ideal place to raise a family. Their sons, Pete and Eddie, 26 and 22, who still help out at the store, are the products of an idyllic upbringing in Hamilton County,

"It's the best of the best," says the 47-year-old Schwartz, also a Hamilton County councilman, referring to the area and its quaint hamlets, low crime and desirable cost of living. "It's a great place to raise your family. It's safe, it's fun, it's affordable and it's growing."

It's qualities like these that landed Hamilton County atop Forbes' list. Ozaukee County, Wis., and Johnson County, Kan. came in second and third. All earn high marks for their low cost of living, reasonably priced homes and short commute times. They also offer terrific schools, one of the most important characteristics to consider when choosing a place to raise a family.

"What parents need to look for are communities that have the resources to promote physical, social and cognitive development," says Dr. Margo Napoletano, a San Diego-based psychologist with 20 years of experience specializing in children and their families. "This includes a strong school system that provides after-school programs."

Forbes' rankings are skewed toward counties with good school districts. Using research provided by the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax research group based in Washington, D.C., we started with a list of the nation's counties with populations over 65,000. To eliminate under-funded school districts, we isolated 97 counties where more than half of per-pupil spending comes from property taxes.

Next, we knocked off all the counties with average SAT scores under 1,050 (math and verbal combined) or average ACT scores under 22, leaving us with 51 counties.

Raising a happy family requires more than just a good school system. With that in mind, we ranked the remaining counties using 10 data points: cost of living, graduation rate, standardized scores, home price, property tax rate as a percentage of median home price, percentage of homes occupied by owner, per-capita income, air quality, crime rate and commute time.

A long commute "can certainly contribute to stress on a family," says Napoletano. "If you come home and the kids are already in bed, that detracts from family life, both psychologically and economically, especially considering today's gas prices."

Some of the most posh counties in the nation didn't make the cut because their rankings were tainted by outrageous home prices or lengthy commutes. Westchester County, N.Y., home to ritzy enclaves like Chappaqua and Scarsdale, was sunk by a 31-minute average commute time and a median home price approaching $600,000. Fairfax County, Va., suffered a similar fate.

Other swank suburbs made our list. Because of an outstanding school system and abundant employment opportunities, Marin County, Calif., cracked the top 20 despite a whopping median home price of $901,900. Montgomery County, Pa., famous for its sumptuous Main Line suburbs and the King of Prussia Mall, made the top 10 with solid scores across the board and a median home price less than a third of Marin's.

There are, of course, scores of other, more personal factors to consider: political atmosphere, religious climate, proximity to friends and family, and community personality, to name a few. But don't forget the obvious ones.

"Consider parks, consider recreation programs, consider shopping malls," says Napoletano. "Teenagers love to hang out with their friends at shopping malls. That can promote social development too."

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25625978/

Michael J. Maher, MBA
www.michaeljmaher.com
www.themaherteam.com
www.kcreu.com
www.smoothselling.com

3 Johnson County Cities Make TOP 100 PLACES TO LIVE IN THE U.S.

2008-07-14T15:05:04Z

According to CNNMoney.com Johnson County has 3 cities that made the list of Top 100 places to live in the United States. OVERLAND PARK 9TH OLATHE 11TH SHAWNEE 39TH LINK IS BELOW: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2008/top100/

This man makes $30,000 per month on his blog, do you?...

2008-06-13T16:43:03Z

This man makes $30,000 per month on his blog, do you?... (edit/delete)

http://www.johnchow.com/win-a-market-leverage-bag-of-stuff/

We are having John Chow of JohnChow.com on Bizz Buzz Live, this Saturday, June 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can dial in via Internet at www.BizzBuzzLive.com. Dial in early as there is a limit to bandwidth. John Chow makes over $30,000 per month on his blog. He is going to describe how he does that so that Active Rainers can start making money directly on your blogs rather than hoping for the indirect sale (real estate clients). Please tune in tomorrow at 11 a.m. central at www.BizzBuzzLive.com. Also, you are welcome to re-copy this post for your blogs. It could be the most valuable two hours you spend this Father's Day weekend.

Check you John Chow's site at ---> http://www.johnchow.com/win-a-market-leverage-bag-of-stuff/

Looking forward to hearing from you tomorrow... that's right, hearing from you. The call in number for our show is 913-491-8255, that's 913-491-TALK, so TALK! Call us. It may be busy, but big deal, try again. Your questions need to be answered so that you can make $30,000 per month on your blog. He doesn't do anything special, just has a plan. A plan that you can implement in your spare time. I hope you can make it tomorrow.

Thank you,

Michael

Michael J. Maher, MBA
www.TheMaherTeam.com
We're not #1... YOU are.
913-287-HOME
816-84-CONDO

www.KCREU.com --> Get educated! Get real estate smart!

This man makes $30,000 per month on his blog, do you?...

2008-06-13T16:42:12Z

This man makes $30,000 per month on his blog, do you?... (edit/delete)

http://www.johnchow.com/win-a-market-leverage-bag-of-stuff/

Check you John Chow's site at ---> http://www.johnchow.com/win-a-market-leverage-bag-of-stuff/

Thank you,

Michael

Michael J. Maher, MBA
www.TheMaherTeam.com
We're not #1... YOU are.
913-287-HOME
816-84-CONDO

www.KCREU.com --> Get educated! Get real estate smart!

This man makes $30,000 per month on his blog, do you?...

2008-06-13T16:31:56Z

http://www.johnchow.com/win-a-market-leverage-bag-of-stuff/

Check you John Chow's site at ---> http://www.johnchow.com/win-a-market-leverage-bag-of-stuff/

Thank you,

Michael

Michael J. Maher, MBA
www.TheMaherTeam.com
We're not #1... YOU are.
913-287-HOME
816-84-CONDO

www.KCREU.com --> Get educated! Get real estate smart!

THIS IS NOT AN APRIL FOOL'S JOKE! NO JOKE!...

2008-03-31T16:20:05Z

Okay, this is your warning not to fall for any April Fool's Jokes tomorrow. Here are the Top 10 April Fool Hoaxes of All Time. Interesting reading!

#1: The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest In 1957 the respected BBC news show Panorama announced that thanks to a very mild winter and the virtual elimination of the dreaded spaghetti weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper spaghetti crop. It accompanied this announcement with footage of Swiss peasants pulling strands of spaghetti down from trees. Huge numbers of viewers were taken in, and many called up wanting to know how they could grow their own spaghetti trees. To this question, the BBC diplomatically replied that they should "place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best." Check out the actual broadcast archived on the BBC's website (You need the RealVideo player installed to see it, and it usually loads very slowly). -More-

#2: Sidd Finch In its April 1985 edition, Sports Illustrated published a story about a new rookie pitcher who planned to play for the Mets. His name was Sidd Finch and he could reportedly throw a baseball with startling, pinpoint accuracy at 168 mph (65 mph faster than anyone else has ever been able to throw a ball). Surprisingly, Sidd Finch had never even played the game before. Instead, he had mastered the "art of the pitch" in a Tibetan monastery under the guidance of the "great poet-saint Lama Milaraspa." Mets fans everywhere celebrated at their teams's amazing luck at having found such a gifted player, and Sports Illustrated was flooded with requests for more information. But in reality this legendary player only existed in the imagination of the writer of the article, George Plimpton. -More-

#3: Instant Color TV In 1962 there was only one tv channel in Sweden, and it broadcast in black and white. The station's technical expert, Kjell Stensson, appeared on the news to announce that thanks to a newly developed technology, all viewers could now quickly and easily convert their existing sets to display color reception. All they had to do was pull a nylon stocking over their tv screen, and they would begin to see their favorite shows in color. Stensson then proceeded to demonstrate the process. Reportedly, hundreds of thousands of people, out of the population of seven million, were taken in. Actual color tv transmission only commenced in Sweden on April 1, 1970.

#4: The Taco Liberty BellIn 1996 the Taco Bell Corporation announced that it had bought the Liberty Bell from the federal government and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Hundreds of outraged citizens called up the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell is housed to express their anger. Their nerves were only calmed when Taco Bell revealed that it was all a practical joke a few hours later. The best line inspired by the affair came when White House press secretary Mike McCurry was asked about the sale, and he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold, though to a different corporation, and would now be known as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial. -More-

#5: San SerriffeIn 1977 the British newspaper The Guardian published a special seven-page supplement in honor of the tenth anniversary of San Serriffe, a small republic located in the Indian Ocean consisting of several semi-colon-shaped islands. A series of articles affectionately described the geography and culture of this obscure nation. Its two main islands were named Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse. Its capital was Bodoni, and its leader was General Pica. The Guardian's phones rang all day as readers sought more information about the idyllic holiday spot. Few noticed that everything about the island was named after printer's terminology. The success of this hoax is widely credited with launching the enthusiasm for April Foolery that then gripped the British tabloids in the following decades. -More-

#6: Nixon for PresidentIn 1992 National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation program announced that Richard Nixon, in a surprise move, was running for President again. His new campaign slogan was, "I didn't do anything wrong, and I won't do it again." Accompanying this announcement were audio clips of Nixon delivering his candidacy speech. Listeners responded viscerally to the announcement, flooding the show with calls expressing shock and outrage. Only during the second half of the show did the host John Hockenberry reveal that the announcement was a practical joke. Nixon's voice was impersonated by comedian Rich Little.

#7: Alabama Changes the Value of PiThe April 1998 issue of the New Mexicans for Science and Reason newsletter contained an article claiming that the Alabama state legislature had voted to change the value of the mathematical constant pi from 3.14159 to the 'Biblical value' of 3.0. Before long the article had made its way onto the internet, and then it rapidly made its way around the world, forwarded by people in their email. It only became apparent how far the article had spread when the Alabama legislature began receiving hundreds of calls from people protesting the legislation. The original article, which was intended as a parody of legislative attempts to circumscribe the teaching of evolution, was written by a physicist named Mark Boslough.

#8: The Left-Handed WhopperIn 1998 Burger King published a full page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of a new item to their menu: a "Left-Handed Whopper" specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans. According to the advertisement, the new whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper (lettuce, tomato, hamburger patty, etc.), but all the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of their left-handed customers. The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing that although the Left-Handed Whopper was a hoax, thousands of customers had gone into restaurants to request the new sandwich. Simultaneously, according to the press release, "many others requested their own 'right handed' version."

#9: Hotheaded Naked Ice BorersIn its April 1995 issue Discover Magazine announced that the highly respected wildlife biologist Dr. Aprile Pazzo had discovered a new species in Antarctica: the hotheaded naked ice borer. These fascinating creatures had bony plates on their heads that, fed by numerous blood vessels, could become burning hot, allowing the animals to bore through ice at high speeds. They used this ability to hunt penguins, melting the ice beneath the penguins and causing them to sink downwards into the resulting slush where the hotheads consumed them. After much research, Dr. Pazzo theorized that the hotheads might have been responsible for the mysterious disappearance of noted Antarctic explorer Philippe Poisson in 1837. "To the ice borers, he would have looked like a penguin," the article quoted her as saying. Discover received more mail in response to this article than they had received for any other article in their history. -More-

#10: Planetary Alignment Decreases GravityIn 1976 the British astronomer Patrick Moore announced on BBC Radio 2 that at 9:47 AM a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event was going to occur that listeners could experience in their very own homes. The planet Pluto would pass behind Jupiter, temporarily causing a gravitational alignment that would counteract and lessen the Earth's own gravity. Moore told his listeners that if they jumped in the air at the exact moment that this planetary alignment occurred, they would experience a strange floating sensation. When 9:47 AM arrived, BBC2 began to receive hundreds of phone calls from listeners claiming to have felt the sensation. One woman even reported that she and her eleven friends had risen from their chairs and floated around the room.

Hope you laughed as much as I did!

Enjoy April Fool's Day!

Michael J. Maher, MBA
Michael@TheMaherTeam.com

Shift Happens

2008-03-28T13:27:54Z

Check out this video on You Tube. It is very interesting. Please give me your feedback.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q

Workplace Wisdom from the workplace "Dear Abby"

2008-03-27T13:23:48Z

The theme this month is Winners Don't Whine. Recent current events have kept whining top-of-mind lately, as an article below will show, so I started studying whining in the world around me.

Professional people whine more than one might expect. I suspect they do not realize how they sound and would change if it was brought to their attention. So, this month, I hope to bring it to everyone's attention. Just double-check to make sure you always project a winning attitude instead of a whining one, especially when challenged.

You will notice a new feature this month: an article from another author. Michael J. Maher, with the Maher Team, contributed an article on whining because "winners don't whine" is somewhat of a mantra for him. He has worthwhile 5 tips to share, so enjoy this new feature. Watch for contributions from more leaders in the future.

(1) There's no Crying in Baseball

Politics aside, the most recent debate between the two democratic candicates for President was infuriating!

As a woman who trains and coaches women (and men, but we're not talking about them today) on the way up the career ladder, Senator Clinton's opening remarks were infuriating and disappointing.

Upon being asked the first question of the night, which debaters generally consider advantageous, Senator Clinton said, "I just find it kind of curious that I keep getting the first question on all of these issues," she said before adding, in reference to a "Saturday Night Live" skit, "Maybe we should ask Barack if he's comfortable and needs another pillow." (Source: CNN.com)

She whined! To open the final debate before a pivotal primary!

Senator Clinton is too accomplished of an executive to whine so publicly. If she had a serious concern about the order of the questions, she could have addressed it with the host in advance. Instead, she sounded whiney and petty. Plus, she sounded unprofessional basing her remarks on a television show skit.

Instead of opening the debate emphasizing her strengths or differences between herself and Senator Obama, she chose to whine. The choice indicates poor decision making skills and lack of emotional control-which would seem pertinent for the position for which she is campaigning.

The glimpse of Senator Clinton's character shows her to be less professional than I hoped the first woman with the chance to be President of the United States would be, which is why her opening comments were infuriating. It's tough to rise above the glass ceiling when women role models in such positions are whiney.

There's no crying in baseball. There should be no whining in the executive suite, whether the suite is in a corporation, small business, or Oval Office.

(2) Are you a Whiner or Are you a Winner? Here are 5 Ways to Tell!

Do you start with a dose of gratitude? Whiners whine about not having things. Winners are grateful for what they have. Count 5 blessings every morning. Keep a journal of these and celebrate when you have 100. You could probably count 100 blessings before dinner tonight. Be grateful you can read and learn. Feel grateful you can see to read and have a place to work. Start your day with the Attitude of Gratitude and you will lift others just from the vibe you are emitting. That's the aura of a winner.

Are you an encourager? Are you running people down or lifting them up? Whiners buy into the "dog-eat-dog" vibe of the corporate world and try to step on others to make themselves look better. But in highly successful organizations, it's a different story. If you walk around these companies, you will see smiles, encouragement, and creativity everywhere you look. You will see people who feel personally accountable for the success of their co-workers as well as their own You will see people who feel like they are on the same team working toward a common goal, and you'll hear it in the way they talk to each other. Players on a winning team help, respect, and encourage each other. The focus is not on blaming others, climbing fictional ladders, or personal glory, but on collectively solving the businesses' biggest challenges. What's it like where you work? If it's often negative, what could you do to change it?

Are you committed? Perhaps you had Steak and Eggs for breakfast. If so, think about this. The chicken was involved. The cow was committed. Here's something else to think about: three frogs were on a log. Two decided to jump. How many frogs are left on the log? Well, the answer is three. Deciding to do something and committing to do something are two different things. Whiners tip-toe into opportunities and decisions. Winners decide and go. Do you dive in or are you testing the waters with your toes? Winners jump because they know that if they totally commit they will see faster results and learn the most even if the opportunity doesn't fit or work. Many people "try" networking or "try" prospecting but then give up just before succeeding. Don't say networking and prospecting don't work. They do. Do you?

Is it something you can control? What I see from Whiners is a steadfast desire of trying to control the uncontrollable. They complain about the market, the economy, the media, or the other departments. Winners focus on things they can control. The people, places, and things they have an influence over are maximized, tweaked, and improved. Focus on what is within your control.

Are you happy? Winners are happy. Regardless. Whiners are not happy, for whatever reason. You have a right to choose your mood every day. Every day. Remember this: only YOU can make YOU miserable. It's the truth. Your reaction to anything is within your control. Choose happy. Let me tell you why: Many people have it backwards, they think, "If I HAVE the things I want--the car, the wife, the husband, the health, etc. then I would do all the things that make me happy--take drives, go on trips, go to dance clubs, then I would really BE happy. If I could just have those things." But here's the truth about how life works. Start with BEing happy. Then DO the things that make you happy. Then you will HAVE everything you need and want. It starts by BEing happy. When do you think Britney Spears was the happiest? Before she started making records, being wealthy, getting all the publicity or after? Do you think she is happy now? The way to start happy is to count your blessings."

(This article is by Michael J. Maher of the Maher Team. Michael is President of Real Estate, Marketing, and Business Development, REALTOR at The Maher Team Residential Real Estate Marketing with Realty Executives of Kansas City.)

(3) Coffee Corner

Dear Kelly,

You mentioned in last week's management seminar that you tell your young nieces and nephews, "There's no whining here, Dudes." When they whine, you said you bring it to their attention and ask them to restate their question, which they usually do without whining a second time. Can I adopt a similar method at work? A few people on my staff whine all the time! They drive me crazy with endless whining about everything. I swear, if I told them they were getting $50k bonuses, they would whine about it. Is there anything I can do to get them to stop whining? We work in a professional setting, and there are grown adults who should know better. Signed, Fed Up with Whiners

Dear Fed Up with Whiners,

There are a few things you can do when your staff whines. Unfortunately, chanting "There's no whining here, Dudes" is not one of them. Adults usually prefer to be treated as professionals, even when they aren't behaving as one.

Consider talking with the whiners individually. You could mention the whiney tone in a performance review or in a private meeting. If you take this route, include examples, discuss what was unprofessional, why it is a problem, and how they could share their concern next time.

Another action to consider is to point out their tone during the conversation. For example, if the employee complains in a whiney tone about the new vacation policy, ask for more specifics about the concern, without addressing gibberish. "Sally, do you have a concern about the policy?" would be better than, "Sally, do you have something to say?" Help get the complaint on the table, if there is one.

Whiners don't often realize how childish they sound. Don't let their tone cause you to overlook valid concerns. Help them understand the way to discuss and resolve issues is by staying focused and professional.

By being specific yourself, you can help others change their tone. Good luck.

AS SEEN IN REALTOR MAGAZINE: 8 REASONS FOR OPTIMISM BY MICHAEL J. MAHER

2008-01-10T15:09:20Z

8 Reasons for Optimism

This is from the Realtor Magazine
January 2008 issue page 16:

Don't let the headlines about foreclosure rates, sub prime lending woes, and inventory gluts cloud your thinking about real estate. Instead consider these silver linings from sales associate Michael J. Maher, ABR, of Realty Executives in Kansas City, Kan. He points out that the changing market offers plenty of reasons for optimism. Here are a few:

1. Falling prices enable more first-time buyers to find affordable homes.
2. Fewer sales people mean less competition.
3. Builders and developers realize they need us again.
4. Sellers are willing to pay more, so there's less downward pressure on commissions.
5. Great opportunities exist for investors and for investing for yourself.
6. New niche opportunities present themselves in the areas of foreclosure and short sales.
7. FSBOs and expired listings present even more opportunities.
8. Consumers realize they need professionals who are committed and knowledgeable. They are less likely to list with someone just because he or she is a friend or relative.
Michael J. Maher, MBA
www.MichaelJMaher.com
www.TheMaherTeam.com
www.BizzBuzzLive.com

The Maher Team Holiday Open House

2007-12-05T08:44:11Z

Holiday Open House/After Hours
The Maher Team opens our office for food, fun, festivities, and perhaps even a famous person. We are also giving away some awesome door prizes thanks to our sponsors and our team members. Our Holiday Open House was a big hit last year and we're doing it again. Come by on your way home from work. This is the Networking Party of the Year. Some of the top networkers in the city have already confirmed for this event. Please take a few minutes to stop by so I can introduce you around. Thank you.
Details:
Holiday Open House Party/After Hours
Thursday, December 6
From 4 to 8 p.m.
Food, Fun, Festivites
Drawings for AWESOME Door Prizes
Come and go as you please.

Address:
The Maher Team Office (College and Metcalf)
7201 W. 110th St.
Suite 225 (come see our new space, new carpet, lots of new in the building!)
Overland Park, KS 66210-2339

RSVP to (913)287-4663

The Maher Team Holiday Open House

2007-12-05T08:44:07Z

AMBER HILLS ESTATES- OLATHE, KS $229,950

2007-11-13T16:33:33Z

Michael J. Maher | The Maher Team | info@themaherteam.com | 913-287-HOME (4663)

15151 W 154th Terrace, Olathe, KS

CERTIFIED WISE HOME!

4 Bdrm Single Family House

offered at $229,950

Year Built	2000
Sq Footage	2,382
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$25 per month

DESCRIPTION

IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU! Certified WISE Home! Warrantied, Inspected, Staged, & Evaluated. Are YOU looking for an Open Floor Plan? Are YOU wanting Great Location? Are YOU looking for a Quality Built home with Anderson Windows? If so, YOU have found YOUR dream home.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Fireplace	High/Vaulted ceiling
Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor	Tile floor
Living room	Dining room	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Stove/Oven	Microwave
Basement	Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio
Yard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Michael J. Maher

The Maher Team

info@themaherteam.com

913-287-HOME (4663)

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Nov 9, 2007, 10:26am PST

JOIN US FOR A FIESTA AT PRAIRIE CROSSINGS OF LOUISBURG!

2007-10-26T14:19:29Z

Prairie Crossings Of Louisburg | The Maher Team | info@themaherteam.com | 913-287-4663

1620 Chadwick Cv, Louisburg, KS

New Homes from the $160's!

3 Bdrm Single Family House

offered at $194,950

Year Built	2007
Sq Footage	1,756
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$200 per month

DESCRIPTION

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU! Are YOU looking for an amazing home with an amazing price tag? Are YOU looking for a home with all of the upgrades and none of the cost? Do YOU want a BRAND NEW home in a neighborhood with a view? If so, YOU have found YOUR dream home. Curb appeal isnt the only thing this home has a lot of! Space for family, entertaining, and time alone. Hardwoods, tile flooring, custom cabinets, walk-in pantry, oversize laundry/mud room, upgraded crpt, DELUXE master suite!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Hardwood floor	Family room
Dining room	Breakfast nook	Basement
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Lake

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Prairie Crossings Of Louisburg

The Maher Team

info@themaherteam.com

913-287-4663

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Oct 26, 2007, 11:44am PDT

How to Buy Your First Home with No Money Out of Your Pocket!

2007-10-11T10:04:52Z

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Buckingham Estates $290's Overland Park, KS

2007-09-13T16:29:12Z

6117 W 125th St, Overland Park

Offered at 289950

MOVE IN READY! Certified WISE(r) Home Program! WARRANTIED, INSPECTED, STAGED, & EVALUATED Family-Style Home on Wooded Lot. New Kitchen, New Paint & New Flooring. Finished Walk-out Kid-Friendly Basement with Full Bath, Fireplace, & Built-ins. Close to BV Schools, Running Trails, Parks, & Shopping.

Michael Maher
The Maher Team Realty Executives of Kansas City
7201 W. 110th St. Suite 225
Overland Park, Kansas 66210

Email Us Now

www.TheMaherTeam.com

KS: 913-287-4663 - MO: 816-842-6636

Why is Prairie Crossings on Fire?

2007-09-11T12:33:06Z

OLATHE, KS $180's BRITTANY MEADOWS

2007-09-10T11:34:11Z

1417 S Sheridan Bridge Cr, Olathe, KS 66061

Offered at $189,950

Beautiful 1.5 Story, Open Floor Plan. Huge Great Room with Fireplace, Built-ins, & Vauled Ceilings. Spacious Master Suite with two walk-in closets & Master Bath. Newer Roof, Paint, Water Heater, & Dishwasher. Finished Basement with Bath. Large Fenced Backyard. Great Location.

Michael Maher
The Maher Team Realty Executives of Kansas City
7201 W. 110th St. Suite 225
Overland Park, Kansas 66210

Email Us Now

www.TheMaherTeam.com

KS: 913-287-4663 - MO: 816-842-6636

Olathe, Kansas $380's-Reserve at Prairie Highlands

2007-09-07T12:14:07Z

15064 S. Turnberry St., Olathe, KS 66061

Offered at $387,900

Stunning Golf Course Home. Bright Great Room with Fireplace. Formal Dining Room, Den/Study with Bath. Chef like Kitchen with Island, Breakfast Room, and 3 Season Enclosed Porch. Huge Master Suite. Walk-out Lower Level ready to be finished with mud room area. Two Tiered Deck

Michael Maher
The Maher Team Realty Executives of Kansas City
7201 W. 110th St. Suite 225
Overland Park, Kansas 66210

Email Us Now

www.TheMaherTeam.com

KS: 913-287-4663 - MO: 816-842-6636

OLATHE, KS $190's YORKSHIRE

2007-09-07T11:29:29Z

13109 S Fox Ridge Dr, Olathe, KS 66062

Offered at $199,950

Certified WISE(r) Home Program! WARRANTIED, INSPECTED, STAGED, & EVALUATED. This Home is in Remarkable Shape. New Roof, New Carpet, New Water Heater, & Updated Kitchen, with New Stove. Huge Living Room. Master Suite on Main Level. Sun Room over looking the Beautiful Low Maintenance Perennial Garden.

Michael Maher
The Maher Team Realty Executives of Kansas City
7201 W. 110th St. Suite 225
Overland Park, Kansas 66210

Email Us Now

www.TheMaherTeam.com

KS: 913-287-4663 - MO: 816-842-6636

MISSION, KS- $160'S- MISSION LAWN

2007-09-06T08:52:30Z

5436 Outlook St, Mission, KS 66202

Offered at $164,950

Certified WISE HOME - WARRANTIED, INSPECTED, STAGED, EVALUATED. Charming, Cape Cod Home. This Ranch/1.5 Story has it all. Imagine the convenience of deck and patio off the Main-level Master. Bedroom upstairs and room for a 2nd bath

Michael Maher
The Maher Team Realty Executives of Kansas City
7201 W. 110th St. Suite 225
Overland Park, Kansas 66210

Email Us Now

www.TheMaherTeam.com

KS: 913-287-4663 - MO: 816-842-6636

LEE'S SUMMIT, MO #340's PARKWOOD AT STONEY CREEK

2007-09-05T14:53:26Z

4019 SW Granite Lane, Lee's Summit, MO 64082

Offered at $349,900

Great 2 Story Home with 4BR, 3.5BA and 3-Car Garage. Beautiful Hardwoods in the Kitchen & Hearth Area. Private Den on Main Level with Fireplace. Huge Master Suite with Fireplace, Sitting Room. Upgraded Appliances (includes double oven) & Carpet

Michael Maher
The Maher Team Realty Executives of Kansas City
7201 W. 110th St. Suite 225
Overland Park, Kansas 66210

Email Us Now

www.TheMaherTeam.com

KS: 913-287-4663 - MO: 816-842-6636

OLATHE, KS $370's- SOUTHGLEN OF CEDAR CREEK

2007-09-05T10:22:35Z

President Bush's Proposal regarding FHA

2007-09-04T16:00:15Z

Here is a link outlining the Administration's plan to address the subprime problems.

This could be good for our FHA business.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/20529723

Michael J. Maher, MBA

913-287-HOME (913-287-4663)

816-84-CONDO (816-842-6636)

Michael@TheMaherTeam.com

www.SmoothSelling.com

The Maher Team, home of the

Smooth Selling System ®

and Certified WISE Home Program®

IMPORTANT UPDATE ON CREDIT CRUNCH...

2007-08-31T10:55:50Z

Team;

The Federal Reserve has taken significant action in the last few weeks due to the credit crunch. And now they've made an unexpected move by cutting the discount window rate - which is great news. I'll get to that in a minute, but first let's look at recent events and understand what they mean.

Market movement
To date, over 120 mortgage companies have closed their doors due to reduced liquidity. The result: Borrowers who want to take out non-conforming loans have fewer, more expensive options. Non-conforming loans are called sub-prime or Alt-A loans. Even Jumbo Loans (loans over $415,000) have been grouped with these loans. Note: Imagine what this does on the coasts where the entry-level home STARTS at over $400,000.

Many media outlets have incorrectly added fuel to the fire by stating that mortgage lending has stopped altogether and that borrowers can't get a loan without a 20% down-payment. This is not true.

Conforming interest rates and loan programs, those backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, have not been significantly impacted by recent events. Those with good credit and some money to put down are easily flowing through the system as usual. Even better, interest rates have come down from recent highs. While this is good news, the market is experiencing unprecedented volatility and changes could come at any time. Buyers and Investors need to act swiftly and decisively in today's climate. They need to be educated!

What did the Fed do?
Now back to the discount rate. This is the interest rate charged to commercial banks and other depository institutions on the loans they receive from their regional Federal Reserve Bank's lending facility. The Fed's decision to cut this rate provides stability in the financial markets and this can be good for all of us.

How exactly does this provide stability? Here's an example: Imagine you just wrecked your car and it requires $5,000 worth of repairs. You have a short-term need for cash to pay your mechanic. Even though you know you will eventually be reimbursed by your insurance company, you still need the cash now. So do you sell off stocks to get the cash, or tap into an equity line of credit? Most likely, you draw from that line of credit rather than liquidating a long-term investment.

This is what the banks are facing in today's liquidity crisis. And Bernanke's move helps them avoid long-term damage by supplying access to short-term cash.

It's important to note that the discount rate is different than the Fed Funds Rate, which directly impacts interest rates that you pay for Home Equity Lines of Credit, credit cards, and automobile loans. Most importantly, the discount window rate cut does not directly impact mortgage rates.

What should you do now?
Information, knowledge, and expertise are the building blocks of sound financial decision making. You need to work with your clients to help them understand that there are still attractive financing opportunities in today's marketplace - but they might be a little harder to find. At our next team meeting, let's discuss how we can give our clients the information they need to make the best decisions.

Bottom line: Our clients and potential clients are looking for a leader, a lighthouse in the market. They are looking for someone who they can trust to give them accurate information. The media is in a frenzy over the "mortgage market meltdown". The sky is NOT FALLING. The loans that should not have been placed two or three years ago are no longer available. This is a good thing. Educate your Community of Influence, educate your buyers, and educate our investors. For those who take action, now can be a time to accumulate wealth.

Take care,

Michael

Michael J. Maher, MBA
http://www.themaherteam.com/
We're not #1...YOU are.
KS: 913-287-HOME
MO: 816-84-CONDO
The Maher Team, LLC: Home of the trademarked Smooth Selling System
and the Certified WISE Home Program!
Please ask for details.

OLATHE, KS- $360's CEDAR CREEK- SOUTHGLEN

2007-08-31T10:23:44Z