Kansas City Real Estate with Maria Morton

An Old Fashioned Christmas?

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:49:18 -0600

Several people have been sharing their favorite Christmas songs lately. I love The Little Drummer Boy and White Christmas and anything by Mannheim Steamroller. Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole are old favorites. Nobody sang Frosty the Snowman like Jimmy Durante.

It seems fitting that Celine Dion would take O Holy Night, a French poem, to new heights. Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas always puts a spring in my step.

So many memories are associated with the music we listen to. Christmas music, since many of the same songs are played from year to year, brings us joyous memories of time spent with the important people in our lives. Which Christmas songs have a special place in your heart? Here's one that you may remember:

Preview of the Plaza Lights - Wordless Wednesday

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:37:56 -0600

This photo was taken through the window. I really need a tripod to do it right so please hang in there just a little bit longer. As soon as I have a tripod, I will brave the cold and get all of the streets.

Kansas City Real Estate Market: A Quick Look

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:41:26 -0600

Kansas City Real Estate Market: A Quick Look

Today, 15 December 2009, we have 16,171 homes for sale in Kansas City area. 1,447 of those were put on the MLS in the last 15 days (New Listings this month).

755 listings have sold in the month of December, so far. There are an additional 3,453 listings that are due to close. (Pending, Contingent or Back-Ups) If we add the Pending, Contingent and Back-Up listings to the Sold listings, we get 3,453.

During the last 350 days, 27,197 homes sold in the Kansas City Greater Metropolitan Area. Not too shabby for our little "Cow Town."

As always, you need to examine the specific area to determine exactly what is happening. Overall, the average days on market have increased and the average sales price has increased slightly. This is an average of all areas within the 5,000 square miles covered by Heartland MLS.

We have around 50 different areas within our MLS system. Each MLS area has multiple zip codes, schools, and neighborhoods within it. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of taking a good look at the specific subdivision and adjacent neighborhoods before drawing any conclusions.

If you are considering selling your Kansas City home, I would be happy to speak with you.

Maria Morton 816.560.3758 mobile

Older Posts for Sellers in Kansas City:

Seller Tips

Getting the Best Price for your home

Residential Property Statistics for Zip Code 64113

Armour Hills Stats

2009 Mid Year Report All KC

Groundwork

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:53:52 -0600

This evening, my neighbor asked me about the real estate business in Kansas City. Our overall market has remained healthy throughout the down market experienced nationally. We never had the huge swings that the coastal markets suffered; we're in the Midwest; we move slow; we go up a little; we go down a little; small ripples as opposed to tidal waves.

My business? Well, I hit my goal for the year in October so I'm good. November was mostly about tidying up the files, updating my contact list, and preparing my 2010 business plan. December is filled with holiday obligations, volunteer activities, family and friends. Sure, I'm still taking care of business but I made sure all of my clients were taken care of before Thanksgiving so that they can enjoy the holiday season in their new homes. All of my listings are sold so my sellers are able to concentrate on shopping and parties instead of worrying about when their home is going to sell.

December is a time to wrap up the old years' business and prepare for the coming year.

By the end of the month, all of my new systems will be in place and my new website will be up and running. What was wrong with my old website? It was slow and cumbersome; clients were not finding what they needed fast enough. The new one is fasster, trimmer, sleeker with the information people have been asking for easily found with a click of the mouse.

The new systems will enable me to offer sellers the latest marketing techniques using next years' technology instead of last years. There is nothing more frustrating than wanting to do something on a computer, or the web, and being unable to do it because your systems are lacking the newest advances.

Why do this now instead of in January? So that I can hit the ground running instead of wasting time learning new systems when a client needs my attention.

It takes time to learn new ways so this time of year is perfectly suited for me to bring myself up to date with all of the new technology available for marketing and selling real estate. This past year, I had several out of town buyers and sellers and though I was able to get the deals done, this year I have systems in place that will make long distance document handling a breeze for my out of town clients.

Are there buyers out there looking now? Yes, there are. Am I missing them? No, they're all signed up to receive email updates when a home meeting their needs becomes available. Will one of them buy before 2010? Doubtful; there are only 13 business days left in the month and some lenders and title companies are already at full capacity. A safe time-span for scheduling a closing is 30-45 days; 13 would be pushing it.

What about sellers; is this a good time for someone to put their home up for sale? Well, think about it; there is less competition right now because many people don't want to be bothered with showings over the holidays. The buyers who are out right now are deadly serious. Unlike the looky-loos seen during the summer months, buyers who are looking over the holidays are intent upon finding a home now. It's cold and wet and windy and it gets dark early; people willing to brave the elements in the winter months want to move now. And they have family and friends to see so they don't want to dicker around with a lot of back and forth negotiations; they want to reach agreement and move.

What's hot and what's not? On the Kansas City, MO side, Brookside homes, as always, are hot. Older homes with newer kitchens and bathrooms are hot. Private driveways are hot. Plaza condos in the more popular buildings are moving; in the uncompleted conversions, they are not getting financing so they aren't selling. Downtown condos are still moving slowly. Armour Hills and Romanelli Gardens are always hot. Anything around Loose Park or St. Theresa's Academy is hot - provided the foundation issues have been dealt with. Waldo's still hot. Investors are buying east of Troost and out by the stadium; most banks are pricing the houses too high so we have to wait months for them to get with the program. Westposrt and Hyde Park are still moving slower than in the past. We've seen a decrease in inventory in the high dollar market - that means they are finally starting to move.With jumbo loans in the 3-3.85% range, that segment will probably continue to pick up. The old North East has some fantastic opportunities as aging owners are letting go of the old family homes. North of the river is steady. Grandview and Ruskin Hills still have not recovered. We've seen an increase in foreclosures in the MO neighborhoods to the east of Leawood, KS. Blue Springs continues to do well. Independence is better on the southern end but still depressed on the northern end.

On the Kansas side, 3 bedroom/2 bath homes in the SMEast school district are still popular. Westwood and Fairway are still desirable neighborhoods. Mission Hills homes have picked up in sales during 2009. Leawood is still coveted. Blue Valley school neighborhoods are very popular. Olathe is holding steady. Houses tend to move slowly in western Overland Park. The statisticians are predicting an increase in foreclosures in Johnson County during 2010 so investors are standing by waiting to pounce. They are looking for homes that need work so they can flip them. Buyers who intend to live in the home are wanting everything done rather than fixer uppers.

Commercial buyers are starting to look at the downtown area again; we'll see if that takes off or not this year.

All in all it's an exciting time for real estate in Kansas City. With the extension of the Tax Credit, the inclusion of resale buyers, and the increase in limits, we should see an increase in sales volume this next year. The number of expected foreclosures will likely keep the overall average price down. We'll take a look at the numbers at the end of the first quarter to see where we are.

Speechless Sunday in Kansas City 7

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:14:48 -0600

Speechless Sunday in Kansas City

The joy and wonder of all life stretches before us! What a treat to see all that the world holds through the eyes of children! Every little thing is wondrous and magical!

Kansas City Real Estate with Maria.

Penguin on the Plaza - Kansas City

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:02:01 -0600

Penguin on the Plaza - Kansas City

This is a penguin sculpture on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. I have always loved this penguin who appears, to me, to be dancing. This wide spot in the sidewalk is one of several locations on the Plaza where jazz musicians play during the warm weather.

Thank you, Myrl, for inviting me to join this group. I was a little taken aback at first as it takes me hundreds of photos to get one that I feel is worthy of sharing on Active Rain. But then I thought, why not just put one up there? It's okay if others here have fancy cameras, editing software, and the ability to take great photos; my little photos will please a few of us and Myrl said nothing about submitting perfect photos, right? So, this is a particular favorite of mine that I hope you will enjoy.

Help Please - Woman Missing

Maria Morton (Prudential Kansas City Realty) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:13:01 -0600

A friend of a friend's family member is missing. Please watch this video and pass this along so that her family can find her. Thanks.Surprise Woman Still Missing Police and family are getting worried Updated: Saturday, 05 Dec 2009, 5:56 PM MST Published : Friday, 04 Dec 2009, 10:11 PM MST SURPRISE, Ariz. - Police say nothing makes sense in the disappearance of a Surprise, Arizona woman, and they are getting more worried. 62-year-old Leslie Widysnowski has been missing since Dec. 2. Her husband says she was sick the day before she went missing. Surprise Police say there hasn't been any activity on her bank accounts and she didn't have any mental illness. Laura Sambol reports.

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!

Search Olympia Area Homes Join me on Facebook!

Featured Listings

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.