Many buyers believe they need a large down payment to purchase a home. The truth? There are more down payment assistance and low-down-payment programs available today than ever before, and many Kansas City area buyers qualify without even realizing it.Whether you’re a first-time buyer, move-up buyer, first responder, or medical professional, there are programs designed to help you get into a home sooner.Here’s a complete breakdown of current options available in Kansas and Missouri.Click Here to View all homes for sale in Kansas and Missouri💰 Kansas & Missouri Housing Assistance ProgramsKansas Housing Assistance Program (KHAP)For buyers purchasing in Kansas, the KHAP program provides down payment assistance and competitive financing options.Income limit:Approximately $155,960 household ... 02/17/2026

If you’ve been waiting to buy a home because you thought you needed a large down payment, there’s great news. A new 0% down conventional loan program is making homeownership more accessible than ever for qualified first-time buyers in the Kansas City metro.This program is ideal for buyers with solid credit who have some savings but may not want — or be able — to put 3–5% down on a home.Let’s break down how it works and who qualifies.👤 Who Qualifies as a First-Time Homebuyer?You may qualify even if you’ve owned a home before.According to Fannie Mae guidelines, a first-time homebuyer is anyone who has not owned a home in the past 3 years.That means if you previously owned but haven’t had property ownership in the last 36+ months, you can still be considered a first-time buyer and take adv... 02/16/2026

The 203k Consultant's Role in Renovation ProjectsSome lenders seem to believe that a 203k consultant's role is simply to conduct a site inspection, a task they mistakenly assume can be completed in a single day. This couldn't be further from the truth.Our role as 203k consultants is multifaceted and crucial to the renovation project's success. We begin with a thorough site visit, identifying health and safety concerns and any structural issues that could compromise the property's longevity.Beyond identifying necessary repairs, we collaborate with the borrower to understand their vision for the property. We help them translate their dreams into a "scope of work" – a detailed plan that outlines all renovation items, categorized appropriately to meet HUD program requirements. While designe... 12/29/2024

My appraisal came in too low?It can be disappointing if your home appraisal is lower than the purchase price you agreed to with the seller. However, there are a few things you can do in this situation.Renegotiate the price with the sellerOne option is to try to renegotiate the purchase price with the seller. You may be able to convince them to lower the price to match the appraised value. However, this is not always possible, and you may risk losing the deal to another buyer.Consider an FHA loanAnother option is to consider financing the home with an FHA loan. The FHA offers two types of 203k loans that can be helpful in situations where the appraisal comes in too low. The Limited 203k loan allows for an additional 10% of the appraised value to be used for closing costs and energy-effic... 10/23/2024

Home Inspections vs. 203k Inspections: A Clear DistinctionWhen purchasing a home, a home inspection is an invaluable tool that can provide peace of mind for buyers. It's a comprehensive evaluation of a home's visible components, including its structure, systems, and potential issues. A 203k inspection, on the other hand, is specifically designed for FHA-insured loans that include renovations. Let's explore the key differences between these two types of inspections:Home Inspections Purpose: To assess a home's overall condition and identify potential defects or safety hazards. Scope: Covers all visible aspects of the home, including structural integrity, systems (heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical), and appliances. Process: A licensed home inspector conducts a thorough examination and... 10/05/2024

Is getting a contractor before calling the consultant a good idea?I've done many more 203(k) loan projects than most consultants, with over 6,000 with my boots on the ground. I can tell you a short story below explaining why it is NEVER a good idea to have the contractor out there first.A lender once called me, letting me know they had a bid for $187,000 to repair a home. She provided that bid with the order, and I made the appointment to view the home. I was also instructed to put the bid into our software. It shouldn't take long to turn this one in. I arrived at the home to meet the wife, who was about eight months pregnant and very excited to complete the home repairs with a room addition for their older child so they would have room for the new baby in their room.I made my inspectio... 09/11/2024

Why Relying on Online Home Valuations Can Be RiskyBefore Zillow was founded in 2006, homeowners had limited options for estimating their property’s value: they either waited for their annual tax statement or scheduled an appointment with a local real estate professional.Since Zillow's inception, several sites like Redfin and HomeLight have emerged, offering instant online price evaluations. While it’s convenient to get a quick valuation by simply typing in your address, the key question remains: how accurate are these valuations?Just like a broken clock is right twice a day, many of these online valuation sites offer similar reliability. Relying solely on their numbers to price your home can lead to serious issues: overpricing could jeopardize your sale, while underpricing could result ... 06/05/2024

Completely Updated Lenexa Gem! $350,000   Visit: http://14609W91st.info to to all of the photos Be the first to view this stunning 4-bedroom, 3-full bath, 1.5-story Lenexa home is now live and available for showings! This meticulously rehabbed beauty boasts a brand-new interior and a spacious layout perfect for modern living. Chef's Dream Kitchen: All-new white shaker cabinets Gleaming stainless steel appliances Gorgeous white quartz countertops Luxurious vinyl flooring for easy maintenance Relax and Unwind: Family room featuring a cozy brick fireplace and vaulted ceilings, perfect for family gatherings Master bedroom offering a tranquil retreat 2 additional bedrooms and a formal dining room complete the first floor Spacious Upper Level: Large bedroom with a private bath, ideal for a t... 05/23/2024

In a recent poll completed by the National Association of Realtors there were 4 main barriers that were stopping homebuyers from successfully becoming a homeowner. Increasing home prices, rising mortgage rates, lack of available homes and difficulty raising enough funds for a down payment were those 4 main reasons for over 75% of the respondents. With the Spring 2024 home buying season almost upon us, I wanted to give you some great ways to counteract each of these barriers and get on the road to homeownership.Increasing Home Prices - Home prices have been increasing for a while now but they really took off after the pandemic. The unique thing we are seeing is that prices are still going up even though the overall number of home sales are going down. When home sales go down, you usually... 02/25/2024

For several years now there has been a prediction of a Silver Tsunami, this wave has nothing to do with global warming but the prediction that homeowners that are 65 or older will start selling their current homes and moving towards smaller homes or other Senior living options.As we started to live longer and healthier lives there was a trend to stay in your current home longer than normal and home availability crisis that was exacerbated by Covid -19 has kept seniors in their current homes way longer than anyone anticipated.See All Homes For Sale NowThis so called Silver Tsunami has been predicted for many years but has not materialized but with 1 in 6 Americans now being 65 or older it seems inevitable that we will see many more sell. In recent  AARP 51% of Americans over 50 would lik... 01/20/2024

So this was actually the headline for another article (You can read it here) but I felt that most of their conclusions were totally wrong. They were not wrong that millennials are there own worst enemy when it comes to buying a house, they were just wrong about the reasons. I have 3 reasons why you are your own worst enemy and what you should do instead :Timing: Most millennials wait way too long or don't wait long enough. Real Estate has seasonality and you can expect the highest number of homes to sell between March 1st and the end of June, while October through December are annually when sales are at their lowest. When you purchase during the peak period you will not only face the highest level of competition but you will most likely pay the highest price, plus you will most likely h... 01/20/2024

So what is better than interest rates going down? I know, having someone else pay your down payment! Every year Housing and Urban Development (HUD) releases funds to assist first time buyers with their downpayment. The bad news is these funds don't last long. See Homes that are eligible for Down Payment AssistanceSo here is your official notice, do you want $7,500 towards your down payment? Then you will need to act fast and here is everything you need to know:Apply for Home Loan with First Bank - Kim SchultzFunds are Limited and are on a First Come, First Service BasisYou Must be Pre-Approved before Viewing and offering on homes to insure funds availabilityThere are income Limitations Based on Household SizeOther Requirements and/or Restrictions Borrowers can use FHA or Conventional Ho... 01/10/2024

When Mortgage interest rates started to rise in the fall of 2022 it caught many if not all home buyers off guard. As rates rose quickly from the 3's to the 7's it quickly changed what had been a runaway train real estate market to the Little Red Train trying to get over the hill. As rates stagnated above 7%  mortgage lenders had to come up with new and unique ways to bring affordability back to home buying.More: See All Homes For Sale in the KC Metro While rates have finally started to come back down, they are still high in comparison to the 3% days, unfortunately those day are gone and most likely not coming back anytime soon. So what is one to do? This is where those new and unique loan product come into play. While the 30 year and 15 year fixed rate loans are the most common, they al... 01/08/2024

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A "BAD HOME INSPECTION". HOME INSPECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT FOR HOME BUYERS, HOME SELLERS, LISTING AGENTS AND BUYERS' AGENTS.   THE HOUSE WILL BE UNDER A MAGNIFYING GLASS.  A good home inspection means that the home inspector examines every "nook and cranny" in a house and tests all systems and components. A HOME INSPECTION IS USUALLY A CONTINGENCY ON THE CONTRACT.  If the home inspector discovers and documents serious structural, systems, etc. defects, the seller is usually given an opportunity to cure or the buyer can void the contract.  If the home inspection finds the home in good condition with no structural or system defects, the contingency will expire or the buyer will remove it. HOME BUYERS BENEFIT FROM A HOME INSPECTION by learning about the condition of ... 01/03/2024

Starting the early 2000's there was a major switch from 30 year fixed rate mortgages to adjustable rate mortgages or (ARM's) . As home prices continued to rise there was a huge push to find ways to make mortgage payments more affordable, this led to the creation of new and exotic adjustable rate mortgage loan options. Many of these options includes interest only loans and loan that led to mortgage balances growing each month, these loan options led to a lot of foreclosures and left most buyers terrified of adjustable rate mortgages.See Homes For SaleMove forward to today, with homes prices on the rise and mortgage rates at a 15 year high, buyers are once again looking for ways to bring their monthly mortgage payments down. This has led to the return of adjustable rate mortgages, however... 12/22/2023

At the end of 2019 it was looking like real estate was heading for a correction, there had been a solid 8+ years of rising prices and based on past markets real estate was due for a correction. What nobody saw coming was a pandemic, Covid 19 changed how people view and value their homes. Fueled by low interest rates and Covid Cash, homes sales in the summer of 2020 became a runaway train with homes selling way over list price with multiple offers immediately after listing. This continued all the way till the fall of 2022 when rising interest rates finally took the steam out of the engine.Since then home sales have been a roller coaster, we saw really weak sales in the fall of 2022, only to see a huge rebound in the late winter and spring of 2023. The market then flattened out in the sum... 12/20/2023

So you want to build a new home, that is great news because building a new dream home can be one of the most exciting times of your life. But before you can build that home you will most likely need to arrange for financing, depending on the price and stage of construction you will have 3 options for financing your new construction home.See Available New Construction HomesBuilder financing - When builder financing is used, the builders generally take out a line of credit with a bank or lending institution to construct the home. This is very common with spec homes, these are home that the builder starts without having a buyer yet. The builder will budget the cost of this financing into the final price of the home. As a buyer you will most likely just apply for a mortgage in the same mann... 12/19/2023

Are you considering a new construction home in 2024? Well, the local homebuilders believe that you are. Recent numbers show that homebuilders have increased their starts by 18% in November and 42% over the previous year.New Construction Homes in Overland Park KansasNew Construction Homes in Olathe KansasNew Construction Homes in Lenexa KansasNew Construction Homes in Leawood KansasWith the anemically low inventory of resale homes available, builders are stepping up to create much needed inventory, in fact new homes make up almost 40% of the current available inventory.Another great reason to consider a new home now is that interest rates are expected to improve next year, right about the time that many of these new homes will be ready for occupancy.If you are considering building new ho... 12/19/2023

I was surfing around the internet and while visiting multiple news and social media sites I saw nothing but negative news about the current real estate market.  There were probably 10 articles about a pending crash in real estate values and equally as many articles about lawsuits pertaining to real estate commissions. All of this negative news was really getting to me, especially since I have never been more optimistic about a coming year in my 23 years as a real estate agent.  I started looked for some positive real estate news and found nothing, so here is some.Let's start with interest rates, this fall interest rates shot up to 8% and it had an adverse effect on home sales but what has not been reported is that interest rates are now firmly is the 6's and many 5 year and 7 year fixed... 12/16/2023

Buying a home is a big part of the American Dream but building a New Construction Home is the ultimate dream come true. When it come to building your new dream home there are 3 major ways to get it constructed, start from scratch, pick one up under construction or buy a completed builder spec home. Dirt Start- When you choose a dirt start you get to pick everything, you get to pick the perfect lot, choose your builder and pick or design a custom floor plan. You will also get to choose everything from paint colors, fixtures and so much more. When you do a dirt start you also take on a lot of risk, cost overruns can unexpectedly increase your budget with things like excavation costs and material overages, a dirt start will also take the longest to complete. The builder will need to get pe... 12/13/2023