Friday, June 24, 2011

OPEN HOUSE 6/26!! Charming 3 Bedroom Ranch in Overland Park only $120,000!!

OPEN HOUSE THIS SUNDAY 6/26 from 12-3pm!!

Great 3 Bedroom Ranch in Overland Park...Only $120,000!!

Perfect 3 Bedroom Ranch only $120,000!!!



Bedrooms3Bathrooms1
Home Size912 sq.ft.Garage1
Lot Size9,202 sq.ft.CommunityMaple Crest
CountyJohnsonProperty TypeSingle Family Detached
Year Built1953MLS Number1704148
Property Description
Here's your next home. Well cared for Overland Park Ranch with a large eat-in Kitchen, big bonus mud room/laundry room, and huge back yard and deck for entertaining or relaxing with family and friends. Just a block from Sante Fe Trails Elementary ... GREAT location. Call us to take a look or find out when the next Open House is.

All measure & sqft are approx.

Call 24hrs to 913/787-1870 for more details on this or any other property in the area.  Schedule your showing today!
 Visit www.PickettPropertyGroup.com for more info and helpful FREE BUYER INFO.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Market Stats for Grey Oaks in Shawnee, KS

The chart below is for the Grey Oaks subdivision in Western Shawnee. Keep in mind, that since this is still a community with new construction, there may be a few stats missing or skewed here and there, but overall, you can get a good idea what the market is like here:


If you live in Grey Oaks or are looking for homes in this area and have a question, please feel free to give us a call or send an email. We're here to help!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

1989 vs 2011...Now really is the time to buy

The affordability of homes is lower today than it has been in years...and to top it off, mortgages hit a historic low in 2010 and continue to remain at relatively low levels.  Take a look at this chart to help put things in perspective:

The cost of a loaf of bread and a gallon of gas has more than tripled since 1989 and car prices have nearly doubled.  While the median price of a new home has increased by 70%, mortgage interest rates, which stood at 10% back in 1989, are now less than half of what they were back then.  The impact of today's super low interest rates is that the monthly mortgage payment on a median priced home in the US has increased by only $4 since 1989.

Unless a buyer is paying cash, the monthly payment tends to be a far more relevant number than the home's actual purchase price.  So for buyers waiting for home prices to hit the floor, pay attention...the possibility of a slight drop in the price of a home will have very little impact on your monthly payment, while even a slight rise in interest rates (a more likely scenario) will have a huge impact on your finances.

Timing the market is never possible and in today's market, staying on the sidelines is more likely to result in a missed opportunity than a small savings.  Buy now so you can look back and say, "I'm glad I did" rather than "I wish I had."

If you're looking to buy or are ready to put your home on the market,  email, text, or give us a call. As a resident of nearby Grey Oaks, Pickett Property Group is your Western Shawnee expert.

K-7 and Johnson Drive Interchange Project Update-June 2011

Attention, Western Shawnee residents!  Weather permitting, on Thursday/Friday, June 16-17, new traffic changes are scheduled to take place on the K-7 and 55th Street/Johnson Drive interchange project in Johnson County.  The traffic changes that are scheduled to occur are as follows:
·         On Thursday, June 16, after morning rush hour (weather permitting), access from northbound and southbound K-7 to Clear Creek Parkway on the west side of K-7 will be closed to all traffic.  Utility work as well as construction work will begin on the new bridge that will span over K-7 at Clear Creek Parkway.
·         On Friday, June 17, before morning rush hour (weather permitting), 55th Street will be reopened to traffic for all through eastbound and westbound movements from 55th Street to Johnson Drive.  Also, access from northbound K-7 to westbound 55th Street and from 55th Street/Johnson Driver to southbound K-7 will be opened to all traffic at the same time.  If there is any wet weather that occurs on Thursday, June 16, the 55th Street traffic changes will shift to sometime during the day on Friday, June 17, and will not be in place before morning rush hour. 

Stay tuned for more information as the construction progresses.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Selling your home...beating the odds in a buyer's market: Curb Appeal

If you're thinking of listing your home, bookmark our blog and don't miss this series.  Over the next few weeks, we'll introduce you to some statistics and tips to help you view your house not as your home, but as the future home of the buyer you need to attract.  Our first topic was Pricing to Sell Your Home...this week, it's all about Curb Appeal.  So here's the skinny!

KW Research shows that approximately 47% of sellers enhance their curb appeal.  Most spend between $150-1000 to make those first few seconds count for buyers who may be driving by or checking out photos  online.  What do they do?

  • 73% trim trees and bushes
  • 54% mulch
  • 51% bring in new plants
  • 44% wash windows
  • 40% power wash
  • 23% add a fresh coat of exterior paint
  • 11% add new door hardware
For those sellers that DID enhance their curb appeal...
  • Had excellent results compared to only 68% of home without enhancements
  • Received their first offer 6 days faster
  • Sold 7 days faster...
  • ...for 1.23 percentage points higher in the list-to-sell percent
In other words, first impressions really DO count!  :)

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Top 10 Most Common Home Inspection Concerns

Buyers and sellers may think that their home is unique, but more often than not, home inspectors find that most home defects are very similar.  Below are 10 common home defects that inspectors can typically identify.  And it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with them, so that you can start planning ahead for repairs or work you may have to do if you are on the buying or selling side.

  1. Poor Drainage:  Inspectors will review whether water moves away from the house properly and/or whether the roof needs new gutters and downspouts. They will also check to see if ground-level drainage systems have been properly graded.
  2. Faulty Electrical Wiring:  If electrical wiring hasn't been properly installed or grounded, a home may be susceptible to fire and inhabitants may risk electrical shock.  If you are looking at an older home, you will find they often need electrical upgrades, including new wiring and circuit breaker panels.
  3. A Leaking Roof:  Leaking roofs often result from poor flashing or aging shingles and roofing materials.
  4. An Aging or Defective Heating System:  Older heating systems may require maintenance and/or may be energy-inefficient.  Non-electrical heating systems also run the risk of emitting carbon monoxide fumes, so a carbon-monoxide detector may be recommended.
  5. Poor Maintenance:  A DIY seller's "bandaid" fixes to plumbing, electrical, or other problems can sometimes do more harm than good.
  6. Structural Damage:  A leaking roof or settling foundation may mean doorways, walls, and support beams are off-kilter.
  7. Plumbing Problems:  Inspectors look for faulty pipes and fixtures, and also look at whether plumbing parts or made of compatible materials.  Leak-prone polybutylene (PB) plumbing pipes may have to be replaced.
  8. Water Seepage Through Windows and Doors:  If there is evidence of water damage, then re-caulking windows and doors, adding weather-stripping or other more extensive repairs may be needed.
  9. Poor Ventilation:  Installing ventilation fans and keeping windows open can help, but buyers may find that they need to replace walls or other structural aspects of a home.
  10. Hazardous Materials:  Older homes may contain lead-based paint and asbestos materials.  Depending on structure and climate, homes may also contain unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide, radon gas, or toxic molds.