Just Listed! Open House Sunday 1/8..Come see beautiful 1.5 story in popular Grey Oaks!

Just Listed!! 

Popular 1.5 Story Floorplan in Desirable Grey Oaks...Only $355,000!!

Priced at $355,000

Bedrooms:  4 Bathrooms:  4.1 Home Size:  4,006 sq.ft. Garage:  3 Lot Size:  12,225 sq.ft. Community:  Grey Oaks County:  Johnson Property Type:  Single Family Detached Year Built:  2004 MLS Number:  1758093 Property Description Popular 1.5 story in desired Grey Oaks Subdivision. Rich dark hardwoods & neutral tones. Big windows for lots of natural light. Granite island, huge walk-in pantry, stainless appliances, 3 fireplaces. TONS OF SPACE: Hearth Room, Breakkfast Room, Living Room, Dining Room, PLUS loft & huge finishd basement with MEDIA ROOM, wet bar & 4th full bath (media room can be 5th bedroom). Master Bath has double vanity, walk-in shower, private bowl room, & jet tub. Large upstairs bedrooms with walk-in closets and direct access to bathrooms. Large laundry room & mud bench at garage entry. Neighborhood recreation park area with sand volleyball & pool, plus walking trails. All measure & sqft are approx. Call 24hrs to 913/787-1870 for more details on this or any other property in the area or to schedule a private showing. Visit www.PickettPropertyGroup.com for more info and helpful FREE BUYER INFO.

Looking Good for 2012...Home Sales are Up!

According to the National Association of Realtors, the latest numbers for pending sales indicate for the second month in a row that the index is up.  The index is used to provide general insight to where the housing market is heading. Because new home sales reflect ‘big ticket’ items that require construction and investment, the housing market is often considered an indicator of the direction of the economy as a whole. Growth in the housing market usually means subsequent spending, generating demand for goods and services and the employees who provide them.

The good news is that the index has broken 100.  The only other time this has happened since the housing boom collapsed was during the homeowner tax credit incentive.  Knowing that the index has returned to that level a year since the credit has been in effect means the housing market is strengthening completely on its own, without any stimulus.

Not only are home sales up, but so are housing starts and home pricing are stabilizing in many markets, even increasing in some.  We still have a ways to go in terms of a recovery, but it looks like we may be heading in the right direction.

Ready, Set, SELL! Reasons to List Your House NOW.

We hear it all the time.

"We're going to wait to list our house in Spring."

"There's not as many people looking to buy right now, so we'll wait a few more months."

Nooooo!  Don't wait!  The time is NOW and let me break it down for you:


1.  Serious Buyers:  There may be fewer of them, but the ones that are out there are very serious about making a purchase...they are there to buy.
2.  Less Competition:  The current inventory of homes for sale in the KC area is at a 5 year low.  Because there are so many people out there with the "We'll wait 'til Spring" mentality, that means there is fewer competition in your local market than any other time of the year.
3.  Interest Rates:  Today's interest rates are still low, giving buyers more spending power and you the same advantage when you begin shopping for your next home.

A Must See!! Beautiful Ward Park Home only $280,000!

Back on the market...only $280,000!!!

Newly Remodeled Tudor in Ward Park! Private drive with 2 car attched garage! SO MUCH NEW! New Kitchen with GRANITE, STAINLESS APPLIANCES & dark cabinets. Large open Brkfast Room.

Hardwoods all redone. Elegant Formal Dining Room. Large Living Room w/Fireplace. 1st Floor Office/Den.

Huge Master w/NEW private Bath, double sinks, tub & shower...also double closets. Newly finished basement.

WHAT A GREAT AREA TO CALL HOME! THIS HOUSE IS READY TO MOVE IN! Call or Text Pickett Property Group for an immediate showing or for more information on the area plus other homes for sale from all listing companies. We're bringing positive customer experiences back to Real Estate!

6 Tips to Selling Your Home During the Winter Months

If your home will be for sale over the winter months, it's important to address those issues that occur more often during this time of year than any other.

1. Shine on:  This should be happening regardless what time of year it is, but with the shorter and often cloudy days during the winter months, it's even more important.  Turn on every single light in the house, including closets, pantries, and hallways.  Don't forget the outdoor porch and patio lights as well.
2. Keep it clear:  No one wants to climb over huge snow drifts or drudge through 3 feet of snow to get to the front door.  Shovel your driveway and keep a clear path from the driveway to the front door.
3. Welcome mat:  Have a mat or an area rug by the front door for visitors to wipe their feet.  Provide disposable slippers and a bench to make it even easier to remove or put on their shoes or boots.
4. Keep odors at bay:  Homes tend to get stuffier during the winter months, which can be a turn-off to buyers if the odors build up.  Clean more frequently, change the litter box every day, and avoid strong cooking odors.
5. Look festive:  Enjoy the holiday decorations...many buyers find them welcoming and it can help make the home look cheerful during the winter months.
6. Keep it comfy:  There's no need to overheat buyers, since most will be walking through with their coats on anyway.  Keep the temperature at 65-68 degrees for showings.

Decor Inspiration: Letter Mural

As a Real Estate Consultant, I get to see a lot of great decorating ideas as I tour with buyers and consult with sellers from one home to the next.  And every once in awhile, I'll see something that stops me dead in my tracks and makes me think, "Fabulous idea...I need to do that!".

Such was the case when I saw this letter mural in a house located by the front door.  Very cleverly, the homeowners took the initials of each family member, collected them in various shapes, sizes, and textures, hung them this way and that and...Voila!  I just love and simplicity and complexity of it.  What do you think?

New Home Construction and Resales in Grey Oaks...Shawnee, KS

Homes for sale in Shawnee, KS

Move in before the Holidays!! Great 3 Bedroom Kansas City Home only $85,000!!

Great Location!  Great Condition!  Great Price!!

Only $85,000!!!

Great corner lot affords extra space and privacy!

Enjoy the refinished hardwood floors!

Plenty of cabinet space!

Large, fenced in backyard with newly built storage shed!

Bedrooms: 3                                  Bathrooms: 2


Home Size: 1,016 sq.ft.                  Garage: 2

County: Jackson                             Property Type: Single Family Detached

Year Built: 1960
Popular floorplan features newly refinished hardwood floors, open eat-in kitchen & separate dining. Large Master suite w/private bath. Finished basement with extra craft/bonus room. Great corner lot features newly built shed for extra storage & large fenced backyard. Conveniently located near shopping & restaurants with quick & easy highway access.

Call 913-787-1870 for an immediate showing or more information on the area, plus other homes for sale from all listing companies.

10 Must NOTS When Applying for a Mortgage Loan

10 Must NOTS When Applying for a Mortgage Loan

#1) You Must NOT change jobs, become self-employed or quit your job:  The reason that this is so important is if you would happen to change your job there is usually a certain amount of time that you would have to wait before you would be able to close. FHA for instant requires that you have been at your current job for 1 month prior to closing. If you happen to decide to quit your job and become self-employed then in order to be able to use your income we would at least need 1 year of personal tax returns with your new position and most loan programs require two years. If you decide to quit your job before closing and the lender will be using your income for qualifying it may cause your loan to be denied. Before any of this takes place please contact your mortgage consultant and explain to them what you are planning on doing when it comes to your Job.

#2) You Must NOT co-sign a loan for anyone:  During the loan process, any changes to your credit report or status could negatively affect your ability to close your loan on time or at all. Co-signing any type of car loan, student loans, or others loan would result in inquires into your credit and additional financial responsibilities. All of these could result in loan closing delays or denials. If this situation applies to you, please contact your Mortgage Planner.

#3) You Must NOT buy a Vehicle (or you maybe living in it!):  Applying for credit to purchase a vehicle will be recorded as an inquiry into your credit by credit bureaus. This may decrease your credit score or decrease the amount of money that you may qualify for when purchasing a home. It is very important to avoid applying for these types of loan throughout the loan process. If this situation applies to you, please contact your Mortgage Planner.

#4) You Must NOT use charge cards excessively or make late payments on ANY of your accounts:  Excessive use of credit cards can have 2 negative affects on your credit rating. One, inquires will be recorded by credit bureaus and could decrease your credit score. Two, balances on credit cards exceeding 35% will affect your debt to income ratio and could decrease your credit score. Also, late payments of any sort can decrease your credit score, increase your home loan interest rate, delay loan closing, or cause loan denial. If this situation applies to you, please contact your Mortgage Planner.

#5) You Must NOT spend money you have set aside for closing:  Most conventional loans require 2 months of reserve money to be verified in your available financial accounts. Once it has been verified for use at close, spending these reserve funds may result in loan closing delays or even loan denial. If this situation applies to you, please contact your Mortgage Planner.

#6) You Must NOT omit debts or liabilities from your loan application:  Please be very honest and clear about ALL of your debts or liabilities early in the loan application process. Having the right information will allow your Mortgage Planner to provide you the best qualifying loan value. Unrecorded debts or liabilities that are found later in the process may affect the amount of money you qualify for in addition to causing delays or even denials of your home loan. If this situation applies to you, please contact your Mortgage Planner.

#7) You Must NOT buy furniture, appliances, or household items before closing:  Although many people are anxious to furnish their new home, during the loan process is NOT the right time. Large purchases causing deductions in your banking accounts or additional debt on credit cards can negatively affect your loan process resulting in delays or even denials. If this situation applies to you, please contact your Mortgage Planner.

#8) You Must NOT originate any inquiries into your credit:  As mentioned before, multiple inquires into your credit may result in decreasing your credit score. As this applies to vehicles, furniture, appliances, and household items; it also applies to ANY credit checks Applying for additional lines of could negatively affect your ability to qualify for a home loan. If this situation applies to you, please contact your Mortgage Planner.

#9) You Must NOT make large deposits without first checking with your mortgage consultant:  Abnormal deposits or large deposits into checking, savings, or any financial account beyond normal payroll deposits must have money sources verified by Underwriting.  Making these deposits could result in loan processing delays or even denials. If this situation applies to you, please contact your Mortgage Planner.

#10) You Must NOT change bank statements.  Because the loan process requires a 2 month history of reserve funds, opening new financial accounts near a closing date may void this history. New bank accounts will not have the 2 month history available and cannot be used. This may result in loan closing delays or denials. If this situation applies to you, please contact your Mortgage Planner.

Beautiful 4 Bedroom Home with a pool in Prairie Village only $319,000!

Beautiful 4 Bedroom Home with a Pool in Prairie Village, KS only $319,000!!

 
Highly desired INDIAN FIELDS. Great street and gorgeous treed lot. Large EAT-IN KITCHEN has STAINLESS APPLIANCES & GRANITE COUNTERS with distinct, custom, RAW GRANITE FARMHOUSE STYLE SINK. Bright & open dining room & living room with fireplace. LARGE MASTER with LARGE WALK-IN CLOSET, tons of closet space, Granite in PRIVATE MASTER BATH. HUGE WALK-OUT BASEMENT to private backyard with two patio areas, gazebo & pool. Walkout basement has fireplace, wet bar, full bath and 4th Bedroom or great space for craft room, large office, or more.
 
Call 913-787-1870 for an immediate showing or more information on the area, plus other homes for sale from all listing companies.



Selling your home...beating the odds in a buyer's market: Home Improvements

If you're thinking of listing your home, bookmark our blog and don't miss this series.  Over the past few weeks, we've 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...then it was all about Curb Appeal.  Now, we're talking about Home Improvements.  So click here for the scoop!

Market Insider is Here!!

Get Market Insider for Valuable Data on Your Local Area

Introducing Market Insider, the FREE report that gives you valuable, customized, and up-to-date information on real estate trends in your local communities. Whether you're buying or selling a home, you'll have access to the data you need to make informed decisions in this ever-changing market.

Create a customized Market Insider report on the areas you care about most, and then sign up to receive FREE monthly updates. Market Insider provides home listing and sale prices, community demographics, school ratings, side-by-side neighborhood comparisons, and more!

Whether you are looking to sell and want local market data, or are thinking about buying and want to explore different homes and neighborhoods, here is a great resource for you!

For more information, and to discuss how to interpret this data for your situation, please reply by email or call!

View Market Insider


Market Insider's Powerful Resources for Buyers and Sellers

Market Insider offers a wealth of current information to help you make the best real estate decisions.

•Local real estate market data including current listings and recent sales

•Easy-to-use charts that clarify local price and market inventory trends

•Side-by-side comparisons of areas by zip code

•Maps, charts, and valuable insight into specific neighborhoods using income by household, criminal activity, education levels attained, and weather risks

•Neighborhood points of interest including shopping, restaurants, and healthcare services

•School district summary information and a map/grid of individual schools for your zip code

•Tips to help you better understand the factors that impact the real estate market

Become a "Market Insider" today!

The New Trend in Fixed Rate Mortgages...the 15 Year Loan

How would you like an extra $125,000?

Last week, interest rates dropped to their lowest point in 2011.  We saw fixed rates as low as 4.375% for 30 years, 4.25% for 20 years, and 3.75% for 15 years.  We also saw adjustable rates as low as 2.875%!  The current trend in fixed rate mortgages is to pay a little extra and get a 15 year loan instead of a 30 year.  What's the advantage?  Let's take a look:

If you have a 30 year mortgage of $200,000 at 5% interest, your payment would be $1,074 /mo (Principal & Interest only).  If you refinanced that to (or start off with) a 15 year mortgage at 3.75%, your payment would be $1,454 /mo (P&I).  For a difference of $380 /mo, you could pay your mortgage off in 15 years instead of 30 and build equity in your home much faster...an extra $21,593 in equity in just 3 years and $37,613 in 5 years.  Not only that, but by paying off the loan in 15 years instead of 30, you would save $125,000!!

Sound intriguing?  Give us a call or shoot us an email and we'll refer you to a Lender that will help you take advantage of today's low rates!!

New Price! Beautiful 4 Bedroom in Lakeview Estates, Shawnee, KS now only $385,000!

Don't Miss This One ~ Gorgeous 4 Bedroom/3 Bath home in Lakeview Estates!!

Only $385,000!!!

SPECTACULAR LAKEFRONT HOME in small subdivision. The Builder custom built this home for his parents...only the best for Mom and Dad! Granite counters, new carpet, decorator paint colors...nothing skimped on. New $3500 TANKLESS Hot Water Heater, central vacuum system, custom lighting. Huge walkout finished basement, sun room overlooking the lake, main level office, workout room. This home has the most wonderful setting, you'll fall in love!

Email, call or text us (913-787-1870) for an immediate showing or more information on the area, plus other homes for sale from all listing companies.


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!!!

Bedrooms:	3	Bathrooms:	1
Home Size:	912 sq.ft.	Garage:	1
Lot Size:	9,202 sq.ft.	Community:	Maple Crest
County:	Johnson	Property Type:	Single Family Detached
Year Built:	1953	MLS Number:	1704148
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.

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!

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.

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!  :)