Real Estate Market trends and tips for the Western Shawnee, KS Area

Local real estate conditions are changing and our Market Insider tool provides valuable, up-to-date information about the communities important to you. View critical information about what is happening now, so you can be a "Market Insider"!  For example, check out the sneak peek of activity in zip code area 66226.  If you want to see what is happening in your area, click on the View Market Insider button below.
Market Area: 66226 Listing Price $313,700 Listing Price Trend + 0.1% Sold Price $301,020 Sold Price Trend + 7.31%	Just a fraction of what's happening... click now to view more local market conditions!
Buying or selling a home involves many factors. Stay on top of current community trends by viewing these listing and sale prices, demographics, school performance, area comparisons, and more. Of course, you can always call or email for help understanding what this information really means for you.
Featured "Insider Tip"
Furnish Your Home For Less Starting out with a "blank slate" can be both a blessing and a curse. The blessing comes if you have enough money to furnish your home with whatever you want from wherever you choose. Furnishing a home on a shoestring, though, takes creativity, an eye for a good value, and possibly some elbow grease. While some discount stores, such as Ikea, sell inexpensive new furnishings, careful shoppers can find better quality for less money with used furnishings. Here are a few ideas for getting what you need at dramatically discounted prices. Inspiration Whether you are furnishing one room or a whole house, it's important to have an idea of how you want the room to look before you go shopping. Once you have the design in mind, it's easier to shop for the components. Model homes in new home communities are great places to get decorating ideas. These homes are carefully decorated to appeal to a broad range of homebuyers' emotions. Color schemes, accessories, and furniture choice and placement all play to the shopper's emotions. Interior design and decorating websites may also be good sources of inspiration. Check out Better Homes and Gardens, HGTV, Real Simple and Southern Living for budget project ideas to get your household furnished for less. Used is Good One of the hardest things to learn is how to look beyond the obvious wear and tear to the actual "bones" of used furniture.  Look beyond the fact that the upholstery is ratty or the legs are scuffed – look at style. If you like the lines of the coffee table, buy it. Scratches and dings are easy to fix. Hate the ugly green upholstery on the otherwise perfect Chesterfield-style sofa? Buy it. Have it recovered in a yummy fabric of your choice. Once you've mastered the technique of not judging furniture by its cover, it's time to go shopping. Garage and Estate Sales Yes, there are differences between garage sales and estate sales. The latter is...
Learn more about successfully selling or buying a home and check out a whole library of tips and articles to help you!
As always,  feel free to contact us  if you have any questions.

3 Bedroom Ranch Home For Sale in Prairie Village, KS!!

If you're looking for a home in Prairie Village WITH a full, dry basement, then this is the one for you!! 

Priced at $160,000

Bedrooms:  3 Bathrooms:  1 Garage:  1 County:  Johnson Property Type:  Single Family Home Year Built:  1955 MLS Number:  1840411 Property Description Great 3 bedroom home with super clean dry full basement! NEW roof, NEW windows! Great updated bath! Living Rm has large picture window & beautiful hardwood floors. Newer stainless steel appliances in Eat-in Kitchen w/lots of cabinet storage & counter space. Wide driveway for 2 cars leads to extra deep garage w/access to large fenced backyard.     This cozy 3 bedroom Ranch is perfectly nestled in PV...close to schools, shops, restaurants, and more!   The Living Room greets you as you walk in with it's beautiful hardwood floors, large picture window and fresh paint.     The Kitchen is just past the Living Room...complete with tons of cabinet space and newer stainless steel appliances.  Enjoy your morning coffee or read the paper all with your kitchen comforts within reach. As you walk through the Living Room, you'll notice the clean hardwood floors continue down the hall.  The Bathroom features vanity, sink, and tile upgrades...carefully selected to please even the pickiest Buyer.  The bedrooms are ample sized, with enough space for a full bedroom suite or to serve as your home office or craft room.    The basement is accessed through the garage, which is conveniently attached to the house.  Walk down the stairs and you'll find one of the cleanest dry basements we've seen in Prairie Village!  Plenty of shelving space for storage and a separate space for laundry.    And don't forget the backyard! With a patio slab large enough for grilling and entertaining, there is still plenty of yard space for the kids, the family dog, or a square foot garden.  Whatever your outdoor passion is, this yard can make it possible. If you are interested in seeing this house or want to learn more about others in the area, please call/text us at 913-787-1870 or visit us at pickettpropertygroup.com.  We'd love to help!

Meet Houzz...the Pinterest of Home Design

If you love Pinterest, which allows you to "pin" or save internet links that offer cleaning tips, recipes, and the latest fitness advice, then you are going to LOVE Houzz! 

Houzz has the largest database of home design ideas on the net, with over 1,500,000 high resolution photos. If you are looking for home remodeling inspiration, you can browse photos by style, room and location and save them to your virtual ideabook — it's the equivalent of clipping design magazines to a scrapbook or "pinning" on Pinterest — making ideas easier to search, save, and share with others. Experience Houzz.com as an app or a website.  Need help?  Join the discussion and get the community to help with your design dilemmas. you can also find everything from the latest design products to top-rated local designers, architects, contractors and other home pros who can help you realize your ideas. The best part is, browsing your ideabook, they'll get exactly what you're trying to do.

And as if that wasn't enough, you can also use the Houzz Cost Finder to determine whether your remodeling ideas will fit your budget.

Want to update your Kitchen or Bathroom?  Click a room or project and get an idea of approximately what your costs could be based on your location.  It will give you the average cost and range for your city as well as pictures of completed projects to motivate and inspire you.  It will also give you suggestions for products to use, whether your style is traditional or contemporary.  And if you are looking for someone to do the work for you, click on Professionals and you will be given a list of designers and remodelers that will take care of everything.  

Whether you are looking for design inspiration or renovation ideas, check out Houzz.  We have using it for deck ideas and it has been a GREAT tool when it came time to describe to our contractor exactly what I wanted in a pergola.  I pulled up the app, went to my Ideabook, showed him my pictures, and the rest is history...hopefully by August anyway. ;)

Things to Do in KC: Celebrate the 4th of July

Looking for ways to celebrate our country's independence this year?  Check out the list below for various activities around the Kansas City Metro area:

Kansas Side:

Boulevard Drive In Theater: July 4th enjoy free fireworks.  Gates open at 7:00PM

Monsters University (G) @ 9:10pmLone Ranger (PG-13) @ 11:00pm–––––––––Enjoy a double feature under the stars:Adults $10/Kids 11 and under are FREECASH ONLY!!

Overland Park Star Spangled Spectacular – Celebrate Independence Day with a group of new American citizens at the U.S. Citizen Naturalization Ceremony, starting at 5:45 p.m. Other festivities include children’s games, vendors and live performances from the American Legion Band of Greater Kansas City and The Atlantic Express. The gates open at 4 p.m., July 4, at Corporate Woods in Overland Park . Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m., with simulcast music on KCMO 710 AM and 103.7 FM. 

Leawood’s Fourth of July Celebration in the Park – 
Enjoy live music from The Shanks , family activities and a variety of food vendors at this year’s event. The celebration starts at 5 p.m., July 4, at the Leawood City Park . The Shanks start at 7:30 p.m., and the display begins at 9:45 p.m. Free shuttle buses are available from the parking lots along Tomahawk Creek Parkway, starting at 10 a.m. 

 Corporate Woods Star Spangled Spectacular

The Corporate Woods Star Spangled Spectacular is something to see-- the 4th of July events kick off at 4PM and last until 11PM. With everything from a free concert to funnel cakes, it's also one of the biggest fireworks displays in the metro.

• Where: Corporate Woods, I-435 and College Blvd @ 109th/Mastin.
• Time: 4pm-11pm, fireworks approx 9:30 pm
  Guide Tip: Be prepared to park and WALK..a loooonnng way!

Special T-Bones post-game fireworks – 
Catch a special post-game fireworks display after the T-Bones take on the Sioux Falls Pheasants at 7:05 p.m., July 3, at Community America Ballpark. Parking is free. Tickets are available online at http://tbonesbaseball.com/ . 

Lenexa Community Days Parade – 
Celebrate Independence Day in Old Town Lenexa with the “All Stars for Freedom” parade, which includes antique cars, music and more. The parade begins at 10 a.m., and runs through the Old Town area. Police Chief Ellen Hanson will be the Grand Marshal. 

Other Kansas-side fireworks displays:

Leavenworth – Fourth of July Celebration, 4 - 10 p.m., July 4 at Fort Leavenworth Merritt Lake. Event includes music and food vendors. Fireworks begin at dusk.

Fairway/Westwood/Roeland Park – Display begins at 9:30 p.m., July 3 at Bishop Miege High School , 5041 Reinhardt Dr. Parking is available at Bishop Miege and St. Agnes Parish.

Missouri side:

KCRiverfest – KCRiverfest is one of the biggest Fourth of July celebrations in Kansas City and is perfect for the entire family. The all-day event includes live music, local vendors, food and entertainment. Festivities begin at 1 p.m., July 4, at Berkley Park on the River, located between the Paseo and Heart of America bridges. Fireworks begin at 10:05 p.m. Tickets are $5. Advanced discount tickets are available online at http://www.kcriverfest.com/ .

Jackson County Fourth of July Appreciation Celebration – Jackson County is saying “thank you” to residents for helping make MLB’s All-Star game possible with a special Fourth of July celebration. Catch appearances from Kansas City Royal alums, hear live music from The David Basse Orchestra and try delicious food from local vendors. Festivities begin at 6 p.m., July 4, at Longview Lake Beach, 9898 Longview Rd. Admission is free. Pets and grills are prohibited. 

Parkville Fourth of July Blast Off – This party starts on the Fourth and doesn’t stop until Saturday! Kick things off with the American Legion Pancake breakfast on Wednesday, followed by a parade through downtown Parkville. Other activities include carnival rides, food vendors and a performance by the Parkville Symphonic Band . Wednesday’s fireworks display starts at 9:45 p.m. Shuttle service is available from the South Platte Community Center, Park University and Park Hill South High School. 

Liberty Fourth Fest – 
A newly added BBQ competition is just one of the many things happening at Liberty’s Fourth Fest. Festivities begin at 5 p.m., July 3, with food, a beer garden and live music from the Ernest James Zydeco Band in Historic Liberty Square. Fourth of July kicks off with a parade through the Square. Fireworks start at 9:45 p.m., at William Jewell College. 

Legacy Blast Fireworks Extravaganza in Lee’s Summit – 
Lee’s Summit’s fireworks display will be choreographed to music and simulcast on 94.9 FM , at 9:30 p.m., July 3, at Legacy Park . Food vendors, children’s inflatables and entertainers will be on-site before the show starts. Gates on the south entrance of the park open at 6 p.m. Parking is available in the sports venue lots off Legacy Park Drive. 

Worlds of Fun -Worlds of Fun has one of the longest standing 4th of July celebrations in the metro. Watch fireworks from within the park or by parking on the east side of I-435 (not recommended!). The fun starts at 10pm.

Raymore’s Spirit of America Celebration – This year’s celebration includes a classic car show and live entertainment from Ten Feet Down. Festivities begin at 4 p.m., July 4, at Recreation Park , 1021 S Madison. Food and beverages are available for purchase. Fireworks begin at dusk. 

Other Missouri-side fireworks displays:

Independence – Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m., July 4, at the Mormon Visitors Center, 937 W Walnut. Event includes musical performances by the Spirit of Independence Band , starting at 8 p.m.

Blue Springs – Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m., July 4, at Blue Springs High School Peve Stadium, 2000 NW Ashton Drive. Gates open at 7:30 p.m., live entertainment from 8-9:30 p.m. Concessions available.

Gladstone – Display starts at 9:45 p.m., July 4, at Gladstone Amphitheatre, 76th Street and North Troost Ave. A performance by North Star Community Band starts at 8:30 p.m.

Remember to have fun and be safe!

                                                                                                                                                 

Kansas City Market Report - March 2013

Here's the latest market news for the Kansas City area from March 2013:

 

 

 

 

Urgent Light Bulb Recall

We want to make our friends and clients aware of a recall on LED bulbs due to fire hazard. The bulbs were marketed under the brand names Definity, EcoSmart, Sylvania and Westinghouse and sold at various retailers including hardware and lighting and electrical supply stores. We wanted you to be aware of this recall incase you purchased bulbs from other sources. The link below can give you more information.

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2013/LED-Light-Bulbs-Recalled-by-Lighting-Science-Group/

Looking for fresh? Try your local Farmers' Market

Yay!!

It's that time of year again!  A sign that spring and summer are sure to come (I say this only because the weather has been so cold, windy, and wet lately)!

If you haven't ever been to a farmers' market before, get out early one weekend and see what they are all about.  You'll be surrounded by fresh veggies, flowers, and sometimes even handmade crafts and entertainment.  Most open in May, but the Overland Park Farmers' Market started last weekend and the Brookside one starts this Saturday.

Below are some locations of Farmers' Markets in the KC area, complete with dates and times.  Which one is your favorite?

Overland Park
Shawnee
Merriam
Brookside
The City Market

For the complete list, click here!

8 Tips for Buying in a Low Inventory Market

We've come across this a few times lately with some of our Buyers.  No matter how much we coach them, they find their dream home and suddenly they are competing with other Buyers or worse, they think about it too long and it's already been sold.

In today's market, Buyers have to be prepared for all kinds of scenarios.  And the better prepared you are, the better your experience will be.  Check out this article for some tips to help you through.

Important Election Ballot Question for Homeowners in USD 232

The USD 232/De Soto school district is seeking voter authorization on April 2, 2013, to adjust its Local Option Budget by one percent of its state financial aid, from 30 percent to 31 percent. In return, the district will draw fewer taxes and homeowners would see a slight decrease in the mill levy.  Take a look at the picture above to see how the district would draw fewer taxes with a 31% LOB.

What's in it for you?  

Check out the following links for more information, then go out and VOTE:

http://www.usd232.org/localoptionbudget

http://www.usd232.org/strongschools

Home Buyer Tips: Purchasing Power

Even though homes have appreciated, a monthly payment on the average house is actually less than it was in 1989. To learn what your dollar can buy you today, give us a call or send us an email.

Western Shawnee: What's Going on in Your Neighborhood? OPEN HOUSE TONIGHT!

What's Going on in Your Neighborhood?

OPEN HOUSE

Wednesday, March 27th

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Monticello Trails Middle School, 6100 Monticello Road

Residents, community leaders, church members, parents, students, business owners, service providers and all who live, work, visit, appreciate, and serve in western Shawnee are invited to attend. This is an open house event, come and go at your convenience. Stop by to learn about the many things going on in western Shawnee, now and in the future. Your kids can play at the Shawnee Town 1929 play area while you browse. We look forward to getting your feedback and we hope to see you there!

• Where is the new park going in western Shawnee and what will it look like?
• Where does the new trail section connect? When will it be completed?
• What is the layout of some of the future developments that are planned? What businesses might be coming?
• What are future plans for K-7 Corridor?
• Is there a Library in western Shawnee’s future? What programs is the Library offering now?
• What roads are going to be repaired this spring/summer?
• What are the ideas for improvements to Monticello Road?
• What can I do to prevent crime in my neighborhood?
• How can I be more in the loop on things going on in my neighborhood?
• What volunteer opportunities exist with the City?
• Learn how to Go GREEN and $ave Money!

Homes Selling Faster

We've noticed it in our own business.  Homes that we've listed within the past 30 days have received offers and gone under contract in 10 days or less.  This doesn't happen every time, but right now Buyers are out and inventory is low...and you're more likely to see fewer price reductions and more multiple offers.  For more details on this fast-moving market, check out this article from USA Today.

Mortgage Rates are Rising

As the sayings go...

All good things must come to an end.

or...

Nothing good lasts forever.

The same appears to be true for the historically low mortgage rates we've seen in the past couple years.  Mortgage rates for a 30-year fixed loan jumped to 3.85% last week, the highest since it was 3.91% back in August 2012.  The last time rates were above 5% was back in 2011. 

If you're waiting to list your home or waiting to sell your current home to try to cash in on a higher offer before you buy your new home, you just may be paying out on the buying end if rates continue to climb.

At Pickett Property Group, we are committed to helping you make the right real estate decisions for your needs.  If you're thinking of buying or selling, visit Pickett Property Group for more information.

New Roof Guidelines for Homeowners

Due to the increasing numbers of insurance claims as a result of inclement weather, many insurance companies are changing the guidelines by limiting or declining coverage with older or wood roofs.  Beginning this year, some of these guidelines include:

• Composition over Wood Shake Shingles: 
•  no longer insurable
• Composition over Composition:
•  insurable up to 3 layers.  Top layer may be subject to Composition Age Guidelines
• Wood Shake Shingles: 
• 10 years or newer - insurable at full replacement cost with $1000 deductible
• 10-15 years - subject to higher deductibles
• 15+ years - subject to higher deductibles and Actual Cash Value Loss Settlement
• Composition: 
• 20 years or newer - insurable at full replacement cost with $1000 deductible
• 20 years+ - subject to higher deductibles and Actual Cash Value Loss Settlement

If you have any questions regarding your coverage or whether the guidelines have changed on your policy, contact your insurance agent today.

Buyers: Advice from Sellers

As Real Estate Consultants, we do just that: consult. We will educate you about pricing, condition, showings, and more...but ultimately, it's up to you to decide what you want to do with that information.

Here's Part 2 to the article I posted earlier, Sellers: Advice from Buyers.  Definitely, some good suggestions to keep in mind in this one as well!

5 Tips Sellers Would Give Buyers if they Could

Get Weather Alerts on your Phone!

Severe weather months are just about here and that means strong storms, damaging hail, and possibly even tornadoes.  Sign up today and get weather alerts on your cell phone for FREE!  Check out NotifyJoCo for more information.

Home Seller Tip: Better is Better

Want to sell your house for more money in less time? Check out this Seller Tip for information on pricing, staging, and making the most of any market!





Ready to put your home on the market?  Give us a call!

Learn about Monticello Road Project in Western Shawnee

If you are a resident of one of the several communities that line Monticello Road in Western Shawnee, then you are VERY familiar with the line of traffic that forms near Clear Creek Elementary School and Mill Valley High School from 7am-9am and then again from 3pm-4pm.  The City of Shawnee is inviting the public to attend their presentation of the Monticello Road Project on March 14th from 5-7p.  They will be discussing traffic flow and how a new roundabout (to be built this summer) will be more efficient.  For more information, visit Monticello Road Project.

Home Buyer Tips: Get What You Want

Finding a great agent who can help you narrow your focus can go a long way to getting exactly what you want?  PRICELESS!

Home Seller Tips: Going it alone??

It might be tempting to save some money by trying to sell your house on your own, but consider this: almost one third of all sales come from agent-to-agent or past client referrals. 

This Month in Real Estate: March 2013

According to KW research almost half of sellers who price their house according to their real estate agents' interpretation of its market value sold almost twice as fast and for more money than the competition. 
If you're selling your house, the idea of pricing high to test the waters might sound appealing. But if your house is priced too high, you may be highlighting for buyers what a steal the house down the street is.





When you're ready to Buy, Sell, or Invest...give us a call.  We are here to help!

JUST LISTED! 5 Bedroom Home in DeSoto...Nearly 1 Acre Lot!

Website: http://pickett7.View24Hours.comFor more pictures instantly: Text "79902" To 79564 Call 913-787-1870 for an immediate showing or more information on the area, plus other homes for sale from all listing companies. Call or Text us to find out when the next Open House is. Great lot (near 1 acre) surrounded by forest & creek! 4th & 5th Bedroom on basement level (non-conforming) share a closet. 5th Bedroom currently used as an office. Expanded plan with huge Master suite, private Master bath & large walk-in closet. Large eat-in Kitchen features brand new countertops, tile backsplash, paint, and lots of cabinet space. Newly finished basement, all tile, plenty of room for play inside & out. Brand new septic system too! Sqft approx. Award winning DeSoto schools! NEW septic 2012, NEWER HVAC. Backyard workshop REDONE with new siding & roof. Easy highway access via K-10 or K-7. Call 913-787-1870 24hr to schedule an immediate showing and find out when the next OPEN HOUSE is.     5 bedrooms 3 bathrooms 2,488 approx sq.ft. 5 Bedrooms Nearly an acre lot HUGE Master Suite TONS of privacy Large eat-in Kitchen Large back deck Finished Basement EASY highway access   Offered at: $190,000

The Details

A g e n t   I n f o r m a t i o n S p o n s o r   I n f o r m a t i o n   Kim & Brett Pickett Realtor KS & MO Mobile 913-787-1870 Office 913-825-7577 brett@PickettPropertyGroup.com Keller Williams Key Partners, LLC 4200 Somerset Prairie Village, KS 66208 Keller Williams Realty Key Partners, LLC Office 913-825-7500 admin@kwkey.com 4200 Somerset, Suite 101 Prairie Village, KS 66208, KS 66208