Overland Park, Prairie Village, Lenexa, Olathe Blog

You can't pay your bills, your worried about your family's health, and the bank is threatening foreclosure. A short sale is when a bank agrees to sell a house for less than is owed on the loan., including closing costs, realtor fees, etc.There is often misinformation when it comes to this topic. I often find that people facing foreclosure contact me after the bank has started legal preceedings against them. It is hard to face the fact that you might actually be foreclosed on, but many do not realize the long term ramifications foreclosure can have on your financial health. Please consult with a professional as soon as you know foreclosure is a possibility. A short sale will only stay with you 2 years and a foreclosure can stick with you for a a decade! Please understand that you will be in a much better position if you tackle the short sale, than if you ignore the problem and let it ruin 10 years of your life. Short sales are the best of two evils and your bank will appreciate your effort to make the short sale happen because foreclosures on average end up costing a bank $60,000. Please do not go through the embarassment of getting foreclosed on because it is preventable.

-Daniel

Prairie Village and more specifically Prairie Hills has not been as affected as surrounding areas by the soft real estate market. Laura and I live in this subdivision and we absolutely love the area. There are plenty of parks, walking paths, shopping centers, and restaurants. There is an abundance of golf courses nearby. The neighbors are friendly and helpful.  It's nice to bike or jog to the Plaza through Mission Hills. There are mature trees, manicured grounds, statues, and lots of flowers. It really pretty, especially in the spring. The crime is low and police are very responsive. It's a great place to raise a family and start a business.

Prairie Village 2009 Statistics

Avg. Sale Price- $178,000

Avg. Days on Market- 40

Avg. Sq Footage- 1,520 Sq. Ft

Lowest Price- $121,950

Highest Price- $340,000

Average Price- $222,090

Avg. Price/SqFt- $141

Avg Days On Market- 28

 Under Contract- 1 listing 

Asking Price- $265,000

Avg. Price/SqFt- $147

Avg Days On Market- 33

 Properties for Sale- 9

Lowest Price- $154,900

Highest Price- $339,950

Average Price- $223,961

Avg. Price/SqFt- $128 psf

Avg DOM- 24

No doubt about it, fall is here and with it, the leaves.  They're everywhere except in the trees where they belong.  This year I took advantage of the fall pick-up services.  For $55, I got two leaf pickups.  All I have to do is rake about a gazillion leaves to the curb and keep them from blowing away.  It works great - I still have one pickup left but my leaves are almost gone!!!  Thanks heavens.  Last year was my second year of homeownership, and I didn't rake responsibly.  Consequently, I had leaves gather into piles by themselves and just sit there, killing the grass.  Then all summer I tried to plant more grass, but evidently it doesn't want to grow there anymore.  I think the grass in my yard went on strike this year; I wish the leaves would go on strike instead.

When it comes time to list your house with a realtor, size matters.  I'm not talking about the size of your house, or your bathroom or kitchen, although these things matter too.  What I'm referring to is the size of the company you list with.  Can a Realtor with a small company do as well as one with a big company?? No.  They usually can't.  Larger companies did not become large (and stay large) by accident.  And if they have stayed large for long, then they are probably stronger than ever. 

LARGE COMPANIES

 Larger companies usually are well-established and robust.  Reece and Nichols of Kansas City is the perfect example.

 http://db.reeceandnichols.com/

Reece and Nichols is extremely well-established in KC.  They have been in existence for as long as most people can remember (although not always by the same name) and they dominate the market throughout the KC metropolitan area.  They offer superior services to their sellers, buyers, and agents.  Their website has been called the real estate search engine of Kansas City.  They have systems in place to identify the potential buyers (and their agents) for a listing.   They alert their own agents and clients of new homes coming on the market before they are actually input into the MLS so buyers working with Reece and Nichols agents get to see many homes before other buyers.  They have marketing systems in place to ensure that their listings get maximum exposure.  They provide ample training to their agents.  They provide support in the form of forms, checklists, administrative assistance, color printers, signs, pointer signs, etc., etc.  Like many large companies, Reece and Nichols has a well-established, strategic platform for selling real estate.

SMALL COMPANIES

Smaller companies can't compete.  All other things being equal, an agent at a larger company has so many advantages over a smaller company agent that the agent at the large company can sell homes faster and for the most money.  Of course, all other things usually aren't equal. Some agents take advantage of every resource they are provided and work smart and market effectively, other agents don't.  But, typically, a good agent that utilizes all tools available to him will do sell better at a large company.

SIZE MATTERS

Sellers, go with an agent from a big company.  Interview them.  Make sure he/she will maximize the exposure your house gets on the market.  Make sure your agent has AND uses all the tools available to him her to sell your house. 

Officially Recognized As A City In 1951

The city of Prairie Village was originally the vision of the late J.C. Nichols. Nichols was one of the fathers of modern day Kansas City, whose most notable work was The Country Club Plaza District and surrounding areas including Mission Hills, Fairway and Prairie Village.

After the successful development of the Country Club Plaza area in Kansas City, Missouri, Mr. Nichols turned his company's direction and development toward his native Johnson County, Kansas, just a few miles from the Plaza.

He had visions of transforming the rolling hills into a well-planned community of beautiful homes and neighborhood shopping centers.

Construction in Prairie Village started in 1941 and by 1949 Mr. Nichols's dream became a reality when the City was named the best planned community in America by the National Association of Home Builders.

Prairie Village is one of twenty-two cities in Johnson County and is the fifth largest in population with a residential population of approximately 23,500 within its 6.7 square mile city limits.

Prairie Village: Our Story is a 50th Anniversary book celebrating the history of Prairie Village. Get your own copy!

Daniel Bennison, Laura Byram

Bennison Byram Team Realtors

Neighborhood Experts in Prairie Village and Overland Park

http://www.jocohomesmls.com

http://www.db.reeceandnichols.com

http://www.lifeinoverlandpark.com

HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE  - RECENT POLICY CHANGES AFFECTING HOME BUYERS

As a licensed Realtors in Kansas and Missouri, Daniel Bennison and I learn something different about the changing KC real estate market every day.  Last month a client of ours bought a house in Kansas City, Missouri and when she tried to get insurance for the house she had under contract, she got rejected.  It turns out the inspection had revealed that her house has a composite roof that was laid over a wood shingle roof.  Evidently many insurance companies have recently stopped providing insurance for homes with wood shingle and composite layers.  An amateur could not have noticed that the roof was two layers - in fact the roof looked like it was in perfect condition.  Anyway, my client was finally able to find an insurance company, but they charged her a higher rate because of the roof.  So - buyer's beware!  Make sure you are prepared to shop around for an insurance company if you encounter this problem.     

  Visit the Bennison-Byram Team website for more information about Kansas City and Prairie Village homes and about the $8000 Tax Credit Extension and Expansion!!  We sell homes anywhere in the KC Metro area and we specialize in Prairie Village Homes.  The Bennison Byram Team are advocates for home ownership!!  Get the help of a neighborhood specialist like Laura Byram with the Bennison Byram Team.  Laura lives in Prairie Village and works in P.V. and surrounding areas, specifically Fairway, Overland Park, Lenexa, Leawood, Roeland Park, Waldo, Brookside, and Kansas City.  

Click on the link below to find a knowledgeable Realtor 

Daniel Bennison, Laura Byram

Bennison Byram Team Realtors

Neighborhood Experts in Prairie Village and Overland Park

http://www.jocohomesmls.com

http://www.db.reeceandnichols.com

http://www.lifeinoverlandpark.com