kcmaria

Great Deal on a Bungalow Home in KCK!

2011-11-25T15:07:00.000-06:00

2024 Chapter 1

2011-11-13T00:59:00.000-06:00

Remember the George Orwell book 1984? Well this is a prediction of where I see Real Estate going in the next decade or so.

Chapter 1 of 2024 by Maria Morton

Imagine a buyer is jetting by a house that grabs his attention. Buyer emails/texts a request in to the Centralized Clearing House and pulls his vehicle alongside the curb in front of the home. R2-D2's cousin, R3-D3, is dispatched by the comptroller at CCH. While he's waiting, Buyer strolls around on the sidewalk in front of the 3 story Craftsman style home noticing the swing on the front porch; imagining himself sitting in that swing with Delilah. 'Ah yes' Buyer thinks dreamily, 'wouldn't that be grand?'

In the midst of Buyer's daydream, an R3-D3 whirs up, makes a 360 degree spin, plants himself on the sidewalk, releases the telltale cloud of chem trail, and extends his state of the art F2UR Iris Reader. 'I hate how they do that', Buyer thinks to himself while opening his right eye wide and leaning toward the device. They say the F2UR model corrected the problems with previous Iris Readers but Buyer is not convinced Big Corpo tells the public the truth. He really likes that house though, so submits to the impersonal intrusion and brushes thoughts of blindness and brain cancer from his mind.

The R3-D3 screen registers his information. Age, height, weight, DOB, mother's maiden name, SSN, home address, employer info, blood type, current medications, allergies, and financial information. Buyer checks to see that all the information is correct, including the God-awful photo taken by the DMV, and presses the 'NEXT' button on R3-D3's touchscreen. A new screen pops up and R3-D3 asks, in that Headroom Max voice, 'Is this the correct property?' Buyer presses the 'YES' button and the next screen appears. He selects a 30 minute Showing and holds up his mobile phone to receive the Pass. The phone beeps acceptance and Buyer walks up to the front door, holds his mobile up to the IR on the door, waits for the latch to click and enters.

'Wow, the house is better inside than out.' Buyer says out loud to himself, 'Delilah will love it! I wonder how big the kitchen is?' As Buyer makes his way from room to room, picturing himself and Delilah living in the house, he hears a noise upstairs. Instantly alert, Buyer crouches into the ready stance he learned so many years ago in Basic Training. He glances through the front window, sees the R3-D3 at his post in front of the house, flexes his sinewy leg muscles and slowly edges up the staircase.

Bedtime! Stay tuned for the next installment. ^_^

11/11/11

2011-11-10T20:31:00.000-06:00

The Old Northeast

2011-10-26T18:56:00.000-05:00

Photos by Maria Morton (on an iPhone!)

Opportunity in Brookside

2011-10-23T14:46:00.000-05:00

There are now 3 Duplexes for sale within easy walking distance of Price Chopper, St. Peter's, the Brooksider, Charlie Hoopers', Brookside Market, Avenue's Bistro, The Roasterie, Bella Napoli, Brookside Toy & Science, Sharp's, and all the other great Brookside businesses.

Each duplex is priced well under $250,000. Rents range between $700 and 1200 per month. (Small basic 2 bedroom vs. large, well finished 3 bedrooms.)

You could live in one side and rent the other side out or you could rent both sides out. Or, live in one side and keep the other side open for out of town company.

Home Prices in Brookside have not been this low in 20 years. Interest rates have never been this low. This is the opportunity you've been waiting for. 816-560-3758 or www.MariaMorton.PruKC.com .

Selling A House Is Like Making An Omelet

2011-09-14T21:17:00.000-05:00

Selling a house is more like making an omelet than just cracking an egg open. Oops! I dropped an egg and it cracked open!

That's the visual that pops into my mind when someone asks me if I sold a house today. It's not a one-step event.

Selling a house is a series of events much like making an omelet. The pan has to be hot before the oil is added. The oil (or butter or bacon grease) must be hot - but not too hot - before the eggs are added. The vegetables, meats, herbs, and cheese go in at just the right time. Then you must wait to fold the omelet over when it's ready; not too early and not too late.

Sure, we say the house is sold when all parties have signed the Real Estate Contract but that's not the end of it. If the Buyers are financing part of the purchase price, we still have to wait on the appraisal. If the house appraises out, we have to wait on the final approval process.

Whether or not the Buyers are using a mortgage, we're still going to have Inspections to get through. Depending upon what is found, we may have another round or two of negotiations. Anything can happen in that time period between the Contract being signed and Closing.

Yes, the house sold - almost - but, we don't close for 31 days. The house is not sold until the transaction is completed at the Title Company. (Or attorney's office, in some instances/states.)

The Earnest Money Deposit may be in the Escrow account but the bulk of the money does not change hands until Closing. The sale is not yet recorded. The transfer of Title/Deed does not occur until after the Closing documents are signed. Any 'bill to closing' charges from contractors and inspectors are paid after Closing. Lenders, Title Companies and Real Estate Brokers are paid after Closing. We can call the house sold for sure after Closing; not before.

A nicely browned omelet, cooked completely through without being overcooked, is a flavorful gastronomic delight to the taste buds and the stomach. So, too, is a well-executed and coordinated home sale.

Originally published by the Author on Kansas City Real Estate With Maria on Active Rain.

Keeping Outdoor Air Out May Not Be The Right Thing To Do

2011-08-12T17:57:00.000-05:00

Jessica Green talks about mechanical ventilators and microbes. I have long believed that keeping the outdoor air out of buildings is not healthy. According to research, I may be right.
Are We Filtering The Wrong Microbes?

Plastic or Glass? aka what is valuable?

2011-07-31T17:12:00.000-05:00

When I was in college, we used to gather in my room every week to discuss our studies,

professors, politics, relationships, music and whatever else entertained our thoughts of the day. One week I invited a girl on our floor to join us. She was not part of our regular group; she may have hinted that the laughter coming from across the hall sounded like fun.

So she was delighted to be invited and talked about it all week long. She was so eager to be accepted into the group that when it was time to refill the ice, she jumped at the chance to run down the hall to retrieve more ice from the machine. Now, the container was a glass Coca Cola pitcher that I had won in some contest. It was a cool possession, one that I and all my friends valued. She had been gone only a few minutes when we heard the crash of breaking glass. We ran to the door to see her standing amongst shards of glass and sparkling ice. She was not injured. We swept up the mess and returned to our gathering.

Later in the week, the girl brought me a plastic pitcher to replace the one she had broken. Even though she made another apology and replaced the pitcher, I was not happy with the replacement. All of my friends said things like “I can’t believe she bought you that pitcher as a replacement for the beautiful one she broke!”

Looking back, I can see that the poor girl only saw the value of the pitcher as a container. From a purely practical standpoint, plastic may have been a better idea than glass (for her). She did not understand that the rest of us appreciated the beauty and texture of the glass. She probably had no idea that it was a collector’s item.

What does a glass pitcher, broken many years ago, have to do with real estate? Well, it’s about perceived value. Just as the girl who breaks glass pitchers did not understand the value of the Coca Cola pitcher, many people do not understand the value of homes.

A house is just a place to keep your belongings and shelter you from wind, snow and rain, right? No? Is there more to it?

One buyer wants brick or stone; one buyer wants vinyl siding. While we all know that brick and stone are more expensive building materials, the guy who wants vinyl siding is totally sold on the low maintenance aspect of that material. Vinyl siding is valuable in his mind.

What about location? We all know the neighborhoods in our areas where houses maintain, and even increase, in value. Does that mean our buyers know this? Not necessarily. It’s up to us to point out the various aspects of homes and locations, their historical sales prices, and the perceived value of materials, architectural styles, landscaping and décor but each buyer will have their own perception of what is valuable to them. Matching the buyer’s taste with the best possible investment for them at this time in their life is an art form. What say you?

Harry Potter at the Screenland Armour in NKC

2011-07-17T23:08:00.000-05:00

Harry Potter at the Screenland Armour Theatre in North Kansas City was brilliant! If you're a Harry Potter fan, you will enjoy the latest movie Harry Potter And The Deathly Hollows.

I was very impressed with the Screenland Theatre. The Art Deco design is fabulous! The atmosphere is very relaxed and welcoming. The service is prompt and friendly. What a great addition to the North Kansas City business strip!

The lobby consists of a full-service bar and six tables. It doesn't feel like a movie theatre lobbly at all. You can have dinner and a drink in a relaxed atmosphere while waiting for your movie to start.

Screenland Armour was built in 1928 and served as a movie venue until the 1980's when it became a country & western bar for about 15 years. The current owner spent around $1.5 million in renovations; he had the good taste to retain much of the original architectural details.

An artist from Hawaii was commissioned to do the frieze around the screen. The face at the top is modeled after her mother. The robot, to the side of the screen, was done by a local artist from the Crossroads Art District.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was awesome! I don't remember Dumbledore having a brother in the books, but he fit into the plot quite well. Hagrid, Professor McGonagall and all the favorite characters were there. Snapes turns out to be a noble hero. Voldemort remains evil to the end. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny live happily ever after.

If you haven't been, do yourself a favor and go see a movie at Screenland in North Kansas City. Or maybe just stop in for a drink and see the building.

The Screenland is at 408 Armour Blvd. in North Kansas City, MO 64116 It's across the street from First Watch; a short walk from Dairy Queen, 2 blocks west of Caboose Park, east of Paul & Jack's Tavern and Town Square Park.

Photos taken on iPhone. Originally posted on Active Rain

Pursuing Health In A Hectic World

2011-06-26T20:48:00.000-05:00

Pursuing Health To Stay Productive by Maria Morton

One of the first things to get cut when my business keeps me working from sun up until sun set (or later) is exercise. I know that aerobic exercise is important to maintain cardiovascular health but when a client needs me, it's all too easy to put the exercise off for another day.

The other thing I do when I'm busy is neglect to eat right. I know that I need to eat 7 - 13 servings of vegetables every day to get all the phytonutrients my body needs. Who has time to chew all those veggies?

Why do we need so many vegetables anyway? What do they do for our bodies? Vegetables and fruits contain phytonutrients.

Phytonutrients, according to WebMD, are certain organic components of plants that are thought to promote human health.
Phyonutrients:serve as antioxidants, enhance immune response, enhance cell to cell communication, alter estrogen metabolism, convert to Vitamin A, cause cancer cells to die, repair DNA damage caused by smoking and other toxic exposures, detoxify carcinogens through the activation of the cytochrome P450 and Phase II enzyme systems.

Researchers are still discovering and explaining the benefits of phytonutrients. The phytonutrients known as carotenoids appear to protect humans against certain cancers, heart disease, and macular degeneration. We are still learning about the different kinds of phytonutrients and their actions within our bodies' cells. One thing that I find interesting is that the phytonutrients work in synergy. That means that several phytonutrients together have an effect that is greater than any individual phytonutrient has separately. The whole is greater than the sum of its' parts.

After reading up on phytonutrients, I thought maybe I should have more in my diet but I still don't have time to eat all those fruits and vegetables.

Solution? Vegetables in a capsule! It's perfect for me because I can eat 4 capsules a day and get 17 servings of different fruits and vegetables.

Even if I did buy, prepare and eat 17 servings of vegetables and fruit every day, I wouldn't eat kale, spinach or beets.

What's in Juice Plus+®? Vegetables and fruits that have been juiced; then the water, sugar and salt is removed.

That's it? Yes, there are no additives. The produce is picked when it's ripe - not before or after. The vegetables must be free of pesticide and herbicide contaminants. Certain temperatures must be maintained during the juicing and preparation. The capsulating process must be clean enough to allow Chemotherapy patients to safely ingest the capsules. Juice Plus+® is also kosher.

What about diabetics; can they eat Juice Plus+®? Yes, the sugar is removed so diabetics do not have to count half a banana and half an apple; they can get all of the phytonutrients from the fruit without ingesting the sugar.

How do you know this isn't just another fad? The clinical research; scientific evidence. Juice Plus+® is the most thoroughly researched brand name nutritional product on the market today. There is a large and growing body of independent, clinical research conducted by investigators associated with leading universities and hospitals all over the world and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Some of the institutions which have, or are, conducting research on Juice Plus+®:

Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Brigham Young University
Charité University Medical Centre, Berlin, Germany
Georgetown University
King's College, London, England
Medical University of Graz, Austria
Tokyo Women's Medical University, Japan
University of Arizona
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Florida
University of Maryland School of Medicine
University of Milan, Italy
University of North Carolina-Greensboro
University of South Carolina
University of Sydney, Australia
University of Texas Health Science Center
University of Texas/MD Anderson
University of Witten-Hedecke, Germany
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Wake Forest University funded by the National Cancer Institute
Yale University-Griffin Hospital Prevention Research Center

You can read the research for yourself. Go to the website and click on the Clinical Research tab. https://www.juiceplus.com/nsa/content/Home.soa?site=mm65124 AKA www.Veggies4U.info

The independent clinical research shows that JUICE PLUS+®:
+delivers key antioxidants and other phytonutrients that are absorbed by the body.
+reduces oxidative stress.
+positively impacts markers of systemic inflammation.
+helps support a healthy immune system and protect DNA.
+positively impacts several important indicators of cardiovascular wellness.

Personally, I have always believed that most health issues are genetic, augmented by environmental and lifestyle choices. I also believed that some health problems responded to positive thinking - mind over matter. Learning just a little about phytonutrients actions on our bodies is now causing me to suspect that our bodies may be able to protect and heal themselves to a much higher degree than previously imagined. Food is the fuel for our bodies. Maybe it is important to put the right fuel into our bodies.

My friend, Gina, is the one who got me started. Gina had cancer, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. One day I saw her and said "Wow, Gina, you look great! Are you having a good day?" She laughed and said "I've been taking that stuff that Teresa told us about - Juice Plus+®." Her hair was shiny and full; her skin was radiant. She said that she had more energy, felt better overall, and she was not catching every flu and cold germ that was going around.

I read ALL of the research that's been done to date on Juice Plus+®. Then I looked at the cost: less than $1.50 per day. Hmm, I could not buy that many organic, fresh vegetables and fruits for that price. If I bought the veggies, I would not eat enough of them every single day - and I would never eat kale or beets. For me, eating the Juice Plus+® is an investment in my health. Save time; save money; reap benefits. I have been eating Juice Plus+® for about 3 weeks now. Exercise? Well, I can at least run up and down 3 flights of stairs every day. Some days I am able to exercise more but 3 flights is the minimum for me.

For more information on Juice Plus+®, go to www.Veggies4U.info or call Maria @ 913.894.7001 No, I have not started a new career; I am just so amazed by this new knowledge that I feel compelled to share it with everyone.

You can also find clinical research on Juice Plus+® published in the following peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals:

The Journal of Nutrition
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
Journal of American College of Nutrition
Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition
International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition
Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine
Nutrition Research
Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics
Integrative Medicine
Current Therapeutic Research
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
The British Journal of Nutrition
Journal of the American College of Cardiology

*Many of the studies are randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigations. (that means no cheating)

Information on Juice Plus+® Franchise - Flipbook Online Presentation .

Letter From Woman in Japan after the Tsunami and Earthquake

2011-03-21T01:23:00.000-05:00

This is an open letter written by a woman in Japan after the recent earthquake and tsunami. Heart wrenching yet hopeful.

Hello My Lovely Family and Friends,

First I want to thank you so very much for your concern for me. I am very
Touched. I also wish to apologize for a generic message to you all. But it seems
The best way at the moment to get my message to yo...u.

Things here in Sendai have been rather surreal. But I am very blessed to have
Wonderful friends who are helping me a lot. Since my shack is even more worthy
Of that name, I am now staying at a friend's home. We share supplies like water,
Food and a kerosene heater. We sleep lined up in one room, eat by candlelight,
Share stories. It is warm, friendly, and beautiful.

During the day we help each other clean up the mess in our homes. People sit in
Their cars, looking at news on their navigation screens, or line up to get
Drinking water when a source is open. If someone has water running in their
Home, they put out sign so people can come to fill up their jugs and buckets.

Utterly amazingly where I am there has been no looting, no pushing in lines.
People leave their front door open, as it is safer when an earthquake strikes.
People keep saying, "Oh, this is how it used to be in the old days when everyone
Helped one another."

Quakes keep coming. Last night they struck about every 15 minutes. Sirens are
Constant and helicopters pass overhead often.

We got water for a few hours in our homes last night, and now it is for half a
Day. Electricity came on this afternoon. Gas has not yet come on. But all of
This is by area. Some people have these things, others do not. No one has washed
For several days. We feel grubby, but there are so much more important concerns
Than that for us now. I love this peeling away of non-essentials. Living fully
On the level of instinct, of intuition, of caring, of what is needed for
Survival, not just of me, but of the entire group.

There are strange parallel universes happening. Houses a mess in some places,
Yet then a house with futons or laundry out drying in the sun. People lining up
For water and food, and yet a few people out walking their dogs. All happening
At the same time.

Other unexpected touches of beauty are first, the silence at night. No cars. No
One out on the streets. And the heavens at night are scattered with stars. I
Usually can see about two, but now the whole sky is filled. The mountains are
Sendai are solid and with the crisp air we can see them silhouetted against the
Sky magnificently.

And the Japanese themselves are so wonderful. I come back to my shack to check
On it each day, now to send this e-mail since the electricity is on, and I find
Food and water left in my entranceway. I have no idea from whom, but it is
There. Old men in green hats go from door to door checking to see if everyone is
OK. People talk to complete strangers asking if they need help. I see no signs
Of fear. Resignation, yes, but fear or panic, no.

They tell us we can expect aftershocks, and even other major quakes, for
Another month or more. And we are getting constant tremors, rolls, shaking,
Rumbling. I am blessed in that I live in a part of Sendai that is a bit
Elevated, a bit more solid than other parts. So, so far this area is better off
Than others. Last night my friend's husband came in from the country, bringing
Food and water. Blessed again.

Somehow at this time I realize from direct experience that there is indeed an
Enormous Cosmic evolutionary step that is occurring all over the world right at
This moment. And somehow as I experience the events happening now in Japan, I
Can feel my heart opening very wide. My brother asked me if I felt so small
Because of all that is happening. I don't. Rather, I feel as part of something
Happening that much larger than myself. This wave of birthing (worldwide) is
Hard, and yet magnificent.

Thank you again for your care and Love of me,

With Love in return, to you all,
Anne

Megan Washington from Australia

2010-10-04T04:37:00.001-05:00

This is an amazing artist out of Australia: Megan Washington - her music and her outlook on life is refreshing.

The Story of Maria Elena and the VW Bug

2010-09-06T01:38:00.000-05:00

The Story of Maria Elena and the VW Bug

Today, Mom and I met children playing in fountain at Crown Center a delightful woman named Maria Elena. She and her daughter shared their table with us for a bit at Irish Fest. Here is one of the stories Maria Elena told us:

Years ago, when she was young, she lived in the old west end of Kansas City. One day, she went out to her car to go to the store.

Maria Elena's big car was sandwiched in between two VW bugs. The bugs had parked so close to her car that she was barely able to get out without touching them. She did actually touch one just slightly.

Well, after some tight maneuvering, Maria Elena extricated her car from its' parking spot and started off to the store.

As she was turning the corner, she noticed that someone was following her. It looked like two men were in the car and they were following her quite closely. Maria Elena was a little worried. She began making turns on every corner in an effort to lose the men in the car behind her but they stuck tight no matter which street she went down. Eventually, she ended up at a stop light on Broadway where she had the opportunity to get a closer look at the men in the car behind her. But there was no one in the car!

She got out to take a closer look at this car with no driver. When she was trying to wiggle out of the parking space, she had hooked the bumper of the VW behind her and had been unknowingly towing the little VW all around the neighborhood! Hah!

Now what would she do with that car? Well, she would have to take it back to the parking space in front of her house. So, she got back in her big car and turned right. But guess what happened? The bumper unhooked and the VW stayed at the light!

Oh no! Now what would she do? Well, Maria Elena was pretty shook up after wiggling her car out from between the two VW's and then the harrowing ordeal of thinking she was being followed so she went home and told her family what had happened.

Now, someone else called the owner of the stranded VW and asked him why his car was over on Broadway. He said 'it's not, it's right in front of my house.' Ha, but it wasn't in front of his house! So, he thought someone stole his car and left it over on Broadway. Maria Elena and her family never told the neighbor how her car had got stuck to his bumper and she was the one to tow his VW over to Broadway. So, go ahead and have a good laugh but don't tell her old neighbor!

Guardianship Seminar at Platte County Resource Center

2010-08-29T20:55:00.003-05:00

Our Senior Alliance had a table at the Guardianship Conference last Thursday. Terry Edwards, the Platte County Public Administrator, organized the conference which was such a success that there are already plans to hold it again next year.

Topics included Compliance Obligation of a Conservator, Social Security Disability, Advocacy and the Role of Hospice and Bankruptcy in a Conservatorship Authority. Professionals from around both states attended. It was a treat to talk to people in person that you usually only speak with over the phone.

Keeping up with the latest changes in laws affecting seniors is so important for those of us who work with seniors and their families on a regular basis. Thank you, Terry, for putting this together! I look forward to attending the conference again next year!

Seniors and their families in and around Kansas City can find help by visiting the Senior Alliance website. Here, you can find all the people you need to help you in one place.

Reunion 2010

2010-07-18T01:34:00.004-05:00

20 years is a long time to go between reunions - must do this more often!

Tumbled Stones at Meyer & Oak in Brookside

2010-06-13T20:04:00.004-05:00

I noticed this on my way to the office the other day.

Somebody took out one of the pillars in Brookside!

It looks like someone tried to drive through on the sidewalk! See the pile of stones that used to be a pillar?

The sidewalk along Meyer Blvd is extra wide making it a great place to run, walk, or stroll.Children often ride their bicycles and skateboards along this Kansas City Boulevard in Brookside.

Good thing no one was run over!

Around Kansas City

2010-05-08T20:02:00.001-05:00

Kc Shots 20 For Linked

View more presentations from Maria Morton.

Pending Home Sales Up

2010-05-05T12:10:00.002-05:00

From Realtor Magazine, 5 April 2010:

Pending Home Sales on an Upswing
Pending home sales increased again in March, affirming that a surge of home sales is unfolding for the spring home buying season, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in March, rose 5.3 percent to 102.9 from 97.7 in February, and is 21.1 percent above March 2009 when it was 85.0; this follows an 8.3 percent increase in February. The data reflects contracts and not closings, which usually occur with a lag time of one or two months.

Read More...

facebook "likes" challenges Google's links

2010-05-04T10:32:00.004-05:00

This article landed in my inbox this morning. It provokes the question "how much does facebook really know about us and what are they willing to do with that information?"

Here is the email I received from Stefan Swanepoel:

New Strategy Changes the Rules

Could a Social Media Web site be a threat to the dominance of the Google Search Engine?

Facebook has introduced a new revolutionary shift in the evolution of the Internet with its announcement last week at the f8 developer conference of their soon-to-be-ubiquitous “Open Graph” initiative - a new form of “social links.”

The launch of this new platform allows Web sites to drive traffic from Facebook by including a "Like" or “Recommended” button on their pages.

Facebook's Open Graph allows readers to like a topic or article, thereby sharing it with their Facebook friends and in some cases, creating a permanent link in their profile.

Will Like Replace Links?

It seems that the “Like” button could potentially become more popular than “Links” largely because the information shared is related to a specific user and carries with that their recommendation.

According to Zuckerberg billions of "Like" buttons will shortly be scattered all over the web. It is estimated that more than 50,000 Web sites have installed the new social plug-ins within the first week of the announcement.

One of those companies, ABCNews.com, reported a 250% jump in Facebook referral traffic since adding the plug-in only a week ago.

So overall the “Like” button seems to be great for creators of good content such as authors, publishers, top brands, etc. Good content can now be tagged, shared and indexed and the creators benefit from potentially a huge viral distribution.

Keeping them Honest

The obvious concern is of course that Facebook becomes the gatekeeper of millions of people’s preferences…lots of very valuable information in the hands of one company. This is even a larger concern as Wired magazine reported that Zuckerberg stated he doesn't care about the privacy of Facebook users.

Facebook has also made a very strategic move to become a very dominant “traffic cop” that directs and shapes a significant chunk of all web traffic.

Google must be very concerned as this undermines their algorithm that uses links between sites to determine the order of their search results. If “Likes” becomes more popular than “Links” we could have a challenge for the leader board.

Staying in the race Microsoft this week announced “Messenger Connect.” Their version of “Your Internet ID’” they claim with be all your social profiles rolled into one. Never count Gates and company out.

For now Facebook has clearly strengthened their position as the #1 social media network. As a matter of fact they are surging forward as one of the largest repositories of personal information in the world.

About the Author

Nineteen-time author Stefan Swanepoel publishes the annual Swanepoel TRENDS Report and the annual Swanepoel SOCIAL MEDIA Report. His Reports are widely regarded as the leading research on the most important business and technology trends impacting the real estate industry. For more information visit www.RETrends.com

Tinus Swanepoel
RealSure Bookstore Manage

So, what do you reveal about yourself on facebook? Do you have concerns about what they might do with the information you give out?

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Pet Owner to Sue Bank of America

2010-03-12T20:15:00.000-06:00

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Pet Owner to Sue Bank of America

KC Among Top Cities Where Recession is Easing

2010-03-06T10:06:00.000-06:00

KC Among Top Cities Where Recession is Easing. Forbes online ranked Kansas City, MO number 10 among major cities in America that are more rapidly exiting the recession. The 10 cities that were selected all have relatively healthy housing markets and are buffeted by industries like government, defense, education and technology that can offer work even in a national slump.

Another statistic which weighed in the selection of cities was the median sales price for a single-family home, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Source: Forbes.com, Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010.

Waldo Rapist - Reward

2010-02-01T01:29:00.003-06:00

Kansas City Waldo Area ALERT - Come Together Kansas City

The Waldo neighborhood, just south of Brookside, in Kansas City has been assaulted by a serial rapist. Let's come together to stop this affront. Kennedy's Bar & Grill, at 75th & Washington Street, is sponsoring an "Extinguish Fear; Ignite Courage" event Saturday February 6th from 2 until 5pm. Music by Abbey Road Beatles tribute band.

Extinguish Fear & Ignite Courage will raise money to be applied towards a reward to catch the rapist. A $10 admission charge will get you 2 drink tickets and appetizers. All money goes toward the reward.

Police describe the rapist as a bald black man, 6 feet tall, 250 pounds. He has pockmarks on his cheeks, possibly acne scars.

One victim told the police that the rapist has bad breath and his clothes smelled of exhaust fumes.

All money collected at the Extinguish Fear Ignite Courage will go to the reward.

If the rapist is captured before the event, all proceeds will go to the Kansas City Police Department TIPS Hotling program and the event will be a CELEBRATION.

Kennedy's @ 75th & Washington

February 6 @ 2pm--5pm

$10 & Your Presence

Live Music, 2 drinks & food

Ignite Courage Extinguish Fear

Catch Rapist - Support Community

If you see this man, call TIPS Hotline 816.234.4438

He may drive a pickup truck.

Dogs do not deter him.

If you live in Kansas City, please come out in support.

Do We Really Need to Choose Between Safety and Freedom?

2010-01-16T12:45:00.002-06:00

This is a ReBlog of a post by Ron Paul.

Saturday, January 16, 2010 11:15 AM
National Security: The Big Fraud
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=532

National Security: The Big Fraud
By Sheldon Richman

The handwringing about the would-be Christmas Day airplane bomber and the politicians' tiresome declarations that it will never happen again miss the point: As long as the U.S. government pursues its imperial program of invasion, regime change, occupation, and sponsorship of corrupt governments in the Muslim world, Americans will be targets for avengers. This does not excuse the killing of innocents -- it merely points out an inevitable chain of events.

It's either foreign intervention and retaliatory terrorism or nonintervention and security. There's no third way.

We can't eat our cake and have it too. Every empire has reaped a terrorist whirlwind. "Terror" is the tactic that the weak use against the strong. The U.S. government unleashes the most powerful "conventional" weapons known to man, including pilotless killer drones operated like videogames thousands of miles away. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab sewed an explosive into his underwear and ended up burning himself.
It is disgraceful that the choice between terrorism and security is rarely publicly discussed in terms of the choice between American imperialism and nonintervention.

The empire is treated as a given -- even by most so-called progressives -- as though it were ordained by history. The American people are expected to believe that the very existence of their society depends on the U.S. government's policing the globe and using whatever violence it deems appropriate (that is, whenever things do not suit the interests of U.S. policymakers and their economic partners in the "private" sector).

But this picture is precisely upside down. It is the imperial program and the inevitable "war on terror" that threatens Americans' way of life -- not to mention the very lives of people in the lands that "our" government tramples. Government in the United States has long regarded the liberties of Americans as inconveniences standing in the way of bigger, nobler projects. Since the attacks of September 11 -- not a bolt from the blue but a roughly predictable consequence of U.S. foreign intervention -- the usurpations have accelerated. The "war on terror" functions like a blank check both to justify curtailment of particular freedoms (such as freedom from surveillance) and to instill an embarrassing submissiveness in a people whose predecessors rebelled against similar oppression. Imagine the first few generations of Americans letting themselves be treated the way we are treated at airports. "You may not leave your seat beginning one hour before landing." "Oh, okay. Whatever you say, dear leader, as long as you protect me." When the TSA begins requiring passengers effectively to strip in front of the newest inspection devices, who will raise a word in protest?

The sad irony is that none of these measures -- and nothing even more severe -- will make us safer. What we call terrorism will always be cheap, flexible, and at least one step ahead of the plodding, clueless authorities. Al-Qaeda is not an organization. It's an idea and an open-ended set of tactics. Clear it out of Afghanistan -- and it appears in Pakistan or Yemen or New Jersey. When you step back and take a broader view, the U.S. government looks like a big, pathetic, stupid giant trying to catch a pesky, clever mouse.

The terrorists' advantage lies in the fact that bureaucracies are institutionally stupid. Do we really need more proof after the Christmas Day incident? Just as the SEC couldn't see Bernie Madoff's fraudulent activities even when handed reams of evidence, so the vaunted "national security apparatus" -- for which Americans are compelled to pay hundreds of billions of dollars every year -- couldn't stop a kid from Nigeria wearing explosive briefs from getting on a plane, despite warnings from his own father as well as other solid information.

The "protection" forced on us by the U.S. government is an outright fraud. It can never deliver on its promise to keep us safe because big organizations like the Department of Homeland Security (!) are too riven by interagency rivalries, informational distortions, and hierarchical tone-deafness to work effectively. (The same is true for businesses that grow large because of anti-competitive government privileges.) Letting private companies protect themselves at their own expense would have to work better.
Does this mean we must remain vulnerable? No. We'll find a reasonable degree of safety when America comes home.

Fall in Kansas City 2009 10.16

2009-10-16T20:38:00.003-05:00

F
A
L
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in

K
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http://activerain.com/blogs/MariaMorton

starlight

2009-07-17T03:00:00.003-05:00

The view at Starlight Theater before the show tonight. "Anything Goes" is a lighthearted musical with subtle humor that is still pertinent today.

Help Needed

2009-07-13T00:53:00.002-05:00

This woman needs a kidney transplant. Her name is Victoria. She is the mother of two. None of her relatives match. She has Sjogrens Disease and needs some help. Her mother passed the word to me, I am passing it on to whoever reads this blog. Tweet, blog, whatever you can do to help her find a matching donor. Thanks.

Flowers Before the Thunderstorm

2009-06-10T15:30:00.004-05:00

Irish Susan's BD 2009

2009-06-06T14:29:00.003-05:00

IrishSusan's Birthday 2009.
Her favorite guests were the youngest ones!

For Out of State Investors

2009-05-23T19:33:00.000-05:00

Meet Jack

Green House by Architects in KU Master's program

2009-05-17T23:34:00.004-05:00

See more photos of the green, energy efficient home built by students in the master's of Architecture program. Each year students design and build a house. The 2009 class has created something unusual to see in a Kansas City home. They used solar power, geothermal power, high efficiency HVAC and ductwork, and a wind turbine! Personally, I don't think I would keep the bathrooms black but the inside is pretty amazing. Good flow; brilliant design. The building is a work of art.

Brookside Condo For Sale

2009-05-16T23:08:00.000-05:00

Dressed for Mother's Day

2009-05-11T23:31:00.001-05:00

Welcome Hanna & Cody!

2009-04-22T10:38:00.001-05:00

Slow Down!

2009-03-30T09:15:00.002-05:00

Recently I've noticed cars going much faster than the speed limit along 63rd St. in Brookside. The speed limit between Wornall and just east of Main is 25 mph. With all of the pedestrian activity in those few blocks, people really do need to reduce their speed.

St. Pat's on Broadway 2009

2009-03-17T22:03:00.003-05:00

St. Patrick's Day Warm Up Parade, Brookside Style

2009-03-15T16:01:00.002-05:00

The weather was perfect for the warm up parade yesterday! We walked up to 63rd & Brookside Blvd., visited with friends at the Brooksider, then enjoyed the parade from the vantage of Meyer Blvd. People lined the streets around Brookside Blvd., 63rd St., and Meyer Blvd. Afterward, we walked down to The Gaf for dinner and drinks. The Irish Musicians were having their regular session so the place was packed with many merry friends.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-14T05:47:00.006-05:00

The Brookside St. Patrick's Day Parade in Kansas City starts at 2pm today. See you there! Speaking of green, the world's first triple-rated green home can be bought for only $29,000,000. See it here: Acqua Liana

And if you miss the Brookside revelries, the Martin City St. Patrick's Day Parade and festivities are tomorrow. Sunday. They start at 11am Parade at 2pm.

Erin Go Bragh!

One Homebuyers Misconception

2009-02-22T15:53:00.002-06:00

AHA! I learned something new that can help homebuyers.

Recently, at an open house, I asked a woman how she had found that the house was open. This is something I do to find out where I should be advertising. The woman told me she had found it on my company web site. Great! That's one site that's working to give the people the information they need.

The woman signs up to search, and keep track of available properties, through my website using the benefit of my paid up license. Then she says, "Oh, but I check all of the companies because I want to see all of the houses." What? It had never occurred to me that people do not realize what the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is and how it works.

A long, long time ago, there were no computers. Each agent would get a "book" of flyers containing the current listings. If you wanted to show your buyers another agents listing, you would have to call that agent to make arrangements. Imagine back when there were no cell phones. The listing agent would have to make arrangements with the seller and coordinate with you and the buyer to get the home shown. Could take days or longer!

Here are the most frequently used status changes:

Pending: means that an offer has been made, the sellers have accepted the offer and we are now probably waiting on inspections.

Contingent: means that an offer has been made and accepted but we are waiting for a contingency. Perhaps the buyers need to sell their home first.

Sold: means that the home has sold and closing has occurred. MLS will have the sale recorded before the tax records are updated.

Expired: means that the home was listed for sale at one time but did not sell. Either the sellers received no offers or did not accept the offers they did receive. This home is no longer for sale. The contract between the seller(s) and the realtor listing their home expired.

BackUp: This means that the sellers have received and accepted an offer, but if someone wants the home, they can make an offer and, if the present contract fall through, the back up offer will come up next. If there is more than one, the sellers will choose the offer they perceive as being most favorable to them.

Temporarily Withdrawn: means that the home was listed for sale but has been taken off for a day or a week or whatever time the homeowner(s) have specified. This can happen with a sudden illness or accident. Also, this sometimes happens when the owners decide too repair something or get new carpet. The home will go back on MLS as Active when the situation has resolved.

Active: this means the home is listed for sale.

So, the moral of the story is that All Realtors in Kansas City put All homes for sale on MLS (with few exceptions) and Your Realtor can Show You Any Home For Sale in Kansas City! Even the ones that aren't on MLS! Checking with 10 different realtors at 10 different companies is a waste of your time when we have systems in place specifically built to save you time.

Search homes for sale in Kansas City.

Thanks for reading!

Maria Morton

Open Sunday 1-3

2009-02-14T23:05:00.000-06:00

Kansas City Twestival One of Over a Hundred Around the World!

2009-02-04T19:29:00.002-06:00

The Kansas City Twestival will take place at the Tower Tavern located at 401 E 31st St. (13th & Broadway). Map

KCMO 64108. The event starts at 1800 hours (6pm).

Over 100 cities around the globe will participate in this event to raise money for Charity: Water

On our planet, 1.1 billion people do not have enough clean drinking water. (that's 1 out of every 6 of us)

All monies raised will go to support Charity: Water. Volunteers work to drill wells into the aquifirs to get freshwater.

Once the well is installed, volunteers teach villagers how to maintain and repair the well and hand pump. They also

teach sanitation and hygiene classes.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Tickets can be purchased at the Charity: Water website. Volunteers are still needed.

Food & drink sponsors are still needed. There is 1 band signed up; another is possible. Although the event is being

organized by Tweeters (Twitter), anyone is welcome to come and join in the festivities. It's a great chance to

meet some new people in KC and help some people you haven't yet met. Or maybe you know someone from

Twitter or facebook; this is your opportunity to meet them IRL!

If you don't Twitter in Kansas City, check ceck with your local Tweets to see if there is an event in your town.

KC Scottish Highland Games

2009-02-04T14:26:00.003-06:00

KC Scottish Highland games
will be held Saturday
February 21, 2009 @
415 W 13th Street
(12th & Broadway)
Kansas City, MO
64105
Hours: 5pm til 9pm

Illusions, Delusions

2009-01-28T23:44:00.002-06:00

Illusions Sellers Use To Drive Away Buyers

When sellers wait to do the cleaning and repairs they were advised to do, they may miss opportunities to get an offer on their house. It doesn’t matter that I explained what you are going to do on MLS; doesn’t matter that I tell the showing agents about your plans to fix, clean and repair. When the potential buyer walks into your house they have an impression. Right at that moment; it can be a good first impression, or a bad one. Whichever it is, that’s the one that sticks. They will not come back just because you cleaned, repaired or updated anything in the house a week after they initially toured your house. They are gone. Sayonara. Next! Out of here! Bye-bye. They have moved on.

The first 30 days are the best time to get a full price offer. The first week, or day, is best. Buyers are excited to be seeing something that no one else has seen. That’s a selling point. Buyers who see your house the first few days it is on the market may have looked at 10 or 20 houses. They are ready to buy. But they cannot imagine how the house will look when you have finished getting it together. They need to see it. That’s why they have asked for a showing. They want to see it. If you want to sell your house, have it parade ready. On the first day it is advertised for sale.

Open Sunday 1-4pm in Prairie Village

2009-01-25T06:22:00.001-06:00

Affordable Treasure in Hyde Park South

2009-01-13T20:53:00.009-06:00

Featured Home in South Hyde Park seen on Tour today. This historic beauty was built in 1910 by, obviously, some master craftsmen. It is located on Charlotte St. just south of 39th St. If you are looking for a home with character and have an appreciation of well cared for, older Kansas City homes with fine architectural details, I'd love to show you this inviting home. It is priced fairly at $144,500. 3 bedrooms, 1 and 1/2 bathrooms, fireplace, large front porch, stone basement, new mechanicals, and updated kitchen. Please click on "contact Maria Morton" on the left side bar or call 816.560.3758 to see this home.

Above and Beyond

2009-01-02T22:01:00.001-06:00

Over the holiday a conversation about taxi cab companies arose amongst our group at Charlie Hoopers. Four out of six of us had positive stories to share regarding the same local cab company. I'd like to share one of the stories with you.

After a somewhat hectic day, Erin arrived home to discover her purse was not with her. She telephoned all of the places she had stopped that day but no one had seen her purse. This was not just any purse, this was a day timer organizer with all of her contacts, calendar, credit cards, ID, basically everything she needed to live and do business. Replacing all of the contents would be impossible.

The next day she received a call from her bank. Not an 800 number, or corporate headquarters either; the branch that she did business with. They called to say that someone from Atlas Cab had called about her purse. Wow. Then the cab driver brought the purse to the bank. Complete with all of the money, credit cards, ID's, contacts, etc. Someone at Atlas Cab went to a lot of trouble to find the bank's number, place the call, verify the location and identity and then have the purse delivered.

Kudos to Atlas Cab of Kansas City! And a special "hello" to Jill and Alvin from your "Let's drive around and look at the Christmas lights!" customers.

Just For Fun:

2009-01-02T20:47:00.003-06:00

Compliments of You Tube

New Year; New Beginnings

2009-01-01T01:45:00.003-06:00

Well, the last few weeks of 2008 were a little hectic. Along with the regular Christmas activities, I had a few doctor's appointments that really cut into my time. Glad that's done. The exciting thing was two of my favorite agents asked me to join them in forming a team! What an honor. What a lot of work! Not only did we form a team, we changed brokers. So, I'll start the new year with wonderful views from Prudential KC on the Plaza!

Christmas is coming!

2008-12-12T20:47:00.004-06:00

AJ, infamous soccer player, relaxes over the holiday.

2008-12-06T19:21:00.005-06:00

A.J. rakes leaves while the turkey is cooking for Thanksgiving dinner. He says he prefers to be active rather than lounging around in front of the TV. Go AJ!

Open Sunday 1-4pm

2008-12-06T15:31:00.002-06:00

2008-11-20T17:58:00.002-06:00

Renovation Loan

2008-11-20T17:36:00.004-06:00

I've recently had a number of people ask about how they can include planned renovations in the purchase price of a home. Niki French, the Renovation Specialist at Plaza Mortgage, was kind enough to provide me with more specifics.

First step is to apply for a Purchase & Renovate or Refinance & Renovate loan. This step will require you to provide credit documents, sign the applications and disclosures, and review a contractor's package and copy of renovation disclosures.

Once you receive the pre-approval letter, the renovation specialist will contact you to go over approval conditions.

The purchase agreement should include renovation verbiage.

Schedule inspections and verify permits can be obtained. A HUD certified consultant will help you to determine the scope of the work.

Have your contractor complete and return the contractor's packet.

Once approved by you, your contractor, and the consultant, an appraiser will determine its after improved value.

Final loan approval is issued after the scope of work, appraisal, and loan commitment conditions are reviewed and approved.

You obtain homeowner's insurance, the title is received, final figures are established and the closing documents are signed.

Renovation must begin within 30 days of closing, cannot stop for more than 30 days, and must be completed within 6 months or less.

Money is dispersed as work is completed and inspections completed.

Call me 816.560.3758 or Niki French 816.746.7360 for assistance in obtaining a renovation loan to make your dream home come to life.

Celtic Thunder at Sprint Center in Kansas City

2008-11-19T00:15:00.004-06:00

What a great concert!
The young Damien McGinty, from Derry, was the crowd favorite. The teenager has the charisma to go with the voice. Keith Harkin, the blond with the David Cassidy smile, sang "The Mountains of Mourne" with passion in his voice. George Donaldson brought tears to my eyes singing "The Old Man." One of my favorite songs, though not necessarily Irish, "Nights In White Satin" was exquisitely delivered by Paul Byrom. Ryan Kelly sang the Eagle's "Desperado" with all the heart of a cowboy on the range. Phil Coulter wrote several of the songs as well as directing. You're probably familiar with many of his songs. "Ireland's Call" brought people to their feet tonight.

The set and the music brought together the old, old Ireland of the chieftains and the new intercontinental Irish with rocks on the ground and lights in the sky. Kilts, suits, leather coats, and the violinists in long, flowing gowns. Spectacular. All in all, it was a lovely evening.

Open Sunday 1-4pm

2008-11-16T12:49:00.000-06:00

Homeless in Kansas City

2008-11-09T22:52:00.003-06:00

Well, the news caught my attention tonight when they said the City Mission is already turning people away. Winter has barely begun and the Mission is already full. That's scary.

The reporter said that, across the nation, there is a 400% increase in people seeking help at shelters. Four Hundred Percent!

One woman's story about how she and her daughter ended up in a shelter included being laid off from Sprint earlier in the year. Unable to find another job with similar pay, she experienced a series of unfortunate events culminating in an auto accident which tipped her over the edge financially.

While nothing can totally insulate any of us from catastrophes, planning ahead and living within our means is a good preventative measure. This is why I am urging any buyers to go over their finances carefully and buy in a price range with which they are comfortable. Even if that means waiting 3 or 6 months while saving more money for a downpayment. And/or buying a less expensive house to keep your monthly expenses under control

As for helping the people who are homeless this winter, I intend to go through my closet again to see if there are any coats, balnkets, or gloves I can do without. Most of you, like me, probably already contribute money, time, canned goods, and winter gear to various organizations. The Farmer's Almanac predicts a colder than usual winter this year. That, along with the increased number of people needing help, makes me think maybe we all need to do just a little bit more to help out this year.

Autumn, Halloween, Fall Back in Time

2008-11-02T00:11:00.005-05:00

Calculator

Mike @ abommaritowines

Two Friendly People who stopped by

Open House Sunday 1:30-3:30

2008-11-01T22:53:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T08:41:00.003-05:00

Photo by Mike Sage with A.BomarrattiWines. Jacks carved by Mike,Karen&Cassie.

Cats in Laptop Case at Open House Today

2008-10-27T01:28:00.004-05:00

Well, we had a beautiful day in Kansas City. Lovely and sunny with just a bit of breeze. Brian Buzby says it may freeze tonight. Brrr. The kittens above were at the open house today. Everytime the door opened the yellow one tried to dart out. He's fast! But we caught him every time. Good thing all the visitors were animal people. The kittens love to run around the house with anyone who's going; especially up and down the stairs. They also enjoy playing the jump off the counter onto your shoulder game. Cute. One of the visitors wanted some info so I brought out the laptop. The kittens found it to be a perfectly cozy little bed for their afternoon nap.

Open Sunday 2-4pm

2008-10-23T09:31:00.001-05:00

It's Tough Out There!

2008-10-21T21:25:00.002-05:00

I had a pointer sign up at an intersection on the outskirts of Kansas City directing traffic to a listing. One of those big tractors with a grass mower attachments came along and ran over my sign, mangling it slightly. After bringing the sign back to the office and propping it up against my desk, several people asked me what happened to my sign. Rather than explaining about the tractor, I just replied "It's a Tough Market Out There!" Everybody laughed so I thought it would make a good picture. Thanks to Mary Fox for playing the role of photographer.

Looking Back

2008-10-16T12:58:00.011-05:00

Here is an interesting chart showing some key factors today as opposed to the great depression:

Things have been worse. Maybe they will get worse. But they are not yet as bad as they once were.

The print is small, so here are the numbers:

Gross Domestic Product growth:-27%,Great Depression....+1% Today
Industrial Production.........-52%.....................-2%
Unemployment rate high.........25%......................6%
Federal deficit as % of GDP...1.4%....................4.9%
U.S. exports..................-66%....................+15%
Consumer price index..........-27%.....................+4%
Money supply..................-29%.....................+3%

Power Saving / Money Saving

2008-10-09T22:21:00.006-05:00

Kansas City Power & Light has a couple of programs you may be interested in:

You can get a $300 Honeywell Thermostat installed in your home for FREE. Now that's a deal! Yes, of course there's a catch. But the catch is that in the summer time when the demand for electricity threatens to blow a fuse due to increased demand, KCP&L will automatically start cycling electricity. This saves us from having blackouts in huge sections of the city. KCP&L.com

The other program is: Instant $2 Cash-back Rebates are available on purchases of up to six ENERGY STAR®-qualified" compact fluorescent lights (CFL) at participating Westlake Ace Hardware and Hy-Vee stores in Missouri.
Limited time and quantities - Annual campaign runs from Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, or while supplies last.
KCPL.com

The Hunger Site

2008-10-08T14:24:00.002-05:00

Winter is on its' way. There is a site where you can give food to the hungry just by clicking. (no cost to you) It's actually listed on the left but here's a link:
Hunger Site
It only takes a few seconds to help make the world a better place. Food is donated by the sponsors according to the number of clicks. Yes, you can shop here...but you don't have to in order to get them to donate food.

March of Dimes Blue Jean Ball

2008-10-08T14:04:00.003-05:00

October 11th at 6pm
6100 College Blvd. O.P. KS 66211
Event Information

Home for sale in Fairway: 5402 Falmouth

2008-10-08T07:59:00.005-05:00

5402 Falmouth Rent this 3bed/3bath for $2500/mo OR Buy it for only $399,000!
Gorgeous hardwoods, SS appliances, deck off dining room & master, walk-in closets, granite countertops, FP, 2 car garage, well behaved pets okay.

Cure For Our Financial Crisis

2008-10-01T23:23:00.006-05:00

During the last few days I have been party to many different conversations about our financial predicament. Personally, I don't want my tax dollars to be used without thought although I do see the logic of a government bail out. This evening I received the following proposal by Dave Ramsey via a friend and fellow realtor. This proposal is very close to the conclusions that many of us have been coming to in our discussions.

The Common Sense Fix

Years of bad decisions and stupid mistakes have created an economic nightmare in this country, but $700 billion in new debt is not the answer. As a tax-paying American citizen, I will not support any congressperson who votes to implement such a policy. Instead, I submit the following three-step Common Sense Plan.

I. INSURANCE

a. Insure the subprime bonds/mortgages with an underlying FHA-type insurance. Government-insured and backed loans would have an instant market all over the world, creating immediate and needed liquidity.

b. In order for a company to accept the government-backed insurance, they must do two things:

1.Rewrite any mortgage that is more than 3 months delilnquent to a 6% fixed rate mortgage.

a. Roll all back payments wiith no late fees or legal costs into the balance. This brings homeowners current and allows them a chance to keep their homes.

b. Cancel all prepayment penalties to encourage refinancing or the sale of the property to pay off the bad loan. In the event of foreclosure or short sale, the borroweer will not be held liable for any deficit balance. FHA does this now, and that encourages mortgage companies to go the extra mile while working with the borrower - again limiting foreclosures and ruined lives.

2. Cancel ALL Golden Parachutes of existing and future CEO's and executive team members as long as the company holds these government-insured bonds/mortgages. THis keep underperforming executives from being paid when they don't do their jobs.

**This backstop will cost less than $50 billion - a small fraction of the current proposal.

II. MARK TO MARKET

a. Remove mark to market accounting rules for two years on only subpriime Tier III bonds/mortgages. This keeps companies from being forced to artificially mark down bonds/mortgages below the value of the underlying mortgages and real estate.

b. This move creates patience in the market and has an immediate stabilizing effect on failing and ailing banks - and it cost the taxpayer nothing.

III. CAPITAL GAINS TAX

a. Remove the capital gains tax completely. INvestors will flood the real estate and stock market in search of tax-free profits, creating tremendous - and immediate - liquidity in the markets. Again, this costs the taxpayer nothing.

b. This move will be seen as a lighning rod politically because many will say it is helping the rich. The truth is the rich will benefit, but it will be their money that stimulates the economy. This will enable all Americans to have more stable jobs and retirement investments that go up instead of down.

--I think Dave Ramsey covers most of what I've been talking about with others the last few days; what do you think?

Great house in Coleman Highlands!

2008-09-27T12:40:00.007-05:00

# 1497981 928 W 34th St $359,000
Built in 1915, this home in Coleman Highlands will WOW you!
Stunning woodwork...historic home totally renovated with style. New open eat in kitchen w island and granite counters. Back yard is an urban oasis w watergarden, great front, porch pvt drive . This gem has been polished!

Open 2-4

2008-09-21T12:21:00.003-05:00

5402 Falmouth MLS # 1410419 $400,000
Sophisticated home for the active professional person or couple, completely gutted and remodeled from top to bottom. Remodel was designed by award-winning architect Bruce Wendlandt to meet the needs of the most selective buyers. Open, light, spacious floor plan allows this home to custom fit the lifestyle

Directions: SM Parkway to Falmouth (Falmouth is two blocks East of Mission) North to address

Plaza Art Fair

2008-09-19T09:44:00.005-05:00

And don't forget the Plaza Art Fair this weekend!
Wow, there's a lot going on.

Waldo Falldo

2008-09-19T09:44:00.004-05:00

The annual Waldo Fall Festival is this weekend. Saturday Sept. 20.
at 75th & Wornall. The Pub Crawl starts at 6pm.

Schedule of Events:
7am - 11am Pancake Breakfast at Broadway Methodist Church, 406 W 74th

Main Stage
10 - 10:30am Opening w/Waldo Mayor Presentation
10:30 - 11:30am Dino O'Dell
11:30 - Noon Junior the Clown
Noon - 12:30pm KC Academy
12:30 - 1pm United Studios of Self Defense Presentation
1 - 1:45 UMKC Ensemble
1:45 - 2:45pm St. Elizabeth Band
2:45 - 3pm Tap-A-Thon Registration & Practice
3 - 3:30pm Tap-A-Thon Performance
3:30 - 5pm The Nortons

All Day - Leawood United Studios of Self Defense
Other Areas
MAST, the Police Race Car, Fire Truck, Climbing Wall,
Adrenaline Rush, Spaceship Slide, Tubs of Fun,
Wayside Waifs (10am-2pm)
Face Painting w/Junior the Clown,
KCP&L bucket truck and mascots from T-Bones and
KC Wolf will also be at the Waldo Fall Festival.
More than 50 booths and vendors will be under
the Big Tent. Come and enjoy!

PUB CRAWL STOPS:
Waldo Pizza
Murphy's
Tasso's
Bobby Baker's
Tanner's
Kennedy's
Waldo Bar & Grill
75th Street Brewery
Lew's Grill & Bar
Patrick's

Santa Fe Hills is having their annual garage sale
south and east of 85th & Wornall.

Changes

2008-09-19T09:44:00.001-05:00

October 1st brings some changes you should know about.
These will affect new loans and those in process without an appraisal ordered. These changes effect down payment and total cost of the loan.

1) Upfront MIP premiums - 1.75% for all purchase borrowers.
2) Annual premiums - .55% for loans over 95%, 95% or less - 50%
3) Down payment - 3.5%. Closing costs may not be used to meet the minimum 3.5% down.

If an appraisal is ordered prior to the 10/1 change date, the old rules apply.
On or after that date the above will apply.

Respect for Peers

2008-09-17T11:10:00.005-05:00

The Realtor Code of Ethics has three major components:
1. Respect for public
2. Respect for property
3. Respect for peers

Here is a list by the realtors attending the required Ethics class this year of things we wish our cooperating realtors would do:

-Provide constructive feedback after each and every showing (in a timely manner).
-Return phone calls ASAP. (at least by end of day)
-Complete the contract before sending it.
-Cancel or change your appointment; don't just not show up.
-Be Honest.
-Show only to preapproved buyers.
-Leave the house the way you found it.
-Leave a business card.
-Use a lender & title company that can really close the deal.
-Turn the utilities on for inspections.
-Note that the utilities are off in MLS.
-If you want to be there for inspections as the seller's rep, don't try to schmooze my buyers; better yet, come at the end of the inspection.
-Use accurate information regarding schools on MLS; if you don't know, call the school and find out. Don't be lazy!
-Use correct nomenclature when describing architectural details.
-Verify square footage before entering in MLS.
-Don't put "see mapquest" under "Directions" in MLS; your time is no more valuable than mine.
-If there is no egress from the basement, don't call it a bedroom.
-If there is a sign saying "don't let the cat/dog out/in", put a color photo of the pet on the sign.

A Little Humor

2008-09-12T00:20:00.003-05:00

Fran Cashion, with Prudential Relocation, conducted the Ethics Continuing Education Class at KCRAR today. She told a story that I'd like to share with you. Even those who have heard it before may find it entertaining.

A Realtor was showing homes to buyers. One of the homes they viewed had a sign up that said "Please don't let the cat out." The buyers really liked the house so they were in there for almost an hour. As they were leaving, the Realtor noticed that the screen door had been left slightly ajar so she checked outside and saw the cat on the steps of the front porch. She was relieved that the cat had not run off while they'd been inside looking at the house. Before locking the door, she put the cat back inside the house and went on to show the buyers the other homes on the list.

Later that day the buyer's Realtor received a phone call from the seller's Realtor wanting to know why she had put a strange cat in the house.

(the cat on the porch had not come from inside the home; it was another cat)

Open Sunday 2-4pm 9/14

2008-09-11T23:23:00.000-05:00

New Website!

2008-09-08T23:10:00.003-05:00

After a fair amount of work, the new website is finally up & running. Yay! I will be adding content to it as time goes on but you're welcome to visit now. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.
Here's the link:

MariaTMorton.com

What a great weekend!

2008-09-02T16:49:00.002-05:00

Irish Fest was fabulous!

Favorites

2008-08-26T13:26:00.005-05:00

326 E 70th Ter is one of the most impeccable remodels you will find in Armour Hills. The entire inside was rebuilt after a fire a few years ago so everything is new inside. Originally built in 1927, this 3 bedroom 2 bath home now has all the modern amenities while still retaining the charm of yesteryear. Top of the line appliances with stone countertops, new cabinets and wood moldings that appear as if they've been in the house since it was built. All finishes tastefully selected in complementary neutral colors. For those of you looking to buy close-in, this home will satisfy your desire for modern living accommodations in one of Kansas City's fine old neighborhoods.

MLS # 1490933 $269,950. listed through Brookside Real Estate.
If you need to see inside before making an offer, please contact me @ 816.560.3758 to arrange a showing.

What to do next weekend

2008-08-24T11:17:00.004-05:00

The Kansas City Irish Fest is next weekend; see you there!
August 29, 30, 31 at Crown Center

Open Sunday 1-4pm 8/24

2008-08-24T11:02:00.004-05:00

# 1476077 104 W 66th St $324,950
True 5 bdrm colonial in Armour Hills. This spacious home offers formal liv & din rms, eat in kit w/granite counterops & tile flr. Convenient 1st flr utilities, lg fam rm off kitchen, frt & back stairway. Tiled three season sunroom and great deck for entertaining. New HVAC, new plumbing. Newer roof,paint in & out. 2car garage w/new private drive. Best location,near Brookside shops,trolley trail,Edgevale park and schools.
Directions: Main to 66th St, West to House.

OPEN SUNDAY 17 August 2008

2008-08-16T02:45:00.011-05:00

For a list of Open Houses today, click here.
I'll be at 428 Westover Rd. in Kansas City, MO 64113.

# 1457437 Bed: 4 FB: 3 HB: 1 $729,000 Sunset Hill
Stunning elegance in desirable Sunset Hill. 3 Story beauty with 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths and a large 2 car garage. Newer HVAC, exterior paint and updated plumbing and electrical. Large sunny rooms beautiful hardwood floors and a warm and inviting floorplan make this house a home.

Directions: Ward Parkway to Westover, East to home.

Add Rmks: Brick courtyard for your morning coffee,a brick driveway with a wrought iron gate, garden shed and a fourth bedroom and bath tucked away on the private third floor, make this home a unique find.

8/3 OPEN SUNDAY 2-4

2008-08-02T20:53:00.002-05:00

Open Sunday 7/27

2008-07-27T10:54:00.002-05:00

7143 High Dr. Prairie Village KS

2008-07-16T15:13:00.002-05:00

Well, the FHA changed their rules Monday. They will now charge mortgage interest on a sliding scale according to your credit score. So people who have excellent credit will be rewarded. Yay!

2008-07-11T22:53:00.001-05:00

I have been working on my new web site recently so have been remiss in keeping up with my blog postings. Thanks to all who have helped me with both of these projects.

Open 1-4 Sunday 6/8

2008-06-07T09:26:00.005-05:00

425 E 74th Ter KC MO 64131 $214,950.

3 bedroom / 1.1 bath Beautiful home in Rockhill Gardens!

Open House 5/25 Sunday 1:30 - 3:30

2008-05-22T01:58:00.003-05:00

Absolutely delightful Kansas City home for sale in Wornall Homestead. Walk to the Plaza, Brookside, UMKC; bike along the Trolley Track Trail. This home will win your heart. The large, screened in porch on the north side is perfect for the hot August nights not far away. Formal dining and living spaces for entertaining. Family room off the kitchen. A raised garden bed full of perennials surrounds the fenced back yard making it an ideal spot for outdoor gatherings. Upstairs, 4 bedrooms and 2 baths provide room for all. The basement is partially finished; present owners use as playroom/office. Lots of built-ins. Nice old woodwork from the early 1900's.
Priced at only $435,000. You will love it!

OPEN HOUSE 4/20 FROM 1-4PM

2008-04-20T10:22:00.003-05:00

5824 Cherry -- Brookside Beauty! Updated Electric & Plumbing. New Roof & Gutters. Rare First Floor Laundry. 3 bedrooms/ 2 baths/ plus DEN/ 1 car garage. Martini Deck. Wow factor in great location near the Plaza, UMKC, Stowers Institute, Nelson Art Museum, & Kauffman Foundation. Fenced yard. Hardwood Floors. Tasteful decor. This home has it all for only $199,000.
Link to MLS http://www.heartlandmlsweb.com/reports.asp?PropType=1&ReportID=CL&ID=146119608

OPEN HOUSE 4/6/08 @ 2--4pm

2008-04-05T22:34:00.003-05:00

Maginificent renovation with travertine marble, European chandeliers, top of the line appliances & more. Must see to appreciate.
6530 State Line

Did the value of your home go up or down last year?

2008-03-19T08:40:00.002-05:00

This is a great site for anyone who wants to know if the home values in their neighborhood went up or down:
KC Home Values

Joke Heard @ the Gaelic Mass last evening

2008-03-09T05:06:00.002-05:00

During a walk in the park, a priest came across an old man reading a book. The priest asked the man what he was reading. The old man said "I like to keep my brain active, so I'm learning the Hebrew language." The priest said "Really? At your age, do you think you'll ever visit Israel?"
The old man said "No, but I hear they speak Hebrew in Heaven." The priest said "And what if you go to hell?" The old man replied "I already speak Gaelic."

-As told by Fr Jim Shea

St. Patrick's Day

2008-02-27T14:54:00.002-06:00

Kansas City has one of the largest St. Patrick's Day Parades in the United States. The one downtown is third in size, with New York & Chicago coming in first & second, respectively.

Personally, I prefer the one in Brookside because it is smaller and has more of a neighborhood feel. You can bring the kids and dogs along without worrying about them getting trampled.

Here's the schedule for 2008:

Kickoff Luncheon & Silent Auction
Friday, March 7th 11:00 am Marriot Muehlebach

Parade Entrants Numbers Pickup Mtg.
Wednesday, March 12th 5:30 - 7:00 pm Event Space 1617 Main St.

Westport Run
Saturday, March 15th 10:00 am Westport Rd. & Pennsylvania

Brookside Parade
Saturday, March 15th 2:00 pm Brookside Blvd. & 63rd St

Day of Parade
Monday, March 17th 10 - 11 am - along the Parade route 11 am - 2 pm - Washington Sq. park

For more information, you can visit:
http://www.kcirishparade.com/

But wait! There's More!

March 10: Lee's Summit Emerald Isle Parade
http://www.downtownls.org/events.php

March 10: North KC Snake Saturday Parade
http://www.northlandfestivals.com/

March 11: Shawnee St Patrick's Day Parade
http://www.shawneekschamber.com/cvb_annual.html

March 11: Martin City Irishpalooza Parade
http://www.irishpalooza.com/index.php?date=2008-01-01

March 17: Topeka KS St Patrick's Day Parade
http://www.topekastpats.com/index_files/parade.htm

March 17: Lawrence KS St Patrick's Day Parade
http://www.lawrencestpatricksdayparade.com/

March 17: Independence MO St Patrick's Day Parade
http://www.visitkc.com/visitor_info/calendar_results.cfm

March 17: Leavenworth KS St Patrick's Day Parade
http://www.leavenworth-lansingareachamberofcommerce.com/cvb/calendarevents07.htm

No matter which celebration you choose to attend, you're sure to have a grand time. Slainte!

Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.

2008-02-27T14:46:00.002-06:00

American Cancer Society RELAY FOR LIFE
of Northeast Johnson County

A Community Event at Broadmoor Park
5701 Broadmoor Lane - Mission, KS
June 13 & 14, 2008 6pm - 6am

Call 913 384 3490 for more information
or log onto events.cancer.org/rflnortheastjohnsoncountyks

http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeHighPlainsDivision?fr_id=5873&pg=entry&JServSessionIdr004=8083spi5c2.app312b

The New Downtown

2008-02-18T00:32:00.004-06:00

I like it! Actually, i really do enjoy the new downtown Kansas City. It's becoming so vibrant and...even cosmopolitan. The energy is great. I love the music floating out into the street and the throngs of happy people. First Fridays are amazing.

Law of Attraction

2008-02-17T15:42:00.005-06:00

Watch this when you need a pick-me-up or some positive energy.
Inspirational Video

Maria Morton, Your Kansas City Realtor

2008-02-17T15:00:00.011-06:00

Whether you are buying or selling a home, my goal is to provide you with a comfortable real estate experience.

Buyers can go to http://mariamorton.reeceandnichols.com/
to search all of the homes listed for sale on the Heartland MLS (the one all KC realtors use.)
Sign into MyHome to narrow & keep track of your searches, or just browse.

Sellers, to request a free comparable market analysis or schedule a listing appointment, contact me at: MariaMorton@ReeceAndNichols.com
or ring me up on the phone.
816 560 3758 mobile 913 383 1400 office