Thursday, November 10, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Opportunity in Brookside
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 .
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 .
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Selling A House Is Like Making An Omelet
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.
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.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Keeping Outdoor Air Out May Not Be The Right Thing To Do
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?
Are We Filtering The Wrong Microbes?
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Plastic or Glass? aka what is valuable?
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?
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?
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Harry Potter at the Screenland Armour in NKC
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
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
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