Monthly Archives: February 2009

An 830 Credit Score Is No Better Than A 760 Credit Score

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Hands On The Heartland
Checking The Pulse Of The Kansas City Real Estate Market

For many consumers there’s a pride factor that comes with having an 800+ credit score. In reality though, an 830 credit score is really no better than a 760 credit score. Once a borrower has achieved a 760+ credit score, lenders consider the borrower to be an “A” borrower and worthy of the best available loan rates and borrowing privileges. Of course having an 800+ credit score could allow for a future blip on one’s credit report while still remaining in the top credit tier. Exactly how to obtain a top credit score has been debated but the basis of a FICO credit score has been made clear and most agree that having a lengthy credit history and showing clear ability to repay debts are vital.

Although there may not be a precise manual for improving your credit score, history has shown the following suggestions to be an excellent starting point. Avoid maxing out a credit card because doing so could indicate a borrower has left himself/herself with little financial wiggle room. Additionally, having both secured debt (i.e. car loan) and unsecured debt (i.e. credit cards) can shoot a credit score higher.  Be sure to check your credit report at least once a year and dispute any illegitimate items that may appear on the report. If there’s a legitimate derogatory item on the report, get to work clearing up the item.  

Try to avoid closing out old revolving credit lines. If you have a Dillard’s card with a zero balance that you haven’t used in years, keep it open. This shows you have the ability to charge more but have neither the need or willingness to do so. This is great indication that a borrower is capable of paying back future debt. On the other hand, don’t open up new credit cards in the hopes of seeing a quick bump in your credit score. Doing so could backfire on you and this is not the same as unused “aged” credit. Over time though, additional credit could help – assuming the credit hasn’t been maxed out.

Posted by Jason A. Brown

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Get Ideas To Improve Your Home’s Property Value At The Johnson County Home & Garden Show

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Checking The Pulse Of The Kansas City Real Estate Market

Spring is around the corner and and it’s time again for the Johnson County Home and Garden Show. The show this weekend takes place at the Overland Park Convention Center and features 250 businesses, many of which offer homeowner’s upscale lawn and garden products and services. Visitors will get tips on home and garden projects and learn how to save money on the projects as well.

The Johnson County Home and Garden Show is put on by leading area contractors and retailers and runs Friday through Sunday. A home’s curb appeal is more important than ever in today’s real estate market and this show will help homeowners who seek to improve the value of their home. Show times are Friday and Saturday from 10 AM until 9 PM and Sunday from 10 AM until 6 PM.

Posted by Jason A. Brown

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Green Meadows Subdivision Market Stats * Green Meadows Homes For Sale In Overland Park Kansas

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Checking The Pulse Of The Kansas City Real Estate Market

Green Meadows Subdivision Market Statistics
Green Meadows Is An Overland Park Kansas Home Community

Going back to February 2008 and looking at right around a year’s worth of market stats in Green Meadows, 36 homes were listed for sale and 24 homes were sold. Home sale prices in Green Meadows ranged from $190,000 to $307,000 with an average sales price of $238,481.

Stats pulled from Heartland MLS & deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Stats cover approximately 12 months of market activity & may vary slightly. Note the date of this post as market stats quickly become outdated.

Comparing the current rate of sales over the past year to the 9 Active listings in Green Meadows, there’s 4.5 months of inventory on the market. The average current list price in Green Meadows is $235,867 which is in line with the average sales price seen the past year in Green Meadows.   

Green Meadows in Overland Park Kansas

Green Meadows in Overland Park Kansas

If you’re considering a move and would like to discuss these Green Meadows market stats and your specific situation, I look forward to speaking with you. When representing our client’s best interests, we dig in deep to analyze past market stats, current market stats, prevalent market conditions and, most importantly, our client’s needs.

View Green Meadows Homes For Sale (updated daily)

Buying A Home In Green Meadows

Selling Your Home In Green Meadows

We post stats on many communities and subdivisions and are happy to post the stats for any particular community or subdivision that may be of interest to you. To make a request, comment at the bottom of this blog post and simply indicate the subdivision in which you’re interested.

Posted by Jason A. Brown

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Olathe KS Real Estate Statistics * 15-Day Update On Olathe Kansas

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Checking The Pulse Of The Kansas City Real Estate Market

City of Olathe Kansas Real Estate Update

Olathe KS Real Estate Market Stat <> 15-day Glance

Type

#

Average $

Avg DOM

–

Newest Listings

117

$212,622

–

View Newest Listings

Total Active Listings

967

–

–

–

Newest Under Contract

88

$194,237*

83

View Newest Under Contract

Newest Solds (Closed)

38

$221,117

35

View Newest Solds

* Average Newest Under Contract considers the price the homes were listed at when they went under contract. Data pulled from Heartland MLS and deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Low samplings in any category can skew a particular category. DOM is Days On Market. Note the date of this post as market stats become outdated. Stats may not be an exact 15 days and stats were pulled 9 AM on 2/24/09.

City Of Olathe Kansas

City Of Olathe Kansas

In the city of Olathe Kansas there continues to be more homes coming on the market than homes going under contract or than homes being sold (closed). This creates a further surplus of supply in Olathe. Using the past 15 days as a basis for figuring the absorption rate in Olathe Kansas, there’s almost 13.5 months months of inventory on the market on the market in Olathe. We saw significantly more home go under contract than homes closed, so if we use the under contract figure (rather than homes closed) as our basis for figuring the months of inventory, there is 5.5 months of inventory. If all of these pending homes can make it to closing, this would be very promising.

Keep in mind that a 15-day period is a small sampling of market activity designed to look at the what’s going on now in the current real estate market. While a 15-day period could indicate a trend it does not necessarily show a real estate markets long-term trend.

Posted by Jason A. Brown

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Copper Creek Community Market Stats * Copper Creek Homes For Sale In Olathe KS

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Checking The Pulse Of The Kansas City Real Estate Market

Copper Creek Subdivision Market Statistics
Copper Creek Is An Olathe Kansas Home Community

Going back to February 2008 and looking at right around a year’s worth of market stats in Copper Creek, 12 homes were listed for sale and 14 homes were sold. Home sale prices in Copper Creek ranged from $225,000 to $300,445 with an average sales price of $256,421.

Stats pulled from Heartland MLS & deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Stats cover approximately 12 months of market activity & may vary slightly. Note the date of this post as market stats quickly become outdated.

Comparing the current rate of sales over the past year with just one Active listing in Copper Creek, there’s less than a month of inventory on the market.  

Copper Creek in Olathe Kansas

Copper Creek in Olathe Kansas

If you’re considering a move into or out of Copper Creek and would like to discuss these market stats and your specific situation, I look forward to speaking with you. When representing our client’s best interests, we dig in deep to analyze past market stats, current market stats, prevalent market conditions and, most importantly, our client’s needs.

View Copper Creek Homes For Sale (updated daily)

Buying A Home In Copper Creek

Selling Your Home In Copper Creek

We post stats on many communities and subdivisions and are happy to post the stats for any particular community or subdivision that may be of interest to you. To make a request, comment at the bottom of this blog post and simply indicate the subdivision in which you’re interested.

Posted by Jason A. Brown

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Pavilions Subdivision Market Stats * Pavilions Homes For Sale In Leawood Kansas

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Checking The Pulse Of The Kansas City Real Estate Market

Pavilions Subdivision Market Statistics
The Pavilions Is A Leawood KS Home Community

Going back to February 2008 and looking at right around a year’s worth of market stats in the Pavilions, 31 homes were listed for sale and 16 homes were sold. Home sale prices in the Pavilions ranged from $279,950 to $1,475,000 with an average sales price of $607,050.

Stats pulled from Heartland MLS & deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Stats cover approximately 12 months of market activity & may vary slightly. Note the date of this post as market stats quickly become outdated.

The number of Active listings is down currently in The Pavilions and comparing the current rate of sales over the past year to the 12 Active listings in The Pavilions, there’s 9 months of months of inventory on the market. The average current list price in the Pavilions is $812,706, which is higher than the average sales price over the past year.  This provides a good supply of inventory for buyers looking on the upper end of the price range in the Pavilions.

The Pavilions in Leawood Kansas
The Pavilions in Leawood Kansas

 

If you’re considering making a move and would like to discuss these Pavilions market stats and your specific situation, I look forward to speaking with you. When representing our client’s best interests, we dig in deep to analyze past market stats, current market stats, prevalent market conditions and, most importantly, our client’s needs.

View Pavilions Homes For Sale (updated daily)

Buying A Home In Pavilions

Selling Your Home In Pavilions

We post stats on many communities and subdivisions and are happy to post the stats for any particular community or subdivision that may be of interest to you. To make a request, comment at the bottom of this blog post and simply indicate the subdivision in which you’re interested.

Posted by Jason A. Brown

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Many Kansas City Relocation Buyers Ask About The Blue Valley School District

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Checking The Pulse Of The Kansas City Real Estate Market

Kansas City has many award winning school districts and one of those is the Blue Valley School District serving southern Johnson County Kansas. The first questions many relocating buyers ask is what school districts serve the southern Overland Park and southern Leawood KS areas. Even before arriving, some buyers have already honed in on the Blue Valley School District. In geographic terms, the Blue Valley School District covers the area in Johnson County south of I-435 highway and from State Line Road going west to roughly Pflumm Road. Much of  southern Overland Park Kansas, southern Leawood Kansas and eastern Olathe Kansas are served by the Blue Valley School District.

Blue Valley School District

Blue Valley School District

 

On the 2007-2008 yearly Kansas Assessment Tests, 96% of Blue Valley students were proficient in reading and 95% were proficient in mathematics. Every single school within the district received the Standard of Excellence accommodation in both the reading and math categories. In 2008, the Blue Valley School District achieved the highest ACT scores in the Kansas City area – and scored a district historical best as well. If you’re considering moving into the Blue Valley School District, be sure to check out the Kansas State Department of Education’s 2007-2008 report card on the Blue Valley School District.

Many of the glowing reports I’ve heard about the schools – and seen first hand while visiting some of the schools – are that  the district consistently sets the bar high, there are many excellent teachers and principals throughout the district, the curriculum is challenging to the students, the school facilities are top notch and there’s a unique community involvement with the schools. There’s so many important things to consider when it comes to choosing a school for your child, so be sure to visit in person the local schools that interest you. You can find more information about the specific schools by visiting the Blue Valley School District web site and also be sure to check out the Blue Valley School District’s awards page too!

Posted by Jason A. Brown

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Visiting Kansas City? Enjoy The Plaza’s Dining, Shopping & Entertainment

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Checking The Pulse Of The Kansas City Real Estate Market

The Country Club Plaza has a nation-wide reputation and The Plaza encompasses a 15 block area in Kansas City. The Plaza is a destination place for locals and those visiting Kansas City as the area is filled with stores, restaurants and entertainment. The Plaza was designed by J.C. Nichols at the turn of the century and finally opened in 1923. The Plaza is the longest lasting shopping center in the country. From upscale to casual restaurants and shops, spread around the Plaza are nearly 200 dining and shopping options.

The Country Club Plaza has large and small stores as well as local and national retailers. Shopping options vary from boutiques, clothing stores and jewelers to salons and other specialty stores. Shopping options at The Plaza include…

Lill Studio, A|X Armani Exchange, Aldo, American Apparel, American Eagle, Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Loft, Anthropologie, Apple Computers, Baby Gap & Gap Kids, Banana Republic, Barnes & Noble, Bare Escentuals, Bath & Body Works, Beauty Brands, bebe, Betsey Johnson, The Body Shop, Brighton Collectibles, Brooks Brothers, Brooks Brothers Boys, Brooks Brothers Women, Brooks Brothers Boys, Burberry, Chico’s, Coach, Cole Haan, The Connoisseur, Diebel’s Sportsman Gallery, EB Games, E.G. Geller, Eddie Bauer, Express, Gap, Guess?, Gymboree, Halls, Helzberg Diamonds, Hemline, Images of Nature, J. Crew, J. Jill, Jack Henry, Johnston & Murphy, Kaplan’s Fabrics, L’Occitane, lillibelle, Lucky Brand Jeans, MAC Cosmetics, Massage Envy, MLB Designs, Mark Shale, Marmi Shoes, Nicholas Luggage, N. Valentino, The North Face, Optical Shop of Aspen, Origins, Panache Chocolatier, Paper Source, Pinstripes, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Renners Fine Boots & Shoes, Restoration Hardware, Scandia Down, Sony Style, St. John, Standard Style Boutique, Sunglass Hut, Superlatives, Swarovksi, Swirk, Talbots, The Children’s Place, Thomas Kinkade, Tiffany & Co., Tivol, Tommy Bahama, Tumi, Urban Outfitters, Victoria’s Secret, Vinca Fine Jewelry, The Walking Co., White House/Black Market, Williams-Sonoma and Z Gallerie.

The Plaza is also a hot spot for the after work and late night crowds and live music is common in many of the area establishments and in the court yard areas of The Plaza from spring through fall. Many of The Plaza restaurants offer outdoor seating. Some of the great restaurant and entertainment options on The Plaza include…

810 Zone, Balsano’s, Baja 600, Blonde, Bo Ling’s, Brio Tuscan Grille, California Pizza Kitchen, Capital Grille, Cheesecake Factory, Figlio, Jack Stack Barbecue, Fred P. Ott’s, The Granfalloon, Hibachi Steakhouse, Houston’s, Kona Grill, M&S Grill, McCormick & Schmick’s, The Melting Pot, O’Dowd’s, Panera, P.F. Chang’s, Plaza III, The Raphael, Reverse, Ruth’s Chris and Tomfooleries.

Posted by Jason A. Brown

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Fontainebleau & Fontainebleau East Market Stats & Homes For Sale In Overland Park Kansas

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Checking The Pulse Of The Kansas City Real Estate Market

Fontainebleau & Fontainebleau East Subdivision Market Statistics
Fountainebleu Is An Overland Park Kansas Home Community

Going back to February 2008 and looking at right around a year’s worth of market stats in Fontainebleau, 8 homes were listed for sale and 6 homes were sold. Home sale prices in Fontainebleau ranged from $261,900 to $345,000 with an average sales price of $303,567.

Going back to February 2008 and looking at right around a year’s worth of market stats in Fontainebleau East, 10 homes were listed for sale and 8 homes were sold. Home sale prices in Fontainebleau East ranged from $204,350 to $240,000 with an average sales price of $222,731.

Stats pulled from Heartland MLS & deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Stats cover approximately 12 months of market activity & may vary slightly. Note the date of this post as market stats quickly become outdated.

Comparing the current rate of sales over the past year to the 2 Active listings in Fontainebleau, there’s 4 months of inventory on the market. The average current list price in Fontainebleau is $304,500 which is in line with the average sales price in the area over the past year.

Comparing the current rate of sales over the past year to the 2 Active listings in Fontainebleau East, there is 3 months of inventory on the market. The average current list price in Fontainebleau East is $229,950 and in-line with sales prices seen during the past year in the area.  

Fontainebleau & Fontainebleau East in Overland Park

Fontainebleau & Fontainebleau East in Overland Park

 

If you’re considering a move and would like to discuss these market stats and your specific situation, I look forward to speaking with you. When representing our client’s best interests, we dig in deep to analyze past market stats, current market stats, prevalent market conditions and, most importantly, our client’s needs.

View Fontainebleau Homes For Sale (updated daily)

View Fontainebleau East Homes For Sale (updated daily)

Buying A Home In Fontainebleau or Fontainbleau East

Selling Your Home In Fontainebleau or Fontainebleau East

We post stats on many communities and subdivisions and are happy to post the stats for any particular community or subdivision that may be of interest to you. To make a request, comment at the bottom of this blog post and simply indicate the subdivision in which you’re interested.

Posted by Jason A. Brown

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Shawnee Kansas Real Estate Statistics * 15-Day Update On Shawnee KS

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Checking The Pulse Of The Kansas City Real Estate Market

City of Shawnee Kansas Real Estate Update <> 15-day Glance

Shawnee KS Real Estate Market Stats

Type

#

Average $

Avg DOM

–

Newest Listings

61

$250,539

–

View Newest Listings

Total Active Listings

490

–

–

–

Newest Under Contract

32

$223,578

64

View Newest Under Contract

Newest Solds (Closed)

9

$207,974

37

View Newest Solds

* Average Newest Under Contract considers the price the homes were listed at when they went under contract. Data pulled from Heartland MLS and deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Low samplings in any category can skew a particular category. DOM is Days On Market. Note the date of this post as market stats become outdated. Stats may not be an exact 15 days. Stats were pulled 7 AM on 2/17/09.

In the city of Shawnee Kansas there continues to be more homes coming on the market than homes going under contract (pending) or than homes being sold (closed). This creates a further surplus of supply of homes in Shawnee. Using the past 15 days of sales as a basis for figuring the absorption rate in Shawnee KS, there’s more than 2 years of inventory on the market. If we use the Pending sales as the basis for calculating the absorption rate, the numbers look better and there is less than 8 months of inventory. Keep in mind that a 15-day period is a small sampling of market activity designed to look at the what’s going on now in the current real estate market.

While a 15-day period could indicate a trend it does not necessarily show a real estate markets long-term trend. The fact that the pending sales have picked up is a good sign and if most of them make it to the closing table then that certainly will be promising. Note that the average sales price was about $208,000 and the average listed price of the homes that went under contract was around $224,000. Both figures are lower than the average list price of the new listings we saw, which was around $250,000.

Posted by Jason A. Brown

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