You go to a bank and tell them you need a loan to buy a car. What's the first thing they want to do? That's right! They pull your credit report. Why do they do that? The answer most people give here, if the bank doesn't know you personally, is "to see if you qualify for the loan".You may be surprised to learn that this isn't the real reason because almost everyone can qualify for some type of a car loan. The main reason is to find out your credit score.Your credit score determines where the interest rate for your car loan will be. If you have a high credit score you will have a low interest rate and vice versa.Therefore, it is in everyone's best interest to improve your credit score to the highest possible level. So you go to the internet and type in to Google the phrase how to improve ... 02/02/2007

January 2007 brought the sale of 51 homes.  This is great information to know if you have a home for sale or homes for sale in Lawrence Kansas, Baldwin Kansas, or Eudora Kansas.  I calculated the following statistics for you:Baldwin (4) average price $226,600Eudora (0) average price $0 (I had closing on one in Eudora for $140,000) on the 29th of January but it won't fund until tomorrow morning.  It is pictured below and is not counted in January's stats.  I will have it for you in February.NW Lawrence (18) average price $249,864NE Lawrence (7) average price $160,914SW Lawrence (11) average price $355,718SE Lawrence (8) average price $131,425Rural Lawrence (3) average price $266,166$1,018,000 was the highest price and $73,000 was the lowest priceAverage DOM (days on market) was 130 Avera... 02/01/2007

December 2006 brought the sale of 87 homes in Douglas County, Kansas.  This is great information to know if you have a home for sale or homes for sale in Lawrence Kansas, Baldwin Kansas, or Eudora Kansas.  I calculated the following statistics for you:Baldwin (3) average price $253,466Eudora (4) average price $152,950 one of these was mine (shown below)NW Lawrence (26) average price $244,864NE Lawrence (8) average price $108,387SW Lawrence (16) average price $259,449SE Lawrence (23) average price $142,330Rural Lawrence (7) average price $254,754Average DOM (days on market) was 107 Average price for the county $204,75610 had 5 or more bedrooms26 had 4 bedrooms36 had 3 bedrooms15 had 2 bedrooms4 had 5 or more bathrooms5 had 4 bathrooms30 had 3 bathrooms33 had 2 bathrooms15 had 1 bathroomF... 02/01/2007

This year it's even more important to remind people of the time change.... Why?  Because on August 8, 2005, President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This Act changed the time change dates for Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. Beginning in 2007. Starting this year the change takes place several weeks earlyer then normal in the early morning hours of Sunday March 11.  Clocks 'spring' forward 1 hour from 1:59:59 to 3:00:00.Take this oportunity to stay in touch with your clients and remind them to change the batteries in their smoke alarms as well.Tanya KulagaRealtor CRS, ABR, GRIRealty Executives, Hedges Real Estate(785)550-2585www.SearchLawrence.com Search for homes for sale in Lawrence, KS 02/01/2007

The National Weather Service offers Storm Spotter Training classes for the public each year before severe weather season...  I encourage everyone to try to attend one of these classes.Classes have been scheduled for 2007, now is the time to mark your calendars for one of these events.The "Weather 101" program dates and time03/15/20077:00 PM - 9:00 PM Weather 101*Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire, Lawrence, KS03/17/20078:00 AM - 3:00 PM Advanced Spotter Class**Southwest Junior High School, 2511 Inverness Drive, Lawrence, KS03/21/20077:00 PM - 9:00 PM Weather 101*Eudora City Hall, 4 E. 7th St., Eudora, KS03/27/20077:00 PM - 9:00 PM Weather 101*Baldwin Intermediate School, 100 Bullpup Drive, Baldwin City, KS*The spotter training program lasts for approximately one hour and 15 minutes... 01/29/2007

This home had severe mechanical problems, such as a support wall in the basement that needed to be replaced.It had been overpriced and sat on the market for months before the sellers lowered the price... again and again.Finally, the price was reasonable for a home that was in good mechanical shape and I took my buyers to see it.We made an offer that reflected the current mechanical condition of the home and asked for repairs.The offer was accepted and my clients had instant equity!It's important to have good representation when you buy and sell a home.  Having an agent you trust working for you is invaluable.  An agent that tells you what you want to hear in lieu of the truth is not on your side.Over pricing a home will sting you in the end.  Give yourself enough room to work with offer... 01/29/2007

Lawrence Neighborhoods pride themselves on their unique character.  Active neighborhood organizations help preserve the character of each neighborhood as well as the character of our great city!Please contact me if you have updates to this list - Tanya Kulaga (785)550-2585Barker Neighborhood Association - Emily Wellman - 841-3263Breezedale Neighborhood Association - Michael B. Sizemore - 843-7484Brook Creek Neighborhood Association - Aaron Brown - 865-7227Centennial Neighborhood Association - Jerry Schultz - 841-4143The Cottages Homeowners Association - Julie Prideaux - 393-3151East Lawrence Neighborhood Association - Janet Good - 423-3323Gateway Neighborhood Association - Steve Schwada - 842-4454Hillcrest Neighborhood Association - Tripp Anderson - 842-3777Hills West Homes Neighborhood... 01/29/2007

Jayhawk Calendar - Men's Basketball ScheduleNebraska Cornhuskers Vs. Kansas Jayhawks @ Bob Devaney Center in Lincoln, NE Monday 1/29/2007 8:00 PMKansas Jayhawks Vs. Texas A&M Aggies @ Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, KS Saturday 2/3/2007 8:00 PMKansas Jayhawks Vs. Kansas State Wildcats @ Allen Fieldhouse Lawrence, KS Wednesday 2/7/2007 8:00 PMMissouri Tigers Vs. Kansas Jayhawks @ Mizzou Sports Arena in Columbia, MO Saturday 2/10/2007 2:30 AMColorado Buffaloes Vs. Kansas Jayhawks @ Coors Event Center in Boulder, CO Wednesday 2/14/2007 7:00 PMKansas Jayhawks Vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Allen Fieldhouse Lawrence, KS Saturday 2/17/2007 3:00 PMKansas State Wildcats Vs. Kansas Jayhawks @ Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, KS Monday 2/19/2007 8:00 PMKansas Jayhawks Vs. Iowa State Cyclones @ Allen Field... 01/29/2007

   Last year we had the opportunity to baby sit... or should I say doggie sit our neighbor's lhasa apso, named Enzo, while our neighbor was out of town.  My husband suggested to me that I was going to meet quite a few people walking such a spunky dog...  Not only was my husband right (how often can a woman say that!) but the first day I met a man who was moving to Australia and needed to sell his house ASAP...  But the story doesn't end there... his house was perfect for one of my buyers who ended up buying it the same day!Real estate here in Lawrence is definitely going to the dogs!  We became so attached to Enzo over the few short days he lived with us that we decided to find a dog of our own...A few months later we added a miniature apricot poodle to our family and go walking every d... 01/27/2007

 SOLD in Lawrence, KS!  Look at this beauty! Selling a home to first time buyers is always a super feeling.This home was a jewel in a great neighborhood!  What a great home!This house had a pool that my clients filled in!!!  2003 Oxford, Lawrence, KS 66044- Tanya Kulaga CRS, GRIRealty Executives, Hedges Real EstateLawrence, KS(785)550-2585www.SearchLawrence.com 01/26/2007

If you were a major league baseball star, would you negotiate your own contracts?  Most people in that position would hire a team of professionals to help them earn the most for their talents and that team is not cheap.What if you could have a team of professionals working for you, at no cost to yourself?You can by interviewing and selecting a Realtor to work with when you hunt for a home.Most buyer agents provide their service free of charge to the buyer.  Buyer's representation is a cost that is already factored into the sales price when the seller lists their home with an agent.I've heard some people say, "I can get a better deal if I don't use an agent, because the seller won't have to pay the buyers agent fee...". What these people don't understand is that they are getting the wors... 01/26/2007

Choosing the right photos to attach to your listing can make a big difference.Which home would you be more likely to spend time to go see?Average listing photo:Professional listing photo:The exterior of this home featured a wonderful secluded yard and a large setback from the street, an unusual feature to this area.  None of this was caught in the first dreary photograph.Choosing the right photos can improve the number of people willing to view the home... and remember quantity is not always quality.  One bad photo could turn off a perspective buyer. I always provide professionally photographed listing photos for my clients and choose photos that bring to life the homes best selling points.Want to know how you can list your home in Lawrence, KS with professional listing photos?  Check o... 01/26/2007

SqftOriginal PriceAsking PriceSold PriceTypeCity State ZipDOM BRBAGarBasemtYearLot Size918$79,900$79,900$78,500CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS6604736TwoOneOneNo1970997$95,000$90,000$91,230RURAL RESIDENTIALEudoraKS6602544ThreeOneNoneNo19200.8acres1408$129,900$129,900$129,900CITY-TOWNHOUSELawrenceKS6604938ThreeTwoOneYes198943201450$154,900$149,500$135,000CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS66046127ThreeTwoTwoNo199674921378$145,900$139,900$139,900CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS6604462ThreeTwoTwoNo200582461240$147,500$144,900$142,900CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS6604497ThreeTwoTwoNo200190081692$161,900$158,000$156,100CITY-SINGLE FAMLYEudoraKS6602535FourTwoTwoNo200397421550$194,500$194,500$194,500CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS6604726Five+ThreeTwoYes200210472unk$248,045$248,045$248,045CITY-TOWNHOUSELawrenceKS660470... 12/22/2006

SqftOriginal PriceAsking PriceSold PriceTypeCity State ZipDOM BRBAGarBasemtYearLot Size1197$67,900$67,900$61,000CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS6604433ThreeOneNoneNo19556300576$69,900$69,900$69,900CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS6604410OneOneNoneYes1930304921050$105,900$94,500$95,000CITY-TOWNHOUSELawrenceKS6604970ThreeOneOneNo19801025$129,900$124,900$118,500CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS66047120ThreeOneOneNo195990361260$134,900$137,900$137,500CITY-TOWNHOUSELawrenceKS66046514TwoTwoTwoNo20051778$164,900$149,900$138,400CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS6604455ThreeThreeTwoYes199286021410$145,000$145,000$141,000CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS6604613ThreeTwoOneYes197294001440$149,900$149,900$149,500RURAL RESIDENTIALLecomptonKS660504ThreeTwoFourYes19792.7acres1360$164,900$164,900$164,900CITY-SINGLE FAMLYEudoraKS6602... 12/20/2006

SqftOriginal PriceAsking PriceSold PriceTypeCity State ZipDOM BRBAGarBasemtYearLot Size1230$90,000$90,000$90,000CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS660460ThreeOneOneYes1923116021100$99,900$99,900$97,000CITY-TOWNHOUSELawrenceKS66047278ThreeTwoOneNo198141041120$109,900$104,900$104,900CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS6604422ThreeOneOneNo197789461032$121,900$121,900$119,500CITY-TOWNHOUSELawrenceKS66049108TwoTwoOneNo19943884unk$129,500$129,500$129,500CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS660440ThreeTwoTwoNo195590001386$149,900$149,900$148,500CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS6604785ThreeTwoTwoNo199250x901852$159,900$149,900$149,900CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS6604935ThreeTwoOneYes196190651664$165,000$159,900$157,500CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS6604978FourTwoTwoNo199971022350$184,900$184,900$175,000CITY-TOWNHOUSELawrenceKS660461... 12/20/2006

SqftOriginal PriceAsking PriceSold PriceTypeCity State ZipDOM BRBAGARBasemtYear BuiltLot Size900$73,000.00 $73,000.00 $73,000.00 CITY-CONDOLawrenceKS66046-6TwoOneNoneNo1100$84,900.00 $74,000.00 $74,300.00 CITY-TOWNHOUSELawrenceKS66044193TwoTwoOneYes19801080$97,500.00 $89,900.00 $89,000.00 CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS66044111TwoOneNoneNo1028$126,000.00 $95,000.00 $93,000.00 CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS6604448ThreeOneNoneNo1981103001600$100,000.00 $100,000.00 $95,000.00 CITY-SINGLE FAMLYEudoraKS66025134ThreeOneNoneNo1955101802056$141,900.00 $129,900.00 $120,000.00 RURAL RESIDENTIALOverbrookKS66524150FourTwoTwoYes19997.43 acres1272$144,900.00 $139,900.00 $134,500.00 CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS66044128ThreeOneOneYes19501106$140,000.00 $140,000.00 $135,000.00 CITY-SINGLE FAMLYLawrenceKS6604652... 12/20/2006

Like I said in the Kansas and Douglas County Market forecasts for 2007, I don't have a crystal ball and I have no guarantee on the following predictions but I believe the Lawrence Kansas real estate market is heading for a great year. I believe that due to lower interest rates that I believe are coming in 2007 the Lawrence Kansas real estate market will see one of its best three years ever in sales.  I do not believe it will be a record year but will probably come in at #3 because of the high inventory of homes on the market at the end of 2006.30 year fixed interest rates for Lawrence Kansas range from 5.5% to 6.625% as of 12-18-06.  The average rate is 5.938%.  Throwing out the highest and lowest and averaging the other 8 came out to 5.906%.  The most frequent rate quoted was 5.875%.  ... 12/19/2006

Yesterday, I just refinanced my house and was given a great rate with payments that will allow me to payoff my house much faster than I had initially thought possible.  If anyone is looking to by a house in Kansas and are in the Lawrence area, I highly recommend Tim Franklin at Bank of America at 9th and Ohio.  I was treated great and he spent a lot of time explaining to me all of the details which my former lender never did, they rushed me through everything and I found out later why that happened.  It was because they didn't give me what they promised me so for that reason I highly recomend that no one ever uses Plaza Mortgage. 11/07/2006

One of the best things a Realtor® can do for buyers is be well networked with lenders.  Below is an actual email I sent out to some buyers that had been turned down by lenders because they were new at being self-employed.  I have x'd out names and numbers but I hope it shows how we don't have to give up when someone turns us down for a home loan.  It is important to get a home loan near to where you are buying a home so that funding is able to take place at closing and not have closing be delayed due to out of area funds not arriving on time.I'm sorry you have been getting turned down by your previous lenders but please consider the following.  There are three lenders I would like you to speak with.  I would be very surprised if at least one of these lenders isn't able to come up ... 10/26/2006

This area is in a buyer's market.  With 677 properties for sale, buyers have plenty to choose from today and for quite a while in the future.I would be happy to show you which are the better picks on the market by sharing with you county info, sales info, sellers' disclosures, visual tours, and much more.  Just call or email me for more info about Lawrence Kansas real estate and properties for sale in the Douglas County Kansas area.Thanks!Rob Lang, ePro Realtor®Realty Executives, Hedges Real Estate300 Rockfence Pl, Lawrence, KS  66049785-393-2274 (cell)   785-542-1661 (fax)rob@LetRobDoIt.com   (same website name if you want to visit) 10/25/2006