Wichita Homes for Sale-Want to Live on the Golf Course? Wichita has some great Golf Course Communities.    On the West side of town Auburn Hills and Reflection Ridge have some wonderful homes nestled among the greens.   You can also find neighborhood pools, walking paths and of course the clubhouse.    AUBURN HILLS       The Clubhouse at Auburn Hills (135th & Maple)     One of the Lakes at Auburn Hills Homes in Auburn Hills are also located in the desirable Goddard School District, yet still on the Northwest side of Wichita close to great shopping and dining.    Home prices range from $190,000 to $350,000.   REFLECTION RIDGE Another Great Northwest Golf Course neighborhood is Reflection Ridge at 29th and Ridge Rd.   These homes are located in the top-ranked Maize School District.   It i... 08/07/2008

Wichita Homes for Sale-How to Market Wichita Homes Wichita Real Estate Buyers are changing!   "Over time Buyers use of the internet to search for homes has increased, rising from 71% in 2003 to 80% in 2006.   Even more importantly, the share of buyers who reported using the internet frequently to search for a home has risen from 42% in 2003 to 59% in 2006." (2006 National Association of Realtors Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers) When I list and market a home, I intend to sell it for the maximum price in the minimum amount of time.   In order to do that I have to market where the Buyers are-on the internet!   I create a richly detailed, spectacular listing for your home and put it in front of as many Buyers as I can.   The number of Buyers who use the internet to find there next home is... 08/07/2008

I have been looking at a lot of blogs lately to see which reo managers and bpo companies are worth even the time to sign up for much less any cash that some charge for... anyone have any ideas? I have a rule that if the company charges a broker to join - they probably will not send enough business to make it worth the money or time - most companies are happy to accept new applicants for their files in case they need us... they pay us as a vendor for them... I dont feel so warm and fuzzy when a bank or asset manager tells me I have to pay them before I can have access to their website just to beg for reo listings and bpos... so... the answer for me is - No... so - no good news for camreo... I like ocwen - realtrans - they started me off doing a few paid bpo's then gave me a dozen listing... 07/26/2008

MSN announced just last week that a study by Sperling's Best places said Wichita Kansas is the best place to own a home in the US.  Good employment, low average cost of home, good appreciation. #1 in the US, I think Dallas was 4th or 5th.  We should be riding high here.  Normal DOM, inventory being absorbed at a reasonable rate.  Easy for Realtors EXCEPT:  Can't borrow money to buy a home.  It seems that the really Bad markets (California, Vegas, Florida, Detroit) have so hurt our lenders that NORMAL people in the midwest can't borrow money. IndyMac went under Friday.  The Feds took it over and put into recievership.  Stock for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac went into the crapper.  I read today (Sunday) that the Feds are moving (on a weekend no less) to keep Freddie and Fannie up and runnin... 07/13/2008

Wichita, KS Sales Figures for May, 2008 Plus YTD Information   Real estate sales for May, 2008 compared to May, 2007 were down 19.8%.  YTD sales were down 13.1% for the same period.  While that may look bad on the surface, Listings were down 11.3% year-to-date and 17.5% May, 2008 compared to may, 2007 which kept the over all market balanced.   There was some surprising good news in the May, 2008 data.  Days on the market (DOM) decreased to 65 days for all prices ranges for existing homes in May.  YTD days on the market were only slightly higher at 68.  Additional good news was the tight inventories were keeping sales in line with listings and creating a balanced market in most price ranges.   The total number of homes on the market comparing May, 2008 to May, 2007 was virtually unchange... 07/12/2008

Wichita Homes for Sale-Buyer Report on Foreclosures There are many homes for sale in Wichita, and prices have never been better!   You can find many great bargains in this current market.   Unfortunately for many Sellers have gotten in over their heads and have been foreclosed upon or are facing foreclosure.    With this current situation you can cash in on a great deal in this market.  If you are interested in a FREE list of bargain homes for sale in the Wichita area, just send me an email at lhuhman@plazare.com.   You can also do a search of the entire Wichita MLS Homes for Sale by visiting www.buywichitahome.com Why pay rent when you can own a home in Wichita for less than $700 per month?    Wichita Realtor Laurie Huhman Can help you find and buy the right home in Wichita with the be... 07/10/2008

It's that time again! The City of Wichita has announced that there's been an unexpected breakdown in the water treatment plant, leaving the city with only about half of its normal water flow! The water we do have is just fine, safe to drink, but there's just not as much of it! The city is asking residents on city water to please discontinue exterior uses of water for about a week!  This would be things such as watering the lawn, washing the car, hosing down the house, etc.  And if you can be conservative in your water usage inside, that'd help too! If we are not conservative, there is a chance water could run dry for important features such as fire hydrants, and eventually even to our faucets! If you use well water for any of these purposes, you are just fine to continue doing so! But f... 07/10/2008

The cities to pick from had to have a population of at least 500,000.  The idea was to compare where it was the BEST place to OWN or to Rent.  Wichita won the top spot.  Consider: Pretty good numbers (appreciation is GREAT for most parts of the country).  Compared to #2's appreciation: We've stayed steady for 20+ years in Wichita, and I don't see it changing much.   07/10/2008

west wichita, ks Why West Wichita, KS? If you're new to the area or been here a while, you may wonder - Why West Wichita? What's the scoop? To the true "Westies", West Wichita is typically considered to be that which is West of  235, and out to about 151st'ish.  Kellogg crosses it at the bottom, and K96 to the north.  with 235 as its east border, it's pretty easy to get anywhere in Wichita from the West side, fairly quickly.  We're also nicknamed "Squinters" because we drive against the sun both ways for traditional 8-5 jobs (unless you get lucky enough to work West too!) The West side features some neat areas: The Sedgwick County Zoo - www.scz.org - Just a few minutes east of 13th/Ridge Rd! The Sedgwick County Park - behind the zoo, running between 13th and 21st street, this Park feat... 07/09/2008

Wichita Homes for Sale-Seller Market Report Have you been wondering if now is a good time to sell Your Wichita Home with all the bad news out there about the housing market?    While Wichita Home Sales are steady we are slower than the previous year and homes tend to take a bit longer to sell.   The best advice is to make sure your home is in top condition before placing it on the market, hire a professional Realtor to assist you with pricing your home so you are IN the market.    Now, more than ever an experienced Realtor is of utmost importance in getting top dollar for your Wichita home.   If you have any questions about selling a home in todays Wichita real estate market, check out the Sellers area of my website www.mywichitahome.com 07/08/2008

Real Estate in Wichita, KS is red hot!  There are many homes for sale in Wichita, and prices have never been better! There are currently thousands of Wichita Homes For Sale.   Home Buyers in Wichita are finding some of the best Homes For Sale in all ares of Wichita.   Why pay rent when you can own a home in Wichita for less than $700 per month? Wichita Realtor Laurie Huhman Can help you find and buy the right house in Wichita with the best price and terms. If you need help finding the right Wichita Mortgage Lender, then Wichita Realtor Laurie Huhman can help! Call 316-409-1006 or visit my web site at www.buywichitahome.com   07/07/2008

Forget the doom and gloom! The Wichita Eagle recently put out an article with the results of the PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. study regarding home sale prices in various areas.  This study is done quarterly. The article here The point of the study was to show the chance of home prices declining in various market areas between now and the first quarter of 2010. The results showed that homes in Wichita, KS have less than a 1% chance of declining in value between now and the first quarter or 2010!   Compared to Florida, where the chance of decline came in at 90%, our rate is spectacularly good news for all!  Buyers are still getting good prices, with the idea that their home will not lose value.  Sellers are still getting reasonable prices on their homes and have not lost a lot of value. The... 07/03/2008

Yes, after 5 years of thinking about it, I've gone GREEN with Red Wigglers!  I attened the local Lawn, Flower & Garden Show in Feb 2003 and saw a worm farm.  I was intrigued by the idea that I could compost year 'round, not just in warmer months.  The demonstrator had kits for sale that were just too expensive (well over $100 PER FARM) and I couldn't justify spending that kind of money when I'd rather buy more plants. Fast forward to this spring. As we were tilling our garden, we discovered that we have a ton of worms because we have always buried our kitchen scraps in the garden rather than composting in the cute bins or rolling composters that several neighbors proudly own.  I am would love to own a $400 composter, but honestly, I'd forget about maintaining it and really, I just want ... 07/01/2008

I am starting to read more positive articles and postings on the housing market nationwide.  I must admit I was beginning to feel a bit depressed about all the constant negative press. I do not believe in sugar coating a situation just because it is painful, and I know that news is not just local...however, enough is enough. Wichita locally has managed to stay fairly strong. If a home is priced right and in good condition it will sell. Where is the positive storyline? I have heard a lot of individuals quoting general statements of gloom and doom off the evening news about how "down" the Real Estate market is. Or about how "bad off" we are...and what an awful time it is to buy or sell your home. This is just NOT true.  I wish that people would take a deep cleansing breath and relax. This... 07/01/2008

MSN just put together a list of the Nine Best, Livable Cities where you won't need to trade the good life for the boring.  The cities had to have more than 500,000 residents in the metro area and had to be one of the 100 largest USmetro areas. Wichita, KS ranked #1.  It was ranked this way because it is one of the most affordable places in the study, has some of the best job growth in the nation and thanks to the aircraft industry, agriculture, ethanol, oil & gas markets has all the industries that are on a growth spurt at this time. Homes are appreciating in value yet homes are very affordable, commute times are extremely short, the down town area is being revitalized with the Water Walk project-new downtown arena-and the continued development of the "Old Town" area.  The study was sur... 06/27/2008

Property Staging Consultants sets the industry standard for professionalism and effective training in all aspect of Property Staging! All PSC trainees will learn the most current Staging techniques from instructors who are all fully qualified in the Real Estate Industry and Staging Industry. PSC courses provide the most comprehensive Staging training available with the very highest standards of education. By refining the standard definition of "Staging," PSC courses take you beyond the concepts of initial or "surface appeal" to instruct you in the full-range of Staging techniques designed to maximize home owners' return on investment. PSC's unique Staging "Survival Kit" gives you powerful tools formulated to help your properties to sell within 30 days. PSC trains you for total success ... 06/26/2008

What is Home Staging? The concept behind home staging is as simple as it is powerful: a stager prepares a property for sale to meet two key goals of the homeowner: a faster sale and a greater Return on Investment. This is accomplished by a careful evaluation of the home's current condition and attributes, followed by in-depth attention to any existing issues that have the potential to deter prospective buyers. Additional focus is given to transforming the visual aesthetics of the home away from limiting, individual tastes and broadening the home's appeal to the widest possible spectrum of buyers. Staging today has become much more involved and sophisticated than merely "rearranging the furniture." PSC® takes its students far beyond this outdated misconception by advanced training in the... 06/26/2008

April, 2008 Unemployment rate for Wichita, KS dropped to 3.5%.  All aircraft plants are hiring.  The oil and gas industry are doing great and Wichita area farmers are experiencing the highest farm prices in years. 05/28/2008

Open Garage Door Burglaries The Wichita Police Department has noticed an increase in open garage burglaries occurring both in the East Wichita and West Wichita neighborhoods.  On 19 beat and 199 beat (both in West Wichita ) 8 open garages were burglarized during the afternoon of March 28th.  One witness informed the officers that the suspects "entered the garage and burglarized both vehicles in less than 15 seconds" while the owners was inside, at home, on their lunch break.  On March 30th, 8 more open garages were burglarized with most during the night time hours   Detectives in the WPD Auto Theft section are amazed (and alarmed) at the number of vehicles stolen from garages because owners leave their vehicles parked in the garage with keys in the ignition, purses in vehicles and othe... 05/05/2008

If you like to shop at Garage Sales, there is no better way than to hit the City Wide Sales.  Here's a guide to upcoming events:May 3rdMay 10thMay 17thMay 29thJune 7Garden PlainBentleyTowandaCheneyAndoverGoddardLeon  Bel AireMulvane   BurrtonSedgwick   DerbyWellington   Halstead    Park City  June 13thJune 21June 26thAug 9Sept 5thKechiBelle PlainDouglasHaysvilleClearwaterHesston    Potwin    Whitewater    Augusta    Be sure to stock up on the earth friendly $1 bags at local Dillons, Target or Wal-Mart before you head out.  A friend of mine even has a collapsable shopping cart that she totes around.  With city-wide sales, you may have to park and walk several blocks and having a sturdy shopping bag is a must! 05/03/2008