Don't be surprised if you want a REALTOR® to list your home and they say "No Thank You."  It could happen to you if you fall into the following scenario.Last week I went on a listing appointment.  Before I go on an appointment I spend a lot of time getting my presentation packet all in order and I also spend a lot of time studying the comps (comparable: what other homes in the neighborhood have sold for) for the area.I entered this home as I always do with an open mind and the ability to visually remove the contents.This home was totally outdated (carpet, bathrooms, kitchen), it had rotten windows, it was cluttered and messy and bottom line the sellers wanted me to list it for 20K more than the highest comp.  The sellers were wanting to build a new home and the husband wasn't up for mak... 04/23/2007

About two weeks back I was interviewing a potential Buyer client.  He had found me through one of my blogs and said that he had liked what he had seen about  my real estate investing philosophies here in the Kansas City area.  I was flattered.  But I was also growing leery of his motivation.  His motivation to actually buy a property, that is.  It seemed that he had read the books I recommend along with half a dozen others.  He had been to workshops and seminars that I've never even heard of. He was  member of both investment clubs here in Kansas City.  Had an LLC.  Had an accountant. A lawyer was all lined up.  So to was a property manager.  Mortgage guys had been interviewed.  There was even someone he was considering hiring as a mentor.  And all this had only taken him three years.  ... 04/21/2007

In the past week I've been in about 23 different houses in the Waldo area.  I've identified about 5 of them that I believe would make good, long term rental properties.  Like all homes in Kansas City's Waldo area, they have their imperfections.  For those of you that don't know, Waldo is an eclectic area of the city where sloping floors, leaning garages and no garages are the norm.  The great thing for the real estate investor is that you can purchase single family homes anywhere from $80,000 to $130,000 and cash flow by putting down as little as 10%.  Further, the houses there seemingly always rent quickly.  2 Bedroom homes go from $700 to $825 while 3 Bedrooms can garner $750 to $995.  Waldo homes come in all shapes and sizes.  There are 600 square foot 1 bedroom homes and there are a... 04/18/2007

In honor of my 100th post, I'd like to announce a very special mystery guest from Active Rain on our next Kansas City BlogTalk Radio Show.Here's three clues to his identity:1.)  He is compared to Superman in that he can touch the top of the Eiffel Tower with the tip of his finger2.)  In his spare time you'd most likely find him up to his eyeballs in salty water.3.) He has the ability to drive 95 mph and take pictures at the same time. (What a gift)  Yes.... you guessed it.... Nick The Appraiserwill be the Guest on Kansas City Real Estate BlogTalk Radio Show.When:  Tomorrow, Wednesday 4-11What Time:  2:30 PM Central TimeHow Do I hear it?:  You have 2 choicesa.) You can call in and participate and ask questions (that's limited to 5 callers in the queue)     @  646-652-4268b.)  You can lis... 04/10/2007

I came across a great project that is just it it's beginnings here in Kansas City!In honor of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the American Institute of Architects they have started a program called Blueprint of America.  It's a nationwide, grassroots community service program that will empower each cities residents to participate in developing new visions for their community's design priorities.So where does Kansas City come in?  Well if you live here you know that our town is made up of sprawling urban and suburban as well as exurban and transurban areas, no different than many other cities. The Kansas City portion of this nationwide program is being dubbed "The Kansas City SNAPSHOT" and will engage the diverse people and places that inhabit the Johnson Drive / Van Brunt corri... 03/28/2007

I have to confess to you here and now that I am a numbers guy...when it comes to investment property.  I like to know what the returns will be, how profitable it will be (if at all) and exactly what my money will be doing here rather than there.  And that, in turn, is how I counsel my investment property clients.  You see, to me, owning rental property is all about the returns.  And with appreciation being one of the 4 benefits to owning investment property I thought I would discuss it here.One of the most popular questions I get is "what is the rate of appreciation for this property?"  My standard answer is "I have no idea."  Keep in mind that even the most educated real estate agent on earth cannot tell you what appreciation will be.  He can tell you what it was.  He can give you a hi... 03/27/2007

If you are one of those individuals that travels Ward Parkway on your way to and from work, you've probably noticed the new addition of trees.224 trees have been planted in the median of Ward Parkway and you can thank the Ford Family Foundation of Russell Stovers Candies for their generosity of beautification.The Swamp Oaks will turn a nice yellow in the fall and the Urbanite Ash will turn a red brick color to a orange red which will certainly brighten up your drive. In the summer you can enjoy their lush greeniness!Thank you Ford Family Foundation for adding to the beauty of our community! 03/25/2007

Finding a quality tenant for your income property can be a daunting task.  It takes proper screening, a little bit of a gut feeling, and some luck.  But when you have them, great!I manage a property for one of my out of state clients.  Both sides are Section 8 through the Independence Housing Authority.  One tenant was in when my client purchased the duplex, the other we put in shortly after his purchase.  And we got a couple of good ones.First, working with the IHA is a delight.  They are reasonable, responsive and fair.  The IHA did their annual review of the property on the east side and came up with a list of about 7 repairs that needed to be tended to for them to continue to work with us.  Little things like a slow drain, a missing dust vent, etc.  I determined the necessary repair... 03/22/2007

No, EIFS isn't a distant cousin to Snuffeluficus.... it stands for Exterior Insulation and Fisnish Systems... in other words Synthetic Stucco which has been used on the exterior of homes and evidently is causing a problem in this area.We had a guest from HomeServices at our office meeting this week and she told how less and less insurance companies are wanting to insure homes that have EIFS.Evidently there have been so many moisture problems here in the Greater Kansas City area that it's being brough to the forefront in the Kansas City Real Estate market.My advice, do a GOOGLE search on EIFS.  Read and educate yourself, you can also find information on how to determine whether you have a problem and what to do about it.Knowledge is Power. 03/21/2007

The Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors announced Tuesday that home sales in the Kansas City Real Estate Market are UP!That's good news!There was an increase of 16% in February from January of this year.New housing increased 6% in February from January and existing housing rose 18% in February compared to January.If you need assistance or have questions about real estate in Kansas City feel free to email me: franwhite@kc.rr.com or give me a call 816-682-3897.It's a good time to get MOVING ! 03/21/2007

Criteria.  It is my favorite subject when it comes to discussing investment property ownership here in Kansas City.  Knowing your criteria makes making a decision a breeze.  Stumbling through what you want makes my job and your results more futile.  Today I had a meeting with a nice couple who called me after finding me on a Google search.  They are in a great cash position and are looking to increase their real estate portfolio.  We spent nearly two hours discussing what it is they want from their investment holdings.  Are they looking for cash flow?  Appreciation?  A mix of both?  How much money do you want to invest?  What amount of leverage do they feel comfortable with?  What style/level/income of tenant are you after or feel most comfortable with?  Then there are the issues of wha... 03/19/2007

I had a real reality check yesterday....As some of you know my husband and I are looking for a new home... shopping theKansas City Real Estate market for something a little smaller and newer and in a certain part of Kansas City, MO.Yesterday we started out on an adventure to begin looking.Needless to say we didn't find the ONE that when we walked in it grabbed us and said "you can't leave..."But I did have the opportunity to mix with a few fellow REALTORS® during our adventure yesterday... and I had a real reality check!How we come off to prospective clients is amazing!  Yes, I introduced myself as a REALTOR®... but these folks continued to want to dazzle me with their BS.  I really thought hard about how I come off to prospective clients and I think that my way is a way I'm going to st... 03/18/2007

As an owner of income property sooner or later you will be asked if you accept Section 8 tenants. Before you answer the question it is my hope that you will have thought about the question in advance. Because my answer to prospective tenants is not a simple "yes" or "no". It goes deeper than that.To many landlords all Section 8 is the same. But nothing could be further from the truth. I'll give you a for instance at the risk of recurring wrath. In my future dealings I will never again recommend to my clients, or myself, to take on a tenant from the Kansas City Housing Authority. And sadly, my decision has nothing to do with the tenant! It has to do with the KCHA. In my dealings with them, and I swear I am not making this up, I have called them over 80 times for every 1 phone call I get ... 03/13/2007

I love the calls I get from both coasts concerning real estate here in the Greater Kansas City area.  When I get these calls they are almost always from investors, or would be investors, who have found that with all of the benefits that investment property has it simply cannot be afforded anymore by the average investor on the coasts.  Specifically I'm speaking of California and the Seattle area.  But Washington, DC and Boston fall into the same category.  Florida, too.  Here in Kansas City we have a great variances in housing, affordability and rental returns.  We have affluent areas such as Mission Hills, Kansas and low income areas such as a great portion of eastern Kansas City, Missouri.  But the one thing both of those areas have here is a steadiness to their appreciation and relia... 03/09/2007

I previously wrote about how you should get your homeowners insurance during the inspection period when you are buying a home.Now I SEE more than ever  the importance of that when buying a home in Kansas City, Missouri.At sales meeting this morning we were discussing how more and more insurance companies are using individuals credit scores to determine their insurability and their premium rates.We all know it's important to pay our bills on time to keep our credit as healthy as possible, and now it's even more vital!Insurance companies are lining up to look at your credit score to decide if they want to insure you and if they do what the likelihood is that you will have a claim.Do I feel this is right?  Well, not really, but they are doing it.Again let me stress the importance of gettin... 02/27/2007

 What is Networking? Networking is relationship building for profit.Why do we network? We network so eventually someone we know or someone that knows someone we know will do business with us. Why do people do business with us. Is it because we are the only person or company offering the product or service they want or need? Probably not. Is it because we have the cheapest or best product or service in the marketplace? Sometimes, but rarely. The biggest reason people do business with us or refer business to us is because they like us! Why do they like us? Generally their opinions of us are based not upon their vast knowledge of us but instead they are based upon how they feel after interacting with us.  Have you ever gone to a store, car dealership or other establishment to do business a... 02/25/2007

I've been watching the MLS listings for the Kansas City Real Estate market and SPRING has SPRUNG in Real Estate!Each day there are more and more new listings coming on and there will be more and more folks looking at those listings!Here's some ways you can make your home sell more quickly!10 Ways to Make Your Home Sell Fast1. DEJUNK!  Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage. Have shoes that hurt your feet and don't wear them... donate them.2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior. If a buyer is inside looking out, clean windows impress them!3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop a... 02/21/2007

First Important Step... Get Pre-Approved The first step in beginning to shop for a home is to get pre-approved.  If you don't know who to go to, ask your REALTOR.  More than likely they have three or more mortgage people that they work with on a consistent basis and know which ones have a good track record for excellent customer service to the buyers.I had a gentleman call me this week. He'd driven by a house and wanted to see it.  "Great, I'd love to show it to you! Are you pre-approved?"  He said no he wasn't, so I suggested someone for him to call.  It doesn't cost anything to get pre-approved, it's FREE.  It's also free to get second opinion from another mortgage lender too!Well, unfortunately, when the gentleman went to get pre-approved there were some dings on his credit that need... 02/10/2007

 The Allen Memorial Fountain is located almost in the center Country Club Plaza (Kansas City) on Nicholas Road.  My daughter and I were out strolling (ok, we were not strolling as it was too cold...we were walking rather quickly), on our way to Starbuck's for a hot cup of coffee when we went by this fountain.  In the warmer months I have seen it with the water trickling down on the child but today there, of course, was no water.  So, what I saw was the detail work of the statues.  How beautiful.We are very fortunate to have so many such lovely works of art here in Kansas City. I hope you have an opportunity to make a trip to Kansas City...and the Country Club Plaza. Jacqueline McCroy ElbertRE/MAX Realty Suburbanhttp://www.jacquelineelbert.comhttp://www.realestateforspecialneeds.comP.S. ... 02/06/2007

  Just south of downtown Kansas City is the Union Station.  It was built in 1914 as a working train station.  Each year tens of thousands travelers went through that station.  During World WarII more than a million people utilized Union Station.  Within the building were businesses such as restaurants, barber shop, cigar shop, etc.Years past and in the 1980's Union Station sat empty.  There was talk of tearing down the landmark.  But in 1996 a bi-state initiative saved it from demolition.  The project was completed in 1999 with an Amtrak service, shops, restaurants, Science City, the KC Rail Experience, Gottlieb Planetarium, and a theater.So, the next time you are in Kansas City, plan a trip to the Union Station.Jacqueline McCroy ElbertRE/MAX Realty Suburbanhttp://www.jacquelineelbert.c... 01/30/2007