Kay Van Kampen, Broker, Springfield Missouri Real Estate

The ninth annual Rubber Duck Race and Kinetic Contraption Race is being held July 26, 2008 at the Finley River Park,

Buy a ticket for $5 to see if your duck wins $5000 at the Rubber Duck Race. This 2-day annual event is held every year at the Finley River Park in Ozark. For the younger crowd, a free fishing derby.

This is a great time to meet and greet family and friends and help benefit youth programs and the Ozark Greenways Trail in the Ozark area. Crafts, displays and concessions are available both days.

Besides the Duck race, the Kinetic Kontraption Race is being held. Bring your lawn chairs and come vote for your favorite contraption.

The festival is free. Located at 1075 N Riverside Road, Ozark. See you there!

Kay Van Kampen is a local Realtor serving Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, Republic and surrounding areas in Missouri. She is ready and available to help you with all your Springfield Mo real estate needs. To contact her go to www.kayvankampen.com.

If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, Republic, Willard and surrounding areas or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, then give me a call at: 417.839.4534.

Missouri is known as "The Cave State". The only "drive thru" cave is located in Springfield..... Fantastic Caverns.

With wonderful walking trails, and several smaller caves, Fantastic Caverns was first discovered in 1862.

The park is also used for educational purposes.

Ride the jeep-drawn tram completely thru. It is a great attaction for both senior citizens as well as young children. The temperate stay around 60 degrees year round.

Bring the family and enjoy a great day.

Kay Van Kampen is a local Realtor serving Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, Republic and surrounding areas in Missouri. She is ready and available to help you with all your Springfield Mo real estate needs. To contact her go to www.kayvankampen.com.

If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, Republic, Willard and surrounding areas or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, then give me a call at: 417.839.4534.

Springfield Missouri Real Estate, Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, Republic, Willard and surrounding areas.

The Springfield Missouri Real Estate market is slowly re-adjusting with the month of April seeing a small decline in home sales.

Another 33 agents dropped their license, with 18 agents joining the Springfield Multiple Listing System. 2503 Springfield Missouri Real Estate agents continue to work in Springfield and surrounding areas.

The majority of Springfield Mo homes are still being financed with conventional financing, followed up by VA and FHA. Less than 10% paid cash.

Statistics for the end of April for Springfield MLS:

Kay Van Kampen is a local Realtor serving Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, Republic and surrounding areas in Missouri. She is ready and available to help you with all your Springfield Mo real estate needs. To contact her go to www.kayvankampen.com.

If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, Republic, Willard and surrounding areas or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, then give me a call at: 417.839.4534.

Information courtesy of Springfield MLS

I wrote an article this week about closing another short sale. Knowing that most buyers and sellers don't understand the steps it takes to close a short sale, I want to explain more about the procedure and what to expect. There is a definite difference between a bank foreclosure and a short sale.

Specializing in Springfield Missouri short sales and bank foreclosures was just another way to improve my business. I didn't know it would be so difficult to help sellers communicate with lenders to sell their property to potential buyers. Today, not understanding the procedure may cause the seller to lose their home, the buyer to miss a good buy and a realtor working for no pay.

Many sellers in the Springfield Mo Real Estate area are slowly getting behind in their payments and facing the fact that they will lose their home and destroy their once good credit. This is a stressful time, which sometimes ends with the family having to rent, relocate to other parts of the country or even divorce.

Purchasing a home in the past few years, with no money down and adding the closing costs to the purchase price of the home, allowed buyers to fulfill their dreams of owning their own home, however, they were unable to budget for any unforeseen problems. Once the cycle begins, it quickly accelerates to the point of no return. Most sellers do not know how to get help when they first realize they are spending more than they can make.

Trying to sell their home quickly in today's market, the home must then be sold for less than they owe, including past due payments, late charges and penalties. Contacting the lender before the foreclosure process starts, will allow the lender to send a "short sale package" to negotiate and work with the seller for a short sale. Among the information required is:

Two years of financial statement

Tax Returns for the last 2 years

Any documentation that the lender will require - including a notarized letter to the lender giving permission for the realtor to help in negotiating the short sale.

Hardship letter explaining the reason for late payments.

Current bank statements for all open and closed accounts for at least 2 years.

The procedure to find the right "person in charge" for final approval on the agreed sales price takes time. The seller and buyer must know the transaction will not happen over night. In the case of my last short sale, keeping the buyer from withdrawing their offer and the realtor pursuing the lender was stressful for all parties. We were able to finalize the transaction after 2 months.

Also remember, if the unpaid balance in not "forgiven" or negotiated before closing, the seller must know that the bank can come back and collect any portion of the unpaid balance, late fees, attorney fees, or any other fee due. These are just a few issues to be aware of. Each "short sale" is handled on an individual basis.

If you are facing the possibility that you will not be able to make up your payments, contact your loan company as soon as possible. Negotiating to sell your home for a lower price than other homes of comparable value will actually save the bank more than they may lose if they end up foreclosing. Contact a Springfield Realtor that is familiar with bank foreclosures and short sales.

Kay Van Kampen is a local Realtor serving Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, Republic and surrounding areas in Missouri. She is ready and available to help you with all your Springfield Mo real estate needs. To contact her go to www.kayvankampen.com.

Another Short Sale Successfully Closed

Springfield Missouri Attractions - Springfield Missouri Real Estate

Springfield Mo is loaded with wonderful attractions that draw newcomers and visitors. Among one of the great parks is Wilson's Creek National Park.

This was the first weekend we didn't work real estate since the first of the year. Perfect timing, with such a beautiful day. Jumping on our trike, my chauffeur (my hubby) and I decided we needed more photos of the Springfield and surrounding areas. Wilson's Creek National Park was our first stop.

Located 10 miles Southwest of Springfield, the Battle of Wilson's Creek, was fought on August 10, 1861. Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River. Today, it is a drive thru park with 5 walking trails, a 7 mile trail for horses, driving tour of the battlefield for cars, bicycles, and hiking trails.

Come join in the fun, bring your lunch and enjoy this beautiful park. Picnic areas are scattered throughout the park.

The National Park Service manages and operates the park today. See a schedule of events and driving directions.

Jumping back on the trike, off we went to our next stop...... Fantastic Caverns.

Kay Van Kampen is a local Realtor serving Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, Republic and surrounding areas in Missouri. She is ready and available to help you with all your Springfield Mo real estate needs. To contact her go to www.kayvankampen.com.