About Shawnee's Grey Oaks

Thinking about a purchasing a brand new home? From Western Shawnee to Olathe, Overland Park and more, the Kansas City area offers a great selection of home builders...Rodrock, Pulte, James III, True Builders, Duckworth, and J.S. Robinson to name a few. Many people just wander into a new home model center to look and before you know it, you've fallen in love with a floorplan. Before making such a large purchase, however, please consider the benefit of having an experienced agent working on your behalf at no cost to you. Pickett Property Group can offer information on the builder, past negotiations, neighborhood values, factors impacting prices, and on competitive alternatives. We can also help negotiate the best deal for your money, review contract terms and facilitate the smoothest possible closing. Upon entering a builder's model center and registering, please tell the builder's sales person that you are working with Pickett Property Group at Keller WIlliams. Why?

Get the real deal for FREE
The prices might look good, but do you know the real story? Is there a reason the price is so low? What additional costs can you expect? We have information on area builders, contracts, taxes, HOAs, school boundaries, lawsuits, road construction, appraisal issues and other factors that you might not uncover when researching on your own.

Who has your best interest at heart?
There are several reputable builders in the Kansas City area, however the builder's primary mission in not to be your advocate. If you work directly with the builder's salesperson, then who is looking our for your interests throughout the selection, negotiation, financing, inspection and closing processes? We can help you throughout the transaction at NO COST to you.

No Cost to you!
Kansas City area builders pay all Realtor commissions. You will not pay more if you work with a Realtor, and you may actually pay less because of negotiation skills and relationships.

The Right Home
A Realtor is also a FREE resource who can suggest communities that you may not have considered before and can help make sure you are able to recoup your costs from floorplans and upgrades when it comes time to re-sell.

The Best Price
Going directly to a builder does not mean you will get the best home, the best deal, or the best advice. We can negotiate additional incentives that otherwise may not have been offered or show you a home in a better neighborhood for less money. Either way, we will make sure you are getting the best deal, help you through the paperwork (contracts, lender arrangements, upgrades, etc), and make sure you get through closing with no surprises.

Avoid Pressure to use a Builder's Lender
Many builders will offer incentives and closing costs assistance if you agree to use their lender, title company and/or other related service providers. This may or may not be a good deal for you. For example, the value of a 3% builder contribution toward closing costs can be offset by hidden fees or interest higher rates. We will offer several different service providers to help find the best fit for you.

Legal & Closing Process
Realtors do not give legal advice, but can point out possible problems and recommend clauses to protect you. We can help facilitate the inspection, financing, title, home insurance, and closing process to ensure a smooth transaction.

For more info on purchasing a new home in the Kansas City area, call Pickett Property Group at 913.787.1870.

I've talked to a few clients in the past few weeks that have mentioned how they would like to wait until Spring to list their homes. And why not? The holidays are far behind, the weather is nicer, and houses tend to look more welcoming when lawns are green and flowers are in bloom. However, there is no time like the present to list your house now and here are some of the main reasons why:

1. The First-time/Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit: The clock is ticking here, folks. You must be under contract by April 30, 2010 in order to qualify. That means as of today, there are only 87 days to get your piece of the pie!

2. Less Competition: Because everyone has that "wait until Spring" mentality, there are fewer houses on the market this time of the year. If your home is priced right and staged effectively, it will sell fast. Recently, I've seen houses get offers after being on the market for only a week.

3. More Competition: Among buyers, that is! Again, with fewer houses on the market and more buyers out there trying to take advantage of the tax credit, you stand to see multiple offers on your home if priced and staged right.

Some other benefits include:

• Smoother, efficient closings with title and mortgage companies.
• By the time you close on your existing home, you'll have more to choose from when it's your turn to buy.
• Lastly, if you have children in school, by listing your home now, you'll have plenty of time to move and be settled before the new school year starts.

If you have any questions about the current market, listing your home, or buying a new home, please feel free to contact us. We're here to help!

Living in Grey Oaks in Shawnee, KS, I've seen an increase in the number of existing homes that are available. This, of course has increased the competition for the developer, who still has some existing specs available...not to mention plans to open the next phase soon. I have several clients that are looking not only in Grey Oaks, but also in other developing communities as well, and they all ask...which is better, new or existing? They both have their pluses and minuses, so it's really up to each individual buyer's preference, time frame, and goals. From a developing, new community perspective, let's take a look at some of these:

New

Building a new home offers flexibility to have things the way you like, but there are some possible drawbacks as well. The most obvious benefit? You can have everything your way both structurally and design-wise and everything will be brand new. This means appliances will be under warranty and the construction materials and building codes will be up to the latest standards. In addition, many developers offer specials and incentives to move their inventory, so you may be able to reap some benefits such as free upgrades that way.

However, inclement weather, problems with obtaining the proper materials, delayed inspections or an overstretched general contractor, can bring significant delays...which can put you in a time crunch and possible financial stress. Overall cost is another factor to consider also. To make your new home as nice as the model won't come cheap. The lot, new fixtures, blinds, and other upgrades will add thousands to your final price.

Existing

The biggest pros here are going to be convenience and cost. In most cases, you can close and be living in your new existing home in 30-45 days. And depending on the neighborhood, your landscaping will be more mature compared to a new home, where you may have additional costs to fill out the yard. Financially, you may find more value to your money with an existing home, as the environment is more open to negotiate the price down and appliances and fixtures are often included.

The most common negative here is going to be that the house is not exactly what you want...whether it's the colors, the fixtures, or a floorplan that doesn't exactly fit your needs. Most cosmetic issues can easily be addressed, as part of the negotiations or as a small investment on your part after closing. Also, depending on the age of the home or it's current condition, there may be some repairs or renovations required, so that will have to be a consideration as well.


Owning a home is a great experience, but you need to be prepared for what lies ahead. Look into both options, talk with your Realtor, and take the path that is best suited for you.

I recently spent some time taking a look at the market statistics for my neighborhood, Grey Oaks. Within the past 12 months, 15 homes sold. The average sales price was $320,087, with a subdivision price range variance from $240,000-$399,900.*

Currently, we're looking at about 5.4 months worth of inventory in this area, which is still below the national average of 6.5 months, according to the National Association of Realtors. Right now, the average current list price is $376,679...which is approximately $56,000 higher than the average sales price seen over the past 12 months.*



Grey Oaks is a popular subdivision in Western Shawnee. A Rodrock Community, it features:

• Award-Winning Schools in the DeSoto School District (an in-community elementary school and a middle school and high school within walking distance)
• Community pool, cabana, and picnic area
• Playground, walking trails, and sand volleyball area
• Moms Council and community events
• Quick and easy highway access to Downtown, Kansas Speedway, Airport, and more!

Have any questions about Grey Oaks or any other communities in the Kansas City area? Please let me know how we can help!

*Statistics are from Heartland MLS and deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Stats cover approximately 12 months of activity.