Wichita, KS

Wichita was just rated the #2 metro area out of the top 90 in the U.S. for the least commute time for residents and least traffic delays.

McConnell AFB has added 15 air refueling tankers to the 31 tankers already based in Wichita. By October, 48 tankers will be based in the "Air Capital". With the additional people, and projects being completed to support the new planes there will be a $500 million dollar a year impact for the metro area. The KC-135 tankers arrived from bases in North Dakota, California and Georgia. Wichita is now home to one of the largest tanker bases in the USAF.

Cessna has formally cancelled the Columbus Wide Body Business jet. They are paying back $10 million in bonds already given to them by the city and the county. Cessna will revisit the concept once the Business jet market returns.

There have been approximately 12,000 lay offs announced or completed in the last year in the Aviation sector in Wichita since last summer. These lay offs are projected to last 15-18 months before call backs start.

The new 15,000 seat downtown arena is being completed faster than planned. It may be finished 3 months a head of schedule. The arena was fully paid for by a 30 month 1/2 cent increase to the local sales tax.

April, 2009

Peter Greenberg, the travel editor for "Today's show" and the Newsmax Magazine, based in Florida, has named Wichita, KS the Number 1 city for Best American Values. Wichita ranked high in the following areas: Family friendliness, culture, wholesomeness, devotion to religion and community activities. Hospitality and friendly businesses came in next. We were rated lowest in scenic beauty (it is very flat here) and education (the new $300 million dollar bond issue) should help here.

Kansas City and Edmond, OK were the only other Midwest cities rated.

Investors are starting to re-enter the Wichita real estate market as they choose where to invest and ant a more stable market than stocks. Our team has defiantly seen this over the last two months as we sold 8 twin homes, 2 office builds and one strip center.

Kathleen Sabelius, KS Gov. was sworn in yesterday as Health and Human Services Secretary. Mark Parkinson the Lt. Gov. (a Republican turned Democrat) was sworn in as KS's 45th Governor.

Siemens, a German Corporation, will decide this week if Hutchinson, KS (30 miles NW of Wichita) will be the home of its U.S. plant for building Wind Turbines.

Cessna Aircraft Company laid off 4,000 workers at the end of march and has just announced another 1,300 60 day notices to Wichita workers. Cessna is also suspending the building of a new plant for the $27 million Columbus business jet due to the erosion of the business jet market in the U.S. and overseas.

My mother, Myrna Haas, who is also a REALTOR in Wichita, KS is also a breeder of Bichon Frise dogs (we jokingly and lovingly refer to them as bitchin' frizzies). She's been breeding them for roughly 20 years and has some really fantastic dogs that are treated like a part of the family.

If you ever know of anyone who is looking for a reputable breeder, this is one! She's had her dogs go all over the United States to new, loving owners.

Find yourself sitting around thinking I'll never be able to purchase a New Home? Don't feel alone. With the 24/7 broadcasting of doom and gloom about the Credit Crunch is enough to make all of us want to crawl into bed and hide under the covers.

First thing you need to do is get a clear assessment of where you are. Knowledge is power and I want to help you gain that power back. Maybe you have a few late pays, collections, you're buried in credit card debt, or you have never established credit. You CAN and WILL overcome all of these if you're willing to do the work, but you need to work smart.

Make an appointment today 316.729.3736. Together with the help of a Loan Officer we will go over your concerns and layout a game plan to help make you successful.

Sometimes all it takes is a few short months. So let's get you started down the right path to SUCCESS.

Denise M Gray
Coldwell Banker Stucky & Associates

denise.gray@coldwellbanker.com