"Engaged at Union Station": Kansas City Bridal Show - 2012

It is that time of the year...couples are preparing for the wedding season! I went with my niece to the fun bridal show held in the architecturally interesting Union Station in Kansas City. There were so many businesses that cater to new couples from caterers to photographers to reception venues to wedding gowns and tuxedos.

It was packed and busy. Take a quick look at the fun fashion show.

...Then check out more upcoming wedding related shows in Kansas City.

Red Bridge - Kansas City Real Estate Market Report: 3 year comparison 2009-2011

Red Bridge subdivision is busy! In this south Kansas City, Missouri subdivision, the number of homes coming on the market has declined over the Fall and Winter months. But, the good news for homeowners is that the number of actual sales was actually up in December 2011. The market in Red Bridge in Kansas City was stronger than it's ever been in 2011 in the last 3 years. What does 2012 hold for us?

Homesellers and homebuyers can rest assured that the home inventory is still strong, homes are selling - while bargains are still abundant in this buyer's market.

If you need more information on Red Bridge in Kansas City - either as a homeowner who may be interested in finding out your home’s value, or as a homebuyer looking to move into the neighborhood, please feel free to contact me. As a neighbor, I am south Kansas City’s real estate expert!

Zip Code 64114 - South Kansas City Real Estate Market Report: 4 Year Comparison 2007-2011

We have a market in south Kansas City that appears to be on an upswing. The good news includes the fact that sales are creeping back up in Kansas City's 64114 zip code. The range over the last 4 years shows a market in flux, and at it's height with the April 2010 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. So, the federal tax credit helped homeowners in the 64114 zip code sell their homes. But, now with wonderfully low interest rates, and a somewhat depressed market (in some areas) with foreclosures and short sales impacting prices, buyers are able to get what they consider great deals on homes.

Homebuyers were, and continue to be lucky in 3 ways:

1. They got up to $8,000 if they qualified and purchsed a home back in 2010

2. They also get to take advantage of low home prices

3. They were (and are) able to get low mortgage loan interest rates (around and under 4%).

After a peak in August & September, and while the number of new listings are dropping, closed sales were higher in December 2011 than they've been since July 2011. That's good news for sellers and even homebuyers that the real estate market in the south including Red Bridge, Bridlespur and Waldo in south Kansas City appear to be on the upswing a bit and stabilizing. A stable market is a good market! For more details on homes for sale, selling your home - or just more information on the south Kansas City real estate market, please feel free to contact me.

This feels strange...of course I’m talking about the weather! As I look out the front window while I type, I see bare trees but blue skies and kids in tee shirts! Living in Kansas City, 50+ degree temperatures, which we've had for many January days, are not typical for this time of year!
One year ago, I distinctly remember posting photos of various snowy sites around Brookside. We had several inches of snow covering everything. This winter, not even an inch of snow yet–not in this part of the metro area. There are many people very happy about this warmer weather–myself included, to a point. It’s been great for showing buyers homes –no cutting cold winds or crunching down snow to make it to the front door of the house. Don’t have to have the heat cranked up to keep the house warm. We’ve been grilling on the patio just about every weekend! But in another way, I miss the normal winter weather…

It’s fun for the kids to have that unexpected snow day…seeing them watch the crawl on TV, anxiously looking for their school name to pop up on the screen. I love looking out the windows at night, seeing a ‘freshly fallen silent shroud of snow’ (thank you Simon and Garfunkel, for that lovely phrase). Last year when we were snowed in, we had a pot luck dinner with our neighbors–no one was driving anywhere, everyone was home early from work and we threw together a tasty feast for our two families. Bundling up to go out and shovel snow–good exercise! Watching the Brookside youngsters sled down Suicide Hill is a joy. I like throwing on the flannel pj’s and burrowing under the down comforter to watch a movie while sipping hot chocolate, enjoying the blissful cocoon of security inside while Mother Nature storms outside. Will any of that happen before spring 2012 arrives?

Experiencing the very distinct change of seasons is one reason I couldn’t move out of the Midwest. It would be boring for me, always having the same weather year round. So while I am grateful for this warm spell, I am hoping for a real Midwest snowstorm soon, before the lilacs start blooming outside my kitchen window!
(Thanks to my daughter Siena for inspiring this post!)

It's amazing how your personal life mirrors your work!

We are expecting our first baby boy in a couple weeks, and I was thinking how much this "baby process" is like the "buyer process." (OK, go with me here...)

BABIES vs BUYERS
Before you come up with that comment (cry-baby buyers!) there is actually much more!
-- Both are exciting processes with a great reward at the end!
-- Both require lots of supportive people to increase success and enjoyment!
-- Both results can be expensive, but are TOTALLY worth it!

DUE DATE
Hopefully the Buyer will meet their baby house sooner than the 9 months it will take us to meet our baby (but there have been those very particular buyers, right?)

PREPARATION
Are we preparing our Buyers for this process properly? There are lots of people to get to know (me, lender, inspector, etc) and lots of NEW things (PITI, interest rates, HOA, escrow, unacceptable conditions, blah blah blah).

Seems like when I was a new dad: Desitin does WHAT??, receiving blanket, mushy peas in a jar, etc. Hopefully we have been good counselors to our clients to prepare them for what they are getting themselves into!

THE LAST FEW WEEKS
It's the waiting. And waiting. And doing that one thing over and over again. (Am I talking addendums or stocking the diaper holder??)

"Oh, honey... the nursery looks so cute! You finally got the changing table put together! Wow, that car seat DOES fit into the car that way!"....

"What was the measurement of the living room wall? Does that thing in the garage actually stay with the home? When does the trash pickup happen?"....

THE FINAL PUSH
Yes, pun intended. This is where we dads/agents earn our stripes. Seems that Mr. God likes to throw a curveball at our births/deals just to see how we will react to it. Do you have plans that are flexible? Have you thought through what COULD happen? Stay aware, stay energized and finish strong!

WELCOME HOME!
This is what we've been waiting for and working toward all these weeks! Despite the bumps, the struggles, the challenges and unpredictabiliy of it all, WE ARE HERE! Take those hugs and high fives.

But most importantly, take a minute and just take it in. It will be a memory before you know it. Good job, well done, see you next time.

Baby Boy is due March 5, 2012 but dad is hoping for a leap-year baby. Here we go!!