John Currey

Blue Springs, Missouri, centered approx. 20 miles east of downtown Kansas City, MO, and--FWIW--the hometown of American Idol David Cook, has just been recognized as one of 'America's Best Places to Raise Your Kids: 2010' by BusinessWeek Magazine. Reasons cited include award-winning schools, great community amenities, convenient location, and affordability.

And, in a double-win for the region, Runner-up Lee's Summit, Missouri (Musical luminary Pat Metheny's hometown!), is located about 13 miles southwest of Blue Springs.

The Full Story:

Best Place to Raise Your Kids: Missouri--Blue Springs

CONGRATULATIONS to BOTH outstanding Kansas City-metro communities!!!,

-JC/CBA

Whether you are a seasoned professional or just considering getting your feet wet in real estate investing, in the Kansas City metro, the Kansas City Investment Group (KCIG) is for you! This non-profit association is all about education and support in all things related to investing in real estate. A member of the National Real Estate Investors Association (NaREIA), benefits of membership include monthly meetings, networking opportunities, special presentations & seminars, a monthly newsletter, a resource library, and more. Visit online at www.KCIG.org to see all KCIG has to offer.

-JC/CBA

You can feel it in the air. The blue skies and warmer weather, the huge success of the festive St. Patrick's Day Parade just past, the Royals gearing up for opening day in their newly-renovated Kaufmann Stadium, the madness of hosting both an NCAA Regional and the NAIA basketball tournaments this March, and more. It makes you believe: everything's looking up this spring in Kansas City! And, apparently, I'm not alone in thinking this way. Checkout what SmarterTravel.com recently had to say about our ‘City of Fountains' when naming Kansas City one of the top ‘Destinations to Watch' in 2009.

Here's the article:

http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/destinations-to-watch-in-2009.html?id=2778746&page=3

Low interest rates, $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit, a great inventory of available housing with more choices coming on the market daily, homes priced at a discount compared to a year ago, and...everything's looking up this spring for home buyers in Kansas City, too!

-JC/CBA

Doom, gloom--ahh the humanity!!! Listen to the news for 5 minutes or so, and surely it is the end of the world as we know it, right?!!! Well, of course, times are hard for many economically, as I can attest to first hand given that a family member was recently down-sized after 10 years of exceptional loyalty and service to a local company. But, how bad is it here in KC? For those wanting or needing to make a move, or just interested in cutting through all the politics, urban legends, and media hype, I have your answer:

Guest speakers include:

Bob Marqusse - President of the Kansas City Area Development Authority

Allison Holmes - Coldwell Banker Mortgage

Joe Shields - Homestead Title

and others.

Best of all--NO SALES PITCH!!! No worries about the RSVP, we will make room for you!

Hope to see you there!

Best,

-JC

CBA

There’s no hiding Kansas City’s historic Hyde Park Neighborhood, nor should there be, though occupants of the original namesake subdivision might think someone did just that! Having moved to the east of the earliest version, the present day Hyde Park community is bordered to the west by both Hyde and Gilliam Parks, stretching from 31st St. to 47th St., and from Troost Avenue to Gilliam Road. Built in an area that was once a stop for wagon trains along the Santa Fe Trail, the first homes were built there over a century ago in the 1890s. The community grew in desirability and prestige through World War II as the number and variety of the homes increased. Hyde Park features a diversity of architectural styles including Bungalows, Kansas City Shirtwaists, Victorians, Colonial Revivals, and at one time boasted a country club and a nine-hole golf course. Though the area experienced its share of challenges following World War II that included the conversion of a number of the distinguished single-family residences into multi-family dwellings for use as rental properties, a full-scale revival was underway by the mid-1990s that saw many of these once beautiful homes restored to their former glory. Needless to say, an understandably impressive increase in property values followed. The most recent trend in the area is the conversion of several apartment complexes into luxury condominium communities at almost surprisingly affordable price points. Close to Crown Center, Westport, the Plaza, and with highlights including the very special Janssen Place, designations on the National Historical Register, and one of the area’s most active and close-knit neighborhood associations, there truly is no hiding Kansas City’s great Hyde Park Neighborhood!