Kansas City is a dynamic city backed by a vibrant arts scene, world-class attractions and an eclectic mix of shops. Whether this is your first visit or Kansas City is like your second home, take time to discover a blend of new and traditional favorites during your next visit.
Options Realty Service, Inc.
Office:913.851.7816
We sell and Rent Kansas city
A Sunsational Summer to Remember
Enjoy hundreds of discounts. Check out our Sunsational Savings & Deals section for top deals to hotels, attractions, restaurants and shops.
> Exclusive! Savings & Deals
> Weekly Featured Offers
> Hot Hotel Deals
> 2-for-1 Specials
Picture Yourself in Kansas City
Five incredible photos. An album of amazing memories. One incredible city. Can you picture yourself in
Kansas City now? No brainer. Learn More
Summer Fun in KC
Sly and the Family Stone had the right idea. Summer is the time for hot fun, and there's lots of hot fun to be had in Kansas City during the sultry summer months. Learn More
Ultimate Weekend: His & Her KC Getaway
She wants to shop and see the museums.
He wants to check out the great barbecue and sports attractions.
They want to run, paint, draw and just overall have fun.
Events Calendar: What to Do, What to Do...
Get the latest on events happening in KC.
> Today
> Tomorrow
> This Weekend
> Next 7 Days
> Next 30 Days
Zack Greinke, AL Cy Young Winner
Congratulations to Zack Greinke the 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner. Greinke's Cy Young season is the fourth in Kansas City Royals history as he becomes the third pitcher to win the award, joining two-time winner Bret Saberhagen (1985, 1989) and David Cone (1994).
Sports & Recreation
Kansas City is a major-league city.
> Sports & Recreation
> Kansas City Golf Courses & Miniature Golf
> Kansas City Chiefs
> Kansas City Royals
> Kansas City Wizards
Arts & Culture: The Art of KC
KC is home to a flourishing visual arts scene and a vibrant performing arts community.
> Arts & Culture
> 10 Must-See Artworks in KC
> Art Galleries
> FREE Museums
Entertainment & Nightlife: Late Night KC
Explore Kansas City's dynamic nightlife and entertainment scene.
> Entertainment & Nightlife
> Nightlife Special Offers
> Bars & Clubs
> Jazz & Blues Clubs
Shopping: Great Stores + Great Savings = KC
You deserve a shopping getaway to Kansas City.
> Shopping
> Shopping Districts
> Shopping 101
> Art Galleries
Kids Guide: Things to Do in KC
Powered by KCKidsFun.com - read through our Kids Guide to KC.
> Best Places to take the Kids to Eat
> Leave Room for Pumpkins
> Explore KC's Historical Side
> Cheaper by the Dozen
> Summer Break in Kansas City
Attractions: Explorers Needed
Kansas City's attractions are all ready for an exciting New Year.
> Attractions
> Just for Kids
> FREE Attractions
> Multi-Cultural Kansas City
Sign Up & Save: Exclusive! Deals & Values
SAVE during your trip with money-saving coupons. We'll e-mail our best offers to you each month. Print the coupons and enjoy the savings during your visit.
| E-mail Address: |
Option Realty Services, Inc. presents Experience Kansas City
Option Real Estate Services, Inc.
Option Management Services, Inc.
Office:913.851.7816
We sell and rent Kansas City.
With a population of 445 thousand, Kansas City, MO. Is the nation's most centrally located major metropolitan area. Set amidst gently rolling hills on the south bank of the Missouri River, Kansas City offers 11,000+ acres of parks and greenways, dozens of lakes, and more than 200 public fountains.
The urban core is experiencing its greatest revival in more than 50 years, with new downtown housing, and KC is also home to several college and pro football, basketball and baseball teams and the NASCAR Kansas Speedway. It's not just a "cowtown" anymore.
Specializing in the Kansas City Metro area real estate market, ... free reports, answers to commonly asked real estate questions, and more. ...
Search rentals in Kansas City
Kansas City real estate, Leawood and Overland Park, KS real estate and homes
Options Rea Estate Services, Inc
7912 Floyd, Overland Park, KS 66204
Office:913.851.7816
The Basics of Making an Offer
A written proposal is the foundation of a real estate transaction. Oral promises are not legally enforceable when it comes to the sale of real estate. Therefore, you need to enter into a written contract, which starts with your written proposal. This proposal not only specifies price, but also all the terms and conditions of the purchase. For example, if the seller offered to help with $2,000 toward your closing costs, make sure that's included in your written offer and in the final completed contract, or you won't have grounds for collecting it later.
REALTORS® have standard purchase agreements and will help you put together a written, legally binding offer that reflects the price as well as terms and conditions that are right for you. Your REALTOR® will guide you through the offer, counteroffer, negotiating and closing processes. In many states certain disclosure laws must be complied with by the seller, and the REALTOR® will ensure that this takes place.
If you are not working with a real estate agent, keep in mind that you must draw up a purchase offer or contract that conforms to state and local laws and that incorporates all of the key items. State laws vary, and certain provisions may be required in your area.
After the offer is drawn up and signed, it is usually presented to the seller by your real estate agent, by the seller's real estate agent, if that's a different agent, or often by the two together. In a few areas, sales contracts are drawn up by the parties' lawyers.
What is in an Offer?
The purchase offer you submit, if accepted as it stands, will become a binding sales contract (known in some areas as a purchase agreement, earnest money agreement or deposit receipt). So it's important that the purchase offer contains all the items that will serve as a "blueprint for the final sale." The purchase offer includes items such as:
Contingencies - "Subject to" Clauses
If your offer says "this offer is contingent upon (or subject to) a certain event," you're saying that you will only go through with the purchase if that event occurs. Here are two common contingencies contained in a purchase offer:
Negotiating Tips
You're in a strong bargaining position, that is, you look particularly welcome to a seller, if:
In these circumstances, you may be able to negotiate some discount from the listed price.
On the other hand, in a "hot" seller's market, if the perfect house comes on the market, you may want to offer the list price (or more) to beat out other early offers.
It's very helpful to find out why the house is being sold and whether the seller is under pressure. Keep the following considerations in mind:
Earnest Money
This is a deposit that you give when making an offer on a house. A seller is understandably suspicious of a written offer that is not accompanied by a cash deposit to show "good faith." A real estate agent or an attorney usually holds the deposit, the amount of which varies from community to community. This will become part of your down payment.
Buyers: the Seller's Response to Your Offer
You will have a binding contract if the seller, upon receiving your written offer, signs an acceptance just as it stands, unconditionally. The offer becomes a firm contract as soon as you are notified of acceptance. If the offer is rejected, that's that - the sellers could not later change their minds and hold you to it.
If the seller likes everything except the sale price, or the proposed closing date, or the basement pool table you want left with the property, you may receive a written counteroffer including the changes the seller prefers. You are then free to accept it, reject it or even make your own counteroffer. For example, "We accept the counteroffer with the higher price, except that we still insist on having the pool table."
Each time either party makes any change in the terms, the other side is free to accept, reject or counter again. The document becomes a binding contract only when one party finally signs an unconditional acceptance of the other side's proposal.
Buyers: Withdrawing an Offer
Can you take back an offer? In most cases the answer is yes, right up until the moment it is accepted, or even in some cases, if you haven't yet been notified of acceptance. If you do want to revoke your offer, be sure to do so only after consulting a lawyer who is experienced in real estate matters. You don't want to lose your earnest money deposit or find yourself being sued for damages the seller may have suffered by relying on your actions.
Sellers: Calculating Your Net Proceeds
When an offer comes in, you can accept it exactly as it stands, refuse it (seldom a useful response) or make a counteroffer to the buyers with the changes you want. In evaluating a purchase offer, you should estimate the amount of cash you'll walk away with when the transaction is complete. For example, when you're presented with two offers at the same time, you may discover you're better off accepting the one with the lower sale price if the other asks you to pay points to the buyer's lending institution.
Once you have a specific proposal before you, calculating net proceeds becomes simple. From the proposed purchase price you can subtract the following costs:
Your present mortgage lender may maintain an escrow account into which you deposit money to be used for property tax bills and homeowner's insurance. In that case, remember that you will receive a refund of money left in that account, which will add to your proceeds.
Sellers: Counteroffers
When you receive a purchase offer from a would-be buyer, remember that unless you accept it exactly as it stands, unconditionally, the buyer is free to walk away. Any change you make in a counteroffer puts you at risk of losing that chance to sell.
Who pays for what items is often determined by local custom. You can, however, negotiate with the buyer any agreement you want about who pays for the following costs:
You may feel some of these costs are none of your business, but many buyers - particularly first-timer buyers - are short of cash. Helping them may be the best way to get your home sold.
Options Rea Estate Services, Inc.
7912 Floyd, Overland Park, KS 66204
Office:913.851.7816
Home Inspections Avert Future Headaches
Suppose you bought a house and later discovered, to your dismay, that the stucco exterior concealed a nasty case of dry rot. Or suppose that when you fired up the furnace in the winter, you discovered a cracked heat exchanger leaking gas into your home. The best way to avoid unpleasant surprises like these is to arrange for a home inspection before you buy.
Home Inspections Help You Avoid Unpleasant Surprises
A good home inspection is an objective, top-to-bottom examination of a home and everything that comes with it. The standard inspection report includes a review of the home's heating and air-conditioning systems; plumbing and wiring; roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, foundation and basement.
Getting a professional inspection is crucial for older homes because age often takes its toll on the roof and other hard-to-reach areas. Problems can also be the result of neglect or hazardous repair work, such as a past owner's failed attempt to install lights and an outlet in a linen closet.
A home inspection is also a wise investment when buying a new home. In fact, new homes frequently have defects, whether caused by an oversight during construction or simply human error.
Getting an Inspector
Real estate agents can usually recommend an experienced home inspector. Make sure to get an unbiased inspector. You can find one through word-of-mouth referrals, or look in the Yellow Pages or online under "Building Inspection" or "Home Inspection."
Home inspections cost about a few hundred dollars, depending on the size of the house and location. Inspection fees tend to be higher in urban areas than in rural areas. You may find the cost of inspection high, but it is money well spent. Think of it as an investment in your investment - your future home.
Some builders may try to dissuade you from getting a home inspection on a home they've built. They may not necessarily be trying to hide anything because most builders guarantee their work and will fix any problems in your new home before you move in. Some builders, in fact, will offer to do their own inspections. But it's best to have an objective professional appraisal - insist on a third-party inspector.
An Inspection Will Educate You about Your House
Education is another good reason for getting an inspection. Most buyers want to learn as much as they can about their purchase so they can protect their investment. An examination by an impartial home inspector helps in this learning process.
Ask if you can follow the home inspector on his or her rounds. Most inspectors are glad to share their knowledge, and you'll be able to ask plenty of questions.
Inspection Timing and Results
Homebuyers usually arrange for an inspection after signing a contract or purchase agreement with the seller. The results may be available immediately or within a few days. The home inspector will review his or her findings with you and alert you to any costly or potentially hazardous conditions. In some cases, you may be advised not to buy the home unless such problems are remedied.
You could include a clause in your purchase agreement that makes your purchase contingent upon satisfactory inspection results. If major problems are found, you can back out of the deal. If costly repairs are warranted, the seller may be willing to adjust the home's price or the contract's terms. But when only minor repairs are needed, the buyer and seller can usually work out an agreement that won't affect the sale price.
Options Rea Estate Services
7912 Floyd, Overland Park, KS 66204
Office:913.851.7816
Why Use a REALTOR® When Buying a Home?
A real estate agent can help you understand everything you need to know about the home buying process.
Not all real estate licensees are the same; only those who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR " ®" trademark on their business cards and other marketing and sales literature.
REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reported that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.
Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments of most people's lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $250,000. If you had a $250,000 income tax problem, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a certified professional accountant? If you had a $250,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Considering the small upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be wise to work with a professional REALTOR® when you are buying a home.
If you're still not convinced of the value of a REALTOR®, here are more reasons to use one:
We supply the best in Credit and background screening for property Management companies all over the country.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2012 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
