Blog
3 Reasons Why the Fed Raising Interest Rates Is Good for Home Buyers
If you’re either in the process of buying a house or thinking of jumping into the market, you’re probably well aware that rates have jumped significantly in recent weeks. And that likely doesn’t feel or sound like anything good to you. But what you might not be well aware of is that, according to Chair of the... Read More
Why do agents not have photos of the home?
One of the first things I do when I get to the office is open my laptop, log into the MLS (multiple listing service), and look through all the new listings that came on the market overnight. It still shocks me how many of them come on the market with no photos. The sellers have... Read More
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Barndominium?
As the concept of “home” expands in America to include structures built from shipping containers and 3D-printed homes, one of the most common requests here in the midwest are for what’s called a “Barndominium”. A barndominium is a fully decked-out living quarters combined with workspace, all within a larger restored barn or barn-type metal building on acreage. This year I... Read More
Why Do We Even Need An Appraisal?
I’ve always thought it’s weird that we put so much emphasis on the home appraisal. I understand why we are forced to do them. Before a lender approves a new mortgage or refinance, it commissions a professional appraisal to verify the value of your home. The lender checks the appraisal figure to ensure the home... Read More
This Cracked Foundation is Killing the Sale of your Home
This last week, I had the opportunity to show three homes to one of our buyers. They were all in the same price range of $250,000 to $300,000 and within a few blocks of each other. I’ve literally toured over 10,000 homes in my 17 years in real estate, but it still intrigues me to see... Read More
Why Institutional Investors Are Hurting First Time Home Buyers
Single-family rentals have long been a savvy investment choice for many. For years, small-scale investors have been buying these rentals and maintaining a diverse portfolio. However, in the past five years, institutional investors have caught on to this cash cow and are now scooping up single-family homes in Kansas City at an alarming rate. You... Read More
How to Prevent and Fix Dog Spots in Your Yard
Before we explain exactly how to prevent and treat dog spots in the lawn, why do they happen in the first place? In basic terms, dog urine is actually a fantastic natural fertilizer for your lawn thanks to its high nitrogen content, however, too much of a good thing can cause damage. Read More
McDonald’s is Hiring Robots
I’ve written several articles on customer service in the past because it’s a subject that seems to be completely ignored in today’s business world, but something happened this week that caused me to stop and say, “Wow. That’s interesting.” On Saturday mornings I typically get up early and drive to Starbucks to get a coffee... Read More
The Impact of the Russia-Ukraine War on the U.S. Housing Market
You can’t turn on the news without seeing more live reports from the Russia-Ukraine war, but lately, I’ve had a few of my clients asking how this war might impact the US housing market. Honestly, I really haven’t given that much thought, but I guess it’s because I already know the answer. It really won’t... Read More
Two Winning Strategies to Use in a Challenging Real Estate Market
If you’re in the market for a new home, you’ve probably heard that it’s a challenging time to buy. Inventory is low and competition is high. In this blog post, we’ll discuss two strategies that can help you win in a competitive real estate market: making multiple offers and waiving contingencies. If it’s been awhile... Read More