A Kansas City Real Estate Blog by Realtor, Sarah Snodgrass

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1. Columbine in bloom - thrives on east side of house, 2. Doggie with the Catnip - this low-maintenance perennial loves it here, 3. Tomato Plant - getting bigger every day, 4. Roses in full bloom

I’ve been hearing and reading news reports this week about an 11 week high on mortgage rates. Wow, this sounds pretty scary, doesn’t it? Well, before you start to do anything rash, please understand that rates are currently about 6.2%. This is low people. This is still an excellent rate, a historically low rate. They have been holding fairly steady (except for the usual fluctuations) in the upper 5’s lately (5.8ish), so we are only talking about a minimal change here anyway. So, don’t freak out - and if you have been house hunting, keep on hunting.

Are you a townhome person or a condo person? Generally the difference is that a townhome might have more than one level, private entrance, and it will most likely have an attached garage. I really like the feel of this great townhome in Union Hill. They have attached 2 car garages, 2 bedrooms, and one full and one half bathroom - lots of great space. It is priced at $264,900, which is really competitive with downtown condo prices. Plus, check out the great view of the downtown skyline in their listing photos. Feel free to contact me to learn more about this home, or any others out there!

(Disclosure: All listing info and photos are gathered from MLS (5/29/08). This home is listed in MLS with Reece and Nichols)

I am currently in the midst of a bathroom renovation. It has been an ongoing project for about 6 months now, but we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and I can actually start to imagine a day when I don’t have to shower in the basement. Ahhh! Anyway, the last step we took was to have the bathtub refinished. Our bathroom is small enough that there was nothing we could really do with regards to layout, so since the tub was going to stay in the same place and remain about the same size, I decided to look into the prospect of refinishing. Basically, the argument for refinishing is to save money, keep a perfectly good old tub out of a landfill, as well as prevent yourself from having to tear out a tub and haul it out of your house. Tubs are big and heavy so it could not only be a big job, but if you have to hire someone - it certainly isn’t going to be free.

I made some calls and did some research, and it seems like the going rate in KC is about $350 for tub refinishing. They basically just spray on a new coating that is guaranteed for 5 years, but can last up to 15+ years. Perhaps you are thinking of a big old clawfoot cast iron tub, but they can refinish any other kind of tub or sink too. The photo at left is of my bathtub newly refinished, and it is just an old ceramic tub (i think). According to Nulook Custom Finishes, they can perform the refinishing process on just about any surface, even countertops.

I’ll let you know how I like it once I actually start showering in my bathroom, or if we ever run into any problems, but I’m pretty sure it going to be great. Also, for those sellers out there with a dingy old tub or sink, I would urge you to look into this process - it can really make things look like new and we all know that is what the buyers want!

Recently a couple of my clients have tried to buy or sell a home with termites. Almost every buyer out there conducts termite inspections, and if you don’t - you should! Per our standard contracts, if active termites or past untreated infestation is found, then the seller is contractually obligated to have a pest control company treat. I don’t know what kind of chemicals they use, but I guess that works very well to eradicate them.

You can pretty much see in advance if a home is at risk for having termites - and most of the time they can be prevented. For example, if you go to the garden store and buy a truckload of mulch and pile it up next to your house, you are just inviting the termites. They love wood, and they love mulch. Also, if the mulch is touching your siding - they are just going to start eating your siding too. Also, don’t lean anything up against your house - they will just use it as a ladder to get from the ground to your delicious house.

Treatments range in price from the “value” treatment which makes me nervous for about $400 up to $1000, but I’m pretty sure you can get a good treatment for about $700-800, with a reputable company that you will feel comfortable with.

Don’t be freaked out if they find termites - it is a part of nature. Half the houses I see have been treated for termites at some point - even mine. However, if they are found, you do need to evaluate the extent of the damage. Did the just eat on the outside siding, or have they gotten into your house? The walls? The framing? I have never seen anything that bad, but I hear horror stories now and then.

Yes, I realize May is almost over, but it takes time to crunch all these numbers. We are still having less sales, sales prices are still slightly lower than last year, and inventory is up. So, not great news, but you’ll see from the numbers that this isn’t a drastic market meltdown or anything - just some moderate market correction. So, here you go:

Sales for the entire Heartland area were off for the month by 20%, or 728 units. The average price was down 7.9%, averaging $164,851. Year to date, Heartland sales were off 14.6% to 10,747 units. Average sale price fell 5.5% to $164,937.

By the way, these monthly statistics are available to the general public on the Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors website.

Wow, I’m totally in love with this house. As soon as I walked in I recognized it from a feature in last year’s Spaces Magazine. As I understand it, the house is owned by the editor of Spaces which is no surprise once you see how stylish and well-appointed this home is.  I love the terra-cotta tile flooring, and the choice of paint colors - the light colors and the blue on the walls mix perfectly with the floor color and the dramatic 12-foot high ceilings. Plus, there is a lovely in-ground pool in back with a nice patio surrounding. This is truly a unique home - there is nothing like it around here. Plus, it kinda feels like a vacation house - and who doesn’t want to feel like they are always on vacation. Anyway, here are some photos.

(Disclosure: this home is listed with David Costello w/ Re/Max)

These homes are decor-challenged, but demonstrate what I mean when I say a home has great bones. One is a Drummond built ranch in Prairie Village, in an area with all mid-century modern ranches. (Drummond is a builder who built these modern ranches in the 50s-60s- they are in high demand). It has great spaces, incredible modern lines, vaulted ceilings, skylights, but the real show stopper is how well this home integrates with the outside and its surroundings. It has fabulous decks everywhere, plus it just looks cool. I remember someone once told me that Drummond homes have great “sex appeal”, and it is true. I know it sounds weird, but they do feel cool and sexy. He had purchased one when he was a single young man, and that is what attracted him to it. I think men really like this modern style… The other “pick” is a Cape Cod style home in Roeland Park, located just off Johnson Drive by the site of the old Mission mall/new Gateway development. It feels like grandma’s house - lots of carpet and wallpaper, but seems very well maintained with hardwoods under the carpet and a great floorplan. Big bedrooms, great yard, good closet space, big kitchen, attached garage. With a little modernizing of the decor, paint, maybe some updated kitchens and baths, these homes could both be very very cool. Also, the prices are just right.

(Disclosure: These homes are both listed in MLS. 7815 Chadwick is listed with Reece and Nichols, 4904 w. 58th is listed with Prudential Kansas City Realty)

The city of KCMO and Johnson County, Kansas, both have great online mapping software. I use them often to measure lot sizes, and see a visual representation of the shape of a lot. Plus, it tells you who owns the property. These mapping sites can do much more than that, like show you school districts, parks, trails, and utilities. I keep these web addressed bookmarked for when I need them because I can never seem to find them easily.

Last weekend was the annual Urban Tour, a downtown housing tour coordinated by the Kansas City Downtown Council. It is a great way to see what is new in the way of condos lofts and similar new housing projects in our urban core. The tour is free, and it provides free shuttles, which are constantly running so you are never stranded at any building, and you can get on or get off at your leisure. The tour is geared toward the public as a way of advertising new properties and projects, but I do it anyway. I know its cheating because I am a realtor, but what better way to see a bunch of new stuff than by riding a shuttle and learning about the projects from hosts. I don’t have to do any legwork - it’s awesome! Anyway, if you attended - what were some of your favorite places? If you didn’t attend, then try to make it next year. If it is a nice day outside (last weekend was gorgeous weather), then it is a great way to spend a spring day.

I would say my favorite project that I saw for the first time was 2 places (i’m indecisive). First was City Homes at River Market East which are upscale free standing single family homes, and second was The Summit (photo above) which is a condo conversion in the old antique building across from Fervere Bread (by far best bread in town) and Bluebird Bistro. I wish I would have seen First and Main Lofts (photo at left), because I later learned that they have great balconies and are modern in style which is right up my alley, but I missed out. I’ll check them out later. One more of interest was the Union Carbide Condos. They are in a 1930’s Art Deco building at 912 Baltimore. The building is still in renovations and they don’t have any actual finished units to see, but they do have a model showroom. They looked like they were going to be nice and I’m encouraged because the architect is El Dorado which has a great local reputation, plus that is a lovely downtown street.

I don’t know if you are aware, but this real estate blogger is hitting the big time. I made it into the Wednesday Sun Publication last week! Kurt Kloeblen of Sun Publications stumbled upon my blog and asked me if he could write an article about my use of blogging, social networking, and technology in my business, also about how my husband helps me as my “digital coach”. I was really pleased with the article, and it was fun to be interviewed, though a few of the more seasoned agents in my office sure gave me some serious grief for a few days (you’ll see why when you read the article).