Well the cold and snow is here so there are only 20 Open Houses this Sunday between Westport and Waldo. Bundle up and remember to wipe your feet before entering each home!
To see them on your phone or tablet, go to my proprietary Mobile Search link. http://www.kansascityhomes.com/MyHomeMobile.aspx?AgentID=MMORTON
If you have questions or need help seeing homes not open to the public, call your agent. If you don't yet have an agent and need help, call Maria @ 816.560.3758.
Maria Morton,Realtor© Call 816-560-3758. Google Maria
Client Testimonials ♫ KansasCityHomes ♫ Market Reports ♪ FAQ's ♪
*Information obtained from Heartland MLS is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. *This is an eclectic blog combining a little business with pleasure; please consult a licensed professional before making life altering decisions. ♪♫ Scan QR code for homes for sale mobile app:
Maria Morton of Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate is a licensed Real Estate Agent in KS & MO. 816-560-3758 Mobile 816-410-5499 Office 816-410-6302 eFax 435 Nichols Road Ste. 300 Kansas City, MO 64112 Maria Morton Copyright © 2008-2014
This app works all over the Kansas City Greater Metropolitan Area including Prairie Village, Overland Park, KCMO, downtown, midtown, uptown, north of the river, Lee's Summit, Shawnee - just everywhere! If you are not already working with an agent and would like some help selling or buying your next home, call Maria 816.560.3758..
There are currently 5 Active Listings (homes for sale) in Wornall Homestead. Prices range from $195 - 479,000.
2 Sold since the first of the year. One for $199,900 and the other for $395,000 making the average sold price $297,450.
Days On Market is running at 22.
You can see details and photos of the Active and Sold homes by clicking here.
The play house pictured on your right is to be raffled off after the St. Patrick's Day parades.
We are raising money for Harvester's. Enter to win a chance by donating to the Harvester's Go For the Green campaign under the Better Homes and Gardens - Plaza group. $5 = 5 entries to win + the good feeling that comes from feeding the hungry. Thanks for your support! Maria Morton,Realtor© Call 816-560-3758. Google Maria
There are no Pending, Contingent, or BackUp Listings.
3 homes sold in Morningside Park so far this year. Prices were $283,000; 425,000; 657,500. Average Days On Market (DOM) is 90.
The first chart shows Median Home Sale Price in Morningside Park by year. Before you get excited about that apparent huge price increase, let's talk about what it really means in this specific neighborhood.
Morningside Park is right in the heart of Brookside; very popular; great location. There are about 222 homes in the subdivision. Most homes were built in the 19-teens and 20's. They come in a variety of styles and sizes. This is NOT a cookie cutter neighborhood.
When figuring out home values, we consider location, size, condition, amenities, and possible 
financing options. We know that Morningside Park is a highly desirable location in Kansas City. When it comes to each home, though, we must consider the size of the home, lot, and garage spaces. Also, is there a shared drive?
The 2nd chart shows Median Home Sale Price by month. Do you see how varied the prices are? That is not the market jumping erratically up and down; the prices reflect the size, amenities, and condition of each home.
These homes were solidly built at at time when quality was more important than quantity and speed. Even the smaller homes in Morningside Park display a level of craftsmanship rarely found in modern home builds. Architectural details such as the mouldings, tile work, stone work, leaded glass or stained glass windows, pocket doors, and fireplace mantels add value to a home.
With that being said, today's buyers also want some modern components in their home. Things that add value are updated plumbing, updated electric, 200 Amp electric, Google Fiber, modern thermostats, tankless water heaters, extra insulation, and other energy saving features.
What else adds value to an older home? Updated kitchens and baths, closet space, pantry space, main floor bedroom, main level laundry, outdoor entertaining areas, and garage space. Remember, some of these Morningside Park homes were built when not everyone had an automobile. Balancing the home's attractive attributes with the outdated features is something people do when shopping for a home in Brookside. Maria Morton,Realtor© Call 816-560-3758. Google Maria
There are currently
5 Pending Contracts
3 under Back Up status and
7 Sold since the first of the year.
Average Sold Price for a home in Armour Hills right now = $239,333. High = $316,330; low = 160,100.
Days On Market (DOM) is averaging 22.
The chart shows the DOM trend over the last 10 years.
Sales price is up. Time to sell is down. Inventory is low. Call me if you're ready to talk about selling.
Morningside Park Market Report
Wornall Homestead Market Report
St. Patrick's Day Parade times and places + other St. Pat's activities. 
Win a Play House - Chance to win the cute little house by donating to Harvesters Food Bank in the Go For The Green campaign. (See photo of last year's winners below)
To enter to win:
1. Go to Harvester's Go For the Green http://bit.ly/MrPjDe https://vfd.harvesters.org/Index.asp?IdS=000071-BD20EA0
2. Donate under the Better Homes and Gardens Plaza group.
*Each dollar = 1 chance to win the playhouse
*Minimum Virtual donation = $5. If you want to give less, see me in person.
*The house is going to be in the Brookside Parade on Saturday and the main St. Patrick's Day Parade on Monday. After the parades, Harvesters will tell us who the winner is. One of us will contact the winner to make arrangements for delivery. Last year's winners:
Maria Morton,Realtor© Call 816-560-3758. Google Maria
The weather was perfect!
The winner of last year's play house rode on this year's float.
She won by donating to Harvesters in the Go For the Green food drive. (Her grandmother actually may have been the one to buy the ticket.)
We're giving away a house this year too! Enter to win this year's house by donating to Harvesters under the Better Homes and Gardens Plaza group.
http://bit.ly/MrPjDe
Virtual Food Drive donations accepted through 17 March St. Patrick's Day.
Come see our float in the main Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade tomorrow!
Monday 3/17 @ 11am on Broadway from 33rd to 43rd Street. 
Maria Morton,Realtor© Call 816-560-3758. Google Maria
The bunny is not part of the Brookside Art Fair - he was out for Easter. My photos of last year's Brookside Art Fair are missing but know that there will be paintings, sculptures, jewelry, one-of-a-kind clothing, stained glass, and other art on display at the Fair this year. I hope the people who make the chain mail clothing are coming back.
The Art Fair is at 63rd & Wornall Rd.(map) starting tonight, Friday, through Sunday.
Kid friendly, dog friendly, loads of art to buy, food vendors, and if you need a break, there are 80 shops to visit in Brookside!
Maria Morton,Realtor© Call 816-560-3758. Google Maria
You hired me to look after your best interests and give you the benefit of my professional opinion. And, of course, you also told me that you'd like to buy a home of good value. One that will hopefully sell for more than you pay for it today. So, we can certainly look at all the homes you find on the internet, but how about if we also look at some that may offer you more of what you want for a better price to value?
The easiest thing is not always the right thing to do.
When choosing your real estate agent, be sure that they are committed to helping You select the best home for your needs in your preferred price range in a location that is convenient for your life AND that the home values are stable, rising, or expected to rise in that area.
Search all homes for sale @ www.MariaMorton.KansasCityHomes.com
Maria Morton,Realtor© Call 816-560-3758. Google Maria
I'm sure you receive the same emails I get when a bill is up for vote in Congress. You know the ones, Urgent: Take Action Now! from RPAC or your state and local Realtor© associations. I always take time to make the phone call, sign the petition, and/or send the email or letter to my Congressman voicing my support or displeasure with the bill under discussion.
Recently, I've noticed a number of companies offering their services to the general public that concerns me. On the surface, it may seem like a good idea to a homeowner to save money on commission by using these flat fee, limited service, or discount brokers.
It's certainly mildly concerning that a homeowner would choose limited service/representation in the transaction of an asset worth several years of their income but more alarming than that is the possibility that this trend continues. The voice of 1 million Realtors© can make an impact with Congress. What will happen to that voice if more and more people leave the field?
Already, there are about 800,000 real estate agents and brokers who choose not to belong to the NAR and adhere to our Code of Ethics. We all know agents who left the business during the last few years with the recession, banking debacles, and increasing challenges of making a living as a Realtor©. If our voice becomes weaker, who will stand up and fight for homeowner's rights?
The Department of Justice, on this site, seems to be advocating for these reduced service business models. This concerns me on two levels. One, that the DOJ sees fit to steer the public in this manner. And two, that the DOJ does not offer any guidance on how the consumer might choose one of these discount, flat-fee, or limited service brokerages. It seems irresponsible to encourage a homeowner to choose a broker based only on cost.
There is a house listed in our MLS now by a flat-fee broker in Florida. I am not familiar with this company but I worked on a transaction with a limited service broker out of California that was a nightmare. They did not return phone calls. They did not know local law and procedure. They did not return documents according to the timeline defined within the real estate contract. They did not inform their client about the Inspection Period procedure, deadlines, or resolution. My workload was twice what it is in a normal transaction with a competent agent on the other side. My client was able to get very good terms for the house they bought but still, it was a nightmare and I felt bad that the seller did not have good representation.
The long term effects of consumers migrating away from agent representation to flat fee, limited service, and discount brokerages may not be in the homeowner's best interest. It may seem to save them money on commission but in the end could cost them much more than the perceived savings. And not just on the sale of their property.
We, the members of Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors, keep our Heartland MLS up and running with accurate data entered 24/7 as changes occur. Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and all the others pull from our data. We revise our customizable, standardized contracts annually, with occassional amendments mid-year, to reflect changes in real estate law and local procedures. We pay dues to KCRAR, Heartland MLS, the State Board, and NAR. This money keeps all the tools going. Our monetary contributions to RPAC and our state and local political action groups assure we have a voice when bills threaten homeowner rights.
If enough people sell on the cheap, systems could be developed to shoot them through an assembly line from listing to closing. I'm sure the banks would love to get in on that! All of the niceties could be cut out. Sellers could watch instructional videos instead of having their own personal agent to help them evaluate comps. I suppose companies will come up with all kinds of self-help programs to sell to the homeowner. The fees are low now but I'll bet they rise as more people use them. Eventually, the homeowner could end up paying what we charge now in commission but with far less service and no one who really cares about standing up for homeowners' rights. Maria Morton,Realtor© Call 816-560-3758. Google Maria
In Jackson County, MO, the average sale price for homes is $151,324; up 6.7%. Days On Market (DOM) is 85; down 1.2%.
Inventory is decreasing. Prices are rising. Length of time on the market is decreasing. In most areas, the months supply of homes for sale is less than 6 months indicating a seller's market.
We need more inventory. If you want to sell your home, please call Maria Morton @ 816-560-3758.
Maria Morton,Realtor© Call 816-560-3758. Google Maria
Press the red button and Voila! - anyone can buy that house now! Just fill in the online form and you're done! Ha!
Just press the blue button and Voila! - a real estate genie appears in front of the home to open the door at your whim!
Press the green button, fill in the form, and Voila! - the corporation that owns that website will conveniently remove their commission, fees, and charges before transferring the remaining balance to your account.
Is there any reason this cannot or should not be done? Never mind that Ralph Nader, along with hundreds of thousands of citizens, fought and marched and petitioned Congress for years before winning rights of representation for people when purchasing real estate. Never mind that sellers really want only qualified buyers coming to view their homes at all hours.
Let's just move along and pretend that Consumer Rights Advocacy never happened for real estate transactions. Let's just pretend that this seems convenient and will make everyone happy. Heck, we know the banks will love it, right? Zillow and Trulia will make loads of money. What could possibly go wrong?
Remember when we let the greedy buggers maneuver control of our health care away from doctors and give it to the insurance corporations? Heck, that turned out just hunky-dory, didn't it?
♫
Originally published on Wordpress site KansasCityRealEstateWithMaria 9.2.2014 http://kansascityrealestatewithmaria.wordpress.com/2014/09/03/buy-sell-show-me-now/ Maria Morton,Realtor© Call 816-560-3758. Google Maria
This charming tudor has all of its' original details intact. The present owners have lovingly cared and maintained this home for more than 20 years.
Conveniently located just 3 blocks from Governor Stumpy's and all the shops on Gregory Boulevard including Studio 210, Bier Station, Betty Tillotson's Dance Studio, McClain's Bakery, and Center States Tai Chi.
There are 3 good sized bedrooms and 2 baths. 2 bedrooms and a shower bath are up; 1 bedroom with tub bath is on the first floor.
This home has a Tankless Water Heater too!
When you feel like going out, you can stroll up to McClain's Bakery or Governor Stumpy's. When you're in the mood to entertain at home, you'll have plenty of options! BBQ in the spacious back yard; cocktails oaround the kitchen island; formal dining room; or a cozy snack on the screened front porch.
If you have school-age children, Academie Lafayette, University Academy, St. Elizabeth's, St. Peter's, and the new Hale Cook School are all close by.
Offered for $159,000.
Click for Walkable Neighborhood map Call for further details. Maria Morton,Realtor© Call 816-560-3758. Google Maria
There are currently 5 Active Listings (homes for sale) in Wornall Homestead. Prices range from $195 - 479,000.
2 Sold since the first of the year. One for $199,900 and the other for $395,000 making the average sold price $297,450.
Days On Market is running at 22.
You can see details and photos of the Active and Sold homes by clicking here.
The play house pictured on your right is to be raffled off after the St. Patrick's Day parades.
We are raising money for Harvester's. Enter to win a chance by donating to the Harvester's Go For the Green campaign under the Better Homes and Gardens - Plaza group. $5 = 5 entries to win + the good feeling that comes from feeding the hungry. Thanks for your support! Maria Morton,Realtor© Call 816-560-3758. Google Maria
Client Testimonials ♫ KansasCityHomes ♫ Market Reports ♪ FAQ's ♪
*Information obtained from Heartland MLS is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. *This is an eclectic blog combining a little business with pleasure; please consult a licensed professional before making life altering decisions. ♪♫ Scan QR code for homes for sale mobile app:
Maria Morton of Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate is a licensed Real Estate Agent in KS & MO. 816-560-3758 Mobile 816-410-5499 Office 816-410-6302 eFax 435 Nichols Road Ste. 300 Kansas City, MO 64112 Maria Morton Copyright © 2008-2014
