4 SIMPLE WAYS TO INVEST IN REAL ESTATE
Buying real estate can be more than just finding a place to call home. Most people have to do a real estate transaction at some point in their lives, and …
RENTING OUT ROOMS
Renting out a room in your house is sometimes favorable to leasing the entire property. It offers more flexibility for your own private use of the other rooms, and renting …
DO YOU NEED A REAL ESTATE LAWYER?
Do You Need a Real Estate Lawyer? In certain states, you cannot buy or sell a house unless a real estate lawyer is present. So unless you live in a …
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FORECAST
2019 U.S. Commercial Real Estate Forecast Report The Kansas City retail market experienced another successful year throughout 2018 based on strong market fundamentals that fueled retail growth. Consumer confidence remains …
COMMON ERRORS MADE BY COMMERICAL LANDLORDS
This list summarizes some of the most common errors made by commercial Landlords and their property managers when they find themselves dealing with a defaulting Tenant. 1. LOCKING THE DOORS …
BUYING A HOUSE WITH A FRIEND
You already know it’s going to be fun. Here’s how to buy a house with a friend the smart way. Who says you have to have a romantic partner to …
MARITAL WAIVER IN MISSOURI – Kansas City Real Estate Law
MARITAL WAIVER IN MISSOURI Title companies are required as part of their job to request information in a real estate transaction. One of the most frequent requests involves requesting information …
LEGACY PLANNING
What is Legacy Planning Legacy planning is a financial strategy that prepares a person to bequeath his or her assets to a loved one or next of kin after death. …
2019 REAL ESTATE FORECAST
There’s no doubt about it: the 2018 housing market has seen its ups and downs. The year started with sky-high home prices, historically low mortgage rates and a definitive upper …
MECHANICS LIEN LAW IN MISSOURI
Notice provisions of Missouri’s mechanic’s lien statutes (R.S.Mo. 429.005.1, et seq.) grants general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and laborers the ability to assert a mechanic’s lien for labor and materials provided …
WHY REAL ESTATE BUILDS WEALTH
Inflation Inflation is something we all take for granted. The price of everyday goods increases on a gradual basis, and we have no choice but to pay the increased price. …
1031 EXCHANGE VS. OPPORTUNITY ZONE FUND INVESTMENT
No Fees: Almost all 1031 exchanges involve a 3rd party intermediary who charges a fee for the 1031 Exchange. Rolling into a Qualified Opportunity Fund has no fees for the …
FSBO STATISTICS
For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Statistics FSBOs accounted for 7% of home sales in 2017. The typical FSBO home sold for $200,000 compared to $265,500 for agent-assisted home sales. FSBO …
WHAT IS AN UNRECORDED EASEMENT?
What is an unrecorded easement? Easements (those rights someone else has to use part of your property) are typically recorded in the public records of the County in which the …
PROTECTING YOUR HOUSE AFTER MOVING INTO A NURSING HOME
Protecting Your House After You Move Into a Nursing Home While you generally do not have to sell your home in order to qualify for Medicaid coverage of nursing home …
11 QUESTIONS TO ASK IF YOU ARE THINKING FSBO
11 Questions to Ask If You’re Thinking ?FSBO? When the time comes that you decide you want to sell your home, the question you might ask yourself is, ?Should I …
CURRENT REAL ESTATE TRENDS
Okay, 2018 was quite the tease in the housing market. The year started out hot, only to taper off halfway through. But plenty of Americans still traded their For Sale …
7 SIGNS YOU ARE READY TO SELL YOUR HOUSE
7 Signs You’re Ready to Sell Your House Should I sell my house? If you’ve been asking yourself this question lately, we’ve got good news: It’s a great market for …
MINORS AND REAL ESTATE
There are times when a minor is in title. Maybe the deed from Mom & Dad says ?Susan B. Jones, a minor.? Or, when she shows up to sign papers, …
BUNDLE OF RIGHTS?
Bundle Of Rights What is a Bundle Of Rights A bundle of rights is a set of legal rights afforded to the real estate title holder. It can include the …
ELEMENTS OF A REAL ESTATE CONTRACT
ELEMENTS OF A REAL ESTATE CONTRACT REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS Once you have found the house that you want to buy, its time to make an offer. Once the seller …
SHOULD YOU SELL YOUR PARENTS HOME AFTER THEY LEAVE?
If your parent owns a house, one of the decisions you need to make now is whether or not to hang on to the house or go ahead and sell …
MELLENNIALS AND REAL ESTATE
Whether you’re a real estate agent or broker, it’s hard to deny that millennials ? those born in the years between 1982 and 2004 ? continue become the largest group …
MECHANICS LIENS IN MISSOURI
Drafting a mechanic’s lien and ?notice of intent? (?429.100) involves crucial steps that can be harmful to your case if overlooked. Whether you forgot to verify the ?just and true …
BEST AREAS TO INVEST FOR REAL ESTATE APPRECIATION
The question is not why, but WHERE to invest in real estate. When choosing the location of a rental property, a real estate investor puts a number of factors as …
DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS IN MISSOURI
You are thinking of moving, and want to put your Missouri home on the market. Most states have legislation that would require home sellers to give an extensive written disclosure …
WHAT IS A QUIT CLAIM DEED? – Kansas City Real Estate Law & Deeds Online Video Caonsultations and Legal Services Help
General Warranty Deed Vs Quitclaim Deed To understand what a quitclaim deed is, its useful first to understand general warranty deeds. A general warranty deed is the most common …
2019 REAL ESTATE FORECAST
There’s no doubt about it: the 2018 housing market has seen its ups and downs. The year started with sky-high home prices, historically low mortgage rates and a definitive upper …
20 REASONS TO INVEST IN REAL ESTATE
#1: 90% of millionaires have become a millionaire as a result of owning real estate. It adds substantially to your net worth. INVEST IN REAL ESTATE #2: Entrepreneurs have a …
THE NIGHTMARE OF WORKING WITH MORTGAGE COMPANY ON RESTRUCTURING LOAN
With an eviction looming, Karen Pettit, a disabled 52 year old Slidell, Louisiana woman documents her frustrating experiences and obstacles faced when trying to find promised relief and governmental assistance …
JUDICIAL VS. NON-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE IN MISSOURI
MISSOURI Conveyance is by warranty deed. Deeds of trust are the customary security instruments and allow private power of sale. The trustee must be named in the deed of trust …
ROY COHN’S INFLUENCE ON DONALD TRUMP
They came together by chance one night at Le Club, a hangout for Manhattans rich and famous. Trump introduced himself to Cohn, who was sitting at a nearby table, and …
IS AN ATTORNEY REQUIRED FOR A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION?
The process of buying or selling your home is quite complex, so you are fortunate to have a real estate professional to guide you through some of the process. However, …
5 WAYS TO GIVE YOUR HOME TO YOUR CHILDREN TAX FREE
5 Ways to Give Your Home to Your Children Tax-Free Before the days of estate taxes, children simply moved into the family home and took over the master bedroom after …
2019 COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TRENDS
18 Commercial Real Estate Trends To Dominate In 2019 National December 11, 2018 Champaign Williams, National Editor Want to get a jump-start on upcoming deals? Meet the major players at …
HOW MILLENNIALS ARE CHANGING REAL ESTATE
I remember buying my first home with my wife. I will never forget the feeling of walking in together for the first time as homeowners. It was a defining moment …
HOW TO USE REAL ESTATE ASSIGNMENT CONTRACTS FOR INVESTING
Visualize a real estate purchase contract with just a few extra words added to your name as the buyer. This would look something like this: “Buyer: John J. Doe, and/or …
WHY YOU SHOULD SELL YOUR HOME IN 2019
Homeowners looking to sell should consider 2019 a prime opportunity to cash in. Few people are predicting that 2019 will be a record-breaking year for home prices. But relatively speaking, …
WHAT THE FED’S RATE HIKE WILL MEAN FOR AMERICA’S WAVERING HOUSING MARKET
What the Fed’s rate hike will mean for America’s wavering housing market As 2018 winds to a close, the housing market has shown signs of a slowdown, and now the …
OUR OFFICE SERVES THE FOLLOWING MISSOURI COUNTIES IN THE GREATER KANSAS CITY AREA
Jackson County, Clay County, Platte County and Ray County and the communities of Kansas City, North Kansas City, Raytown, Grandview, Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Independence, Richmond, Liberty, Excelsior …
DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS AND FORMS OF RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE
Different definitions and forms of residential real estate POSTED ON JANUARY 28, 2016 BY MARK Single-Family Home The most common definition of a single-family home is: An individual, freestanding, unattached …
HOW TO USE YOUR BASEMENT AS A RENTAL
Renting out part of your home can boost cash flow, but first take a look at what it takes to be a landlord. By Pat Mertz Esswein, August 2011 Homeowners …
THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST IN REAL ESTATE IN KANSAS CITY
THIS IS WHY INVESTORS SHOULD INVEST IN REAL ESTATE IN KANSAS CITY POSTED ON OCTOBER 30, 2018 BY MARK Kansas City Real Estate Kansas City is the largest city in …
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FEAR YOUR HEIRS WILL MISUSE AN INHERITANCE
You may have a substantial amount of money and assets to leave behind to your children. However, a conundrum many people find themselves in is that they want to provide …
MORE U.S. HOUSEHOLDS ARE RENTING THAN AT ANYTIME IN THE PAST 50 YEARS
A decade after the housing bust upended the lives of millions of Americans, more U.S. households are headed by renters than at any point since at least 1965, according to …
RENTING VS BUYING?
RENTING VS. BUYING? At what cost, percentage wise, is it better to rent than buy, if you plan on staying at a given location forever? Buying a home is likely …
COMPONENTS OF A REAL ESTATE CONTRACT
In writing It is a legal requirement in all jurisdictions that contracts for the sale of land be in writing to be enforceable. The various Statute of frauds require contracts …
COMPONENTS OF A REAL ESTATE CONTRACT
In writing It is a legal requirement in all jurisdictions that contracts for the sale of land be in writing to be enforceable. The various Statute of frauds require contracts …
COMPONENTS OF A REAL ESTATE CONTRACT
In writing It is a legal requirement in all jurisdictions that contracts for the sale of land be in writing to be enforceable. The various Statute of frauds require contracts …
LLC VS LLC WITH S CORP ELECTION – BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
LLC Electing S Corp Status: The Best of Both Worlds It isn’t either/or when choosing an LLC or S corporation. You can have the best of both worlds. Structuring your …
HOW TO GIVE YOUR HOME TO YOUR CHILDREN TAX FREE
Before the days of income and estate taxes, adult children often just moved into the family home after their parents died. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple anymore. There are several …
IS LOCATION REALLY EVERYTHING?
Ask just about any real estate agent to list the three most important things a property should have, and you’ll likely hear: ?location, location, location.? That phrase has been in …
6 THINGS HOME SELLERS ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE
Denise Supplee and her husband, Jerry, had been in their new home in Horsham, PA, for just three months when they started to notice something strange in their bathroom. ?You …
2018 KANSAS CITY REAL ESTATE MARKET
Kansas City Real Estate ? Market Trend & Forecast 2018 According to Zillow.com, the median home value in Kansas City is $136,200. Kansas City home values have gone up 10.5% …
DIVORCE
By Jenny Page Financial Stability After Divorce While Millennials have proven to be a boon for the marriage statistics, this sentiment cannot be echoed for the over fifties. Baby Boomers …
TAX CHANGES FOR SELF EMPLOYED REAL ESTATE AGENTS
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has created a lot of uncertainty as well as a lot of opportunity in the tax world. This is especially true in the …
MARRIAGE AND REAL ESTATE
Family law issue Married couples usually own most, if not all, of their valuable property together. If you want to leave everything to your spouse, as many people do, you …
REAL ESTATE SYNDICATION
Real Estate Syndication Real estate syndication is ?crowdfunding for real estate? before crowdfunding for real estate ever existed. In its most simple form, both syndication and crowdfunding involve pooling capital …
COST OF BUILDING A HOUSE
Cost of Building a House Many things, including building materials, could affect the price of your new home. Two of the more prominent factors are regulatory costs and level of …
12 WAYS TO BEAT CAPITAL GAINS TAX IN THE AGE OF TRUMP
12 Ways To Beat Capital Gains Tax In The Age Of Trump Ashlea EbelingForbes StaffPersonal Finance I write about how to build, manage and enjoy your family’s wealth. Shutterstock Got capital …
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR HOME’S ASSESSED VALUE AND MARKET VALUE?
What’s the Difference Between Your Home’s Market and Assessed Value? Understanding your home’s value is an important part of knowing your net worth, what you’ll likely receive if you sell …
THE FUTURE OF REAL ESTATE WITH FEWER AGENTS
The Future of Real Estate ? With Fewer Agents? Here’s a look at potential changes to how consumers shop for a home and close a deal. The Future of Real …
HOUSING; THEN, NOW, FUTURE
Housing: Then, Now, and Future by Moya K. Mason Houses have changed a lot over the last three hundred years. Availability of construction materials, development of indoor plumbing and heating …
THE TRUTH ABOUOT REAL ESTATE PRICES
The Truth About Real Estate Prices By Lisa Smith October 25, 2017 ? 6:24 AM EDT The layman’s theory of real estate goes something like this: The Pilgrims arrived. They …
DIVORCE AND FINANCES
Financial Stability After Divorce While Millennials have proven to be a boon for the marriage statistics, this sentiment cannot be echoed for the over fifties. Baby Boomers experienced a 109% …
THINGS TO CONSIDER IF YOU ARE A FOREIGNER AND YOU ARE BUYING OR SELLING PROPERTY IN THE UNITED STATES
Foreigner Selling Property in USA If there is ever a market that is always soaring and nothing dissuades it except a natural or human catastrophe, then it is the ever …
CAN NON US CITIZENS OWN REAL ESTATE IN THE UNITED STATES?
Can Non-citizens Own Land or Property? Regulation of land ownership rights for non-U.S. citizens is generally reserved to the states. But generally speaking, aliens and non-nationals are allowed to …
CAN A NON US CITIZEN GET A MORTGAGE IN THE UNITED STATES?
Can a non-U.S. citizen get a mortgage in the U.S.? The short answer is yes. “You do not have to be a citizen of the United States to purchase real …
IS THE REAL ESTATE MARKET GOING THE WRONG DIRECTION?
If you’re a real estate agent, odds are you haven’t been closing as many deals lately. A slowdown in new construction and a short supply of existing homes for sale …
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FSBO PROCESS
FSBO means for sale by owner. When you sell a home, one of your first decisions is whether to FSBO (for sale by owner, pronounced fizz-bo) or hire an agent. …
ELDERLY AND REAL ESTATE FRAUD
As the economy continues to flail, many people ? including caregivers and the elderly ? are looking for ways to get ahead on finances ? or in many cases, just …
TOP 10 ISSUES EFFECTING REAL ESTATE
1. Interest Rates & The Economy For years the market has anticipated rising interest rates. With the Federal Reserve now nudging rates upward, flattening of the yield curve is underway. …
HAPPY VETERANS DAY
The United States Congress adopted a resolution on June 4, 1926, requesting that President Calvin Coolidge issue annual proclamations calling for the observance of November 11 with appropriate ceremonies.[2] A …
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT REAL ESTATE CLOSINGS
If you?ve entered into a contract to purchase a home, your transaction won’t be final until closing. Most buyers have many questions about the process, including: What is closing? Closing …
KANSAS VS. MISSOURI FORECLOSURE LAW
Missouri The first thing to understand about mortgages in Missouri is that Missouri uses ?deeds of trust? to record property ownership. A deed of trust is a document (filed in …
REAL ESTATE AND SCAMMERS
Scams targeting real estate transactions are on the rise, according to the FBI. Experts say there are many simple ways that consumers and real estate professionals can protect themselves and …
REAL ESTATE AND MONEY LAUNDERING
If Michael Wolff’s reporting is to be believed, Stephen K. Bannon’s assessment of the most dangerous threat posed by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation is not the one …
MEDICAID AND REAL ESTATE
June 2015 A person can apply for Medicaid to pay for nursing home care or care in the home when the countable, available resources have been reduced to $2,000 plus …
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS IN THE 19TH CENTURY
Commercial Real Estate Developers in the 19th Century Most New York schoolchildren learn that the island of Manhattan was bought by Peter Minuit of the Dutch West India Company from …
USA MEDIAN HOME VALUE 1940-2000
If you want to buy a house this year, you may well be paying around $199,200, the median price for a home in the U.S., according to Zillow. That number …
FSBO-EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FSBO The 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers by the National Association of Realtors? (NAR) found that for sale by owner (FSBO) sales …
SIMPLE WAYS TO START REAL ESTATE INVESTING
Buying real estate is about more than just finding a place to call home. Investing in real estate has become increasingly popular over the last 50 years and has become …
5 REASONS TO OWN REAL ESTATE
Real estate is a great investment for many reasons. You can enjoy an excellent rate of returns, amazing tax advantages and leverage real estate to build your wealth. Here are …
THE IMPORTANCE OF WINDOWS IN A HOUSE
No house can be complete without any windows. Windows facilitate the entry of natural light indoors. They enable the occupants of a house to enjoy the views of the neighbourhood …
HOME PRICES HAVE RECOVERED BUT DEMAND HASN’T
U.S.home prices have rebounded from the 2008 housing market crash, but demand is still low due to changes in living and buying habits of millennials, real estate mogul Sam Zell …
TINY HOUSES
As a rule, people in New York wish for smaller places to live about as often as people on airplanes wish for smaller seats. I used to dream sometimes that …
THIS IS WHY INVESTORS SHOULD INVEST IN REAL ESTATE IN KANSAS CITY
Kansas City Real Estate Kansas City is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, famous for its distinct barbeque cuisine and jazz heritage. Also nicknamed the City of …
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ROOFING
ROOF SYSTEM COMPONENTS All steep-slope roof systems (i.e., roofs with slopes of 25 percent or more) have five basic components: Roof covering: shingles, tile, slate or metal and underlayment that …
5 REASONS TO CONDUCT REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF YOUR RENTAL PROPERTIES
5 Reasons to Conduct Regular Inspections of Your Rental Properties 1. Ensure Your Tenants Are Complying With the Terms of the Lease: Do you know if your tenant has a …
WHAT IS REAL ESTATE DEPRECIATION?
One reason you might be thinking about investing in rental properties is because you think you’ll save money on federal income taxes. While this may be true, you really need …
REAL ESTATE AND MARRIAGE
Most states, except those listed as community property states, below, use the “common law” system of property ownership. In these states, it’s usually easy to tell which spouse owns what. …
8 WAYS TO KNOW IF ITS A GREAT REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
1. Check For Zoning Issues And Liens Generally speaking, one way to tell is when a property has a characteristic or complication that leads to an automatic “no” for the …
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF REAL ESTATE
If you’ve ever house-hunted, you’ve probably got a sense that real estate purchases don’t represent consumers at their most rational. Did you like a house or apartment more, or less, …
WHY CLEANING AND INSULATING YOUR ATTIC IS SO IMPORTANT
Most people don’t think twice about cleaning and insulating their attics. At least, not until strange smells, rodent infestations, or other annoying issues appear and force them to take a …
WHAT IS A LEASE OPTION? WHY WOULD YOU USE A LEASE OPTION?
A lease option (more formally Lease With the Option to Purchase) is a type of contract used in both residential and commercial real estate. In a lease-option, a property owner …
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FSBO? LAWYER/BROKER SERVICES AVAILABLE
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SELLING YOUR HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER WITHOUT A REALTOR? The biggest reason to consider some form of FSBO is the money you may save. …
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY
History of Kansas City Kansas City, Missouri has been incorporated three different times and has had three different names throughout its history. First, in the 1830s John McCoy established Westport …
HOW SHOULD YOU TAKE TITLE TO REAL ESTATE?
One of the last things most home buyers think about is how to take title to their new house. It’s best to consult a real estate attorney before deciding but, …
FOUNDATION REPAIR
Foundation repair options vary greatly depending on the geographic area and site conditions for the repair. Until the late 1970s, the main repair method simply used concrete. Below is a …
FINAL WALK-THROUGH BEFORE CLOSING – WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Final walk-throughs are not home inspections, even though it might seem that way. It is not a time to begin negotiations with the seller to do repairs, nor is it …
WHAT IS A JUDGEMENT LIEN?
What Is a Judgment Lien? A judgment lien is created when someone wins a lawsuit against you and records the judgment against your property. What is your total debt? A …
FALL 2018 REAL ESTATE MARKET
Fall real estate market trends have started to take shape, and now is as good of a time as any to start deciphering them. What’s more, those investors that can …
ROLE OF MEDIATION
Real Estate Disputes come in all shapes and sizes. For instance, imagine a dispute where the seller disclosed the basement leaked a half an inch and the realty is the …
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IF I DISCOVER AN UNDISCLOSED DEFECT IN MY HOUSE AFTER TAKING POSSESSION?
What if something was wrong with your newly bought house at the time of purchase, and someone — the seller, the seller’s agent, or the inspector — could or should …
WHAT BANKS ARE LOOKING AT TO GET APPROVED FOR A HOME LOAN
Are you ready to buy a house, or in the planning stages of a home purchase? Either way, it helps to know what banks look for when they evaluate your …
WHAT IS A DEED IN LIEU OF FORECLOSURE?
A deed in lieu of foreclosure is a deed instrument in which a mortgagor (i.e. the borrower) conveys all interest in a real property to the mortgagee (i.e. the lender) …
3 REASONS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO PRICE YOUR HOME TO SELL
3 Reasons Why It’s Important to Price Your Home to Sell The ?right? price is one that’s in tune with what similar homes are selling for in your market. It’s …
KANSAS CITY HOME VALUES 2016 TO 2017
Missouri home values 2016 to 2017 Metropolitan area Q2 2016($000s) Q2 2017($000s) Change Cape Girardeau, MO-IL 148.8 146.5 -1.5% Columbia, MO 174.6 183 4.8% Kansas City, MO-KS 188.6 201.7 6.9% …
VERY GOOD TIPS FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS
Buying a home can be nerve-racking, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer. These tips will help you navigate the process, save money and avoid common mistakes. We organized them …
11 QUESTIONS TO ASK IF YOU ARE THINKING FSBO
When the time comes that you decide you want to sell your home, the question you might ask yourself is, ?Should I list my home with a Realtor or try …
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MISSOURI TAX SALE PROCESS
Missouri Tax Sale Process Getting Started Will I need special equipment or software? No. To participate in the auction from your own home or office, you need only have …
WHEN TO HIRE A REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY IN AN FSBO SALE TRANSACTION
Every seller pays for a real estate attorney or title company whether they sell a house with an agent or FSBO. Hire a lawyer to protect your home sale and …
CAN YOU SUE A SELLER IN MISSOURI FOR FAILURE TO DISCLOSE KNOWN ADVERSE MATERIAL FACTS?
CAN YOU SUE A SELLER IN MISSOURI FOR FAILURE TO DISCLOSE KNOWN ADVERSE MATERIAL FACTS? When you bought your home in Missouri, you assumed that it was in perfect condition. …
MILLENIALS ARE GIVING UP ON PURCHASING A HOME
Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman has been known for making some strong statements about the housing market, and last week he issued his latest proclamation, warning of a slowdown that is …
ZILLOW SHARES FALL 9% ON NEWS THAT IT PLANS TO START SELLING ITS OWN HOMES OFF OF THE PLATFORM
Zillow shares plunged 9 percent on Friday after the online real estate database company announced it will begin buying and selling homes, a capital-intensive endeavor. With Zillow’s new program,announced on …
FSBO STATISTICS
For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Statistics FSBOs accounted for 8% of home sales in 2016. The typical FSBO home sold for $190,000 compared to $249,000 for agent-assisted home sales. FSBO …
REAL ESTATE STATISTICS
Overview of the Real Estate Market 5.51 million existing homes were sold in 2017, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS?. 612,000 newly constructed homes were sold in …
FSBO – PROBLEMS TO LOOK OUT FOR
How to Sell Your House Without a Realtor You’re ready to put your house on the market, and you?ve decided to go it alone. Are you really saving money? By …
WHAT ARE THE SERVICES OF A REAL ESTATE BROKER?
Types of services that a broker can provide Real Estate Services are also called trading services by some jurisdictions. Since each province’s and state’s laws may differ, it is generally …
4 EASY STEPS TO A GREAT WHOLESALE DEAL
The real estate market is roaring back! And today’s market can be good news forwholesalerswho learn to capitalize on these opportunities. The real estate market is roaring back! One of …
10 HABITS OF SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE INVESTORS
Joint ventures, wholesaling and property management are just a few of the ways investors can profit from real estate, but it takes a little savvy to become successful in this …
FSBO WHEN TO HIRE A REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY
Every seller pays for a real estate attorney or title company whether they sell a house with an agent or FSBO. Hire a lawyer to protect your home sale and …
FSBO 11 BEST FSBO WEBSITES
11 Best For Sale by Owner Sites 2018 By Allison Bethell on April 22, 2018 | Real Estate Investing | Comments (4) A for sale by owner (FSBO) is a …
FSBO SELLERS IN A DOWN MARKET
Tough times can motivate, frustrate agent-less sellers Four years ago, when Judy Cruz decided to try to sell her house on her own, it couldn’t have been easier. She struck …
HOUSING TRENDS SINCE 1950: THE DIFFERENCE WILL SHOCK YOU
Housing Trends Since 1950: The Difference Will Shock You For the last few years, home buyers have done battle with some challenging housing trends: fewer homes to choose from, rising …
THE POST INDUSTRIAL ERA IS OVER
The Post-Industrial Era Is Over ByLESTER C. THUROW The sun is about to set on the post-industrial era. No one should mourn its passing. In the post-industrial era, service jobs …
HOW THE INTERNET CHANGED REAL ESTATE
How the Internet Changed Real Estate For many years, real estate agents were the single most important gatekeepers of information regarding local real estate. If you wanted to know which …
HOW TO FILE A MECHANICS LIEN IN KANSAS
Make Sure Your Kansas Mechanics Lien Has the Required Information It is crucial to make sure your Kansas mechanics lien contains all of the information specifically required by Kansas? lien …
TOP TIPS FOR FILING A MECHANICS LIEN IN MISSOURI
Drafting a mechanic’s lien and ?notice of intent? (?429.100) involves crucial steps that can be harmful to your case if overlooked. Whether you forgot to verify the ?just and true …
CHARACTERISTICS OF BUYERS AND SELLERS OF REAL ESTATE IN 2017
Buying a primary residence for home buyers is a financial decision but also an emotional decision that involves many lifestyle factors. For most home buyers, the purchase of am primary …
REAL ESTATE ASSIGNMENT CONTRACTS
Visualize a real estate purchase contract with just a few extra words added to your name as the buyer. This would look something like this: “Buyer: John J. Doe, and/or …
THE BASICS OF WHOLESALING REAL ESTATE
I’m not here to puff up real estate investing, nor to convince people that they can get rich quick in the business. However, there are people getting pretty nicely compensated …
CONTINGENCY CLAUSES IN HOME PURCHASE CONTRACTS
A contingency clause defines a condition or action that must be met for a real estate contract to become binding. A contingency becomes part of a binding sales contract when …
LONG TERM REAL ESTATE APPRECIATION RATE IN THE U.S.
Long-term real estate appreciation rate in the U.S. Before we talk actual real estate appreciation rates, let’s talk about why you’d want to know what they are in the first …
FSBO – 50 FREE MARKETING WEBSITES FOR FSBO SELLERS AND BUYERS
If you’re anything like me, you can ALWAYS use another online platform to advertise your property listings ? especially when that platform is FREE. In this blog post, I’m going …
FSBO – INSPECTIONS
Real estate inspection. The three little words can cause palpitations in even the sturdiest souls. For potential homebuyers, a real estate inspection means the house they have recently fallen in …
FSBO – 6 REASONS TO HIRE A LOCAL REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY
Buying or selling a home is best done with some assistance. Real estate brokers have access to the Multiple Listing Service in their geographical area and have obtained the educational …
FSBO – TOP 11 FSBO MARKETING WEBSITES
The top 11 FSBO Marketing Wesites To determine the best for sale by owner sites, we looked at a variety of factors including how much it costs to list your …
FSBO – THE IMPORTANCE OF TITLE INSURANCE
Title Insurance What is a Title? A title is the evidence or right a person has to the ownership and possession of land. A defect in the title can be …
FSBO – HERE ARE THE SECRETS
Selling your home means making dozens (if not hundreds) of decisions, starting with whether to work with a real estate agent. While the vast majority of homeowners hire a listing …
FSBO – THE RIGHT WAY
For those hoping to maximize profits on a home sale, posting a ?for sale by owner? sign in the yard is an appealing option. Real estate brokers typically take 5 …
FSBO – 5 REASONS YOU SHOULD FSBO
5 Reasons You Should For Sale by Owner (FSBO) More and more homeowners are taking advantage of the technology-based tools available to help them list, market and sell their own …
FSBO – WORDS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE – WORDS MATTER
The common saying ?location, location, location? is often but not always true. Though location does affect a property’s value, this value can also shift up and down depending on how …
FSBO – WIN FOR CONSUMERS AND ATTORNEYS
FSBO: Win-Win for Consumers and Attorneys There is value in a diverse new client funnel. Fundamental changes in technology have created new opportunities for lawyers. There may be no better …
CONSIDERATIONS TO MAKE BEFORE INSTALLING A POOL
As summer approaches, perhaps you’re daydreaming about putting in a swimming pool or buying a property with a backyard pool. That way you can take a dip and cool off …
FSBO – HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOUSE BEFORE PUTTING ON THE MARKET
How to Prepare Your House for Sale The little things can make a big difference Every seller wants her home to sell fast and bring top dollar, but it takes …
FSBO – WHO WRITES THE SALE CONTRACT WHEN YOU ARE UNREPRESENTED?
The seller’s agent is typically the person who draws up a purchase agreement, but what happens if the home is for sale by owner (FSBO) and the seller isn’t represented …
UNIFORM RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT OF 1972
The Truth about the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA) of 1972 Written on November 4, 2013 byLucas Hall, updated on December 14, 2015 The Uniform Residential Landlord Tenant …
HOW TO CLOSE A MORTGAGE LOAN IN 15 DAYS
Lollygagging around a real estate transaction can end up killing the deal. Sometimes when you find that perfect house for the perfect price, you need to strike quickly to get …
BUY HOUSE WITHOUT A REALTOR, USE A LAWYER INSTEAD
Want to save money? People have known for a long time that you don’t have to use a real estate agent to buy a home. The 3% commission that the …
FSBO – AGENTS BEWARE
By Dennis Rodkin, Crain’s Chicago Business, Aug. 28, 2014 Condominiums have been selling quickly and at good prices in Lakeview this year, so Matt Sulkowski recently decided to see what …
MORE U.S. HOUSEHOLDS ARE RENTING THAN AT ANY POINT IN THE LAST 50 YEARS
More U.S. households are renting than at any point in 50 years BY ANTHONY CILLUFFO, ABIGAIL GEIGER AND RICHARD FRY A decade after the housing bust upended the lives of …
FSBO SALES ARE DOWN? REALLY?
FSBO is ?down,? but is it really? The 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers by the National Association of Realtors? (NAR) found that for sale by owner (FSBO) sales …
HOW TO TALK TO PARENTS ABOUT SELLING RESIDENCE AND MOVING INTO ASSISTED LIVING
How to Talk to Your Parents About Assisted Living Share: One of the most asked questions regarding senior care involves “the conversation”…or how to talk with your parents about assisted …
WHY CREATE A FOUNDATION?
OVERVIEW As charitable entities, private foundations have proven to be incredibly successful engines of positive change. In the 20th century, private foundations helped bring about everything from Sesame Street to …
WHAT IS A LIVING TRUST?
What is a ‘Living Trust’ A living trust is a type of trust created during a person’s lifetime. It’s designed to allow for the easy transfer of the trust creator …
WHAT IS PROBATE?
What is a ‘Probate’ A probate is a legal process in which a will is reviewed to determine whether it is valid and authentic. Probate also refers to the general …
HOW TO HANDLE TENANTS ABANDONED PROPERTY IN KANSAS
Here are some answers to common questions about handling a tenant’s abandoned property in Kansas. If a tenant leaves property behind, can I dispose of it as I see fit …
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT JOHNSON COUNTY KANSAS EVICTION PROCEEDURE
EVICTION PROCESS STEPS IN THE EVICTION PROCESS In All cases an attorney should be consulted for additional information. 1. NOTICE TO VACATE ? Written three (3) day notice to vacate, …
5 TRICKS TO SAVE CASH ON REALTOR COMMISSIONS
The average 6 percent sales commission that most real estate agents get is a high price to pay, especially if you believe economists who say that realtors don’t sell homes …
HAS THE INTERNET KILLED REAL ESTATE AGENTS YET?
Has the Internet killed real estate agents yet? Back in 2002 when I was first interested in buying a house, I went on the Internet and found lots of houses …
TENANTS IN COMMON VS. JOINT TENANTS
What’s the Difference Between Joint Tenancy and Tenancy in Common? When two or more people own a home, either as a joint tenancy or tenancy in common, each individual owns …
THE AMERICAN DREAM
In 2007, the U.S. economy entered a mortgage crisis that caused panic and financial turmoil around the world. The financial markets became especially volatile, and the effects lasted for several …
HOW SOCIAL MEDIA IS BEING USED TO SELL REAL ESTATE
It’s crucial for home sellers and agents to remain active on social media Millennials now make up 66 percent of the market for first-time homebuyers, and 99 percent of those …
WHAT IS AN IMPLIED-IN-FACT CONTRACT?
An implied-in-fact contract is a form of an implied contract formed by non-verbal conduct, rather than by explicit words. The United States Supreme Court has defined it as “an agreement …
REMEDIES FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT
What are the Remedies for Breach of Contract? There are several remedies for breach of contract, such as award of damages, specific performance, rescission, andrestitution. In courts of limited jurisdiction, …
THE 4 CORNERS RULE FOR CONTRACT DISPUTES
One thing to keep in mind when it comes to contract disputes is that judges will typically reduce the dispute to the lowest common denominator, that is, they’ll narrow the …
12 WAYS TO FOUL UP A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION
12 Ways to Foul Up a Real Estate Transaction By Evan L. Loeffler One would think that the transfer of ownership of real estate from one party to another should …
MCDONALD’S IS A REAL ESTATE COMPANY
The success of McDonald’s can be attributed in part to the taste of the iconic fast food chain’s shakes and burgers. But the real secret sauce has everything to do …
REAL ESTATE AND MARRIAGE
Real Estate and Marriage Married couples usually own most, if not all, of their valuable property together. If you want to leave everything to your spouse, as many people do, …
WORLD WAR II – WOW HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN REAL ESTATE !!!
The most deadly and widespread war in modern history acted as a devilish bellows on the fire of the American economy. Developments in industry, aviation, medicine, electronics and atomic energy …
THE PROBATE PROCESS
The Probate Process The process unofficially ?begins? when a person dies. The person who passed away, known as the decedent, may or may not have left a will (or may …
LAWYERS ROLE IN A RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION
The purchase of a home is often the largest transaction a person will undertake in a lifetime. As a result, a prospective home buyer should take all precautions possible to …
FIXER RATE VS ADJUSTABLE RATE? 15 YEARS VS 30 YEARS
Fixed-Rate vs. Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM) Most every type of home loan program will offer the option of a fixed-rate or an adjustable-rate mortgage. A fixed-rate mortgage will have the same …
UTILITY EASEMENTS
Don’t be startled to discover that you must ‘share? part of your land. In certain types of real estate transactions, it’s not until the middle of the deal that home …
REAL ESTATE PLATS SURVEYS
Plats and Surveys. What do these words mean? If you?ve recently purchased or acquired a tract of land and plan on dividing it, adding to it, or otherwise developing it, …
FSBO vs REAL ESTATE AGENT? ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Selling your home on your own is doable and maybe you don’t need a professional to get the job done but there are some things to consider before committing to …
RESIDENTIAL VS. COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT? ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
What’s better – single family rentals or multifamily properties Even in times like these, as commercial real estate is heating up and it’s more difficult to find good deals, investors …
CAPITAL GAINS ON PRIMARY RESIDENCE
Homeowners already know the many tax breaks that Uncle Sam offers, most notably mortgage interest and property tax deductions. Well, he also has good tax news for home sellers: Most …
From Broke to $4,600/Mo in Passive Income By Age 28
By Brandon Turner I knew it would be the worst day of my life. Throughout my childhood and teen years, I saw it coming. And it scared me to death. …
US Home ownership rate will be at a plateau for several more years
Only about one in four former homeowners who lost property during the housing crash will soon become buyers again as tight credit keeps many out of the U.S. real estate …
Are the days of Real Estate Investment over?
Real estate has been one of the best performing assets since 2009. No, we’re not talking about regular people’s homes. The biggest gains have come from so-called real estate investment …
The effect of Inflation on Housing Prices
A house is a better hedge against inflation than a savings account. Inflation is often defined as a sustained increase in prices for a broad range of goods. Economists explain …
THE NEW URBANISM TREND: LIVING AT THE SHOPPING CENTER
THE NEW URBANISM TREND: LIVING AT THE SHOPPING CENTER The 10-year-old Zona Rosa, the $200 million mixed-use neighborhood up north at Barry Road, is largely credited as jump-starting the latest …
Tips on staging your home for showing prospective buyers
Even with forecasts for a rise in home-improvement spending this year, it’s still going to be a challenge to convince sellers to pay for upgrades that will please buyers. But …
Getting your mortgage paid quickly and not over 15-30 years
For most people, a 30 year mortgage is the easiest path to home ownership. While a 30 year loan makes it a lot easier to land a new home, it’s …
Ten Landlord Legal Mistakes to Avoid
Asking Discriminating Questions A landlord should refrain from asking certain questions to a prospective tenant. This is one of the more serious legal mistakes that landlords make. Because the federal …
Trends in residential real estate
BY BETH BRAVERMAN, The Fiscal Times March 27, 2015 Along with green shoots and chirping birds, one sure sign of spring is popping up in neighborhoods across the country: For …
Is forgiveness of debt on a home loan taxable income?
Unfortunately – this act expired December 31st, 2014, however the exceptions below are still in effect. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation If you owe a debt …
Traditional Sale vs. Auction?
When you hear of a property going to auction, do you immediately assume that the property is in the hands of a bank or a foreclosure company attempting to recover …
Hire an agent or attorney? Get both – Mark A. Roy Attorney/Broker(agent)
It’s no secret that real estate agents earn high commissions. Although the commission is usually paid by the seller, the cost may be indirectly passed on to you. And real …
3 keys to success for investors
Investors should consider three keys to success: 1. Pay off the mortgages. Assuming you purchase property that is profitable from the start, not having a mortgage every month can significantly …
REAL ESTATE SALES SUGGESTIONS
Selling your house can be one of the most tense and emotional tasks you will face in your life. For most, the house became a place to express yourself and …
Sellers Market
All numbers appear to be indicate that as of today 4/9/2015 it is a seller market. If you have a portfolio of properties to sell this would be a great …
Homebuilder confidence is falling
Homebuilders’ confidence fell in October 2014 after four months of gains that had pushed the indicator to the highest level in nine years.
Mortgage rates tumble
Mortgage rates tumbled this week. The 30 loan hit its lowest since June 2013 as Treasury bond yields marked new lows amid concern over global economic weakness.
KC Area sees home sales decline slightly, but prices rise
Sales of new and existing homes was down 1% from July 2013. Existing home sales fell 1% but new home sales were up 2% from 1 year ago. The average …