Praire Village, KS - Real Estate Market Update - Jan 2016

City of Prairie Village, KS -  The Real Estate Skinny

Sales / Activity Numbers - November 2014 To Jan 2016

The simple numbers don't lie, this blog is for those that have balance sheet responsibility & / or takes the advice of a good butcher when it comes to their cuts of beef ... if you are thinking about a home upgrade and are in Prairie Village or a neighboring community, now can be a great time for a home upgrade!

1) Inventory in Prairie Village is LOW - Way Low - We have 2 months of inventory to sell and the equilibrium point is 6 months... Sellers Market.

2) On the flip side rates are still great - so buyers that are getting in now with easy rates under 4% on a 30 year fixed are going to be happy as rates creep up over the next year.

3) The KC market is foretasted, and specifically Prairie Village / Johnson County is poised for a 6% home appreciation in home value.  What does that mean exactly... if you buy a $250,000 house today a the good interest rates, one year from now it is due to appraise for $265,000 without you sinking in another dollar (but keeping it up).  Check out this interesting article for more information about the KC market forecast for 2016!

Have a look at the full report from Wichita State University - WSU:

2016 KC / Kansas City Housing Forecast

WOW - Prairie Village, Cape Cod - 7184 BUENA VISTA STREET PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS 66208

7184 Buena Vista St, Prairie Village, KS 66208

$300,000

The Bubb Cribb Team @ ReeceNichols - PV Experts!

KEY FEATURES
Year Built: 1948
Sq Footage: 1860 sqft.
Bedrooms: 3 Beds
Bathrooms: 2 Baths
Floors: 2
Parking: 1 Garage
Laundry: In Unit
Lot Size: 0.25 Acres
HOA/Maint: $25
Property Type: Single Family House

DESCRIPTION

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Stunning 3 bedroom, 2 bath PV Cape Cod. 2nd floor Master Suite w/sitting area. Master bath with dual vanities & new tile shower. 2 bedroom on first floor with hardwoods. Huge first floor laundry with tons of storage. Expanded Kitchen/Dining room. Very close to school & shopping. Fresh paint, new stove, move in ready! Don't miss this Gem!

PROPERTY FEATURES

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• Living room
• Dining room
• Walk-in closet
• Master bath
• Family room
• Storage space
• Pantry
• Basement
• Attic
• Sun room
• Range / Oven
• Refrigerator
• Dishwasher
• Microwave
• Garbage disposal
• Freezer
• Balcony, Deck, or Patio
• Fenced yard
• Lawn
• Porch
• Heat: forced air
• Central A/C
• Air conditioning
• Ceiling fans
• Double pane / Storm windows
• Cable-ready
• High-speed internet
• Wired
• Hardwood floor
• Tile floor
• Fireplace
• High / Vaulted ceiling

COMMUNITY FEATURES

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• Security system
• Garage - Attached

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Contact info:
Eric Bubb - ericbubb@reecenichols.com - 913.428.6052
Megan Bubb Cribb - meganb@reecenichols.com - 816.813.0132
Chris Cribb - chriscribb@reecenichols.com - 816.982.5990
The Bubb Cribb Team - ReeceNichols

Winter Question in Kansas City - "How is the real estate market?" - The Bubb Cribb Team @ ReeceNichols Answers It!

After thinking a bit over the holidays about our team, team / personal goals & making a few new years resolutions I came up with an everyday what do I do statement.  I truly hope that I win the POWERBALL this week and my 1.5 Billion dollars will allow me to retire from Real Estate, but I think the odds are a bit slim.

I am proud to be a member of The Bubb Cribb Team with my wife Megan Bubb Cribb & brother in law (brolo) Eric Bubb.  I have been working on getting my Dad, Garry Cribb, to join us, but he is pretty loyal to the horse that brought him to the dance, I think he will see the light!

"How is the real estate market?" is what people ask me on a daily basis, the easy answer - The market is GREAT ( a bit low on inventory for some parts of town, but that is raising sales prices), interest rates are LOW and KC is a place people want to be!  If you are thinking of buying or selling I would encourage it, who knows what the election will bring later this year!

For our team I must now toot our horn a bit (you do want someone selling your house that has a little swagger) :) and I am proud to boast that for the second year in a row we as a team have more than doubled our sales from 2014 to 2015!  We have also been recognized as one of the fastest growing teams in the KC area, KC Magazine has awarded Megan her 8th straight Best in KC Real Estate Award, for the second year in a row our team was awarded in the Top 1% Nationally of Premier Selling Agents from Trulia.com and the best part about it, we are all having fun while doing it!

Thanks Meg and Eric for making this our best year yet!

And therefore back to my resolutions & what I pledge to do in 2016 for my clients & team...

I make #KC Home Purchases / Sales An Enjoyable, 
Smooth & Profitable Process!  

The market is going to get worse at some point, I urge you to consider reward yourself in 2016 with a #HomeUpgrade, my family grabbed one in 2015 and while I still hate moving, having the new home to make your family's own is an awesome feeling.  Getting back on track, let me introduce you to our team, who we are, and what we do to ensure our clients get that smooth transaction, profitable outcome and home of their dreams!

The Bubb Cribb Team - Who Are We?


The Bubb Cribb Team Is Proud to Be a Top Producing Team With The #1 Firm For Residential Real Estate In Kansas City - ReeceNichols located at the 76th and State Line Office (Southgate) we work all parts of Kansas City with our top sales coming from Kansas City, MO and Johnson County, KS.

Kansas City Experts – Single Family, Luxury Homes, Condos, Investments, Rentals

• Over 75+ Homes Sold In Kansas City During 2015!
• Homes Sold In All Parts of KC & Suburbs
• Downtown/ Midtown/ Plaza Condo Specialist Group + One Park Place KC
• HUD / Foreclosure Certified Investment Agents
• Relocation, Lease Purchase & Referral Partner Programs

Eric Bubb, Megan Bubb Cribb & Chris Cribb, as the collective Bubb Cribb Team, are excited to assist you and make your real estate dreams a reality! The Bubb Cribb Team is a family team comprised of Kansas City natives that have lived and worked in this remarkable city for decades, are committed to raising our families in Kansas City while giving back to our community.

Everyone knows 10 realtors - why use The Bubb Cribb Team?  We have a plan!

Marketing / Promotions

• FOR SELLERS -  We Provide:  Targeted Online / Direct Mail / Social Media Campaigns With Professional Photographs / Video, Premium Marketing Materials, Reverse Prospecting, Open Houses, Agent Tours, Home Staging & Great Client Support For Every Listing!

• FOR BUYERS - We are home matchmakers for the right home with all of our buyers, we start online with you & continue to walk you, as a partner, through the process & tough shark negotiators to get you a great price!

You have likely heard the phrase, "Two heads are better than one," The Bubb Cribb Team realized this is just as true in real estate as it is making family decisions... why choose one REALTOR when you can have three to help you?  :) We guarantee that you will never be passed along to a junior agent & we sell every home with a focused marketing plan including a top presence online, professional photos / video, direct mail integration, social media campaigns, home staging assistance & much more!

Accolades / Awards

• Best in KC Real Estate – KC Magazine – 8 Straight Years (2007 – 2015)
• Top 1% Of All Agents – Trulia.com – 2014/2015
• Zillow 5 Star Premier Agents – Certified Educators / Zillow Local Experts Brookside (Kansas City), Prairie Village, Leawood, Johnson County, KS - Trulia PRO Agents

With experience and home sales knowledge from KC North across both state lines to the lakes of Lee's Summit and all of KC's ever expanding borders we are here to assist you. Don't forget our favorite pocket communities like Brookside, Crestwood, Parkville, Prairie Village, Fairway, Sunset Hills, Mission Hills, Leawood & Overland Park - simply put, we cover all of KC & do it well.  Our office and home neighborhoods are located in the State Line Corridor, (Kansas City, MO & Johnson County) allowing us to be top producing specialists that get you access to hot properties in the area first and/or make sure your home is marketed right to sell quickly for top dollar!

Dedicated REALTORS Licensed In Both MO & KS

• Buyers Agents & Sellers Agents – From 1st Time to 50th Sale
• Top Real Estate Additional Team Certifications - CRS – Certified Residential Specialist, ReeceNichols Client Care Team, eProfessional - ePro, 
• Fannie Mae (HomePath)  / Freddie Mac (HomeSteps), HUD Homestore & VA - Veteran Property  Registered Foreclosure Agents / Selling Brokers
• Leader’s Choice / Real Estate Pro & Top / Peak Producer - Brian Buffini Graduates

Proud Members of ReeceNichols Real Estate

No question about it, in KC you want the #1 selling firm, with the highest used local home web search site & 50+ years of experience as the sign in your yard.  One Company, One Resource, One Solution. ReeceNichols lists and sells more homes Kansas City than any other local or national company. Kansas City area residents know that ReeceNichols will create and deliver a remarkable home buying and selling experience - maybe that is why ReeceNichols sells more than the next 11 companies combined. ReeceNichols, A Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate - has sister companies across the US and partners internationally for any relocation needs.

CONTACT US - We Work  Days, Nights, 

Weekends  - Whenever Our Clients Need 

Call / Text / Email us at any time, we appreciate your business 
& are never too busy for your referrals / home buying and selling needs!

           Megan Bubb Cribb – 816.813.0132 – meganb@reecenichols.com
           Eric Bubb – 913.428.6052 – ericbubb@reecenichols.com
           Chris Cribb - 816.982.5990 - chriscribb@reecenichols.com

A year in review - Kansas City Real Estate - Market Skinny 2015 - Q1

Check out this great 2015 - First Quarter market report / update from www.KCRAR.com
The Kansas City Regional Board of Realtors

Q1 - The Skinny - All You Need To Know About KC Real Estate in 3 Minutes

If you are looking to sell and list your home or to put an offer in on a new home, now is the time and the Bubb Cribb Team would love to help you!  Fall / Winter rates are outstanding, let us know and we will send you along to one a trusted parter in the mortgage business to get the best rates and customer service in #KC!

The Bubb Cribb Team at ReeceNichols would love to be your neighborhood experts in buying or selling your home in any part of Kansas City.  We have great area specialists in Union Hill, Hyde Park, Brookside, Sunset Hills, Waldo, Mission Hills, Prairie Village, Overland Park, Fairway, Leawood, Kansas City North, Lees' Summit and more; please contact Christopher Cribb, Megan Bubb Cribb or Eric Bubb for assistance!

Christopher Cribb - The Bubb Cribb Team 
ReeceNichols - StateLine / Southgate - 
Direct Line 913.239.2023 - Text 816.982.5990

This Is Why I LOVE Brookside - Houses with Size & Character - 5715 Central, Kansas City, MO $285,000

One of my favorite historic neighborhoods and areas of Kansas City is "Brookside", while there is not an exact cut off on where this area runs East, West, North or South - if you ask someone they can tell you where we are talking about.  The heart of Brookside is most likely centered at the Brookside shops on 63rd / Meyer Boulevard and Brookside Boulevard.  For a bit more information on the shops, check here:  The Brookside Shops in Kansas City

While talking about the Brookside shops and before I get into telling you about this fabulous home for sale we have in the area I would encourage you to check out to restaurants that we have had fabulous dining experiences at in the last couple of weeks.

• JulianKC - where celebrity chef Celina Tio has created a great small bistro restaurant where the menu changes daily and the food is TOP NOTCH!  On a recent visit we had the Pork Belly BLT sandwich, fresh homemade hush puppies & the lobster bisque.  It was a great lunch and with the bright flavors you felt comfortably full, but not stuffed.  I would highly recommend Julian to anyone in the area!  Located in the Brookside Shops.

• Bella Napoli - Wow, this place is a true hidden treasure, 1/3rd luxury food market, 1/3 restaurant, and 1/3rd great wine / local bar... you could feed yourself for every meal from this location.  The Italian food was authentic and delicious, the wine prices were good and on Tuesday nights you have half off bottles of wine to help out even more.  This one made it to our go-to list for Italian in KC.  The homemade pastas, wood fired pizzas & sliced meat . cheese trays are worth buying for sure!  Check them out when you get a chance, located in the Brookside shops.

Now on to our featured listing - 5715 Central, Kansas City, MO 64113.  This beautiful home was built in 1929 and has outstanding finishes and character throughout that will pull you back to the classic style while living in the comfort of today's technology.  Starting with the commanding pillars out front and moving on to the coveted central hall floor plan you will love the feel of this home.  Possibly the best thing yet about this home, the price - just reduced $5,000 you can get into this outstanding block of homes from 250K to 500K for only $285,000!

This home just had all of the hardwood floors refinished throughout the home in a dark wood color and the large formal dining room, living room and kitchen with a half bath on the main level make it a great circular flowing plan.  Three large bedrooms with a sun-room in the master on the 2nd floor and a remodeled full bath are roomy and move-in-ready.  In the basement (unlike many Brookside basements that worry about water issues) this basement is dry and has a bonus finished room with an extra bath that for convenience.  

The backyard features a large deck for entertaining and a privacy fence.  Finish off this lovely setup with a location just a short walk away from Loose Park, The Trolley Trail, The Crestwood Shops, The Country Club Plaza & The Brookside Shops and you are nestled in a neighborhood that people move into and never move out of.  You will love having your own private drive and a large 2 car garage to take care of your vehicles.  I know that the right Brookside buyer is going to fall in love with the character of 5715 Central, KC, MO 64113.

If you have trouble accessing the link above for more information about this property go to:  5715 Central - The Bubb Cribb Team $285,000

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/living/star-magazine/article302401/Fifty-things-every-Kansas-Citian-should-know.html#storylink=cpyThe American Royal, a cause very near and dear to The Bubb Cribb Team is an every-autumn-since-1899 horse and livestock show, it was originally first known as the National Hereford Show. It picked up a new name, the story goes, after an Iowa State ag school dean returned from the British Royal Agricultural Fair and declared that the KC show compared favorably with the Brits’. The American Royal, meanwhile, is also at least part of the reason our major league baseball team is known as the Kansas City Royals.  The American Royal also holds the world's largest BBQ, theAmerican Royal World Series of Barbequeevery year in October, a great time and place to bring people from out of town to experience Kansas City at a great time of year and focus on our BBQ culinary expertise.  The economic impact of this great Fall event in Kansas City at last estimate was around $70 Million Dollars per year!

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/living/star-magazine/article302401/Fifty-things-every-Kansas-Citian-should-know.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/living/star-magazine/article302401/Fifty-things-every-Kansas-Citian-should-know.html#storylink=cpy

If you are looking to sell and list your home or to put an offer in on a new home, now is the time and the Bubb Cribb Team would love to help you!

The Bubb Cribb Team at ReeceNichols would love to be your neighborhood experts in buying or selling your home in any part of Kansas City.  We have great area specialists in Union Hill, Hyde Park, Brookside, Sunset Hills, Waldo, Mission Hills, Prairie Village, Overland Park, Fairway, Leawood, Kansas City North, Lees' Summit and more; please contact Christopher Cribb, Megan Bubb Cribb or Eric Bubb for assistance!

Christopher Cribb - The Bubb Cribb Team 
ReeceNichols - StateLine / Southgate - Direct Line 913.239.2023

Ten things everyone should know about #KansasCity - From A KC Resident

I am not a huge fan of Top 10 lists, but in no particular order check out these ten things that every person should know about "our town" Kansas City!

• “Christopher Elbow” may sound like something you’d see the doctor for, but chocolate-loving Kansas Citians know better. Elbow, a Liberty native, worked as a pastry chef for Emeril Lagasse’s Delmonico in Las Vegas and the American Restaurant. Now he’s renowned for artistic, pricey “artisan chocolates.” (He has a shop in San Francisco, too.) His chocolate is art... and don’t forget Elbow’s collaboration with Boulevard Brewing — Chocolate Ale, which comes out once a year and can be hard to get — and his unique and decadent Glacé Artisan Ice Cream (get it at the shops south of the Country Club Plaza and in Leawood).

• The Kansas City Royals won their only World Series on Oct. 27, 1985, beating the St. Louis Cardinals four games to three in what was known as the “I-70 Series.” Pitcher Bret Saberhagen was named series MVP. Twenty-seven years later, fans are still hoping this will be the Royals’ year.  The 2014 year with the Kansas City Royals in First Place in their division after August 15th is really the first time this has happened in a VERY LONG TIME!

• Short on gas and near the state line? Head for Missouri. Due to a difference in the state gas tax, you can often find gas 10 cents cheaper per gallon.  Just one of the reasons there are convenience stores and gas stations all along State Line Road.

• Kansas City is the barbecue capital of the world. Just ask any Kansas Citian. Back in the day, the stockyards provided cheap meat that was slowwwwww-cooked over native hardwoods like hickory and fruit trees. As for KC-style sauce, it’s typically tomato- and molasses-based.  The American Royal, a great Kansas City institution very near and dear to The Bubb Cribb Team is an every-autumn-since-1899 horse and livestock show, was first known as the National Hereford Show. It picked up a new name, the story goes, after an Iowa State ag school dean returned from the British Royal Agricultural Fair and declared that the KC show compared favorably with the Brits’. The American Royal, meanwhile, is also at least part of the reason our major league baseball team is known as the Kansas City Royals.  BBQ and Kansas City go hand in hand and the American Royal World Series of BBQ is the world's largest BBQ event, this is a Fall event for Kansas City that needs to be on your calendar and brings an estimated $70 Million dollars in annual revenue to Kansas City.

• Hyatt Regency Collapse - One dark day: On July 17, 1981, during a tea dance, two skywalks collapsed in the Hyatt Regency hotel’s lobby atrium. The death toll would be 114 souls, with more than 200 people injured. (Just last year the hotel became known as Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center.)  A memorial is planned for Hospital Hill Park across the street.

• Shawnee Mission is a school district and a postal district, but not a city (though Shawnee and Mission both are). Confused yet? It’s named for the old Shawnee Indian Mission in what is now Fairway.

• Kansas City is not one of the 10 largest metropolitan areas in the country (not even close — 27th), but it does boast one of the nation’s largest urban parks. That’d be Swope Park, which at 1,805 acres is more than twice the size of New York City’s 843-acre Central Park. 

• It doesn’t really matter whether you say “Plaaaza” or “Plahza.” What matters is knowing that the elegant shopping district, the brainchild of developer J.C. Nichols, is a Kansas City original (though it’s modeled after Seville, Spain), considered the first suburban shopping center, The Country Club Plaza.  When it opened in 1922, the area around Brush Creek was considered, as we say these days, “out south.” We now know the 15-block Plaza as a mix of stores, restaurants and apartments. Plus lovely courtyards, fountains and other public art such as a sculpture of Mr. and Mrs. Winston Churchill.  By the way, you can hardly call yourself a Kansas Citian if you don’t know what happens every Thanksgiving evening on the Plaza. That’s when the switch is flipped on the Plaza Lights, one of the city’s most enduring holiday traditions. Throw in some softly falling snow and you’ll feel like you’re in a dream.

• The famous song “Kansas City” promises some women, some wine and definitely a good time at the corner of 12th Street and Vine. But don’t take it too literally; there is no such place. Not anymore. But do pose for photos under the commemorative sign that marks the historic intersection at the renovated park that has been there since 2005. The crazy little women? Good luck! (You can, however, find a jazz museum, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and more at 18th and Vine.)

• What’s in a name? Plenty. Lore has it that “Possum Trot” and “Rabbitville” were in the running before “Town of Kansas” was agreed upon, which then became “City of Kansas” as it grew, and ultimately, Kansas City. Such a great name, there are two.  Thank goodness we are not Rabbitville, people already think Kansas City is where Toto is from and the true "midwestern hick" motif would be stronger than ever, PS - who would want to write Rabbitville on their post cards - and by the way, where are all these rabbits now?

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/living/star-magazine/article302401/Fifty-things-every-Kansas-Citian-should-know.html#storylink=cpyThe American Royal, a cause very near and dear to The Bubb Cribb Team is an every-autumn-since-1899 horse and livestock show, it was originally first known as the National Hereford Show. It picked up a new name, the story goes, after an Iowa State ag school dean returned from the British Royal Agricultural Fair and declared that the KC show compared favorably with the Brits’. The American Royal, meanwhile, is also at least part of the reason our major league baseball team is known as the Kansas City Royals.  The American Royal also holds the world's largest BBQ, the American Royal World Series of Barbeque every year in October, a great time and place to bring people from out of town to experience Kansas City at a great time of year and focus on our BBQ culinary expertise.  The economic impact of this great Fall event in Kansas City at last estimate was around $70 Million Dollars per year!

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/living/star-magazine/article302401/Fifty-things-every-Kansas-Citian-should-know.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/living/star-magazine/article302401/Fifty-things-every-Kansas-Citian-should-know.html#storylink=cpy

If you are looking to sell and list your home or to put an offer in on a new home, now is the time and the Bubb Cribb Team would love to help you!

The Bubb Cribb Team at ReeceNichols would love to be your neighborhood experts in buying or selling your home in any part of Kansas City.  We have great area specialists in Union Hill, Hyde Park, Brookside, Sunset Hills, Waldo, Mission Hills, Prairie Village, Overland Park, Fairway, Leawood, Kansas City North, Lees' Summit and more; please contact Christopher Cribb, Megan Bubb Cribb or Eric Bubb for assistance!

Christopher Cribb - The Bubb Cribb Team 
ReeceNichols - StateLine / Southgate - Direct Line 913.239.2023

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/living/star-magazine/article302401/Fifty-things-every-Kansas-Citian-should-know.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/living/star-magazine/article302401/Fifty-things-every-Kansas-Citian-should-know.html#storylink=cpyre here: http://www.kansascity.com/living/star-magazine/article302401/Fifty-things-every-Kansas-Citian-should-know.html#storylink=cpy

Branding 101 - Get Back To the Basics & A Great Brookside Home - 6732 Rockhill Road

This week the Reece & Nichols corporate office told all of their partners and team members what they have been working on for the last few months in the executive boardroom;  a brand / marketing relaunch to change & update the image of our strong organization in the Kansas City market.  Ok, that sounds like it could be good, but what did it really mean, where is the focus of these initiatives, what are you going to change... are we talking about a mountain or a molehill?  It had been quite a long time since the J.D. Reece company combined forces with JC Nichols to form Reece & Nichols, but more recently that entire company had become a Berkshire Hathaway/ Home Services of America Affiliate, what direction would this brand / mission follow? (see below)



I won't bore you with the nuances and subtleties, we have the number one brand for real estate in Kansas City and I for one am happy to see us not abandon who we are in an effort to conform with the national BHHS companies.  Real estate is and always will be a "home town" game and I believe the new branding changes give a true nod to ReeceNichols as the premier real estate brand in the greater KC / Midwest region.  Blacktop Creative, the advertising firm that assisted ReeceNichols with this change, did an outstanding job in changing The Kansas City Wizards to Sporting KC a few years back, kudos on this great accomplishment! I further am confident that this focus on the customer, our service levels, our core mission and ongoing efforts to improve will be shown to each one of our clients daily.  Now if we could only have the cool apparel that Sporting KC has we will be set! :)



One image stuck out in my head from this branding change, the evolution of the Starbucks company and brand; over the years Starbucks has kept a laser focus on this part of their strategy and it shows.  Take a look for yourself at this brand / style and especially as a visual person, it gives you an "ah-ha" moment.  It makes sense where ReeceNichols is moving, it makes sense how I might need to take a look at my own brand / company brand and say, what are we doing to keep this a fresh and changing embodiment of our own ideals and success?


OK - enough about branding for today, if you haven't looked at your own brand do it, it is worth it. Sometimes you need to make sure you are working "on the business" and not always "in the business".

For all of my Brookside (or want to be in Brookside) buyers out there, check out this great new listing we have at 6732 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64131.  A charming place, with great curb appeal, attention to detail in the architecture, & lovely space to entertain both inside and out.

For some reason some browsers have been having trouble with this embedded widget, if so you can see all the details on this home here as well - 6732 Rockhill Road - Kansas City, MO $174,900 - Brookside


Don't miss this Brookside gem on a great street minutes from everything! Charming with curb appeal, this cottage style home has an open ranch floor plan with large Family Room in basement. First Floor opens from Formal Living Room with fireplace into atrium space that could be 2nd family room or office. Hardwood floors throughout the home are in good shape & colors have a fresh Pottery Barn appeal. Backyard with screened-in porch, newly stained deck & patio are great for entertaining.  Close access to University Academy, Academy Lafayette and Research Medical are a bonus.

If you are looking to sell and list your home or to put an offer in on a new home, now is the time and the Bubb Cribb Team would love to help you!

The Bubb Cribb Team at ReeceNichols would love to be your neighborhood experts in buying or selling your home in any part of Kansas City.  We have great area specialists in Union Hill, Hyde Park, Brookside, Sunset Hills, Waldo, Mission Hills, Prairie Village, Overland Park, Fairway, Leawood, Kansas City North, Lees' Summit and more; please contact Christopher Cribb, Megan Bubb Cribb or Eric Bubb for assistance!

Christopher Cribb - The Bubb Cribb Team 
ReeceNichols - StateLine / Southgate - Direct Line 913.239.2023

What to look for in an Overland Park Condo - A Case Study & Testimonial for The Bubb Cribb Team @ Reece & Nichols!

Nothing says "Thank You" as much as the words themselves, but let me tell you a brief story...

• I found this lead from someone that knew a ton of other REALTORS, but my brother, Russell Cribb, said to her - Laura (Via www.facebook.com) you should talk to my brother he will take care of you!  This started our great match and eventual perfect sale...

• Laura made offers and started negotiations on 4 separate condos before she found the perfect one - I am happy to see that she has found a great home and we were able to deliver it to her... we had her under contract on another property, but simply put - the other agents did not fill their end of the negotiations bargain and we had to find a new place.

• We reviewed and looked at many a unit and location, some had good parking, but bad bones, some had a good kitchen, but stairs up and down everywhere, some didn't feel kept up as a community, and others just were not a good fit for our buyer.  We looked high and low, my business partner Eric Bubb and I were a bit stumped after not finding a great deal for Laura Blair, but we took a time out.

• YES - A TIME OUT - We let the inventory change, let the market change a bit and we started fresh to find the right place.  The 2nd round didn't finish quickly, but we did find a great place that fit what Laura was looking for and I am proud to say we closed last week (see video below).

5 Star Review on www.zillow.com - "Chris Cribb and The Bubb Cribb Team were great to work with as well as the financing partners and inspectors they recommended.  I felt like I had a whole team working for me.  They got to know what I was looking for in a home and even helped me walk away from a couple that I thought were 'pretty' but would have ended up being a money pit.  I felt like they were on my side and looking out for my interest.  They made the process much less stressful for me; Plus - they were just fun!" - Laura Blair

• When thinking Condos in #OverlandPark think about a few things first...

• HOA - What is the Home Owners Association Dues and what does it cover?  Think about the following items:
• Heat - Gas or Electric are either included in your HOA payment?
• Trash - For the building & Grounds - Does this include sewer?
• High efficiency windows, attic insulation  (Yes or No) - What is the usual cost to handle these items / do they need repair?
• Who takes care of the roof, the common areas, landscape design, amenities / pool, etc.?
• Snow Removal - Winter Weather - are you prepared?
• Parking -are 0 spots, 1 spot, 2 spots included? How much to park if you don't have the facilities and where do you do it?  
• Deferred Maintenance - Is the ENTIRE BUILDING in good shape, does it need things like a new elevator, laundry room, windows, common area carpet... these items always lead to higher HOA's but they can be negotiated if you have a great buyers agent like "The Bubb Cribb Team"!
• Resale Value - What is happening around your area and unit - will the area help bring up the resale value or not?
• Where do I want to be?  - The most important, where do I want to be to spend my time and connect with my neighbors, an apartment is one thing, but when you invest in a condo you will be there for a while, make sure you understand and are happy with your community and what you get to be involved with.

• One amazing thing that I thought I should for sure share with my friends and readers is that there are a couple tools that Paint companies have recently made that allow you to take a picture, upload it to their website and then change the look and feel of what paint you think might look good in the room.  I know Laura and her be'sties have been hard at work on painting her condo and you should see the results... take a look at The Bubb Cribb Team Facebook Page to see some before and after shots, I attached one you will be impressed.  The great item that allowed this to happen was the following companies:

• Valspar - Go to the site and Choose Virtual Painter - upload your own picture and you can check new colors for your kitchen and much, much more 

• Sherman Williams - Choose the "Chip It" program to virtually look at one of your own pictures with all of the Sherman Williams pallet ready to assist you.

Just a couple final things to point out...

1) This was a #ShortSale and it closed within the timeframe established with NO PROBLEMS.

2) The buyer was one of the first people in the State of KS to be able to take advantage of their new "1st Time Homebuyer Grant Program" - for more information check out our partner, Matt Goodwin at Cornerstone Home Lending as they are on the inside track as one of the first 21 companies in KS registered to work with US Bank on this program!

3) As a buyer - Laura actually got MONEY BACK at closing... I have heard of times where things were close to a "wash", but there was actually a significant check ready for Laura at closing that she then can use for appliances, painting, whatever she likes.  No need to bring your checkbook or a huge certified check if you do it right they might be paying you!  For more information on this great program check out this website and tell them The Bubb Cribb Team sent you!  

If you are looking to sell and list your home or to put an offer in on a new home, now is the time and the Bubb Cribb Team would love to help you!

The Bubb Cribb Team at Reece & Nichols would love to be your neighborhood experts in buying or selling your home in any part of Kansas City.  We have great area specialists in Union Hill, Hyde Park, Brookside, Sunset Hills, Waldo, Mission Hills, Prairie Village, Overland Park, Fairway, Leawood, Kansas City North, Lees' Summit and more; please contact Christopher Cribb, Megan Bubb Cribb or Eric Bubb for assistance!

Christopher Cribb - The Bubb Cribb Team 
Reece & Nichols - Southgate  Direct Line 913.239.2023

A to Z of Real Estate & Residential Lending Vocabulary Terms

In working with buyers and sellers in the Kansas City market I find that there are a few things that people don't find as common terms in the real estate world that are just not common in other arenas.  I therefore have given you a brief A to Z on items that will be useful for you in selling or buying your next home!  Some of these are very basic and mean the same thing in or outside of real estate; a quick read to help everyone.

• A - ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) - A mortgage loan in which the interest rate may be adjusted periodically, following the rise or fall of interest rates as measured by a published index. Most ARMs specify the frequency of rate adjustment (the "adjustment period"), and "caps" -- limits to the amount of rate change in any single adjustment, and to the maximum interest rate allowed during the life of the loan.

• B - Basis Point - One 100th of 1%.

• C - Chattel - Personal property

• D - Down Payment - The part of the purchase price of a property that the buyer pays in cash and does not finance with a mortgage.

• E - Escrow Amount - An account in which a mortgage servicer holds the borrower's escrow payments prior to paying property expenses.

• F - Fannie Mae (FNMA) - A New York Stock Exchange company and the largest non-bank financial services company in the world.  It operates pursuant to a federal charter and is the nation's largest source of financing for home mortgages.  If you have a foreclosure property from Fannie Mae it would be listed on http://www.homepath.com and The Bubb Cribb Team is a licensed / registered Fannie Mae partner / buyers agent. 

• F - Freddie Mac (FHLMC) - Federal Home Mortgage Corporation.  A US agency which purchases first mortgages on residences.  2nd largest purchaser of mortgages.  If you have a foreclosure property from Freddie Mac it would be listed on http://homesteps.com and The Bubb Cribb Team is a licensed / registered Freddie Mac partner / buyers agent.

• G - Grace Period - A period of time after the regular due date of a loan payment during which a late payment penalty is not charged.

• H - HUD (HUD - 1 Settlement Statement) - A document that provides an itemized listing of the funds that are payable at closing. Items that appear on the statement include real estate commissions, loan fees, points and initial escrow amounts. Each item on the statement is represented by a separate number within a standardized numbering system. The totals at the bottom of the HUD-1 statement define the seller's net proceeds and the buyer's net payment at closing. The blank form for the statement is published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The HUD-1 statement is also known as the "closing statement" or "settlement sheet."

• I - Interim Financing - A loan, including a construction loan, used when the property owner is unable or unwilling to arrange permanent financing. Generally arranged for less than 3 years, used to gain time for financial or market conditions to improve.

• J - Jumbo Loan - A loan for greater than Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s loan limits. Also called a nonconforming loan. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae loans are referred to as conforming loans.  The non-conforming loan limit for a standard conventional loan is $417,000 - all loans above this rate are considered "Jumbo Loans".

• K - Kansas City - The best place to live, buy & sell real estate in the United States (shameless plug)... really is a great town - if you want to learn more about #KC go to http://visitkc.com and be sure to check out the Summer Bucket List for fun ideas to do! 

• L - Loan To Value (LTV) - The relationship between the principal balance of the mortgage and the appraised value (or sales price if it is lower) of the property. For example, a $100,000 home with an $80,000 mortgage has a LTV percentage of 80 percent.

• M - Mortgage Insurance - A contract that insures the lender against loss caused by a mortgagor's default on a government mortgage or conventional mortgage. Mortgage insurance can be issued by a private company or by a government agency such as the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Depending on the type of mortgage insurance, the insurance may cover a percentage of or virtually all of the mortgage loan; also called private mortgage insurance (PMI).

• N - Novation - The acceptance of a new contract in substitution for the old contract, with the intent that the new contract will extinguish the original contract. Sometimes encountered in transfers of deeds of trust, where the new owner assumes the debt and the lender, through novation, releases the former owner from any liability under the original promissory note and deed of trust.

• O - Origination Fee - A fee paid to a lender for processing a loan application. The origination fee is stated in the form of points. One point is 1 percent of the mortgage amount.

P - Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) - Mortgage insurance that is provided by a private mortgage insurance company to protect lenders against loss if a borrower defaults. Most lenders generally require PMI when the buyer's down payment is less than 20%. However, at the point where the mortgage balance is less than 80% of the appreciated value of the home, the buyer may apply to have PMI removed from their payments.  Once you pay off your loan to a point over the 20% you should be able to ask to have the PMI repayment penalty removed (DO THIS!!)

• Q - Quitclaim Deed - A deed that transfers without warranty whatever interest or title a grantor may have at the time the conveyance is made.  Many times in divorce or separation of couples with joint ownership of a property a quitclaim deed is used to transfer property from one party to the other.

• R - Right of First Refusal - A provision in an agreement that requires the owner of a property to give another party the first opportunity to purchase or lease the property before he or she offers it for sale or lease to others.

• S - Settlement Statement - See HUD - 1 Statement - Literally the same thing. 

• S - Setback - The minimum distance a house or building must be from the lot line. (S was short so we went ahead and did two).  :)

• T - Tax Lien - Two words you do not want to hear in real estate...   A claim against real estate for the amount of the unpaid taxes.  In most instances these will be uncovered by Title Companies researching the sale; we are lucky to be working with two great companies, Premier Title Solutions, and Kansas City Title - An affiliated company to Reece & Nichols.

• U - Underwriting - The process of evaluating a loan application to determine the risk involved for the lender. Underwriting involves an analysis of the borrower's creditworthiness and the quality of the property itself.  Lending companies may have underwriting happen within their organization or go outside their organization if they will be selling the loan to another company.

• V - VA Mortgate - A mortgage that is guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Also known as a government mortgage.  Veteran / VA mortgages can be enacted with ZERO money down as a down payment (thank you Veteran's) but they are restricted by some additional fees to ensure loans are paid back.

• W - Wraparound Loan - A mortgage that includes the remaining balance on an existing first mortgage plus an additional amount requested by the mortgagor. Full payments on both mortgages are made to the wraparound mortgagee, who then forwards the payments on the first mortgage to the first mortgagee.

• X - X (As A Signature)  - The signature of someone incapable of writing - this has mostly been replaced with digital signatures, but if used does require a witness.

• Y - Yield - The effective return on an investment, as paid in dividends or interest, used to find out the outcome of an investment in commercial or residential property upon a sale or appraisal for sale.

• Z - Zero Lot Line - A zoning regulation which allows certain properties to have buildings placed up to the line dividing separate properties.

If you are looking to sell and list your home or to put an offer in on a new home, now is the time and the Bubb Cribb Team would love to help you!

The Bubb Cribb Team at Reece & Nichols would love to be your neighborhood experts in buying or selling your home in any part of Kansas City.  We have great area specialists in Union Hill, Hyde Park, Brookside, Sunset Hills, Waldo, Mission Hills, Prairie Village, Overland Park, Fairway, Leawood, Kansas City North, Lees' Summit and more; please contact Christopher Cribb, Megan Bubb Cribb or Eric Bubb for assistance!

Christopher Cribb - The Bubb Cribb Team 
Reece & Nichols - Southgate  Direct Line 913.239.2023

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