Special Needs Real Estate Agent

Universal Design In Homes

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:35:00 +0000

Here are just a few of many universal design features that are rising in popularity among homeowners:
-One-step entries
-One-story living
-Wider doorways and hallways
-Lever handles instead of doorknobs

Originally conceived in the 1970s to provide disabled people with a “barrier-free” lifestyle, today universal design is embraced by people of all ages and physical abilities who seek greater convenience, comfort and safety in their homes.

It’s a trend that’s expected to grow, too.

Architectural experts say that as baby boomers age, the bending, stretching, climbing and toting that have traditionally been part of independent living will only focus attention on the benefits of universal design, and provide a distinct advantage to the homebuilders, remodelers and real estate professionals whose service includes universal design expertise.

http://www.realestateforspecialneeds.com/

Hollywood at Home: Create Your Own Media Room

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Fri, 23 May 2008 19:06:00 +0000

The overhead lights dim as the credits roll on the screen at the front of the room. The couple seated in front of you wraps up their conversation in anticipation of the film. You're only missing one thing to complete the movie experience: a bag of buttery popcorn. No big deal - just hit the pause button. After all, you're at home.

Once only the luxury of movie producers or the very rich, home movie theaters and media rooms are starting to find their ways into suburbia. Lower prices of projection equipment and high definition televisions have helped make home theaters more affordable for homeowners seeking a new standard in entertainment. For the movie buff, sports fan, or video game enthusiast there is nothing quite like having a private media sanctuary at home.

Types of home theaters

Cinephiles and audio/video purists may dispute the application of the term "home theater", but essentially there are three types commonly found today.

Family Room 2.0 - The best option for those movie lovers who lack the funds, space or dedication to create a full-fledged theater at home is to simply upgrade their existing family room. The variety of high definition and flat panel televisions on the market means that you can transform your existing family room into an entertainment haven without knocking out any walls. Add a nice base level audio system and sun-blocking window shades. Your existing furniture should be arranged with sightlines and foot traffic in mind.

Media Room - There was a time not so long ago when the TV was the center for entertainment at home, the undisputed champion of weeknights. While our love for movies and television hasn't diminished, TV now competes with the internet, increasingly-realistic video games and the digital music experience for our attention. A media room is a space in your home dedicated to all of your technological entertainment. A true media center is a place where you can watch movies, browse the internet, watch TV, play video games and plug in your portable music player.

Full Home Theater - The true home theater is a room designed to mimic the movie theater experience. Screens are larger than life, and seating is typically in rows to focus on viewing rather than interaction. The home theater is generally a less-frequently used room than either a family room or a media room, and is therefore considered more of a luxury than the others.

Should you get professional help?

Creating a home theater is far more complicated than simply buying components and hooking up wires. Depending on your plan, you may require electrical work, flooring, painting and the installation of the actual components themselves. Once you've decided what you want out of your media room, you have to decide if you will hire a contractor, perform the work yourself, or some combination of the two.

Contractors that specialize in home theater design can be expensive ($30,000 and up), but are perfect for high-end homes looking for a custom, professional home theater. If you're focusing on practicality, contractors that specialize in integrated home audio/video systems are typically less expensive.

Doing the work on your own can be economical but challenging. You may choose to do most of the work while hiring contractors to tackle specific tasks (the lighting, for example). Store technicians can often be hired to perform installation of components at a fairly low price.

Pick your room

The basement makes an ideal location for a home theater because of its lack of natural sunlight. Any room you choose should be wide enough to fit comfortable seating and long enough to place that seating at some depth from the screen. If you aren't doing a complete remodel, you will want to choose a room with adequate insulation to minimize sound leakage.

Components

Plasma and other flat-screen televisions are a popular choice for family rooms and media rooms. Home theater purists usually turn to high-quality projectors due to the larger screen size that they afford.

Audio can be just as important as picture when it comes to the home theater experience. Most of us are used to two-channel sound - left and right speakers to either side of the TV. Surround sound adds a center speaker above the picture and (at least) two speakers behind on either side of the room. Depending on the type of speakers you buy, you may want to also incorporate a subwoofer to handle all bass frequencies. Speakers that are wall mounted or on stands will provide the best quality of sound.

If you're on a budget, you should plan to spend between $7,500 and $12,000 for audio and video components. For those with looser strings and larger eyes, the system itself can easily cost $50,000 or more.

Walls

Wood paneling is especially popular, particularly medium to dark woods that can help create an inviting viewing atmosphere. Wood paneling may not be the best selection for basement home theaters, as it can have a certain 1970's rec. room connotation. If wood paneling doesn't suit your tastes, paint the walls a color that suits you without being distracting.

Adding movie posters is a nice way to push the "at the movies" ambience, and they also provide an easy way to personalize the space by placing posters of your favorite film genre or era.

Seating

The type and arrangement of your home theater furniture will be largely determined by how you intend to use the space. Should you see the room as a true home theater, you'll likely want several rows of theater-style seating. Theater-style recliners are more comfortable than standard theater seats. Consider placing small tables between the seats.

If you plan on using the room for a variety of entertainment purposes (watching movies, playing video games, watching sports) you'd be better served with a more typical living room layout. Thick couches placed with good sightlines to the screen should do the trick. Whatever furniture or layout you choose, make sure there is adequate walking room.

Lighting

Lighting is critical to forming a true movie theater setting. If you're using an aboveground room for your home theater, invest in blackout curtains to help seal the room from outdoor light. Wall sconces are good if you're looking to set a laid-back tone. Recessed lighting is also popular in home theaters. Some homeowners go so far as to install floor lighting (track lighting or basic rope lights). Any lighting should compliment the screen at all light levels.

PATH TOP 10

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:39:00 +0000

I came across an interesting article on PATH's (The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing) website regarding the Top 10 technologies with the most promise for making our homes more durable, stronger and more resource efficient.

"Selected technologies have notable strengths in one or more of the following areas: quality and durability; energy efficiency; environmental performance; safety and disaster mitigation; and affordability.

1. Mold Resistant Gypsum-- No Mold--Come Hell or High Water Imagine the worst. Now imagine walls that can survive the flood. Treated gypsum wallboard products resist mold because they won't absorb moisture as easily as typical gypsum board. The paperless surface does not support mold growth. Find PATH Partners who manufacture mold resistant gypsum.

2. Solar Water Heating-- Solar Power for Your Shower We allow that harnessing energy from the sun to heat water is not new. Solar water heaters have been commercially available since the 1800s. But now more than ever, they're an environmentally sound way to reduce energy bills.

3. Recycled Concrete Substitutes and Aggregates-- Grey Concrete Goes GreenByproducts of the industrialized world have found a better final resting place in alternative concrete aggregate. Recycled materials such as granulated coal ash, blast furnace slag and various solid wastes like fiberglass and granulated plastics can substitute for sand, gravel and stones. (Look, Mom! No mining!)

4. Combined Heat and Power (CHP)-- Make Your Power and Heat It TooIt's not just for isolationists anymore! Whether you want to be entirely "off the grid" or just supplement your utility power, CHP systems can supply electricity much more efficiently than power plants. Using fuel such as natural gas to produce heat and electricity simultaneously, a CHP system can act as a built-in emergency generator when the grid goes down. The electricity can power any household device such as lights and appliances, and the heat produced can provide water heating and/or space heating. Home-sized units range in capacity from about 1 kW to 6 kW and are about the size of a major appliance. Find PATH Partners who manufacture CHP.

5. Horizontal Axis Washer/Dryer-- Save Energy, Water, Space and Time (But the Folding is Still on You) The two-in-one washer/dryer runs automatically from wash to dry: no more throwing clothes from one machine to the other. The compact size makes it perfect for apartments and condominiums, and it costs less than two separate units. It runs quietly and requires no venting, so it can be installed almost anywhere. The high efficiency horizontal-axis washer reduces water and energy consumption, and the high RPM spin cycle means the dryer uses less energy to dry the clothes. Find PATH Partners who manufacture horizontal axis washer/driers.

6. Hydrophilic, Impact-Resistant Windows-- Windows That do Windows! Now you can get self-cleaning and glare-reducing windows that also reduce the risk of window failure during tornadoes and hurricanes. A window coating causes water to run off the glass surfaces like quicksilver, preventing permanent water spots and making the glazing easier to clean. And glass laminated with composites provides enough strength to allow windows to withstand high winds, projectiles, or even bullets.

7. Super-Sized (Vertical) ICFs--- Concrete Walls, Evolved Vertical ICFs (Insulating Concrete Forms) have all the energy efficiency, strength and building speed benefits of conventional ICF walls, plus a bonus: they go up faster and easier because fewer pieces are assembled on site. The wall sections are sturdier than conventional ICF walls and require less bracing. Composed of two polystyrene panels held together by plastic or steel I-beams and filled with concrete, vertical ICF panels form straight, energy-efficient walls.

8. Induction Cooktops-- A Cool Way to Cook Induction offers flexible, safe and energy-efficient cooking. Go from extremely low to extremely high settings and back again nearly instantly. The stovetop doesn't actually heat up or radiate heat from its surface because the heating elements under the ceramic-glass surface use electricity to produce a magnetic field that heats only the cooking container. Food heats much faster, which saves energy while pleasing hungry mobs. Induction cooking is about 90 percent energy efficient, while gas and electric are about 50 and 60 percent efficient, respectively.

9. GPS for Land Development-- Simplify Your Site Work with Software Solutions This satellite-controlled software simplifies site grading, therefore dramatically reducing labor and material costs. The software assists excavation machines to more efficiently and accurately cut and fill grade while also reducing the potential for soil erosion. It eliminates the need for grade stakes, while letting the operator know exactly where the machine is, and its relation to the final grade.

10. Permeable Pavers & Pavement-- Surfaces for All Seasons Look closely for the environmental halo: rainwater seeps through these pavement systems and filters naturally through soil on its way to groundwater aquifers and surface waters. That means less unfiltered, nitrate-laden stormwater running off paved surfaces into drainage gutters. And since engineered curb and gutter storm drainage systems are costly to design and build, permeable pavement systems can mean lower construction costs for developers or municipalities."

For more information, visit the PATH website at pathnet.org.

5 Tips for Buying a Home in a Down Market

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:31:00 +0000

Posted in Personal Finance by Bankaholic.com
April 10, 2008 10:18 AM -

The subprime mortgage bust has scared a lot of people away from the housing market. The nightly news is filled with images and stories of everyday Americans who are losing their homes because they made greedy and uninformed decisions, they were taken advantage of by predatory brokers, or a combination of these situations. However, the news isn’t all bad. This decline in the market has dropped prices and made housing affordable to many fiscally responsible renters who never considered home ownership to be an option.

If you find yourself house-hunting, make sure that you follow these five simple steps to take advantage of this downturn in the market; if you don’t, you could be the next sad story on your local news.

1. Accounting for Extraneous ExpensesAs with almost any major purchase, there can be a number of fees associated with buying a home. Costs associated with property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, standard maintenance, and utilities should not be overlooked. In addition, if you buy a home that is part of a complex or attached to a homeowner’s association, you will have to pay annual fees as well. Make sure that you take these additional expenses into account when you are determining how much home you can afford.

2. Acknowledging Special AssessmentsMany homes require a number of regularly scheduled special assessments to be performed in order to satisfy local regulations and ordinances. These are fees that are required in addition to standard property taxes. In order to make sure that these costs don’t take you by surprise, obtain copies of prior bills for these services and inquire about any pending and future assessments that need to be done on the property.

3. Finding a Manageable MortgageA good question to ask yourself before contacting your local banker to discuss a loan is, ‘how much is too much?’ While you might be tempted to try and get as much money as possible if you can find a good rate, you do not want to make the mistake of taking on a loan so big that your finances will be stretched to the point that you cannot make your payments. Traditional income multipliers are a good place to start. If you have a single income, 3.5 times your annual salary is the maximum that you should consider requesting and if you have dual incomes, the maximum should be about 2.75 times your joint salary. If these amounts will stretch your budget too far, then it is a good idea to consider borrowing less.

4. Determining How Much Home to BuyNow that you have a handle on all of the costs involved and have determined how much money you can borrow, it is time to figure out just what you can afford to spend on a new home. Whatever you do, don’t bite off more than you can chew; doing so could quickly lead down the road to foreclosure. Take into account your credit history, the closing costs on the loan, the amount of the down payment, and any preexisting debts. Weigh these against your income and savings before making a move.

5. Welcoming Your New Home into Your Basic BudgetOnce you have everything in order, set a budget and stick to it. While your new home purchase will undoubtedly become both your biggest asset and your biggest expense, you still have to eat. It is also important to make sure that you start building a rainy day fund in case of emergencies; one of the things that accompany a new home is the potential for substantial unforeseen expenses. Set a reasonable budget that includes an allowance for unexpected costs and you can live happily ever after in your new home.

If you have questions, give me a call (913.647.7162) or drop me an email.

http://www.searchhomeskansascity.com/

To Buy or Not To Buy....

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:46:00 +0000

The following is an email I received from a client:

Dear Jacqueline,

I had a question, what about looking at foreclosed homes? What are your thoughts? Mary

Well Mary, when it comes to foreclosures there are pros and cons to these properties.

The pro is that the bank is not in the business of holding onto properties so often they are priced more reasonably.

Cons are that the person did not have money to keep up with the mortgage and most likely did not keep up with the care and maintenance of the property. Also, there are times that the people who had the home, being upset with the pressures of their failing finances, may have done damage to the property prior to leaving.

One more thing…banks sell these homes “as is” with no disclosures or warranties. Here is the but…But, you may have inspections and if you find that there is more there than you want to tackle then you may cancel the contract and get your earnest money back.

If you guys go in knowing that you are going to have to do work then let’s give it a shot.

http://www.jacquelineelbert.com/

Spring Home Maintenance Tips!!

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:04:00 +0000

Spring is here!! With the warmer weather is just around the corner it is

time that traditionally results in wide fluctuations in temperature and weather conditions. You can ensure that your house is water-resistant and ready for almost anything Mother Nature has in store if you follow these tips:

▪ Clean and secure the eaves, trough, and downspouts.

▪ Extend the downspouts so that water drains away from the home.

▪ Check that the sump pit, the sump pump, and the floor drain....are they clean and operable?

▪ Inspect your roof for loose shingles.

▪ Clean the window wells of debris.

▪ Fill cracks in the foundation or basement walls.

▪ Clean electric baseboard heaters.

▪ Have a qualified HVAC technician check your furnace, air conditioner/ heat pump. Don't forget to change the furnace filter.

Also, this coming Saturday, as you move your clocks forward, remember to test your smoke detectors and install new batteries.

Weekly Update

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:18:00 +0000

Here is a link to my weekly "REAL ESTATE NEWS CHANNEL":Click Here

This week's segments are full of interesting and useful information that I think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter.

Some of the topics covered this week are:

Real Estate Outlook - The economy's messages for real estate in the past week have been just about as mixed as you can get.

Mortgage Moment - Jan Demas discusses making "Mortgage Payments online".

Market Condition - Kihei, Hawaii, fueling a healthy housing market is super healthy job growth--reported in the last few year at 17.94%.report local experts.

Ask the Expert - "My grandfather is giving me his home. There is a $20,000 mortgage balance. The lender says that I cannot get a loan unless my grandfather sells the house to me for at least the $20,000 value. He says my grandfather can "give" me the equity. Do I have to do it this way?"

Video of the Week - This week's amazing video.You can also tour my latest listing as well as view some of my personal favorites.

I hope you enjoy this week's show.

If you have any comments, please e-mail (FoeSale@JacquelineElbert.net) them to me.

My Weekly "REAL ESTATE NEWS CHANNEL"

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:18:00 +0000

Here is the link: Click Here

This week's segments are full of interesting and useful information that I think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter.

Some of the topics covered this week are:
Real Estate Outlook - If you are a value investor and you're looking for affordable markets where property values are defying the national downtrend then check out a new report from the federal government.
Mortgage Moment - Jan Demas discusses "Negative Ammortization".
Market Condition - Seattle, WA, prices are up nearly 5% from this time last year, a result of more buyers than sellers in the market at this time, report local experts.
Ask the Expert - "I inherited property along with my stepmother & would now like to sell; however, I have not been able to locate her for six years. The court named me as overseer of the property & anything that pertains to the property including all decisions must be communicated through me. Can I sell without her consent?"
Video of the Week - This week's amazing video.You can also tour my latest listing as well as view some of my personal favorites.

I hope you enjoy this week's show. If you have any comments, please e-mail (ForSale@JacquelineElbert.net) them to me.

www.YouFinallyFoundIt.com

Changes To The ACORN Program

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:14:00 +0000

Here is an update on some changes that have taken place on the ACORN program.

With all of the scrutiny on 100% financing that has come about, Bank of America and ACORN have made some changes to their program. They have gone back to a 3% down payment requirement and 620 credit score for ACORN.

The following is more information about the ACORN Loan Program

ACORN Housing Corporation (AHC) is a nonprofit subsidiary of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).
Up to 97% loan-to-value.
No PMI required.
Down payment (If applicable) can come from gift or down payment assistance programs.
Seller can contribute up to 3% toward closing costs, escrows and prepaid items.
620 Credit score required for 1-2 unit properties, 660 for 3-4 unit properties.
$500 minimum investment from buyer/borrower.
30-year and 40-year fixed rate products and 10/30 fixed rate Interest only product.
Applicants’ income may not exceed the 80% of median income for each County/State. KC Metro 80% LMI = $52,560.00 (variations for each County & State).
Available in the following States:
Arizona, California, Connecticut, DC, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, & Washington
Primary residence only. Eligible property types include single-family homes, townhomes, condos, modular homes and two- to three-unit properties.
Allows for higher debt and housing ratios and the use of undocumented income.
Homebuyer education required and provided by ACORN.
For more information and instructions go to http://www.acornhousing.org/.

Good news: Bank of America still has their Community Accommodation 80/20 loan for low to moderate income borrowers that have no down payment. In addition they may do down payment assistance programs and grants to help ACORN applicants find the 3% down.

For more information about mortgages or buying/selling a home, email me at SellIt@SellThisDamnHouse.com

Advantages & Disadvantages of Selling Your Home in the Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:57:00 +0000

Advantages

Smaller Housing Inventory: Because the holidays are traditionally slower selling season and sellers are just as busy as buyers at this time of year, few homes are put on the market towards the end of the year. In addition, many previously listed properties are taken off the market as a temporary measure. While the number of active buyers is lower during the winter, sellers also face less competition.

Serious Buyers: People who are willing to rearrange their holiday schedule and brave the elements to shop for a home in general tend to be motivated, serious buyers. In many cases buyers at this time of year are invigorated by the promise of impending year-end bonuses. The demands of the season in large part also eliminate false alarms casual buyers from who are “just looking”. In addition, many buyers want to buy before the end of the year for tax purposes.

Disadvantages

Bad weather: Potential homebuyers are only human, so naturally winter’s stormier conditions can convince many consumers to stay indoors.

Shorter days: Most buyers prefer to view homes in the full light of day, even when casually looking at houses and neighborhoods by car. With fewer daylight hours in the winter, homebuyers are usually limited to weekends for in-person showings.

Busy schedules: Time is at an absolute premium during a season of shopping for presents, attending holiday parties and traveling to visit relatives. Most people don’t feel they can spare time during these months to shop for homes or plan the move to a new home.

If you have questions or are interested in selling your home, email me at Sellit@SellThisDamnHouse.com or call (816.520.3620) I would love to help.

Jacqueline McCroy Elbert
RE/MAX Realty Suburban
http://www.SellThisDamnHouse.com/
http://www.realestateforspecialneeds.com/

Why Good Credit Is So Important....

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 14:51:00 +0000

Effective Dec. 3, 2007, a change in conventional loan programs and PMI that is going to have a significant effect on many of homebuyers!

This affects everyone with a credit score below 680. Unless your FICO score is at least 680 or you are putting put 30% down, your interest rate will be higher. PMI companies assign letter grades to a person’s credit score. The difference between an "A" and an "A-" pricing is significant.

Example: 100% financing on a $200,000 loan and the Buyer(s) has a 659 credit score:
PMI before change: $160
PMI after change: $236

Give me a call (816.520.3620) or drop me an email (ForSale@JacquelineElbert.net) if you have questions about this or any other Real Estate matters.

Thanx-
Jacqueline McCroy Elbert
RE/Max Realty Suburban
http://www.SellThisDamnHouse.com
http://www.JacquelineElbert.com

Home Access Program

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 18:36:00 +0000

Each month Home Access Progam puts out a news letter, HOME ACCESS CHRONICLE. In this newsletter are articles of interest for those with disablities, featured products, fun facts, and a featured Realtor. I am so honored to be this month's featured Realtor.

For the article they wanted me to talk about my working with people who have disabilities:

If you ask me why it is that I am so impassioned about working with individuals and/or families with special needs I would answer in one word, “David”. My best friend and husband, David, has been in a wheelchair since 1988 when a blood clot in his spin left him paralyzed. We met and became fast friends in 1998 then married in 2000. Over the past nine years we have done much work on our house…not only to update it but to make it a more workable home for David.

When you stop and look at all the homes available finding a home that is universally-designed for wheelchair accessibility can be very difficult. As life would have it, more and more of my clients are individuals or families who have special needs. So now I specialize in working with individuals and families when finding an accessible home, making recommendations on modifications, acting as a liaison with builders, or selling your current home.

Home Access Program is a wonderful resource site. Please take a minute to check it out.

Overland Park, Kansas

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 22:32:00 +0000

According to CNN's Money.com, Overland Park, Kansas was rank #6 in their 10 Great American Towns. This is a list of "places that offer big-city opportunities and amenities -- with a lot more green space and a lot less stress".

The average price of a single family home is around $250,000 with the average income of $89,792.

Living here I have always known it was a wonderful place.

www.YouFinallyFoundIt.com

I've Got a Place For You!!

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 04:09:00 +0000

Beautiful two bedroom, two bath, maintenance free, ranch

Click Here for Virtual Tour

www.YouFinallyFoundIt.com

Are Websites Handicap Accessible?

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 13:31:00 +0000

Each December 3rd there is an observance; International Day of Disabled Persons. E-Accessibility Day, accessibility to information technologies, is this year’s theme.

WHO, the World Health Organization, estimates that there are around 600 million disabled people worldwide. This represents about 10% of the world's population. Around 80% are believed to live in developing countries. Only three out of 100 leading websites around the world meet the needs of persons with disabilities, such as the visually or manually impaired. The United Nations is working to raise awareness of the significant benefits to persons with disabilities and society when they are empowered with increased access to information technologies. Making information technologies available to persons with disabilities is not only a matter of human rights, it is good for businesses.

Studies suggest that accessible websites
• appear higher up the page rankings of search engines
• can save costs on web maintenance.
• allows companies access to a largely untapped customer base

The UN cited the following as KEY SHORTFALLS
93% failed to provide adequate text descriptions for graphics
73% relied on JavaScript for important functionality
78% used colors with poor contrast, causing issues for those with color blindness
98% did not follow industry web standards for the programming code
97% did not allow people to alter or resize pages
89% offered poor page navigation
87% used pop-ups causing problems for those using screen magnification software

First Snow Of The Year!!

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:29:00 +0000

I Love Snow Days!!
Probably worse than any child, I look forward to seeing the name of my children's school scroll across the tv screen...School Closings...

Then there is the downside of snow days...snowy, icy walkways. If I could ask one thing of those selling their homes, please clear your driveway and walkways.

Bank of America Has A Loan Program For Those With Disabilities

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:54:00 +0000

MyCommunityMortgage

Interest-only options

40-year terms

No minimum borrower contribution

Eligible for temporary 2-1 interest rate buydown..... Plus.......

Loan to Values to 100% for one-unit properties (
Available for two- to four-unit owner-occupied properties)

Reduced PMI rates

Flexibility on credit histories, nontraditional credit accepted

Here is the biggy---

Extra flexibilities with options to teachers,police officers, firefighters, health care workers, and people with disabilities or a family member with a disability

Special Needs Real Estate Agent

noreply@blogger.com (Search Homes Kansas City) — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 19:52:00 +0000

This blog is a place to share information with those who need assistance in finding an accessible house or altering their current home. This is often not an easy undertaking so I want to have a place for people to ask questions , look for an answer, provide information, and hopefully help you make your life a little easier.

Finding a home that is universally-designed for wheelchair accessibility can be very difficult. Since my husband, David, is in a wheelchair, I have firsthand knowledge how challenging it can be to find a handicap accessible home.

Constant research of the metro Kansas City's market helps me keep up with the local spots and communities which are appreciating the fastest. By keeping you informed on the latest trends in the local marketplace and educating you on the buying and selling process, you will be able to make the best decision for the most important purchase or sale.

My goal is to assist Buyers and Sellers in meeting all their real estate needs through creating trust and an ongoing relationship as your metro Kansas City, in both Kansas and Missouri, real estate source.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please give me a call (913.647.7162) or e-mail me at ForSale@JacquelineElbert.net
www.YouFinallyFoundIt.com