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<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/utility/FeedStylesheets/atom.xsl" media="screen"?><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xml:lang="en"><title type="html">Shelly  Rampetsreiter</title><subtitle type="html" /><id>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/atom.aspx</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/default.aspx" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/atom.aspx" /><generator uri="http://communityserver.org" version="2.1.61019.2">Community Server</generator><updated>2009-04-06T12:12:00Z</updated><entry><title>Ranch For Sale in Raytown</title><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2010/03/08/aa2f4476cbeb4fc79f3d86d057f38212.aspx" /><id>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2010/03/08/aa2f4476cbeb4fc79f3d86d057f38212.aspx</id><published>2010-03-09T04:07:00Z</published><updated>2010-03-09T04:07:00Z</updated><content type="html">&lt;p align="center" style="float:right;margin-left:10px;"&gt;		&lt;a href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/Raytown/Missouri/Homes/205/Raytown/Agent/Listing_12651639.html"&gt;&lt;img src="http://media.point2.com/p2a/listing/7acc/4ff0/994a/a9ad9dffba778fc5a4e3/w475h356.jpg" class="Photo ListingPhoto" alt="IMG_0182" border="0" style="border:black 1px solid;"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;			&lt;/p&gt;	&lt;p class="summary" style="margin-top:0px;"&gt;		&amp;bull;&amp;nbsp;&lt;span&gt;2 bath, 3 bdrm ranch&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;span&gt;-&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;img border="0" id="Price_mi" src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/OFFICE/PortalOfficeShared/images/1x1.gif" style="height:20px;width:34px;position:absolute;" /&gt;&lt;span id="Price_r" style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:10px;font-weight:bold;"&gt;MLS&amp;reg;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span id="Price_pl"&gt;$119,900&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;span&gt; - Gorgeous Renovated Ranch!&lt;/span&gt;	&lt;/p&gt;	&lt;p&gt;		&lt;span class="dateline" id="LeadIn" style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Raytown, Jackson County&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;-&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;		Everything is new in this adorable ranch!  Kitchen features tile backsplash and eat in area.  Hardwood floors are found throughout the home.  The family room has freshly painted walls with tons of windows.  This home has 3 bedrooms with a large Master with a half bath!   All bedrooms have ceiling fans, wood floors and big closets!  The full bath has been remodeled into a spa d&amp;eacute;cor with tile floors, tiled shower-Beautiful!  The full sized basement awaits your touch.  Storage and work area is HUGE!  Large fenced backyard backs to a creek.  This home is a perfect 1st home  - it won&amp;rsquo;t last long!  Come see!	&lt;/p&gt;	&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/Raytown/Missouri/Homes/205/Raytown/Agent/Listing_12651639.html"&gt;Property information&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=633181" width="1" height="1"&gt;</content><author><name>669524</name><uri>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/members/669524.aspx</uri></author><category term="Real Estate" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Real+Estate/default.aspx" /><category term="For Sale" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/For+Sale/default.aspx" /></entry><entry><title>Bi-Level For Sale in Salem East</title><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2010/03/03/1718ff1c46ef41f3bff706639faeeafc.aspx" /><id>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2010/03/03/1718ff1c46ef41f3bff706639faeeafc.aspx</id><published>2010-03-03T13:28:00Z</published><updated>2010-03-03T13:28:00Z</updated><content type="html">&lt;p align="center" style="float:right;margin-left:10px;"&gt;		&lt;a href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/Independence/Missouri/Homes/206/Salem_East/Agent/Listing_7201411.html"&gt;&lt;img src="http://media.point2.com/p2a/listing/b6c4/5c10/5858/6f7119694f08367be32a/w475h356.jpg" class="Photo ListingPhoto" alt="front of home" border="0" style="border:black 1px solid;"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;			&lt;/p&gt;	&lt;p class="summary" style="margin-top:0px;"&gt;		&amp;bull;&amp;nbsp;&lt;span&gt;3 bath, 3 bdrm bi-level &amp;quot;Raised Ranch&amp;quot;&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;span&gt;-&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;img border="0" id="Price_mi" src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/OFFICE/PortalOfficeShared/images/1x1.gif" style="height:20px;width:34px;position:absolute;" /&gt;&lt;span id="Price_r" style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:10px;font-weight:bold;"&gt;MLS&amp;reg;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span id="Price_pl"&gt;$119,900&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;span&gt; - Great Starter Home!&lt;/span&gt;	&lt;/p&gt;	&lt;p&gt;		&lt;span class="dateline" id="LeadIn" style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Salem East, Independence&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;-&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;		What an adorable house! This home features hardwood floors throughout the main level. The family room is spacious and has recently been painted. The kitchen &amp;amp; dining area have a ceiling fan, a lot cabinets for storage and counters for more workspace. It walks out to a covered patio and deck area. Great for entertaining your family and friends.  The master bedroom has it&amp;#39;s own bath, oversized closets and gorgeous hardwood floors. Bedrooms 2 &amp;amp; 3 are generously proportioned with ceiling fans and wood floors. The rec room downstairs can be used as an exercise area or a second family room. This home is priced to sell, come see today!	&lt;/p&gt;	&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/Independence/Missouri/Homes/206/Salem_East/Agent/Listing_7201411.html"&gt;Property information&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=628788" width="1" height="1"&gt;</content><author><name>669524</name><uri>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/members/669524.aspx</uri></author><category term="Real Estate" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Real+Estate/default.aspx" /><category term="For Sale" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/For+Sale/default.aspx" /></entry><entry><title>Price Reduced on 13300 E 93rd street Kansas City Missouri 64138 in Silvertooth Fahey Farms</title><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2010/03/02/cf856c4e3ab24b6ba3425baa4e3c194e.aspx" /><id>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2010/03/02/cf856c4e3ab24b6ba3425baa4e3c194e.aspx</id><published>2010-03-02T20:06:00Z</published><updated>2010-03-02T20:06:00Z</updated><content type="html">&lt;p&gt;		&lt;span id="LeadIn" style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Silvertooth Fahey Farms, Lee&amp;#39;s Summit Rural Areas&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;-&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;span&gt;Announcing a price reduction &lt;/span&gt;		&lt;span&gt;on 13300 E 93rd street Kansas City Missouri 64138, a 5 bath, 5 bdrm 1 1/2 story &amp;quot;Traditional Brick Home - Lake Front!&amp;quot;.  Now&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;img border="0" id="Price_mi" src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/OFFICE/PortalOfficeShared/images/1x1.gif" style="height:20px;width:34px;position:absolute;" /&gt;&lt;span id="Price_r" style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:10px;font-weight:bold;"&gt;MLS&amp;reg;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span id="Price_pl"&gt;$699,900&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; - Owner finance available!!.	&lt;/p&gt;	&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/Kansas_City/Missouri/Homes/204/Silvertooth_Fahey_Farms/Agent/Listing_4390404.html"&gt;Property information&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=628347" width="1" height="1"&gt;</content><author><name>669524</name><uri>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/members/669524.aspx</uri></author><category term="Real Estate" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Real+Estate/default.aspx" /><category term="For Sale" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/For+Sale/default.aspx" /></entry><entry><title>Only 65 Days Left!</title><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2010/02/25/only-65-days-left.aspx" /><id>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2010/02/25/only-65-days-left.aspx</id><published>2010-02-26T02:53:00Z</published><updated>2010-02-26T02:53:00Z</updated><content type="html">&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="margin-left:-313.95pt;width:475.25pt;"&gt; &lt;tr style="height:44.25pt;"&gt;  &lt;td style="width:474.25pt;height:44.25pt;padding:0in;"&gt;  &lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:30pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;color:#064e6c;"&gt;Only 60 Days Left!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;/td&gt; &lt;/tr&gt; &lt;tr style="height:609.75pt;"&gt;  &lt;td style="width:474.25pt;height:609.75pt;padding:0in;"&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;"&gt;&lt;font class="Apple-style-span" face="&amp;#39;Times New Roman&amp;#39;, serif" size="4"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;font class="Apple-style-span" face="&amp;#39;Times New Roman&amp;#39;, serif" size="4"&gt;&lt;p class="MsoPlainText"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"&gt;Only 60 DaysLeft&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoPlainText"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;You have just65 days to get a home under contract to take advantage of the $6,500 tax creditfor people living in their current home for 5 years or more or the $8,000 firsttime home buyer tax credit.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;You need toget moving and not cut it too close because there will be a rush at the end ofApril.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Make your move now and get underway to getting your cash back from your home purchase.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;The stars are aligned as interest rates arestill at record lows, a buyer&amp;rsquo;s market still prevails, and majorly discountedhomes are available with foreclosures at an all-time high.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoPlainText"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;Rates Are StillSo Very Low...For Now&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoPlainText"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;Most expertsare predicting interest rates to slowly but steadily rise this year.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Most think this will start happening in thenext thirty days.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;One thing to keep inmind is that you can typically lock in a rate once you have an address for ahome you are buying.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;We may not seerates like this for many years to come, so it&amp;rsquo;s an amazing time if you can takeadvantage.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Even if you are not in themarket for a new home, then you should at least consider refinancing since weare at the bottom with interest rates.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoPlainText"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;Yes, It IsStill a Buyer&amp;#39;s Market&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoPlainText"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;Overall supplyof homes in Kansas City rose to a 6.5 months supply in January which indicatesa buyer&amp;rsquo;s market.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Kansas City has beenno exception to the market influx of foreclosures and short sales which haskept inventory levels up.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Consideringthese factors, many home buyers in the Kansas City area have been surprised atthe number of homes selling for full price or close to full price consideringit is still a buyer&amp;rsquo;s market.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;While itis true that supply of homes is still a little high, there will always bepockets in which a home being sold may not have extreme competition in terms ofprice range or amenities.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;The market isvery fluid right now with waves of homes going on the market and selling.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;At any given point in time there may be anexcess of homes in your area on the market, but if priced well the homes gopending leaving a sudden shortage in inventory in that given price range. Banksare getting aggressive with their pricing so many foreclosures are sellingquickly as buyer&amp;rsquo;s and investors are watching the market closely.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;The bulk of foreclosures are with largerbanks, and they use realtors to list the homes.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;Therefore, our search engine will give you information on the homes asthey hit the market.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Still, some buyerslike to search for HUD homes at &lt;a href="http://www.FirstPreston.com"&gt;www.FirstPreston.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoPlainText"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"&gt;Even though HUDhomes are all on the MLS and can be found through our search engine, you canget a few extra details about the property at this site such as whatinspections have been completed and what conditions were found.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Please remember to always use your own agentwhen making offers.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;You will always geta better deal and be represented fully at no extra cost.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoPlainText"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;We hope youfind this information valuable and look forward to keeping you informed aboutthe real estate market each month.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;Please call us with any questions. Our respective phone numbers arebelow.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;To learn more about the Edge Teamand our real estate services go to &lt;a href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/controlpanel/blogs/WWW.EdgeTeamSells.com"&gt;WWW.EdgeTeamSells.com&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoPlainText"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.adtrendsinc.com/emails/EdgeTeam/edge-team-right.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=625377" width="1" height="1"&gt;</content><author><name>669524</name><uri>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/members/669524.aspx</uri></author></entry><entry><title>Single Story For Sale in Apple Valley</title><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2010/02/24/247bd8f2969f480b8418421b15c2120e.aspx" /><id>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2010/02/24/247bd8f2969f480b8418421b15c2120e.aspx</id><published>2010-02-24T21:08:00Z</published><updated>2010-02-24T21:08:00Z</updated><content type="html">&lt;p align="center" style="float:right;margin-left:10px;"&gt;		&lt;a href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/Blue_Springs/Missouri/Homes/207/Apple_Valley/Agent/Listing_11961353.html"&gt;&lt;img src="http://media.point2.com/p2a/listing/d735/2625/ff94/97b980f6bf8471a604ce/w475h356.jpg" class="Photo ListingPhoto" alt="front" border="0" style="border:black 1px solid;"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;		&lt;span class="cutline"&gt;			&lt;br /&gt;			&lt;strong&gt;Totally Updated&lt;/strong&gt;		&lt;/span&gt;	&lt;/p&gt;	&lt;p class="summary" style="margin-top:0px;"&gt;		&amp;bull;&amp;nbsp;&lt;span&gt;3 bath, 3 bdrm single story&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;span&gt;-&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;img border="0" id="Price_mi" src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/OFFICE/PortalOfficeShared/images/1x1.gif" style="height:20px;width:34px;position:absolute;" /&gt;&lt;span id="Price_r" style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:10px;font-weight:bold;"&gt;MLS&amp;reg;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span id="Price_pl"&gt;$159,900&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;span&gt; - Awesome Price!&lt;/span&gt;	&lt;/p&gt;	&lt;p&gt;		&lt;span class="dateline" id="LeadIn" style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Apple Valley, Blue Springs&lt;/span&gt;		&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;-&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;		This beautiful home is in mint condition. It features new carpet, fresh paint, tiled baths and ceiling fans throughout home. Kitchen boasts newly refinished cabinetry, hardwood floors, new microwave and custom built louvered blinds in the dining area. Great room features a wood burning brick fireplace and vaulted ceiling.  Master suite is a retreat with a lot of space, huge closet and gorgeous bath. Entertain all your friends and family on the oversized newly stained deck. The backyard has a wood fence and is good sized. You will have storage galore in the spacious garage. This house is a must see!	&lt;/p&gt;	&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/Blue_Springs/Missouri/Homes/207/Apple_Valley/Agent/Listing_11961353.html"&gt;Property information&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=624464" width="1" height="1"&gt;</content><author><name>669524</name><uri>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/members/669524.aspx</uri></author><category term="Real Estate" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Real+Estate/default.aspx" /><category term="For Sale" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/For+Sale/default.aspx" /></entry><entry><title>Is Now Really A Good Time To Buy??</title><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2010/02/23/is-now-really-a-good-time-to-buy.aspx" /><id>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2010/02/23/is-now-really-a-good-time-to-buy.aspx</id><published>2010-02-23T17:19:00Z</published><updated>2010-02-23T17:19:00Z</updated><content type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:Z90jPyrQvsHR8M:http://coatsfamilyinsurance.com/images/150_clear_lake_texas_new_homes_1.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Everywhere you turn today whether on the news, in the newspaper and people you meet...they are talking about how bad the housing market is! &amp;nbsp;As a Kansas City realtor, I find this astonishing. I can think of many reasons why there has never been a better time to buy your 1st home or even your next home.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;1. &amp;nbsp;The Federal Housing Tax Credit was extended to First Time Home Owners and now move up or repeat buyers. &amp;nbsp;This is a great opportunity to buy the house you have always wanted. &amp;nbsp;Click on the following link for a quick overview of the tax credit requirements. &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/glance.php"&gt;http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/glance.php&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;2. Interest Rates are still at an incredibly low rate! &amp;nbsp;With these low rates that mortgage companies are extending, you have the ability to buy &amp;quot;more&amp;quot; home for your dollar! &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;3. &amp;nbsp;There is a surplus of homes currently on the market. &amp;nbsp;That means you...the buyer...are in the drivers seat so to speak. &amp;nbsp;You can deal more aggressively to obtain the best price on your new home.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;4. &amp;nbsp;Check into some of the grants that the state of Missouri is offering. &amp;nbsp;Visit the following link for more information: &amp;nbsp; www.mhdc.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;5. &amp;nbsp;You are investing in yourself by having a piece of property that will continue to appreciate in value! &amp;nbsp;Pay yourself first...rather than a landlord!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;6. &amp;nbsp;Significant possible tax deductions are available to some home owners.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;My list can go on and on...but take it from the many real estate investors I am lucky to work with...they are buying property like crazy. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Explore the market today visiting the link below!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/controlpanel/blogs/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22http://www.marketingsplash1.com/RequestHBSR.asp?ID=BYSDXTBBLBBDAJ&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;imgsrc=&amp;quot;http://www.marketingsplash1.com/images/splashImg2.jpg&amp;quot;border=0&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;" title="Home Scouting Report" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.marketingsplash1.com//images/splashImg5.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;lt;a target=&amp;quot;_blank&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;&lt;a href="http://www.marketingsplash1.com/RequestHBSR.asp?ID=BYSDXTBBLBBDAJ&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;img"&gt;http://www.marketingsplash1.com/RequestHBSR.asp?ID=BYSDXTBBLBBDAJ&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;img&lt;/a&gt; src=&amp;quot;&lt;a href="http://www.marketingsplash1.com/images/splashImg2.jpg"&gt;http://www.marketingsplash1.com/images/splashImg2.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&amp;quot; border=0&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=623507" width="1" height="1"&gt;</content><author><name>669524</name><uri>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/members/669524.aspx</uri></author><category term="Real Estate" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Real+Estate/default.aspx" /><category term="Market Conditions" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Market+Conditions/default.aspx" /><category term="Buying a home" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Buying+a+home/default.aspx" /><category term="Lee's Summit Realtor" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Lee_2700_s+Summit+Realtor/default.aspx" /><category term="kansas city realtor" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/kansas+city+realtor/default.aspx" /><category term="First Time Home Buyer" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/First+Time+Home+Buyer/default.aspx" /><category term="Home search" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Home+search/default.aspx" /><category term="Agent" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Agent/default.aspx" /></entry><entry><title>WHO IS BUYING REAL ESTATE AND HOW THE HOUSING MARKET HEALS FROM THE BOTTOM UP!</title><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2009/11/19/who-is-buying-real-estate-and-how-the-housing-market-heals-from-the-bottom-up.aspx" /><id>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2009/11/19/who-is-buying-real-estate-and-how-the-housing-market-heals-from-the-bottom-up.aspx</id><published>2009-11-19T15:55:00Z</published><updated>2009-11-19T15:55:00Z</updated><content type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;"&gt;&amp;ldquo;&lt;em&gt;The market always heals from the bottom up&lt;/em&gt;&amp;quot; according to Paul Bishop,National Association of Realtors Vice President of Research. According to the recently released sales numbers 47%&amp;nbsp;of buyers this past year were first time home buyers.&amp;nbsp; Surpassing the previous high record of first time purchasers set back in 1991.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;quot;These buyers are critical to housing and a general economic recovery ...they absorb inventory, free existing ownersto make a trade and stimulate related goods and services&amp;quot; said Bishop.&amp;nbsp; He compared this rise to the last recession in 1991, where the same dynamic played out &amp;quot;first time home buyers started the chain reaction that led the nation out of recession&amp;quot; he said. &amp;nbsp; Bishop credits tax incentives, record high affordability, and pent up buyer demand to this spikein recent sales.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Economists would also credit the FED with suppressing any immediate rise in interest rates affecting home mortgages while the economy is still so fragile.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;BUYER PROFILES ARE ALSO DIFFERENT THAN ONE WOULD EXPECT&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;Themedian age of a first time home buyer is 30 indicating that some are younger and some are older. They are planning to live in their homes for at least ten years. The typical cost Nationwide was $156,000 down 7% from last years figure of $165,000. 87% of First time Home Buyers surveyed considered their home to be a good investment.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp; Single Family homes sold a higher rate than other forms of housing.&amp;nbsp; In fact 78% of the home achieved were single family homes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;HOW&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;ARE BUYERS PAYING FOR HOMES?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; 96% Choose a fixed rate mortgage.&amp;nbsp; (55% used FHA compared to 8% Using VAPrograms) 61% of First time buyers used their savings as a down payment. 22% received down payment assistance as a gift from family.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;6% received loans for down payments from family 6% tapped into a 401 (k) program&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;WHAT IS OLD IS NEW AGAIN- SAVING MONEY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT ON A HOME&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;39% of home buyers have cut back on luxury items, 38% cut back on entertainment and 30% cut back spending on clothing according to the study.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;THE TAX CREDIT&amp;nbsp;EXPANSION &lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;INTO 2010&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;"&gt;The expansion of the $8,000 tax incentive program for 1&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; time home buyers will extend to homes placed under purchase agreements by April 30, 2010.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;It will also provide home buyers who have owned a home in the past 5 years with a $6,500 tax credit when they purchase a new home by the April 30&lt;sup&gt;th &lt;/sup&gt;deadline.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;ARE YOU INTERESTED IN MOVING TO A NEW HOME? FIRST TIME HOME BUYER?&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;80% of first time home buyers are using the Internet.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;Now is the time to put your current house on the market to prepare for your next move.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Use this link below to begin your search for available homes. OR Let me help you search for the perfect house. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color:#333333;font-size:11pt;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;font-size:13px;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/controlpanel/blogs/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22http://www.greatrealestate.com/SearchRealestate.aspx?ID=5A69EB1262264D7D831F9B494F8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;imgalt=&amp;quot;SearchRealEstate&amp;quot;title=&amp;quot;SearchRealEstate&amp;quot;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.greatrealestate.com//SearchRealEstate/FindDreamHome_LG.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:BETSY;color:#333333;font-size:14pt;"&gt;Shelly Rampetsreiter&amp;nbsp; 816-582-8723&amp;nbsp; &lt;a href="mailto:ShellyR@InfinityRealtySells.com"&gt;ShellyR@InfinityRealtySells.com&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=573031" width="1" height="1"&gt;</content><author><name>669524</name><uri>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/members/669524.aspx</uri></author><category term="Real Estate" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Real+Estate/default.aspx" /><category term="Buyer Information" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Buyer+Information/default.aspx" /><category term="Selling your Home" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Selling+your+Home/default.aspx" /><category term="Lee's Summit Realtor" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Lee_2700_s+Summit+Realtor/default.aspx" /><category term="kansas city realtor" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/kansas+city+realtor/default.aspx" /><category term="Tax Credit" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Tax+Credit/default.aspx" /><category term="First Time Home Buyer" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/First+Time+Home+Buyer/default.aspx" /><category term="Home search" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Home+search/default.aspx" /><category term="Agent" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Agent/default.aspx" /></entry><entry><title>Making a Great First Impression Inside the House!</title><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2009/05/24/making-a-great-first-impression-inside-the-house.aspx" /><id>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2009/05/24/making-a-great-first-impression-inside-the-house.aspx</id><published>2009-05-24T17:56:00Z</published><updated>2009-05-24T17:56:00Z</updated><content type="html">&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman"&gt;Making a Great First Impression&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman"&gt;Article #2 &amp;ndash; Inside the House!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-indent:0.5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Most buyers want to see a home that is &amp;ldquo;move-in&amp;rdquo; ready.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Scuffed and finger-printed wall are a major turn off for the majority of all buyers.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Painting is the cheapest and easiest way to fix the problem but keep in mind to choose a color that appeals to everyone.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Neutral colors are the way to go!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;font size="3"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Clean every room thoroughly and de-junk each room.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;If you have any pets make sure your home doesn&amp;rsquo;t smell like you have pets.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;People who don&amp;rsquo;t have pets usually have a keen sense of smell and again it will cause a potential buyer to walk away!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;font size="3"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Here is a list of things to help you ready your home for sale!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul style="margin-top:0in;"&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Repair any foundation cracks&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Clean all windows inside and out&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Replace broken glass&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Repair any wood rot&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Check all window screens.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Replace those that are bent or have holes in them&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Repair or replace caulking and weather stripping around the doors&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Exterior and interior doors lock properly and are easy to open and close&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Oil any squeaky hinges&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Doorbell is in working order&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Polish Brass door handles&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Repair any noisy pipes&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Repair any squeaky floorboards&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Replace any loose floorboards or floor tiles&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Repair any woodwork ( door frames, baseboards, chair rails, etc.) if chipped or dented&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Give woodwork a fresh coat of paint, if needed&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Smoke detectors are working&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;All electrical outlets are working&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;All electrical switches are working and have plate covers&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;When showing the house&amp;hellip;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul style="margin-top:0in;"&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Have your thermostat set at a comfortable level&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Soft music playing&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;All interior doors open to create a sense of spaciousness&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Curtains / blinds open for maximum natural light&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Interior lights on for warm ambiance&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;The aroma of coffee or cookies in the air&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Some household tips&amp;hellip;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul style="margin-top:0in;"&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Squeaky wooden floors &amp;ndash; dust talcum powder into the cracks to stop squeaking&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;tab-stops:list .5in;"&gt;&lt;font face="Times New Roman" size="3"&gt;Sticky Drawers &amp;ndash; Rub a bar of hand soap across the runners.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Drawers should glide much easier!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=472671" width="1" height="1"&gt;</content><author><name>669524</name><uri>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/members/669524.aspx</uri></author><category term="Real Estate" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Real+Estate/default.aspx" /><category term="Seller Information" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Seller+Information/default.aspx" /><category term="Selling your Home" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Selling+your+Home/default.aspx" /><category term="Lee's Summit Realtor" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Lee_2700_s+Summit+Realtor/default.aspx" /><category term="realtor advice" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/realtor+advice/default.aspx" /><category term="kansas city realtor" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/kansas+city+realtor/default.aspx" /></entry><entry><title>Selling Your Home - Make a Great First Impression</title><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2009/05/10/selling-your-home-make-a-great-first-impression.aspx" /><id>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2009/05/10/selling-your-home-make-a-great-first-impression.aspx</id><published>2009-05-10T13:11:00Z</published><updated>2009-05-10T13:11:00Z</updated><content type="html">&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Selling Your Home &amp;ndash; Making a Great First Impression!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Series of Success Tips &amp;ndash; Article #1&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;The Exterior&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;I&amp;rsquo;m sure you have heard the term &amp;ldquo;Curb Appeal&amp;rdquo;. &lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;Making your house appear as attractive and friendly as possible from the street is a crucial step in getting the buyer to stop and take notice of your home.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;More importantly, it makes them want to see the rest of your home.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Trust me when I say it will be hard to get buyers interest in see the interior of the home and all its potential if the exterior of your home creates a negative first impression&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Clear away any litter between the street curb and your front door&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Remove oil stains from the driveway&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Repair any cracks or broken bits of driveway paving&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Clear bikes and toys from the driveway.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;(When showing your home keep the driveway clear of all cars.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Remove weeds and grass growing in walkway.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Trim back shrubs protruding into the walkway &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Trim the shrubs away from the house windows for security and to make interior rooms lighter.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Weed the flower beds and add new mulch&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Prune dead branches and pull back anything creeping across the house&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Cut the grass&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Dispose of pet debris&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;If house is wood, scrape and paint if needed&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Clean out the gutters&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Repair or replace gutters and downspouts&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Repair any parts of the roof ie. Replace missing or loose shingles&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Repair any foundation cracks&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Clean all windows inside and out.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Storm windows too!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Repair any wood rot&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Replace any cracked windows&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Make sure door locks properly and opens and closes with ease&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Oil any squeaky door hinges&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Doorbell is in working order&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;There is a working light by the front door&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Tighten any wobbly porch or deck floor boards&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Clean lawn furniture&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Property is free of clutter, particularly toys, garden hoses etc.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Making a lasting impression:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Shutters and front door painted in a spectacular color which complements the exterior of the house&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;All season wreath on the front door&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Attractive door mat&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Hanging planters&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Wingdings;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;not;&lt;span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Memorable groupings of flowers on porches, decks and by front door&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Helpful Links to help you ready your home for sale!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Hardware sites:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.acehardware.com/"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;www.acehardware.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.builderdepot.com/"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;www.builderdepot.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.craftsman.com/"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;www.craftsman.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.doitbest.com/"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;www.Doitbest.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ebuildingsource.com/"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;www.ebuildingsource.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.homedepot.com/"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;www.homedepot.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.homecenter.com/"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;www.homecenter.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Gardening Sites:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.backyardgardner.com/"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;www.backyardgardner.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bloomingbulb.com/"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;www.bloomingbulb.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.creativegardener.com/"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;www.creativegardener.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.gardendesigner.com/"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;www.gardendesigner.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.gardenguides.com/"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;www.gardenguides.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.gardeningtips.com/"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;www.gardeningtips.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.my-container-garden.com/"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;www.my-container-garden.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt 0.75in;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;"&gt;&lt;font face="Calibri"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=465941" width="1" height="1"&gt;</content><author><name>669524</name><uri>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/members/669524.aspx</uri></author><category term="Real Estate" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Real+Estate/default.aspx" /><category term="Seller Information" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Seller+Information/default.aspx" /><category term="Selling your Home" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Selling+your+Home/default.aspx" /><category term="Lee's Summit Realtor" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Lee_2700_s+Summit+Realtor/default.aspx" /></entry><entry><title>8 Things to Consider When Buying a Home</title><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2009/04/29/8-things-to-consider-when-buying-a-home.aspx" /><id>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2009/04/29/8-things-to-consider-when-buying-a-home.aspx</id><published>2009-04-29T20:03:00Z</published><updated>2009-04-29T20:03:00Z</updated><content type="html">&lt;div&gt;&lt;div class="reblog"&gt;&lt;div class="reblog_info" id="reblog_info_1040840" style="display:none;"&gt;&lt;div class="info_layout"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;font-family:Verdana;"&gt;Buying a home is a major deal.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;When doing so there are some things you need to consider when looking for your next home.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Below is a list of 8 areas you need to consider when making your purchase.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Not only will it help you feel confident you are choosing the right home, it will help you give your Realtor the best information to help you find the home that&amp;rsquo;s right for you&amp;hellip;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;font-family:Verdana;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;ol style="margin-top:0in;"&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#330099;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Verdana;"&gt;How many people will the home accommodate?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;font-family:Verdana;"&gt;This will help you determine how many bedrooms you need and the overall square footage you will require in a home.&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#330099;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Verdana;"&gt;How do you feel about yard work?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;font-family:Verdana;"&gt;Do you dream of owning a home with a large open yard or one that almost feels like a cabin deep in the woods?&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Do you absolutely hate working outside?&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Do you want the yard to accommodate a host of activities for you, your friends, and family?&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Do you have a pet(s) that need space for exercise?&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;All of these factors will influence your choice in home.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;While a condo or home in a neighborhood that provides lawn care, snow removal, etc. may be a good choice for those that don&amp;rsquo;t enjoy yard work or simply don&amp;rsquo;t have the time.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Other home buyers would prefer to maintain a garden, lush landscape, pool, etc.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Keep this in mind when specifying your criteria for your home.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Many people don&amp;rsquo;t put enough thought into this factor and end up regretting their decision in home choice after it&amp;rsquo;s too late.&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#330099;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Verdana;"&gt;Do you or any other potential residents of the home have any special needs?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;font-family:Verdana;"&gt;This may be important in that you may require a home that is a single story home due to mobility, or maybe you require wider door openings.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Think about steps and whether or not there would be an easy way to accommodate the resident if there are.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Do you require a garage of a certain size, height, etc. due to the need for a special type of vehicle?&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Do you need a shower vs. a tub, again consider these types of things in searching for the right home.&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#330099;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Verdana;"&gt;What stage of life are you in?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;font-family:Verdana;"&gt;This may play an important part in selecting your next home.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Do have a specific school district you would like your children to attend?&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Do you want kid-friendly amenities nearby (a community park, neighborhood park, etc)?&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Do you want to live in a &amp;ldquo;walking&amp;rdquo; neighborhood, one with sidewalks which may be safer for younger ones riding trikes and bikes&amp;hellip;?&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="GramE"&gt;Are any convicted child&lt;/span&gt; molesters living in the immediate vicinity?&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;On the flip side, would you prefer to live in a community for those that are entering the golden years of your life?&amp;nbsp; Would you like a community that hosts group activites, group outings, etc.&amp;nbsp; &lt;span class="GramE"&gt;These &lt;/span&gt;are all factors you need to consider when purchasing a home&amp;hellip;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#330099;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Verdana;"&gt;What type of community (or privacy) do you prefer?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;font-family:Verdana;"&gt;Many people enjoy the feeling of community; therefore, they would like to select a home in an area where this is a since of community and neighborhood involvement.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Maybe they hold annual garage sales, or have an annual parade, etc.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Again, would you prefer a neighborhood conducive to taking daily walks and/or walking your pet(s)?&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Would you prefer homes on much larger lots or in secluded areas which give you a feeling of privacy?&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="GramE"&gt;Would you prefer to be somewhere in between the two extremes?&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#330099;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Verdana;"&gt;Do you want &amp;ldquo;move in ready&amp;rdquo; or a &amp;ldquo;fixer upper&amp;rdquo;?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;font-family:Verdana;"&gt;You may decide a fixer upper is the better choice because you could save some money on the purchase price, but be careful that you do not get in over your head.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;It may end up costing more than it&amp;rsquo;s worth if you don&amp;rsquo;t have the expertise or the money to do all that&amp;rsquo;s required.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;If you are not one for taking on projects, a move-in ready home may be the best choice for you.&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#330099;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Verdana;"&gt;Do you need to be close to your place of employment or public transportation?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;font-family:Verdana;"&gt;If you are considering moving to an area you are not familiar with, it may be a good idea to consider the traffic patterns.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;While it may be physically closer to your job or other areas of importance, it may actually take longer based on the congestion, etc.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Do you need a home that is close enough to walk to transportation or drive your vehicle a short distance to get there?&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#330099;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Verdana;"&gt;Finally, consider amenities and features in the home that are &amp;ldquo;nice to have&amp;rdquo; vs. what you would consider essential&amp;hellip;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Verdana;"&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="color:#330099;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="color:#330099;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;font-family:Verdana;"&gt;Please feel free to &lt;a href="http://www.chandasellsindy.com/Contact.html" target="_blank"&gt;contact me&lt;/a&gt; with any questions you may have about the area or if you&amp;#39;d like me to send you the current active listings in the area. I look forward to hearing from you!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/controlpanel/blogs/www.kcrealtor4you.com"&gt;My Website&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Call me at&amp;nbsp;816.582.8723 or email me at &lt;a href="mailto:Shelly@KCRealtor4you.com"&gt;Shelly@KCRealtor4you.com&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="color:#330099;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=461336" width="1" height="1"&gt;</content><author><name>669524</name><uri>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/members/669524.aspx</uri></author><category term="Buyer Information" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Buyer+Information/default.aspx" /><category term="Buying a home" scheme="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/tags/Buying+a+home/default.aspx" /></entry><entry><title>First Time Home Buyer Workshop!</title><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2009/04/10/first-time-home-buyer-workshop.aspx" /><id>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2009/04/10/first-time-home-buyer-workshop.aspx</id><published>2009-04-10T18:01:00Z</published><updated>2009-04-10T18:01:00Z</updated><content type="html">&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;1st Time Home Buyers May Qualify for a &lt;strong&gt;$8,000 Tax Credit&lt;/strong&gt;!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:20pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Do you Know if you Qualify?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:20pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:20pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;You are invited to a special workshop designed with you,the first time home buyer in mind. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;When:&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;April 14th&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;/&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;April 28th&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;6:30 PM&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Space is limited...Reserve your space in one of the workshops! &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;R.S.V.P to Shelly Rampetsreiter at 816.582.8723&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Where: &lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Infinity Realty&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;304 SE Third Street&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Lee&amp;rsquo;s Summit, MO 64063&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;This is one of the best times in many years to purchase your first home!&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Home values are extremely appealing and in many cases new home owners are&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;discovering their house payments are the same as what they paid in rent!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;Topics of Discussion:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;* 8 Reasons You Should Own a Home&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;*How do I qualify for a Home Mortgage?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;* The Home Buying Process&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;*Protecting Your Investment&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;* What is the 2009 First Time Home Buyer&amp;rsquo;s Tax Credit?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:118%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;text-align:center;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=452126" width="1" height="1"&gt;</content><author><name>669524</name><uri>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/members/669524.aspx</uri></author></entry><entry><title>First Time Home Buyer Tips</title><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2009/04/06/first-time-home-buyer-tips.aspx" /><id>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/blogs/shelly__rampetsreiter/archive/2009/04/06/first-time-home-buyer-tips.aspx</id><published>2009-04-06T18:12:00Z</published><updated>2009-04-06T18:12:00Z</updated><content type="html">&amp;nbsp; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:99%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:99%;text-align:center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Tips for first-time Homebuyers&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt;line-height:99%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;direction:ltr;font-family:Calibri;unicode-bidi:embed;language:en-US;"&gt;1.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="width:10.5pt;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;It&amp;rsquo;s okay to be picky, but be realistic. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;Even&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;a new home is never perfect!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt;line-height:99%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;direction:ltr;font-family:Calibri;unicode-bidi:embed;language:en-US;"&gt;2.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="width:10.5pt;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Do your homework before you start shopping.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Decide what you really want from a home and keep that in mind.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Search for your home at &lt;a href="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/controlpanel/blogs/www.KCRealtor4you.com" title="Shelly Rampetsreiter website"&gt;www.KCRealtor4you.com&lt;/a&gt; . &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt;line-height:99%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;direction:ltr;font-family:Calibri;unicode-bidi:embed;language:en-US;"&gt;3.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="width:10.5pt;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Make sure your finances are in order.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Review and double check all your credit reports and ensure you have enough saved to cover both your down payment and your closing costs.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt;line-height:99%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;direction:ltr;font-family:Calibri;unicode-bidi:embed;language:en-US;"&gt;4.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="width:10.5pt;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Don&amp;rsquo;t delay in getting your loan.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Work with a lender to get pre-approved for a mortgage before you start looking.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;This will always lend you credibility when negotiating on&amp;nbsp;a property.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt;line-height:99%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;direction:ltr;font-family:Calibri;unicode-bidi:embed;language:en-US;"&gt;5.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="width:10.5pt;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Decide when you would be able to move.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;How long does your lease have to run? Do you need to still sell your home?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt;line-height:99%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;direction:ltr;font-family:Calibri;unicode-bidi:embed;language:en-US;"&gt;6.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="width:10.5pt;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Think about the long term.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Do you want a starter home with the idea of moving bigger in a few years or is this a long term, family investment.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Making this decision may dictate what type of home you should be looking for as well as the type of mortgage that&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;may suit their needs.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:99%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="language:en-US;"&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Don&amp;rsquo;t let yourself&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;become over leveraged.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;If you invest all your financial resources to buy the biggest&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;home you can afford, you will likely find yourself without any funds left for&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;maintenance or decoration and/or to save money for other financial goals.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Do not be na&amp;iuml;ve or cut corners. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;A smart buyer will insist upon a home inspection, and ensure any major defects discovered be fixed before closing. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Find a real estate professional whose style and principles match yours. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Consider working with a buyer&amp;rsquo;s agent. Home buying is not only a big financial commitment, but also a highly emotional one. It&amp;rsquo;s very important that the agent you choose is both great at their job and a good fit with your personality. Unlike the listing agent, whose first duty is always to the seller, a buyer&amp;rsquo;s representative is working for you and your best interests only. Often buyer&amp;rsquo;s agents are paid out of the seller&amp;rsquo;s commission payment.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;If you find that perfect home now&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;. Don&amp;rsquo;t second-guess the interest rates or a possible change in the housing market by waiting. Such changes don&amp;rsquo;t usually occur fast enough to make that much difference in price and great homes won&amp;rsquo;t stay on the market long. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Understand that there is no such thing as a completely perfect house&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Focus on finding the things that are most important to you and consider letting the minor flaws go. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Don&amp;rsquo;t negotiate yourself out of the game. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Negotiation is certainly a big part of the real estate process, but trying to gain by looking for an extra-low price may lose you the house.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Make a post home buying budget&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;. Factor in all the decorating and repair costs. Even the newest of homes needs a little work. Even if you buy a new home, there will be some costs. Don&amp;rsquo;t leave yourself short and let your home deteriorate.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Some buyer&amp;rsquo;s remorse is almost always inevitable but it will pass. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Purchasing a home, especially the first one, is a huge commitment, but the investment yields great returns.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;Shelly Rampetsreiter&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; 816.582.8723&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;a href="mailto:ShellyR@infinityrealtysells.com"&gt;ShellyR@infinityrealtysells.com&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Infinity Realty 304 SE Third St. Lee&amp;#39;s Summit, MO 64086&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:119%;font-family:Calibri;language:en-US;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="language:en-US;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=449902" width="1" height="1"&gt;</content><author><name>669524</name><uri>http://www.kcrealtor4you.com/members/669524.aspx</uri></author></entry></feed>