The Buzz on Kansas Real Estate

Want to move out of the city and experience quiet country living?

It could be more difficult than what you might think.

Does the property you’re interested in have rural water or are you going to have to drill a well and what are the complications you can run in to with water quality, and how do you address this issue.

No doubt you will not have the luxury of community sewer so what do you do?   The two most common remedies to this situation is either a septic system or lagoon.  Depending on the size of your property and county in which it is located this can all vary in price and what you can actually do.

If you are buying a property, you need to have the ability to build if this is your desire and this too can get complicated.

The bottom line to country living and purchasing the right property is dealing with an educated professional regarding all the potential obstacles that can come your way.  At Jeff Lange Real Estate, we pride ourselves in working with you to find the right property for your need and assisting you with the right contact information regarding zoning, environmental and other issues to make this experience and positive memorable adventure.

For information on properties, waste systems, well water and other concerns please give us a call or simply respond to this blog.

Sincerely,

Dee & Mary Pettegrew

Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life time but it does not have to be one of the scariest.  There are some very simple pointers to help you get started looking and buying the house of your dreams.

1.  Find an agent that will represent you and your interest in the transaction.  If you call the listing agent on the sign be aware that the agent will probably not be representing your best interest in buying the house.  The listing agent will be working for the seller not the buyer. 

2.   Get pre-qualified with a lender to purchase a home.  Go to a trusted lender and make sure you can buy the home before searching for a house.   Getting pre-qualified determines how much you can afford. It allows you to move quickly when you find the right home, especially when there are other interested buyers. It also indicates to the seller that you are serious and really can afford to buy the property. It also helps you not fall in love with a house that you can not afford.  The lender will help you stay with in your budget of a house payment.  Remember though what you get Pre-qualified for and what you can Afford are two different things.   If you are having trouble finding a lender your real estate agent should be able to help point you in the right direction.3. The next step is to narrow the search for your house.  Decide what features are most important to you.  Making two lists: one of the items you can’t live without and one of the features you would enjoy can help in your new house adventure. Narrow down your lists as you look at your houses. Your real estate agent can then show you houses that meet your expectations.

4.  Start visiting houses with your real estate agent.   Your agent will set up showings on houses that meet your needs.  They will help you narrow down the houses that you look at and will keep track of the ones you are interested in.  Once you find your dream house then your real estate professional will help you put an offer on the house and get an accepted contract.

5.  Once the contract is accepted your real estate agent will go through with you a step by step process of inspections, warranties, change of address, utilities and closing of your new home.

The process of buying a home can be a scary idea but if you have a real estate professional on your side, working for the buyer and not the seller, the process can be enjoyable and stress free.  Jeff Lange Real Estate Professionals want to work for you to find your perfect home.

Amy Hajdukovich

Sales Associate

Recap of Grimsman-Tener Auction             Thursday evening, March 22 we had a very successful auction of 149 acres of tillable farmland in two adjoining tracts between Andale and Mt. Hope Kansas.  Both sold for an impressive $2800 an acre.  A combination of several things led to the success of this auction.  First and foremost, it was excellent farm ground located in a very popular and aggressive farm area.  Secondly, the Seller wisely opted to convey the entire growing wheat crop and all 2007 FSA program payments to the Buyer.  That and giving immediate possession on the spring land made it an immediate cash flow situation for the Buyer.  Thirdly, good crop conditions, a good grain market, and a light rain during the auction enhanced the attitude and spirits of the farmer and investor buyer.  That is a whole lot of positive, which makes for an excellent auction situation.            As long as the markets remains strong, and borrowed money is affordable, I see nothing but positive for farm land.  We have seen a steady increase in demand from not only local farmers, but investors, and even out of state buyers.  This particular ground in my opinion was strictly farm land.  I would even go so far as to say that this land wasn’t even transitional yet.  Development is eking that direction, but simply not there yet.  We had a packed house of buyers, but not a single developer attended this auction!Urban sprawl is a driving force, especially in the northwest quadrant of Wichita, which in turn creates 1031 tax-deferred exchange buyers who are looking for transitional and farmland.  It breaks my heart to see homes being planted on some of the best ground God put on earth, but it is an actuality.  As long as builders continue to plant houses, and congress doesn’t change 1031 rules regarding FSA payments, your 1031 buyers will be a driving force in farmland prices.  Add this to the “farmer” positives, above, and you have an even stronger market.  With that in mind, I think we will see a strong farm land market for the next year or two.  Did I mention that those combinations make for an excellent auction situation?                                      Don Burford, Assoc. Broker and Auctioneer for Jeff Lange Real Estate

Real Estate as a whole is slowing down right now, but land and homes with land are still moving quite fast. It seems that as soon as something comes on it goes on pending just about as fast. I have several buyers that are looking for this type of property right now within a 45 minute drive of Wichita.

Cheryl Nesbitt- Sales Associate

Greetings blogger’s!   

Beings this is a new adventure for me, let me clarify that I am not a computer specialist, but am very much in favor of communicating with you. 

 I am an Associate Broker and an Auctioneer with JLRE for 10 years now.  I am a former farmer/stockman and I see land at an all time high in price and demand.  Naturally the latter drives the former.  Over the last 5 to 6 years, hunting properties have steadily grown in demand, thusly, once again, have increased in value as well.  Banks are still eager to lend on land at current prices, which encourages me to think that things will stay at these levels for a while.  1031 tax deferred transactions are also a major driving force in land prices.  We here at JLRE are very familiar with these, and can help you with a 1031 or reverse 1031 if you need.  It is important to have knowledge of these types of transactions to enable you the Buyer or Seller successfully achieve your real estate goals. 

All for now!  Looking to hear from you! 

Don Burford, Assoc. Broker & Auctioneer