If you’re like me, when you finally decide to put your home on the market to sell for whatever reason, you don’t imagine it will take long to sell.  I didn’t really have a choice, as divorce sometimes makes those decisions for you. So I rolled up my sleeves and set to work. I did everything right to prepare my home to sell.  I work for JLRE so I should know.  New paint, new carpet, flowers in the yard and colorful pots of flowers and a small fountain on the patio, and most importantly no clutter and clean at all times.  No easy feat, even when I did live alone with only 2 little dogs.  The things I couldn’t change were the things that made my property a challenge to sell.

First, it was a manufactured home. Even though it was a NICE home with 2×6 construction and sheetrock walls on a permanent foundation with great views of the rolling Cowley County countryside, it was a manufactured home. Secondly, it was over 30 minutes from Wichita with a mile and a half drive on an unpaved road. It was only 4 miles from Winfield Lake, which can be a plus, but to a very small group of home buyers.

It took almost a year and a half to close on my home.  To say that it was an emotional roller coaster ride would be an understatement.  The first week it was on the market, I got a “lowball” offer. I had to reject it, because it wasn’t enough to pay off the mortgages, much less, pay closing costs and commissions. 

I had several offers over the listing period, and came close to having a deal, but sometimes Buyer’s think they hold all the cards and try to take advantage of the Seller.  That’s what a good agent is for, to help you with those type of Buyers.  Eventually a couple that really loved my home, made an offer. With a lot of help from Mark we got the deal negotiated so that both parties were happy. Getting it to the closing table was another nightmare all by its self. Not because of me or the Buyer’s, but because of the lenders. My Buyer’s had good credit, but it takes agents and lenders who know how to handle financing for a rural property and a mobile home.  Not everyone does.  The Buyer’s agent and lender did not.  After the Buyer’s decided to drop that lender and move to another, my agent took the reigns to make sure that every inspection was done so that when it went to the underwriter’s it would be good to go.  And it was! It had come out of the underwriters on Friday and was set to close the next week.  Monday rolls around and wouldn’t you know, the underwriter was raided by the FBI and by Wednesday was out of business.  So the second lender handed over the loan process to a local bank and within 2 weeks we did close. Finally! And both sides left happy.

I have to commend my agent, Mark Wedman, for his enduring patience with me as I went through the painful process of divorce and selling the home I had thought I would one day retire to.  We work together on a daily basis and the prolonged process of selling my home could have put a strain on our work, but fortunately it did not, and most of the credit goes to him on that part. Hopefully, this doesn’t happen to you, but keep in mind, you chose your realtor for a reason.  If you chose the right company, then you will know that they are doing everything they can to make the sale of your home happen.

 Dana

We here at JLRE list a gazillion country residential properties.  We are very familiar with the things that go along with a home in the country.  Water well, septic/lagoon, shelter belts, trees, flood plains, dirt/gravel roads, cricks, (I have been informed they are officially called creeks) ponds, propane, outbuildings, fences, minimum acreages, county requirements, and the list goes on!  For those of us who have grown up with these things, we take them for granted.  Others, I have discovered, don’t have a clue. 

Unfortunately, some realtors don’t have a clue either.  There are some very good realtors who DO know and understand country property, but it is amazing to me, at the number that DON’T!!

Quite often, we experience a Buyer’s agent writing a contract on a country property, then calling and asking “what a lagoon is?”  Can you imagine?  It happens more than you think.  We encourage Buyer representation, but does this sound like sound representation to you? 

If you are looking for a home in the country, why wouldn’t it be logical to use a JLRE agent who knows and understands this kind of property?  We can not only assist you in searching, but help you understand, point out possible hazards, pitfalls, and normal “common sense” things that come with a country property.  And, we know lenders who don’t have a problem with more than 7 acres!!! 

Don’t be afraid to ask an agent straight out if they are comfortable and/or what their knowledge of country property is.  If you aren’t comfortable with their answer, are you going to be comfortable in your decision making process come purchase time?

Why not let a country professional help you with your country property?  Give us a call.

Don Burford

The rules of money have changed! The old rules said go to school, get a good job, work hard, stay out of debt and save with a portfolio of well-diversified mutual funds! With the economy in recession and constant turmoil, people who followed the old rules are facing foreclosure and wondering why they can’t seem to stay afloat financially.
As an example, lately on financial TV stations, the reporters have been talking about the run-up in gold prices and asking, “Is it time to invest in gold and gold stocks?” I feel that is a ridiculous question! Now isn’t the time to be investing in gold or gold stocks that time was 10 years ago, when gold was below $300 an ounce. Investors should have taken substantial positions when gold was cheap. For reporters to be talking about gold today is no different than them reporting on the hot real estate market in 2005, just before the top blew off.
A few days ago, a friend asked me if I was losing money in real estate. My reply was, “No, I’m making money.” Confused, he asked, “How can you be making money during the subprime disaster?” I explained that since the real estate market took a downturn, there were more people renting rather than buying, which is great for my rental business. I also informed him that I’m raising rents since demand for affordable housing is so high. When someone moves out, I increase the rent and new tenants line up. That means my cash flow is increasing! This may seem calculating or cold, but it is the reality of today’s market. It is called supply and demand and that demand is high right now. I feel it will continue!
I have said for years, to my investor friends, that I like working with small town banks and wow, is that ever true today! The rules of lending have changed for them also, but nothing like the large nationwide bank chains. These small town banks and my investment properties have been my life boats in this current economic ride on the Titanic. I have also felt the effects in this economic storm, but I continue to fall back on my flexibility of hard assets like real estate! Today is the day to buy real estate, just like 10 years ago was the time to buy gold.

Mark Wedman
Agent, Jeff Lange Real Estate

Employees of Jeff Lange Real Estate donated plants to the Sedgwick County Zoo on Sat., October 18, 2008 during the zoo’s annual weekend event.  Tropical plants will be used for the zoo’s indoor exhibits (as seen on KSN Channel 3).  The zoo holds some plants in their greenhouse for next spring’s plantings and also for propagation purposes.  Larger tree type plant material is used in the bird exhibits. 

OK, so it’s been a while since I wrote my last blog and spring has arrived!!  Unfortunately, so have the “monsoons”.  My home is on the market and now comes the difficult job of maintaining a home that’s for sale.  Mowing over an acre has become almost another part-time job with all of the rain we have been getting, but it is really important to keep the home picturesque condition.  If you have already moved from your home but still have it on the market, don’t forget about it.  Nothing looks worse than an unkempt yard when that potential buyer comes by for a showing.  You never know when a buyer might just take a drive by before actually calling for a showing.  Yes, it’s a lot of work, especially if you now have 2 lawns to mow.  Perhaps a neighborhood kid might be interested in making a few extra bucks, so check around. 

I can’t tell you how much the flowers growing at my home really make the place a lot more cheerful and hopefully potential buyers will too.  If not, I am definitely enjoying them.

Dana

I was working with a vendor the other day.  She was telling me she did not know our mailing address, but she sure knew our jingle!  So I gave her our mailing address and then I thought to ask her where does she hear our jingle at?  Which radio station?  It’s interesting to find this kind of information out.  It helps us figure out our advertising plan/budget. So…where have your heard our jingle played???? 

E-mail me back! I’d love to hear from you!

Alyce, Assistant to real estate agents, assistant to Lange Auctions.

The Blog of TREG? What is T.R.E.G. your asking? Not so much what, but who. Even though in some cases some people have said,  “What is that?” when they first meet me. Usually girls.  Guess I’d  better get a little more beauty sleep. Anyways TREG is just short for “That Real Estate Guy.” If you listen to KFDI, KSZN or KSGO radio,  then you might have heard me do some commercials for Jeff Lange Real Estate as “That Real Estate Guy.” If you have ever met me at random I will introduce myself the same way.

 I can tell by personal introductions that people are struck by confusion with a hint of smirking. I try not to laugh as they smirk,  being one to laugh easily at things myself. People then again will ask to make sure they heard right. “Whats your name?” Which I will simply reply again “I’m That Real Estate Guy, but you can call me TREG for short.” Even though I went to the next step of explaining my name, most people I meet will still have the tilted head with puppy perked ears look of being curious why I just said that again.

So for everyone in past, present and future that I will be meeting or working with, here is why I call myself “That Real Estate Guy.” Very simple actually after you think about it. So go ahead and take a minute or two if you would like to see if you can unfold the mystery question of why. … … … … Ok I will pretend that was a minute or two. Reason being is because it is so very easy to remember. Lets look at the numbers here. There are over 2200 real estate agents in the Wichita area. That is a small community, in fact that’s about the size of the town I grew up in. Wild times I tell ya. Who wants to try and go through 2200 names? After awhile they all look and sound the same.

That is why I introduce myself as That Real Estate Guy. I mean lets face it, most of us are bad with names, myself included. I don’t want to have to suffer from that in the business element. My own father doesn’t know my name at times for as sad as that sounds. He called me Freckles once. Freckles is our dog. It’s a red-heeler by the way, hence the name Freckles. So feel free to smile, and smirk while asking my name again because I will more then likely laugh to. Except I will be telling you at the same time you will remember me because its so much easier. I am easy to remember and just as easy to work with. So I look forward to seeing your smirks and perked ears.

For more blogs in our are checkout http://www.cityblogusa.com/

On Saturday, April 5^th, a team of bowlers from Jeff Lange Real Estate participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sumner County bowling fundraiser. The JLRE team was 3^rd highest for the amount of money raised to benefit the local Sumner County chapter. In addition to raising money, a great time was had by all participants. Team bowlers were Mark & Leslie Wedman, Melissa Jenkins, Octavio Navarro and Anita Seivley.

If you wish to contact Big Brothers Big Sisters you may email the Sumner County chapter at info@ksbbbs.org. Their website is www.ksbbbs.org or you may call them at 620.399.8030.

Once again, weather seems to be the topic when it comes to preparing your home to sell.  I knew that I didn’t want to put my home on the market in the dead of winter, but what I didn’t count on was the delays in being able to complete the preparation of my home by Spring. 

I have a brand new, 12×12 storage building with brand new everything and it is a great asset towards selling my home.  I also have another 12×12 storage building/workshop that is not so new and although it is in good condition, it needs fresh paint. 

Between the rain, snow, sleet and frigid temperatures, I haven’t been able to get the painting done and this has added to my stress levels.  I am like most other people and are ready for Spring and an end to this cold weather.  So I am going to put my optimist hat on and hope the sun keeps shining and that all will go as close to planned as possible.

Dana

I am asked daily “How’s the real estate market?” My answer is alwaysthe same — “Great, I have never seen a better time to buy!” The fall of the sub-prime market has created some hurdles in the market across the U.S. The stock market is also wavering with fears of credit woes. However, people with good credit can take advantage of this as foreclosures increase and interest rates are falling. It is also a great market for land buyers wishing to have a stable investment. My forecast for 2008 is that the real estate market will be even better than 2007. In January I was awarded the highest level of real estate recognition, The Master Circle award, for the 3rd consecutive year. I am currently working on a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation. This is valuable for you, as my client, to establish buyers and sellers across the country, expanding the market for your property.The real estate market has become very high tech as internet advertising is exploding. Our listings reach over 70,000 web sites. At Jeff Lange Real Estate we also use many other tools to aid us in helping our clients. Some of these include blogs, smart phones and GPS systems. Of course, our auctions and Guaranteed Sale Program as well as our popular radio and print ads are still staples in our advertising package. Please contact me to discuss the current state of the real estate market and thanks again for a great 2007!

Mark Wedman
Sales Associate