The Buzz on Kansas Real Estate

Hunting properties are currently one of the hottest things on the market right now!  I could just about write a book on why and how come.  Bottom line is, they are hot!  Naturally, you are looking for one.  You have limited time to drive and look at a property, so you rely on the agent to tell you about it.   He/she blows smoke up your skirt about how awesome this property is.  You find out later after spending half a day and $50 of gas in travel to find it is simply a hay meadow without a tree or crick within a mile of it! Point blank:  I don’t hunt.  (because after years of trying I finally figured out that I couldn’t hit it after I got the chance!)  But that doesn’t mean that I don’t know what makes and what is, a good hunting property!  I grew up with it, I know it.  AND, I will not blow smoke up you skirt about a piece of flat ground trying to make it into something it is not!   Your time is valuable too!  I am going to tell you the way it is.  YOU definitely need to see and walk it, but you should have a pretty good “grip” on the property after talking with me.   We generally try to get aerial photos of all our land properties.  I have studied FSA photos since I was 9.  I can tell a lot simply by the photo.  But if I haven’t walked it, I will tell you!  If I have walked it, I will tell you more.   I don’t ever recall anyone telling me “it wasn’t what you told me!”  I’m proud of that! Don Burford

Jeff Lange Real Estate has been putting on monthly seminars at our Derby office since the spring. We cover a wide range of topics that are beneficial to both the buyer and the seller. These seminars are open to the public and are free. We do ask that you call and make a reservation because we do serve dinner, so it is imperative that we have a head count to know how many people to order for. Give us a call at 529-3100 to inquire about the upcoming seminars at our Derby location.

Cheryl Nesbitt

The #1 most important thing you can do-

     Listen to the advice of your Jeff Lange Real Estate agent.  We are an old fashioned, straight forward real estate company.  We are going to tell you what we think about your property.  What price it should sell for, what price it should be listed at, improvements you should make and all the little things that can make a BIG difference in your home selling fast.

     Unfortunately, many agents will tell you what you want to hear just to get your home listed.  That doesn’t do them or you any good.  It will make you feel good now, but how good are you going to feel when your home is still on the market months later.  It is amazing how many times we see a seller list their home with another agent and the property just sits there with no action.  Finally, the seller agrees to make the improvements we suggested and/or lower the price to where we suggested and then action takes place.  Unfortunately months or often a year is wasted because the seller just didn’t want to truly listen to what our agents marketing plan was initially.

     Bottom line-If you believe enough in us to have us visit with you about listing your home, believe in what we have to say.  Together we will get the job done and “your real estate dreams will be realized.”

Jeff M. Lange  

I am interested in hearing your definition of country, &/or country home.  We have debated this definition for years here at JLRE.  I will not go into our version for the sake of keeping your mind open and your definition un-skewed by my spew & view!   I look to this blog as being informative both ways!  I look forward to hearing your definitions/descriptions.  (Yes, I will tell you some of ours, & mine too, eventually) Don Burford

I was driving yesterday, and noticed a lot of yards are showing yellow grass from dry weather and it hit me that autumn is right around the corner.  Then, it hit me about the importance of pictures for showing properties on internet and in brochures.  Sellers should be aware of this importance. 

If you are thinking about selling in the near future, and you have a property that has a lot of character in a particular or even in different seasons, you need to capture that ahead of time.  Help your realtor out with seasonal pictures (preferably digital) of the “colorful” highlights of your property.  Placing the camera in the same place showing all four seasons is a powerful tool in the right setting!   Green foliage always shows better than winter leafless trees.  However on occasion, leafless trees do allow you to see through them to the improvements better. 
The same goes for swimming pools.  A bright, clean, clear pool is 200% better than a pool cover, and 400% better than green water!  Ponds have the same effect with water level and an iced over pond can make for an awesome picture.   
Something to keep in mind if you are considering selling a property in the near future.  The most important part is listing with Jeff Lange Real Estate though! All for now!  Looking to hear from you! 
Don Burford
Assoc. Broker & Auctioneer

What’s all this news about problems with the secondary loan market? A lot of people are asking that question today. Things have changed, but only for those who are wanting to buy a residence with little or no down payment or with less that good credit. If you are buying a commercial, multi-family or land property, you will not feel the effects of these changes.
Unfortunately, if you were hoping to buy that next house with little down payment or your credit has quite a few blemishes, then buying a home today just got a lot tougher. Is it impossible? No, but you need to do some planning now to make that purchase in the future. Making a plan is vital today and just a month ago you were able to get away without planning your purchase.
What do you need to do? Get with us. Let us help you lay out a home buying plan that works for you and your family. That’s what a real estate professional is all about. Helping you realize your real estate dreams is not always easy. But, we are up to the challenge and want to help you do just that. 

Jeff M. Lange

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