Overland Park KS Homes for sale & Johnson County Real Estate Blog: September 2007

What does the Tour De France winner, spandex and $5000 dollar bicycles have in common? The answer would be that they are all in Missouri this week. The Tour of Missouri rolled into Kansas City on Tuesday, kicking off what hopes to be an annual event. The start and finish was located on the Country Club Plaza. Having moved from Colorado I was very used to seeing bicycle races out my back door but I wasn't sure if old KC was ready to put on a world class bicycle race.

To my absolute delight the fans lined up early and stayed all day for the finish. With the likes of Tour De France Alberto Contador, new American champion Levi Leipheimer and perrenial american pro George Hincapie in attendence the tifosi (Italian for fans) got there money's worth. Since it was free that wasn't hard to do.

Kansas City has always been a top notch professional sports town, now we have one more sport to root for. For those of you who missed the race, by the response on Tuesday you will get another chance next year.

As fast as the tour rolled into town into rolled onto Clinton. It will finish this Sunday in St. Louis. Lastly I wanted to wish the Discovery Channel cycling team the best for providing us cycling junkies with many good years.

If you would like to follow the rest of the tour check out www.Velonews.com  

The Chocolate Festival is this Saturday September 15th from 9-5 at the Overland Park Convention Center. Coming from someone who lives on chocolate I thought I would give you a top ten list for the occasion.

The top 10 ways to eat chocolate:

Number 10- early and often

Number 9- for breakfast

Number 8- one word "Fondue"

Number 7- In Ghiardelli square in San Fran

Number 6-  with 2 hands

Number 5- Chocolate milk

Number 4- Hot fudge Sundae

Number 3- Godiva, Godiva, Godiva

Number 2- completely naked

and the

number 1 way to eat chocolate

Brownies, big fat brownies with extra chocolate chips.

This is just my opinion because there is absolutely no wrong wat to eat chocolate.

On a serious note, the proceeds will benefit the Friendship House. Happy eating and bring extra milk.

Well the pool might have closed for the season but the homes sales are open for business. Hampton Place continues to defy the rest of the market with another month of robust sales. August sales were strong and the measly 16 days on the market should silence the nay sayers. Take a look at this months sales

Hampton Place August 2007 home sales report

Homes Listed 3

Homes Sold   3

Average sale price $299,000

Low sale  $268,000

High Sale $359,000

Days on market 16

Well the fall market is here and things will be getting hotter for the next few months, why wait till spring to sell. Right now is as good as it gets. Check out our website www.WeSelljoco.com to see all of the great Hampton Place homes for sale or give us a call at 913-681-1383 for a personal tour.

Willow Bend beats the market and then some. Who said there is a slowdown in the real estate market? They must have forget to tell the buyer looking for homes in Willow Bend. If you want to buy in Willow Bend you might not want to wait too long, at this pace there will be nothing left to buy. It looks like Overland Parks little secret is getting out., as prices continue to rise consistently in Willow Bend.

Willow Bend Sale Statistics for August 2007

Homes listed    3

Homes Sold     6

Average Price   $204,000

Low                 $185,000

High                $221,000

Days to sell       25

South Overland Park has many great subdivisions like Willow Bend, Green Meadows, Sylvan Lake and Hampton Place. The Russell Home Team specializes in Overland Park, feel free to check out our website to see all of the great homes for sale http://www.weselljoco.com/ or give us a call at 913-681-1383 and we will take you for a tour. 

Are you a move up buyer? Are you looking for a new home or maybe a lightly lived in new home? Do you want to live in a beautiful new community that is close to a golf course? Well then maybe Blackthorne Estates is right for you. Located in South Overland Park just off Mission Drive, Blackthorne Estates just opened it's second phase of homes. New home state in the mid to high 300's and run to the mid to high 400's. Developed by Duggan Homes, Blackthorne Estates is quickly becoming on of Overland Parks most popular move up subdivision. With close proximity to great restaurants, shopping and Blue Valley Schools, what is not to like. Take a look at the most recent homes saels

Blackthorne Estate Home Sales August 2007

Homes Listed   1

Homes Sold     4

Average Sale price    $398,000

Low Sale                  $365,000

High Sale                $423,000

days to sell              41

If you are consider a move up to Blackthorne Estates or any other great Overland Park Subdivisions like Hampton Place, Wilderness or Green Meadows give the Russell Home Team a call at 913-681-1383 or check out our website www.WeSelljoco.com  

As Overland Park continues to grow, it is getting harder to find great affordable neighborhoods. Sylvan Lake is one of those great affordable neighborhoods. It used to be that there was not much south of 135th. Well that line has moved and the former sleepy area that was Old Stanley is now a bustling stop for young families. Sylvan Lake continues to be a family favorite with it's close proximity to Blue Valley High School and equally close proximity to great restaurants and shopping, you will be sure to find everything a family could want.

Here are Sylvan Lakes sales Statistics for the first 8 months of 2007

Homes Listed   6

Homes Sold     4

Average price    $226,000

Low Sale          $208,000

High Sale         $245,000

Days to sell      71

Not too shabby, if I say so myself. If you are looking for a great affordable place to call home Sylvan Lake might be right for you. The Russell Home Team specializes in Sylvan Lake and other great Overland Park subdivisions like Hampton Place, Green Meadows, Wilderness, Iron Horse, Blackthorne Estates and Willow Bend. Feel free to check out all the great homes for sale at www.WeSelljoco.com or gice us a call for a private tour at 913-681-1383.

Are you looking to buy a great home, one that is close to the best schools? Maybe you are looking for close proximity to shopping or restaurants. Well Green Meadows meets all of those needs. Not only that Green Meadows won't send you to the poor house. The average sales price in Green Meadows is only $232,000 with many selling below that. Southern Overland Park continues to expand and the surrounding neighborhood has grown substancially also. You will find many new restaurants like Cris Cakes, Coco Bolo's and LLywellens Pub. If you currently live in Green Meadows and wish to sell, well you can look on the bright side as sales continue to grow. Here is your most recent sales statistics.

For the first 8 months of 2007

Homes Listed          20

Homes Sold            15

Average price          $232,000

Low Sale                 $170,000

High Sale                $305,000

Days on Market        32

pretty impressive, I would say. If you want more information on Green Meadows or other great Overland Park subdivisions like: Hampton Place, Wilderness, Iron Horse, Willow Bend, Sylvan Lake or Brittany give the Russell Home Team a call at 913-681-1383 or check out all of the great homes at www.RussellHomeTeam.com

Realty Executives of Kansas City embarked on it's third Habitat for Humanity home this week. Joy the new home owner is excited to finally be able to have a home of her own. As part of our commitment to the community The Russell Home Team donates a portion of every commission to Realty Executives Homes from the Heart.  The Russell Home Team is also committed to help raise the walls on this new home. We will be having a volunteer day on Saturday October 20th. For more information contact Michael @ The Russell Home Team 913.681.1383 or email me at michael@russellhometeam.comYou can get more information at www.russellhometeam.com