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

Everyone has their reason why they want to be a homeowner. For some it is a stable place to call home. For others it is an investment in their future. Since the $8,000 first time home buyer tax expired many would be home buyers are having a hard time to find the justification for buying a home. They are thinking that prices may go down or that the economy will slip back into recession. Well I am here to give 2.75 simple reasons on why you should buy now and I mean right now today. 

1. On October 4th 2010 FHA is raising it's monthly mortgage insurance. What the heck is that? Any loan that has less than 20% down payment charges you the borrower a monthly premium to purchase mortgage insurance and FHA is raising the rate on all loans after October 4th. This change will cost you the new home buyer anywhere from $35 to $75 more dollars per month. 

2. FHA mortgages are at there lowest fixed rates ever. I did say ever? If you are like most first time buyers you will probably only stay in your home for 5 years or less? So why not get an FHA 5 year ARM. The Rate is fixed for 5 years and you want to know what the rate is? You guessed it 2.75%. Now I know what you are going to say, "what if we stay longer" After the 5 years the rate can only go up 1 point per year. After living in your home for 7 years your max interest rate would be 4.75%.

and now the .75 reason to buy today and it is a very simple reason. There are a lot of awesome homes available. But to make it even better, you won't have to fight every tax rebate wanting buyer away from you favorite home like it was in April.

Below you will find links to all of the best homes in Johnson County Kansas and the Kansas City Metro Area, Click the link, find a great home then call Michael Russell at 913-735-7104 to see all of the best homes.

HUD homes are great opportunity for a first time home buyer that doesn't have a lot of money for a down payment. You can purchase a HUD home in Overland Park with only a $500 down payment. In addition to the low down payment requirement HUD guidelines allow you to request up to 3% in closing costs assistance. If you have been considering purchasing a home in Overland Park but have been holding off due to lack of down payment you might want to consider a HUD home. Currently there are 7 HUD homes available in Overland Park Kansas. HUD has 2 listing days each week were new HUD homes are listed if available.

To see a see a list of Available Overland Park HUD homes Click Here

Not just looking for Overland Park? We can help provide you with a list of HUD homes for Johnson, Wyandotte or Jackson County HUD homes for sale. Contact the Russell Home Team at 913-735-7104 or email us at info@russellhometeam.com  

Birchwood Place and Birchwood Hills in Overland Park Kansas. Located near the intersection of 143rd and Antioch has remained one of Overland Parks favorite subdivisions. It's close proximity to Blue Valley Schools, shopping, movie theatre and more make it a very desirable place to call home.

Birchwood Place and Birchwood Hills offer a diverse selection of 2 story homes at very affordable prices. For more information on the Birchwood subdivisions contact the Russell Home Team at 913-735-7104

Last 6 months home sales in Birchwood Place & Birchwood Hills 

Homes Sold                                                  5

Average List Price                                   $295,190

Average Sales Price                               $289,490

Highest Sales Price                                 $322,500

Lowest Sales Price                                  $264,950

Average Days to Sell                              45

To see all Birchwood Place and Birchwood Hills homes for sale Click Here

To learn more about the Russell Home Teams Sell for Le$$ listing plan Click Here

Regency by the Lake in Overland Park Kansas is one of those few subdivisions that has been completely unaffected by the downturn in the real estate market. There seems to be 2 reasons for this, it's incredible location next to Lionsgate and the Lakewood Elementary and middle schools and its affordability.

It is very rare to find the combination of quality 2 story homes and affordabilty in such a incredible location. If you have never been through Regency you should take a ride through. It boasts a very nice community pool and a walking path around the lake. Located near 145th and Metcalf Regency is not only walking distance to Lakewood Elementary and Middle Schools, it is close to restaurants, grocery stores and so much more...

Last 6 months home sales in Regency by the Lake

Homes Sold                                                     10

Average List Price                                       $263,782

Average Sold Price                                      $259,486

Highest Sales Price                                      $277,500

Lowest Sales Price                                      $234,000

Average Days to Sell                                   45

To see all Regency by the Lake Homes for sale Click Here

To Learn more about the Russell Home Teams Sell for Le$$ Listing Program click here 

Do you live in the Green Meadows Subdivision? Want to know what homes are selling for? Well you are at the right place. Below you will find a market report for the first 6 months of 2010. If you have any questions about home sales in Green Meadows you can contact the Russell Home Team at 913-681-1383 or you can request a market analysis on your home by clicking here

Green Meadows Home Sales Report for January to June 2010

Homes Sold                                        6

Average List Price                           $240,773

Average Sold Price                          $236,523

Highest Sales Price                         $262,750

Lowest Sales Price                         $197,100

Average Days to Sell                      110

Click Here to see all Green Meadows homes for sale

Click Here for more information on the Russell Home Teams Sell for Le$$ Listing Program

Sylvan Lake in South Overland Park Kansas is a fantastic little subdivision.  Just a stone's throw from Blue Valley High School, Sylvan Lake is a nice mix of 2 story and split level homes priced in the low $200,000's. The homes in Sylvan Lake are highly sought after for their quality and affordability. Sylvan Lake is also close to many of South Overland Parks amenities, including a Super Walmart, Price Chopper, restaurants and more..

Here is a look at the Last 6 months of Home Sales in Sylvan Lake

Homes Sold                                                5

Average List Price                                   $227,600

Average Sold Price                                  $223,360

Highest Sales Price                                 $237,000

Lowest Sales Price                                 $176,800

Average Days to Sell                               55

To see all Sylvan Lake Homes for sale Click Here

To learn about the Russell Home Teams Sell For Le$$ Listing Program click Here

To schedule a no obligation market analysis on your Sylvan Lake Home Click Here or call Michael Russell at 913-681-1383

Willow Bend in South Overland Park is a fantastic little subdivision. It is a hidden gem in a prime location near the corner of 159th & Metcalf in South Overland Park. It features a very nice selction of 2 story and split level homes for amazingly affordable prices. Willow Bend is the perfect subdivision if you are looking for Blue Valley Schools and don't want to spend $300,000 or more on a home.

Here is a look at the last 6 months home sales in Willow Bend

Homes Sold                                 7

Average List Price                    $203,200

Average Sold Price                  $199,289

Lowest Sales Price                  $156,170

Highest Sales Price                 $226,000

Average Days to Sell                57

Click Here to see Willow Bend Homes for sale

Click Here to find out about the Russell Home Team's Sell for Le$$ Listing Program

Want more information on Willow Bend? Request it here. Want to know how much your Willow Bend home is worth contact The Russell Home Team today at 913-681-1383 or email us at info@russellhometeam.com 

Can't afford or don't want to pay 6% to sell your Overland Park home? What if I told you that you could hire a full service broker and only pay 1.5%? Would you be interested? 

The Russell Home Team is currently offering our full service real estate listing service starting at 1%. That's right 1%. Our sell for le$$ listing program offers all of the services you would expect to pay 6% for and usually a lot more. Interested? Use our link below to find out more:

The Russell Home Teams Sell for Le$$ Listing Program

For a free no obligation market analysis call Michael Russell today at 913-681-1383 or email me at info@RussellHomeTeam.com 

Do you think that 6% is way too much to sell your home? Well, we think so too. Whether you don't have the ability or just plain don't want to pay 6%, you now have another option.

For home sellers in Johnson County wanting to pay less than 6% you had 2 choices, either go For sale by owner or use a no services provided agency. Now the Russell Home Team gives you a full service listing plan as low as 1%. 

Our full service plan provides everything you would expect to pay 6% for and in most cases we provide a lot more. The Russell Home Team has over 10 years experience and has been recognized as one of the top online real estate marketers in the Johnson County area. To learn more about our program click on the link below:

The Russell Home Teams Sell for Le$$ listing Program

Call Michael Russell today at 913-681-1383 to schedule your no obligation market analysis.

I was reading a fantastic blog post by Richard Weiser  Buying a house now could be the best hedge against inflation …EVER! and I was thinking to myself about how it was not only a great way to beat inflation but how the historically low interest rates will help you save money right now? 

Interest rates have been so low for so long we have become sensitized to them. We have forgotten what the historical averages are for interest rates. While I am too young to ever have paid 18%, I did pay 9% on my first home in 1993. For those of you who haven't been paying attention the average rate on a new mortgage is hovering around the 4.5% range. By historical standards that is the lowest rate ever since rates have been tracked and it is 1% lower than a year ago. 

What most people don't realize is that a 1% drop in interest rate equal  a 10% difference in your purchasing power. So if you are qualified for a purchase price of 200,000 at 4.5% you would only qualify for $180,000 at 5.5%. While interest rate are low now, how long can they really stay there? 

So by taking advantage of the low rates you are not only beating inflation but you are saving an immediate 10% in the form of a lower monthly payment then if you bought 1 year ago today.