Get customized home values delivered to your inbox for free! Have you ever wondered what your neighbors house sold for or did you question whether your neighbors finished their basement before they sold? With this FREE service you will never again wonder! Brad Papa will send you a quarterly e-mail with the latest home values in your neighborhood complete with PHOTOS. You can unsubscribe for this service at any time, but homeowners around the Kansas City area find this a very valuable service and a great way to keep updated on the market!
 
Click here to sign up for this service or simply send an e-mail to Brad@PapasInTheHouse.com with your name, property address and the name of your subdivision.

Maybe you have your eye on a certain Kansas City area neighborhood? You can also use this service to stay up-to-date on the latest values of homes going on the market. Interested in Olathe homes for sale? Or maybe another city like Overland Park, Shawnee, Brookside or Kansas City? Just contact Papa and let him know your real estate goals!

For a personalized consultation, contact Brad Papa or 913-526-4985 and he will provide a free home evaluation and comparative market analysis.

Click here to view all the current Kansas City Homes For Sale

Brad Papa
Realty Executives
913-526-4985
Brad@PapasInTheHouse.com
www.PapasInTheHouse.com
Come to Papa For All Your Real Estate Needs!

Many people don’t realize how important their credit score is and how much of an impact it can have on their mortgage payment. Sometimes just a difference of 1 point can make a difference of  around $50 on one’s mortgage payment. There are several techniques that one can use in order to improve their credit score. The easiest one is to manipulate credit card debt. 

The credit bureaus will look at your ratios on your credit cards. If you have a $1000 limit, and you have a balance of $750…that is considered high risk and thus your credit score will be impacted in a negative fashion. You can help your score by taking one of 3 actions:  

1. Paying the credit card balance card down 

2. Raising the limit to the credit card balance  

3. Transferring it to another card with a higher limit.  

Paying it down is self-explanatory. To raise the credit card balance, all you need to do is call your credit card company and ask for them to increase your limit…most of the time they will do this. If you pay your bill online, sometimes there is even an option to request a balance increase online. Therefore, if they raised your credit card  balance to $1500, you would now only have a 50% debt ratio compared to a 75% ratio and thus your credit score would increase.

Finally you can transfer money to a different credit card which has a higher balance so that your average balance across all of your credit cards is lower. As you can see, the last two ways are ways you can improve your credit score without paying anything. Remember to read the fine print on transferring money to different credit cards.

Brad Papa

Realty Executives

913-526-4985

Brad@PapasInTheHouse.com

 www.PapasInTheHouse.com

 Come to Papa For All Your Real Estate Needs!

I wanted to wish everyone in the Kansas City area (and beyond) a Happy Holidays from Brad Papa! Remember to Come To Papa For All Your Real Estate Needs in 2010!

They Represent YOUR Best Interests: If you call the listing agent on the sign, you are speaking to the agent that works for the seller. That agent will do what they can go get the house sold for the highest value, for THEIR client. Therefore, you need an agent on your side that is looking out for your best interests. A home is a huge purchase, and a decision that you should be 100% comfortable making and a buyer’s agent will help you write a contract when you find YOUR dream home. 

Expanded Market Search: An Olathe buyers agent can show you ANY property that is available – regardless of the sign in the yard. A buyer’s agent will search for all available properties that meet your search criteria including unlisted properties, new construction, foreclosures. A common misconception is that a buyer’s agent only can sell properties that they have listed, when in fact they can help you buy any house! 

Analyze For Re-Sale Value: As the buyer’s agent goes through the properties with you, they will assist you with analyzing properties and determining their strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to make an informed decision. This is especially important when considering the re-sale value of your home. A professional buyer’s agent can point out issues with the home that are often overlooked, but may hinder a re-sale in the future such as the home backing to a busy street or a very steep driveway. 

The Price Is Right: Your Olathe buyer’s agent will be able to perform a comparative market analysis on your favorite property that will provide you with an offering range for that particular property. The buyer’s agent will be able to tell you if the home you want is overpriced or perhaps even under priced and will help you determine a negotiating strategy based on your situation. An Olathe buyer’s agent will also take into consideration other factors such as closing date, home warranty or even a certain appliance staying. At the right price, everything is negotiable! 

Effective Negotiating Skills – A buyer’s agent is an effective negotiator and takes pride in getting their clients the best possible deal. They are experts at dealing with negotiation tactics and the legal contracts. You need a buyer’s agent on your side who will go the extra mile in negotiations to make sure you are highly satisfied with all aspects of the transaction. 

1. Non-Pushy Attitude
A home is a huge purchase, and a decision that you should be 100% comfortable making. We look at homes based on your desires; I don’t try to force you to like a home. We write a contract when you find YOUR dream home. We work at your pace and time schedule, not mine. Click here if you are interested in attending the Free First Time Home Buyer’s Seminar in Kansas City!

2. No Up-Front Contracts
I don’t make you sign an Exclusive Buyer Agency Agreement until we find a home. My first-rate customer service skills ensure that once clients begin working with me, they will not need to look for other realtors. I will be the last realtor you will ever need!

3. Handle the Negotiations
For some realtors negotiations is the most stressful part, but my competitive edge kicks in and I take pride in getting my clients the best deal possible. This includes going the extra mile in negotiations to make sure my clients are highly satisfied with all aspects of the transaction, including the purchase price, home warranty coverage, resolution of unacceptable conditions, appliances and counter offers. Click here to view Papa’s Video’s On YouTube!

Visit http://www.PapasInTheHouse.com for more reasons to choose Brad Papa as your Olathe real estate agent for life!

For your own safety, and to make sure you are getting your money’s worth in the home you choose, using a professional home inspector is highly recommended. You can avoid or at least anticipate costly repairs to structural or mechanical systems by having an inspection.

The sales contract specifies that the inspection will take place within a specified time frame, usually around 10 days, after the offer to purchase has been accepted. Your purchase obligation is contingent of the findings of a professional home inspector.

Your home cannot pass or fail an inspection, and your inspector will not tell you whether he/she thinks the homes is worth the money you are offering. The inspectors job is to make sure you are aware of repairs that are recommended or necessary. Speak with Brad Papa, your Olathe real estate agent and he will help walk you though the often lengthy inspection report.

A seller may be willing to renegotiate a price to accommodate needed repairs or you may decide that the home will take too much work and money. A professional inspection will help you make a clear-headed decision. in addition to the whole house inspection, you will want to have a separate inspection conducted to check for terminate. Talk to your Overland Park real estate agent, Brad Papa for additional inspections options such as testing for radon or a separate chimney inspection.

In choosing a home inspector, consider one that has been certified as a qualified and experienced member by trade associations. Your Johnson County real estate agent can refer you to several qualified inspectors.

Remember, the purpose of a home inspection is to help you learn things about the home that are not easily discoverable during your home buying tour. It is NOT intended to be a laundry list of minor repairs for sellers to complete!

Start your search today for Kansas City area homes for sale by visiting my website and entering your serach criteria.  Want me to do the work for you? Call or e-mail me your criteria and I will sort through the thousands of listed homes in the Kansas City area and send you hand-picked homes that meet your real estate goals. Working with a buyers agent should not cost you anything, contact Brad Papa today and find out how!

I have been a full-time real estate agent for almost SIX years and I am ranked in the TOP 2% of all realtors in the entire Kansas City area. Contact me today and start realizing your dreams of homeownership!

Brad Papa
Realty Executives of Kansas City
913-526-4985
www.PapasInTheHouse.com
Brad@PapasInTheHouse.com
Come to Papa For All Your Real Estate Needs!

If you are looking for some great Christmas Light displays in Johnson County, Kansas, then you have come to the right place! My wife and I spent about two hours last night driving around looking at some amazing displays. Many of them are set to music, and post a radio station you need to tune into.

The top three we found are:

Christmas Music Show: 13201 Granada Drive, Leawood, Kansas 66209

Ultimate Holiday Tree: 6600 block West 131st Street, Leawood, Kansas 66209

Christmas Place Subdivision: 131st Place west of Antioch Road, Overland Park, KS 66213

For pictures, detailed descriptions and many, many more great locations visit: http://www.kansastravel.org/kansascitychristmasdisplays.htm

I have worked in Kansas City real estate for almost 6 years and I wanted to share with you the Top 5 Common Mistakes When Pricing A Home. Remmber these factors DO NOT affect the market value of Kansas City real estate, thus the proper listing price of your home.

• Your Original Purchase Price : Most likely you paid the market value at the time of your purchase. Markets change, sometimes quikly, and today we have to deal with the current market conditions which may have changed significantly from when you purchased the home.

• Over Improvement or Certain Types of Improvements: Improvements should be made for enjoyment, not resale. You cannot add an item to a home, select it to your style, use it and then expect a buyer to pay the original cost.

• The Owner’s Need for Money: The owners need for money, the amount of closing costs, realtor fees the seller must pay or the fact that the owner is moving to a more expensive home has nothing to do with the home’s current market value.

• The Cost to Rebuild It Today

• The Seller’s Personal Attachment to the Property: The seller will often have personal attachements and special memories associated with their home that must be overlooked for a true market analysis. For proper pricing techniques, contact Brad Papa your local Kansas City real estate agent at http://www.PapasInTheHouse.com for a free market analysis.

Brad Papa
Realty Executives of Kansas City
913-526-4985
Brad@PapasInTheHouse.com  
http://www.PapasInTheHouse.com
Come to Papa For All Your Real Estate Needs!