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The Real Estate Guy
Ken is a self-described real estate junkie. He and his wife have bought, rented, fixed up, renovated, and sold houses for most of their married life. They've lived in some real dumps, some wonderful homes, and one real dump that they turned into a wonderful home. They moved to the Cape Girardeau area a couple of years ago, and Ken finally decided to turn his real estate addiction into a second career. Their roots are in Cape Girardeau - from Ken's grandparents to their grandchildren, they go 5 generations deep. If you've lived here a long time you know why they came back. If you're new to the area you'll know soon enough, and learn to love it as they do.
Ken says ""I'm writing this blog to share what I know about real estate, address current issues, and answer your questions. I'll also be learning - I'm sure there will be readers who can teach me a few things. And when you ask questions that stump me, I'll have to do the research to find the answer. I'll also shamelessly promote myself. I hope you don't mind."
"Since I'm a REALTORŪ and not a lawyer or tax accountant, I can offer information but I can't provide legal or tax advice. If you feel that you need specific legal or tax advice on any issue relating to real estate, you should consult a properly licensed professional."
Ken is a licensed real estate agent with Century 21 Key Realty in Cape Girardeau, and a member of the Jane Clark Team. He can be reached at (573) 576-9195 or (573) 334-7736.
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Missouri Home Sales Down, Values Up In October
Posted Monday, December 5, 2011, at 1:21 PM1Throughout October, Missouri's real estate market saw a continued decline in home sales while home value increased for the first time in two months. According to the latest statistical data collected by the Missouri Association of REALTORSŪ, October stats show a downward trend in inventory and home sales while home value and days on the market show minor improvement. The following are a few highlights from this October report... -
What's With These Funny Looking New Codes?
Posted Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at 11:57 AM1Have you begun to notice these funny looking codes popping up, seemingly everywhere? If you haven't seen them I guarantee you soon will. In fact I'd guess you've already seen them but they may not have registered on your consciousness. Once you do notice them, they seem to be everywhere you look... -
10 Easy Ways to Add Style & Value to Your Home
Posted Friday, February 18, 2011, at 12:33 PMThe warm weather we're having is a reminder that Spring will soon be here and since I'm a REALTORŪ, that makes me think of making our homes look their best. Sure we may have some more Winter weather, but it's not too soon to start. Here are 10 easy and fairly inexpensive ways to make your home stand out from the crowd, whether you're trying to sell your home or just spruce it up for yourself. Sometimes it's the little things that make the biggest difference in the value and appeal of your home... -
I'm waiting for the market to hit bottom before I buy
Posted Friday, October 22, 2010, at 12:57 PMI've heard several people say something like "With home prices still falling, I'm waiting for the market to hit bottom before I buy." When I hear this I think "Are you now? And when exactly will that be? Are you the one who hijacked my crystal ball? I hope that thing's working better for you than it did for me."... -
How To Use Comp Sales To Price Your Home
Posted Wednesday, September 8, 2010, at 10:52 AM1A great article From BuyAndSell.HouseLogic.com By: Carl Vogel Published: August 05, 2010 Before you put your home up for sale, use the right comparable sales to find the perfect price. How much can you sell your home for? Probably about as much as the neighbors got, as long as the neighbors sold their house in recent memory and their home was just like your home... -
Happy Memorial Day
Posted Friday, May 28, 2010, at 4:56 PMMemorial Day! As a kid growing up in Farmington, Memorial Day was always the day the public swimming pool opened for the summer, and I and my friends couldn't wait to go. The weather didn't always cooperate, and the water was always freezing anyway, but we didn't care. This was the start of summer, and we wouldn't be denied the tradition of starting it in the pool... -
Modular or Manufactured? Know Which You're Buying
Posted Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at 1:34 PMIf you look at the real estate ads, or look for homes online, you will see a lot of homes advertised as "modular". You'll also see listings for "manufactured" homes, but not nearly as many. But do you know the difference? Just what are modular and manufactured homes, and why should you care?... -
Why I'm Glad The Tax Credit is Ending
Posted Friday, April 30, 2010, at 11:51 AMYou'd think as a REALTORŪ I'd want the tax credits for first time home buyers and repeat home buyers to go on forever, right? Well, the truth is I'd rather see the market find its own equilibrium without the artificial demand created by the tax credits... -
The Tax Credit Is Ending, But It's Still a Good Time to Buy - If You Can
Posted Monday, April 26, 2010, at 12:16 PMIf you follow the news at all, you're sure to know that the tax credits for first time home buyers and repeat home buyers is ending - buyers must have a binding contract to purchase a home by midnight Friday, April 30 to qualify. That's the bad news if you're counting on the tax credit and you haven't yet found a home you want to buy... -
Why Use a REALTORŪ?
Posted Thursday, January 28, 2010, at 1:38 PM1Why Use a REALTORŪ? I recently ran across this article on the National Association of Realtors (NAR) web site, realtor.org, and I'd like to share it with you. Many consumers consider selling their home directly but eventually turn to REALTORSŪ. They realize they need the expertise in pricing their home, making connections with REALTORSŪ working with buyers, arranging and staffing open houses, and coordinating with other professionals in the sales process... -
Buy or Rent?
Posted Friday, January 15, 2010, at 3:41 PM9Should you buy, or continue to rent? I recently talked with a potential client who had misgivings about buying a home versus remaining a renter. Let's call her Mary (not her real name). Mary falls in the very low income bracket -- she receives Social Security disability income of approximately $1,200 per month, or $14,400 per year. ... -
Ten Steps for Buying Your First Home
Posted Thursday, January 7, 2010, at 12:54 PM2Ten Steps for Buying Your First Home Unless you have LOTS of money or LOTS of moxie, buying your first home will be a daunting experience. You'll be eager to do it, but afraid to make mistakes that could cost you money. You'll probably break into a sweat the first time you sign a mortgage document. "Thirty years of payments? How am I gonna do that?" "What if it falls down around me two weeks after I move in?"... -
Home Sales Spurred by Tax Credit
Posted Monday, January 4, 2010, at 2:47 PM2According to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), home sales in November 2009 in the Midwest jumped 58%, spurred primarily by the anticipated Nov. 30 expiration of the first-time homebuyer's tax credit. NAR reported that there were 106,000 completed sales in the 11-state Midwest region, and that the median home price was flat at $140,800... -
Yet Another Tax Credit
Posted Tuesday, December 22, 2009, at 5:39 PM1The HeRO program is a state program, but is administered locally. I called Cape's City Hall, and after not too many handoffs and "I don't know" replies, I found someone who told me that funds for 2010 have already been awarded. Jackson does not participate in the program... -
Is now a good time to buy?
Posted Thursday, December 17, 2009, at 10:14 PM5I believe the short answer to this question is yes. I know about all the supposed "reasons" why this is not true -- uncertain economy, declining house prices, fears of job losses, the democrats (or republicans, take your pick) are trying to destroy our country, and so on... -
My First Post
Posted Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at 2:05 PM4This is my first post as The Real Estate Guy, and I have to say I'm a bit intimidated by it all. My purpose is to provide information and insight to potential home buyers and sellers, through a series of short articles. Some of the information I post won't be original, but when I quote experts or post information from other sources I'll always seek the author's permission and will always cite the source. ...