3 Ways to Save on Home Costs

CNN Money has a few tips on saving money on home repair costs.  There are some interesting tips on how contractors will come down on price! Check it out here.

~Betsy, Atkinson-Thompson Group

America’s Ugliest Homes

If you are thinking about selling your home and you are a little worried that it isn’t quite ready, these photos might make you feel a little better!!!  Look at more here.

~Betsy, Atkinson-Thompson Group

Huge Price Drops on Amazing Homes!

We have two price drops to tell you about on amazing homes!!!

The first is a gorgeous ranch in Platte Woods.  It has 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths and more updates than this blog can hold!  We have just dropped the price $10,000 to $150,000.  This is a fabulous price for this beautiful home on a 1/2 acre lot…and no earnings tax!  Check it out here.

The other is also a $10,000 price reduction down to a SUPER LOW $65,000!  This 2 bedroom, 1 bath ranch is in the heart of Shawnee.  It is priced low to go!!!  See it here!

Please let me know if you would like to see either of these homes.

~Betsy, Atkinson-Thompson Group

Stay Safe This Summer!

My absolute favorite thing to do during the summer is go to the pool.  However, as you know, the pool can be a dangerous place in the summertime, especially for kids!  The Red Cross has some great tips to keep your kids safe at the pool and around any body of water this year. You can see their recommendations here.

If you own your own pool, you can take a course in pool safety through the Red Cross.  You can check that out here!

Stay safe this summer and enjoy the pool!

~Betsy, Atkinson-Thompson Group

Pre-Foreclosed?

Beware! There are websites out there that promise to send you foreclosures and “pre-foreclosures” for a ‘small fee’.  You will even get emails, once you pay, that show you homes, addresses, list prices, etc.  Don’t be fooled by these!!!  If a home is for sale it will be on MLS and you will be able to find that house for FREE.

These sites pull public records for homes that have gone into foreclosure however, there are laws that limit the kind of information they can get and how quickly they can get it.  In my experience, they are sending out homes that were in fact in foreclosure, months if not years before!  One particular site, which I will not name, even has in tiny print that the homes they have on their site “may not be available”.  Boy that is the truth!

So, please, if you are looking for a home, do not pay any kind of a website to search for you.  If you do not want to spend time looking, then find a trusted Realtor to search for you!  That is exactly what we are here for.

~Betsy, Atkinson-Thompson Group

Happy 4th of July!

We wish you a very happy and safe 4th of July!

~Betsy and Rosemary, Atkinson-Thompson Group

How to get help with your mortgage

If you are having trouble paying your mortgage, like so many Americans out there today, there is help available.  Please click this link to see a great article with a step by step process of what to do to ask for help.  You will also find organizations that can help.

If you have any questions about selling your home as a short sale or what to do if you are worried you are going into foreclosure, please contact us.  We are both certified in short sales and foreclosures and we will keep 100% of your information confidential.  You would probably be shocked at how many people in your circle of friends and family are in trouble with their mortgage…but you will never hear about it from us!

~Betsy, Atkinson-Thompson Group

M!LK Boutique

Have you been to the new cute boutique in Olathe called M!LK?  It is located at 10524 S. Ridgeview Road.  I love a small, local business!!!  They have tons of amazing stuff from local vendors, artists and entrepreneurs.  Studio 162 has some fabulous Studio Girls there too that I LOVE…

M!LK is open 10am to 6pm Monday through Saturday. Make sure to ‘like’ them on Facebook too!  Go check it out; you will love it!

~Betsy, Atkinson-Thompson Group

Home Energy Efficiency Workshop

Join us for a fantastic Home Energy Efficiency Workshop on Saturday June 18th from 10am to 11:30 am.  This is not a sales pitch, it is truly a workshop to show you how you can save energy and therefore money!  You might be able to slash your energy bills up to 50%.  Wow.  You don’t want to miss this FREE workshop.  It will absolutely be worth your time!  Contact us if you would like to attend and we will get you all signed up!

-Betsy, Atkinson-Thompson Group

It is what it is!

While these numbers might not make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, they are an improvement and ANY improvement in the housing industry is a good thing for all of us!  The number of Americans making either no mortgage payment or late mortgage payments has dropped for the fifth straight quarter.  The percentage of borrowers that are 60 days or more late on their mortgage is 6.19%.  At this same time last year, that percentage was 6.77%.

If you are wondering, the pre-recession normal was 2%, so we still have a ways to go.  It is what it is…but at least it is better than it was a year ago!  We are on the right track.  If you would like to read the entire article, click here.

-Betsy, Atkinson-Thompson Group