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2018 Spring Parade of Homes

It sure doesn’t look and feel like spring, but the 2018 Spring Parade of Homes is right around the corner!  The Spring Parade is presented by The Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (HBA) and is sponsored by Stewart Title.  Every year, thousands of area homeowners tour the Spring Parade for the latest in home design and construction.  Therefore, the annual event has become highly anticipated and kicks the already hot spring buying season into full-on overdrive!  Homeowners looking to upgrade to a larger home, downsize to a smaller one or just browsing for design ideas will be sure to find lots of inspiration.

Spring home shows and tours often spur people to tackle small (or major) home improvement projects or even look for a new home to purchase.  And new construction continues to be as big as ever.  We recently blogged about the hot market and how it’s led to low inventory.  Listings are moving quickly and properties are hot, both new construction and resale.

The Spring Parade of Homes hours

The event runs April 28 through May 13, 2018. Homes will be open from 11 a.m to 6 p.m with free admission.  You can pick up a guide outside the HBA at I-435 and Holmes or at any of the homes on the Parade.

Harvesters Hammer Out Hunger

This year, the HBA is partnering with Harvesters to Hammer Out Hunger — more specifically childhood hunger — during the summer months. From April until the end of the Spring Parade the HBA will be accepting non-perishable food items at its headquarters at 103rd and I-435 as well as donations at its website.

The Spring Parade of Homes goes mobile

The HBA has made it easy to find your favorite homes and map your route!  There are apps available for download on both Android and Apple.  Here’s what you can do and expect from the app, and these features sound totally amazing!

  • Browse the homes and their features, choose your favorites and build a custom tour with driving directions.
  • Quick access to the most important features to help you find homes fast with the most up-to-date information available.
  • Advanced Search: Search for homes by location, subdivision, price range, style, amenities and much more.
  • Use the interactive map to see the entire parade at a glance. View and navigate to homes directly from the map.
  • Quickly find homes that are closest to you. Sort the homes by distance from where you are currently to save time.
  • Save your favorite homes and the app will create an optimized GPS route to get you from house to house the most efficient way.
  • View the award winning homes after they are announced. Search to quickly find the the winners.

If you’re a desktop person, no worries.  You can still search by location, price range, builder, subdivision, school district, etc. using this link.  As of now, there are 373 entries!*images and information provided by https://kchba.org/kc-parade-of-homes/spring/

Low inventory levels- Cami’s team can help sellers & buyers!

The lack of available real estate inventory results in a “seller’s market,” posing a challenge for buyers.  It can be a good thing, depending on what side of the transaction you find yourself!  The Kansas City real estate market has been very hot, often resulting in multiple offers on Day 1.  Many sellers find themselves receiving OVER asking price with no contingencies attached. A hot market is typically good news for home sellers: inventory is low, and competition is high.

This process can be sped up even MORE if your house has some or all of the following:

  • Custom/upgraded finishes
  • Priced right, under the guidance of a real estate expert
  • Desirable school district
  • Finished lower level
  • Fresh, clean paint and floor coverings
  • Desirable neighborhood with nearby amenities
  • Location near schools, highway access, shopping, restaurants

On the flip side, buyers will be up against a lot of other people vying for the same piece of property, and up against a short supply of existing homes.  Also, first-time buyers in high demand areas may find that their best offer is beaten out by cash buyers and investors.  Use an experienced real estate agent (like any one of us on the Cami Jones Collaborative Team!) to help you get a handle on the market and look over what’s available.  You will need to decide where you can or can’t (or aren’t willing to) compromise.  Remember, finishes and appliances and paint colors are easy to change, location isn’t.  (Read our previous post on HOT neighborhoods in south Johnson County!)As a buyer, you’ll want to get your financing lined up so you don’t waste any time in a hot market.  Once you find the house…be ready to pull the trigger with your offer! And be ready to offer without contingencies.  In a hot market, sellers will likely take the cleanest offer:  the one with no contingencies, the one with the most money down and the one offering the quickest (or most preferable) closing date.

How Our Team Helps Buyers:

New Buyer Consultation

We want to meet with you! Contact a Cami Jones Collaborative agent to schedule a new buyer consultation. We’ll sit down and discuss your wants, needs, and timeline.

Determine How Much House You Can Afford

During your consultation, we’ll put you in touch with our trusted loan officers for a free pre-approval. Knowing you’re pre-approved not only helps you narrow your search but shows sellers you’re a motivated buyer.

Set Up a Home Match Account

This is an exclusive tool that Cami Jones Collaborative offers you through our partnership with ReeceNichols. With the help of your Cami Jones Collaborative. agent (or on your own), set up a custom Home Match account to begin researching available homes in your desired community.

Preview Homes and Tour Different Areas

Now it’s time to see your choices up close, and start to gauge the market. Your agent can quickly set up showings of homes you’re interested in. And since we are partners with ReeceNichols, you’ll have the chance to view hundreds of open houses in just a few days at their special Open House Celebration weekend each month.

Make and Negotiate an Offer

Once you’ve found THE one, your Cami Jones Collaborative agent will prepare the offer to purchase and review all the details. No stone will go unturned to make sure everything is on the up-and-up.  After the contract is submitted, your agent will use her expertise to negotiate the purchase of the home with your best interests in mind, while continuing to communicate with you every step of the way.

Finalize the Contract and Mortgage Paperwork

Now that the seller has agreed to all of the terms, the paperwork, inspections, appraisals, and mortgage will be finalized. Begin packing and planning for your big move!

Closing Day & Move In!

Pop the champagne, the big day has come. Your agent will be by your side on closing day as you sign the paperwork to purchase your new home. Celebrate accordingly!!  YourCami Jones Collaborative team is never finished. While your home purchase is complete, we will continue to be a resource for any and all home-related questions.Above all, be flexible and be patient!  Your dream house awaits, it’s just a matter of time.  Good luck!  Contact us today and let us help you sell and find your next home!*image from ReeceNichols; based on Heartland MLS Statistics