#19 Kaleidoscope at Hallmark
August 23, 2010
Celebrating the spirit and wonder of creativity, Kaleidoscope, is a place where children can be creative, have fun, and feel good about their own special ideas. The appeal is enduring, having delighted children and their families for generations. FREE, independent, art sessions are offered for children age 5-12 Durning the school year, reservations required. Call ahead to 816-274-8300 for times and space available. We like to time our visits to take in the eateries at the Crown Center as well. The one our grandchildren like the most is Fritz’s, where your food arrives via an over-head train car.
Brought to you by your
HOME team, The Cone Team
#5 Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
August 11, 2010
Free every day. Currently, an exhibit of Egypt and the newly acquired mummy is being featured. Explore many captivating galleries and light-filled spaces at the newly renovated museum located near The Country Club Plaza in the heart of Kansas City. Enjoy lunch in the Rozzelle Court Restaurant, an Italian-style courtyard that also offers dinner on Friday evenings. Weather permitting, you might even pick up a a picnic from the cafe’ and enjoy the sculpture park. www.nelson-atkins.org 816-751-1ART
#1 – Steamboat Arabia Museum
August 11, 2010
Does it get any hotter? While asking yourself this question, plan an outing for the family at the Steamboat Arabia Museum. It is inside and pretty COOL! This is a truly amazing place where history was rewritten. The Arabia sank just off the shores of Parkville, Missouri on a hot August day in 1856. This steamboat was headed to the frontier towns of Omaha, Council Bluffs and beyond and she was fully stocked with new merchandise. 132 years later, the Arabia was dug up and the treasure is on display in the River Market Area of KC. www.1856.com tells more…
365 Things to Do in Kansas City is brought to you by The Cone Team of Kansas City Lifestyle Real Estate.
To visit the museum, just go to 400 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106
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Steamboat Arabia Museum
400 Grand Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64106
Directions to the Steamboat Arabia Museum.
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Vacation in Seattle
July 27, 2010
July is vacation time for many families, ours included. Marlin, my husband, flew with the Seattle grandchildren as they returned home from Kansas City, on July 17. I came a week later and have enjoyed the wonderful Seattle summer weather (warm, no rain and humidity) plus the backyard pool parties with the kids and friends. We head back to the mid-west on July 28th and then it is much of the same for us. Have you taken a vacation this summer? Any great places you can recommend? Would love to hear about it.
Ballard Locks
Watch for a new daily post to be coming here shortly called “365 Things to do in Kansas City.” The idea came from the 11 days we hosted 5 grandchildren in age 4-14 and the daily question, “Grama, what are we going to do today?” Check this out starting next week…August 2, 2010
4th of July Goes On…
July 10, 2010
Despite the unusual rain (downpour, actually), the Weatherby Lake, MO 4th of July fireworks were fired off in usual spectactular fashion, but were delayed a few minutes. My family and I watched the fireworks from our waterfront yard in the pouring rain, after which several of our soaked/crazy group jumped into Weatherby Lake with their rain drenched clothes on! Quite fun!
We also had a “tent party” in the “lean-t0 front porch” of a 70′s VW Camper owned by one of my nephew’s (from Park City, Utah). He drove his 1977 VW bus, complete with a pop-up camper top to attend our event. His “tent living room” made it a cozy conversation on our front yard during the steady downpour for about 90 minutes. Too bad we did not have a video camera set up in the “tent” as there was one of the best comedy routines ever on display!! What a talented, creative, bright and hilarious group of folks!! I think some had sore stomachs and throats from laughing so hard!!
Amazing Weatherby Lake, MO Home in 64152
June 5, 2010
This home, featured by KansasCityLifestyles.com is Weatherby Lake living at its finest.
Love to entertain? A story and1/2 floor plan with 5 bedrooms and a possible 6th, plus 3 full and 2 half baths. Other features include 4 living areas and gorgeous fireplaces in the kitchen, dining room, master suite and the family room downstairs. Enjoy spectacular sunrises all year long, while sipping coffee on the deck, breakfast room or master bedroom. Just a short stroll to your own boat dock on the shore of Weatherby Lake!
The interactive floor plan is below…or click the button to see the full virtual tour site.
Take a Virtual WalkThru!
May Newsletter
April 13, 2010
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In addition to the above information……this just in. If you or someone you know has been serving in the military or the government outside the USA for 90 days, starting December 31, 2008, and ending May 1, 2010, they will qualify for an extension of this tax credit for one year. This means they must be under contract by April 30, 2011 and close by June 30, 2011. Go to irs.gov for more information. Stop Double Taxation, Protect Your Home Existing Home Sales Report The number of existing home sales declined nationally in February despite gains in the Northeast and Midwest. Sales were down 0.6% for the month of February, according to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR). Although levels dropped this winter, existing homes sales are on pace to reach 5.02 million units in 2010, which is up 7% from the 4.69 million-unit pace from February 2009.
Weather definitely played a part in the slowdown, says NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun. “Some closings were simply postponed by winter storms, but buyers couldn’t get out to look at homes in some areas and that should negatively impact near-term contract activity,” he said. “The key test for a durable recovery comes in the next few months as the tax credit deadline approaches. “If we see a surge in home buying comparable to last fall in the months leading up to the original tax credit deadline, then enough inventory should be absorbed to ensure a broad home price stabilization.” Many buyers are taking advantage of the low mortgage rates available from today’s banks. Freddie Mac reported in February that a 30-year, conventional fixed rate mortgage was hovering in the high-4 to low-5 percent range. |
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Real Estate Listing at 9002 NE 94th Place, Kansas City, MO 64152
February 17, 2010
GREAT, fresh plan ,only four years young! Great room open to kitchen and dining as well as formal dining space. Corner fireplace, tall ceilings and detailed woodwork enrich the floor plan. Expanded garage will hold up to four vehicles…a guy’s dream garage!
The Interactive FloorPlan Tour is below.
Take a WalkThru Video Tour
Please contact me if you are interested in more information or a showing.
New Facts From the National Association of REALTORS
February 17, 2010
National Market Trends
As expected, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported a decline in existing home sales at the end of 2009, as first time buyers rushed to beat the tax credit deadline and close their transactions by November 30. Although Existing home sales fell by 16.7 percent in December, sales remained brisk enough to break the 5 million unit mark, bringing total the number of existing homes sales up to 5,156,000 for all of 2009. The 2009 sales figures were almost 5 percent higher than the year before, creating first year-over-year sales gain since 2005.
Chief NAR economist Lawrence Yun remains cautiously optimistic about the national housing market. “It’s significant that home sales remain above year-ago levels, but the market is going through a period of swings driven by the tax credit,” he said. ‘We’ll likely have another surge in the spring as home buyers take advantage of the extended and expanded tax credit. By early summer the overall market should benefit from more balanced inventory, and sales are on track to rise again in 2010. However, the job market remains a concern and could dampen the housing recovery – job creation is key to a continued recovery in the second half of the year.”
Great Opportunity for Home Buyers
Historically low interest rates and the extended federal tax credit have helped millions of buyers take advantage of one of the best buyers markets in history. Market conditions have improved considerably with the help of these stabilizing forces.
Increased demand has shrunk inventory while slightly raising homes prices. The national median existing home price rose to $178,300 in December, up 1.5 percent over 2008 prices. The increase was attributed in part to an increase in mid- to upper-priced homes.
The reduction of housing inventory has brought stability to many parts of the country, creating more competition for available homes, and multiple offers in some areas.
Launch of Interactive Map Search
December 24, 2009
The ConeTeam is pleased to annouce the launch of our new Interactive Map Search tool. You can now select an area, refine the search criteria and even show points of interest, like schools, grocery stores, bank locations and more!
Interactive Map Search
Just Click Here to start your home search!
