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This post has nothing to do with real estate or investing. In fact, it has nothing to do with Kansas City. Rather, it’s simply to point out that once in a while evil lawyers can be defeated with their own nonsense.

According to this link from Yahoo! I really am smarter than everybody else. Er, check that. At least smarter than my siblings. Er, well, I’m the smartest in my own mind… 🙂

This post if for home owners and investment property owners alike. You need to be keenly aware of how your home is perceived by others when it is on the market. I’m going to give a couple of stories to illustrate my point.

The “Regular” Home Owner

I was out over the weekend looking at some single family homes for sale here in Olathe, Kansas. The first time home buyers I was working with ended up selecting a very nice home that had obviously been cared for over the years. Fresh paint, updated appliances and lighting fixtures were just a few of the items that had been improved over the years. The landscaping is well maintained and there was little if any wood rot on the exterior (a very common happening here in the heartland).

The funny thing is the other houses we saw weren’t horrible. They were clean and pretty well kept. But they were asking the same sales price as this home. And they didn’t have all the updates. They did have some wood rot. There just weren’t quite up to snuff.

The Investment Property Owner

Listen carefully Mr. Landlord. You are probably more likely to let your rental house go because “I’m not living in it.” Well, yes. But your tenants, real live human beings, are. And here is where you are supremely short-sighted. The more run down your property becomes the more expensive it will be to bring it up to “sales standard.”

Unless you just plan on discounting the house upon it’s sale. But I have met few (any?) real estate investors who will actually sell a long term rental home under market, even if that’s where it deserves to be sold.

I’m showing a duplex I have for sale right now and the seller requires me to be at all the showings. (He has had some bad real estate agent experiences before.) The comments from the buyers are consistently “this is one of the nicest properties we’ve seen.” Now they may or may not buy. But they recognize the value of the property because it has been kept clean, in good repair and up to date.

Both the “regular” house owner and the income property owner need to know that most buyers are looking for a “turn-key” home to either live in or invest in. So for your own benefit spend a little money each year doing necessary repairs and having the house inspected for termites. Get the wood rot fixed as you recognize it rather than putting it off year after year.

Every once in a while change out a light fixture or two. Paint a room. Change the kitchen cabinet pulls to reflect today’s tastes. These sound like little things. But consciously or unconsciously, buyers recognize the care.

I love working with residential investment property. But to keep myself fresh I also really enjoy working with young home buyers. Especially, first time home buyers.

This weekend I had the opportunity to work with a young couple that was referred to me. The excitement in their eyes and nervousness in their signature is something that always takes me back to my first house.

To the real estate agents out there, don’t forget about this market segment. It reminds you of the pure joy of our business. To young home buyers out there, get started. People do everyday. It’s scary. But it’s doable. And if you manage your finances properly, you will find it tough to lose.

Would you believe me if I told you there was a place on this planet Earth, right here in the United States, where the 1% Rule was still in play when considering residential real estate investing?

There is. And those of you that know me well know where it might be. I’m working on plans to help my real estate investor clients to know when and where to put their hard earned investment capital.

For those of you unfamiliar with the 1% Rule it goes something like this. Buy your income property or rental houses or investment homes (whatever you call them) where the rent is 1% of the sales price. In other words, if the home costs $100,000 then the rents would be $1,000 per month.

A fantasy you say? If I lived in California or Washington, DC or New York or Florida and owned income property there I would be skeptical, as well. But there are such places here in the Heartland.

Kansas City is a great place to invest in income housing. No question about it. But there are a couple of other jewels out there where growth is STILL happening and rents are strong. More on this as things come closer to finalization.

Thank you for whatever help you may have been. But it appears that the worst has befallen Kelsey. Keep her and her family in your prayers.