Urban Living Center

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – “Money Magazine” has released its newest edition of the 100 Best Places to Live , and two Johnson County communities made the Top 20.

The Magazine polled users on their website about what was important when choosing a place to live, and they overwhelmingly picked safe streets, good schools, ample job opportunities and affordable real estate, so that is the criteria they used, Money assistant managing editor Elizabeth Fenner told Matt Lauer on Monday’s “Today Show” on NBC.

Coming in at No. 7 on their list was Overland Park, while Shawnee took No. 17.

Both were noted for their accessibility to jobs, with Overland Park taking praise for its schools and Shawnee for its farmland heritage.

Johnson County was not the only metro county to place communities on the list. Two cities in Jackson County also made the list.

Lee’s Summit ranked at No. 27 while Blue Springs landed at No. 49. Both received high marks for thier schools and housing markets.

Overland Park and Lee’s Summit both got docked for their job market, with massive cuts to Spring affecting OP and a higher-than-average unemployment rate in Lee’s Summit.

“It’s tough to be great in everything,” Fenner said. “We did the analysis to see across the board who’s the best.”

Also making the list in Missouri were O’Fallon at No. 26 and St. Peters at No. 60. No other Kansas communities appeard on the list.

Complete List Click Here

Overland Park #7 Click Here

Shawnee #17 Click Here

Lee’s Summit #27 Click Here

Blue Springs #49 Click Here

Experts say that at least 90 percent of homebuyers rely on real estate agents for advice and guidance. But with more than 8,000 Kansas City area residents holding real estate licenses, how do you find someone who
knows the market, represents your interests and operates with an emphasis on integrity and service?

KC Magazine can help. The magazine formed a partnership with Crescendo Business Services to find out which real estate agents have most consistently wowed their clients. The Selection Process Crescendo surveyed, by mail and phone, all Kansas City area residents who purchased a home over $100,000 within a 36 month period (July 2006 to August 2009) and 5,000 subscribers of KC Magazine. An additional 245 surveys were sent to mortgage and title companies who are often best able to judge a real estate agent’s technical skills and knowledge.

On the surveys, recipients were asked to evaluate only real estate agents whom they knew through personal experience. They were asked to evaluate them based upon ninecriteria: customer service, communication, finding the right home, integrity, negotiation, marketing the home, market knowledge, closing preparation, and overall satisfaction. Only original surveys—no copies— returned in their specially designed envelopes
were accepted as valid. Crescendo carefully scored and screened each qualified agent with the Kansas and Missouri State Real Estate Commissions databases to make certain that licenses were up-to-date and that no
disciplinary actions were pending.

Then, before finalizing the list, the real estateagents were reviewed by a blue ribbon panel of local industry experts. The panel consisted of realty company executives, professional and trade association officers and others directly involved in housing-related businesses.

The resulting list of Five Star Real EstateAgents is an elite group, representing less than 7 percent of licensed agents in the Kansas City area.

Coldwell Banker John Moffitt & Associates and the Urban Living Center are proud to announce that Jason Sharpsteen, Matt Zammar, Joe Woods & Jodie Iams have all been named to this prestigious list. Congratulations to our outstanding associates for receiving this honor!

What does this mean for you the consumer? An FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loan allows your down payment to be as low as 3.5% of the purchase price, versus a conventional loan which can require as much as 20% down. Additionally, with an FHA loan most of your closing costs and fees can be included in the loan which can really benefit any buyer, but especially first-time buyers.

Another advantage of an FHA are less stringent credit guidelines. This makes FHA loan more attainable for more buyers.

The Western Auto Lofts join a growing list of lofts and condominiums in Kansas City that have been approved for FHA financing. Check back often for more updates and as more properties are added. To inquire about a specific property contact the Urban Living Center.

To find out more about FHA loans visit the official FHA page via the US Housing and Urban Development Page.

Second Saturday is a monthly education & enrichment program meant to create a link between experiencing the Crossroads and KNOWING the Crossroads.

Participants will partake in an ever variable walking tour, stopping for presentations at several venues.

Saturday, June 19th from 10:45 am – 3:00 pm

Tour begins at the Urban Living Center [1705 Baltimore]

Tickets are $15 per person ($10 for Crossroads Friends members), but you must RSVP to reserve your spot!

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10:15 – 10:45 am – Gather at the Urban Living Center
[1705 Baltimore] for a cup of coffee and introductions.
We will depart on our walking tour promptly at 10:45.
Hope you brought your comfortable shoes!

Hudson Home & Retro Inferno – Enjoy a tour of the Hudson Home showroom while learning about independent furniture design in the United States. Rod Parks, owner of Retro Inferno, will talk about the origins of the modern furniture movement and why it has experienced such renewed popularity.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center – View the work of local artist David Gant featuring 150 hand-painted portraits of individuals who live, work and have contributed to the Crossroads. Tour Amy Kligman’s exhibit Thoughts Before Sleeping and hear the artists speak about their work.

Lidia’s – Enjoy warm hospitality, delicious food and a lively demonstration by one of Lidia’s chefs on how to cook Risotto. Wine and cocktails may be purchased by those in a celebratory mood!

Vahalla Studios – Join Dan Padavic and Tad Carpenter for an upbeat tour of their Mastermind Award winning studio. Revel in the design, art and illustration work of this impressive team whose products include art prints, posters, cards and t-shirts.

Email to RSVP: 2ndsaturdays@kccrossroads.org

The New York Times truly enjoyed their experience in Kansas City — The article from the Travel section is below in it’s entirety.

36 Hours in Kansas City, Mo.

KANSAS CITY is known for its barbecue, bebop and easy-does-it Midwestern charm. But a decade-long effort to revitalize the city’s downtown has transformed this former jazz mecca, which straddles the Kansas-Missouri border, back into a culturally rich metropolis. The city’s standing will be further bolstered next year when the much-anticipated Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts opens, giving a sleek new home to the symphony, opera and ballet. True, Kansas City is no backwater, but don’t expect high polish. In fact, it’s the city’s unvarnished grit that may be its best asset.

Friday

4 p.m.
1) CROSSROADS REDEFINED

Industrial stagnation and suburban exodus in the 1960s left the Crossroads neighborhood nearly deserted. But thanks to the recent efforts of arts advocates and city tax breaks, the Crossroads Arts District (kccrossroads.org) is now home to some 70 galleries. Two pioneering mainstays are Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art (2004 Baltimore Avenue; 816-221-2626; sherryleedy.com), which specializes in midcareer artists like Jun Kaneko, and the Byron C. Cohen Gallery (2020 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 1N; 816-421-5665; byroncohengallery.com), representing several artists from China, including the photo-artist Huang Yan. If it’s the first Friday of the month, many galleries hold open houses until about 9 p.m.

7 p.m.
2) SAUCE IT UP

Debates over the best barbecue rouse as much passion here as religion or politics. Some swear by the old guard like Gates Bar-B-Q (gatesbbq.com) and Arthur Bryant’s (arthurbryantsbbq.com), both of which have multiple branches. Others cross the state line into the Kansas side, to a relative newcomer, Oklahoma Joe’s (3002 West 47th Avenue; 913-782-6858; oklahomajoesbbq.com), which opened a second location in 2005. It serves up pulled pork and beef brisket piled high on white bread, in a sauce that may just be the perfect amalgam of sweet, smoke and vinegar. At a little under $19, a full slab serves two or three people.

11 p.m.
3) BEYOND BLUES AND JAZZ

If the city’s indie music scene hasn’t garnered the same hype as those in other Midwestern cities like Minneapolis or Omaha, it’s not for lack of guts or artistry. Homegrown bands like Ssion, a gender-bending art-punk music collective that has built a following with over-the-top live shows, cut their teeth in downtown galleries and dives. Hear up-and-comers at the Record Bar (1020 Westport Road; 816-753-5207; therecordbar.com) and the Brick (1727 McGee Street; 816-421-1634; thebrickkcmo.com). One of the newest spots is the Czar Bar (1531 Grand Boulevard; 816-221-2244; czarbar.com); it’s owned by John Hulston, who also runs Anodyne Records, which counts the Meat Puppets, the BellRays and Architects among its better-known acts.

Saturday

10 a.m.
4) PARK LIFE

Kansas City is said to have more fountains than any other city except Rome. One of the loveliest can be found at Jacob L. Loose Park (51st Street and Wornall Road), a Civil War site, where the Laura Conyers Smith Fountain, made of Italian stone, is encircled by thousands of roses in some 150 varieties. The park is popular with picnicking families and bongo-playing teenagers on furlough from the suburbs.

Noon
5) CONTEMPORARY GREENS

If last night’s barbecue has you yearning for a salad, head to Café Sebastienne, an airy, glass-covered restaurant at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art (4420 Warwick Boulevard; 816-753-5784; kemperart.org/cafe). A dish of seasonal greens with cucumber, red onion, grape tomatoes, sheep’s milk cheese and grilled pita is $11. After lunch, pop inside for a quick look at the Kemper’s small but diverse collection of modern and contemporary works by artists like Dale Chihuly and Louise Bourgeois, whose gigantic iron spider sculpture looms over the front lawn.

1:30 p.m.
6) MUSEUM POW-WOW

In 2007, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (4525 Oak Street; 816-751-1278; nelson-atkins.org) was thrust into the national spotlight when it opened a new wing designed by Steven Holl. The Bloch Building — which holds contemporary art, photography and special exhibitions — consists of five translucent glass blocks that create what Nicolai Ouroussoff, the architecture critic of The New York Times, described as “a work of haunting power.” The museum, which is free to the public, also unveiled a suite of American Indian galleries in November. It’s an assemblage of about 200 works from more than 68 tribes, considered one of the most important collections of its kind.

4 p.m.
7) 18TH STREET COUTURE

The Crossroads cultural awakening extends beyond art and into fashion. Three boutiques carrying the work of up-and-coming designers occupy a former film storage unit on West 18th Street. Peregrine Honig and Danielle Meister handpick lingerie and swimwear to carry at their shop, Birdies (116 West 18th Street; 816-842-2473; birdiespanties.com). Kelly Allen selects a quirky cross-section of locally designed clothing and accessories at Spool (122 West 18th Street; 816-842-0228). And Peggy Noland (124 West 18th Street; 816-221-7652; peggynoland.com) sells Day-Glo spandex bodysuits in a space covered floor-to-ceiling with stuffed animals.

7 p.m.
8) MIDWEST TAPAS

Stay in the Crossroads to sample modern Mediterranean-style tapas at Extra Virgin (1900 Main Street; 816-842-2205; extravirginkc.com), the latest restaurant from Kansas City’s culinary titan, Michael Smith. The fare is more playful and adventurous than that of his formal restaurant next door. And if the loud, euro-chic décor, replete with a floor-to-ceiling “La Dolce Vita” mural, seems to be trying a little too hard, the crowd of unbuttoned professionals enjoying inspired dishes like crispy pork belly with green romesco and chick pea fries doesn’t seem to mind. The menu is diverse, as is the wine list. Single plates range from $3 to $25.

10 p.m.
9) ’ROUND MIDNIGHT

Love it or hate it, the flashy new Kansas City Power and Light District (1100 Walnut Street; 816-842-1045; powerandlightdistrict.com) offers a wide range of bars, restaurants and clubs that can feel like an open-air fraternity party. A smarter alternative can be found in the West Bottoms, an industrial neighborhood that draws a more urbane crowd. The R Bar (1617 Genessee Street; 816-471-1777; rbarkc.com), which opened in September, features live jazz and bluegrass, as well as old-time cocktails like Moscow mules and mint juleps. When midnight strikes, head to the Mutual Musicians Foundation (1823 Highland Avenue; 816-471-5212; thefoundationjamson.org). The legendary haunt opened in 1917 and public jam sessions are held every Saturday until around 6 a.m. For $8, you can catch impromptu sets by some of the city’s undiscovered musicians in the same room where Charlie Parker had a cymbal thrown at him in 1937.

Sunday

11 a.m.
10) VIVA BRUNCH

As any resident will tell you, Mexican food is a big deal here. One of the most authentic spots is Ortega’s Restaurant (2646 Belleview Avenue; 816-531-5415; ortegas.synthasite.com), tucked in the back of a mom-and-pop grocery store in midtown. On Sundays, Ortega’s draws a lively mix of churchgoing families and hung-over art students with its $6 huevos rancheros.

Noon
11) VINTAGE FINDS

Kansas City has great secondhand shopping. Bargains are easy to find, and flea markets have yet to be ransacked by collectors from the coasts. Grab a copy of The Kansas City Star (kansascity.com) or search Craigslist (kansascity.craigslist.org) for current listings of auctions and estate sales. Better yet, take a drive through the sprawl of surrounding suburbs on the lookout for garage sales. Even if you don’t find that perfect antique, an afternoon spent chatting with the friendly residents of this changing city will remind you that some things don’t need making over.

IF YOU GO

Continental, Delta and Midwest Airlines fly nonstop from New York City to Kansas City International Airport. According to a recent Web search, round-trip fares start at about $325 for travel this month. A car is recommended for getting around, though to paraphrase an old song, if you have to walk, you’ll get there just the same.

The Raphael(325 Ward Parkway; 816-756-3800; raphaelkc.com), a 126-room hotel in a neo-Renaissance manor overlooking the Country Club Plaza, recently finished a major renovation, with black marble bathrooms, flat-screen televisions and two spacious conference rooms. And with standard rooms going for as little as $139, it’s one of the city’s best bargains.

The 120-room Q Hotel + Spa (560 Westport Road; 816-931-0001; theqhotel.com) opened in 2007 in the historic Westport district and bills itself as the city’s first green hotel, offering eco-friendly hand soap, energy-efficient lamps and in-room recycling service (unused paper is given to a school next door). Standard rooms start at $107, if booked 23 days in advance; otherwise $137.

The federal government has begun a feasibility study for a downtown office building that likely would open in 2018 — a dozen years after it was first proposed.

Jason Klumb, the new regional administrator for the General Services Administration, said an eight-block stretch of the East Village area is being reviewed for the project, which is expected to cost more than $228 million. SFS Architecture of Kansas City is being paid $182,000 for the study, which should be completed this summer.

“We’re moving forward on a new downtown federal building,” Klumb said. “This is a priority for the GSA and the city. We believe we can be a great neighbor and addition to downtown.”

Klumb also said the size of the project has been expanded to 600,000 gross square feet, about 40 percent larger than previously discussed. That would be about the same size as the Charles Whittaker U.S. Courthouse completed in 1998.

An approximate timetable anticipates design work starting in 2012, with construction beginning in 2015.

The proposal, first suggested in 2006, calls for consolidating about 1,200 federal workers, many of them now at the Bannister Federal Complex, into a new office building. Most of the space would be occupied by the GSA Heartland Regional Headquarters and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The project has been an important goal of downtown civic leaders for several years and championed by U.S. Sen. Kit Bond but has encountered resistance in Washington. It was first proposed as a private development that would be leased to the government, but federal officials balked.

Bond held up the appointment of President Barack Obama’s nominee to lead the GSA for six months to apply pressure on behalf of the proposal. The agency finally included the project in its five-year capital budget in March, but as a federally owned and operated building.

Klumb, whose own appointment was delayed, took his job in February. He said GSA officials in Washington D.C., were onboard with the Kansas City plan.

He added the plan has broad-based political backing that includes Sen. Claire McCaskill. As a Democrat and Obama ally, McCaskill is expected to have more influence than Bond, a Republican who’s stepping down this year. Democratic Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver of Kansas City also is a strong supporter.

At Cleaver’s urging, the Kansas City Council approved a resolution earlier this year that offers a city-owned block at 12th and Holmes streets for the GSA project. The block was the former location of the Greyhound bus terminal, which was acquired and demolished by the city as part of the East Village redevelopment plan.

A new federal office building of the size being envisioned likely would require a two-block site to furnish an adequate security buffer, but Klumb said the city’s offer was helpful.

“Because the city is willing to donate a site it makes it more attractive,” he said.

A riverfront site pitched by the Port Authority of Kansas City had been in the mix earlier, but the City Council, along with other downtown interests, made it clear the East Village was the preferred location. The idea of leasing space for the federal workers in existing buildings downtown was rejected because of security issues, Klumb said.

The 12-block East Village redevelopment area near City Hall is where the new headquarters of J.E. Dunn Construction Co. is located, and several blocks has been slated for residential development by Swope Community Builders. Swope expects to begin construction this summer on the first project, a 50-unit apartment building at Ninth and Holmes streets.

“East Village is the area that elected officials have indicated is their preference, and the GSA wants to be a good neighbor and build where we are wanted,” Klumb said.

Article is courtesy of The Kansas City Star and was written by Kevin Collison.

Coldwell Banker On Location More Than 11,000 Listing, Community and Profile Videos Have Been Posted by Agents Worldwide.

Coldwell Banker On Location, the brand’s YouTube™ channel focused on listing, community and agent profile videos, continues to redefine the use of video in real estate. Just 11 months after launching in May 2009, Coldwell Banker On Location has drawn 1 million channel views.

Since Coldwell Banker Real Estate launched their brand channel on YouTube to debut Coldwell Banker On Location, the site has more videos on its YouTube site than any other real estate brand.

Recognizing the power of video, Coldwell Banker Real Estate recently unveiled a new commercial featuring Coldwell Banker On Location.

Some unique videos on Coldwell Banker On Location include:
· Coldwell Banker College Home Price Comparison Index
· Real (Estate) Opinions: Men vs. Women
· Home of the Heroes, Fort Hood Community Video
· Beverly Hills Video Listing

YouTubeTM is a subsidiary of Google Inc

Energize your savings with rebates on ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances. Starting April 19, 2010, Missouri residents are eligible to receive rebates up to $575 on ENERGY STAR qualified appliances. ENERGY STAR qualified appliances are designed to use 10 to 50 percent less energy than standard appliances, resulting in savings for the consumer, as well as reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants.

Once you have decided which ENERGY STAR appliance you would like to buy, you may reserve your rebate amount at a participating retailer or installation contractor on or after April 19. You may also reserve your own rebate online at this site beginning April 21.

For Retailers or Installation Contractors: Click here if you provide consumers with energy efficient products and services, and would like to participate in this program.

Rebates will be awarded on the following product categories.
Please click on an item below to view product information.

Category 1 – Space Heating
•Gas Furnaces $125

Category 2 – Space Cooling
•Central Air Conditioning $100
•Air Source Heat Pumps $250

Category 3 – Water Heating
•Water Heaters – Electric Heat Pumps $150
•Water Heaters – High Efficiency Gas Storage $100
•Water Heaters – Gas Tankless $100
•Water Heaters – Solar (Electric or Gas Back-up) $500

Category 4 – Clothes Washers
•Clothes Washers $75

Category 5 – Dishwashers
•Dishwashers $75

New-home sales skyrocket
Sales of new homes jumped 27 percent for the month of March, fueled in part by the homebuyer tax credit and better weather.
Sales of new homes surged 27 percent last month, bouncing off the previous month’s record low and blowing past expectations as better weather and government incentives boosted sales.

The Commerce Department said Friday that new-home sales rose in March to a seasonally adjusted annual sales pace of 411,000. It was the strongest month since last July and the biggest monthly increase in 47 years.

Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected a sales pace of 330,000. February’s results were revised upward to 324,000, but remained an all-time low. Sales had been especially weak over the winter, partly due to bad weather in much of the country.

The median sales price was $214,000, up more than 4 percent from a year earlier but down more than 3 percent from February.

The new-home sales report reflects signed contracts to purchase homes rather than completed sales and thus gives economists a feel for how many buyers were out shopping for new homes in a given month.

It is likely capturing consumers who are trying to qualify for federal tax credits that will expire at the end of this month. The government is offering an $8,000 credit for first-time buyers and $6,500 for current homeowners who buy and move into another property.

To qualify, buyers must have a signed contract complete by the end of next week and must complete the transaction by the end of June. Nearly 1.8 million households have used the credit at a cost of $12.6 billion, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The rise in new-home sales was seen nationwide. Sales grew a whopping 44 percent in the South and 36 percent in the Northeast. They also rose about 6 percent in the West and 3 percent in the Midwest.

The number of new homes up for sale in March fell 2 percent to 228,000. At the current sales pace, it would take nearly 7 months to exhaust that supply.