I get asked by customers all the time for names of good Lenders to work with.  I have a stack of business cards on my desk from good people in the industry that I have had successful working relationships with.  I try to keep names and numbers available so I can offer several (we don't want to play favorites!)  I am proud to say that I am ready to add Terri Snow of Guaranty Bank in Ozark, MO to my list. Terri has a work ethic that I can easily work with.   If one is looking for a home in Ozark or surrounding areas and has not secured a loan officer, I would like them to give her a call and see what products she can offer. Plz feel free to drop my name when you GIVE TERRI a CALL.  Make an appointment to discuss your buying needs and then give me a call to assist in finding the 'dream pro... 04/03/2009

HOME BUYERS 101 SEMINAR  EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE CENTER   910 W. BATTLEFIELD    7 APRIL 2009   6:45 - 9:00 P.M.    FEATURING    BRIAN CHICK BANK OF AMERICA   HOME BUYERS GOVERNMENT TAX REBATES FHA LOANS THE LOAN PROCESS  TERRI SNOW GUARANTY BANK USDA RURAL DEVEOLPMENT GUARANTEED LOAN PROGRAM HUD LOANS THE LO0AN PROCESS  CAROL COCKRELL   TITAN TITLE COMPANY   WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE A GOOD TITLE COMPANY WHAT DO TITLE COMPANIES DO  STEVE MIROWSKI   MIROWSKI HOME INSPECTIONS   WHAT DOES A HOME INSPECTOR REALLY DO ARE HOME INSPECTIONS NECESSARY  JOHN BISHOP   FARMERS INSURANCE   How to shop for Home Owners Insurance What does a good policy really do  RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY   CALL 417-631-7234 OR 417-818-7481     SPONSORED BY   LEE SKILES   417-818-7481                    BETTY KNOWLES  4... 03/22/2009

History has a way of evolving in our Springfield real estate area. Yesterday I read in the Springfield Business Journal that our wonderful business of of 141 years, Springfield Mill and Lumber is closing.  This family owned property is secumbing to the economic times that is forcing so many businesses to close. Personally, I never have been to Springfield Mill and Lumber.  However, many builders that I have worked with have helped to keep these doors open.  No doubt, these builders are struggling with their own futures and wonder how they are going to survive these economic hard times. No  doubt they will be sorely missed in the community.  For some employees, retirement may be ahead.  For others, we wish much success in finding new jobs.  We will overcome these hard times!  We Will Su... 02/24/2009

Here is the latest market report for real estate in Greene County Missouri. This includes Springfield Real Estate and surrounding areas. If you would like more specific information about homes in your neighborhood, give us a call today!  417-631-7234   www.teamknowles.com   Greene County Missouri Real Estate   Under Contract 380 Under Contract Price Range $13,500 - $799,900 Average Listing Price $150,722 Average Days on Market 82 Active Listings 2116 Price Range $28,500 - $889,900 Average Listing Price $185,656 Data Provided By GSBOR on 2/17/09. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Prepared by John Knowles, REALTOR.     02/17/2009

What To Expect From Lina Robertson When Selling Your Home in the Springfield MO Area Are you thinking of selling your home in the Springfield MO area?  There is much work to do and things to consider before hammering the real estate sign in your front yard.  The first step being preparing your home to put on the market.  Once your home is ready, it's time to interview prospective realtors.  Most people don't know how to properly interview a realtor, and what questions to ask to point you to the realtor who is most qualified and likely to sell your home in the fastest time possible for the best price possible. Nearly all realtors will put a sign in your yard and submit your listing to the Springfield MLS.  They might even hold an open house and place an ad in the local newspaper.  What d... 02/15/2009

Groundhogs (or woodchucks if you prefer) hibernate during the winter. - A lot of  real estate sellers hibernate until spring to sell their homes. Did you know, winter is actually a great time to sell a home because there is less competition out there! Groundhogs theoretically are afraid of their shadow - a lot of buyers and sellers are afraid to do anything because of fear.  Now really is a great time to buy because interest rates are low and prices are down. You can sell your home and break even and then upgrade to a better house at a great price! Groundhogs are big rodents that live underground but you don't have to! We can show you any property on the market no matter who its listed by.   Call TeamKnowles and we'll help you buy or sell your home. Specializing in Springfield Missouri... 02/01/2009

I am not a photographer, but every photo I take I try to turn into a Picasso.  I've take hundreds of photos of Springfield Mo houses for sale, and each one is as important to me as all the others.  Thanks to my digital camera, I can take as many as I want and discard the rest.  Well, I need lessons!  Everything I've tried never looks like a well designed, great color photo. I took this photo of the historic City Hall in Springfield, Mo last year and have had it sitting in my gallery of photos.  It's a great old building, built in 1894, currently being used for the cities administrative offices.        Here's the same photo, enhanced in Picasa.  Lots more color and detail.          And another with additional color added.         I just started using Picasa.  It's easy to use, can be lo... 01/31/2009

Many investors are taking advantage of the bargains on the market today.  Never before has there been so many values to choose from.  What most investors aren't aware of is the excellent incentives in Springfield, MO, for tax credits and financing to rehab these homes. The State of Missouri offers a State Tax credit equal to 15% of renovation or new construction of residential properties in certain qualifying areas.  The intent of the program is to provide an incentive to invest in upgrading or new structures in these areas in order to upgrade quality of housing and housing stock.  A home owner and or a developer may apply for the credits.  A developer must be intending to sell the property and not use it as a rental property.  Developers can apply for multiple properties.  The credits ... 01/24/2009

 The Pareto Principle originally referred to the observation that 80% of Italy's wealth belonged to only 20% of the population. Today we know this as the 80/20 rule. The Pareto Principle is the observation that most things in life are not distributed evenly. For example: 20% of the workers produce 80% of the output 20% of the stores get 80% of the sales 20% of the roads get 80% of the traffic But how can this principle help you in real estate? How about: 20% of the agentsproduce 80% of the sales 20% of the advertising produces 80% of the leads 20% of the websites get 80% of the traffic 20% of the blogs get 80% of the comments We need to make sure we are focusing our efforts on the 20% of things that create results! Evaluate what works and what doesn't and spend your time wisely. If you... 01/20/2009

After working for a month, I had a Springfield Mo "short sale" rejected today.  Defending the offer, I resubmitted all the latest listings and sales showing the bank the sales price of this home was well within the comparables on the market in the last three months.  The bank not only countered the offer $50,000 higher than homes that have sold.......identical floor plans, age, square footage, etc., they reduced commission.  The negotiator said it was due to Fanny Mae making the final decision.  And NO they will not do a new appraisal for five more months!  ARE THEY NUTS?  Do they realize this home is in foreclosure and due to a certain company in Springfield Missouri, this is only one of hundreds of homes now in the process of being foreclosed?  I know for sure there are at least eigh... 01/15/2009

I'm really not heartless.  I promise I am not.  But hey timing is everything.  We have a Tenant that has been behind in their rent payments and we have recently filed for a court ordered eviction.  Our attorney had a special process server serve the eviction papers and he tried to reach the Tenant at their home 4 times and she keeps avoiding service.  Unfortunately this isn't our first rodeo with Tenants avoiding service (some of them are starting to get really good at it), but that's a whole different blog post. So after the 4th attempt to serve this Tenant, the special process server calls me at my office and says "I'm trying to serve her, but she won't come to the door, do you want to come meet me with a key?"  I reply with an ecstatic "sure thing".  It's not that I really like evict... 12/23/2008

               Kay Van Kampen is a local Realtor serving Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, Republic and surrounding areas in Missouri.  She is ready and available to help you with all your Springfield Mo real estate needs.  To contact her go to www.kayvankampen.com.If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, Republic, Willard and surrounding areas or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, then give me a call at:  417.839.4534. 12/08/2008

Get in this Great New home today! 3 Bedroom 2 Bath, 2 car W/ Privacy fenced back yard.This home has a brick front on a perfect corner lot and you can own it today for $950 a month! Bad credit and Bankruptcy Okay.No Balloon, No Prepayment Penalty, No Closing costs! Address: 3605 S Juiniper Type: Residential Style: Single Story Development Level: Built Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms 2 Bath 2 Garage: Double, Attached Size: 1,255 sq. ft. Lot Type: Rectangular Year Built: 2007   12/01/2008

The 14 Points of Successful of QI are: 1. Create Constancy of Purpose for Improvement of Services. 2. Adopt a New Philosophy - a can do spirit! 3. Eliminate Slogan, exhortations, and Target your customers 4. Drive Out Fear 5. Institute a Can Do Spirit of Leadership 6. Institute training from outside of the real estate industry. 7, Remove Barriers to Pride in Workmanship between your Agents and Staff. 8. Institute a Vigorous Program of Education and Retraining. 9. Improve constantly and Forever the system of Production and Services. 10. Just say Thank you. The Basic of this Philosophy revolve around changing the current style of management to incorporate quality methods, techniques, and tools into everyday work life-ultimately, to drive out those management practices that are not conduci... 11/30/2008

Buying or refinancing in Springfield, Missouri?  What a fantastic opportunity this week, as mortgage rates continue to be very volatile  at least we have hit a low point and we have locked in many loans that are 30 year fixed at outstanding rates.   If your looking to refinance or purchase now is the time to move on this - prices on homes are fantastic in the area!! OakStar Bank strives to deliver the best possible home buying experience or (refinancing) experience possible.  If your paying more than 6% currently, I can do a free payment analysis to see what your saving or simply calculate how much more of a house you can buy if you are looking to move up. There is no obligation and it costs nothing to complete this!  Please feel free to contact me directly to discuss the amount you wil... 11/26/2008

  Festival of Lights – Downtown Springfield         It is that time of year to welcome the holidays at the downtown Springfield events. This Saturday, November 22, 2008 @ 5:00pm, will kick-off the the season with the tree lighting ceremony and  the kid’s parade to Hammonds Field. This is followed by the much awaited arrival of Santa at 6:00pm with a fireworks display to immediately follow. The kids will be able to sit on Santa’s lap      so remember to take your camera, there  will be no photographer. Free hot chocolate and snacks will be served as long as they last. The Festival of Lights is a six week event that will feature numerous events that are either free or low cost.    Debra Cain is a Realtor in the Springfield, MO area. To receive further information on the cities of Springfi... 11/21/2008

Once upon a time there was a house - my house - and it had the unthinkable happen to it.  It was destroyed by water because a roofer didn't take the proper precautions when 7 inches of rain was predicted when they started to re-roof our home.   This happened on June 13, 2008 (Friday the 13th, yeah we do laugh about the date now). I thought I had seen it all after being a Realtor for 20 years, but I was wrong.  I had never seen how destructive water could be.  I have seen like everyone else the photos of hurricane victims and their homes with standing water in them and feeling so sad for their situation.  Even though my disaster came about differently, I still ended up with the same damage as if I had been flooded.  Our home had to be gutted down to studs and mold remediated, it meant st... 11/19/2008

Springfield Missouri Real Estate, Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, Republic, Willard and surrounding areas.  The Springfield Missouri Real Estate market is slowly re-adjusting with the month of September closing 498 homes. 2360 Springfield Missouri Real Estate agents continue to work in Springfield and surrounding areas, a decrease from 2007 .  Forty-nine percent of Springfield Mo homes are still being financed with conventional financing, followed up by VA and FHA.  Fifteen percent paid cash.  Statistics for the end of September for Springfield MLS: September 2008 2007 Number of homes currently on the market: 5,683   Average Active List Price: 198,642   New listings on the market in September: 1,318 1,453 New listing average list price: 175,275 185,084 Number of homes closing escrow (sold): 4... 11/08/2008

  The new Hollywood Theatre College Station opened yesterday in Springfield. Watching the construction of the newest Hollywood theatre the past few months, I am excited to see the new 14-screen theatre that seats 2000 people open.  Revitalization of Downtown Springfield has been an ongoing project for the past several years.  Great for any age group, a night out at the movies and dinner are one of the least expensive ways to enjoy a night. Growing up, the downtown area housed local theatres like Fox,Gilloz and Landers.  These beautiful historic buildings are still open and going strong. Indulge yourself with a night out with dinner and movie and see downstown Springfield.        Kay Van Kampen is a local Realtor serving Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, Republic and surrounding ar... 11/08/2008

  Kay Van Kampen | RE/MAX Solutions | 417-839-4534 1101 Red Cedar, Springfield, MO New Ranch - Greene Country - Springfield Mo Real Estate 4BR/2BA Single Family House   offered at $130,000 Year Built 2007 Sq Footage 1,843 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking 3 Car garage Lot Size .22 acres HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Home to be sold 'AS IS, WHERE IS.' New 4 bedroom, 2 bath home that offers 2 living areas, gas log fireplace, open floor plan, corner lot, maintenance free exterior & nice 3 car garage. Don't hesitate! This will sell fast. Contract contingent on banks approval of a short sale. For details go to www.kayvankampen.com.   see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES Central A/C Central heat Fireplace High/Vaulted ceiling Walk-in closet Tile floor Fami... 11/02/2008