Spring - The Season of Charcuterie

When enjoying company in the backyard, something light and tasty to snack on can set the mood for the whole party. It seems everywhere you turn these days, new and ornate charcuterie spreads are making their way into your social media feeds and getting hundreds of likes. So let’s jump on the trend, and look at the essentials for a springtime charcuterie board. 

1. Cheese

Three different types of cheeses are the goal. If you can, go to a local cheese shop or delicatessen and find one hard, one soft, and one blue cheese. This gives a varied tasting profile to your guests and different flavors to experiment with.

2. Meat

Your choice of meats can be broad, but you generally will want to stick with

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The Spring Season Has Officially Arrived

Spring is here, and the warm weather has arrived. Flowers will soon be blooming, and gardens will be flourishing. Jumpstart your outdoor activities this year with resources from Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate Kansas City Homes. From patio redecorating and spring cleaning to crowd-favorite recipes, check out tips from our Better Living Blog.

A Beautiful Succulent Display

Known for vibrant colors and delicate textures, succulents are drought-tolerant plants that are easy to maintain. A mini succulent garden can add a pop of color to spruce up your outdoor area. Making the garden is as easy as one trip to the local nursery. 

Supplies

• 18-inch-diameter, 8-inch-deep pot     

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Tradition Home Group From Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Kansas City Homes’ Northland Office Wins Top Team in International BHGRE Network

Longtime friends and business partners, Shannon Stumpenhaus and Nickole Stark are the team leads for Tradition Home Group (THG) from the Kansas City Homes’ Northland office. No strangers to recognition, Tradition Home Group is routinely named in the top teams at Kansas City Homes. 

THG received the Emerald Elite award for the #1 Team in Volume and the #3 Team in Units in 2020 for the entire Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate international network, spanning 350+ offices and six countries. This award is presented to the top 1% of agents and teams in the BHGRE network.

In our recent interview with Nickole

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Local market updates from the Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors (KCRAR) provide a closer look at the current market conditions in the Kansas City metro area. Whether you're a buyer or seller, visit Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Kansas City Homes' Better Living Blog each month to stay updated on the latest home sale trends.

Monthly Indicator Analysis from Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors (KCRAR)

Mortgage interest rates ticked a bit higher in February but remain below their February 2020 levels. Interest rates may rise a bit further in coming weeks, but according to Freddie Mac chief economist Sam Khater, “While there are multiple temporary factors driving up rates, the underlying economic fundamentals point to rates…

The Average Down Payment For All Homeowners is 12%

One of the most common misconceptions about buying a home is the amount you need to pay for a down payment. The common value we hear is that you need to have a 20% down payment or you will not be able to buy a home. Will not having a 20% down payment make or break my home purchase? Absolutely not. 

While having a significant down payment can help save you money in the long run, it is far from required in today’s marketplace. First-time homeowners average a 7% down payment when they buy their home. All homebuyers average 12% and repeat homebuyers average 16%.

For many potential homebuyers, the down payment is an area where a majority of uncertainty is centered. More often than not, it is the

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In the early months of 2021, the blazing hot real estate market is continuing across Kansas City. In December alone, in Johnson County, closed sales rose 19% over last year according to the Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS®.

This means buyers are still in the market and are still looking for their dream home. With cold weather and snow on the way, improving your curb appeal now will lead to a sold sign in your yard faster than ever. Let’s take a look at how you can increase your curb appeal and reach your goals in 2021.

Tip #1 - Keep Your Driveway and Walkways Clean

With snow on the way across the metro, no one wants to worry about slipping on their way into a showing. Do your part by keeping your pathways clear from snow and

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Goering Assumes the Title After Darrel Stiles Retires

Kansas City Homes’ agent and Assistant Broker, Alex Goering, has been named Managing Broker of the Blue Valley office. He took over on January 1st of this year.

This change is part of the office’s succession plan. Stiles selected Alex as his replacement, and the two worked together to ensure a smooth transition that took effect when Stiles officially retired on December 31st, 2020.

Alex, already a decorated and successful agent and former team lead for the Goering Group, is ready for the new role. In 2017 he was awarded Salesperson of the Year from the Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS®, and in 2019 Kansas Association of REALTORS® awarded him Realtor Salesperson of the Year. He

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Local market updates from Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors (KCRAR) provide a closer look at the current market conditions in the Kansas City metro area. Whether you're a buyer or seller, visit Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Kansas City Homes' Better Living Blog each month to stay updated on the latest home sale trends.

Monthly Indicator Analysis from Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors (KCRAR)

December is normally one of the slowest months of the year, but strong buyer demand across most segments of the market, buoyed by near-record low interest rates, continue to drive a healthy sales pace in the face of a new wave of COVID-19 infections and a softening jobs market.

With low mortgage rates and strong buyer demand in…

A monumental year closes for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Kansas City Homes

Historical, monumental, and record-breaking are all words you could use to describe the real estate market in 2020. From a worldwide pandemic to the lowest mortgage rates we’ve seen in decades to a housing boom in the mid to late summer, the Kansas City real estate industry was challenged to say the least. It was a welcomed challenge at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Kansas City Homes and one we not only rose to meet but excelled in doing so. Let’s look back at how 2020 became one of the most significant years in both real estate and Kansas City Homes’ history. 

In 2020, our BHGenius Training platform was developed to provide our agents elite-level real estate

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The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has named Christian Barnes as the 2020 REALTOR® of the Year for the state of Kansas.

NAR describes the REALTOR® of the Year award, “Annually, each state REALTOR® association recognizes one member who has done exceptional work to advance their associations and the real estate industry with the REALTOR® of the Year award. These members epitomize what it means to be a REALTOR®.”

Epitomizing what it means to be a REALTOR® is not foreign to Barnes, who has one of the most decorated real estate careers in the industry. Growing up with parents who are both real estate agents, Barnes learned the best strategies to be successful from an early age. The Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS® named her

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