Latest News

Jennifer Wright Celebrates 3 Years at KAR

By Brittany Rhoades posted 4 days ago
KAR would like to recognize Jennifer Wright on an incredible three years as Director of Member Engagement. Balancing events, keeping members engaged, raising six kids, and taking care of goats; Jennifer is practically a superhero! Her energy and personal touches to her work make everything brighter and more fun. Here’s to more years of fantastic events and goat stories! 🎉🐐 ...
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Handling Scammers, Squatters and Trespassers

By Brittany Rhoades posted 10 days ago
From NAR In a competitive real estate market, be on the lookout for scammers posing as property owners with a false listing. Agents should beware of common red flags when they suspect fake documentation and counterfeit deeds. How can agents and brokers help combat against fake real estate listing schemes? Here are some tips: Always rely on government records, such as tax forms, to verify property ownership. Require identity verification before listing the property. Encourage clients to set up a Google alert so they get early warnings if their address gets added to a syndicated real estate website. Have a conversation with the property owner whose ...
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KAR Recognizes Brandon Fenton for Two Years of Service

By Brittany Rhoades posted 10 days ago
KAR would like to recognize Brandon Fenton for two years of service. Though Brandon hails from Missouri, he came to Kansas two years ago to serve KAR as Public Policy Field Director. After serving 6 years in the Marines, Brandon traded in the camo for his suit and represents his Country at the Capitol as part of the KAR Advocacy Team. Let’s all say a big ooh rah for Brandon!
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Make Your Online Listings Shine

By Brittany Rhoades posted 10 days ago
From NAR Homeowners continue to shop for homes online, and many still buy without stepping foot on the property. Here are some key tips to optimize online listings: Make photos a priority. Facilitate virtual walkthroughs. Use a variety of digital tools. Consider narrative style for descriptions. Include financial facts. READ MORE
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Top 8 Reasons REALTORS® Call Tech Support

By Brittany Rhoades posted 11 days ago
From Tech Helpline - a FREE Member Benefit! Every year, Tech Helpline, the number one tech support service for real estate agents known for its helpful and friendly team of experienced analysts, and a FREE KAR member benefit, receives thousands of calls, emails, and chats. Here is a list of the top 8 reasons REALTORS® reach out to Tech Helpline: Zoom Issues Windows Pop-Up Scams Transferring Assistance Email Issues Wi-Fi Connections Recommendations for Tech Devices Software Glitches Organization of Files READ MORE
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Market Stats - July 2024

By Brittany Rhoades posted 17 days ago
"Sales were up across most of the state in July," said KAR president Jon Fort with Arc Real Estate in Garden City. "The recent drop in mortgage rates should help keep sales activity strong through the Fall." July 2024 Market Highlights Home sales in Kansas rose by 3.4% in July 2024 compared to the same period last year. National sales fell with sales falling 2.5% over 2023. Home prices continue to increase across the state. The statewide average sale price in June was $324,992 a 4.2% increase compared to last year. Midwest prices rose 4.5% and US prices rose by 4.2%. Mortgage rates fell slightly. The national average commitment rate on 30-year conventional ...
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KAR Recognizes Heather Gray for 8 Years of Service

By Brittany Rhoades posted 17 days ago
KAR is happy to recognize Heather Gray for eight years of service. Heather is the mother of two humans and three canines. As Director of IT, Heather is the knower of all things technological. When staff has tech issues, they must first ask themselves, “What would Heather do?” The answer is usually, turn the computer off and back on again. Or sometimes she can simply walk into the room and scare the technology into working. When she’s out of the office, KAR staff glued Heather’s face onto sticks to attempt to persuade the technology to work in the event of her absence.
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A Retirement Account Made for REALTORS®

By Brittany Rhoades posted 19 days ago
From NAR As independent contractors, most REALTORS® lack access to employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as a 401(k) or pension plan. The responsibility for your long-term financial well-being rests solely on your shoulders. Fortunately, being a small business owner gives you access to certain financial mechanisms that help you save more money and grow your nest egg. A self-directed IRA is a retirement account that enables you to take complete control of your investments. You can move beyond the preselected investment options that come with traditional 401(k)s and actively select, buy and sell the assets within your SDIRA account. These assets can ...
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Survey: Pets Drive Homebuying, Renovation Decisions

By Brittany Rhoades posted 19 days ago
From NAR There are more American households with pets than children, and studies show that home buyers’ furry friends increasingly influence the type of home or remodeling project buyers choose. So, real estate pros need to be tuned in to the needs of their clients’ pets. An entire home design movement, called “barkitecture,” has been inspired by pets. The most common considerations include choosing pet-friendly materials and a design or functionality specific to their pet, such as an animal bed or feeding station. Common projects for remodeling pet-owners include: Scratch-resistant flooring. Landscaping. Custom areas such as outdoor enclosures, ...
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Answering Your Clients’ Questions About Compensation

By Brittany Rhoades posted 24 days ago
From NAR A written agreement is a prime opportunity to explain all the services you provide and the value you bring to the transaction. Keep in mind that selling the value of an intangible service, such as what you offer to buyers and sellers, may take extra thought, patience and explanation. Chris Blocker, professor of marketing at Colorado State University, who studies value positioning for industries like real estate, says agents need to communicate their value in three main areas: Outcomes, such as how an agent will help clients sell or acquire a home The process, such as how the agent will clarify the homebuying or homeselling journey ...
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Nykia Wright Named Permanent CEO for NAR

By Brittany Rhoades posted 25 days ago
From NAR The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) has named Nykia Wright its permanent Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. “I am thrilled Nykia is staying on board to lead us through this time of transformation,” said 2024 NAR President Kevin Sears , broker-associate of Sears Real Estate/Lamacchia Realty in Springfield, Mass. “She has been instrumental in leading us up to this point, and her unwavering commitment to our members makes her the ideal steward for guiding our association through the evolving real estate landscape." READ MORE
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Setting Clear Goals for Successful Paid Marketing Campaigns

By Brittany Rhoades posted 25 days ago
From Housing Wire In the complex world of paid marketing, setting clear and measurable goals can be the difference between a thriving campaign and a wasted budget. By defining specific objectives, understanding your audience, choosing the right platforms, setting clear metrics, ensuring compliance, and continuously testing and optimizing, you can maximize the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and achieve your business goals. READ MORE
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KAR Recognizes Kevin Schmidt for 10 Years of Service

By Brittany Rhoades posted 25 days ago
KAR would like to recognize Kevin Schmidt for his 10 years of service with KAR! Kevin is a born and raised Topekan, with an Irish heritage and heart. When he’s not busy as the father of five children; he spends his time golfing, organizing Irish Fest, or serving his time as Grill Master. For those that are inevitably interested in obtaining one of the KAR 100 th anniversary ties in this photo, you’re out of luck. There was only one created, and it is reserved for this Master of Finance and Grilling! Though in consolation, you can catch a glimpse of it when you see Kevin at KAR's Annual Conference in October!
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6 Items to Consider Before Practice Changes Take Effect

By Brittany Rhoades posted 08-07-2024
From NAR With the Aug. 17 deadline approaching to implement practice changes in our business, t hese are some of the business decisions you may need to think about as the date approaches. Changing Your Compensation Model Countering Objections to a Written Buyer Agreement Mastering the Compensation Conversation Aiming Higher for Referrals Helping First-Time Home Buyers How to Approach Negotiating Compensation READ MORE
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Navigating the Upcoming Practice Changes - Live Interactive Webinar

By Brittany Rhoades posted 08-07-2024
From NAR Join members of NAR’s Legal Affairs team to receive timely information regarding how the proposed class action settlement and the practice changes may impact your business and your clients, including: Timely updates on the settlement process What you can expect when the practice changes take effect Tips for answering consumer questions regarding class notices Tools and resources you can leverage to effectively navigate the practice changes and communicate accurate information to your consumers, clients and customers. Date: Thursday August 15th, 2024 Time: 3pm-4pm CT Cost: $0 No Cost for Members Register today!
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Creating More Transparent Real Estate Transactions Using Proptech

By Brittany Rhoades posted 08-07-2024
From NAR Real estate professionals guide customers through what is, for most people, the single biggest financial transaction of their lives. It’s often an overwhelming experience for buyers and sellers, and it’s a huge responsibility for agents and brokers. To effectively guide customers through these processes and truly add value to the customer, real estate professionals should offer buyers and sellers clarity, build trust and help them understand the process end to end. And that requires mastery of the arts of transparency and task management. Proptech tools are used for transactions to facilitate communication, collaboration, accountability, and transparency ...
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Free Webinar! "Unlocking Homeownership: A How-to-Guide to Down Payment Assistance Programs"

By Brittany Rhoades posted 08-06-2024
Join this free upcoming webinar with Marc Williams, renowned expert in down payment resources and affordable housing, as he leads a discussion to help you discover the keys to assisting potential clients in achieving affordable homeownership. Learn how these resources, including grants, loans, and strategic partnerships with government agencies and financial institutions, can enhance your ability to guide clients toward attaining their dream of homeownership. Register today! Registration Link: https://go.rentalbeast.com/RESAugust2024RegistrationPage.html Date: Wednesday, August 21st Time: 1:00pm CST Speaker: Marc Williams, ...
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7 Habits to Boost Productivity and Well-Being in a Complex Profession

By Brittany Rhoades posted 08-01-2024
From NAR Selling real estate comes with distinct challenges. While constantly working to fill your pipeline, manage client expectations, and achieve a sense of work-life balance, you’re likely to face moments of financial uncertainty, performance pressure and market volatility, as well as feelings of isolation and loneliness. What can you do to counteract those stressors? Consciously drive for productivity. Productivity can create a positive feedback loop in which success leads to increased confidence and motivation, further reducing stress and promoting a healthy work-life balance. To be more productive and stay in the moment, try these seven strategies. ...
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NAR Releases New Consumer-Focused Resources Ahead of Practice Changes in Settlement Agreement

By Brittany Rhoades posted 08-01-2024
From NAR The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) published new resources to help guide consumers on the impact of the March 15th settlement agreement and support both REALTORS® and consumers as they navigate the changes required by the agreement. The new resources are all available on facts.realtor , NAR's centralized website for information on the settlement, and include: Fact sheets on what the practice changes mean for homebuyers and home sellers. These resources—one for sellers and one for buyers —outline what buyers and sellers should expect after Aug. 17 and the value REALTORS® provide to consumers in these transactions. ...
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Sweeping Changes: Robot Vacuum Technology

By Brittany Rhoades posted 08-01-2024
From NAR Robot vacuums have come a long way, offering a range of features that cater to different needs and budgets. As technology continues to advance, household cleaning is becoming more effortless and efficient than ever. Here’s a look at some of the latest innovations in robot vacuum technology and specific models that stand out in various price ranges. READ MORE
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