Jewel Callahan from Union Home Mortgage sits down with Jen & Erik to discuss what is going on with mortgage rates, home values, buying power and more. Did you realize that the rise of property values may help you get out of PMI faster, that putting 20% down simply isn’t necessary for most loan programs, that there are 3% down programs and even 0% in some circumstances? Do you know what a bridge loan is, and how it affects credit? Learn about these tidbits and much more on this Get Real KC ep...
Mar 17, 2022•36 min•Ep. 37
Katie (one of our listeners) requested a podcast specific to things a person moving out of an apartment into their first home should be considering. Jen & Erik tackle topics like lease expiration and move out notice, deposits, search windows, and much more! Thank you Katie, for the suggestion…we hope you (and everyone) enjoys the podcast!
Mar 01, 2022•37 min•Ep. 36
The Dream Homes by Jen team takes a look at what the immediate market trends are in Kansas City Real Estate, as well as share stories about what's going with their current transactions. Highlights of this episode include virtual buyers, how the interest rate and inflation affects mortgage rates, and mounted shooting! :)
Feb 15, 2022•39 min•Ep. 35
Baby its cold outside! That means its a good day to lite up that fireplace. In this timely episode, Glen Simmons, owner of Sleep Easy Chimney Service & Repair joins Jen and Erik to discuss all things fireplace. Know the difference between an insert and a direct vent fireplace...how often should my chimney be cleaned...have gas logs, but wonder it you could be burning wood? Get the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Get Real KC!
Feb 01, 2022•35 min•Ep. 34
Brian Wathan, the owner of Red C Sewer Inspections sits down with Jen & Erik to shoot the shit :) about sewer lines, maintenance and inspections. While sewer inspections are a good low cost way to understand the condition of your lines prior to a home purchase, Brian also discusses many types of line issues, and different mitigation strategies.
Jan 15, 2022•40 min•Ep. 33
We're starting off the new year with an awesome podcast!! First time home buyers Sierra and Julian share their experiences after having just purchased their first home. They walk us through the experience from end to end...from finding the right Realtor and lender, through the search process and even the unexpected challenges after going under contract. With information valuable for any home buyer, this episode should be especially insightful for first time buyers. Thanks Sierra and Julian for b...
Jan 01, 2022•40 min•Ep. 32
2021 KCRAR President Tony Conant sits down with Jen and Erik to discuss things a good Realtor does beyond writing a contract on your sale or purchase. Some of the transactional considerations are discussed, but the real focus is on the amazing tradition of giving and service throughout the industry. Service, community, charity are all things we are reminded of during the holiday season, tune and to hear some of the ways Realtors participate that you may not be aware of.
Dec 15, 2021•37 min•Ep. 31
The Dream Homes by Jen team takes a look at what the immediate market trends are in Kansas City Real Estate, as well as share stories about what's going with their current transactions. Highlights of this episode include shifts in average home size, real estate education, and a great discussion about surrounding yourself with the right people as you venture into a home purchase or sale.
Dec 01, 2021•35 min•Ep. 30
Executive Vice President of the Kansas City Home Builder’s Association Will Ruder joins Jen & Erik to discuss what’s going on in new construction here in Kansas City. Have you ever wondered why builders seem to only build high priced homes? This fascinating discussion covers that topic more. Come discover the five L’s that affect new home construction, what’s going on with supply chains, and how it is affecting the new home starts here in the Kansas City area.
Nov 01, 2021•39 min•Ep. 29
As winter nears, it's a great time to discuss furnaces and the maintenance you should be doing. Miles Guthrie, owner of American Temperature Solutions joins Jen & Erik to discuss furnaces, and hvac in general. Miles candidly speaks about challenges in his industry, and his teams focus and finding and fixing problems over generating sales. Loaded with great maintenance tips, this episode is not to be missed!
Oct 15, 2021•39 min•Ep. 27
The Dream Homes by Jen team takes a look at what the immediate market trends are in Kansas City Real Estate, as well as share stories about what's going with their current transactions. In this episode the team discusses market trends, the return of the cyclic sales patterns in real estate, and some great information about 'Coming Soon' properties and the pre-mls status.
Oct 01, 2021•32 min•Ep. 28
No one wants to imagine a catastrophic event at their home, but unfortunately they can and do happen. Fires, floods, storms, and even equipment failure can create significant damage to your home, often beyond the obvious. In this episode, Elaina Huffman with NCRI walks Jen & Erik through how companies can respond to these situations, techniques used to mitigate problems, and things to watch out for if disaster occurs.
Sep 15, 2021•34 min•Ep. 26
Smithville has done a masterful job in revitalizing its downtown over the last few years. Mayor Boley walks Jen and Erik through the steps the city has taken to get there, and their comprehensive 2030 plan to keep improving. If you haven't been there in a few years, learn about the changes that are worth seeing, and the plans for downtown living infrastructure while maintaining the broader appeal of suburban big lots and country living that Smithville is known for.
Sep 01, 2021•37 min•Ep. 25
Megan walks Jen and Erik through the differences between a insurance brokerage and an insurance agency, and along the way provides tidbits to use when shopping for insurance. Flood insurance is also discussed, including upcoming changes to FEMA's NFIP, and some new private flood insurance options, Check out this great episode with Megan Considine!!
Aug 15, 2021•37 min•Ep. 24
The Dream Homes by Jen team takes a look at what the immediate market trends are in Kansas City Real Estate, as well as share stories about what's going with their current transactions.
Aug 01, 2021•37 min•Ep. 23
Working remotely has been around to some degree for a long time, but the pandemic has shifted that from a ‘some times’ and ‘in certain industries’ scenario, to a mainstream requirement by many who have work that can be done remotely. Scott Quinn, technical recruiter at Bradford & Galt shares with us his experience working with companies and job seekers as we dive into how remote work is affecting industry and things you should be thinking about for your home office space.
Jul 15, 2021•33 min•Ep. 22
You’ve accepted a contract on your home…yay! Now what? Jen & Erik discuss the common steps and timelines that occur after you are under contract, all the way until the money hits the bank! Join us for our 5th and final home seller's series and learn what it might take to get that deal wrapped up!
Jul 01, 2021•31 min•Ep. 21
Walk through the ins an outs of engaging an architect both in new construction and remodeling projects. You might find it surprising how much having a quality architect as part of your team can make a huge difference in facets throughout your project. Need to make sure you can remodel a home you purchase? An architect can help! Listen in and check it out!
Jun 15, 2021•34 min•Ep. 20
This is our first of a new bi-monthly podcast segment featuring members of the Dream Homes by Jen team discussing current happenings in real estate. In this episode Jen, Erik and Stevie discuss some of the causes for the home shortages, lumber shortages, and what the experts are telling us that means for real estate long term. We also talk about the challenges being seen with real estate 'love letters' and find out that Jen can shoot zombies from horseback!! :) Join us for another great episode!...
Jun 01, 2021•39 min•Ep. 19
Robert joins Jen & Erik to discuss the basics of homeowners insurance, what it generally covers, and what is often excluded. As home values increase it is important to understand the difference between home value and home replacement value…tune in to find out about this and more!
May 20, 2021•32 min•Ep. 18
Water features add sound, texture, and movement to landscaping designs and help homeowners to feel that their surroundings are more natural and unique. Jen & Erik have a conversation with Dan Stanza, owner of Good Earth Water Gardens, discussing some of the ins and outs of having and maintaining your own pond, waterfall or fountain.
May 10, 2021•34 min•Ep. 17
Shawna Pyfrom, Business Development Manager at Security 1st Title spends some time walking us through title insurance, what it is and what it does. We also discuss some of the other important functions title companies perform in our area during a typical home sale, and what to expect when you get to that closing table on your own transaction.
Apr 27, 2021•37 min•Ep. 16
A-PRO Home Inspection owner Brandon Miller joins Jen and Erik to talk inspections. Tune in to find out more about home inspections, what they cover and what they don’t, why it’s important to have a highly trained and certified home inspector perform your inspections, how much they cost, how long they take and much more!
Apr 02, 2021•36 min•Ep. 15
You had us at “How much will my house sell for?” 😊 Jen & Erik walk you through some of the factors in determining what you want to list a house for, and how that price is determined. The accuracy of online estimating tools, if you need to complete home improvement projects to get the best value for your home, along with a general understanding of the tools a Realtor will bring to the table to help you determine the best price to list your home at…these topics and more are discussed in this ...
Mar 19, 2021•26 min•Ep. 14
The Kansas City area has been a seller's market for some time, but now more than ever before in modern history sellers are in the driver's seat when it comes to residential real estate. That doesn't mean there aren't issues to consider and steps you should take to protect yourself and give your home the best chance for selling quickly and for top dollar. Join Jen & Erik as they walk through some of the items to consider and what to expect, when showing or having an open house for your home....
Mar 02, 2021•30 min•Ep. 13
It's time to get ready!!! Jen & Erik walk you through common home preparation steps and discuss the pre-sale paperwork you'll need to prepare to get your current home SOLD!
Feb 19, 2021•28 min•Ep. 12
It's a sellers’ market! Certainly in Kansas City, and almost everywhere across the nation. During part one of the five-part Home Seller's Series, Jen & Erik discuss working with a Real Estate professional. Do you need one? What you should expect from your agent, and some ideas on how to find the right person to represent you in what may be your largest financial transaction.
Feb 09, 2021•32 min•Ep. 11
Last fall, Jen & Erik caught up with Missouri Realtors® Director of Strategic Communications Tristan Asbury to discuss It’s Your Move. It’s Your Move is a completely free education course with videos, case studios, and interactive quizzes. Designed in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education for use in high school classrooms, it truly is a great learning tool for all people, in school or not. Listen in, but also check it out yourself at https://www.mis...
Jan 12, 2021•27 min•Ep. 10
Staging can make a huge difference in how much your home sells for, and how fast. Sue Shores, owner of ChangIt, joins Jen & Erik to discuss home staging, some of the basic concepts and some of the pitfalls to avoid. She reminds us that staging is not just “packing everything but the kitchen sink”...staging is designing to sell.
Jan 01, 2021•28 min•Ep. 9
Janna Fox, CEO of ReScore, a local credit repair, financial planning & education company join Jen and Erik to discuss how credit scores work, the differences between the types of credit scores and steps you can take to improve your score regardless of how high or low it currently is.
Dec 21, 2020•32 min•Ep. 8
