GET READY-THE BEST TIME TO LIST YOUR HOUSE IS ALMOST HERE!

If you’re thinking about selling this spring, it’s time to get moving – the best week to list your house is fast approaching.

Experts at Realtor.com looked at seasonal trends from recent years (excluding 2020 as an uncharacteristic year due to the onset of the pandemic) and determined the ideal week to list a house this year:

“Home sellers on the fence waiting for that perfect moment to sell should start preparations, because the best time to list a home in 2023 is approaching quickly. The week of April 16-22 is expected to have the ideal balance of housing market conditions that favor home sellers, more so than any other week in the year.”

If you’ve been waiting for the best time to sell, this is your chance. But remember, before you put your house on the market, you’ve got to get it ready.  And if you haven’t started that process yet, you’ll need to move quickly. Here’s what you should keep in mind.

Work with an Agent To Determine Which Updates To Make

Start by prioritizing which updates you’ll make. In February, realtor.com asked more than 1,200 recent or potential home sellers what updates they ended up making to their house before listing it (see graph below):

 

As you can see, the most common answers included landscaping and painting. Work with a trusted real estate agent to determine what projects make the most sense for your goals and local market.

If Possible, Plan To Have Your House Staged

Once you’ve made any necessary repairs and updates to your house, consider having it staged. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 82% of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. Additionally, almost half of buyers’ agents said home staging had an effect on most buyers’ view of the home in general. Homes that are staged typically sell faster and for a higher price because they help potential buyers more easily picture their new life in the house.

Bottom Line

Are you ready to sell this spring? Contact the Rural KC Team-Keller Williams Partners to plan your next steps. You can start by making a checklist of what you think your house needs to get ready. Then, we can work together to prioritize your list and move forward together. 

Have a great day!

RECENT EVENTS COULD SAVE YOU BIG ON YOUR DREAM HOME

 

We wanted to reach out to you today to share some potentially good news for home buyers in the Kansas City area, thanks to some recent developments in the financial world.

You may have heard about the recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and a few other regional banks. While this might seem like a cause for concern, it could actually present a golden opportunity for potential home buyers like you. Let us explain.

A few years ago, banks experienced a surge in deposits due to increased savings and stimulus money. To make the most of this influx, they invested in low-interest treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities, locking in 1-2% returns for years. Fast forward to today, and the Federal Reserve has significantly raised interest rates, making those previous investments far less attractive.

This series of events has contributed to the banks’ downfall, leading to a rapid drop in interest rates. As a result, mortgage rates have fallen as well, since they typically align with the 10-year treasury. We’re now seeing mortgage rates below 6%—a significant decrease that could save you over $200 a month on the average home in our area!

If you or someone you know has been considering purchasing a home, this recent turn of events could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save big. Our team at Rural KC is here to help you seize this moment and guide you through the process of finding your dream home while making the most of these favorable financial conditions.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance. We’re always here to help and look forward to working with you on your home-buying journey.

BALANCING YOUR WANTS AND NEEDS AS A RURAL HOMEBUYER THIS SPRING

 

Though there are more homes for sale now than there were at this time last year, there’s still an undersupply with fewer houses available than in more normal, pre-pandemic years. The Monthly Housing Market Trends Report from realtor.com puts it this way: 

“While the number of homes for sale is increasing, it is still 43.2% lower than it was before the pandemic in 2017 to 2019. This means that there are still fewer homes available to buy on a typical day than there were a few years ago.”

The current housing shortage has an impact on how you search for a home this springs. With limited options on the market, buyers who consider what’s a necessity versus what’s a nice-to-have will be more successful in their home search.

The first step? Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Pre-approval helps you better understand what you can borrow for your home loan, and that plays an important role in how you’ll put your list together. After all, you don’t want to fall in love with a home that’s out of reach. Once you have a good grasp on your budget, the best way to prioritize all the features you want and need in a home is to put together a list.

Here’s a great way to think about them before you begin:

• Must-Haves – If a house doesn’t have these features, it won’t work for you and your lifestyle.
• Nice-To-Haves – These are features you’d love to have but can live without. Nice-to-haves aren’t dealbreakers, but if you find a home that hits all the must-haves and some of the these, it’s a contender.
• Dream State – This is where you can really think big. Again, these aren’t features you’ll need, but if you find a home in your budget that has all the must-haves, most of the nice-to-haves, and any of these, it’s a clear winner.

Finally, once you’ve created your list and categorized it in a way that works for you, discuss it with the Rural KC Team-Keller Williams Partners. They’ll be able to help you refine the list further, coach you through the best ways to stick to it and find a home in your area that meets your needs.

Bottom Line

Prioritizing what you need in a home is a critical first step the buying process. If you’re ready to find the one that’s best for you, connect with the Rural KC Team-Keller Williams Partners. Bill-913-837-0760 or Danicia 913-837-0411.  Or go to www.ruralkc.com.

YOUR MARE'S GUT HEALTH IMPACTS COLOSTRUM QUALITY FOR FOALS

The healthier the mare, the healthier the foal; this statement certainly checks out since foals receive their nutrition from the dam. And it all starts with colostrum--the very first mammary secretions transferred from mare to foal. 

Let’s answer some frequently asked questions to ensure that your mares and foals are the healthiest they can possibly be.

HOW LONG DOES A MARE PRODUCE COLOSTRUM? 

The thick, yellowish fluid produced in the mare’s udder during the last 2-4 weeks of gestation as a result of hormonal changes is known as colostrum.  This fluid is packed with protein, fat, vitamins, sugars, minerals, and most importantly, maternal immunoglobulins (antibodies) which are the building blocks of proteins utilized by the immune system to fight off infection. 

Mares produce colostrum for no more than 24 hours before their normal milk comes in, but this “liquid gold” is the only source of antibodies for a newborn foal. In fact, it can literally mean the difference between life and death in the foal’s first days since the newborn immune system is not yet mature. 

Horses differ from some other animal species because immunoglobulins aren’t transferred from mare to foal during pregnancy. Because of this, newborn foals are highly susceptible to bacterial or viral infections. Fortunately, however, good-quality colostrum provides immunity to the foal that lasts anywhere from 6-12 weeks until the foal’s immune system can function on its own. 

HOW MUCH COLOSTRUM DOES A FOAL NEED AND WHEN DO THEY NEED IT BY?

Colostrum is only available for the first 24 hours after the mare gives birth, and the best-quality colostrum is produced in the first eight hours after foaling. For a short time after birth, a newborn foal is able to absorb the large immunoglobulin proteins through the wall of their small intestine and into their bloodstream. This is known as passive transfer. 

The absorption of immunoglobulin proteins is greatest during the first 6-8 hours after birth. After 24 hours, however, absorption is no longer possible due to changes in the foal’s intestinal system. Likewise, concentrations of immunoglobulins in the mare’s colostrum begin to rapidly decline after the first 24 hours after the foal’s birth. 

High levels of colostrum IgG  (the most common antibody) via passive transfer are vital for a newborn foal’s health. Ideally, foals should ingest up to half a gallon (2-4 liters) of colostrum within the first 12 to 24 hours of life. 

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE FOAL DOESN’T GET ENOUGH?

Some mares have higher-quality colostrum (with higher levels of IgG) than others, and this often comes down to their own health. If the mare has nutrient deficiencies, is ill, or has poor gut health, her colostrum may not fully protect the foal, and according to researchers, poor colostrum quality is one of the primary causes of immunity transfer failure for foals. 

The appearance of your mare’s colostrum can help you determine the quality of it. It should be thick, sticky, and golden or yellow in color. 

Watery or opaque colostrum usually means that there is a problem. Fortunately, there are tests that can quickly assess quality, one of the most popular ones being the handheld Brix refractometer. 

However, keep in mind that even if the colostrum is high-quality, foals may not get enough colostrum for the following reasons: 

• If the foal is too weak to stand and nurse without help;
• If the mare had premature lactation, leaking colostrum before the foal could ingest it; or
• If the foal fails to adequately absorb colostrum for whatever reason.

Without the ingestion of enough colostrum or enough quality colostrum, the foal is at risk of developing life-threatening conditions.

An IgG test should be run within the foal’s first 24 hours of life to ensure they have absorbed enough antibodies from colostrum. If not, your veterinarian can provide antibodies through equine plasma transfusion.

HOW CAN YOU ENSURE THAT YOUR MARE WILL PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY COLOSTRUM? 

Nutrition is paramount for broodmares. For the first seven or eight months of gestation, mares do not necessarily need more calories, but they do require sufficient intake of high-quality forage (pasture or hay) as well as a source of essential vitamins and minerals. During the last three to four months of pregnancy, however, the mare’s energy requirements will increase. 

Providing high-quality, free-choice forage will help to add calories. While you don’t want to overfeed your mare, additional calories can be provided with concentrates, rice bran, or healthy fats such as flax oil. Always ensure that either loose salt or a salt block is available and that the mare has clean, fresh water available at all times. 

One caution for pregnant mares: avoid pastures or hay high in fescue which can be infected with an endophyte that causes prolonged gestation, difficult delivery, and lack of milk. Fescue can also impact the quality of the mare’s colostrum or cause them to produce no colostrum at all.

Another thing you may want to consider is adding probiotics to your mare’s diet since studies have shown that gastrointestinal microbiota play a crucial role in a horse’s nutrient digestion, as well as their overall health.

One study showed that a supplement rich in live yeast increased IgG production in colostrum. In this study, researchers supplemented mares with the probiotic for the last eight days of gestation, finding significant improvement in both the initial IgG and persistence of IgG qualities of colostrum.

Having healthy foals is important for any breeder, and it all starts with the mare. Prioritizing nutrition and adding probiotics may mean the difference between a strong, healthy foal and one that is prone to infection.  

We hope you enjoyed this blog.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.  Also, if you are searching for an equine property, please feel free to call or go to www.ruralkc.com.  We would be happy to help. 

HOME BUYER GUIDE

If you don’t know anything else about the Rural KC Team you should know that we live in the country and love the country life. Being Realtors that help people find their dream country property is not a job, it is our calling. 

It breaks our heart when we see people whose dream of country living falls short because their agent, however well intentioned, was not experienced in the details of buying country property. This trend of watching inexperienced agents who may be great at selling homes in subdivisions, stumble and put their clients at risk when helping buy a country property has accelerated as more people move to the country. 

We want your move to the country, or to a home on acreage, to be a positive, life changing experience. So if this is your first time buying country property and your agent is inexperienced in purchasing rural property how do you know what questions to ask, what problems to avoid, and what details must be attended to, so that your dream comes true?

To solve that problem, we have put together a guide to buying country property. There is no charge, or obligation, just click on the link below to download your buyers guide and learn; what should be your goals in buying country property, how to avoid legal problems, and how to guard against unwanted surprises. It also includes a complete list of all the issues you find in buying country real estate that you don’t find in the city, and it has a complete step by step list of the process of buying country property. 

So just click on this link to receive your complimentary Buyers Guide to Country Property, and start making your dreams come true. 

https://www.ruralkc.com/free-buyers-guide

IS A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOME FOR YOU?

During the pandemic, many of us reexamined the meaning of home for ourselves and our loved ones. Today, that can be seen in the recent rise in multigenerational households.  According to Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Economic Research at the National Association of Realtors (NAR):

“Multi-generational buying may be a home where families live in the same home with elderly parents, children who have boomeranged back home, or other extended family members. While this is not a new concept of living, it is one which has gained recent popularity.”

And citing data from Pew Research Center, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) says:

“. . . multigenerational living has made a comeback in recent years, particularly after the 2008 financial crisis and during the pandemic.”

So, if buying a multigenerational home has crossed your mind, you aren’t alone. Depending on what stage of homeownership you’re in, there are different reasons it could be the right fit. The chart below shows responses to a recent survey from NAR about the reasons people have bought a multigenerational home:

Whether your motives are financial or focused on the people you’ll share your home with, a multigenerational home has distinct advantages. It can make homeownership more affordable, and it can help you best support your loved ones. As Lautz explains: 

“Multi-generational home buying is a way for families to care for one another, support one another, and often buy a home that may have been previously out of reach. . . . The trend of multigenerational buying appears to be firmly established and one that could expand in the future.”

Bottom Line

If you’re ready to buy a house, consider the opportunities of a multigenerational home. Work with The Rural KC Team-Keller Williams Partners to explore the options in your area.

DENTAL PAIN AND EQUINE BEHAVIOR

Dental pain or disease could be to blame if your horse is displaying behavior problems, especially new ones. Researchers have shown that owners and riders can easily miss behavior problems caused by dental pain and, if left untreated, dental pain and disease can lead to more severe health and behavior problems.

Leena Karma, DVM, EVDC, owner of Porvoon Hevosklinikka, an equine dental clinic in southern Finland, notes that signs of periapical (relating to the apex of the root of the tooth) infection, such as dropping feed (quidding), weight loss, and nasal discharge, coupled with behavior problems or changes in head carriage, could indicate dental pain and infection. “We need to keep in mind that horses are prey animals, and they are very talented in hiding pain,” Karma says. “Dental diseases develop gradually, and horses may find ways to adapt to the situation.”

Behavioral Signs of Dental Problems in Horses

Karma stresses that early diagnosis is the key to preventing severe dental disease. “Unwanted behavior should not be overlooked; owners should look for the cause of new behaviors in their horse,” she says.

If horses’ dental pain becomes chronic, the resulting behavior changes can negatively impact performance, says Catherina Foreman-Hesterberg, DVM, equine primary care instructor at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, in Urbana.

“The health and appropriate equilibrium of the teeth come into effect with the horse’s performance, depending on their level,” says Foreman-Hesterberg. “Dentistry fits into performance when they have an acute change. The head carriage isn’t as comfortable or normal as it used to be. It is extremely important to identify issues before they get to the point where they’re in chronic pain, or we have an infected tooth that needs to be surgically removed.”

Underscoring just how subtle signs of dental-related issues can be, Foreman-Hesterberg suggests watching for repeated behaviors in the stall.

“Even small behavioral changes in the stall versus under tack can be significant, especially if it’s repeatable,” she says. “If it’s a one-time episode, no big deal. But if it’s the same thing over and over again, like they take a bite of grain, step back, turn their head, and chew sideways every time they eat, that’s something that needs to be addressed.”

Besides quidding and head-tilting while chewing, behavioral indicators of dental pain and disease include packing feed in the mouth and struggling to maintain weight despite being on a high-quality diet and in a good training program. “I have noticed some horses take the bit when you’re putting their bridle on, and then start to do abnormal behaviors like a yawn or wrench their jaw back and forth,” Foreman-Hesterberg says.

“Diagnosing dental problems also requires close observation under saddle,” says Alison LaCarrubba, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, associate professor at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in Columbia. With significant problems such as fractured teeth, abscesses, and other advanced dental disease, owners start seeing ridden behaviors such as dropping behind the bit.

“Being able to distinguish between dental pain and behavioral problems confuses horse owners,” says LaCarrubba. “Certain owners have a good sense of what’s normal for their horse versus subtle abnormalities associated with the head and neck region.”

Bad Behavior vs. Painful Teeth

Foreman-Hesterberg cautions against automatically assuming performance issues are rooted in behavior problems rather than pain. As both a veterinarian and horse owner, she notes it could be easy to immediately assume a horse is simply misbehaving, especially if it’s a young horse.

“If the rider notices a continuous pattern of behavioral issues like snatching or jerking at the bit, you should explore dental pain as the possible cause,” she says. “If the horse doesn’t take the bit well or wants to be behind or in front of the bit, and this is a constant pattern, no matter what the rider or trainer is doing, there’s an underlying issue.”

It can be easier to detect dental issues in senior horses than in young horses that might be more stoic, and whose pain is more likely to be mistaken for a behavior problem. Loose or fractured teeth and ulcers in the mouth lead to difficulty chewing feed and hay. The most common signs of dental disease in senior horses are hay balling up in the cheeks, and significant weight loss. Tooth issues in old horses can lead to dangerous complications in the digestive tract, such as choke and impaction colic.

Takeaway Advice for Horse Owners

Researchers have shown that untoward behavioral signs associated with eating, riding, and handling can often be reduced with correct dental care. Because it can be difficult for owners to recognize the connection between dental problems and unwanted behaviors, Karma says routine dental checks are critical to a horse’s general health and performance.

“As an equine veterinary dentist, I would recommend that owners find a veterinarian with an interest in dentistry to examine the teeth at least once a year,” she says.

LaCarrubba stresses the importance of those exams being thorough– all teeth counted and inspected (with a mirror and/or oral endoscope) before any work is done. Owners should also be prepared to take the horse to an equine veterinary dental specialist if dental pathologies (disease or damage) are found.

If you are in the market to buy or sell rural/equine property, please give us a call at 913-837-0760 or 913-837-0411.  Have a great day!