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APRIL 30, 2012

Tulip Display

when:Apr 30, 2012 at 9:00am
where:Wichita, KS
from:The Wichita Botanica Gardens
category:Arts and Entertainment

District In-Service Day – No Students

when:Apr 30, 2012 All Day
where:Wichita, KS
from:Wichita Public Schools
category:Schools and Libraries
MAY 1, 2012

Tulip Display

when:May 1, 2012 at 9:00am
where:Wichita, KS
from:The Wichita Botanica Gardens
category:Arts and Entertainment

Exhibit – The Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art

when:May 1, 2012 at 10:00am
where:Wichita, KS
from:Wichita Art Museum
category:Arts and Entertainment

Exhibit – Pastel Natonal 2012

when:May 1, 2012 at 1:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Wichita Center For The Arts
category:Arts and Entertainment

MAY 2, 2012

Clutch, Hellyeah and more

when:May 2, 2012 at 3:30am
where:Wichita, KS
venue:The Cotillion
category:Arts and Entertainment

Exhibit – Believe It Or Not: True Medical Stories From The Wichita Frontier

when:May 2, 2012 at 9:30am
where:Wichita, KS
from:Old Cowtown Museum
category:Arts and Entertainment
Wee Wiggler – Rodent

when:May 2, 2012 at 10:00am
where:Wichita, KS
from:Sedgwick County Zoo
category:Arts and Entertainment
Exhibit – The Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art

when:May 2, 2012 at 10:00am
where:Wichita, KS
from:Wichita Art Museum
category:Arts and Entertainment

Wee Wiggler – Rodent

when:May 2, 2012 at 11:00am
where:Wichita, KS
from:Sedgwick County Zoo
category:Arts and Entertainment
Exhibit – Pastel Natonal 2012

when:May 2, 2012 at 1:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Wichita Center For The Arts
category:Arts and Entertainment
Stormwater Management Advisory Board Meeting

when:May 2, 2012 at 6:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:City Of Park City
category:Government and Politics
Performance – Giselle

when:May 2, 2012 at 7:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Wichita Grand Opera
category:Arts and Entertainment
Clutch & Hellyeah at The Cotillion

when:May 2, 2012 at 7:15pm
where:Wichita, KS
venue:The Cotillion
category:Arts and Entertainment
Adams’ Giselle

when:May 2, 2012 at 7:20pm
where:Wichita, KS
venue:Century II, Concert Hall
category:Arts and Entertainment

MAY 3, 2012

Buddy Guy

when:May 3, 2012
where:Wichita, KS
venue:Orpheum Theater
category:Arts and Entertainment

In Trenches

when:May 3, 2012
where:Wichita, KS
venue:The Scene-ary
category:Arts and Entertainment

Exhibit – Believe It Or Not: True Medical Stories From The Wichita Frontier

when:May 3, 2012 at 9:30am
where:Wichita, KS
from:Old Cowtown Museum
category:Arts and Entertainment

Wee Wiggler – Rodent

when:May 3, 2012 at 10:00am
where:Wichita, KS
from:Sedgwick County Zoo
category:Arts and Entertainment

Exhibit – The Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art

when:May 3, 2012 at 10:00am
where:Wichita, KS
from:Wichita Art Museum
category:Arts and Entertainment

Wee Wiggler – Rodent

when:May 3, 2012 at 11:00am
where:Wichita, KS
from:Sedgwick County Zoo
category:Arts and Entertainment

Information Meeting

when:May 3, 2012 at 12:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
venue:Wichita Habitat for Humanity
category:Clubs and Organizations

Show – You’e a Good Man: Charlie Brown

when:May 3, 2012 at 12:15pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Crown Uptown Theatre
category:Arts and Entertainment

Exhibit – Pastel Natonal 2012

when:May 3, 2012 at 1:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Wichita Center For The Arts
category:Arts and Entertainment

Show – East Side/West Side Story

when:May 3, 2012 at 7:50pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Mosley Street Melodrama
category:Arts and Entertainment
Show – You’e a Good Man: Charlie Brown

when:May 3, 2012 at 8:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Crown Uptown Theatre
category:Arts and Entertainment

Corb Lund

when:May 3, 2012 at 8:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
venue:The Cotillion
category:Arts and Entertainment

Show – King Lear

when:May 3, 2012 at 8:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Wichita Community Theatre
category:Arts and Entertainment
MAY 4, 2012

Warren Barfield

when:May 4, 2012
where:Wichita, KS
venue:Central Community Church
category:Arts and Entertainment
Exhibit – Believe It Or Not: True Medical Stories From The Wichita Frontier

when:May 4, 2012 at 9:30am
where:Wichita, KS
from:Old Cowtown Museum
category:Arts and Entertainment

Exhibit – The Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art

when:May 4, 2012 at 10:00am
where:Wichita, KS
from:Wichita Art Museum
category:Arts and Entertainment

Show – The Jungle Book

when:May 4, 2012 at 12:15pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Crown Uptown Theatre
category:Arts and Entertainment
Exhibit – Pastel Natonal 2012

when:May 4, 2012 at 1:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Wichita Center For The Arts
category:Arts and Entertainment

Vatterott’s Annual Car Show

when:May 4, 2012 at 5:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
venue:Vatterott College
category:Arts and Entertainment
Annual Car Show

when:May 4, 2012 at 5:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Vatterott College
category:Arts and Entertainment
Performance – Peter Pan

when:May 4, 2012 at 7:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Wichita Childrens Theatre And Dance Center
category:Arts and Entertainment

Show – East Side/West Side Story

when:May 4, 2012 at 7:50pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Mosley Street Melodrama
category:Arts and Entertainment
Turnpike Troubadours at The Cotillion

when:May 4, 2012 at 8:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
venue:The Cotillion
category:Arts and Entertainment

Show – You’e a Good Man: Charlie Brown

when:May 4, 2012 at 8:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Crown Uptown Theatre
category:Arts and Entertainment

Corb Lund and Turnpike Troubadours

when:May 4, 2012 at 8:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
venue:The Cotillion
category:Arts and Entertainment

Show – King Lear

when:May 4, 2012 at 8:00pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Wichita Community Theatre
category:Arts and Entertainment

MAY 5, 2012

Cold Forty Three

when:May 5, 2012
where:Wichita, KS
venue:Pumphouse 1931
category:Arts and Entertainment

2012 Arthritis Walk

when:May 5, 2012 at 8:30am
where:Wichita, KS
venue:Old Cowtown Museum Historic
category:Health and Fitness
Exhibit – Believe It Or Not: True Medical Stories From The Wichita Frontier

when:May 5, 2012 at 9:30am
where:Wichita, KS
from:Old Cowtown Museum
category:Arts and Entertainment

Exhibit – The Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art

when:May 5, 2012 at 10:00am
where:Wichita, KS
from:Wichita Art Museum
category:Arts and Entertainment

Show – The Jungle Book

when:May 5, 2012 at 12:15pm
where:Wichita, KS
from:Crown Uptown Theatre
category:Arts and Entertainment”

Jeff Clabaugh
Broadcast/Web Reporter -Washington Business Journal

Another sign the housing market is picking up this spring: Pending home sales rose in March and were sharply higher than a year ago.

Pending sales of existing homes rose 4.1 percent in March, according to the National Association of Realtors. The D.C.-based trade group said pending sales were up 12.8 percent from a year ago.

Pending sales represent contracts signed but sales not yet closed, a better gauge of the current market.

“First-quarter sales closings were the highest first quarter five years,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun. “The latest contract signing activity suggests the second quarter will be equally good.”

Pending sales rose the most in the West, up 8.7 percent from the previous month. In the South, which includes the Washington region, pending sales were up 5.9 percent in March and up 10.6 percent from a year earlier.
Wichita home sales up in December, Another sign the housing market is picking up this spring: Pending home sales rose in March and were sharply higher than a year ago.

Pending sales of existing homes rose 4.1 percent in March, according to the National Association of Realtors. The D.C.-based trade group said pending sales were up 12.8 percent from a year ago.

Pending sales represent contracts signed but sales not yet closed, a better gauge of the current market.

“First-quarter sales closings were the highest first quarter five years,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun. “The latest contract signing activity suggests the second quarter will be equally good.”

Pending sales rose the most in the West, up 8.7 percent from the previous month. In the South, which includes the Washington region, pending sales were up 5.9 percent in March and up 10.6 percent from a year earlier.
but down 9 percent on the year
Wichita Business Journal – by Chris Moon
Date: Friday, January 14, 2011, 4:34pm CST
Wichita home sales during December increased 5 percent from December 2009, according
to new data released Friday afternoon by the Wichita Area Association of Realtors.
It was the first year-over-year increase in home sales since May, and it ended 2010 — a
difficult year in homes sales — on a positive note.
Home sales were down 9 percent from 2009.
Home sales have declined each year since 2007.
The December data showed a total of 590 homes sold during the month, including 535
existing homes and 55 new ones.
WAAR’s press release is below:
Existing home sales increased 9% between November and December according to the
latest figures released by the South
Central Kansas MLS. Existing homes sales in December totaled 535, up from 491 units in
November. The median sales
price of existing homes in December increased 1.4% compared to November, and
increased 12.4% on a year over year
basis.
New home sales decreased in December to 55 units, which represents a 5.2% decrease
compared to November. The
December median sale price of new homes decreased to $205,670 from $215,088 in
November but is 11.2% higher than
one year ago.
Existing home inventory this month was down 3.1% with 3,735 homes in inventory
compared to 3,854 last month. The
existing home inventory this month is 18.9% higher than it was a year ago when the
existing home inventory was 3,141.
New home inventory decreased this month with 472 homes in inventory compared to 474

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Check out the Four Foreclosure Financing Myths….Make sure the information you are hearing is actually the truth… here is the foreclosure market trend report.

10 Ways to Get the Best of Winter When Selling Your Home

Posted By susanne On December 1, 2011 @ 5:01 pm In Consumer News and Advice,Homeowner’s Toolkit,How to Sell Your Home,Today’s Top Story – Consumer | No Comments

^[1]If your home will be for sale this winter, it is important to master certain seasonal issues that are less significant or even non-existent at other times of the year. Here are 10 bits of sage advice from RE/MAX agents that can help put a “Sold” sticker on that yard sign.

Let Those Lights Shine: The best way to combat winter’s short and frequently cloudy days is to turn on your house lights. For a showing, every single light in the house must be on, even in the closets and utility/mechanical rooms, according to Marlene Granacki of RE/MAX Exclusive Properties, Chicago.

“Make sure all the bulbs are working, and stock up on all the right bulbs for lamps and fixtures so burned out bulbs can be replaced immediately,” she advises. “Also, it’s a great idea to keep the lights on in the front of the house even if no showings are scheduled. People are always driving past the house, and keeping it lighted makes it look happy and welcoming.”

She also advises opening the drapes and blinds during the day to let in light and let visitors enjoy the view.

Provide Convenient Parking: It’s vital that buyers have a convenient place to park. They won’t want to walk very far in cold weather or be forced to climb over a snow bank to exit their vehicle. Because parking is often more restricted around condominiums, sellers should make sure their agent can pass along parking details to buyers.

Make It Easy to Enter: Winter showings can get off to an awkward start if prospective buyers arrive with snow or salt on their shoes.

“Make it easy for buyers to deal with their shoes when they arrive,” recommends Barbara Hibnick of RE/MAX Showcase, Long Grove, Ill. “Put a festive area rug at the front door for a great first impression and so visitors can wipe their feet. Have slippers or disposable booties available, along with a bench or chair, if there is room for one, where a visitor can sit and easily remove or put on their boots.”

Keep Odors Under Control: Any home tends to be stuffy in winter when windows are opened rarely. That can allow odors to build up, which can be a turn-off to buyers.

“Pet odors can be especially worrisome in winter,” says Mike Mondello of RE/MAX Synergy in Orland Park, Ill. “Use a room fragrance if needed, but nothing too strong, and I recommend that in winter sellers clean more often.” For example, change the cat litter daily, rather than every third or fourth day, or even consider using an air purifier.

If pets are in the house, consider setting the thermostat control so that the furnace fan runs constantly during the day to keep air moving through the house and dissipate odors. Also try to avoid strong cooking odors, especially if a showing is scheduled that day.

Cultivate a Festive Look: Appropriate decorations for Christmas and even St. Valentine’s Day help give a home a cheerful look during the winter months.

“I really believe that holiday decorations can help homes sell, but don’t go to excess,” suggests Starr Zook of RE/MAX On Track in Aledo, Ill. “Keeping small, decorative white lights on trees and bushes pretty much through the winter season is fine, but other decorations should be taken down quickly once the holiday passes.”

Don’t Ignore the Outdoors: Make a good first impression on buyers with a neatly maintained yard. Walks and steps should be kept clear, especially of snow and ice.

Look after Condo Common Areas: If the home you are selling is a condominium, your job as a seller may be relatively easy in winter, with no snow to shovel or yard work to worry about. However, that is only the case if your condominium association does its job well.

If the association isn’t doing it, the homeowner may have to take responsibility for keeping the entrance area and hallways clean. If the association isn’t getting snow shoveled promptly, consider buying some de-icing salt and sprinkling it judiciously around the building entry.

Don’t Roast Buyers: We all tend to prefer a specific temperature for our homes during the winter, but don’t blast buyers with hot air. Keep the temperature at a comfortable 65 degrees for all showings. Remember, buyers are likely to be wearing their coats even as they walk through the house.

Keep Seasonal Clothing under Control: “One major challenge of selling a home during the winter months is the overabundance of cold weather gear that must be stored,” says Mike Mondello. “A buyer doesn’t want to find the mudroom filled with boots or the hall closet overflowing with heavy coats. Shift some winter coats to another closet and put anything not needed in the closet into storage.”

To keep gloves and scarves from piling up in the front hall or mudroom, put a special container for them, such as a decorative chest, where the family typically enters the home.

Encourage Day Time Showings: A home shows to its best advantage during daylight hours, which are relatively scarce in winter.

“Encourage your agent to show your home before 3 p.m. and have it ready to show by 9 a.m. if you want the best results,” Granacki recommends.

Despite the special challenges of marketing a home during winter, there also are benefits, notes Laura Ortoleva, a spokesperson for the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network.

“Buyers out looking at homes in December or January are, as a group, quite serious about buying. Therefore, sellers tend to benefit because each showing is more productive, and fewer showings are needed to sell the property,” she said.