After I eat the cheesecake, I will not eat anymore unhealthy food for the rest of the year.My wife and friends don't think I can do it.

It is still not to late to have my son drive tonight. The snow banks should soften the crashes.You may want a helment.

Heading to drop off the kids before the New Years festivities.

Watch Out For Kansas State men's basketball team! http://ping.fm/q0yxW

Will you become a Millionaire in Kansas today? One lucky person from Kansas will become rich by noon. http://ping.fm/lLyL8

Just a Reminder: If you are looking for a designated driver for New Years Eve, my son can help. You need to provide the car and insurance. HE has had his learners permit for 1 week. The ride will be eventfull.

The new model train store in the Great Plains Mall is really cool.Kids really liked it.

What happened to Google Reader? I haven't been able to login this afternoon.

Taylor Swift is on Oprah. So cool!

Homeownership in U.S. May Decrease

Homeownership in U.S. May Decrease, New York Fed Study Finds.

(Bloomberg) — The rate of homeownership in the U.S. may fall in coming years as households rebuild equity wiped out by the worst slump since the Great Depression, according to a study by economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

“The official homeownership rate will likely experience significant downward pressure in the coming years,” Andrew Haughwout, Richard Peach and Joseph Tracy wrote in a paper posted on the bank’s Web site. Owners whose mortgages are larger than the properties are worth “very likely will convert officially to renters,” assuming prices don’t climb in the next several years, they said.

U.S. homes have lost about $5.9 trillion in value since the market’s peak in March 2006 as mounting foreclosures and the recession weighed on prices, according to Zillow.com. The homeownership rate peaked at 69 percent in 2006 and has since dropped to 67.3 percent, a level not seen since 2000, the authors wrote.

A drop in homeownership would have broader implications for the economy, boosting the national savings rate, they said.

Kansas City RE/MAX

RE/MAX CEO Helped Change Short Sales

Number 1 Home Agent » Blog Archive » Bank of America, RE/Max and Wells Fargo. From Very Bad to Great.

Now the good news. A month or so ago one of the most powerful and truly influential people in real estate, Dave Liniger assembled some top B of A executives and several United States Senators in the same room. I think it is fantastic that Dave Liniger can contact them, tell them when and where he needs to see them and have them actually arrive.

Mr. Liniger proceeded to tell the B of A executives that their reputation - in the area of short sales was just awful. He told them that he had about 100,000 agents with RE/Max and that he doubted very many of them would even consider directing loans to Bank of America. He pointed out to them that if they had any hope of keeping their agent driven business they had better stop making enemies over in their short sale division. The senators were a little surprised and dismayed at all the specifics Mr. Liniger pointed out had occurred with regard to loan modifications that never happened (after people were put on wait for six to nine months) and that the same thing was happening with short sales.

The Bank of America executives were shocked and said they had no idea such things were happening and (the good news) vowed to correct each and every one of types of behavior that Liniger had pointed out to them. Dave Liniger is predicting that B of A short sales will soon be as easy to do as Wells Fargo short sales.

To be fair, B of A is already improving. The loss mitigation companies they’ve hired to handle some of their short sales is not (repeat, is NOT) difficult to work with, at all.

I personally do not believe that B of A will ever consistently achieve the stellar results that Wells does. The reason? The executives were shocked at what Dave Liniger had to tell them - they didn’t already know. A great executive would have not only known it was happening, they would have been able to predict it and prevent it from happening. Great executives make it their business to know what is happening in their business. That said, I still believe that B of A will make great strides and improve tremendously. I want to add, I am grateful for Dave Liniger stepping up and to B of A’s top management for owning up.

Short Sales are only going to get easier! So, THANK YOU!

Kansas City RE/MAX

Layoffs begin at Fort Dodge Animal Health in Overland Park, Kansas http://ping.fm/X4CfO

Ouch! I just paid $4.50 for water at the AMC Theatres.

I think there is a scratch and dent sale along I-35.

Garmin cycling team set to go without Wiggins, changes with sponsor - Garmin is based in Olathe, Kansas http://ping.fm/0I5a0

Electricity and cable have been flickering on and off for the past hour. The kids hope santa makes to all the homes in this blizzard.

Merry Christmas

The Dowell Family wishes you a Merry Christmas!


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Finishing up a listing appointment in Olathe.

Warning: Please stay off the roads in KC. My son just got his learners permit.

My daughter doesn't want hot chocolate. She wants warm chocolate.

My daughter doesn't want hot chocolate. She wants warm chocolate.

Leaving Manhattan to head back to KC. Had fun at the Kansas State game. Go Cats!

The worst thing about loosing to one of the worst team is hearing about it every 30 minutes on ESPN Sportscenter. What happen this year Chiefs?

I have been in line for over 90 minutes for the Christmas in the Park at Lake Longview. Is it worth it this year?

My daughter said that Santa looks different then he did yesterday.

Johnson County, KS. economy picking up a bit, Real Estate is UP! http://ping.fm/tsZZ1

Citigroup To Halt Foreclosures During Holidays http://ping.fm/RWxA4

J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services to Move Headquarters to Overland Park, Kansas http://ping.fm/8FjFc

Try using DUB - DUB Is Your Mobile Business Card http://ping.fm/bMhiU

Edgerton Should Learn Fate of $50 Million Grant to Build Intermodal Early in 2010 http://ping.fm/LxTHT