Monday, June 6th, 2011, 7:40 am
Source: The Wall Street Journal

Back in June 2006, when the housing market peaked, the prospect of a five-year national housing bust seemed unimaginable to most people. And yet here we are, with the latest Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller index showing that prices hit new bear-market lows, falling back to 2002 levels nationally and to 1990s levels in some battered regions.

Despite all the gloom, however, there are growing indications that it is a good time to buy. Mortgage rates, which fell to 4.55% for the week ending June 2, according to Freddie Mac, are near 50-year lows. Homes have become more affordable than they have been in years: According to Moody's Analytics, the ratio of home prices to income is now 20.9% lower than the 15-year average through 2010, and 12.5% lower than the 1989-2004 average. A historic glut of homes, meanwhile, has created a buyer's market: There were about 15 million vacant homes in the U.S. last year, according to John Burns Real Estate Consulting Inc.—some 3.1 million more than normal.



Read the full story >>

I'm a big gun nut, I love anything that goes bang! I just stumbled across some information about the new Taurus Circuit Judge.

The new Taurus Circuit Judge takes the most overwhelmingly successful revolver in recent history and has extended its range for incredible hunting and shooting.

Model: SCJ4510  
Status: Available  
Construction: Steel  
Caliber: 410GA./ .45LC  
Capacity: 5 Shot  
Barrel Length: 18.5"  
Finish: Blue  
UPC: 6-62205-98462-4  
MSRP: $618.00  
Weight: 4.45 LBS  

Now you can fire .410 GA. 3-inch Magnum shotshells, .410 GA. 2.5-inch shotshells and .45 Colt ammunition. In any order you please, without switching barrels. 

The Circuit Judge delivers amazing versatility, accuracy and simplicity. It comes finished in a beautiful hardwood stock and includes the latest in modern features like a red fiber optic front sight, yoke detent, transfer bar and the Taurus Security System.

108 South Main Street Butler, MO

108 South Main Street Butler, MO is set for auction June 13, 2011. The auction is scheduled to take place at the Bates County, MO Courthouse.

The home was listed in the MLS as a 2 bedroom 1 bath of 884 square feet.

The sale is being handled by South and Associates Law Firm.

More information is available on their site.
http://www.southlaw.com/

According to the MLS the home last sold in 2006
Thanks for visiting Bates County Real Estate.

AMSTERDAM, Mo. -- An overnight burglary attempt has left a gaping hole in the front of McBee's General Store in Amsterdam, Mo.A car smashed into the front of the general store as thieves tried to take the store's ATM and cash register.One man is in jail and the Bates County Sheriff's Department was looking for another man.Police said the thieves were able to take the cash register but were unable to move the ATM.Residents will now have to travel to Louisburg, Kan., for supplies. The family that owns the store said they are unsure when they'll be able to reopen.

http://www.kctv5.com/news/27857372/detail.html

Charlie Daniels Band - What this world needs is a few more rednecks!

What this world needs is a few more rednecks
Some people ain’t afraid to take a stand
What this world needs is a little more respect
For the Lord and the law and the workin’ man
We could use a little peace and satisfaction
Some good people up front to take the lead
A little less talk and a little more action
And a few more rednecks is what we need
I was raised on beans and cornbread
And I like my chicken fried
Yes, I drive a pickup truck
And I’m full of American pride
I keep a Bible on my table
I got a flag out on my lawn
And I don’t believe in mindin’
No one’s business but my own
And I love them Rambo movies
I think they make a lot of sense
And it’s a shame ole John Wayne
Didn’t live to run for president

And I don’t care what nobody says
I don’t trust ole Gorbachev
And I don’t know who turned him on
But it’s time to turn him off
What this world needs is a few more rednecks
Some people ain’t afraid to take a stand
What this world needs is a little more respect
For the Lord and the law and the workin’ man
We could use a little peace and satisfaction
Some good people up front to take the lead
A little less talk and a little more action
And a few more rednecks is what we need
Now they’re tryin’ to take my guns away
And that would be just fine
If you take ‘em away from the criminals first
I’ll gladly give ya mine
And I don’t mind payin’ taxes
But it makes my temper itch
When my hard earned money goes
To make some politician rich
What most people call a redneck
Ain’t nothin’ but a workin’ man
And he makes his livin’
By the sweat of his brow
And the calluses on his hands
Now you intellectuals may not like it
But there ain’t nothin’ that you can do
Cause there’s a whole lot more of us common-folks
Then there ever will be of you
What this world needs is a few more rednecks
Some people ain’t afraid to take a stand
What this world needs is a little more respect
For the Lord and the law and the workin’ man
We could use a little peace and satisfaction
Some good people up front to take the lead
A little less talk and a little more action
And a few more rednecks is what we need
That’s what we need
And a few more rednecks is what we need

Funeral services for Eva Koehn of Moundridge, Kan., were April 25, 2011, at the Bethany Mennonite Church in Rich Hill, Mo., with Kenneth Koehn, Myron Koehn and Gary Schmidt officiating. Burial in Bethany Mennonite Cemetery, Rich Hill. Contributions, Moundridge Manor, Moundridge, Kan.

Eva Koehn, 94, of Moundridge, Kan., formerly of Rich Hill, Mo., died Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at Moundridge Manor in Moundridge. She was born Sept. 26, 1916, to Andrew B. and Carrie Koehn Nightingale in Verden, Okla. Eva is survived by ten sons, Harland Koehn of Rich Hill, Mo., Archie Koehn of Rich Hill, Mo., Ernest Koehn of Butler, Mo., Franklin Koehn and wife Marlene of Rich Hill, Mo., Hubert Koehn and wife Mary of Horton, Mo., Marlin Koehn and wife Diann of Montezuma, Kan., Wesley Koehn and wife Edith of Rich Hill, Mo., Delbert Koehn and wife Rita of Eldon, Mo., Daniel Koehn and wife Marva of Barnett, Mo., and Milton Koehn and wife Marjorie of Versailles, Mo.; a daughter, Ella Mae Isaac and husband Jim of Butler, Mo.; a daughter-in-law, Beth Koehn of Moundridge, Kan.; 41 grandchildren; and 87 great-grandchildren.

Eva was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Walter in 1996; and 22-month old daughter, Marcella. Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler, Mo., is in charge of the arrangements.

From HutchNews.com

Ever wonder what laws and restrictions Missouri's real estate brokers and agents have to adhere to?

Well here is a 15 page sample of the kind of stuff we have to pay attention to. While this is only a portion of it, some of it gets pretty complicated.

A little thing they like to call agency is one of the most convoluted, mixed-up messes that the state requires all of us to take a certain number of hours of classes devoted entirely to agency every time we renew our licenses.

The fair will be here soon! Bates County fair is an important part of the culture and economy of Bates County, MO. Now is the time to start planning for the upcoming Bates County, 2011 Fair.

The Bates County Fair runs from Sunday July 10, 2011 through Sunday July 11, 2011 and offers entertainment, 4-H events, Bull Riding, rodeos and much more!
 
Below you will find documents you will need to plan for and be a part of the 2011 Bates County Fair.

More information is available from the Bates County Extension Center.

Not to worry our Dollar General is not going anywhere, they have a 15 year lease and it is a brand-new building. 9,014 square foot, free standing building, the lease also include four (5) year options.

This property is being offered as in investment opportunity with a great return on investment.  Located at 121 N. 14th St. Rich Hill, Mo 64779 the NNN or Tripple Net investment offers a proposed Cap Rate of 8.3%

Listed at $884,903 this presents a long term investment strategy that with the new Interstate 49 coming in replacing the old 71 Hwy is may turn into something great!

Highlights

• Brand New 2011 Construction - Expected Fall 2011 Delivery
• 15 Year Absolute NNN Lease, Corporately Guaranteed
• Lease Includes Four (5) Year Options

• 3% Bump In Year 11 of Primary Term, 10% Bump in Option Periods
• Ideal Demographics for a Dollar General
• Nearest Competing Dollar General Over 13 Miles Away

This information came from one of our commercial real estate providers and may not be a listing of Turn-Key Properties LLC.

The former president of Hume Bank in Bates County will go to prison for a fraud scheme that pushed the bank into insolvency.

Forty-year-old Jeffrey W. Thompson was sentenced Wednesday in federal court to six years, six months in prison without parole. He also was ordered to forfeit $300,000, or his home. He pleaded guilty last October.

Thompson admitted in his plea that for more than three years he covered up the fraud by lying to bank regulators about problem loans and altering bank records.

Due mostly to bad loans originated by Thompson, the bank was declared insolvent and closed in March 2008. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. insurance fund lost $4.3 million.