As a residential broker, David Van Noy Jr. had some interesting insights into the minds of buyers and sellers – because for several years he hosted a weekly real estate radio program. Called “Door 2 Door,” the show was on KCTE 1510-AM on Saturday mornings for more than three years. It featured local and national real estate experts, residential developers, plus live callers, who were often puzzled about the residential market. Van Noy, who graduated from Rockhurst High School (Class of ’99), got into real estate after leaving his family-run restaurant business — R.C.’s Restaurant & Lounge in south Kansas City’s Martin City. After radio, Van Noy has transitioned to a video online real estate show called Door 2 Door TV (www.door2doorkc.com). Most recently, he’s taken on a Plaza condo project called The Ellington on Broadway ( above and below) that features studio and 1 bedroom condos.
What were some of the most common questions you got on your radio show?
Most people call in to the radio shows for advice on things that they already know the answer to. They just need someone else to tell them what they already know. They say, “I haven’t talked to my agent in 3 months and I haven’t had any showings, what should I do?” And, of course I tell them the obvious, that they should fire him or her immediately, and then I of course am crowned, “the expert.” But, seriously, people are really nervous because the agents are dealing with the most important things in their lives. Their money, their families, and their homes. It’s those kinds of things that drive calls. You need a leader to be in charge in this market.
What are some things you’ve heard sellers do right or wrong when preparing their home for sale?
Sellers make the mistake of thinking that they have the best house for the best price right now. They also make a mistake when they choose an agent for anything other than having the most outstanding marketing plan and the track record to back it up. If you hire the agent who tells you what you want to hear, or a family member because you feel obligated, then I will surely be seeing you in about 90 days when you have been beaten to a pulp with crappy feedback and low offers. I’ve told people the best thing you can do is choose the right agent for the right reasons. Sometimes that is not me.
What are you hearing from callers lately and do you notice any changes in the market?
The sentiment in the market place right now is that of excitement and a real sense of urgency to get a home bought or sold before the tax credit really does come to an end. And, just for the record, it is going to end this time. There is some question about what the market is going to do after April 30, and that has some people worried. I am not one of them.
You are a self-described “tech geek,” so what technology is on the horizon that you are looking for?
I am working on the virtual experience of home viewing at home and how the consumer interacts with your brand. If you can imagine a showing on your home . . . and you don’t even have to leave. Or, showing a client 14 homes . . . and never leaving the office. That is what’s next. In terms of media, I am transitioning to a video format, where I can have more flexibility to share my connections and insight into the real estate market. I interview leaders, developers, and visionaries in the area and post it up unadulterated for the world to see. Sometimes I even interview myself because I have so much to say.
Agents tour condos that will be up for auction
Grant Lundberg, a condo specialist with Reece & Nichols, and Katie Heschmeyer, also with Reece & Nichols, invited agents to lunch this week to show off Mill Creek Terrace, condos and townhomes with a view on the Country Club Plaza that will be up for auction at deeply discounted prices later this month. Below, Kent Meyer, Dinah Lambert (center) and Kaye Brittingham, all with Chartwell Realty, came to check out the floor plans and amenities. Brittingham is a condo and loft specialist.
Below, Reece & Nichols agents Dee Dee Cooper, Linda Vaughan, president, and Mary Lynn Clark take a tour.
Below, Gwenn Venable and Becky O’Kelley, both with Reece & Nichols, check out the open furnished models. 
GOOD STATS: Home building in the metropolitan Kansas City area has turned the corner! The total number of single-family residential permits has increased for four consecutive months through February 2010, on a year-over-year basis, according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City. And in the first two monthsof 2010, total single-family permits were up 32% over the first two months of 2009. The HBA attributed the increase to the federal tax-credit deadline for first-time buyers. Leading this turnaround has been Johnson County, with 47 more permits, or a 72% increase, in the first two months of 2010 than the same period of 2009. But a surprising surge also came from Jackson County, where total permits nearly tripled from 22 to 61. The eastern Jackson County cities of Independence and Lee’s Summit combined for 34 permits so far in 2010, compared to 4 during the same period of 2009!