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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!

Matt Eckert, a vice president with Cassidy Turley in Kansas City, has extensive experience in landlord and tenant representation with lease negotiations, purchase negotiations, build-to-suit coordination, corporate services, consulting and subleasing. He advises clients on both a local and national basis.

He began his commercial real estate career in 2001 in Dallas, but returned to Kansas City in 2002 (he’s a Kansas State grad) where he accepted a position with NAI Cohen-Esrey. In 2006, Matt joined Cassidy Turley.

Among the clients he’s served are Birch Communications, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Vance Publishing, Citizens Bank and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (see picture of their home at Two Pershing Square below).  Major transactions include Birch Communications, lease of 45,000 square feet, Variform, lease of 36,000 square feet, the Census Bureau, lease of 33,500 square feet, Children’s Mercy Hospital, lease of 31,300 square feet, Rasmussen, Willis, Dickey & Moore LLC, lease of 31,000 square feet, Selective Site Consultants Inc., leases of 46,000 square feet (aggregate), and a long list of others.

What do you consider your specialty these days?

Working with office tenants. Most of my business is representing them. They will hire us to evaluate a lease renewal, a relocation, or sometimes a purchase. We help them identify what their needs are and what makes the most sense for their business.

Tell us about a recent deal that was most satisfying.

Probably for me, it was representing Rasmussen, Willis, Dickey & Moore in their lease renewal/restructuring. They had grown over time and wanted all their people to be together. There were a few moving parts to the transaction, including the relocation of an existing tenant. Now they’re on three floors, and their space is much more centralized and efficient. And I think the savings in cost per attorney after the restructuring was about 32 percent, so that was great news, too.

Any interesting trends out there in office relocation?

Landlords are willing to be creative to land tenants. The Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, for example, wanted about 3,000 +/- square foot conference facility, and landlords of several buildings were willing to joint venture with the tenant on many of the costs associated with this room in exchange for being able to offer it as an amenity to other tenants. And I think these days, another trend is just that people in general are being more efficient with their office space.

How is the down economy affecting office deals?
Well, there are two trains of thought. First, we know that now is a good time for tenants to lock in on long-term deals because they can get better pricing in a down market. Counteracting this is the hesitation about what the future holds for their business and a need for flexibility. However, for long-term deals, we are often able to build flexibility into the lease by negotiating termination/expansion options.

 What are you working on in 2010?

Most of my time this year will be comprised of representing tenants with lease renewals/relocations. Tenants want someone to help them realize the opportunities that a down-market brings with it.

What do you do in your spare time?

My wife and 19 month old son live in Overland Park. We have been spending a lot of time playing with my son outside and enjoying this warm weather.  I like working on house projects (with mixed success) and have enjoyed cheering on K-State basketball this year. 

Are you involved in any community work?

I am very involved with the DeLaSalle Education Center, a charter high-school that  provides a safe, flexible learning environment for high school students who need an alternative to the traditional school setting. I co-founded and co-chair a growing organization called DeLaSalle SOUL that sponsors and organizes volunteer opportunities for the school. In March, we had our fourth annual spring cleaning day – where about 65 people spent half of their Saturday painting inside the school.

What advice would you give someone who does what you do?

You need to have a lot of patience. Deals often have a long lead time and don’t always turn out how you expected. Try to learn as much as you can from the best in the business and find a good business partner.

Anything else you want to say??

It was the best of the best who gathered at Plaza III recently for the 2010 Commercial Realtor Awards and Networking Reception, presented by The Realtors Commercial Alliance of the Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors.  The group opted for a more casual venue this year to make the evening more laid back and entertaining. Above, Ken Block (with Gene Elsas and Whitney Kerr, Jr.) was the man of the night as he was awarded the Allen J. Block Realtor of the Year Award.

Brent Roberts presents Brian Bacon from Colliers Turley Martin Tucker with the Roger L. Cohen Realtor  Salesperson of the Year Award.

Bucky Brooks (above with Jennifer Jang) of First Scout Realty Advisors received the  Home Run Award for the Burns & McDonnell Headquarters office lease along with Jay Ruf, also with First Scout.  The two received  engraved baseball bats in lieu of the usual plaques!

Jon Hitchcock,  RCA-KC’s Commercial Division President, served as the Master of Ceremonies and mingled with guests, including Bob Fagan with CB Richard Ellis. Hitchcock’s humorous presentation included a google search of Ken Block, which turned up several funny items. What was that reference to Burger King anyway?

Nathan Anderson presents Russell Pearson, from Harbinger Property Group, with the Realtor Rookie of the Year Award.

KC’s Urban Land Institute chapter welcomes Troy Schulte

Acting City Manager Troy Schulte (above with MainCor executive director Diane Burnette) was the featured guest speaker at the Kansas City District Council of the Urban Land Institute’s Breakfast with Leaders event at the Kauffman Center.

Schulte talked about the city’s budget challenges, and how the city is working with the Kansas City Economic Development Corporation to increase support for retaining existing businesses. Schulte described the city’s ability to support new development projects as “hitting singles and doubles rather than home runs” due to budget limitations. He said strategic investments in infrastructure and innovative activities could enable Kansas City to continue to support private development.

Kevin Honomichl, president of BHC Rhodes, and Walt Clements, director of the Lewis White Real Estate Center at UMKC, attended the breakfast. They enjoyed listening to Schulte say that the City Planning and Development Department is focusing on a review of the development review process, and is encouraging the development community to get involved and share their perspective on how to improve city processes in support of private development.

 

Pat Daniels with The Land Source, Tim Underwood with Olathe,and Robert McKim, PGAV Architects & Planners, also attended the event along with (pictured below) Wayne Feuerborn with HNTBDan Musser with Zimmer,the ULI District Council Chair, and Marlene Nagelcommunity development director, MARC.