Mary Welch-Broker, Owner

UNDER CONTRACT-Anthony, Harper County  -  Announcing a price reduction on 215 N Kansas, a 1,737 sq. ft., 2 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story. Now MLS® $29,900 - Reduced!.

Property information

• 1,128 sq. ft., 1 bath, 3 bdrm single story "Ranch style" - $27,900

Harper, Harper County  -  Bank owned home needing some tlc. Home will be sold as is. No warranties implied. Call agent to see.

Was under contract before and inspection found furnace, ac unit and water heater did not work so was removed from property. Also garage door was removed to secure the property.

Back on market, priced to sell quick.

Property information

When a person decides that they are ready to buy or sell property, especially with selling, you have to ready yourself by making an emotional decision. First you have to determine if you can really walk away from your home. Typically what helps you do this is the fact that job or family is impelling you to make that decision.

But as a buyer, how do you need to be emotionally ready? Glad you asked. You have to go into your next home purchase like it is a business deal, because it is. Emotionally you may view having children and raising them in this new home, you can see where your Christmas tree will fit in the new place. You strategically place your furniture and maybe also plan to buy more to fill your new place. You get emotionally involved in that house, as you plan on making it your home.

But are you emotionally ready? Is this the one? Are you sure? Are you ready to commit to this house? Are you ready to work through the possible repair hassles with the seller. Are you ready to get your lender everything he needs to insure that the timeline of the contract is adhered to?

There is alot to getting ready to buy. But after you have signed that legally binding contract, you must commit to doing your part to see it through. You must be willing to sometimes negotiate, price, repairs and sometimes the sellers personal property. It takes maturity. It takes committment. Like a marriage. You don't get engaged and then go look at who else is out there. Just like you don't make a committment to purchase a house but continue to look at houses.

You go into your purchase as a mature adult, taking on the responsibility to try to get what you want, but also endeavoring to be fair and reasonable. You must realize that you are not an expert when it comes to repairs. You need to rely on qualified, licensed people to determine things like the condition of the roof, plumbing, electrical..etc. The list can go on.

You need to rely on a REALTOR with enough years of experience, to advise you on things you don't understand. It is our job to help you understand the process and work through it like adults. Things can be negotiated if everyone keeps their cool and their intentions are the same, to come to a mutually acceptable agreement.

If at any time, during the process, it gets personal, then you have gone off track and need to get back on track with the same resolve and committment to be reasonable and fair and see it to its natural conclusion....which in real estate...is closing day.

If you find the process emotionally draining, then you have let emotions run you and your decisions during this process. Get back on track.

But, also if you find you are not ready to buy because you just aren't ready for the committment it will take to maintain a home, then don't contract to buy. Keep renting. Let your landlord maintain his property for you. You may not be emotionally ready. Be honest with yourself. That is always a good place to start.

Don't wait until after you have contracted to buy a house, to decide you are in over your head.

This article is unpublished at this posting and the writer, David Slaughter II, writes for the Harper County Herald and he gave me permission to post this recent article he wrote. I have enjoyed being neighbors with the Konkels on 160 for years and enjoyed this so wanted to share it here.

     Of all the businesses along Highway 160 in Harper, there resides a place where travelers and locals alike can come in, get something good to eat, and be treated like a friend. And, even if you don’t favor one of the many Kansas collegiate sports teams, like K-State or KU, it doesn’t matter. You are always invited to eat at the Country Creamery.

            The Country Creamery is a family operated business with Jim and Mary Elen Konkel as owners. But, don’t let their titles as owners concern you, because they are right in the middle of the needed operations and hospitality that make this business just as successful today as when it began 23 years ago.

Ye ole History

            Jim Konkel began his life in the restaurant business while living in Kingman, Kansas in his early years. At that time, he worked for his father, who owned the Hub Café. And, after Jim’s father retired from the business after fifteen years, he passed a legacy to his son and the Hub Café continued to thrive.

            “When I took over”, said Jim. “I already knew the ins and outs of the business, which helped with future businesses- including the Creamer. I kept the Hub running for seventeen more years after my father left it to me.”

            When Jim and his wife, Mary Ellen, moved to Harper, they had not come without existing prospects. Not only did Jim operate the Hub Café in Kingman, but they also had another business in their new home town. It was and remains known as the Country Creamery.

            “We began the Creamery 23 years ago”, reflected Jim. “I remember because Mary was still pregnant with our son.”

            Even with the Creamery beginning in the late 1980s, Jim and Mary Ellen didn’t move to run solely this Harper establishment until the 1990s.

            The history of the Country Creamery itself is an interesting one. And, not just because of who currently owns the business. The building has been a gas station, a sandwich shop, and even a previous restaurant, known as the French Roll.

            “When I bought the building, it was known as the French Roll. At that time, the building was smaller, consisting of this room (known as the Old Dining Room) and part of the neighboring room (which serves as the ice cream foyer).”

            When the Konkels took over, they immediately set out to expand the small establishment, which now has a seating capacity of 100. Included in the renovation is a much larger room, known as the New Dining Room. As for the Old Dining Room, it now serves as a dedication to the three colleges the Konkels’ children attended- Kansas State, Kansas University, and Fort Hays State.

            Pointing to a small single booth resting high on a platform within the Old Dining Room is a room dedicated solely to the KU Jayhawks (which Jim and Mary are avid fans of). According to Jim, “There will be young people who will come in and see that one room. And, it is funny. If it is occupied, the kids will actually wait for that one room to open.”

Family Atmosphere

            Whether your last name is Smith, Johnson, Jones, or whatever, if you visit the Country Creamery, you can expect to be treated more like family than as a customer. As such, Mr. Jim (as Jim is referred to by everyone) is making up the good food along side his kitchen staff and Mary Ellen is hosting and serving along side daughter Kimberly and other wait staff on shift.

            Mary Ellen loves to converse with those who walk the floors of the Creamery and takes the time to, not only ask how someone is, but also gives genuine interest to travelers who have stopped in for something good from the menu. Kimberly, who came to work with her parents after college, is similar to her mother in making people from all over feel welcome. But, always a show stealer is Mr. Jim, who amusingly says he is often the center of attention. However, perhaps that may be a bit overstating.

            As strangers come from miles around, including Harper, Anthony, Argonia, Attica, Kingman, and even from Wichita, the Konkel family and the Country Creamery are always glad to have them come. As for those who work for the Creamery, whether related or not, the atmosphere for them is just as admirable. In fact, during the interview with Jim, one kitchen cook had just ended her shift and came to let Jim know she would be back the next day for work. Jim beckoned the employee to him, to which the young lady responded. Motioning, as if he had a secret only for her, she bent toward her boss. And, not making it completely secret, Jim said in a loud whisper, “I’ll see you tomorrow”, which was a repeat of what the worker had originally said to Jim before hand.

            The family business and friendly atmosphere has kept people coming back time and time again. Of course, having a great menu selection always helps, and in the case of the Country Creamery, this is certainly what you will find. Jim describes what one will find in the decorative menus as “eclectic”.

“It offers southwest or Mexican. Sandwiches. Desserts. Menu is dedicated with single pages for each style of food. We have Italian, including spaghetti and fettuccini Alfredo. Salad bar. 16 different kinds of hamburgers. Most people who eat here say the Mr. Jim burger is the best one we offer. It is half-turkey and half-ham with selected cheese. I called it that because if it is good for Mr. Jim, it is good for them.”

            Country Creamery is opened Tuesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 8 PM. It is located at 123 E. 14th Street in Harper. 14th Street is also known as Highway 160. And, while people do venture to Harper and pay visits to the Creamery, Mr. Jim says, “I am waiting for the Casinos to open up in Wichita and Wellington because it will be a big shot in the arm because of the highway traffic going and coming to there.”

Wikipedia's definition of the pace car "pace car or "safety car" is a car which limits the speed of competing cars on a racetrack in the case of a caution period such as an obstruction on the track. During a caution period the safety car enters the track ahead of the leader. Competitors are not allowed to pass the safety car or other competitors during a caution period, and the safety car leads the field at a pre-determined safe speed, which may vary by series and circuit. At the end of the caution period, the safety car leaves the track and the competitors may resume racing."

There are down times in any business. Fact. But if you remember what your thoughts and goals were when you started, you will never find yourself behind the pace car. The pace car sets the speed. You can't do anything but keep up. At that time, you aren't in the lead nor are you gaining anything, you are just maintaining until you can break out of the crowd and resume racing and win the race.

Business is like this if you allow it to be. If you choose to follow the pace car and never take a challenge and venture out, you will be caught on the same track as those just keeping up. Sometimes opportunities come and people will jump into it full heartedly wanting to succeed. But you see them not doing anything any different that anyone else. Just behind the pace car. They don't go the extra mile to make sure they stand out from the crowd. I'm thinking they never really thought the plan through. They just thought everything happens by osmosis. Kind of the build it and they will come way of thinking. It doesn't work that way.

Work is work. Planning for success is hard work. It takes drive. It takes resolve. It takes a committment. How many times have I heard a new person thinking of going into business and this is their thought process. "I'm going to TRY this or that." TRY? Then give up now, because if you are just going to TRY something, it will never work. You will find that you can't get anyone else excited about your business venture either if you are not committed to it.

When you made that big decision to get married, were part of your vows "I will try to live with this person". Of course not, hopefully you made a committment, the same is true for business. You make a committment to make it work. You don't sit behind the pace car waiting for an opportunity to break out of the crowd. You break out of the crowd. YOU take the initiative. YOU commit, YOU resolve YOU will make it work. Could it fail? Yes. Would that make you a failure? No.

I've been around business all my life. I've seen success. I've seen failure. But, I have never seen failure in people who committed, were driven, and weren't afraid to launch out ahead of the pace car.

It really is mind over matter.

Mary Welch-Broker/Owner Preferred Choice Realty

1403 Central

Harper, Ks. 67058

I do not forward any information until I have the truth from reliable sources. Truth is, you may have heard that the tax credit will go on until end of September of this year for first time home buyer's. This is not true. Here are the facts from Luke Bell, Vice President of Governmental Affairs with the Kansas Association of REALTORS.

KAR Special Notice   Over the past few weeks, you may have seen several articles in the media that the United States Senate had extended the closing deadline to qualify for the $8,000 first-time homebuyers’ tax credit and the $6,000 homebuyers’ tax credit.  Unfortunately, these media reports have been premature and no legislation has been passed by Congress that modifies the closing deadline for the homebuyers’ tax credits.  For the time being, you should notify your clients and customers and proceed with the knowledge that the closing deadline for the homebuyers’ tax credits will continue to be June 30, 2010. As you will recall, an individual must have entered into a binding written contract on the home prior to April 30, 2010.  Once that requirement was satisfied, that individual had until June 30, 2010 to complete the closing on the purchase.  If the home is not closed prior to 11:59 PM on June 30, 2010, then that individual will not be eligible to claim the homebuyers’ tax credit.  The amendment to the statute (which has not been approved by Congress) would extend that closing deadline until 11:59 PM on September 30, 2010.   The National Association of REALTORS® is actively pursing all available options with senior Congressional staff to secure passage of legislation that would extend the closing deadline for the homebuyers’ tax credits to September 30, 2010.  However, it is uncertain at this time whether those efforts will ultimately be successful.  If Congress does extend the closing deadline for the homebuyers’ tax credits, we will be sending you immediate notification.  In closing, please be aware that nothing has changed for the time being and the current closing deadline for the homebuyers’ tax credits remains at June 30, 2010.

Under remodel

• 1,743 sq. ft., 2 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story "Bath on both levels" - MLS® $79,900

Harper, Harper County  -  Two story, 3 bed, 2 bath, bath on both levels. New, new, new. Kitchen cabinets with self closing drawers, new sink, countertops, floor, total remodeled kitchen, comes with all new appliances. Formal dining, eating bar, large living room with new carpet, exposed wood floor in formal dining. Bay window, pocket doors, this home has lots of vintage charm even with all the upgrades.

Master on second level, all bedrooms have large walk-in closets.

New HVAC system. Agent owned. Call Broker for showings.

Property information