The Wichita area ranks 27th nationally in a survey of nationwide housing affordability.  A study performed by the National Association of Home Builders, Wells Fargo and Forbes magazine indicates that 91% of homes in the Wichita area are affordable for families earning the median income of $62,900.  Wichita ranks 24 spots ahead of Oklahoma City on the affordability list.  Kansas City didn't make the top 60.

Today, the Wichita Eagle published the most recent compilation of Grading Our Schools for public school districts in Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties.  Some parochial schools and other private schools also participated in the survey.  Standardized test score results for Math and Reading have been summarized for years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.  Below are the detailed test results sorted by school and by year for various grade levels.  In a separate blog entry, you will find test results summarized by school district, by year for various grade levels.   For additional details, visit http://projects.kansas.com/schools.

Today, the Wichita Eagle published the most recent compilation of "Grading Our Schools".  This is a summary of standardized test score results for students in public school districts in Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties as well as some private and parochial schools.  Data is presented for Math and Reading results for several grade levels and comparative data is included for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.  Below is summary of 2009 test results by school district.  Further detail is also available at  http://projects.kansas.com/schools . 

The Business Today section of The Wichita Eagle's January 12 edition includes a feature article on Homes Giving Hope and the program's efforts to make a difference in our community.  To read the entire article entitled "Sales commissions help others", please visit http://www.kansas.com/business/real-estate/story/1132572.html .

Below is a summary of financial gifts provided to HGH charities during the first year of the Homes Giving Hope program.  I want to thank each of my clients for the opportunity to serve them.  HGH gifts in 2009 have totaled $5,835 and these gifts are making a difference for people in need.

Thank you to everyone who participated in today's Food Drive.  We were fortunate to have so many very generous contributions.  We collected a great variety of food as well as diapers, wipes and other baby supplies.  Many of the items in the Kansas Food Bank's list of "Most Needed Items" were provided by you today.  Below is a photo taken today of your donations being delivered to the Food Bank.  Thanks again for Making A Difference this Christmas Season!

One month from today, December 5, 2009, Homes Giving Hope will be sponsoring a Food Drive to benefit the Kansas Food Bank.  To participate, interested families should email brad@HomesGivingHope.com or call Brad at 393-2001 and your home will be added to the collection route. Homeowners should place non-perishable food items on their front porch by 9:00am on December 5.  Student volunteers from Andover Middle School and Andover High School will be collecting the food that morning and delivering it to the Food Bank in the afternoon.  Below you will find a list provided by the Kansas Food Bank of the Most Needed Food Items.  THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON!!!

Recently, my wife Dawn and I, along with our sons Ryan and Cale, were able to deliver our first Homes Giving Hope donations to the Kansas Food Bank.  Brian Walker, Executive Director of the Kansas Food Bank, accepted the gift of nearly $800 and gave us a tour of the Food Bank.  Thank you to Michael and Andrea Gragert and Bart and Rhonda Hildreth for selecting the Food Bank for the HGH gift.  Below is an article in a recent edition of Second Helpings (the Kansas Food Bank newsletter) that discusses the Homes Giving Hope program and donation to the Food Bank.

On Tuesday, October 27, my wife Dawn, daughter Hayley and I had the opportunity to make a presentation to the Board of Directors at Rainbows United.  The purpose of our visit was to thank the staff and the Board of Rainbows for all the great work they do to help children challenged with physical and developmental disabilities.  We also presented a Homes Giving Hope gift to the Rainbows United Foundation on behalf of clients Brett and Amy Foster, Sid and Cindy Anderson and Benham and Holly Bahr.  Thank you to all of my clients who help make gifts like this possible.

As many of you know by now, Homes Giving Hope actively supports a number of charitable organizations.  Below are properties recently purchased or sold that resulted in donations to HGH charities:

          6920 E. Perryton      5018 E. Ashton         2411 N. 159th St.         

   1040 N. Woodridge      913 Lost Hills Ct.      714 Crescent Lakes

   14201 Wentworth        8213 E. Castle            2426 N. Peckham

2018 Crooked Pine         215 S. Fairway            347 Greenvalley

   14800 Summerfield      2133 E. Bayley        2415 N. Spring Hollow

1549 N. Rocky Creek   1915 Quail Crossing     4802 N. Marblefalls

4500 N. Glendale

The Wichita Area Association of Realtors released third quarter sales data earlier today.  The total number of sales in third quarter 2009 was 13% lower than in third quarter 2008. This represents an improvement from the first 6 months of the year.   For the period January 2009 through September 2009, 6,337 homes have been sold compared to 7,985 homes during the same 9 month period in 2008.  This represents a YTD decrease of 21% from 2008.    

This afternoon, I had the opportunity to meet with Marilyn Manweiler, Executive Director of Choices Medical Clinic, and present our second gift of this year to Choices.  Marilyn, along with Choices Ambassador Pastor Joe Wright, both expressed tremendous gratitude for the gifts from Homes Giving Hope.  Thank you to my clients Peter and Tram Hickman for allowing Homes Giving Hope to support Choices Medical Clinic.   

Today, Camp Barnabas received its first gift from Homes Giving Hope.  As you can see by clicking on the HGH Details tab, Camp Barnabas is a Christian camp in a beautiful setting designed to give disabled children and young adults exciting opportunities that they might otherwise never experience.   Thank you to Tyson and Karen Blackburn for selecting Camp Barnabas for a Homes Giving Hope gift.

Clients continue to recognize and appreciate the humanitarian aid and emergency relief work done around the world by Samaritan's Purse.  Today, Homes Giving Hope was able to make its third gift of 2009 to Samaritan's Purse.  Thank you to Adam and Juliana Crane for selecting an organization that does great things to meet the physical and spiritual needs of so many people around the world.

A recent study by the Washingon-based Tax Foundation indicates that Sedgwick County's property tax burden, by any measure, is lower than most other large counties in Kansas including Johnson, Wyandotte, Shawnee, Douglas and Riley.  In Sedgwick County, property taxes as a percentage of home value is approximately 1.2%.  The highest property taxes in the group were in Wyandotte County followed by Shawnee County.  Sedgwick County, Johnson County and Douglas County property taxes, on average, were very similar.