Rodrock Development’s strong start shows 2015 has much in store

There’s nothing like the revitalized energy the start of the new year provides, and these first few months have been no exception for Rodrock Development. The year started off with a number of exciting happenings, contests and a surge in sales that point to strong home sales in the coming months.

The overwhelming mood at Rodrock’s Realtor Appreciation Breakfast on Jan. 29 at the Overland Park Marriott definitely mirrors that outlook. Some 600 realtors, builders and bankers gathered at the breakfast to enjoy good food, great company and some outstanding prizes from a very thankful Darol Rodrock. The breakfast’s theme was “The Rodrock Express,” and attendees were encouraged to “Get on board!”

At the gathering, the one message that was repeated — to much fanfare — was the news that 2015 is getting off to a strong start. Between the recovering economy, low interest rates and a broadening homebuyer base, developments are already seeing high traffic, even though spring has not yet sprung.

It’s a sentiment that Ann Knickrehm of Stonebridge Meadows echoed. “We’ve seen a big influx this January. Many said they were busy this past fall and winter getting their homes ready to put on the market just after the first of the year, in order to beat the spring rush. And their timing is great: We have a number of new home sites, available this spring. And currently, we have daylight and cul-de-sac home sites available.”

“At Forest View, we’re experiencing a strong start to the New Year,” agreed Bruce Stout, a Rodrock Development agent with new home sales experience of more than 20 years. “The number of clients touring our properties has progressively increased week by week since the turn of the calendar, and sales remained strong throughout January; all wonderful indications that the new construction market is strong and vibrant. With the recent break in the weather, our builders have really ramped up production preparing for a strong spring market.”

In fact, according to the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Economic Forecast, prospects are brightening for the Kansas City area as a whole. “The region’s improving rate of job growth is occurring at a time when Greater Kansas City is experiencing a reduction of the percentage of the labor force that is unemployed similar to the nation,” reads the report. “When these two trends are combined, this is expected to put upward pressure on incomes and wages. As a result, total real personal income of residents of the Kansas City metropolitan area is expected to increase even faster than the region’s real economic output.”

In turn, the report says, the construction and real estate industries are also “forecast to experience significant employment growth as the housing market continues to recover in the wake of improving consumer confidence and finances. Increased home buying will spur employment increases in the real estate industry … [and] … construction activity will also increase.”

Just how strong a start to 2015 is the housing market seeing? Rodrock Development doubled its January sales numbers over the same period in 2014. And indications imply that February will continue in the same vein, in particular thanks to the new First Thursdays promotion.

During First Thursdays, the co-op community can tour any Rodrock community on the first Thursday of every month for a chance to win $1,000. Simply visit whatever homes the Rodrock community agents opt to put on the tour and enter your business card in a random drawing for the month. The more communities toured, the greater the chance of winning (only one entry per community). First Thursdays are a wonderful chance to see what new inventory each development has to showcase, all while earning a chance to win a fantastic cash prize.

“At the recent Realtor Appreciation Breakfast, I encouraged everyone to ‘get on board,’ because my vision for the future in our industry is very bright,” added Rodrock. “I look for a rapid increase in the new home sales and a lot of exciting new product. I am thrilled to live and work in this beautiful county, and it has been such a privilege for me to provide communities for families to grow and build happy memories with their loved ones.”

Needless to say, Rodrock Development is eagerly anticipating all that 2015 has to offer. Between the abundant energy found at the Realtor Appreciation Breakfast, promising economic forecasts and record-breaking January sales, 2015 is clearly the time to see all that Rodrock Developments have to offer.

For more information, visit Rodrock.com.

This story was originally published February 13, 2015 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Rodrock Development’s strong start shows 2015 has much in store."