Hot, fast, and increasingly expensive is a pretty accurate summary of Lawrence’s housing market in July. Home sales were up by nearly 13% in July, while the median selling price was up by 18% compared to the same month a year ago. Historically-low mortgage rates certainly are playing a part in the rising number of home sales. Rising prices, however, are being greatly influenced by a trend that Realtors have been pointing to for months now — a low supply of homes on the market. In July there were 144 active listings on the market. That was down from 286 — almost a 50% drop — from July 2019, and down 247 in July 2018. “Supply of available homes in Lawrence is critically low,” Ryan Desch, president of the Lawrence Board of Realtors, said in the group’s recently-released monthly report.
Read more: LJworld.com.

People are typically surprised to learn that women in Kansas received the right to vote in all elections — state and federal — in 1912, eight years prior to the 19th amendment, which guaranteed women nationwide the right to vote. That’s according to Diana Carlin, a former University of Kansas professor who taught courses on Kansas women’s suffrage for over 20 years. “We were way ahead of the game,” she said. In 1867, Kansas was the first state to hold a referendum on women’s suffrage. In 1887, Kansas became the first state to grant women municipal suffrage. And it was the first state to elect a female mayor: Susanna Madora Salter.
Read more: LJWorld.com.

City leaders will soon consider adopting new regulations for short-term rentals where the property owner lives elsewhere that aim to correct concerns regarding the city’s original permitting process. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider adopting a new ordinance for whole-home Airbnb and other short-term rentals that includes restrictions that aim to prevent a concentration of such rentals in residential neighborhoods, among other limitations. The new proposal comes after the commission rejected a plan earlier this year that more broadly allowed for such rentals. This is the second time the commission will consider the licensing regulations this year. In February, the commission voted unanimously to reject the first proposal from city staff that more broadly allowed whole-home rentals and asked staff to bring back a proposal with stricter limitations on the concentration of such rentals.
Source: LJWorld.com.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.