Off the beaten path, but not too remote, this magnificient barndominium can be your everyday home, your weekend sanctuary or your hunting lodge. Unassuming from the outside, the wow factor does not kick in until you enter through the front doors and notice that the walls and ceilings are wood (1x8 tongue and groove pine). There is not a single panel of Sheetrock in sight. Anywhere. The towering 18' ceiling of the great room provides the wow factor. Each photo shows the hundreds of details that help you quickly arrive at the realization that this is an opportunity for an extraordinary living experience. The great room's large open space and 18-foot ceilings allow for any combination of uses you desire. The kitchen with hickory cabinets and granite countertops is in one corner, allowing you to configure furniture groupings in the rest of the room as you see fit--casual dining, formal dining, watching tv. Move the furniture to the walls and you have a sizeable dance floor. There are three bedrooms on the main level and two upstairs, all of which have mini splits. With the exception of the smallest main floor bedroom, all have large walk-in closets, some the size of a small bedroom. The upper level also has a family room with a bar, the perfect setting for entertaining after the day's activities. The garage side of the barndominium is impressive in its own right. First, there are 12' x 14' overhead doors that allow you to drive almost any vehicle, mobile home or travel trailer in one side and out the other. At 80' deep, it can accomodate all of your vehicles and equipment. There are thermostats for both the house and garage sides of the home which measure concrete and air temperatures. In the winter the garage concrete floor up to the rafters is heated. There are motion activated lights that illuminate when you enter the garage and turn off ten minutes after detecting no motion, plus high bay LED work lights. There are floor drains and a water spigot. The house has a 200-amp electric panel, the garage a 100-amp panel and there is a 50 amp RV outlet. The splits throughout the house provide summer cooling. Never run out of hot water with the tankless water heater and its 40 gallon storage tank. The boiler is powered by a 1000 gallon propane tank which is owned. The metal roof has no holes in it for venting as all pipes were directed to the outside walls. A custom design. Exceptional craftmanship. Extraordinary home built with love. Come sit under on the covered front porch to experience the best that Kansas has to offer.

It is often said, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” We say, don’t judge this home by its exterior which resembles a fortress with a 4-car garage. Built in the late 1850s with native limestone and other locally-sourced materials, this marvelous home has a rich history and holds secrets few know. It was bult by French émigré Gilbert Billard who came to the United States to escape the tyranny of the regime of French emperor Napoleon III. The Billard Airport in Oakland is named for Gilbert’s grandson, Philip Billard, who died while serving in France during World War I. There are tales of this home being used as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Escaping slaves would arrive by boat at a Kansas River dike. An underground tunnel would lead them to the basement of the house. There are two covered openings in the brick cellar walls that would support this tale. Fast forward to the year 2025 and become acquainted with the updated version of the Billard Chateau, thanks to a visionary restoration. Passing through the front door into the foyer, your eyes are feasted with the timeless elegance of a two-story spiral staircase worthy of a Hollywood period drama. Off to the left of the foyer is the room originally used as a cozy library which would make a perfect home office. Straight ahead of the foyer is the living room with period furniture, a sleek electric fireplace and a spot for your baby grand piano. Walk through to the dining room and discover the matching dining room table, chairs, china cabinet and buffet. All of this furniture remains with the home. Move onward to the kitchen and be prepared for the wow factor to kick into high gear. The term “remodeled kitchen” takes on a new definition in the Billard Chateau. Pearly white cabinets. Labradorite countertops with gorgeous flashes of iridescent blues and golds. Mother-of-pearl backspashes. Chandelier. Open what appear to be pantry doors and walk through to the chef’s kitchen with its double gas stove, laundry, multiple prep areas and access to the outside. Finally, on the first floor is the “powder room.” It is the only bath on the main floor and is roughly the size of a bedroom. This full bath with an enormous walk-in shower has multiple showerheads that give the vibe of a weekend getaway at an expensive spa. Up the spiral staircase to the four 2nd floor bedrooms. The primary suite has a full bath that rivals the powder room. Appointed with a clawfoot soaking tub, marble double vanity and oversized walk-in shower, it feels indulgent. There are three other bedrooms, one with an enormous closet. The hall bath is equally elegant. The attic is finished as one large room with LVT and a mini-split. Envision it as very clean storage, a hobby room or just a place to relax far away from everyone else. The basement is unfinished, very clean and home to an old stone fireplace. In addition to the utility room and family room, there are two other rooms that would function as very clean storage or a wine cellar. Be sure to look for the slate “B” on the floor in front of the family room fireplace and the wood door with steps leading up to the outside which may have been used as the way out for Underground Railroad visitors. In an older home you expect hardwood flooring and period details. With the Billard Chateau you have not only hardwood flooring and awesome period details, you gain your own Castle on the Kaw on 2.11 acres with river-front views and modern conveniences (including a whole house generator) all bundled up with a storied past. Whether the Billard Chateau ultimately becomes your home, your weekend retreat or your bed and breakfast, you will feel as though you have stepped back in time to an era of elegance, craftsmanship and grandeur. With a dash of modern convenience added, of course.

There is so much to love about this home. It is located in the Auburn-Washburn school district in a nice neighborhood not too far from the shopping, restaurants and grocery stores of the Wanamaker corridor. Built in 1976, the home has the typical closed floor plan of that era with separate living, dining and family rooms, all on the main floor along with the laundry in a separate room. The main floor also has three bedrooms and 2 full baths. The basement has a large rec room, full bath and huge unfinished area for storage. The lot is almost a half-acre and the backyard is fenced to keep your pets safe. Perhaps the most fun fact about the home is its exterior architectural lighting, which is customizable, cloud-enabled and able to be set with multiple timers. Cruise down Arvonia Place after dark and enjoy the homes that have installed these lights. Home security with a festive twist!

Searching for an affordable home under $200,000? Search no more as this 4 bedroom, 2 bath home has arrived. Located in the ever-popular Randolph Elementary School District, it is near Collins Park and offers three bedrooms plus a basement bonus room. The top floor primary bedroom is a roomy 33' x 11' with a full bath. Although the home is updated, it still retains its charm with hardwood flooring and a covered front porch. All kitchen appliances remain with the home. A few of the amenities are a fully fenced back yard for the safety of your furry friends, RV wiring and a 50-year roof.

This five-year-old mobile home sits on Lot 271 in the Meadowood Mobile Estates where lot rent is currently $530 per month and the Alert 360 security system is an additional $68 per month. The lot rent includes trash, swimming pool, club house, playground, scheduled activities and other many other amenities. Pets are welcome, with restrictions. The buyer must be preapproved by Meadowood Mobile Estates before submitting an offer. Throughout the home you will find easy to maintain LVT. The primary bedroom has an en suite with low threshold shower. The combo kitchen/living room is a spacious 29'x15'. Meadowood Mobile Estates is near businesses and restaurants on North Topeka Boulevard, plus has quick access to Highway 24 and the Goodyear Plant.