Monthly Archives: January 2019

Armour Hills 2018 Home Sales Recap

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Interesting year for home sales in Brookside’s Armour Hills subdivision.  So  many houses sold for way over the asking price, yet overall, value didn’t rise as much as I expected.  Let’s take a look at the stats, starting off with December figures.

Dec 2018                                                               Dec 2017

Median list price:     $276,950                        Median list price:    $269,950              

Median sales price:  $272,500                       Median sales price:  $279,000

No. of homes sold:       2                                   No. of homes sold:       4

Days on market:           65                                Days on market:         3

Here is the 2018/2017 comparison:

2018                                                                          2017

Median list price:     $315,000                          Median list price:     $314,500

Median sales price:   $315,000                         Median sales price:   $312,500

No. of homes sold:        79                                No. of homes sold:        93

Days on market:           9                                    Days on market:           7

Fewer homes sold in 2018, and home values rose just .8% compared to 2017.  Several AH homes sold last year for well over the asking price–many for $10-20K over, the highest was $38,000 above list price!  As you can see from the above list/sales price figures, most houses went under contract quickly and  closed at asking price.  Armour Hills is one of the most popular subdivisions in Brookside, and I feel demand will be strong in 2019.

Currently there are four homes listed, with a medium asking price of $364,450 and 58  days on market.

(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

 

 

 

 

Brookside’s Shop Beautiful Has Closed

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shopIt’s been a longtime Brookside shop, since 1936!  And now it’s closed.  I always admired their beautiful, eye catching window displays at 320 W 63rd St.  Shop Beautiful sold their inventory and shut the doors last week.

 Shop Beautiful is a family run small business–and this store was small, just around 800 square feet.  The service was  friendly, and browsing the jewelry, handbags, scarves, candles, artwork and other unique gifts for sale was always fun.  Like many Brookside shops, they offered free gift wrap!

Now Brookside and Waldo residents can travel to their larger store in Overland Park at 5001 W 119th St in Hawthorne Plaza.  Same helpful service and complimentary gift wrap; same selection of interesting and eye catching merch–but more of it, because the OP store is much larger.

Hopefully another locally owned shop will move into the former 63rd St location…and stay at least 83 years!

Waldo Home Sales Report-2018 Recap

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Waldo continues to be a hot neighborhood for buyers…for the second year in a row, sales prices were higher than list price.  Let’s take a look at the December stats first, single family homes in Waldo using the boundaries of State Line to Holmes and Gregory to 85th St:

December 2018                                                       December 2017

Median list price:     $220,000                        Median list price:    $164,900

Median sales price:    $220,220                     Median sales price:  $160,000

No. of homes sold:      15                               No. of homes sold:     31

Days on market:        21                                  Days on market:     38

The lowest sale was $145,000 and the highest was $246,000.  Fewer homes went under contract though, probably due to lack of desirable inventory.

Here are the 2018/2017 comparisons:

2018                                                                                        2017

Median list price:    $200,000                               Median list price:       $177,250

Median sales price:  $205,000                              Median sales price:    175,000

No. of homes sold:     369                                     No. of  homes sold:       386

Days on market:         19                                        Days on market:             13

The number of homes sold overall dropped slightly; prices were up 15%!  Many sellers are getting list price or over –demand is very strong and I think it will continue into 2019.  Waldo is a great place to live!

Currently there are 21 active single family listings in Waldo, with a median price of $234,900 and 59 days on market.

(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Brookside Home Sales Stats-2018 Recap

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I’m posting this blog a bit later than usual..just returned from a mid January vacation so I’m behind on the blogging!  After the buying frenzy that kicked off 2018, at the end of the year the stats were similar to 2017 home sales…however, prices did rise. First we will look at December stats, then YTD comparisons.  I am checking the main Brookside zip code of 64113:

Dec 2018                                                                        Dec 2017

Median list price:     $457,475                                 Medium list price:     $439,000

Median sales price:   $437,000                               Medium sales price:    $442,000

No. of homes sold:      20                                         No. of homes sold:         27

Days on market:          37                                         Days on market:           29

Several more expensive homes closed last month, including five over $500K and one of those was a $1.75 million home.  Below is the 2018/2017 comparison:

2018                                                                                    2017

Median list price:      $407,000                                     Median list price:      $395,000

Median sales price:   $398,000                                     Median sales price:   $387,250

No. of homes sold:        282                                          No. of homes sold:     296

Days on market:           18                                             Days on market:         20

The number of homes sold dropped slightly, but the days on market was virtually the same. Overall, prices were up 2.7% for the year.  Interesting, though, is the number of homes that sold over the asking price:  69 houses closed over list price, sometimes by as much as $25K!  The majority of these homes were in the under $400K price point.  The demand is for updated, well maintained homes at $350K or less.  Later this week I will post Waldo home stats–which I think will show a larger increase in home values compared to Brookside.

Currently there are 41 single family homes listed in Brookside, with a median price of $430,000 and 92 days on market.  

(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

It’s KC Restaurant Week-Make Reservations Now!

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“Where should we eat tonight?”  How often do you hear this questions?  It’s easy to fall back to those familiar locations close to home, with food and service you know. Break out of the rut!  Kansas City Restaurant Week is almost here!

restaurant week

KC Restaurant Week (January 11-20, 2019) is a citywide event, when area dining spots offer specially priced meals for lunch and dinner…and a portion of the proceeds benefit local non profit foundations.  This year, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City is the “Community Beneficiary”, along with three “destination beneficiaries”.  Stop in for lunch ($15) or dinner ($33) at a participating restaurant and you’ll get a great meal, at a discount, while helping out those local organizations.

What I like about RW is that you can scroll through the restaurants and be inspired to try someplace new! Quite often the special menus are posted at the site.  Although I’ve listed here  the participating Brookside/Waldo eateries, get out of your comfort zone and try someplace new, like Modern Farmhouse in Lenexa, Blind Box Barbecue in Shawnee or Cafe Verona in Independence. Most of the restaurants are locally owned and operated.

This year, over 195 restaurants are participating!   That’s the largest number ever.  Last year, the event raised $427,000.  This is the most boring time of year (in my opinion) …it’s easy to gather up a group of friends and have a new dining experience together. Make reservations early…many places fill up fast!

More info and menus (as they become available) at Kansas City Restaurant Week-dates again are Jan 11-20, 2019.  Here’s the list of Brookside/Waldo places offering specials :

Aixois                                                                          Red Door Woodfired Grill

Avenues Bistro                                                          Summit Grill

Brookside Barrio                                                      Waldo Pizza

Michael Forbes Bar and Grille                                The Well

Boru Ramen Bar                                                        District Pourhouse & Kitchen

Louie’s Wine Dive                                                     Summit Grill

Thank you for supporting locally owned business and KC Restaurant Week!

 

2018: It Was A Good Year for Brookside/Waldo

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Welcome to 2019!  I hope you are having a relaxing and healthy holiday season. Since this is the first blog of the year, I’m going to recap some 2018 highlights for the Brookside/Waldo area.  It was a successful twelve months for our neighborhood!

Brookside muralMany new businesses opened, and most of them are locally owned and operated. In the heart of Brookside along 63rd St, Sweet and Simple is a new edible cookie dough treat shop,  and LadyBye offers reasonably priced women’s  clothes and accessories for those interested in classic style.  Brookside Barrio and Brookside Poultry Company are two new popular eateries.    Brookside East continues to attract local  entrepreneurs, with the opening of Flying Horse Taproom, Chanee Vijay textiles, BKS Artisan Ales and Architexture Salon.  Plate plans to reopen in April at 701 E 63rd St.    Brookside also got an additional stoplight/crosswalk on 63rd by the new Starbucks, and everyone loves the new large wall mural celebrating Brookside on the north side of the CVS building.   Unfortunately, we had a couple of store closings:  Sheehan’s Irish Imports on Gregory *due to owner retiring) and Shop Beautiful will close this month as the owners focus on the Overland Park location.

There were several changes in the Waldo area as well:  Euston Hardware remodeled; Dodson’s Bar and Commons opened on Wornall just north of 75th St and Classic Cookie opened for evening dining with an Italian themed menu.  The never ending road construction along Wornall is at a temporary halt but not for long…expansive (and much needed changes) are planned for the 75th and Wornall intersection to make it more pedestrian friendly.  Next year will also see the renovation of the “Wornall Village” shopping area at the northwest corner of 85th and Wornall, starting with a revamped Price Chopper.

frontA wonderful community asset opened in 2018:  HJ’s Youth and Community Center, across from St Andrew’s church.  This space is used for community events, private receptions, classes, meetings and hosts a  small coffee shop open to everyone.  It also features a large lawn on the east side for outdoor movie nights, plus a doggie and human water station!

And what about home values?  That’s an interesting story as well.  Waldo is beating out Brookside in terms of rising home prices:  as of the end of November, Waldo home values were up 15% and Brookside saw a 3% increase.  I will report on twelve month figures later in the month when the stats are ready.  Brookside and Waldo are still very desirable locations for homebuyers.

I’m not going to make any firm predictions about this year…but I will say…. Brookside is celebrating it’s 100 year anniversary as a shopping/services/residential neighborhood.  I think both Brookside and Waldo will continue to attract local businesses and  homebuyers of all ages as we head into century 2!