Author Archives: Mary Hutchison

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About Mary Hutchison

Every day I'm driving around my cherished neighborhood of Brookside (and Waldo)...observing what's going on, watching new businesses move in and out, and touring homes (I'm a Realtor with Weichert Realtors). Starting this blog about Brookside/Waldo is a way I thought I could promote the area and spark some discussion about what's happening here...and what's going to happen. Your comments are welcome.

German Christmas Market in Brookside This Weekend

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This is the weekend for the annual Kristkindl Market at the KC United Church of Christ in Brookside.  Such a family fun event–and no charge to get in!

Events start Friday Dec 6, 2019 at 5 and run till 9pm; or stop in Saturday from 10am-7pm.  Enjoy live music, German food, crafts and gifts for sale and every kids’ favorite part: the gingerbread house making area! My two girls loved making their little houses–such a fond memory for the family.   Location is at the church, 205 W 65th St., at 65th St at Brookside Road.  Note this church is in a residential area, with narrow streets.  Walking to the site is best or if you must drive, plan on parking a few streets away. 

Happy holidays to all–celebrate in Brookside!!

Kristkindl market

 

Shop Small in Brookside & Waldo on Saturday

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shop smallIf you are planning on starting your holiday shopping this weekend…why fight the crowds at the mall?  Shop Small in Brookside and Waldo–as this Saturday is Small Business Saturday!  

Supporting our locally owned retail and service shops keeps the profits in our community.  Quite often you will find friendly service, free gift wrap and unique items to purchase.  It’s easy to stroll the streets, stopping in to browse and find that special something for everyone on your list:  a gift card for a meal, special sweater for a pet, stocking stuffers, holiday decor, colorful scarf or sports gear for the outdoor friends.  In addition, we have a few new shops this year to check out.

Once again, participating Waldo merchants are offering stamps on your “passport” to earn free Waldo bucks at the end of your shopping day.  Details are at www.waldokc.org.

Enjoy holiday shopping by kicking it off in Brookside and Waldo on Saturday Nov 30!

Armour Hills Home Sales Report – Oct 2019

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I’ve already report October home sales stats for Brookside and Waldo–both areas down a bit from Oct 2018. But not Armour Hills–my neighborhood going up up up this year!  It is a much smaller sample of homes than Waldo and Brookside (and of course, Armour Hills included in the Brookside numbers) but still an indication of how desirable this area is for home buyers.  Here are the stats:

October 2019                                                October 2018

Median list price:     $349,950                   Median list price:     $317,000

Median sales price:    $340,000                 Median sales price:   $310,750

No. of homes sold:        7                             No. of homes sold:     12

Days on market:          42                             Days on market:         3

The reason the days on market was so much longer this year is that one Armour Hills home that was on the market well over six months finally closed.  Checking year-to-date numbers:

Jan-Oct 2019                                                      Jan-Oct 2018

Median list price:     $346,250                        Median list price:     $315,000

Median sales price:   $342,500                       Median sales price:    $315,750

No. of homes sold:     76                                   No. of homes sold:      74

Days on market:         14                                   Days on market:         9

Compared to last year, Armour Hills home values are up just over 8% so far this year.  The lowest closed sale so far is $241,000 and the highest is $500,000.  Currently there are six active listings, ranging from $339,900 to $529,000 and 11 days on market.  

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

 

 

Waldo Home Sales Report-Oct 2019

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Hello neighbors!  Waldo home sales have been on a steep incline this year…October figures show a decline in value compared to last year!  But it’s a fluke–overall, numbers are up year to date.  Here are the details, using the Waldo street boundaries of State Line to Holmes, Gregory to 85th St:

October 2019                                                     October 2018

Median list price:     $179,900                        Median list price:     $225,000

Median sales price:   $176,500                       Median sales price:  $216,750

No. of homes sold:     30                                   No. of homes sold:      32

Days on market:        15                                    Days on market:        25

The lowest closed price last month was $130,000 and the highest was $427,000.  

Below are the year-to-date numbers:

Jan-Oct 2019                                                      Jan-Oct 2019

Median list price:     $220,000                       Median list price:      $200,000

Median sales price:   $217,000                      Median sales price:   $205,000

No. of homes sold:     299                               No. of homes sold:       345

Days on market:         8                                  Days on market:          19

Waldo home prices are 5.8% higher this year, although fewer homes have sold–probably due to a lack of inventory.  Currently there are 36 active single family homes for sale in Waldo, with a median list price of $219,000 and 19 days on market.  The lowest asking price is $47,000 and the highest is $525,000.

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

Brookside Home Sales Report-Oct 2019

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Home sales are slowing down as the holidays get closer–very typical trend for the housing market.  Right now in Brookside, more than half the homes for sale are priced over $500,000–several over one million dollars.  Let’s check the numbers for single family home sales, using the main Brookside zip code of 64113:

October 2019                                                      October 2018

Median list price:     $357,450                         Median list price:     $429,000

Median sales price:   $346,500                        Median sales price:   $430,000

No. of homes sold:       20                                 No. of homes sold:     26

Days on market:          24                                   Days on market:          3

That’s quite a drop in the median sales price but remember, we have such a huge range of prices in Brookside, when more expensive homes sell, the median price rises.  The highest closed sale last month was $911,500 and the lowest was $248,400.

Here are the year-to-date stats:

Jan-Oct 2019                                                         Jan-Oct 2018

Median list price:     $385,000                           Median list price:     $399,975

Median sales price:  $376,000                           Median sales price:    $394,500

No. of homes sold:      255                                 No. of homes sold:      250

Days on market:          21                                    Days on market:        15

Overall, median prices have dropped 4.6% compared to this time last year, however I think the year end totals will show an increase overall.  There are 36 active single family listings in Brookside, with a median list price of $527,000 and 58 days on  market.  Most of the homes are priced at $500K or above; ten are over $1,000,000. The most expensive listing is $7.7 million on the 1200 block of W 55th St–comes with a huge estate lot, a tennis court and pool..oh if only the walls could tell stories about that place!

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

Holiday Shopping Specials All Weekend in Brookside

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Brookside season opener

Shop local!  It’s one of the best parts of living in Brookside and Waldo…so many locally owned shops and services, supported by the nearby residents and neighbors.  This weekend is the annual Brookside Holiday Season Opener–a chance for you to start shopping early while taking advantage of special discounts!

To get you in the spirit, festivities start Thursday Nov 14, 2019 at 5pm.  Stop by the Bank Midwest Plaza (63rd and Brookside) and pick up some refreshments while enjoying the Border Star Elementary School Choir and the tree lighting at 6:30.  Shops will be open late till 8pm.

Special deals continue through the weekend with many merchants offering discounts on food and gifts.  Check out the Brookside website for details.  

Shopping hours during the Brookside Holiday Season Opener are Thursday 5-8pm, Friday and Saturday from 10-6 and Sunday from 12-5.  Get your list together and spend some time in Brookside this weekend shopping the deals and supporting our local businesses!

New Salon “Moonshot Hair Co” Opens in Waldo

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Is it time to get your hair cut?  Perhaps a fresh style for the holiday parties ahead or “just the usual” in a relaxed environment, surrounded by local artwork?  If you’d like a new experience, check out Waldo’s new salon Moonshot Hair Company, located at 7108 Wornall. 

moonshot staff

Owner Brooke Smith on the right; Shana Lee on the left

Owner Brooke Smith has over twenty years of experience working with men and women’s hair.  After working at other local salons for ten years, she decided to open her own shop.  “It was a natural progression” she explained when I stopped by recently.  “I wanted to run my own place, and I wanted a gender neutral shop—where everyone feels welcome.  And I love my Brookside/Waldo clientele—it’s a family oriented area that supports local businesses”.  Brooke is an expert working with all kinds of men’s hair, including facial hair, and is especially proud of her association with Sporting KC and the Kansas City Royals.  A longtime Royals fan, she was determined to cut one of the player’s hair.  She  got  her chance with Drew Butera in 2014—who loved her work and spread the word in the clubhouse.  As her reputation grew, so did her sports clientele.  She’s also a national educator for the 18.21 Man Made line of products. 

moonshot inteririorBaseball and JKF inspired the name of her shop as well:  “moonshot” is the term for a really high hit home run, and Kennedy’s speech with the line “we choose to go to the moon in this decade not because it will be easy, but because it will be hard” resonates with Smith.  “I wanted a challenge, and am inspired to succeed”.  Sharing her passion for this work is Shana Lee, who moved to Kansas City from Los Angeles a year ago—and is so dedicated to her California clients that she flies back once a month to take care of them!

Moonshot Hair Co. has it’s grand opening tomorrow, Thursday November 7 from 7-9pm –stop in!  There’s a raffle benefiting the Veterans Community Project  for a years’ worth of free haircuts, plus live music, food and giveaways.  And if you’d like to stop by for a haircut, you can make an appointment through the website.  The salon is located at 7108 Wornall, just south of Louie’s Wine Dive.

moonshot hair front

Trick or Treat in Brookside Today!

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trick or treat

It’s the annual Trick or Treat Street in Brookside…happening today from 4-6pm along 63rd St between Wornall and Oak.

Shops and merchants will be handing out candy and goodies for all neighborhood kids…and their parents!  Please be aware this area of 63rd St will be very busy with pedestrians later this afternoon–try to avoid the area if possible.  Be very careful if you must drive through! And if you want to watch the parade of trick or treaters–just walk over and admire all the clever costumes and cute kiddies.

Thank you for supporting our locally owned Brookside and Waldo businesses!

Welcome “Jorgy” to the Brookside Shops!

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Jorjy

Jorjy in the Brookside shops

Brookside’s favorite baby shop Lauren Alexandra has a sibling!  Located right next door, it’s called Jorjy, a “thoughtful furnishings and giftables” store.  Owner Pamela DiCapo decided to open Jorjy after getting so many requests to supply furnishings and decorate rooms other than a nursery.  Jorjy, named after a much loved family dog, opened in September in the former Shop Beautiful space at 320 W 63rd St.

 

j wallStep inside Jorjy and you’ll find attractive art prints, pillows, bedding, jewelry, books, accessories and a large selection of  barware.  Pamela also carries a fabric and wallpaper line exclusive to this store, and plans to start a wedding registry.  After the success of Lauren Alexandra, she explains this next venture “was a natural progression.  I felt there was a void on the marketplace.  I love designing and collecting  beautiful home products”.  This shop is perfect for picking up something unique and special for yourself—or as a gift.

 

j pam

Jorjy owner Pamela DiCapo

At one time, Pamela was a real estate agent..but she always had a knack for home design.  She pondered being a talk show host or starting a mail order catalog.  After finding a small wood craftsman to create a table and chairs for her children, she decided to open a children’s boutique.  Her Brookside store was featured in the Kansas City Star and a Designers Showhouse…and sales took off.  That was 25 years ago!  She’s kept the business going despite the recession and internet competition.  “Brookside residents are incredibly loyal to the retail stores and restaurants here, and there’s a real comraderie with the other shop owners.  We are all very supportive of each other”.  At Jorjy, she’s added a full time designer besides herself and can decorate/redesign any room in a home.

Jorjy is open seven days a week, in the heart of the Brookside shops.  Don’t miss the beautiful window display as you stroll along 63rd St!  You can reach Pamela at hello@shopjorjy.com or check out the instagram page:  @shopjorjy.

j bedding

Waldo Home Sales Report – Sept 2019

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Wonderful Waldo gets it’s nickname not only from the many eclectic, locally owned shops and eateries–also for it’s wide variety of housing stock!  Last month the lowest closed price was $65,000 and the highest was $403,500.  Let’s look at the stats:

September 2019                                         September 2018

Median list price:     $210,000                Median list price:     $195,000

Median sales price:   $207,500               Median sales price:   $196,500

No. of homes sold:       22                         No. of homes sold:   34  

Days on market:         12                           Days on market:       31

Fewer homes sold last month, in a shorter amount of time…less supply usually means  higher prices.  Now for year-to-date numbers:

Jan-Sept 2019                                              Jan-Sept 2018

Median list price:    $225,000                  Median list price:    $199,925

Median sales price:   $220,795               Median sales price:  $200,250

No. of homes sold:    269                          No. of homes sold:       308

Days on market:        9                              Days on market:          19

Houses are selling fast in Waldo (I’m using the boundaries of State Line to Holmes and Gregory to 85th St) and sellers are getting very close to asking price.  YTD, values are up 10% over 2018.   Currently there are 33 active single family homes listed in Waldo, with a median list price of $220,000 and 27 days on market.

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