Brookside Home Sales Report Jan 2013

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Everyone is snowed in today in Brookside! Luckily, my house still has power, many of my neighbors do not. Back to work now after shoveling the driveway and sidewalk! Let’s review the January 2013 single family home sales in the main Brookside zip code of 64113:

In January 2013, 16 homes sold. The average list price was $278,488 and the average sales price was $260,503. Average days on market: 73.

In January 2012, 8 homes sold. The average list price was $357,933 and the average sales price was $346,167. Average days on market: 123.

Don’t be alarmed that the 2013 list/sales price was so much lower. Although there were twice as many sales in January 2013 than 2012, in 2012 five of the eight homes sold over $300K. In 2013, five homes sold over $300K but the rest of the homes sold at a much lower price, therefore bringing down the average sales price. The market continues to improve over last year as homes are selling much faster–73 days on the market vs 123 in 2012.

Figuring the percentages, home sales were up in Brookside 50% in January 2013 from 2012, and homes were selling about 50% faster than the previous year! Good news all around.

Currently there are 65 single family homes for sale in zip 64113, with an average price of $734,581 and 201 days on market. The average list price is much higher than usual because about half (30) of the 65 homes for sale are priced over $500K, and 11 of the 30 are priced over $1 million. The more expensive homes take longer to sell; thus the higher days on market. Overall, the Brookside housing market has recovered from the housing crash and I think sales will be very strong during the busy spring buying season, even beating last year’s strong numbers.

Thoughts During a Winter’s Day in Brookside

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Monty shoveling snow in front of our Brookside home.

We’re all snowed in. There is a state of emergency in Kansas City. In the past few hours, I estimate we’ve had at least 6″ of snow fall, and it hasn’t stopped yet. My husband is out with the snowblower–and it’s so cold and windy!

I love snow days. This is the first big one of this winter season. I am working from home, at my desk with a window that overlooks the street. In the past two hours, I’ve seen one pick up truck drive by. It’s warm and wonderful.

This has been a rough week for Kansas City. On Monday night, JJ’s Restaurant on the Plaza blew up due to a gas line break, injuring several employees and killing one server. JJ’s was a locally owned restaurant (I sold a house last year to the co-owner’s daughter) that served excellent food in an elegant but simple atmosphere with friendly service and an extensive wine list. I enjoyed many fine meals there. And today, our city is shut down due to the storm. The airport is closed, bus service has been suspended and the KC Mayor is asking everyone to stay home.

And in the face of these two events that have personally touched so many, we KC folks have put others ahead of ourselves and reached out to help those directly affected by the JJ’s fire and snowstorm. There are numerous stories of other locally owned restaurants and wait staff reaching out to JJ’s employees, offering food and work shifts to get them by. Neighbors are taking in those stranded by stuck vehicles and check on older residents, bringing by necessities and shoveling snow. Social media and newscasts are spreading the word about the kindness of strangers to one another. Our Mayor has asked followers to tweet these stories using the hashtag #LOVEKC.

Some people will complain endlessly about the inconveniences that a snowstorm brings; some are pointing fingers at who exactly is responsible for the explosion at JJ’s. But most of us are out there helping one another, one person at a time, comforting those in need through random acts of kindness. We do what we can, in small ways, to turn a negative into a positive. That’s the attitude to have in order to get through events like this.

Armour Hills Home Sales Stats January 2013

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Armour Hills, a Brookside area subdivsion

You’ve heard it in the media…now read about it in your own neighborhood. Home prices are up! Let’s check the January home sales stats for Armour Hills:

In January 2013, two homes sold. Average list price was $235,000 and average sales price was $221,000. Average days on market…just 26 days!

Now let’s compare to Jan 2012 and Jan 2011:

In January 2012, two homes sold. Average list price was $224,500 and average sales price was $215,000. Average days on market…43 days.

In January 2011, one home sold. The list price was $145,000 and the sales price was $146,777. Average days on market for the one sale was 158 days.

There is no doubt that home prices are on the rise in Armour Hills. I track the sales every month, and 2012 finished with more homes sold than 2011, a higher average sales price and less time on the market. I expect this trend to continue in 2013.

Currently there are nine homes for sale in Armour Hills, with an average price of $235,089, Overall, there is a lack of good inventory in the Brookside area. If you’ve been waiting for the market to change in the seller’s favor…now is the time to list your home! If it’s been well maintained, priced correctly and updated, you may have competing offers.

Contact me if you would like more details on the current state of the home sales market in Brookside.

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

Brookside Home Sales Report for 2012

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Brookside’s $2.5 mil home sold in 2012

You’ve probably heard recent national news reports on how much better the housing market did in 2012 over 2011. Figures for the Kansas City area are up as well. This blog will focus on sales stats for the Brookside area, zip code 64113. Good news all around!

In 2012, 296 single family homes sold. The average list price was $354,974 and the average sales price was $337,524. Average days on market: 114.

In 2011, 211 single family homes sold. The average list price was $321,574 and the average sales price was $303,076. Average days on market: 139.

It’s worth noting six homes sold for over $1,000,000, in 2012, with the highest sales price at $2.5 million. The lowest sold home price was $72,000. In 2011, four homes over $1 million sold, with the highest sales price being $1.6 million.

Figuring the percentages, home sales were up in Brookside 30% over 2011, and the average sales price was up 10%.

The higher priced home sales push up the average price, and it’s encouraging to see so many more homes sold. Brookside is back on the upward curve for increasing home values! This is important for sellers as well as buyers. Sellers are recouping more of the equity lost in the housing crash, and buyers can be confident they are purchasing a home in a desirable area with increasing home values.

Brookside’s $70K home sold in 2012

There is a lack of inventory right now, and buyers are actively searching for properties. If you are thinking of selling your Brookside home…prepare it now for the busy spring market!

And if you would like detailed information on sales in your area, contact me (mary.hutchison@kansascityhomes.com) for a personalized report.

(All figures taken from Heartland MLS and deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Armour Hills 2012 Home Sales Market Report

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Now that we are a few weeks into the new year, it’s time to look back at 2012 home sales statistics for Armour Hills. When I checked the stats each month last year, the trend was more homes sold and at a higher average price than 2011. I think the worst of the housing crisis is over for our Brookside neighborhood!

Armour Hills Homes in Brookside

Here are the figures for 2012 single family home sales in Armour Hills:

In 2012, 78 homes sold. The average list price was $225,465 and the average sales price was $219,338. Average days on market: 83.

In 2011, 59 homes sold. The average list price was $220,551 and the average sales price was $212,088. Average days on market: 119.

In summary, 25% more Armour Hills homes sold in 2012 than 2011, and with a higher average sales price of almost 5%–very healthy numbers!

Something else I want to point out: the lowest sold price in 2012 was an $80,000 short sale. However, we had two homes sell over $400K–one at $485,000 and another at $417K. The highest sales price in 2011 was $350K. Both of these higher priced homes were total rehabs. This shows our neighborhood is desirable for more affluent buyers and we have a good area for rehabber /homeowner improvement investing. Finally, with the average home price in the $220s, Armour Hills is still very affordable for most first time buyers, despite the two over $400K sales.

I’ll continue to track monthly sales for 2013 in this blog. The upward trend in number of homes sold and increasing average sales prices should continue this year.

Interested in home prices and sales trends in your area? Email me and I’ll provide the information. In a few days I will post home sales stats for the Brookside zip code of 64113–also showing better sales activity than last year.

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

All Aboard for Bier Station in Brookside!

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

I love Bier Station. I don’t like beer. But I will support this new local business in Armour Hills by drinking a brew there every so often…and my husband will be a frequent visitor! When we stopped by on New Year’s Eve to check it out, the bartender poured me a beer sample that I actually liked, after I told him I wasn’t a beer drinker. Now that’s customer service!

John Couture (left) and beer manager Brad Isch

All of Brookside is welcoming this new bar at 120 E Gregory. Business has been great, especially on the weekends. Local owner (and Rockhill Gardens resident) John Couture is very excited about his new beer crib and so thankful for the enthusiastic reception from the neighborhood. It’s not a huge bar, but that works to it’s advantage–just the right size to mingle with those you don’t know, strike up new friendships and talk about the ever-changing beer product. I think eventually it will be like Target–every time you stop in, you see someone you know!

This is a craft beer/tasting bar/bottle shop operation where the big attraction is the rotating inventory. Sign up for their updates on Twitter and Facebook to stay on top of what’s new and fresh–it changes daily, several times a day. The bar offers 21 taps, including a ‘wild’ tap that specializes in sours and wild ales. John has hired people who know the product and you might recognize their faces: employees from SRO Video and Waldo Pizza. Sitting at the bar, you’ll see many style of glasses, each one suited for the individual beer’s character, so it’s served in the correct glass for maximum flavor. Brad Isch is the full-time beer manager.

There are a couple of things I really appreciate about Bier Station–and I suppose this comes from my female perspective. The first is the place isn’t overrun with televisions. There are two posted on either end of the bar–enough to keep up with the game, not too distracting. In the upstairs beer garden–no TVs! Just long picnic tables with a relaxed feeling, perfect for conversation (check out the wall mural–it’s a photo of the Heim Brewery in Electric Park, in KC’s East Bottoms, circa 1900). During the warmer months, John will open up the large windows, creating an open air second story patio. And the second thing I like is the vibe: John or his staff greets everyone, asks patrons for their opinions, children are welcome before 8pm (yep, he stocks juice boxes!) and it has that true neighborhood small bar feel…almost like a corner pub in England or Chicago. You’ll find beer drinkers of all ages here–John says he sees customers range in age from 25-65, and all fit in.

Upstairs beer garden with mural

A few other quick notes: local business Farm to Market supplies the fresh pretzels — they are delicious! Customers can create their own 4 or 6 pack of beer to go from the huge cooler that takes up a full wall–allow plenty of time to check out the selection before you buy.

Welcome Bier Station, to Brookside! Another home-grown, local business we look forward to supporting!

New Year’s Eve 2012 in Brookside/Waldo

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Mary Hutchison

If you plan to go out on the town to celebrate New Year’s Eve, there are so many places to choose from this year–starting at the River Market, stretching all the way south through Waldo. I find that as I get older, I prefer a smaller, more relaxed gathering. Years ago when I worked at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center, every employee worked the huge New Year’s Eve party. It was a very long but fun evening, looking at all the dressed up guests and crazy dancing. I saw some wild behavior on those nights!

Back to what’s happening in the Brookside/Waldo area. Here’s a few options to consider:

Julian is serving dinner at 5,7 and 9pm with a pre-set menu. Call for reservations.
Avenues Bistro has a special menu, reservations recommended.
Charlie Hooper’s is a good spot to stop in for a casual bite to eat and New Year’s toast. If you live in Brookside, you’ll probaby run into someone you know while you are there!

Bier Station will be open! First night of service is December 29, so no special packages are planned for December 31. Be one of the first to check out this new, locally owned specialty beer bar.

The hot new restaurant Louie’s Wine Dive features live music and appetizers for $20 per person. The Well will be packed with partiers; for $20, dance to three DJ’s and enjoy a champagne toast at midnight.

Finally, everyone is welcome to watch the ball drop at the Waldo monument, 75th and Wornall. Meet there just before midnight and ring in the new year with your Waldo/Brookside nieghbors!

If you do plan to party on Monday night…be safe!

Brookside Home Sales Stats November 2012

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Mary Hutchison

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! Some folks will be celebrating Christmas in new locations next year–I’ve sold three homes in the past month, thank you Santa. The market for Brookside homes continues to climb as you can see from the November 2012 home sales statistics. Below I have recapped last month’s sales for the main Brookside zip code of 64113, along with a comparison to one year ago and year -to-date figures:

In November 2012, 23 single family homes sold. The average list price was $474,961 and the average sales price as $448,991. Average days on market: 159.

In November 2011, 22 single family homes sold. The average list price was $383,625 and the average sales price was $344,813. Average days on market: 176

That’s a large jump in the average sales price–almost $100,000! However, when more expensive homes sell (over $500K), the average price jumps. These pricey homes are not lingering on the market as long as they once were–they are selling faster.

Checking year-to-date figures:

From January-November 2012, 278 single family homes sold with an average sales price of $341,475 and 115 days on market.

From January-November 2011, 196 single family homes sold with an average sales price of $307,185 and 143 days on market.

Again we see the average sales price much higher this year, which has been consistent for the past several months. I think final 2012 unit sales and average price will surpass 2011 by almost 10%. Spring buyers won’t be able to bargain substantial dollars off the list price with higher comparable priced sold properties. And if you are a seller…get ready to take advantage of the upcoming busy spring market!

If you would like detailed information on sales in your area, contact me for a personalized report.

(All figures taken from Heartland MLS and deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Armour Hills Home Sales Stats November 2012

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Mary Hutchison

I’m enjoying looking out the window, appreciating the beauty of this first snowfall of the season! So nice to work from home and not have to drive to the office. Just checked the November home sales for Armour Hills..let’s take a look at the numbers:

Armour Hills Homes Association, Brookside

In November 2012, 4 homes sold. The average list price was $234,988 and the average sales price was $225,613. Average days on market: 138.

In November 2011, 6 homes sold. The average list price was $258,900 and the average sales price was $247,625. Average days on market: 140.

Although the average list price was lower compared to one year ago, keep in mind that just four homes sold in November. It’s not unusual for sales to dip towards the end of the year. When a few more expensive homes sell, that pushes up the average price. Days on market are consistent.

Year to date, 71 homes have sold in Armour Hills, at an average sales price of $218,619 and 80 days on market. From January–November 2011, 54 homes sold at an average price of $216,708 and 122 days on market. Overall, we in Armour Hills are experiencing lower days on market and an average sales price that’s higher than last year. This trend has been consistent since January. I’m looking forward to comparing final 2012 figures in January 2013. Prices are trending up–good news for buyers and sellers; our neighborhood is gaining in value.

Holiday Gift Ideas from the Brookside Shops

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Mary Hutchison

It’s one week before Christmas and you may be looking at your list, in a panic, wondering what you can give that someone who is ‘difficult to buy for’. Don’t spend hours wandering around a mall–so stressful, crowded, generic and often poor service. Shop Brookside…it’s so easy and there is something for everyone within walking distance of a few blocks.

The Brookside shops along 63rd St

The weather is mild so park the car and walk to all the shops and services. To get you started, I’ve compiled a shortlist of gift ideas to inspire you! Most Brookside shops are locally owned and operated, many offer free gift wrap and all will give you friendly service.

For the women in your life, you can’t go wrong with something from Stuff, World’s Window, Fiddly Fig, 5B&Co. Candlemakers. Unique jewelry, a pretty scarf, scented soaps and lotions, special holiday dishes, towels or home decor, fragrant candles–all this and more in any of these shops. At Element, pamper her with a massage, facial, yoga class or other wellness services.

For the guys…usually a little harder to buy for. A sample of various beers or wines from Berbiglia might do the trick, or some specialty foods from Bella Napoli. World’s Window sells men’s clothing, or you might find something at Tuesday Morning. Perhaps a special blend of coffee or a gift card from The Roasterie? It seems like many men don’t like to buy for themselves, so splurging on something they don’t expect (but appreciate) is fun.

Buying gifts for kids gets you in the spirit of the season! I love the travel, board and card games at Brookside Toy and Science, and the massive book selection at Reading Reptile. How about stuffing several art and craft supplies in a plastic bin as a gift? Stop in The New Dime Store for markers, poster board, glitter, glue, paper,clay, etc.

If there’s a baby on your list..or one on the way, Lauren Alexander stocks upscale keepsakes, bedding and clothing for the youngest ones. And remember Brookside Barkery and Bath, for the pets in the family.

Finally, what person doesn’t like a gift card to a restaurant? We all tire of cooking and long for someone else to wait on us occasionally! Avenues Bistro, Carmen’s Cafe, Blue Grotto, Charlie Hoopers, Michael Forbes Grill, Julian–these are just a few of the casual dining options in Brookside that offer gift cards. Or Cosentino’s offers tasty hot meals for take out every night.

The Brookside Story

If you know someone who just moved to Brookside, or has moved away, I suggest a Brookside Art Fair tee shirt or banner, or a copy of The Brookside Story. These items can be purchased at Southtown Council, 6814 Troost–just a short drive from the Brookside shops on 6rd St.

Talking about all these great shops and restaurants makes me want to go out shopping for myself! Spend some time shopping in Brookside this week..you’ll find great gifts and have a good time browsing along the streets. Happy holidays!

Inside Brookside (And Waldo)

What's Happening In Brookside and Waldo (Kansas City, Missouri)

Category Archives: Brookside Community News