Beautiful Four Bedroom Brookside Home for Sale

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

: 432 W 62nd St in Brookside

The couple who is selling this home fell in love with Brookside during the Art Fair a few years ago. They are from Detroit, jobs were bringing them to the Midwest, and they had never been to Kansas City. They wanted to buy a home in a vibrant, lively area, within an easy walk or bike ride to shops and amenities. After I showed them several homes in the Brookside area, this is the one they chose. Now their careers are taking them to another state, and although they are sad to leave our neighborhood–their well loved and cared for home is on the market, ready for new owners.

This is a three story home that feels welcome and comfortable when you walk in the front door. It offers four bedrooms, three full baths and one half baths, a two car garage, second floor laundry and it is move in ready!

Isn’t this a fantastic kitchen? So spacious, with plenty of (granite) counter space, a pantry, large island plus a desk area. Right next to the kitchen is the mudroom with cubbies and a bench–the perfect spot to land when coming in from the garage. Easy to hang backpacks, keys and store messy boots!

Here’s a photo of the master suite. This large room leads to a master bath with shower, double vanities and a walk in closet, customized by Kansas City Closets.

I think this is my favorite room in the home. It’s a bright and sunny nook on the second floor, with windows on two sides. This is the perfect spot for a small office, reading room or child’s playroom. Through the door to the left is the family room, featuring a home theater –all components stay with the property.

Also off the kitchen is this cozy covered porch, ideal for outdoor dining and entertaining. The yard has been recently landscaped, and large trees trimmed away from the house.

Another unique feature is the third floor, with two bedrooms and a full bath. The current owners loved this space for frequent family visitors, who had their own private retreat at the top of the steps. This area could also be used for teens, a homework area, or more formal work from home office space.

A few other benefits this home offers: “The Nest” thermostat, an energy saving device that is controlled via a phone app; zoned HVAC and roof (both less than 8 years old); fresh interior paint; new carpet in master bedroom; hardwood floors and a stone basement. Of course the best feature may be the location…just a short walk up the street to all the amenities Brookside offers: grocery, independently owned shops and boutiques; post office, restaurants, Farmer’s Market, bus stop and the Trolley Track Trail. Offered at $430,000

I am really going to miss this family when they move on…but I know the next owners of this home will love it as much as they did! Contact me if you would like to tour this property in person.

Brookside 2015 St Pat’s Parade This Saturday!

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

Sunny and 65 degrees…that’s our perfect weather forecast for Brookside’s 35th Annual St Patrick’s Warm Up Parade on Saturday March 14! This is the best St Pat’s parade … because it’s so family friendly, you can sit and watch on the curb (or bring a chair!) and it’s easy to see the decorated floats and vehicles up close.

Start time is 2pm. Here’s the route:

Begin at 65th and Wornall; north on Wornall to 63rd St; east on 63rd to Main St; south on Main to Meyer Blvd; west on Meyer to Brookside Road. Last year the parade lasted over two hours! This year I am extra excited about the festivities as I’ll be in the parade with my colleagues at Better Homes and Gardens – KC Homes. We’ll be in a Jeep with the “Househunters” theme.

A few reminders: traffic will be blocked along the streets mentioned above for most of the afternoon; residential side streets will be full of parked cars. Please watch for pedestrians, kids, bikes and be patient if you will be driving through Brookside on Saturday. Happy St Patrick’s Day to all–come celebrate with us in Brookside!

New Businesses Coming to Brookside/Waldo

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

A brief blog today with information on two new businesses coming to Brookside and Waldo….

Future Site of BKS Nails

The former James Hallmark shop at 6245 Brookside Blvd, vacant for over two years now, will soon house BKS Nails, a salon offering manicures, pedicures and waxing services. Owners of this shop also own and operate Plaza Nails (on the Country Club Plaza) and Oak Nails (across from the UMKC admin building). Look for this shop to open next month.

Do you remember PIzza Manifesto? That short-lived pizza joint opened last year next to the Chipotle at 75th and Washington, just west of Wornall. It was recently announced that Pizzeria Locale will be going into that space at 505 W 75th St. This ‘fast casual’ restaurant will offer built your own 11” Neapolitan-style pizzas, along with a few salads and sides options. Pizzeria Locale started in with locations in Denver and Boulder, then formed a partnership with Chipotle. The KC location will be the first outside of Colorado.

No word yet on an official opening date for the eagerly awaited Heirloom Bakery and Hearth at the corner of 63rd St and Oak…

Waldo Home Prices Rise – Jan 2015

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

Although the cold winter weather that won’t seem to leave… house hunters are out, snatching up homes in the Waldo area. In 2014, Waldo home prices rose 2.89%–to a median sales price of $144,000 with 46 days on market, and 330 homes changed ownership. Let’s look at the January 2015 home sales stats for Waldo–I am using the street boundaries of State Line east to Holmes, and Gregory south to 85th St:

In January 2015, 15 homes sold with a median list price of $147,500 and a median sales price of $151,000 with 46 days on market.

In January 2014, 15 homes sold with a median list price of $132,500 and a median sales price of $129,500 with 87 days on market.

Why was the sales price higher than the list price ? A few reasons: there could have been multiple offers on the property; the buyer may have financed some closing costs into the loan by adding to the list price; or some other type of negotiation regarding repairs following inspections. The takeaway here is that buyers are willing to pay the initial list price–or very close to it–for the best homes that come on the market. Comparing the numbers, home values up 11% over last year.

Overall, Waldo homes sales are off to a strong start in 2015! Currently there are 29 single family homes for sale in Waldo (the boundaries I described above) with a median list price of $144,900 and 41 days on market.

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

Armour Hills Home Sales Stats – Jan 2015

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

How many new neighbors will we have in Armour Hills in 2015? Seventy homes changed owners last year. Let’s see how many properties closed last month in Armour Hills, and check the pricing. Buyers are actively looking for homes to purchase and open house traffic is strong–yet there is a lack of good inventory.

In January 2015, four homes sold with a median sales price of $210,000 and 23 days on market. The median list price was $210,000. Three of the four homes sold were at list price, the fourth was just $500 under list.

In January 2014, four homes sold with a median sales price of $232,500 and 10 days on market. The median list price was $235,000.

I am not concerned about the drop in median sales price from one year ago–notice the homes that sold were at full price. January is traditionally a slow month for purchases. However, there is a strong demand for homes–proven by the fact that the units sold last month were at asking price!

Right now we have 8 homes for sale in Armour Hills, with a median list price of $265,000 and 32 days on market. The lowest list price is $210K and the highest is $319,950.

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

Brookside Home Sales Stats – Jan 2015

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

It’s a brand new year for home sales in Brookside! In 2014, 291 single family homes sold in our Brookside zip code of 64113. That’s about 24 per month. We are getting off to a slower start in 2015–that’s because there is a lack of desirable inventory in the $200-$350K price range. Let’s look at the numbers:

In January 2015, eight homes sold in the Brookside area. The median list price was $279,500 and the median sales price was $275,000. Average days on market: 23.

In January 2014, thirteen homes sold. The median list price was $299,950 and the median sales price was $295,000. Average days on market: 38.

Bonus numbers! Note the wide range of prices in our zip code:

Highest closed sales price in 2014 was $1.445 million; lowest was $160,100.

Highest closed sales price in January 2015 was $930,000 and lowest was $170,000.

Although we are behind compared to one year ago, I’m not concerned. January is typically a slow month for home sales, and inventory is still low. The busy spring buying season is just around the corner so these numbers will go up as we head into warmer weather.

Currently there are 60 single family homes for sale in Brookside (zip 64113) with a median price of $409,000 and 123 days on market. That higher median sales price reflects the lack of lower priced inventory–those homes get snapped up quickly and the higher priced homes sit on the market longer. The lowest price listed home is $$210K; the highest is $4.450 million.

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

New Brookside Senior Housing – Already Sold Out!

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

Brookside Senior Residence apartment kitchen

I visited the Brookside Senior Residences at Rockhill Greens recently–what a nice place for seniors to live! I was excited when I read about this project several years ago, as there is a huge demand for moderately priced senior housing in our neighborhood. Located at 6700 Troost, this building offers 37 one bedroom ($485/month) and 9 two bedroom ($575/month) apartments with complete kitchens, including the appliances. Residents must be 55 years of age or older, and meet income restrictions (one person, $29,081; two persons $35,520). The apartments are wheelchair accessible. Each floor offers laundry facilities, and residents can enjoy the outdoor patio, multi-purpose room, media room and exercise room. This is a non smoking building, no pets and the 46 parking spaces are not assigned.

Ella McDaniel, Property Manager at Brookside Senior Residences

Ella McDaniel used to be with the KCMO Housing Authority, and is now the on site Property Manager at Brookside Senior Residences. “I love it here!” she says, “I love my residents and I’ve always enjoyed working with older adults. The average age here is 70, and most everyone is very active.” Ella explained that all of the residents moved here from homes in the immediate area–they didn’t want the maintenance of a home any longer. They are forming new friendships, check in on each other and enjoy their new surroundings. Ella is working on establishing partnerships with the nearby YMCA, Share a Fare and other services for her tenants.

Multi-purpose room–not yet decorated!

Brookside Senior Residences opened in mid December and currently has no vacancies–they do have a waiting list of 57 people! The owners are planning a phase two nearby. I don’t know of any other age-restricted apartment buildings specificially for seniors in the Brookside/Waldo area. There are several independent living facilities, like Armour Oaks or Kingswood, but those places have higher monthly fees, extensive meal service and more amenities. For those with a more limited monthly income–apartments like Brookside Senior Residences will always be in demand as the population ages. For more information, contact Ella McDaniel at 816 361 0313. (They do not have a website at this time).

Home for Sale in Armour Hills – All New Inside!

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

Armour Hills bungalow for sale!

This is my first listing of 2015…and what a beautiful home it is! So many buyers love the charm of Brookside living but they want the interior of the home completely updated. That is what you’ll find in this stunning remodel in Armour Hills!

Marble fireplace, wired for TV above

There are so many wonderful features in this home…where to begin? Let’s start with the open floor plan–another big plus for this house. The living room and dining room are open to the brand new gourmet kitchen. Notice the beautiful Cararra marble fireplace (with gas logs) niche wired and framed for a large flat screen TV. The hardwood floors have been refinished , new interior and exterior doors installed and 6″ crown molding and baseboards.

And look at this kitchen! So much counter space..with the very useful center island.

: Kitchen features granite counters, gas stove, lots of cabinet and counter space!

Granite counters, stainless steel appliances, all new cabinets, gas stove that vents to the exterior. A new window has been installed over the sink. You will love cooking here, and entertaining friends, as there are no walls separating the dining area from the kitchen.

This home features three bedrooms and four full baths. There is a master suite on the first floor, with a large closet, and another master suite on the second floor. No more old cast iron pipes in this home–all new plumbing, and new electrical wiring. Also, many wall outlets in this house–unusual for a home of this age!

The large family room in the basement offers plenty of space for media and gaming. A

: Finished basement area with full bath, 4th non conforming bedroom/office

fourth non-conforming bedroom (or use as office) is just off the family room–and yes, another full bath. Perfect for visiting guests!

Outside, a low maintenance backyard area is surrounded by a privacy fence and features two decks, wired for a hot tub. There is an oversized, one car garage..and a block of friendly neighbors waiting to welcome the new owner. Armour Hills is conveniently located close to the Trolley Track Trail, bus stops, and all Brookside/Waldo shops and amenities.

Contact me for more information or a personal tour of this home. Offered at $319,000.

Hall bath

ReStart Inc Sponsoring New Apartments in Waldo

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

ReStart Inc, is an organization dedicated to helping homeless men, women and families in need, helping them transition to an independent lifestyle. Using funds supplied by HUD and others, they are building a small apartment complex in Waldo at 76th and Washington.

Fourteen one bedroom apartments will be available to young adults, aged 18-24, who have aged out of the foster care system. There will be a live in, on site resident manager. ReStart wanted a central location for this project, the first of it’s kind in Kansas City, so the tenants would be close to businesses for services and job opportunities, plus easy access to bus service. Some Waldo homeowners are concerned about the effect this building may have on their property values.

A meeting to discuss the project is scheduled for March 14 at 10am at the Waldo public library.

Waldo Home Values Rise in 2014

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

Wonderful Waldo! Overall, home prices rose in this area last year. Waldo has always been a popular place to live, and I think even more so lately as we’ve had so many locally owned new businesses move into Waldo. Let’s look at single family home sales for Waldo, comparing 2013 to 2014; and we’ll start with stats for December. The boundaries I’m using are State Line east to Holmes, and Gregory south to 85th St.

In December 2014, 23 homes sold with a median sales price of $170,000 and 30 days on market.

In December 2013, 28 homes sold with a median sales price of $148,000 and 39 days on market.

Comparing these two months, prices were way up in December 2014 compared to the previous year. Now we will compare 2014 to 2014 single family home sales:

In 2014, 330 homes have sold with a median price of $144,000 and 46 days on market. The lowest home sales price was $23,000 and the highest was $430,000.

In 2013, 332 homes sold with a median price of $139,500 and 50 days on market. The lowest home sales price was $15,000 and the highest was $372,000.

So, average sales prices in Waldo rose 2.89% in 2014, with about the same number of homes selling in six weeks’ time. Waldo homeowners continue to gain equity lost during the recession, and there is a wide range of prices for homebuyers interested in this area.

Currently there are 36 active single family listings Waldo area, with a median list price of $136,000 and 78 days on market.

(All information from Heartland MLS; numbers are deemed reliable but not guaranteed).

Inside Brookside (And Waldo)

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