Waldo Home Prices Up During Spring Buying Season

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

Good news to report regarding Waldo area home sales–prices are up! Let’s check the April 2014 single family home sales stats and also compare year-to-date figures to one year ago. The boundaries I’m using for Waldo are: State Line to Holmes and Gregory to 85th St,

In April 2014, 26 homes sold with a median price of $143,000 and 62 days on market. The lowest home sale was $55,510 and the highest was $428,000.

In April 2013, 30 homes sold with a median price of $120,500 and 119 days on market.

Prices were way up this April and the days on market were much less.

Here are the year-to-date figures:

From January – April 2014, 81 homes have sold with a median price of $136,000 and 86 days on market.

From January – April 2013, 80 homes sold with a median price of $110,000 and 95 days on market.

So far, Waldo home prices are up 23% from last year, and selling faster…good news for home sellers. Note the $428K sale this year is a rare higher price for a Waldo area home.

Currently there are 69 homes for sale in Waldo, with a median list price of $135,000 and 83 days on market. (All figures taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed).

Brookside Home Sales Report – April 2014

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

The spring home buying market is in full swing and Brookside home values continue to rise over last year. Inventory of well maintained and updated homes is low, and demand is high. Here are the stats for the main Brookside zip code of 64113 for April 2014 and a year-to-date comparison:

In April 2014, 24 homes sold. Average median sales price was $345,000 and 58 days on market. The lowest sales price was $156,040 and the highest was $980,000.

In April 2013, 20 homes sold. The average median sales price was $285,000 and 84 days on market. The lowest sales price was $115,000 and the highest was $610,000.

We had a few more homes sell in April 2014 and a substantial uptick in average price- almost 22%. We have such a wide range of sales prices in Brookside that it really affects the average sales price when more higher priced homes sell. Days on market is also lower this year–meaning it takes less time for a property to go under contract.

Checking year to date figures:

From Jan-April 2014, 67 homes sold at a median sales price of $298,000 and 75 days on market.

From Jan-April 2013, 83 homes sold at a median sales price of $285,000 and 108 days on market.

The lower number of homes selling is affected by the lack of inventory, thus pushing prices up. I’ll share a personal story of what I experienced recently with a client. A property came on the market in an excellent Brookside location, nicely updated with good features and curb appeal. My buyer offered full price the same day it was listed. There were four offers total and the listing agent told me the winning bid was $10K OVER asking price. This same home sold two years ago for $317,000 and the current owner had not made any substantial improvements. I’ve heard the same story for homes in Prairie Village, Leawood and Overland Park. It is a true seller’s market for the ‘good’ homes.

Currently there are 89 single family homes for sale in the Brookside zip code of 64113 with an average median list price of $400,000 and 125 days on market. About one-third of the 89 homes are priced over $1million.

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

Armour Hills (Brookside) Home Prices Up-April 2014

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

Brookside is in full bloom and home buyers are out, admiring our neighborhood! I’m happy to report that Armour Hills homes sales for the month of April were up compared to one year ago. Let’s examine the numbers:

Eight homes sold in April 2014, with an average median sales price of $235,000. Average days on market: 73.

Four homes sold in April 2013, with an average median sales price of $196,285. Average days on market: 69.

Twice as many homes sold this April than last, and at a higher average sales price. The homes that sold a year ago were in the lower priced category for our area. In April of this year, the highest price sale was on Brookside Road for $425,000 and the lowest sale was $162,900 on E Winthrope. The days on market change isn’t significant.

Looking at year to date figures:

For the first four months of 2014, 18 homes have sold in Armour Hills at an average median price of $243,000 and 65 days on the market.

For the first four months of 2013, 16 homes sold at a median average price of $233,450 and 113 days on market.

Homes are selling faster this year, and at a higher average sales price…so far prices are up 4.9% this year! As of today, there are 11 homes for sale in AH, with a median average price of $217,000 and 94 days on market. Five of those homes are priced under $200K, the lower end for our area. The spring home buying season is off to a strong start for Armour Hills!

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

Brookside Two Story Home For Sale

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

You’ve often heard the phrase “if these walls could talk”. Oh how I wish it were true of these older Brookside homes! This new listing in Armour HIlls still has much of it’s original charm and detail, yet it can easily be updated to incorporate a more open kitchen and a true master bath for the next owner. I would love to know the backstory of each person who lived in this house!

Built in 1925, this two story home greets you with a large front porch–a great spot to spend some time chatting with the friendly neighbors or relaxing with a cocktail after work. Inside you’ll find hardwood floors and unpainted wood trim detailing. It is a center hall floor plan, with a spacious living room and dining room, plus half bath. The kitchen has some of the original cabinets (still useful and so charming!) and a cozy breakfast room with built-ins.

Upstairs are three bedrooms and a full bath; the master bedroom is large enough to add another full bath to make a master suite. There is a full basement, and half of it is finished, including two large closets, and another shower/toilet in the basement area.

The backyard is fenced with a deck, a private drive and a two car garage, plus a newer roof. The home is close to the Trolley Track Trail, Brookside shops, the MAX bus route and Arbor Villa Park. Located at 25 E 68 Terrace and offered at $269,500–contact me or visit my website for more details.

Check Out the New Spice Shop in Brookside

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

I finally stopped by the new spice shop in Brookside called Season + Square….and it’s great! It is everything we love about Brookside shops: locally owned, attractively decorated, friendly customer service and it sells goods you can’t find in a traditional boring shopping mall. Owner Andrea Joseph was working in corporate sales and desperately needed a change of pace. Inspired by what she told her teenage daughter about career choices (“you can do whatever you want to do”), she quit the corporate job and opened up her own shop.

Right now the store focuses on selling spices of all kinds, in neatly arranged recycled glass jars and in bulk. These are high quality spices, chemical-free, and Andrea knows where every item comes from. There are currently two original spice blends, Wild Weston Shake and Hyde Park Pork Rub. She also stocks eco friendly cleaners, olive oil and vinegar from Olive Tree, wildly popular finishing salts, Bittermilk products for cocktails, Morris Kitchen and Royal Rose syrups, Broadway Cafe coffee, Hugo Tea and Askinosie Chocolate. I bought the chocolate and used it in cookies and biscotti–so deliciously different from a bagged chocolate chip! I also purchased the Sugar Maple Smoked Salt which I am trying out the next time we grill.

Although the shop just opened in February, it’s already evolving into something more than Andrea imagined at first. She’s turning it into a general store for staple food items, where local produce, meat and eggs will be available for purchase (hopefully by early next month). She will be sponsoring creative cooking courses, the first one scheduled for May 22 on canning, and she plans to host farm to table dinners.

This is a really fun shop to browse–besides buying something for yourself, it’s a great place to shop for unique gifts. Support our locally owned Brookside businesses and stop by soon. Season + Square is open Tues, Wed, Thurs 11am-6pm and Sat and Sun 11am-5pm at 6205 Oak St.

This Weekend: Brookside Art Annual May 2-4, 2014

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

Now in it’s 29th year…the Brookside Art Annual happens this weekend! After last year’s record cold temperatures kept attendance low, this year’s forecast is just about perfect! Here are the details you need to know:

Hours are Friday 5pm-9pm, Saturday 10am-9pm, and Sunday 11am-5pm. The booths are set up between 63rd St and Meyer Blvd at the south end of Brookside Blvd. It’s best to park along a residential street and walk to the fair. Food will be available from local vendors (Michael Forbes Grill, Brookside Market, the Brooksider and Avenues Bistro) and free children’s activities take place on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

There are so many reasons why I love this art fair above all others, but the primary one is that I feel the artwork is more affordable than, for example, the Plaza Art Fair. Many regional artists display their work, and you can still buy a unique piece of jewelry or wall art for under $100.

You can find a list of artists and other details at www.brooksidekc.org. Remember, please leave pets at home as the booths will be very crowded with humans!

Brookside Home Sales Report-March 2014

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

Ahhh….Spring in Brookside! The trees are blooming, flowers finally popping up and the homes look even more charming than usual surrounded with fresh green grass and bright floral colors. This is one reason why home sales surge in the warm weather months–curb appeal is best in spring and summer months.

Let’s examine Brookside single family home sales for March 2014. There was a lower number of homes sold, but average prices are up. These figures are for the main Brookside zip code of 64113:

In March 2014, 19 homes sold. Average median sales price was $322,500 and 103 days on market. The lowest sales price was $152,000 and the highest was $775,000.

In March 2013, 32 homes sold. The average median sales price was $313,000 and 131 days on market.

More homes sold in 2013, but in 2014 the average sales price was almost $10K higher. This market activity reflects the lack of inventory this spring–the demand is there, but not enough supply, pushing up prices.

Checking year-to-date figures:

From Jan-March 2014, 43 homes sold at a median sales price of $298,000 and 84 days on market.

From Jan-March 2013, 63 homes sold at a median sales price of $280,000 and 115 days on market.

You can see the trend continuing into the busy Spring buying season–prices are up 6% so far this year.

As of this writing, there are 77 single family homes for sale in the Brookside zip code of 64113 with an average median list price of $457,000 and 143 days on market. Of the 77 homes for sale, 30 homes are priced over $1million, which affects average list pricing.

The demand is quite high for updated Brookside area homes priced between $250-$400K. If you are thinking of selling this year–get your house spruced up and ready to take advantage of this hot market!

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

Three Bedroom Home for Sale in Brookside/Waldo Area

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

214 E 73rd Terr in Brookside

Today’s blog will feature a great new listing I have in the Brookside area. The address is 214 E 73rd Terrace, priced at $225,000. This 1937 home is updated and move in ready–yet still has so much of the original architectural charm that Brookside buyers want.

Living room with fireplace

On the first floor, there is a living room, dining room and a bedroom that can also be used as a large office or family room. The kitchen has a tile floor, granite counters, two pantries and a cute breakfast room with butler’s pantry. There is also a half bath, which could be easy to convert to a full bath.

The second floor offers two spacious bedrooms and a full bath. The master bedroom has a walk in closet with a built in dresser and a martini deck! The second bedroom has built in storage benches and another large closet.

Finished basement area with fireplace and built-ins

But wait, there’s more! The basement is partially finished, with original built ins, new carpet and daylight windows. Including the finished room in the basement, you have about 2000 square feet of living space!

FInally, there is a cozy screened side porch, a deck off the kitchen (faces north) that steps down to a patio, a privacy fence and a one car garage with private driveway. You will love the location–walking distance to neighborhood shops and restaurants, close to the Trolley Track Trail and on the bus route to downtown Kansas City, the Country Club Plaza, UMKC and Crown Center.

Deck and patio in fenced backyard

See more pictures on my website..and contact me if you know someone looking for a nicely updated home in charming Brookside!

Be Grateful For Another Day

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

It’s Monday in April and the weather has turned cold and it’s snowing – are you complaining? Will you go about your routine day, slightly bored with the monotony of everyday life: tackling the daily to-do list, bugging the kids to get homework done, annoyed that your boss doesn’t appreciate your hard work? Stop…now… and be grateful because you have another day.

The shootings in Overland Park, KS yesterday have shocked everyone. It was a normal day, with normal people going about their business of living everyday life. Was it a normal day for the alleged shooter, a man who must be so filled with hate that he is compelled to shoot innocent people? A man who must so hate his everyday world that he feels he has to end the lives of others? A man who feels no remorse for his actions?

I am not going to rant about the need for more gun control and mental health counseling. Nothing will change. Not today, not a year from now. There will be more massacres and more people killed. This is practically a daily occurrence in our country.

Credible sources tell me the third person murdered yesterday was a Brookside resident. She and her family are members of St. Peter’s Church as we are; she coached my daughter’s volleyball team for a year. Her son and my daughter were in the same class at St. Peter’s School. She was visiting her mom at the time of her murder. Just a normal day for her, until the actions of one man ended it all…forever.

So, be grateful for another day and everything that comes with it: the wet snow you see falling on the spring flowers; the exasperation you feel when your kid is annoying; the extra project that just plopped on your desk; the comfort of the blankets on your bed at night. There is no time to complain about the small stuff…you could be dead tomorrow. Right now, you are alive.

KCUR and 90.9 The Bridge Need Your Support!

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

Friends, family and many of my clients know that once upon a time…I used to be a disc jockey (is that still a term used today??). Those were fun times, playing actual vinyl records, making live appearances at nightclubs, going to concerts and interviewing bands. Most of my broadcast career was in the late 70s/‘80s, as groups like U2, The Police, Elvis Costello, The Clash, New Order, REM, The Cure, etc were becoming famous. And even though I’m older now, I will always listen to a great rock song really loud…still get those inner thrills and tingly feelings from the music.

A couple of times a year I revisit my DJ days when I volunteer during the membership drive at KCUR…and this year, I’m also helping 90.9 The Bridge with their on air fundraising. Every day, I listen to KCUR, punching it on through my radio, phone or laptop. Like so many other KC residents, it’s regular part of my routine–and every day, I hear some type of interesting news story or special feature. KCUR feeds my brain, and if you are a KCUR listener, you should help support the station by donating this week during the Spring Fund Drive. I’ll be on today from noon-2pm–call 816 235 5287 when you hear my voice or donate online.

KTBG The Bridge is also having a fund drive this week–have you been listening to this great adult oriented station since it signed on in January? The Bridge is a commercial free station that focuses on new music, some classics and has a strong emphasis on playing songs from local bands. Their website is fantastic if you want to keep up with the local music scene–you can hear interviews with the bands and live performances. Tune into 90.9 The Bridge and donate – I’ll be on the air 10am-12:30 on Thursday April 10.

KCUR and The Bridge 90.9 are two excellent radio stations that are vital to the Kansas City metro area–you hear national news, local music and intelligent discussions regarding important local issues (streetcar expansion; a new KCI, etc). If you listen….show your appreciation by making a donation this week during their on air fund drives. Both of these stations broadcast 24 hours a day for you, the listener. The money you donate will come back to you tenfold, through music, news and entertainment every single day. Thank you!

Inside Brookside (And Waldo)

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