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!

Brookside Home Prices Rise in Feb 2014

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

It’s the last day of March 2014..and I am just squeaking in to report February 2014 home sales for Brookside! The year is getting off to a strong start with average prices rising. Here are the stats for single family home sales in the Brookside zip code of 64113, using median average pricing:

In February 2014, 11 homes sold. Average list price was $305,000 and average sales price was $298,000. Average days on market: 31. The highest sales price was $657,000 for a home on Morningside Drive; the lowest sales price was an Armour Hills home at $199,900.

In February 2013, 14 homes sold. The average sales price was $293,000. Days on market: 135.

You can see the average sales price is higher, and the average days on market is lower.

Checking year-to-date figures:

Total homes sold in Jan/Feb 2014 was 24 and at an average sales price of $289,000 and 69 days on market.

Total homes sold in Jan/Feb 2013 was 31 and at an average sales price of $265,000 and 99 days on market.

It’s true that fewer homes were sold, but average price is up. This reflects the lack of inventory we have so far this year.

As of this writing, there are 78 single family homes for sale in the Brookside zip code of 64113 with an average list median price of $450,000. Buyers are actively looking for updated, well maintained homes in the $200-$300K range in our neighborhood. It will be a busy Spring home buying season!

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

Brookside Home Prices Rise in Jan 2014

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

January home sales stats for the Brookside zip code of 64113 are in, and already we are seeing an increase in home prices compared to last year. This is a good sign as we head into the busy spring buying season! Let’s look at the numbers for single family homes sales in January 2014:

In January 2014, 13 homes sold. One closed sale was for $1.445 million at 629 W 55th St. Taking that sale out of the math equation, the average list price was $312,942 and the average sales price was $308,111. Days on market: 62. Using a median sales figure, the average price was $295,000.

In January 2013, 17 homes sold. The average list price was $275,635 and average sales price was $257,767. Days on market: 70. Using a median sales figure, the average price was $263,000.

One reason for the lower number of units sold this January could be the severe winter weather we’ve had; also, there usually isn’t much inventory early in the year for buyers to choose from. Still, there was a healthy increase in average sales price compared to one year ago.

As of this writing, there are 63 single family homes for sale in the Brookside zip code of 64113 with an average list price of $767,850. Eleven of the homes for sale are priced over $1 milion. The average median price is $410,000.

Now that the snow is gone and the weather is warming up–buyers are actively looking for fresh product on the market. If you are thinking of selling your Brookside home–get it ready for the market as soon as possible to take advantage of the strong demand!

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

Track Crime in Brookside/Waldo Via These Websites

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

Seems like there has been an uptick in crime lately in the Brookside area–break-ins and thefts more often and during daylight hours. A regular blog reader sent me a couple of crime websites to check out, and this inspired me to write a blog post about them. It’s discouraging to hear about frequent burglaries, assaults, thefts and armed robberies so close to home…it will never totally go away but you can be more aware of what’s happening around your house.

Being a real estate agent, I often hear this phrase: “I want a safe neighborhood”. My reply is there is crime everywhere, and it’s best to check with the local police department for details. However if you want specific information on crime stats (and registered sex offenders) for Kansas City MO, check crimereports.com. KCPD reports incidents to this site, and you can sign up for weekly email recaps of what’s been happening in your area, block by block. I checked stats for January 2014 in the Brookside zone between 55th St. to Gregory, State Line to Holmes and there were 35 different types of theft crimes (breaking and entering, robbery, vehicle theft) and one sexual assault (described as a forcible rape). For the Waldo area (State Line to Holmes, Gregory to 85th), I counted 29 theft incidents and one sexual assault. To me, this indicates the police are kept pretty busy just in these two areas of Kansas City. Crime is more frequent farther east. Regarding home burglaries, KCPD does offer a free program that sends an officer to your home for a safety check, walking through the property with you and making suggestions on how to deter criminals from choosing your house for a burglary. I’ve had this done and it was very helpful–there are many preventative measures you can take that are pretty inexpensive.

Another website, spotcrime.com, also posts detailed crime information. The site is a ‘crime data aggregator’ pulling data from police, news reports and other sources. I didn’t find spotcrime.com as easy to read or navigate as crimereports.com. You can also get email alerts from this site.

There is one more site I want to mention called nextdoor.com. I just signed up to start using it today, so haven’t had a chance to monitor it on a regular basis. Nextdoor.com is a “private social network for your neighborhood”: you can post details about events, yard sales, lost pets, crime, for sale items, handyman inquiries, etc. I can see the benefit if more people join and share information. There are just ten Brookside area homes associations listed, and I’d like to see more added to the list to cover as much of the Brookside area as possible. This site would being especially useful as a quick email alert to notify neighbors of a crime occurrence or suspicious person in your immediate area.

Knowing your neighbors personally and having a block captain is one of the most effective ways to be aware of what’s happening on your street. Always be aware of your surroundings, especially in the dark when getting in and out of your car, going through your backyard or near your garage. And thanks Kelly for recommending these websites to share with my readers!

Top Ten Reasons I’m Grateful For Another Snow Day

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

Everything, everyone slows down on a snow day…I think it’s Mother Nature reminding us to stop and enjoy the extraordinary gift of another day, without worrying so much about work, deadlines, to do lists, numerous errands and the usual ordinary rush-rush of a typical week. It’s a welcome break in the usual routine. Here are my Top Ten Reasons I’m Thankful for Another Snow Day in Brookside:

10. The neighbors are out–shoveling snow, visiting in the street.

9. The kids are off school–they can sleep in late and goof off all day.

8. Imaginative snow sculptures!

7. A different form of exercise today: clearing the walkway and drive.

6. Homemade hot chocolate!

5. Walking to the grocery store for supplies, I hear the silent snow.

4. It’s OK to be lazy, watch movies, bake a tasty batch of cookies.

3. Everyone seems to be in a good mood and extra friendly.

2. Impromptu dinner with whoever is around.

1. Appreciating the beauty of winter– I love Midwest living with a full four seasons!

Enjoy your snow day!!

One of my favorite Brookside homes, covered in show

Buried bird bath

Our patio table, site of so many fun backyard dinners

Inside Brookside (And Waldo)

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

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