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!

Brookside Shops Sold to Out of Town Company

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

The Kansas City Star reported this week that a large section of the Brookside shops have been sold to an out of state company. The area includes the commercial strip of the north side of 63rd St from Wornall to Brookside Blvd, plus Cosentino’s Market and other nearby locally owned businesses. My first reaction to the news was ‘oh no, there goes the neighborhood’.

I’ve lived in Kansas City long enough to see how the Country Club Plaza has changed since Highwoods Properties purchased it several years ago. There aren’t as many locally owned places as there once were, and the majority of the establishments are the same national chain retail and restaurants you find in just about every shopping mall. The Plaza is still a huge draw for tourists and residents, and Highwoods has done a good job maintaining the original charming architecture, beautiful landscaping and popular events such as the Plaza Art Fair. I enjoy walking around and shopping there. So what changes can we expect when Washington Realty Inc, based in Bethesda MD, owns a majority of the prime real estate in Brookside? No one knows, as the company is not commenting.

For now, George Gilchrist of BKS Real Estate will continue to manage the properties for Washington Realty. When I was shopping in Brookside yesterday, I asked Casey Simmons, co-owner of Stuff if she had any comments about the sale. She said when she and her sister moved Stuff to Brookside from Westport, their building was owned by (North Carolina based) Highwoods Properties. There may be some changes several months from now; eventually management may be switched to the Bethesda location and rents/lease terms could be altered. Like everyone else, she found out about the pending sale by reading it in a news report. She invited me to ‘come back in a year’ and ask then how things have changed under the new owners. Looking at the Washington Realty website, you see a list of the places they own properties, but you can’t tell if there is a mix of smaller, local businesses with the larger chain stores.

I’m going to be optimistic and believe that the new owners won’t eventually kick out the locals and bring in generic businesses. Brookside has succeeded and thrived for years specifically because of the unique, locally based shops and restaurants and popular, family oriented, community events. Isn’t that what attracted the out of town buyers in the first place?

Welcome to Waldo: Second Best Coffee

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

How many coffee shops does it take to satisfy our craving for a cup ‘o joe or a creamy latte? Another locally owned coffee cafe opened January 31 called “Second Best Coffee” at 328 W 85th St–in the strip mall with Corner Cafe and Chelly’s. Owners Nathan and Leih Anderson felt other parts of KC are already saturated with many types of coffee shops and decided on Waldo for their location (and they live nearby). The space is cozy and comfortable, featuring an exclusive Slayer Expresso machine to prepare the drinks. They also offer breakfast burritos and Mexican Coke.

Nathan Anderson, co-owner of Second Best Coffee in Waldo

I asked Nathan what distinguished his shop from others in the area, and he said “Second Best Coffee is an espresso centric café that makes every drink to order. We focus on quality, yet value approachability. As we move forward, we will be offering coffee classes with varying topics from home brewing to coffee cupping.” His wife Leih added the espresso selections rotate daily, and Second Best Coffee focuses on bringing out of town blends to their shop as they feel local brews are already well represented. Indeed, a friend of mine stopped by their shop recently and was surprised to recognize a coffee from Michigan on the menu–where he is from! A couple of other unique things about Second Best Coffee: they make their own flavored syrups (including a lavender honey and chocolate) and offer whole and soy milk only, no 2% or skim. Hours are 6:30am-1pm Mon-Fri, and Sat 7:30am-2. One of my favorite aspects of this shop is the easy parking…you can always find a spot in the large lot!

Welcome to Waldo, Second Best Coffee…it’s the locally owned shops and businesses that make this neighborhood unique and special. Stop by and try a cup of Second Best Coffee soon!

February 2014 Home Sales Stats – Armour Hills, Brookside

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

How many people showed up for the Brookside St Patrick’s Day Warm Up Parade on Saturday? Hard to tell…thousands for sure, as it was a beautiful day! I saw so many neighbors and friends while walking around, watching kids pick up tossed candy and older adults comfortably seated on the sidelines to watch the festivities. This event shows off the diversity of Brookside residents and how we all come together for a good time in support of our neighborhood. Special thanks to Marti Lee and her team at Southtown Council for their hard work in pulling this event together every year, whatever the weather.

It’s that time of the month where I check monthly home sales stats for the Brookside area. This blog will focus on my neighborhood of Armour Hills–below see a summary of February 2014 sales with a comparison to February 2013:

Three homes sold in February 2014, with an average list price of $226,450 and an average sales price of $223,800. Average days on market: 32.

Four homes sold in February 2013, with an average list price of $261,238 and an average sales price of $257,375. Average days on market: 79.

Although we had one less sale last month than a year ago–look at the days on market. Less than half compared to Feb 2013. The average sales price was significanltly higher in 2013 because one home sold for $390K–an unusually high price for AH which skewed the numbers up.

Looking at year to date figures:

For the first two months of 2014, seven homes have sold at an average price of $239,333 and 22 days on the market. For the first two months of 2013, six homes sold at an average price of $245,250 and 62 days on market. Again, the $390K sale upped the 2013 average price, with days on market much shorter this year.

Currently there are 13 homes for sale in Armour Hills, with a median average list price of $244,000 and 98 days on market. I am using the median price as the house at 6625 Brookside Road is priced at $450,000–on the high end for our area.

Below I posted a few pictures from the parade on Saturday. Be safe today as you celebrate St Patrick’s Day! Watch for wobbly pedestrians. I’ve decided on a U2 music marathon today as I work at my desk. Turn it up!

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

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

Brookside (Kansas City MO) Home Values Up 9% in 2013

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

Another year completed…and what a year it has been for Brookside home values! Overall, a hefty increase in average selling price from 2012. Let’s first look at December 2013 figures, then move on to year-end statistics. The numbers below reflect single family home sales in the Brookside (Kansas City MO) zip code of 64113:

In December 2013, 21 homes sold. Average list price was $558,667 and average sales price was $508,900. Average days on market was 99.

In December 2012, 16 homes sold at an average price of $298,788 and 88 days on the market.

Obviously that is a huge jump in average sales price. That’s because a $3.65 million home closed in December (1217 W. 55th St), along with five other homes priced over $500K. These sales pushed the average sales price way up. Days on market were higher in December 2013 because generally it takes longer for the upper bracket homes to go under contract.

Now let’s compare 2012 to 2013 Brookside home sales:

From Jan-Dec 2013, 307 homes sold at an average price of $368,994 and 86 days on market.

From Jan-Dec 2012, 296 homes sold at an average price of $337,524 and 114 days on market.

There was a 9% increase in average sales prices between 2012 and 2013–excellent news for homeowners! Days on market was less as well. In 2013, I saw many more higher priced homes selling in our neighborhood, including several close and over the $1million mark. Brookside has successfully weathered the housing crash and is again a strong area of interest for buyers. Another indication of Brookside’s desirability as a neighborhood is the number of teardowns/new build jobs going up–I’ve seen three projects in varying stages of completion.

As of this writing, there are 69 single family homes for sale in the Brookside zip code of 64113 with an average list price of $729,282. The highest priced listing is at 5550 Ward Parkway, priced at $4.25 million. The lowest listed home price is on the 6400 block of McGee at $159,500. .

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

Upcoming Brookside/Waldo Events: Networking for Brookside/Waldo businesses is Wed Jan 22 from 8-9am at Spay and Neuter KC, 1116 E 59th St.

Brookside Home Sales Stats – Aug 2013

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

On this last day of September, I’m finally getting around to post the Brookside home sales stats for August 2013. It’s been a busy month! No surprises here: prices continue to rise, and homes are selling faster.

In Aug 2013, 33 homes sold. The average list price was $403,543 and the average sales price was $384,255. Average days on market: 84.

In Aug 2012, 31 homes sold. The average list price was $375,358 and the average sales price was $357,238. Average days on market: 95.

Continuing the trend this year, average sales prices are higher than last year, about a 7.5% increase over last August.

Let’s compare year-to-date figures:

In the first eight months of 2013, 220 homes sold with an average sales price of $356,029 and 88 days on market.

In the first eight months of 2012, 200 homes sold with an average sales price of $321,320 and 109 days on market.

So far, Brookside home prices have increased almost 11% this year over last!

Currently there are 83 homes for sale in zip 64113, with an average list price of $745,259. Twelve homes are priced over $1million, which pushes the average list price higher. As the calendar moves closer to cold weather and the holiday season, number of units sold per month will fall lower, as this is the time of year when there are not as many new listings popping on the market. However, we’ve had a strong 2013 so far for home sales and I think this year will beat last in terms of average sales price and number of homes sold.

If you would like sales figures from your neighborhood, contact me!

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

Weekend Events for Kansas City – Sept 6-8, 2013

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

With the Labor Day weekend behind us, now we jump into what I call ‘festival season’ here in Kansas CIty. Besides the over-the-top fun of the Renaissance Festival , this weekend brings us Art Westport, the Greek Fest and the famous Waldo Crawldo, plus a run that will tie up traffic on Sunday in the downtown/Crown Center area. Below are the details:

Art Westport – Friday (5-9pm), Saturday (10-9pm), Sunday (11-5pm)

This is the 34th year for Art Westport, an art fair exclusive to Kansas City artists–which makes the art more affordable (for me!) compared to the Plaza Art Fair. Be prepared to park along a side street and walk to the booths, lined up along Westport Road west of Broadway.

Falldo Waldo Crawldo – Saturday 6pm-midnight

A benefit for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the Falldo Waldo Crawldo is a wild night of bar hopping and crazy costumes, centered around the 75th and Wornall area of Waldo. There are drink specials, really good prizes (tickets to the Mumford and Sons concert, a mountain bike, Royals and Chiefs tickets) and all the participating bars are within walking distance of the 75th and Wornall corner. Save a few bucks and get a ticket in advance for $7, or pay $10 night of the event. And watch for wobbly pedestrians in this area Saturday night.

Prairie Village Jazz Festival – Saturday 3-11pm

Don’t look to the website for details on this festival–it still states ‘more information coming soon’. It’s a free event, held at Harmon Park, 7700 Mission Road from 3-11pm with headliner Bobby Watson. Always crowded–get their early and bring your own lawn chairs!

GreekFest – Friday (6-10pm), Saturday (noon-10pm), Sunday (noon-6pm)

The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church sponsors this festival, now in its 52nd year. Located at the church at 120th and Wornall, there’s plenty of tasty Greek food and pastries, entertainment, and fun for the kids. The Greeks know how to have a good time–this is a happy and lively event!

I’m also mentioning the Broadway Bridge Run because it will cause traffic delays on Sunday. This event is actually three races: a 5 and 10K, plus a half marathon. It starts in the City Market area, goes around the downtown airport, and travels south using Main and Walnut to the Liberty Memorial area. Be aware of road closures if you will be in this area on Sunday.

Temperatures this weekend are forecast for the mid-upper 90s, with lots of sunshine–so don’t put away sunscreen and shorts just yet if you plan to visit these outdoor events!

Reflecting Back on 2012 Clients–Grateful for New Friends!

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Although we’re just into 2013, I want to take a few minutes to look back at 2012 from a business point of view. I’m proud to say that 2012 was my most successful year in real estate so far! I attribute that to my hard work and love of the job, a somewhat better economy, and motivated, educated clients who understand the current market we’re in.

As I look back on last year’s business, one of my favorite things to do is think about all the new fun friends I’ve made as a result of helping them buy or sell a home. Through many shared conversations about topics other than the business at hand, friendships have formed and will last long after the deal is done. It is by far the best benefit of being a real estate agent!

Pictured below are a few of the homes I’ve sold with a little bit of information about the owners, and what I appreciate about each of them:

Dave and Anna’s Armour Hills Gardens home

Dave and Anna bought their first home in Armour Hills Gardens almost a year ago. I knew when I saw this home pop on the market that it was a house they would like. Anna appreciates modern, clean design and it shows in her decorating. Dave is a musician on the side, and the finished basement is perfect for his hobby.

Carrie and Matt’s Brookside home

Matt and Carrie found me through the internet. They moved here with their 3 year old daughter from Detroit. They were not very familiar with Kansas City and fell in love with Brookside. Their larger home is perfect for visiting family and they love walking to Brookside shops and restaurants. Carrie and Matt are especially appreciative of their new friendly neighbors!

Matt and Leila’s Waldo home

Have you heard about the trend toward smaller homes? Matt and Leila bought this smaller home in Waldo because of the lower price, energy-saving features and walking distance to Waldo services. Matt recently finished an energy audit of his home and is installing even more upgrades to lower his monthly utility bills.

Lisa and Keith’s Leawood home

Lisa and Keith almost bought the wrong house. We searched for a long time and thought we had found ‘the one’ — but after careful consideration, they decided against it. I’m glad–I had a gut feeling it wasn’t the right house for them. Then this beautiful Leawood home came on the market and they snapped it up. It’s a house they plan to live in for many, many years, and a perfect house for raising a family.

Jim and Kelly’s home on Central

Jim and Kelly have lived in the Middle East, and I enjoy hearing stories about their world travels. Now they’ve settled in Kansas City as Jim accepted a job teaching at Rockhurst University and Kelly sells medical equipment. Jim bikes to work or takes his scooter. Kelly is taking full advantage of that welcoming front porch with warm, inviting decor!

Jeff and Diann’s home in Overland Park

I had kept in touch with Jeff and Diann for about two years before they finally made the move to Kansas City from Wichita. They bought a patio home in Overland Park close to the Town Center shopping area. Diann has done a fantastic job remodelling the kitchen/hearth room–I should write a blog on that transformation alone! Jeff was transferred to the local office of his law firm, and both are enjoying being closer to family in the area. Diann and I never seem to run out of things to talk about when we meet for lunch.

This blog would be way too long for me to list all of the other people I worked with in 2012. Charlie and Pim, Chris and Erin, Jeff and Michelle, Peter and Allison, Adam and Liana, Brandi and Anthony and so many more–all wonderful folks that I loved working with and look forward to staying in touch with as the years go on. And who are the new friends I’ll be blogging about in 2014 at this time? I’m looking forward to meeting you soon!

Career Musings on Labor Day

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Mary Hutchison

It’s been a relaxing weekend for me so far…and it feels great! I did work with some out of town buyers relocating to Kansas City, and took the girls shopping. Tonight, we are having friends over for dinner, although it’s too hot and muggy to eat outside. I’d like to visit the pool one last time. This is the last holiday weekend until..Thanksgiving, at least for most folks who don’t work for the government.

Feeling a bit lazy Saturday night, I started watching a Chris Rock concert on HBO. I’m a fan of his humor. He’s very smart and sharp when it comes to composing his comedy bits Like all good comics, he bases his humor on what he sees and feels about everyday life. At one point in the show, he started riffing about the difference between a job and a career.

Chris Rock

He started out by admitting he stupidly dropped out of high school He got a job in the back of a fast food seafood restaurant, scraping shrimp off plates. For hours and hours, he scraped, scraped, scraped those plates. And that job was the best he could do with his level of education at the time. He hated it.

Then, Chris started talking about his career. As a comic, he works a lot, constantly coming up with new material, searching for inspiration on new bits to develop, working in movies and as a stand-up comic. Because he loves what he does for a living, he emphasized this is his career, not only a job. WIth a career, you are focused, determined, motivated to do better. A job is just a way to earn a paycheck, and you can’t wait until your shift is over.

Inspired by Chris, I was thinking of my career as a real estate agent on this Labor Day. In the beginning, it felt like just a job, but without a regular paycheck. I had to educate myself on various neighborhoods, contract documents, financing, attend inspections, learn how to market myself and my services. It was tedious, time consuming, and very little income. But I liked what I was doing, so I worked long hours on my own little ‘start up’ business. There were days in the beginning when I had nothing I had to do that day for my job, but I worked anyway. There was so much to learn, and so I forced myself to soak up as much as I could about being a professional, knowledgeable agent–even though it would have been easier to just blow off the day and watch movies on the sofa. Eventually, I turned the job into a career. When did that happen? When I really started to enjoy what I was doing, when I felt this was a service I could provide to people and be proud of it. When I started learning from the mistakes, when I realized I was in control of the business. When I felt a sense of accomplishment and appreciation from my clients. When I had to work three days straight with one client but enjoyed their company so much, it was a bubbly mixture of work and interesting conversations.

Now I still work long hours and am constantly trying to improve myself as an agent. Keeping up with technology, new rules and regulations, recognizing the shifting needs of buyers and consoling sellers who can’t get what they want for their house–these challenges are ever present. But like Chris, I really like what I do and have developed my career. Thankfully, it will never be just a job to me.

Inside Brookside (And Waldo)

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

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