Tag Archives: brookside real estate agent

Want To Buy A Brookside House? What To Know-Part One

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As a Realtor who is living in a third Brookside home, I work with a lot of homebuyers who want to join me living in the area.  There’s so much charm and personality in this 1920s neighborhood, and with so many desirable amenities, it continues to be a sought after location for house hunters of all ages. There’s a lot to know about buying in Brookside, so I’m starting a series of blogs about what to expect…before you buy!

Brookside mural

First, let’s define a geographical area: for blog purposes, I’m referring to street boundaries of the main Brookside zip code of 64113:  55TH St to the north, Gregory to the south, State Line on the west side and Oak as the east boundary.  It can be argued that west of Oak is also a part of Brookside, especially considering all the new development in Brookside East; and that homes north of 59th St are closer to the Plaza area.  Real estate is first about location, so understand that in general, the homes west of Wornall in Brookside are larger (with higher property taxes) and more expensive than east of Wornall (smaller homes, smaller lots). 

The next thing to know is this:  properties closer to the central Brookside shopping district at 63rd and Brookside Blvd can be higher priced than similar properties farther away.  There is a reason so many buyers tell me “I want to walk to shops, restaurants and a grocery store” – those features are high on many buyers’ wish list and what attracts so many people to this neighborhood.  Developer JC Nichols designed the footprint of the Brookside around the shops—and being within walking distance hikes up the property value.

Finally, to close out this first blog about buying in Brookside…I want to mention crime stats.  Buyers tell me:  I want to live in a safe area.   That’s a subjective statement, so know that if  you want detailed information on crime in Brookside, check out www.crimereports.com.  The KCMO police department reports incidents to this site.

The next blog in this series will focus on typical features and characteristics of a Brookside home.  These are not cookie-cutter newer suburban homes, yet many share similar original features from the 1920s. And the Brookside charm will never go out of style!  Your comments and suggestions about topics to cover are welcome!

Armour Hills Home Sale Report-Feb 2018

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Are we headed for a slowdown in the housing market this year?  So far, not in the Brookside/Waldo area.  And in my neighborhood of Armour Hills, homes are still moving quickly although fewer are selling–so far. Here are the home sales stats for last month:

Feb 2019                                                                    Feb 2018

Median list price:     $362,499                               Median list price:     $306,950

Median sales price:  $352,500                               Median sales price:  $304,500

No. of homes sold:    4                                            No. of homes sold:       6

Days on market:       87                                           Days on market:          3

That median sales price was quite a jump from last February, however three of the four homes that closed last month were over $350,000.  Here are the YTD figures:

Jan-Feb 2019                                                                Jan-Feb 2018

Median list price:     $324,975                                   Median list price:     $299,500

Median sales price:  $321,000                                  Median sales price:   $299,500

No. of homes sold:     6                                              No. of homes sold:      10

Days on market:        84                                             Days on market:          4

Home values are up 7% compared to last year.  Currently there are six homes listing in Armour Hills, with a median price of $339,925 and 21 days on market.  

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

Brookside Home Sales Report-Feb 2019

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Welcome Spring! Finally, a week of warmer days to enjoy! Here’s the Brookside single family home sales report for last month, pulling stats from the 64113 zip code.  We are into the busy home buying and selling season!

Feb 2019                                                                  Feb 2018

Median list price:     $374,999                             Median list price:      $349,950

Median sales price:  $355,000                             Median sales price:   $327,000

No. of homes sold:       13                                    No. of homes sold:        11

Days on market:           76                                    Days on market:              9

Fun fact: highest sales price was $1.925 million last month! That’s one reason for the higher median price.  Here are YTD figures:

Jan-Feb 2019                                                          Jan-Feb 2018

Median list price:      $376,999                            Median list price:     $357,000

Median sales price:   $361,500                            Median sales price:  $340,000

No. of homes sold:       22                                    No. of homes sold:      29

Days on market:          78                                     Days on market:           41

Although fewer homes sold, and were on the market longer, prices are up 6.3% compared to last year. Currently there are 44 homes for sale in Brookside, with a median list price of $454,475 and 30 days on market. Four of the homes are priced over $1 million; a total of 17 are over $500K.

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

 

 

Brookside’s St Pat’s Parade This Sat 3/16/19

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It’s time once again for the St Patrick’s Warm Up Parade in Brookside–2019 marks the 39th year!  The parade itself starts at 2pm; the route will be closed prior to start time. 

St Pat Brookside

 

This parade is a family friendly event–many parade watchers set up chairs along the streets and kids sit on the curb, waiting for tossed candy from the participants.  Some of my favorite displays are the zippy little cars, Irish dancers and bagpipe players.  Expect to see several politicians waving to the crowds as well–especially with the upcoming KCMO mayoral election. The route starts at 65th and Wornall; continues north on Wornall to 63rd St; then east on 63rd to Main St; south on Main to Meyer and then west on Meyer to Brookside Road.

Streets will be very crowded with parked cars, kids, pedestrians, etc!  Please plan on walking to Brookside to watch or if you must drive, park several blocks away.

Wondering how the Brookside parade got started?  According to The Brookside Story by LaDeen Morton, the idea was for Brookside to piggy back on to the growing popularity of the much larger city parade in downtown KCMO.  By adding “Warm Up” to the official parade name, the Brookside event would be seen as a kick-off to the city celebration of St Patrick’s Day.  The first Warm Up parade started in the parking lot by the tennis courts and then traveled along Meyer, Brookside Plaza and 63rd St, lasting less than thirty minutes.  This week’s parade should be almost two hours!

Remember to stop in for a beverage, lunch or ice cream treat while in Brookside for the event.  Thank you for your support of our locally owned Brookside/Waldo businesses!

 

Brookside’s Shop Beautiful Has Closed

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shopIt’s been a longtime Brookside shop, since 1936!  And now it’s closed.  I always admired their beautiful, eye catching window displays at 320 W 63rd St.  Shop Beautiful sold their inventory and shut the doors last week.

 Shop Beautiful is a family run small business–and this store was small, just around 800 square feet.  The service was  friendly, and browsing the jewelry, handbags, scarves, candles, artwork and other unique gifts for sale was always fun.  Like many Brookside shops, they offered free gift wrap!

Now Brookside and Waldo residents can travel to their larger store in Overland Park at 5001 W 119th St in Hawthorne Plaza.  Same helpful service and complimentary gift wrap; same selection of interesting and eye catching merch–but more of it, because the OP store is much larger.

Hopefully another locally owned shop will move into the former 63rd St location…and stay at least 83 years!

Brookside Home Sales Stats-2018 Recap

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I’m posting this blog a bit later than usual..just returned from a mid January vacation so I’m behind on the blogging!  After the buying frenzy that kicked off 2018, at the end of the year the stats were similar to 2017 home sales…however, prices did rise. First we will look at December stats, then YTD comparisons.  I am checking the main Brookside zip code of 64113:

Dec 2018                                                                        Dec 2017

Median list price:     $457,475                                 Medium list price:     $439,000

Median sales price:   $437,000                               Medium sales price:    $442,000

No. of homes sold:      20                                         No. of homes sold:         27

Days on market:          37                                         Days on market:           29

Several more expensive homes closed last month, including five over $500K and one of those was a $1.75 million home.  Below is the 2018/2017 comparison:

2018                                                                                    2017

Median list price:      $407,000                                     Median list price:      $395,000

Median sales price:   $398,000                                     Median sales price:   $387,250

No. of homes sold:        282                                          No. of homes sold:     296

Days on market:           18                                             Days on market:         20

The number of homes sold dropped slightly, but the days on market was virtually the same. Overall, prices were up 2.7% for the year.  Interesting, though, is the number of homes that sold over the asking price:  69 houses closed over list price, sometimes by as much as $25K!  The majority of these homes were in the under $400K price point.  The demand is for updated, well maintained homes at $350K or less.  Later this week I will post Waldo home stats–which I think will show a larger increase in home values compared to Brookside.

Currently there are 41 single family homes listed in Brookside, with a median price of $430,000 and 92 days on market.  

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

2018: It Was A Good Year for Brookside/Waldo

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Welcome to 2019!  I hope you are having a relaxing and healthy holiday season. Since this is the first blog of the year, I’m going to recap some 2018 highlights for the Brookside/Waldo area.  It was a successful twelve months for our neighborhood!

Brookside muralMany new businesses opened, and most of them are locally owned and operated. In the heart of Brookside along 63rd St, Sweet and Simple is a new edible cookie dough treat shop,  and LadyBye offers reasonably priced women’s  clothes and accessories for those interested in classic style.  Brookside Barrio and Brookside Poultry Company are two new popular eateries.    Brookside East continues to attract local  entrepreneurs, with the opening of Flying Horse Taproom, Chanee Vijay textiles, BKS Artisan Ales and Architexture Salon.  Plate plans to reopen in April at 701 E 63rd St.    Brookside also got an additional stoplight/crosswalk on 63rd by the new Starbucks, and everyone loves the new large wall mural celebrating Brookside on the north side of the CVS building.   Unfortunately, we had a couple of store closings:  Sheehan’s Irish Imports on Gregory *due to owner retiring) and Shop Beautiful will close this month as the owners focus on the Overland Park location.

There were several changes in the Waldo area as well:  Euston Hardware remodeled; Dodson’s Bar and Commons opened on Wornall just north of 75th St and Classic Cookie opened for evening dining with an Italian themed menu.  The never ending road construction along Wornall is at a temporary halt but not for long…expansive (and much needed changes) are planned for the 75th and Wornall intersection to make it more pedestrian friendly.  Next year will also see the renovation of the “Wornall Village” shopping area at the northwest corner of 85th and Wornall, starting with a revamped Price Chopper.

frontA wonderful community asset opened in 2018:  HJ’s Youth and Community Center, across from St Andrew’s church.  This space is used for community events, private receptions, classes, meetings and hosts a  small coffee shop open to everyone.  It also features a large lawn on the east side for outdoor movie nights, plus a doggie and human water station!

And what about home values?  That’s an interesting story as well.  Waldo is beating out Brookside in terms of rising home prices:  as of the end of November, Waldo home values were up 15% and Brookside saw a 3% increase.  I will report on twelve month figures later in the month when the stats are ready.  Brookside and Waldo are still very desirable locations for homebuyers.

I’m not going to make any firm predictions about this year…but I will say…. Brookside is celebrating it’s 100 year anniversary as a shopping/services/residential neighborhood.  I think both Brookside and Waldo will continue to attract local businesses and  homebuyers of all ages as we head into century 2!

Armour Hills Home Sales Stats-Nov 2018

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Armour Hills homes sales are steady…and so are prices, looking at year-to-year comparison.  First up–here are November 2018 stats for the Armour Hills subdivision of Brookside:

November  2018                                                          November 2017

Median list price:     $304,475                                    Median list price:     $346,000

Median sales price:    $309,100                                  Median sales price:    $341,250

No. of homes sold:        4                                             No. of homes sold:     4

Days on market:           7                                              Days on market:     27

Although the sales prices were way down from last November, not to worry–more expensive homes sold a year ago and three of the four homes that closed were at or over list price.  Take a look at the overall YTD numbers below:

Jan-Nov 2018                                                       Jan-Nov 2017

Median list price:     $315,000                         Median list price:     $315,000

Median sales price:  $315,000                         Median sales price:  $314,000

No. of homes sold:     76                                   No. of homes sold:     89

Days on market:        9                                        Days on market:       9

The numbers are remarkably the same from one year ago, except that homes have been going under contract faster this year.  Currently there are eleven homes for sale in Armour Hills, with a median list price of $374,999 and 78 days on market. Prices range from $287,500 to $525,000.

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

Brookside Home Sales Stats-Nov 2018

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Homebuyers are hibernating during the holiday season! It’s the traditional slow period–now through January.  However, home values are up in Brookside compared to last year. Here are the stats for single family home sales in the Brookside zip code of 64113 for last month:

Nov 2018                                                             Nov 2017

Medium list price:     $418,000                       Medium list price:     $409,000

Medium sales price:   $415,000                      Medium sales price:  $405,000

No. of homes sold:      15                                No. of homes sold:      17

Days on market:       17                                   Days on market:         26

The number of homes closed was about the same, and homes went under contract faster. The lowest sales price was $257,000 and the highest was $1.57 million.

Here are YTD figures:

Jan-Nov 2018                                                    Jan-Nov 2017

Median list price:     $402,500                     Median list price:     $389,500

Median sales price:   $396,000                    Median sales price:    $383,800

No. of homes sold:     260                            No. of homes sold:     269

Days on  market:       15                               Days on market:       19

Prices are up just over 3%  year-to-date.  Currently there are 48 active listings in Brookside, with a median list price of $422,500 and 70 days on market.  Over half of the homes for sale are priced over $400,000.

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

 

New Wall Mural in Brookside!

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Brookside mural

Have you noticed the new outdoor wall mural in Brookside??  It perfectly captures the friendly, welcoming spirit of our neighborhood.

First Washington Realty, the company that owns the commercial real estate on the north side of 63rd St between Wornall and Brookside Blvd, commissioned the work by Ruthie Ozonoff.  The mural was created is in conjunction with the 100 year anniversary of our neighborhood shops.  The postcard format is ideal for photos, and I especially like the Brookside gas lamp as the ‘stamp’ in the upper right corner–one of Brookside’s most distinctive features. 

Ruthie is from Kansas City and grew up in Brookside.  When she was ten years old, her family moved to Lawrence to be closer to family.  Ruthie went to KU, studying illustration and animation.  She created a few murals in the Kansas City area that you may have seen:  the “Kansas City I’m So In Love” mural at 2010 McGee and the “Where Kansas City Plays” mural, commissioned by KC Parks and Rec, in the West Bottoms.  First Washington saw her work on Etsy and contacted her about the Brookside piece. It was Ruthie’s idea to use a postcard template. 

ruthie ozonoff

Ruthie Ozonoff

Ruthie started painting at the beginning of November, and it took about two weeks to complete the project—delayed mostly by weather.  It’s located on the north facing wall, north of  CVS (6244 Brookside Blvd) —right by the alley that goes behind the shops.  You can easily see the mural driving south on Brookside Blvd just before 63rd St.  “Doing this mural was  an honor.  Growing up, I wanted to make people happy with my artwork—and it feels great to give back to my historic hometown community.”

You can find Ruthie’s work on her Facebook and Etsy pages, or check it out on Instagram-@designedbyruthie.  She’s currently living in Colorado, working as a freelance designer and a personal trainer/coach.  She says “After sitting at the computer for several hours working on illustrations and graphic design, I like to go to the gym and work out; shake off the pent up energy!”

The next time you are stopping in near the shops–perhaps for a Roasterie coffee or to pick up a few holiday gifts–look for the mural.  And thanks to First Washington Realty for bringing this artwork to Brookside for all to enjoy!