Armour Hills Feb 2013 Home Sales Stats

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Armour Hills Homes in Brookside

Home prices are on the rise in Armour Hills! Although it’s officially April, I am just now publishing the February 2013 home sales stats for our neighborhood. It’s good news worth waiting for as average home sales prices are way up:

In February 2013, four homes sold. Average list price was $261,238 and average sales price was $257,375. Average days on market was 79.

In February 2012, one home sold at a price of $195,000 and seven days on the market.

Now let’s compare to year-to-date figures:

For 2013, six homes have sold at an average price of $245,250 and 62 days on market.

In 2012, three homes sold the first two months of the year at an average price of $208,333 and 43 days on market.

These figures represent a big jump in average sales price and number of homes sold–and we are not even into the heavy buying months of April and May. Buyers are out early this year, snapping up the well maintained, updated homes in our area and paying higher prices. I expect this trend to continue the next several months.

Currently there are ten homes for sale in Armour Hills, with an average list price of $245,760 and just 36 days on market. I know of at least three Armour Hills homes that were recently listed and sold within two days! There is a lack of inventory right now, partially due, I think, to the two huge snow storms and spring break vacations.

The housing slump is over!

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

Kansas City Home and Garden Show March 22-24, 2013

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Here we are at the end of March and there is a winter storm warning posted for this weekend. Ugh, again?! If you are tired of cold, snowy weather and need some color in your life–check out the Greater Kansas City Home Show/Flower, Lawn and Garden Show this weekend at Bartle Hall.

I enjoy this event as there is so much to see and learn about your home. If you are thinking of some home improvement projects, there are a lot of ideas here–especially regarding outdoor spaces and gardens. The speakers are always interesting, and there’s a Kids Korner if you are bringing the young ones. Plus, you will find interesting home decor for sale–things you won’t find anywhere else.

Some of the highlights of this year’s show include:

*Information on ‘aging in place’ regarding mobility and accessibility for seniors.

*Sarah Susanka, author of “The Not So Big House” will speak Saturday morning.

*The “Wall Wizard” will teach you painting, wallpaper, and wall repair tips.

*Useful info from the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department.

Exhibit booths include everything from patios, plumbing, pest control, waterproofing your home; renewable energy sources and gardening seminars.

You can get tickets on line or at the door. On Sunday you can buy 2 for 1 tickets with a donation to Harvesters. Read details here. The show is open tonight until 8pm, Saturday 10am-8pm and Sunday 10am-6pm. This is the 65th Annual Home Show–I wonder if they will have any photos from years past? Now that would be an interesting exhibit to see!

New Business in Waldo–“CoWork Waldo”

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Do you work from home? Occasionally miss a little interaction with others during the day? Or do you need a temporary office desk from time to time? A new business, CoWork Waldo , could be the answer.

CoWork Waldo work space

CoWork Waldo is a fixed workspace at 7449 Broadway (second floor), where you can drop in anytime you need fully equipped office space on a temporary basis. Just bring your laptop and plug in–it’s that easy. Everything you want is here: wifi or hard wired internet service, access to a printer/copier/scanner; desk space, and complimentary coffee! The space is comfortable and welcoming, modern and spacious. Various membership options are available–you can reserve a dedicated desk by the month to call your own, or just drop in and use the space for a day ($20 fee). No contracts. Currently, the hours are 8:30am-5pm, Monday through Friday but owner Melissa Saubers is working on an after hours access code for users.

Melissa did quite a bit of research before opening CoWaldo. She hatched the idea after her associates kept coming to her personal home for meetings. Trying to work from a coffee shop is fine for a while–but the tables are small, the space can get noisy and it’s not conducive to small business meetings. Knowing there was a growing demand for this service, she opened CoWaldo on February 1 this year. She purchased furniture from a company specializing in cowork environments and toured other temporary office set ups for inspiration. Melissa believes the open office concept fosters collaboration between those who use the space on a regular basis. She already has several regular customers who visit on a daily basis. There is, however, cowork etiquette to be aware of: put your phone on vibrate; step outside the room for phone conversations; and if you have one earbud in and one out–that’s a signal it’s OK to interrupt.

Large conference room

Besides the desk space, CoWork Waldo offers two conference rooms, one small room and another larger room with a hi def TV connected to a computer and whiteboard. Rental for these two spaces is by the hour. There’s also a small ‘collaboration corner’ in one area of the room with big comfy swivel chairs and a wall mounted whiteboard.

Ready to try out CoWork Waldo? Drop in anytime for a tour. And remember to support locally owned Brookside and Waldo businesses!

Why There Is A Shortage of Homes For Sale

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Many readers of this blog know that I am a real estate agent, and often post home sales statistics here for the Brookside area. TodayI am writing a post about why there are so few homes for sale on the market in our area. I was showing some buyers homes for sale this weekend, and they seemed puzzled, saying ‘we are ready to buy, why aren’t there more homes for us to see?” It’s true! Inventory is very low…it’s a big topic of conversation among agents. Here are four reasons why:

1) Sellers don’t have enough equity in their homes. If a home was purchased during the peak buying frenzied years of 2005 – early 2008 with little or no down payment, chances are the owner could owe more than the home is worth since the market crashed in late 2008. Unless sellers have made substantial improvements, the housing market crash has created many homes worth less than what is owed. It will take a few more years of payments to make up the loss. Homeowners do not want to sell at a loss, so they don’t sell.

2) Many sellers have decided to “stay put”. The recession affected everyone in the U.S., even those that didn’t lose a job. People are much more careful about spending and borrowing. Many homeowners are thinking twice about ‘moving up’ to a larger home–they feel they can ‘make do’ where they are, perhaps updating the interior or building an addition on their current house. A larger home means more expenses regarding utilities, upkeep, and maintenance. Not moving can mean more money for travel, college costs, retirement, etc. A lack of move up buyers means less inventory.

3) Now that home prices are rising, some sellers may wait for ‘top dollar’ pricing. When potential sellers hear stories of homes going under contract in one or two days, sometimes with multiple offers, they know this causes an uptick in home prices. They may be inclined to wait until the market shows several months of rising prices before they decide to jump in and sell.

4) The good ones go fast. I’ve seen inventory move quicker this spring than in the past three years. Well maintained, updated homes in Brookside, Waldo (and Prairie Village) that are priced well sell within days. If a buyer thinks they can get away with a lowball offer on a newly listed, beautifully updated home in a great location–they will lose out. In this busy spring market, buyers have to be ready to write an GOOD offer when the house they want hits the market, or someone else will snatch it up.

It’s encouraging to see home prices on the rise and buyers are confident about purchasing. As we get past spring break travel and the Easter holiday, more homes for sale will hit the market. This is going to be a great homebuying season, with buyers and sellers feeling much more confident about home values and purchases. Be ready!

2013 Brookside St Patrick’s Warm Up Parade

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

March 16, 2013: Brookside St Pat’s Warm Up Parade

It’s almost here…the 33rd Annual Brookside St Patrick’s Day Warm-Up Parade! The date is Saturday March 16, starting at 2:00pm. Here’s the route:
Starting at 65th and Wornall, the parade marches north on Wornall, turns east on 63rd St, turns south on Main, turns west on Meyer to end along Brookside Road.
This is a fun, family event with local shops, churches, organizations and schools participating. Viewers sit on the street curbs or brings chairs to the sidewalks–it’s easy to get close to the action and watch all the colorful floats and crazy cars going by. It usually lasts a good two hours from start to finish.

And if you’ve ever wondered how the parade got started…it was way back in the 1970s when patrons of Hogerty’s Tavern went out into the streets for an impromptu parade around the shopping district. In 1981, the parade became official, capitalizing on the popular downtown St Pat’s parade. The ‘warm up’ designation made Brookside the official kick off party to the City’s celebration. In the beginning, it was a pretty small affair, with mostly kids and school groups participating. Gradually it grew, attracted media coverage and a Grand Marshall was named to lead the festivities. Thousands turn out to see this event, especially if the weather cooperates, and it’s the second largest event for Brookside, behind the annual Art Fair.

Even if you don’t live in Brookside, this is a great day to visit the area. Bring the kids, a couple of chairs and enjoy the afternoon with us on March 16!

Brookside Home Sales Report Jan 2013

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Everyone is snowed in today in Brookside! Luckily, my house still has power, many of my neighbors do not. Back to work now after shoveling the driveway and sidewalk! Let’s review the January 2013 single family home sales in the main Brookside zip code of 64113:

In January 2013, 16 homes sold. The average list price was $278,488 and the average sales price was $260,503. Average days on market: 73.

In January 2012, 8 homes sold. The average list price was $357,933 and the average sales price was $346,167. Average days on market: 123.

Don’t be alarmed that the 2013 list/sales price was so much lower. Although there were twice as many sales in January 2013 than 2012, in 2012 five of the eight homes sold over $300K. In 2013, five homes sold over $300K but the rest of the homes sold at a much lower price, therefore bringing down the average sales price. The market continues to improve over last year as homes are selling much faster–73 days on the market vs 123 in 2012.

Figuring the percentages, home sales were up in Brookside 50% in January 2013 from 2012, and homes were selling about 50% faster than the previous year! Good news all around.

Currently there are 65 single family homes for sale in zip 64113, with an average price of $734,581 and 201 days on market. The average list price is much higher than usual because about half (30) of the 65 homes for sale are priced over $500K, and 11 of the 30 are priced over $1 million. The more expensive homes take longer to sell; thus the higher days on market. Overall, the Brookside housing market has recovered from the housing crash and I think sales will be very strong during the busy spring buying season, even beating last year’s strong numbers.

My Visit to Louie’s Wine Dive in Waldo

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Earlier this week my friend Maija and I met at Louie’s Wine Dive for happy hour. I drive by this place daily on my way to work and it looks like they are drawing big crowds. The reviews on-line are generally very positive. Our experience was a good one, especially because of the service. More on that later.

I’m not a foodie — I’m actually a very picky eater! Everything we tried was delicious: the garlic hummus with lavosh crackers; the tomato bruschetta, the harvest salad; and the pork ragu sliders with thin, crispy fries. This is the kind of happy hour I like: the portions are smaller yet the right size (for me) as a regular meal, so an excellent value. The two pork ragu sliders were very filling, and with the fries on the side–a gourmet meal for just $6! The wine selection is extensive, and they serve a very tasty grapefruit martini ($5 during happy hour).

Louie’s has a casual feel with hardwood floors, raised tables, a long bar and original artwork (for sale) in the bathroom. The menu is extensive and the food is sourced locally when possible (Farm to Market bread, Alex Pope meats). Although it was busy during my visit, the volume in the room was fine and we could carry on a conversation easily. Others I know who have dined at Louie’s complain that it is very loud and noisy during the busy dinner service.

Whenever I visit a restaurant, especially a locally owned place, I am keenly aware of the service level. Is the wait staff friendly? Checks on the table often but doesn’t interrupt conversation? Shows some personality but not overbearing? Do they smile and make eye contact? Do they know the menu? When you have a professional and friendly server, it makes the meal so much better. Our waiter was Andy, and he was excellent. Attentive, sincere, knowledgeable and really enjoyed his job. When Maija accidentally spilled my full glass of wine, Andy and another server had the mess cleaned up quickly and soon presented a replacement. He made our meal better. Ask for Andy when you visit.

Louie’s Wine Dive is a welcome addition to Waldo. Happy hour is from 3-6pm Monday through Friday, and late night Thursday-Saturday from 11pm-midnight. Support locally owned businesses and stop by Louie’s Wine Dive soon. They accept reservations through Open Table.

Thoughts During a Winter’s Day in Brookside

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Monty shoveling snow in front of our Brookside home.

We’re all snowed in. There is a state of emergency in Kansas City. In the past few hours, I estimate we’ve had at least 6″ of snow fall, and it hasn’t stopped yet. My husband is out with the snowblower–and it’s so cold and windy!

I love snow days. This is the first big one of this winter season. I am working from home, at my desk with a window that overlooks the street. In the past two hours, I’ve seen one pick up truck drive by. It’s warm and wonderful.

This has been a rough week for Kansas City. On Monday night, JJ’s Restaurant on the Plaza blew up due to a gas line break, injuring several employees and killing one server. JJ’s was a locally owned restaurant (I sold a house last year to the co-owner’s daughter) that served excellent food in an elegant but simple atmosphere with friendly service and an extensive wine list. I enjoyed many fine meals there. And today, our city is shut down due to the storm. The airport is closed, bus service has been suspended and the KC Mayor is asking everyone to stay home.

And in the face of these two events that have personally touched so many, we KC folks have put others ahead of ourselves and reached out to help those directly affected by the JJ’s fire and snowstorm. There are numerous stories of other locally owned restaurants and wait staff reaching out to JJ’s employees, offering food and work shifts to get them by. Neighbors are taking in those stranded by stuck vehicles and check on older residents, bringing by necessities and shoveling snow. Social media and newscasts are spreading the word about the kindness of strangers to one another. Our Mayor has asked followers to tweet these stories using the hashtag #LOVEKC.

Some people will complain endlessly about the inconveniences that a snowstorm brings; some are pointing fingers at who exactly is responsible for the explosion at JJ’s. But most of us are out there helping one another, one person at a time, comforting those in need through random acts of kindness. We do what we can, in small ways, to turn a negative into a positive. That’s the attitude to have in order to get through events like this.

Armour Hills Home Sales Stats January 2013

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Armour Hills, a Brookside area subdivsion

You’ve heard it in the media…now read about it in your own neighborhood. Home prices are up! Let’s check the January home sales stats for Armour Hills:

In January 2013, two homes sold. Average list price was $235,000 and average sales price was $221,000. Average days on market…just 26 days!

Now let’s compare to Jan 2012 and Jan 2011:

In January 2012, two homes sold. Average list price was $224,500 and average sales price was $215,000. Average days on market…43 days.

In January 2011, one home sold. The list price was $145,000 and the sales price was $146,777. Average days on market for the one sale was 158 days.

There is no doubt that home prices are on the rise in Armour Hills. I track the sales every month, and 2012 finished with more homes sold than 2011, a higher average sales price and less time on the market. I expect this trend to continue in 2013.

Currently there are nine homes for sale in Armour Hills, with an average price of $235,089, Overall, there is a lack of good inventory in the Brookside area. If you’ve been waiting for the market to change in the seller’s favor…now is the time to list your home! If it’s been well maintained, priced correctly and updated, you may have competing offers.

Contact me if you would like more details on the current state of the home sales market in Brookside.

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

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Shopping in Brookside

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

OK guys, have you waited until the last-minute to pick up a gift for your sweetheart? I’ve got the answer: head to 63rd and Brookside, park the car and follow this plan. Bring a small shopping bag with you. You’ll have a personalized, wrapped gift in about 30 minutes!

*First stop is 5B&Co candlemakers. Pick out a small votive or jar candle with a special scent: perhaps cashmere or jasmine. (Better yet–call ahead and ask their friendly staff to pick out a few for you and have them ready to be picked up.) Take the free brown paper bag with you to use as your gift bag.

*Just around the corner, stop at Fiddly Fig. Chose one fresh flower–a stargazer lily, long stemmed rose. Wrap it up!

*Head west on 63rd to Stuff. Ask one of their knowledgeable staff people to help you pick out one or more of the following items: scented soap/lotion/earrings/necklace. If you don’t know your girl’s taste in jewelry, stick with the soap and lotion–although you can exchange items at Stuff. Stuff will gift wrap your items, and politely ask if the 5B candles can be wrapped as well.

You’re done! For extra points, if you have time and want to spend more, stop by Carmen’s Cafe or JULIAN for a gift card, and Berbiglia for a bottle of wine.

Enjoy your Valentine’s evening..and remember next year to shop ahead of time…

Inside Brookside (And Waldo)

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

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