Hello neighbors! It’s a typical gray November day as I write this blog…still, much to be thankful for this week of Thanksgiving 2020. Waldo home sellers continue to experience fast sales on their properties, often with multiple offers. Here are the stats for single family homes in Waldo last month, using the boundaries of Gregory to 85th; State Line to Holmes:
| October 2020 | October 2019 |
| Median list price: $225,000 | $179,900 |
| Median sales price: $237,500 | $178,950 |
| No. of homes sold: 29 | 30 |
| Days on market: 2 | 15 |
So, the number of homes changing owners remains steady; prices are up! Last month, 19 of the 29 homes that closed were at or over list price. Here are the year-to-date numbers:
| Jan-Oct 2020 | Jan-Oct 2019 |
| Median list price: $224,950 | $220,000 |
| Median sales price: $230,000 | $217,500 |
| No. of homes sold: 315 | 299 |
| Days on market: 4 | 9 |
Home values are up almost 6% YTD for Waldo–and homes are going under contract very fast. Despite the pandemic, buyers are snapping up homes not just in Kansas City, but all over the US. So much demand, not enough inventory. Currently, there are 18 active listings in Waldo, with a median list price of $250,000.
(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)
Owner Spencer Woodard is a wholesaler by trade, owning Geo’s Foods. He’s been in the cheese business for fifteen years, was born and raise in Kansas City, and lives in Waldo. Spencer says he’s always wanted to open a gourmet cheese place in Kansas City, and after looking at a few other locations, decided on this spot at the corner of McGee and Gregory. “The word ‘cheese’ draws so many people” he explained. “ I always thought Kansas City needed a cheese shop. We love the neighborhood and being here, everyone is so supportive.”
As with just about every other locally owned Brookside/Waldo retail shop, there is an emphasis on personal service here. Chances are Spencer’s longtime friend Gary Seabaugh will greet you at the door and offer his assistance. If you call ahead, Geo’s will put together a special gift bag of cheeses, crackers, etc you can pick up ready to go. Or just stop in and browse—bring something special home for that last minute meal on a warm night!
So here’s how it works: bring in your jar, bucket, bottle, whatever (you can also purchase them at the store or take from the donated containers basket) and browse the shop, filling up on what you need: there are cleansers for your face/ body, laundry, and home. Weigh the contents on the scale and pay by the ounce—you can purchase as little as one ounce of product just to give it a trial run at home, or stock up large jugs to last several months. All soaps have no artificial scents and many are allergen free. There is also a “house brand” line of products that are mixed in Springfield. Annie and Adam also carry several essential oils if you do want to scent the soaps you buy. Both are very customer service oriented and will walk you through the options as to what would work best for your specific cleaning needs. This shop is perfect for your own personal shopping or to purchase special, unique scented gifts for friends and family. And of course, it’s very environmentally friendly!
Anne says ” We firmly believe that what we are doing is making a difference. We just want to be a utility for those who are already trying to make less impact on the planet. In less than two years our three shops together have kept over 30,000 containers out of the landfills, waterways, and even recycling centers.”
Inside Brookside (And Waldo) 