Help with Utilities in Madison County - 04/19/09 12:21 AM
Do you know someone in Madison County who is having trouble paying his utility bills?
This time of year, when temperatures have risen consistently above 32 degrees after April 1, utility companies are allowed to cut off service to delinquent customers.
Ameren IP offers payment plan options that allow the customer to pay 25 percent of the past due bill and the remainder in monthly installments. Once the full amount of the bill is paid, service can be reconnected.
For residents who meet certain income requirements, Illinois Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds are available to help.
And for families … (2 comments)

The Yanda Log Cabin Opens for the Season - 04/18/09 11:22 PM
Yanda Log Cabin Opens for 2009The historic Yanda Log Cabin in Old Town Glen Carbon (pictured right) is now open for the season. 
The cabin and grounds are available for rent for special events. Call 288-7271 for reservation information.
The Yanda Log Cabin is located at 148 South Main Street in Glen Carbon. Built by Austrian immigrant and blacksmith William Yanda in 1853, the cabin is a beloved relic from the region's past.Glen Carbon's Arbor Day Ceremony, April 25Think green this spring by attending the village's annual tree planting ceremony.
The Arbor Day event will be led by the Mayor, who will host a ribbon … (2 comments)

Taste Of Summer - Edwardsville Style - Northside Dairy Haven - 04/18/09 01:36 PM
I was also at Northside Dairy Haven in Edwardsville last night where I snapped some blog pictures and planned to post them today.
Kristina beat me to the punch with her excellent review below.
Some people think that robins are a sign of spring. For me, it's the opening of Northside Dairy Haven. 
Via Kristina Pratt, Realtor - JustDuckyHomes.com (St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors):
Nothing says summer like outdoor dining in a park like setting at the Northside Dairy Haven.
This place is a summer favorite of folks all over central Madison County.  It's only open during the spring, summer … (2 comments)

Weekends Around Edwardsville - Leclaire Park - 04/18/09 01:18 PM
 
Via Kristina Pratt, Realtor - JustDuckyHomes.com (St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors):
If you know me, or you've read my posts about Edwardsville, it's no secret that I am a big fan of the Leclaire Historical District in Edwardsville.
Leclaire tells a story, has great architecture, is great for people of all ages and it even has a baseball field. (Stick around for a future entry about Leclaire field).
One of the hidden gems in Edwardsville is Leclaire Park.  This park is about 6 acres and features a large fishing lake.  Bring a sack of bread to feed the … (0 comments)

Market Trend Report for St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - 04/17/09 08:55 AM
How's the market, Nancy?  Like all Realtors, I get that question everywhere I go. 
Our region, primarily in Madison and St. Clair counties in Southwestern Illinois, didn't experience the extreme rise in home prices that affected so many places across the country.
That means the market drop in our part of the nation has not been as precipitous. Remember that all real estate is local. If you're listening to CNN's anchors talk about Florida or California, it has no bearing on Edwardsville, Glen Carbon or Maryville, Illinois. So don't let them scare you.
From January 1 through the end of March 2009, 1,107 resale … (0 comments)

Edwardsville, IL School Report Card - 04/16/09 09:22 AM
If you're thinking about relocating your family to St. Louis' Illinois suburbs in Madison County, you may be interested in learning more about the area's public school districts.
This is the first in a series of posts that will link you to the Illinois school report cards for the county's districts. Today's topic: Edwardsville District 7.
The Edwardsville school district is large at approximately 185 square miles, encompassing the city of Edwardsville, the village of Glen Carbon, and more rural areas including Prairietown, Dorsey, Hamel, Worden, the Holiday Shores lakeside community and Midway.
In addition to Edwardsville High School and two middle schools -- … (0 comments)

Pssst...Hey, Buddy...Want to Dump an Old Computer? - 04/15/09 10:39 PM
Pssst, hey Buddy, want to dump an old computer?  No, the streets of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon aren't suddenly filled with shady characters offering to take your out-of-date electronics. It's actually Madison County's recycling program kicking into high gear just in time for spring cleaning.
You can recycle your old computers, TVs, cell phones and small electric household appliances this coming Saturday, April 18, in the Sears Auto Center parking lot at the Alton Square Mall.  The event runs from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.   
Sponsored by the Sierra Club, Madison County Recycling, Totall Metal Recycling and the mall, the collection event is for Madison County, … (2 comments)

Pay Attention to Those Pesky Contract Deadlines - 04/12/09 09:22 PM
We always tell our buyers to be sure they read and understand the standard board contract that is used to make an offer to purchase property in our market. As we fill it out with them, we paraphrase and tell them about the importance of the document they are signing and initialling.
However, the contract is eight pages long and it's likely that many of them don't pay as much attention to some very important language as we'd like. That's one more reason why it's so important to have a competent buyer's agent on your side when you're purchasing a home or investment property.
… (0 comments)

The art of the deal...or not - 04/12/09 08:15 PM
From time to time I come across a great blog post that I really want to share with my customers.
So, even though the Realtors who penned the advice below practice in Alaska and my buyers and I are in Madison County, Illinois, this is still incredibly relevant information.
Always, always use a buyer's agent when acquiring property. In this market in Southwestern Illinois our services cost you nothing and can save you plenty in the long run. 
Please read on...
--Nancy

Via Fairbanks Ak Real Estate Broker Jesse & Kathy Clifton 907-699-6024 (Jesse Clifton & Associates, REALTORS®):
Principles of negotiation.  Books have … (0 comments)

Seniors and Freshmen: Buying a Non-Traditional Home - 04/12/09 12:39 AM
Recently I have noticed an upswing in the number of buyers I help who are acquiring a home for some non-traditional reasons that make a great deal of sense.
These customers tend to fall into two categories -- parents of university students and middle-aged adults with elderly parents.  That's why I call these buyers, "Freshmen and Seniors."
Because my home base of Edwardsville is the site of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, savvy parents are looking here for ways to work around the cost of a college dorm room or apartment housing. Four years (or more if your child is on the five-year plan!) is a long … (2 comments)

Here's Why I'll Never Sell You a House - 04/08/09 11:51 PM
Dear Buyer: 
I am so glad we've decided to work together to find your next new home. It will be a pleasure to be your buyer's agent.
But before we get started, I want to make one thing perfectly clear. I will never, ever sell you a house.
Now, before you decide I'm crazy, let me explain how this works. You and I will have a meeting to talk about your housing needs and wants. A "need" is something like the number of bedrooms in your home.  A "want" is something like a fireplace or a three-car garage. 
What kind of neighborhood do you … (0 comments)

Real Estate Home Styles 101 - The American Craftsman - 04/08/09 09:35 PM

Via Kristina Pratt, Realtor - JustDuckyHomes.com (St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors):
If you don't know a Tudor from a Victorian or a raised ranch from a bi-level, you've come to the right place.
Sometimes, it seems like real estate has it's own language.  There are contract terms, financing terms and style terms.  This will be an on-going series of posts helping you - the buyer - focus on the style of home you are most drawn to.  First up is an introduction to my personal favorite, the Craftsman style home.
Craftsman style homes can be found all over Madison County.  There … (0 comments)

5 Reasons You Don't Need A Buyer's Agent - 04/07/09 06:36 PM

Via Kristina Pratt, Realtor - JustDuckyHomes.com (St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors):
I spent yesterday hanging out with a lot of my husband's friends from work.  One friend, we'll call him "Walter", decided to inform me that one day buyer's agents will be obsolete.  When I asked him why, he told me that whatever an agent can do he can do thanks to the Internet.
Wow.  I decided to take on a lively debate with Walter.  He's a nice guy and fun to spar with now and then.  I told him to name me five things the Internet allows him to … (1 comments)

We're Collecting Bikes For Kids - 04/07/09 11:03 AM
Did you know that May is National Bike Month?
Every child should have the opportunity to hop on a bike, strap on a helmet and enjoy the feeling of freedom that comes from flying down the road under their own power. 
Sadly not all kids in our area have access to bikes they can call their own. That's why the Just Ducky Homes Team is participating in Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors' bike drive.
For the next several weeks, you contact me to make arrangements to donate your new or gently used bike. The bikes will be repaired as needed by our great friends and partners at The Cyclery … (0 comments)

Tune in to WSIE 88.7 FM Your Station for Jazz in Edwardsville - 04/05/09 08:55 PM
If you're new to the Edwardsville area, or anywhere in Madison County, get ready for a treat on your radio dial. WSIE 88.7 FM is the on-air gathering place for jazz lovers in the St. Louis metropolitan region.
Operated by Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, WSIE brings a full schedule of jazz programming to dedicated listeners, including the always terrific Jazz From Lincoln Center program with Wynton Marsalis each Sunday at noon.
The station is located in Dunham Hall on the university campus. (When I was an undergrad at SIUE, it was called the Communications Building, so you old-timers can get your … (0 comments)

Call Us About ConocoPhillips Wood River Refinery Relocation Homes - 04/05/09 11:29 AM
The massive ConocoPhillips EnCana Wood River refinery in Roxana, Illinois is expanding, bringing great new jobs to our area for skilled craftsmen and contractors. That's excellent news for Madison County, Illinois in the midst of the ongoing national recession.
According to the companies, the $2 billion project is expected to be completed for production to begin in the early months of 2011.  The expansion will upgrade capacity and will increase the production of clean fuels for the Midwest.
The refinery, located on approximately 2,200 acres at the intersection of IL Highway 111 and Madison, is operated by ConocoPhillips in cooperation with EnCana Corp., a … (0 comments)

Think Like A Buyer - And Your Listings Will Sell - 04/02/09 06:47 PM

Via Kristina Pratt, Realtor - JustDuckyHomes.com (St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors):
Back in 2005, anyone with a real estate license could sell a house.  Snap a picture, stick a sign in the yard and put the listing in the MLS with a one sentence description and you were done.  Those days are long, long gone.
The numbers in my market indicate that the chances of selling a home in Edwardsville/Glen Carbon is only 42%.  42%... that's staggering.  The houses that are selling are the ones that are priced right, show well and are marketed effectively.
We've got quite … (0 comments)

Goshen Gourmet: Neruda Winemaker's Dinner in Edwardsville - 04/01/09 03:33 PM
Neruda is recognized as one of the finest restaurants in Madison County and nothing could be finer than joining Madt Mallinckrodt and his crew, including Chef Rick Counts, for one of the Edwardsville establishment's official winemaker's dinners.
On Thursday, April 16, 2009, Neruda will host a five-course dinner featuring the wines of Cosentino Winery of Napa.  Trust me. You will need this after Tax Day, so book your space now by visiting their web site at www.neruda2dine.com.
According to Madt, Maggie Bolin --Cosentino's key account manager -- will be in Edwardsville to host the event.  Two white wines and three red wines will be featured … (0 comments)

 
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Nancy Milton Holtzscher, Illinois Broker/GRI

Edwardsville, IL

More about me…

RE/MAX Preferred Partners in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs

Address: One 157 Center, Edwardsville, IL 62025, Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Troy, Collinsville, Granite City, Godfrey, Holiday Shores, SIUE, Alton, Dorsey, Highland, Edwardsville, IL, 62025

Office Phone: (618) 655-1188

Cell Phone: (618) 791-8007

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