Three months into the pandemic and home sales in Brookside and Waldo are strong...for those updated homes priced under $400K.  Still, values have slipped since last year.  Let's take a look at the specific numbers, using the main Brookside zip code of 64113: May 2020                                                                May 2019Median list price:     $368,000                              $424,900Median sales price:   $371,500                             $422,500No. of homes sold:      32                                           40Days on market:          4                                             22 Several of the homes that closed last month were at or above list price; five homes priced over $500K sold quickly.  Still, prices were a little lower and fewer homes sold--prob... 06/16/2020

I am SO glad to be back writing a blog about a new business in the Brookside/Waldo area!   There is another bike shop option in our neighborhood--offering electric bikes! Pedego Kansas City opened in mid March, in the space of the former Family Bicycles at 7335 Broadway.  This is the second dealership for local Brookside resident Dan Cain, who has another store in Columbia MO along the Katy Trail.   Pedego is the number one brand of electric bikes in America, according to Navigant Research.   When I stopped by the store recently, Dan explained that each bike is ordered, assembled and delivered to specifically fit its owner.  There are several designs:  cruisers, commuters, folding latch, fat tire, mountain and tandem--each style built to perform on a specific terrain. The shop also carr... 06/04/2020

Waldo home prices have been rising fast--will the pandemic slow down the market?  Prices in the Brookside/Waldo area have taken a dip, but I still see strong demand for homes in these areas.  Let's take a look at the numbers for Waldo, using the boundaries of State Line to Holmes and Gregory to 85th:April 2020                                                       April 2019Median list price:     $197,500                       $227,000Median sales price:    $208,000                    $217,750No. of homes sold:       26                                  32Days on market:           5                                    9 Home prices down about 4.5% compared to April of last year. However, note that sellers were getting over list price for their properties.  This may be due to bidding wars a... 06/01/2020

It's the last week of May 2020; have you noticed how much more daylight we have in the evening?  Many more people out walking and I often hear the bagpipe player here in Armour Hills.  We have a long summer ahead dealing with the coronavirus..but we persevere! Here are the home sales stats for Armour Hills, the largest subdivision in the Brookside area: April 2020                                                                   April 2019Median list price:    $340,000                                    $358,700Median sales price:   $336,500                                  $366,250No. of homes sold:      6                                                  10Days on market:        20                                                  2 Home prices were down 8% compared to the year prior.  ... 05/28/2020

Oh I am late posting these stats for Armour Hills!  When I'm not going to the office every day and working from home...easy to get distracted!!  In a couple of weeks I'll have home sales reports for April.  In the meantime....here's the information for Armour Hills in Brookside, for March 2020: March 2020                                                             March 2019Median list price:      $349,900                            Median list price:     $339,900Median sales price:   $337,500                            Median sales price:   $327,000No. of homes sold:      3                                         No. of homes sold:      7Days on market:         10                                       Days on market:         69So prices are up since last March, fewer homes sold in a sh... 05/01/2020

 As I drive around my neighborhood of Brookside in Kansas City MO, I'm thinking....just how long will these small, locally owned businesses be shut down?  There are plenty of places to park in front of the boutiques, the toy store, the barber, the gift shop.  I see folks walking in and out of our local coffee shop and the grocer; and stopping by for curbside pick up at a few restaurants.  But I know cafes and restaurants can't survive indefinately on  orders.  Part of the pleasures of having a coffee or meal is enjoying the slower pace of conversation with a friend, sipping the glass of wine and being waited on!  I feel it's going to be a very long time before neighbors and friends can lounge in a restaurant with a good meal and cup of joe. So how can I help?  Our family is ordering mea... 04/25/2020

As I reviewed these stats, I noticed home sales were lagging behind 2019 during the same period.  Normally, April through June is very strong for home purchases--with the pandemic going on, I think we will see a slowdown in the coming weeks.  For now, here's the single family home sales report for Brookside, using the zip code of 64113: March 2020                                                             March 2019Median list price:       $347,450                            $399,950Median sales price:    $338,750                            $380,000No. of homes sold:        15                                          29Days on market:            12                                         69 About half as many homes sold last month than March 2019, but sellers were getting within 2% of ... 04/15/2020

My apologies for posting this blog a little late...the entire country is not in the usual routine!  I'm going to keep posting home sales stats as usual, as I am curious how the pandemic will affect home buying and selling.   We'll see the effect within the next 60 - 90 days.  In the meantime, here are the February home sales stats for the Armour Hills subdivision in the Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City: February 2020                                                    February 2019Median list price:      $339,900                            $362,499Median sales price:   $332,000                            $341,438No. of homes sold:       3                                           4Days on market:           49                                        87 Although median sales price lowe... 04/06/2020

This is my first blog post in several days, and since then the Corona virus has taken over our everyday lives.  I plan to continue to post home sales stats; as far as reporting on new businesses and events in the Brookside/Waldo area--that news is on hold, since most of it right now consists of shops and restaurants shutting down.  I know our neighbors and residents will support our local businesses as much as possible as we get through this day to day.  Please patronize CurbsideKC !  Here are the February home sales stats for Brookside, using the zip code 64113 for stats: February 2020                                                  February 2019Median list price:       $359,975                        $374,999Median sales price:   $354,500                         $355,000No. of homes ... 03/19/2020

 Like most people, I love my neighborhood--Brookside, Kansas City MO. It's in my DNA to live here, as I grew up in St Louis, in a neighborhood very much like Brookside (called University City).  As a Realtor, I know how much buyers are also attracted to this area..and I'm excited to tell you why! Walkability is probably the biggest attraction for this area.  The heart of Brookside is at 63rd St and Brookside Road.  This is the center of the Brookside Shops--mostly locally owned, small storefronts featuring all kinds of services and restaurants.  Within a four block area you will find:  two grocery stores, a post office, pharmacy, toy/science store, an old fashioned general store, two banks, tennis courts, farmers market, two coffee shops, several restaurants, liquor store,  two women's ... 03/11/2020

There are already so many local small business owners in Waldo that I feature on this blog…and here’s another one:  Soap Refill Station, at 7441 Broadway, a few steps south of Waldo Pizza.  Soap Refill Station just opened late last month. The concept for this business is simple and timely:  bring your own container to the shop and refill with one of their natural soaps and cleaners.  The motto is “If you clean it, we have something eco-friendly to clean it with”.  Anne Dezort, who owns the shop with her boyfriend Adam McKay, explained that many other countries have a similar type of business, and they regularly used one while living in California.  Anne and Adam opened the first Soap Refill Station in Springfield, MO and it became very popular—people from Kansas City would drive to Spri... 03/06/2020

It's a new year and the buyers are out, searching for homes to purchase!  Inventory across the city was at a record low last month--less than two months' supply!  I expect Waldo will be another hot spot for buyers in 2020.   Below  are the stats for January 2020, and a comparison to last year. I'm using the Waldo boundaries of State Line to Holmes and Gregory to 85th Street.  Year-to-date comparisons will resume next month. January 2020                                                             January 2019Median list price:     $205,000                                  $219,900Median sales price:     $197,500                              $206,100No. of homes sold:        17                                             21Days on market:           35                                      ... 02/27/2020

As we are so early into the year, not many stats to report regarding home sales...the home buying season is just getting started!  So, here is the short report for the Armour Hills subdivision of Brookside: January 2020                                                               January 2019 Median list price:      $433,000                                     $289,975Median sales price:   $433,000                                    $275,500No. of homes sold:            1                                                 2Days on market:              44                                                55 Just one home closed last month, on the upper end of the price point for Armour Hills.  As is typical, it takes longer for homes to sell during the winter months. Currently there are four ... 02/23/2020

This is going to be a quick blog, as I start 2020 reporting home stats.  I will just be posting January numbers with comparisons to 2019--as there is no YTD figures until next month. So, here are the figures for single family home sales in Brookside, using the zip code of 64113: January 2020                                                               January 2019Median list price:     $415,000                                       $350,000Median sales price:  $400,000                                       $339,000No. of homes sold:        7                                                  10Days on market:          44                                                  31 Prices took a significant jump but with so few homes selling, I think the more expensive homes went under contract la... 02/18/2020

San Francisco 49er's or Kansas City Chiefs? So who's excited about Super Bowl Sunday tomorrow?Two months ago Vegas Bob put some money down in Las Vegas for the 49er's to win Super Bowl. Working in the Bay Area in NorCal everyone is pumped up about the 49er's going to Super Bowl.One of the guys I am working with is from Kansas and gave me this KC sticker to put on my hard hat. I put it on and 90% of the other men I am working with went crazy, trying to grab my hat so they could tear it off. In fact if you look real close someone drew a X mark through the KC sicker but I whipped most it off. I personally think it going to be a great Super Bowl and it's going to be very tough for the 49er's to beat KC.What's your opinion on tomorrows game? Who do you thinks going to win? "Inquiring Minds W... 02/01/2020

Waldo home values have really shot up over the past five years..I remember when a buyer could purchase a cute, updated home north of 75th St for under $200K!  First let's take a look at December stats, and then YTD comparisons.  I'm using the boundaries of State Line to Holmes; Gregory to 85th St. December 2019                                         December 2018Median list price:     $222,500                 Median list price:     $222.500Median sales price:   $215,725                Median sales price:    $220,000No. of homes sold:    32                            No. of homes sold:    16Days on market:       21                              Days on market:      16Sold prices fell just under 2% compared to last December.  Almost twice as many homes closed, and the days on market was a... 01/20/2020

Happy 2020 everyone!  What will the Brookside housing market be like this year??  I really like to track these stats because I think it does offer some perspective on the sales and demand.  Let's examine the December stats first, then the YTD comparisons. I'm using the main Brookside zip code of 64113 for sales:December 2019                                                     December 2018Median list price:     $422,500                             Median list price:     $457,475Median sales price:    $420,000                           Median sales price:    $437,000No. of homes sold:      22                                      No. of homes sold:       20Days on market:        25                                        Days on market:           37 These numbers show us that sellers are g... 01/15/2020

  There is a new retirement community for seniors on the east side of Brookside:  St. Anthony’s, located at 1000 E 68th St, just off Troost.  Many years in the making, the Catholic community finally opened in November, welcoming new residents of all faiths. I recently stopped by to take a look at this new community for seniors 62 years of age or older.      Nancy Majors, seated in a St Anthony's apartment. St Anthony’s Senior Living is a dream come true for owner/developer Mark Ledom.  It is important to Mr. Ledom that people of faith have a place where they can worship and call home.   I recently toured the property with Director of Sales and Marketing, Nancy Majors.  This place is beautiful!  As Nancy explained, they stress a “certain type of lifestyle; a vacation type lifestyle” with... 01/06/2020

Ho ho ho, Santa brings Armour Hills higher home values this year!  Here are the numbers for November, with comparisons to last year: November 2019                                              November 2018Median list price:    $325,000                       Median list price:      $304,475Median sales price:   $323,000                     Median sales price:    $309,100No. of homes sold:   3                                    No. of homes sold:      4Days on market:       31                                 Days on market:         7 About the same number of homes sold, but the homes sat on the market a bit longer. Now let's look at year-to-date: Jan-Nov 2019                                                   Jan-Nov 2018Median list price:      $339,900                     Median list pric... 12/23/2019

 It's a snow day!  Hope everyone is staying warm and extra careful if driving in the Kansas City metro area.  It's time to check the November home sales stats for Brookside--which are showing an increase over last year. I'm taking the numbers from single family home sales in the main Brookside zip code of 64113: November 2019                                                       November 2018Median list price:     $425,000                               Median list price:     $418,000Median sales price:   $413,000                              Median sales price:    $415,000No. of homes sold:     23                                       No. of homes sold:     14Days on market:       49                                         Days on market:       17 The median sales price is consistent wi... 12/16/2019