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Springfield, IL Real Estate News

By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
................Some Medicare By David Olmos Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) -- The Mayo Clinic, praised by President Barack Obama as a national model for efficient health care, will stop accepting Medicare patients as of tomorrow at one of its primary-care clinics in Arizona, saying the U.S. government pays too little. More than 3,000 patients eligible for Medicare, the government's largest health-insurance program, will be forced to pay cash if they want to continue seeing their doctors at a Mayo family clinic in Glendale, northwest of Phoenix, said Michael Yardley, a Mayo spokesman. The decision, which Yardley called a two-year pilot project, won't affect other Mayo facilities in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Obama in June cited the nonprofit Rochester, Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic and the Clev...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
  Downtown Springfield       This family-friendly, alcohol free event is a Springfield area tradition. Free children's activities at Springfield High School all afternoon. At night, nearly 60 performances on 13 stages all around Downtown Springfield. Fireworks grand finale!   Want more information? Phone: (217) 753-3519 Web: http://www.springfieldartsco.org   Attendance: 2000      
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
 Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 7:30 p.m_________________________________________  FROM ED SULLIVAN TO ABBEY ROAD!  - They look like them and they sound just like them!  "The next best thing to seeing The Beatles," raves the Denver Post.   All the music and vocals are performed totally live!  RAIN covers the Fab Four from the earliest beginnings through the psychedelic late 60s and their long-haired hippie, hard-rocking rooftop days. RAIN is a multi-media, multi-dimensional experience...a fusion of historical footage and hilarious television commercials from the 1960s lights up video screens and live cameras zoom in for close-ups. "A thrilling bit of time-warping nostalgia...Boomer Heaven!" raves The Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  "Uncanny! RAIN are a quartet of fine musicians in their own righ...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
  News Release   Capital Area Association of REALTORS® The Voice for Real EstateTM in the Capital Area      SPRINGFIELD (December 22, 2009). The median single-family home sale price and unit sales both increased in the Capital Area during November 2009, according to the Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (CAAR) Multiple Information Service.   Home sales in the Capital Area during the month of November amounted to 363 units, reflecting an increase of 78.9 percent over the 203 sales in November of 2008.  Year-to-date home sales through November of 2009 revealed 3,474 unit sales, up 5.6 percent from year-to-date through November of 2008.   For the month of November 2009, the median home sale price (for all single-family homes and condominiums) was $107,000, reflecting an increase of 13....
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Hoffman, Rubio, and Andrzejewski:  At this point, I probably don't need to rehash my experience interviewing Illinois gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski. I think his words speak for themselves, and Anthony Dalke did a great job summing it up. The man is a walking encyclopedia of Illinois state government, his enthusiasm is infectious, and his policy is genius - especially the plan to cut billions from the budget using executive orders rather than submitting to a corrupt, Democratic legislature. I have yet to hear anyone question whether Andrzejewski is the best man for the job, and his policy plans draw rave reviews. The only questions I ever hear are these: can he win and why should we care. I'll answer the second question first - you should care because the current post-Blago c...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
 Friday, April 23, 2010, 8 p.m. TICKETS ON SALE NOW!_________________________________________ For more than half a century, Riley B. King, better known as B.B. King, has defined the blues for a worldwide audience. B.B.'s first big break came in 1948 when he performed on Sonny Boy Williamson's radio program on KWEM out of West Memphis. Soon B.B. needed a catchy radio name. What started out as Beale Street Blues Boy was shortened to Blues Boy King, and eventually B.B. King. His reign as King of the Blues has been as long as that of any monarch on earth. Yet B.B. King continues to wear his crown well. At age 84, he is still light on his feet, singing and playing the blues with relentless passion. Don't miss this extraordinary evening with Blues music legend, B.B. King!
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
By Anita Stienstra   Even though winter hasn't officially arrived, bundle up and take a closer look at the garden on the cusp of the prairie's winter preparation. Join arborist Larry Miller for a December hike and learn to identify trees by their buds, see what birds flock the feeders and spy other late fall wonders. Hot chocolate served after the walk.Welcome to Winter Walk Saturday, December 132pmLincoln Memorial Garden 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr824-9447$4 nonmembers, free to members  
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
$8.6 million in stimulus money slow to arrive By Patrick Yeagle School improvements are on hold for Springfield School District 186 as it waits for $8.6 million in economic recovery funds awarded months ago. Sangamon County schools have locked in $25.4 million in federal dollars under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a $787 billion nationwide project meant to stimulate the economy. But few schools have seen a cent of the money, says Larry McVey, managing principal of Title 1 programs for District 186. The money is routed from the federal government to state governments, then to state agencies, municipal governments, schools and private contractors - with a bureaucratic approval process at each step.McVey says school districts must submit budgets to the Illinois State Board of...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
The folly of the mortgage interest tax deduction By James Krohe Jr.    For a day or two in late November, it was just like the old days on Wall Street - well, like 2008, anyway. The National Association of Realtors had reported that house sales had risen 10.1 percent in October, several times higher than predicted, and that sent stock prices up. Only a few days before that, the Springfield Building and Zoning Department reported issuing 12 percent more permits for single-family house construction compared to last October. As for existing houses, the Capital Area Association of Realtors reported sales were up more than 8 percent for the three months before Halloween compared to last year.What is sending so many hungry bears back to the honey pot that seemed empty just a few months ago? M...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
    The Salvation Army's Tree of Lights Campaign is only halfway to its goal and it will only be ringing bells until Christmas Eve.   The Tree of Lights Campaign funds half of the Army's operation budget which helps those in need.  This year the Army's seen 5,000 new people seeking assistance.   The Salvation Army's Tree of Lights Campaign is underway.  The Tree of Lights campaign funds a large portion of the Army's budget.  The Army provides food, shelter, clothing and more to those who find themselves out of work and out of a home.  It also provides Christmas baskets and toys to many families.  You can help by donating at a red kettle, where you'll certainly hear the bell ringers this holiday season.  Or you can donate online.The children who are helped by the Salvation Army get a ch...
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...................... a live forum with the Republican candidates for governor in Illinois this Monday night at seven.  NewsRadio WTAX and the Citizens Club of Springfield bring you a live forum with the Republican candidates for governor in Illinois this Monday night at seven.  Six of the seven candidates will be participating at the forum at the Hoogland Center for the Arts at 420 South Sixth.  WTAX will broadcast the 90-minute forum live starting at 7pm on 1240am and 107.5 FM.  Candidates Adam Andrzejewski, Senator Bill Brady, Senator Kirk Dillard, Dan Proft, Jim Ryan, and Bob Schillerstrom will be in attendance.  Candidate Andy McKenna will not due to a scheduling conflict.  The event is open to the public and the doors open  at 6:30 with the forum starting promptly at seven.     ...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
...............reveal a 78.3% increase in residential transactions with 362 sold and closed as compared to 203 in ‘08. The average sale price of an existing single family home in Nov of ‘09 was $122,800 reflecting a 12.5% increase over the Nov ‘08 price of $109,200. The median sale price in Nov ‘09 of $107,000 reflects an increase of 13.8% over the $94,000 median sale price in Nov ‘08. Sale pendings in Nov ‘09 were 214, reflecting a 2.7 decrease from the 220 sale pendings in Nov ‘08. Listings were down 22.1% with 317 new listings in Nov ‘09 as compared to 329 in Nov ‘08.  YTD THROUGH NOVEMBER ‘09: There were 3,473 home sales YTD through Nov ‘09, reflecting a 0.8% increase over the 3,289 home sales through YTD Nov ‘08. For YTD through Nov ‘09 the average sale price was $125,200 reflectin...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
.................................12.2 Percent in November For the month of November visits to www.SeeHouses.com reached 20,491, reflecting an increase of 12.2 percent over November of ‘08 which revealed 18,262 visits. Through November of 2009 the total number of visits to www.SeeHouses.com was 280,669, reflecting an increase of 2.6 percent over the 273,415 visits through November of 2008. Unique visits in November of 2009 were 6,499 reflecting a 25.0 percent increase over November 2008. Through November of 2009 the total number of unique visits to www.SeeHouses.com was 82,316, reflecting a 8.6 percent increase over the 75,814 unique visits through November of 2008.  
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
  1. Vacation means going north or south on I-55 or I-57 for the weekend. 2. You measure distance in hours. 3. You know several people who have hit a deer more than once. 4. You often switch from heat to AC in the same day and back again.  5. You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching. 6. You see people wearing camouflage at social events (including weddings). 7. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.  8. You carry jumper cables in your car and know how to use them. 9. You design your kids Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit. 10. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow. 11. You know all 5 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, road construction,  and It's Hot...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
If your last governor is headed for prison and the governor before him is already there,       You might live in Illinois . If your latest US Senator lied to get the job,       You might live in Illinois .. If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, You might live in Illinois .. If someone in a store offers you assistance & they don't work there,      You might live in Illinois . If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead, You might live in Illinois ...  If you have ever worn shorts and a parka at the same time,      You might live in Illinois .  If your town has an equal number of bars and churches, You might live in Illinois   If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number,       You mig...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
...................... goes into the confessional box after years of being away from the Church.     There's a fully equipped bar with Guinness on tap. On the other wall is a dazzling array of the finest cigars and chocolates. Then Father Collins comes in. "Father, forgive me, for it's been a  very long time since I've been to confession, but I must first admit that the confessional box is much more inviting than it used to be."Father Collins replies: "Get out. You're on my side."  
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
A winter statistic     98% OF PEOPLE SAY 'OH SHIT' BEFORE GOING IN THE DITCH ON A SLIPPERY ROAD.    THE OTHER 2% ARE FROM  MICHIGAN AND THEY SAY, 'HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS.'  
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
Participants in the COP15 climate summit should not be subject to Christmas symbols such as fir trees, says the foreign ministry   Although the COP15 climate conference is set to take place during the Christmas season, the Foreign Ministry believes the holiday and all its symbols should be kept well clear of the summit. That point was bluntly illustrated when a sponsorship providing numerous Nordmann fir trees for the conference was rejected by the ministry, according to public broadcaster DR. The trees - the most common species used as Christmas trees in Denmark - were intended to be placed as decorations for the entrance of Bella Center, where the conference is taking place. But Christmas is a religious holiday that has no place at a United Nations function, according to the Foreign M...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
 If you feel like you''re in over your head with personal debt, you''re not alone.  Millions of Americans have become overextended, many as a result of easy credit and the recessions.  Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and raising interest rates do not make a good financial mix. The 5 strategies you may want to avoid: The first advice of experts in the field is to be sure you don''t make your situation worse by making common mistakes.  In particular: Beware of just paying the minimum payments on your debts. This will results in your overall debt actually growing and your problems will only become worse. Beware of relying on friends and family as it could damage relationships with the most important people in your life. Beware of unscrupulous credit counselors that demand cash ...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
  News Release Capital Area Association of REALTORS® The Voice for Real EstateTM in the Capital Area    SPRINGFIELD (November 23, 2009). The median single-family home sale price and unit sales both increased in the Capital Area during October 2009, according to the Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (CAAR) Multiple Information Service.   Home sales in the Capital Area during the month of October amounted to 341 units, reflecting an increase of 17.6 percent over October of 2008.  Year-to-date home sales through October of 2009 revealed 3,111 unit sales, up 0.8 percent from year-to-date through October of 2008.   For the month of October 2009, the median home sale price (for all single-family homes and condominiums) was $105,000, reflecting an increase of 1.9 percent from the $103,000 ...
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