If you know someone who bought or sold a house in Brookside last year...you probably heard stories of how ‘hot’ the market was.  Many homes sold for over list price; buyers often faced multiple offers on the same home. In this blog, we’ll look at the December 2016 home sales and a year end recap, with a comparison to the last few years as well.  Overall, median home prices continue to rise in Brookside! I’m using the main Brookside zip code of 64113 for this report, single family home sales. December 2016 Median list price:               $335,000Median sales price:           $329,248Average days on market:     36Number of homes sold:        20(Lowest sales price was $162,000; highest sales price was $770,000). Seventeen of the twenty homes closed sold for under $450,000--that brings dow... 01/16/2017

   It's time for Kansas City Restaurant Week once again!  It starts Friday, Jan 13 and continues through Jan 22, 2017.  Partcipating restaurants are donating a portion of their earnings during the event to these local organizations: Boys Grow, Children's Center for the Visually Impaired, and Cultivate Kansas City. You can choose from over 140 restaurants this year--a complete list can be found at the website.  Lunches are $15; dinner is $33, and diners will choose from special menus.  This is an excellent way to try new dining spots in all parts of the metro area.  Bonus:  most of the restaurants are locally owned! Reservations are recommended through Open Table.  Call some friends, choose a new place to try and enjoy KC Restaurant Week! 01/11/2017

Welcome to 2017!  It's my first blog post of  the year, and again I'm focusing on the another business opening in Brookside East. This one isn't a restaurant or shop.  It's a non-profit organization: Jewish Family Services, or JFS, is  scheduled to open January 17, 2017 at 425 E 63rd St. JFS actually started as a support system for immigrants 115 years ago. You may be familiar with their main building at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, and they also started Menorah Hospital. They chose Brookside East as a second location to deliver better access to clients who live in this area and rely on bus transportation. This building also allows for a much larger food pantry and extra space for growth.  JFS is a non profit , United Way organization, funded by donations and grants. Th... 01/04/2017

Even during the traditionally slower Fall home buying season...Armour Hills continues to be a hot  area for homebuyers.  Prices continue to rise compared to 2015.    Let’s look at the numbers: Nov  2016:                                                          Nov  2015:   Median list price:      $260,000                            Median list price:        $274,950Median sales price:  $260,000                            Median sales price:    $276,000Number of homes sold:  9                                   Number of homes sold:   4Days on market:             35                                 Days on market:              70 Although median price was lower than last November, five of the homes sold at list price or over list price.   Checking year to date figures: 2016, Jan-Nov:      ... 12/19/2016

Homebuyers continue to seek out Waldo as a place to live!  Sales continue to outpace last year and prices are up.  Here are the November 2016 stats for single family home sales in Waldo, using the boundaries of State Line to Holmes and Gregory to 85th:November 2016 Number of homes sold:    29Median list price:              $175,000Median sales price:          $172,000Average days on market:    15 The lowest sales price last month was $86,000 and the highest was $345,000.  November  2015 Number of homes sold:      14Median list price:              $157,475Median sales price:          $162,500Average days on market:    24 Twice as many homes sold this November compared to 2015; median sales price jumped up as well. Also, houses are going under contract faster. Now let’s compare year-to-da... 12/15/2016

   As we come to a close on a very active real estate market for Brookside...prices are continuing to rise as demand is still strong, particularly in the $400K and less price range.   Here is the single family home sales report for Brookside (zip code 64113) for November  2016, and comparisons to last year: November 2016 Median list price:               $350,000Median sales price:           $349,000Average days on market:     35Number of homes sold:        25(Lowest sales price was $202,000; highest sales price was $750,000). You can see that sellers are getting virtually the asking price during contract negotiations.  Eleven of the homes that closed last month were at or above asking price.  November 2015 Median list price:                $315,000Median sales price:            $312,000... 12/14/2016

 It's time for the annual Kristkindl Markt in Brookside this weekend!  If you aren't in the holiday spirit due to this unusually warm weather...this event will help you out! Hosted by the Country Club Congregational Church, this German themed celebration is fun for all ages.  There's a tented Biergarten with plenty of beer, live music and German food, plus homemade cookies for sale, the always popular Gingerbread House making area for kids and several vendors selling crafts and gifts.    Hours are Friday 5-9, Saturday 10-7 at 205 W 65th St in Armour Hills. The narrow neighborhood streets will be crowded with vehicles, pedestrians and traffic...please park several blocks away and walk to the  church.     Everyone is welcome!  12/01/2016

Is Armour Hills the hot neighborhood for Brookside buyers this year?  Seems that way, as once again the median sales price is over the list price!  Because I live in Armour Hills, I can tell you buyers are very attracted to the area because of the central location to the Brookside shops, convenient Metro bus service, the revitalized park in the center of the 'hood, easy access to the Trolley Track Trail  and the wide range of prices.  Here are the numbers:October 2016Ten homes sold. Median list price was $294,974. Median sales price was $304,999, with 34 days on market. Seven of the ten homes sold at or above asking price, with one home closing at $25,500 over the list price. October 2015Five homes sold. Median list and sales  price was $249,000 with 8 days on market. Comparing year-to-... 11/21/2016

 Another new boutique has opened in Brookside East...just in time for holiday shopping!Katy Hamilton, owner of Shopgirls at 6245 Brookside Plaza , opened HAMILTON last month at 6215 Oak Street, just south of Season + Square. It's a cozy and welcoming space, perfect for browsing and checking out items you'll want to buy for yourself and others.The tagline "neighborhood style for all" reflects her products: she features men's and women's clothes from local designers, Charlie Hustle tee shirts, locally made jewelry (including unique necklaces featuring letter charms from the KC Star printing presses), Kansas City skyline socks, candles with surprising scents and other uncommon items. At stores like this, it's always interesting to see how the owner has made the space unique: Katy used disc... 11/16/2016

 I was trying to think of full service, big menu breakfast spots in Waldo....came up with Classic Cookie at 75th and Wornall and Game Day at 8950 Wornall. Now there is another place, Neighborhood Cafe, at 7531 Wornall next to Lew's . It opened at the end of August and is already drawing breakfast crowds on the weekends.Neighborhood Cafe is more than just breakfast...they offer a large menu featuring 'home style' cooking: meatloaf, liver and onions, burgers, open faced sandwiches, hoagies, 'skillets' and on Sundays: all you can eat fried chicken. All of the baking is from scratch (biscuits, pies, cornbread) and breakfast is served all day. No matter when you choose to dine here....the server brings you a cinnamon roll with water upon being seated! Like the original Lees Summit location, ... 10/27/2016

Time to check home sales stats for Waldo (Kansas City MO) for September 2016! September 2016: Number of homes sold:    34Median list price:              $177,000Median sales price:          $173,750Average days on market:    31 The lowest sales price last month was $82,000 and the highest was $293,000.  Final sales price was just under 2% of list price.September  2015: Number of homes sold:      34Median list price:              $130,000Median sales price:          $129,500Average days on market:    23 Comparing Sept 2016 to Sept 2015 finds a jump in the median sales price--however, this year more of the higher priced homes sold, raising that median price. Notice how fast homes are going under contract--within 30 days of listing.                                                       201... 10/25/2016

  Checking home sales for Armour Hills September 2016...overall, prices are steadily rising this year.  Let’s look at the numbers: Sept  2016:                                                         Sept  2015:   Median list price:      $244,950                            Median list price:        $269,500Median sales price:  $247,500                            Median sales price:    $265,000Number of homes sold:  6                                   Number of homes sold: 3Days on market:             39                                 Days on market:           91 You can see median sales price for last month was considerably lower than August 2015.  However, in September 2016, four of the six homes sold at or above list price. Days on market was much less as well.   Checking year to date... 10/23/2016

Home sales in Brookside are still strong as we head into the fall season...and prices continue to rise.  Here is the single family home sales report for Brookside (zip code 64113) for September 2016, and comparisons to last year: September  2016 Median list price:               $380,000Median sales price:           $375,000Average days on market:     44Number of homes sold:        29(Lowest sales price was $180,000; highest sales price was a cash purchase of $1,285,000). You can see that sellers are getting very close to the asking price during contract negotiations.  Eleven of the homes that closed last month were at or above asking price.  September 2015 Median list price:                $375,000Median sales price:            $362,500Average days on  market:      34Number of homes sol... 10/17/2016

  Fall is THE time for special events in Kansas City, and PorchFest KC is relatively new to our metro area.  This year marks #3 for the unusual yet charming local music celebration happening next month in the Valentine neighborhood. PorchFest is a one day free event, when local acoustic (and nearly acoustic) individual performers and bands play music on the porches of private homes in a specific area. For the first two years, the West Plaza neighborhood hosted the event. This year it's Valentine--a 12 block area between Southwest Trafficway and Broadway in Kansas City MO. Organizers are hoping that with the larger streets, porches and house lots, the event won't be as congested as past years.  Hours are noon-5 on Saturday October 8, 2016. If you plan to go, please remember to take publi... 09/30/2016

It's that time of year for outdoor festivals! Everyone is welcome to attend MeyerFest on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at St Peter's School and Church.  Meyer Blvd, between Holmes and Rockhill,  will be blocked off for the festivities. Bring the kids to the carnival, offering games, inflatables, a climbing wall and food trucks between 10am-2pm.  At 5pm it's adults only (18 and up) for the Block Party, featuring live music and dancing until 11:00pm. Tickets available online at the MeyerFest website. Thank you St Peter's for hosting this annual neighborhood event! 09/28/2016

 The weather has finally turned cooler, and you may be thinking about adding a few new pieces to spruce up your cold weather wardrobe. How about something different? Consider a hat...made right here in Brookside at Amina Marie Millinery.Amina's shop is in Brookside East at 633 E 63rd St. She's a KC native, grew up in Prairie Village and went to textile school in San Francisco. She loved fashion and worked in visual merchandising but really never thought about being a hat maker until a friend asked her to create a hat she could wear to Burning Man. Amina accepted the challenge, Googled some instructions on hat making and ... made a top hat that caught the attention of other Burning Man participants. Amina decided millinery was her calling. Last year she was a finalist in the Lock and Com... 09/27/2016

I love art fairs....browsing and talking about the art you like, don't like, don't understand, the prices, the creativity--always a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening.  This weekend is the Plaza Art Fair, now in it's 85th year, and probably the premier free social event in Kansas City. Although the weather forecast isn't in tune with the official Fall season we're in, you can bet there will be thousands of people visiting the Fair over the next three days. The art is displayed in tented booths; still bring your sunglasses and an umbrella to be prepared. One of the best parts of the Fair is the variety of food booths. Many of the Plaza restaurants serve smaller versions of their specialities:  steak sandwiches, tacos, burgers, barbecue, thai pizza, mixed drinks and sangria. The lin... 09/23/2016

Waldo continues to attract homebuyers this year..sales are strong, desireable inventory is low.  Here are the August 2016 stats for single family home sales in Waldo, using the boundaries of State Line to Holmes and Gregory to 85th:August  2016: Number of homes sold:    47Median list price:              $150,000Median sales price:          $158,000Average days on market:    35 You are reading that correctly--the final sales price was higher than the list price! Last month, half of the homes sold at or above asking price.  The lowest closed price was $56,001; the highest was $338,687. August 2015: Number of homes sold:      24Median list price:              $125,000Median sales price:          $126,000Average days on market:    30 That’s a large jump in median sales price compared to Aug... 09/22/2016

The nickname is....Wonderful Waldo!  And there is a reason for it:  Waldo is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Kansas City MO.  Located about seven  miles from downtown Kansas City MO, Waldo is a friendly, vibrant area, offering a mix of residents:  families, singles, seniors and married folks.  This is not a suburban, cookie - cutter area.  Most of the homes in Waldo were built from the 1920s all the way through the 1950s.  There are grand old homes with lots of architectural detail and small, two bedroom ranches less than 1000 square feet!  Waldo was named after the man who purchased the land back in the 1800s: Dr David Waldo.  At that time, the boundaries were Gregory to 81st St, Holmes to State Line.  A streetcar used to run through Waldo--that section now a very popular walk... 09/21/2016

  Thinking about purchasing a home located in the Brookside/Waldo area of Kansas City? It's a desirable  location:  this area features so many unique locally owned and operated businesses, restaurants and shops; easy MAX bus service to midtown and downtown; the popular Trolley Track Trail and several parks.  Homes in Brookside/Waldo were built in the 1920s-30s, so just like a human...after a while, more maintanence is needed!  Here are five common issues to expect during an inspection of a Brookside/Waldo home: 1) Three prong outlets that aren't grounded.  This is an easy fix, yet a common issue.  Also, sometimes there is active knob and tube wiring in the basement area; fuse boxes (instead of a breaker box) and outlets in kitchens and baths that do not have GFCI protection. An electric... 09/20/2016