If you want to buy Christmas cards and support a good cause at the same time, consider buying CASA Christmas Cards. CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates of SW Missouri is a non-profit orginazation that helps abused and neglected children in Springfield Missouri and the Ozarks. All the card designs are drawn by the children! Buy your cards here. 11/27/2009

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! John and I have so many things to be thankful this year. Here are just a few things that come to mind: We are thankful for God's blessings and our faith. Without this nothing else matters. We are thankful for our country, liberty, and our freedom. Even though our country is going through dark times right now, we have hope that we will return to our roots and the Constitution. We are thankful for our children, Andrew and Jacob and our extended family. We are thankful for our rambunctious dog, Bandit/ We are thankful for our marriage of 30 years! It seems like yesterday when we got married. We are thankful to be able to live here in the Ozarks, its such a wonderful place to call home. We are thankful for our colleagues in real estate, our clients, and friends... 11/26/2009

This is the second installment in a series to guide you through buying a home in the Springfield, MO, area.  I'm including a link to the first installment, Buying a Home in the Springfield MO Area - Part 1 - Getting PreApproved for a Loan.  In this post, we'll focus on selecting a Realtor.  I have been a Realtor helping families buy and sell homes in the Springfield, MO, area for 10 years now.  For the most part, Realtors in our area are very knowledgeable, hard-working, and ethical.  Like any profession, there are bad ones, but I personally feel that the majority of Realtors in our area are honest, hardworking agents who work well with each other, regardless of their company affiliation. Here are some tips for choosing the right Realtor for you: Is the Realtor full-time or part-time?  ... 11/25/2009

It sounds like such an ominous thing. BLACK FRIDAY;  it almost sounds like the latest scary movie or something. "Tommy Lee Jones in Black Friday, The Day Black Cats Attack!"  Actually it got its name because its the day that a lot of retail businesses make enough sales to "get in the black" for the whole year. Are you going to brave the crowds in Springfield this year? Is it worth it to get up at the wee hours of the morning, slurp down some coffee, fight for a parking spot, and go elbow to elbow with hundreds of other shoppers to find a bargain? Absolutely! You have to attack this with a plan. Get a newspaper, scope the ads, make a list, plan your route; its like a strategic mission! When you get to the store, parking can be a challenge. Grab the first place you see! Once inside, don'... 11/25/2009

The Greater Springfield Board of Realtors has lost over 1,000 members in the past three years.  When I became a member in the year 2000, there were just over 1,800 members of the Board of Realtors.  At the height of the market in 2005, the membership topped 3,000.    The Springfield Realtor Magazine came out online today and I noticed we now have 2,006 members.  Because revenue from membership dues has decreased, the Board of Realtors was forced to downsize in staff and increase dues in order to maintain a balanced budget. Our yearly dues are expected in January.  As with the past couple of years, I expect to see another major fallout in membership by February and March of 2010.  I think it's highly possible our membership will be down to the level of the year 2000. I have asked our Mem... 11/23/2009

Thinking of buying a home in the Springfield, MO, area?  There are many things to consider, and many steps to follow to ensure a smooth purchase. This is the first in a series of posts that will help guide you through the homebuying process. The first step in the process is to get preapproved for a loan. You need to know how much money you will be approved to spend on your new purchase, and what monthly payments you will be comfortable with.  Because the lending requirements and guidelines are changing on pretty much a daily basis recently, it is necessary to have a "fresh" preapproval.  Just because you were prequalified six months ago, doesn't mean you will qualify for the same loan today.   Here are a few tips to follow when searching for your loan: Know how much money you can spend:... 11/23/2009

A few weeks ago I came across a new way to invest and borrow money that I find absolutely fascinating. No, it's not Madoff's newest ponzi scheme or some guaranteed results program. It's called peer to peer lending, and after much litigation it was only very recently made legal under SEC laws, however, currently only residents of certain states can participate (see below). Social lending is not a new idea, can be traced back to 1750 BC by the ancient Babylonian King Hammurabi.  Since recording data to stone tablets is a bit outdated, now we use the power of the Internet to enable people like you and me to lend and borrow money at our own discretion.  The notion is simple, yet powerful -- both large and small banks should take notice. You down with O.P.M. (other people's money?) Currently... 11/22/2009

          Each year our Keller Williams Springfield Missouri Market Center has the privilege of finding creative and fun ways to help raise funds to support KW Cares!  This organization helps support people in local communities that are undergoing difficulties or are faced with a natural disaster.  This week we had our annual chili cook off/silent auction to benefit KW Cares and it was a great success! With the chili pots heated and desserts all lined up it was time for the competition to begin!  We had eight pots of chili and one pot of hot fudge chilly to choose from.  Each taste was supposed to cost a dollar and give you a vote.  However as in many elections, I think there was some voter funny business going on!  In the end we raised $1421.76 for KW Cares!  This year we also include... 11/21/2009

1. Check your credit report for accuracy. You can get one free credit report per year from each of the three credit bureaus- TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. After you received your report, check it for accuracy. Make sure your name and social security number are correct. Incorrect information happens all too often. Make sure your account hasn't been merged with someone with a similar name or social security number. You can get your free copy at  www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp  2. If you find errors, get them corrected.  If you do find something on your credit report that is incorrect, you need dispute the mistake by contacting the credit bureaus directly. The credit bureaus will have their dispute procedures on their website and they are also required by law to investigate... 11/17/2009

Going Green, Recycle Congress in 2010! 2010 are the mid-term elections. Are you happy with the job congress is doing? Do you want someone in office who represents you and actually reads the bills before voting on them? Its time to vote them all out of office, both sides of the aisle. Our country needs to return to smaller government and actually follow the constitution. 11/16/2009

Have you ever wondered how healthy your bank is? Here in Springfield, MO, we have not yet experienced the massive bank failures that other parts of the country have experienced, but that does not mean we are immune.  Having specialized in new construction homes and land development, many of my clients have been victims of the banks frantically attempting to increase their capital, while decreasing their troubled assets, with the results usually being the builder/developer has his loan called, and the bank ends up with troubled assets anyway. As of the end of October, there have been 123 bank failures in 2009.  The number is rapidly increasing.  Here is a link to view the banks which have failed this year:  FDIC failed bank list. Many of the troubled banks in the Springfield, MO, area we... 11/15/2009

Looking for information regarding Springfield Public Schools?  I often have clients who are searching Springfield MO homes for sale, ask, "What is the best school district?"  Unfortunately, I can't answer that question.  The answer is very subjective.  What may be important to one client is not necessarily important to another client. When relocating, it's wise to research the area schools yourself and make your decisions based on what criteria in a school is MOST important to YOU.  I have provided some helpful links to help you in your analysis of the high schools in the Springfield Public School District. Springfield Public Schools, consists of five high schools: Central High School - Home of the Bulldogs!   Glendale High School     Hillcrest High School     Kickapoo High School     P... 11/14/2009

There's a very serious epidemic going around Springfield Missouri and the Ozarks. No, its not Swine Flu, its much more contagious than that. It's Deer Fever! Many people will call in sick to work, use vacation days, and even miss school. Symptoms include wandering thoughts, insomnia or waking up early, storytelling, uncontrollable urges to go to Bass Pro Shop, and watching hunting shows on TV. There is no vaccine and the only known cure for Deer Fever is to put on your hunter orange and head to the woods! Gun season opens November 14th. Good luck out there! 11/13/2009

  This chart from Credit Suisse was forwarded to me by Mark Trigg, with North American Savings Bank in Springfield, Missouri, this morning.  You can see the lull in 2009 between the resets for subprime and the beginning of the resets for Option ARM's, Alt-A, and Prime loans, etc., that are just beginning to hit our market at such a critical time in our economy. I suspect we will see an increase in motivation to sell by those homeowners that bought more home than they could afford as their payments begin to reset.  This will, of course, be much more pronounced on the east and west coasts, but will be felt in the Springfield MO Real Estate market as well. The media is reporting that the biggest part of the subprime wave is passing, but the good "prime" loans are an area to watch closely i... 11/12/2009

 Home buyers in Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, or surrounding areas of the Ozarks, check out the Home Buyers Scouting Report!  This FREE Search Tool  lets you search for homes in ways you only dreamed of! You can search for any combination you can think of including location, price, sq. footage, listing date, foreclosures, and much more! One of the most exciting features is "favorites". When you find properties that interest you, save them as favorites and the Scouting Report will automatically send you status updates to that property such as price changes, under contract, and sold. It will also email you when new properties come on the market that meet your personal criteria. To sign up for this exciting FREE service, click the link at the top of the page to get started! We look forward to... 11/12/2009

1454 E Pythian St, Springfield MO Overview Maps Photos $64,900 Single Family HomeFor Sale Main Features 3 Bedrooms1 BathroomInterior: 1025 sqftLot: 0.15 acre(s) Location 1454 E Pythian StSpringfield, MO 65802 Team Knowles Keller Williams Realty(417) 631-7234betty@teamknowles.comhttp://www.searchspringfieldmissourirealestate.com Our recent listings 1454 E Pythian St, Springfield MOGreat Home on 6.44 Acres, National Forest View!Great 5 Plex Investment PropertyYOUR VERY OWN PIECE OF PARADISE5.03 Acres Building Lot with Ozark Mountain Views! Subscribe to our listing feed See more Springfield, MO real estate for sale 11/11/2009

Today is Veteran's Day, a time to honor those who so bravely serve our country and put their life on the line for our freedoms. Say thank you to those who take the oath to uphold the Constitution and protect us from enemies both foreign and domestic. This is especially true looking back at the terrorism of 9-11 and this week at Fort Hood. More than ever before our freedoms are under constant assault. We are a Representative Republic based on free enterprise, and Capitalism, not a Socialist or Marxist country; at least for the time being.Pray that our country will return to its roots of limited government by the people and uphold the principles set forth by our Founding Fathers. 11/10/2009

Statistics are boring sometimes, but they can give you a lot of useful information. I did stay awake in stats class in college! One of the most important statistics when considering selling your home in Springfield is the current absorption rate. This is calculated in either months or weeks and tells how quickly homes on the market are selling. Keep in mind the absorption rate can vary by price range, sq. footage of your home, even by neighborhood. Typically more than 26 weeks inventory of homes indicates a buyer's market. Less than 26 weeks inventory indicates a seller's market. Somewhere in the middle is a balanced market. The absorption rate can give you an idea of how long it should take your home to sell if priced and marketed correctly. Of course there are exceptions but its a go... 11/09/2009

As REALTORS we tend to work a lot of hours. There are always buyers to show properties, homes to list, homes to preview, websites to update,  paperwork to do, marketing, meetings, training, and on and on. However, you can't work all the time without getting burned out. Yesterday was nice so we decided to take a much needed day off and went to Silver Dollar City! Here is a video I took with my phone of the Power Keg roller coaster taking off. Sorry about the poor sound quailty but its still funny! 11/08/2009

  417 Springfield Mo Open Houses - 2639 N Campbell, Springfield, Springfield Mo Real Estate 2639 N. Campbell, Springfield, MO Home For Sale, Greene County, Springfield, Missouri 4BR/3BA Single Family House   offered at $130,000 Year Built 1994 Sq Footage 2,057 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 full, 0 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size .42 acres HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2009 2:00 - 4:00 Cute As A Button 1 1/2 Story Home, located on wooded .42 acre lot, across from Doling Park. Home offers 4BR/3BA/2 car garage, approx 2057 sq.ft. on living space, gas fireplace, & kitchen is fully equipped w/disposal, dishwasher, stove, micro, refrigerator. There's a deck, fenced backyard, brick/permanent siding for low maintenance, storage shed & more! Don't Mi... 11/07/2009