Are you thinking about selling your business in the Springfield MO area?  Traditional methods are no longer practical in today's world.  There is a new trend taking shape across the country....the business broker.  Murphy Business & Financial Corporation is the largest and fastest growing business brokerage in the United States.  Here in Springfield, MO, Dan Machnicki opened the first franchise of this kind to offer his services to business owners who want to sell, and buyers who are looking for their newest business venture. Murphy Business & Financial Corporation offers the following services: Site Acquisition team for Commercial Real Estate Maximum exposure when Selling a Business or Buying a Business through our affiliations with National and International Business Brokerages and Me... 11/06/2009

Staging a home can be a fearful experience for some sellers but it doesn't have to be! We are here to give you advise about staging your home; keep in mind we are not criticizing you decor or the way you live.  Our job is to make your home the most appealing to a wide variety of home buyers. We sell a lot of Real Estate in Springfield Missouri and can help you sell your home quicker. Here is a list of tips to think about when staging your home: 1.  Remember, the way you live in a home and the way you sell it, are two different things. 2. Buyers only know what they see, not "the way it's going to be". 3. Remember, less is more. 4. Staging can make the difference between a sale or no sale. 5. Depersonalize and de-clutter so buyers can visualize the home as their own. 6.  The market is co... 11/06/2009

Springfield MO Real Estate Market Report for October 2009 Three Year Comparison of Home Sales     Three Month Comparison of Home Sales   Inventory Report of Homes   Homes for Sale in Springfield, MO: Total Active Listings: 1,530 homes Under Contract:  361 pending sales Total Sold Listings for September: 276 sales Springfield MO Sales Price Information Average Sales Price: $132,126 Sale Price to List Price Ratio: 98.73% Days on Market (for Sold homes) Average Days on Market: 60 days   Springfield MO Real Estate Market Report for September 2009 Springfield MO Real Estate Market Report for August 2009   11/04/2009

No matter where you go in Springfield Missouri you can't escape the ubiquitous orange construction cones and road equipment. They're everywhere! James River and Hwy 65 intersection is being totally rebuilt and won't be finished for years. Hwy 65 between James River and I-44 is being widened to 6 lanes. National and James River is being upgraded to a diverging diamond intersection.  I-44 & Glenstone, and on and on...  Police are cracking down on speeders in construction zones and I have noticed a lot of people being stopped lately because they ignore the speed limit signs. The bottom line is; unless you have an extra $250 you don't need, don't speed through construction zones!  Look at the bright side... When the construction is finished it will be much easier to get around town and in ... 11/04/2009

Today is election day! Make sure to do your duty and get out and vote. Its not only our right but our responsibility. A couple of important issues are on the ballot for Springfield and Ozark. Springfield voters will vote yes or no on a 3/4 cent sales tax for the police and fire pension fund. Ozark voters will decide whether or not to raise taxes to fund expansions to the Christian County Library with a possible new facility between Ozark and Nixa and satellite branches. Whether or not your are for or against these initiatives, you need to get out and vote! 11/02/2009

I lost another short sale listing today to foreclosure.  The bank literally made it impossible for me to succeed in selling the home.  Most people ask, "Why would the bank want to do that?  Don't they lose money?"  The answer is NO, they can actually MAKE money when they foreclose. This was explained to me by a loan officer handling the construction loans of my last builder/developer.  About a year ago, my builder had approximately 12 new construction homes languishing on the market, no longer able to compete with the short sales, REO's, and existing home sales.  Our plan was to rent the homes out until the market stabilized.  Unfortunately, the market failed to stabilize itself during 2009.  When the builder's loan came up for renewal, the bank reappraised the properties, claimed he no... 11/02/2009

Springfield Missouri Real Estate Market Statistics as of Oct 31, 2009. As you can see, the absorption rates vary widely by price range. The lower price ranges are down to less than 26 weeks which indicates a more balanced market or even trending towards a seller's market. The higher priced homes are still a buyer's market with much higher supply than demand. If you would like to know what the rate is in your neighborhood or specific price range give us a call today! Springfield Missouri Real Estate 11/02/2009

We just put a house under contract in Springfield Missouri that was a very good deal. I won't divulge the price or address to protect the parties involved but I can say that it sold for 54% of what it sold for a few years ago! This is a bank owned property. Of course we can't guarantee all homes will sell this cheap, but there are some deals being made. Yes, the carpets are trash, but underneath the carpet is beautiful hardwood floors! The home needs paint and some cosmetic repairs but it will be a wonderful home with a little care. If you are looking for a "fixer upper" there are some great deals out there. Also, if you are looking for a higher price range home, there are some great deals there too that don't need updating.  We can show you foreclosure properties and other homes that ... 11/01/2009

A lot of people ask us if it's a good time to list a home in Springfield Missouri for sale during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's seasons. The weather is turning colder, days are getting shorter, and people's minds are on the holidays. Is this really a good time to list your home? Absolutely! It's indeed a great time to sell your home! Homes that are decorated for the holidays are warm and inviting. Greenery on the fireplace or stair rail, a Christmas tree with shiny ornaments and lights, and a few red poinsettias can really make buyers see the attractiveness of your home. During an open house we can even serve hot apple cider to the buyers looking at your home! Buyers this time of year are fewer in number but you can rest assured they are more serious buyers and not just w... 10/28/2009

The 15th Annual Turkey Trot will attract thousands of runners in Springfield Missouri on Thanksgiving Day! Its the largest race in Southwest Missouri and the largest Thanksgiving Day race in MO. The annual event benefits the Developmental Center of the Ozarks (DCO) and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board Scholarship Fund. Again this year runners are asked to bring three canned food items for Ozarks Food Harvest. Last year's race included over 5,000 runners from across the US.  Regal Beloit, Empire Bank, and O'Reilly Auto Parts are presenting sponsors of this year's Trot. Official timing for each registered runner will be provided through UltraMax.  RACE DETAILS: Time/Date:  8 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 26 Registration is now open at  www.parkboard.org  $20 - Registrations before Friday, ... 10/23/2009

I'm losing a short sale listing to foreclosure.  I have listed a nice home for sale in Springfield, MO as a short sale and have done everything I can to get it sold prior to the foreclosure date.  I have had a wonderful seller to work with who has been cooperative and helpful.  We have not received an offer on this home and so it is going to be foreclosed on TOMORROW.  I have had success with short sales in the Springfield MO area in the past and this is the first one I am losing to foreclosure -Disappointing!  The hardest part about seeing this home go to foreclosure is that when you work with a seller on a short sale, you really get to know them well, in a very difficult situation.  In my past life, I was a social worker and my job was to assist in solving problems for my clients.  I... 10/22/2009

The City of Springfield Missouri is taking bids now through November 5, 2009 for 34 of 64 surplus parcels of land. This might be your opportunity to find a good deal on a property in Springfield. Before making a bid on any properties, make sure to do your due diligence and research the requirements and special conditions related to the property. For interested buyers, you can check out the City of Springfield website for more information and complete bid document. The site also includes an interactive map and list of the properties. 10/22/2009

Congress is considering proposals to greatly expand the soon-to-expire $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers - potentially applying it to almost all home buyers. Supporters say doing so would further boost home sales, stabilize housing prices and generate jobs. The credit now can be claimed by anyone buying a home who has not owned one for three years and who closes the deal by Nov. 30. Beyond extending that deadline, some lawmakers want to make the credit available to all homebuyers who meet income eligibility requirements. And some want to increase the amount of the credit from $8,000 to $15,000. Currently the first-time home buyer credit is available in full to those buying their primary residence who make $75,000 or less ($150,000 for joint filers). A partial credit is avail... 10/21/2009

Here are ten great reasons to move to Springfield Missouri! 10. Recreation.  There are many beautiful lakes, rivers, and trails  within a few minutes drive. If you're an outdoors type of person you'll really enjoy the area.  9. You get more home for your money.  If you're used to a postage stamp size lot and an expensive home, you're in for a treat. A $200,000 home here would sell for much more in most other parts of the country. 8. Great schools. We have a good ratio of student to teacher and strong acedimic programs. There are many fine universities in the area. 7.  Friendly people.  Folks are friendly in the Ozarks and always willing to help out a neighbor. 6. Diverse job opportunities. There are a lot of job opportunities in the area in tourism, manufacturing, medical, sales, and s... 10/19/2009

Sarah Palin will speak on patriotism, citizenship and civic engagement at College of the Ozarks December 2, at 7 p.m. at the Keeter Gymnasium. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Call (417) 690-2240 for tickets. Tickets are limited, and they will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. We saw her speak during the election and she is an awesome speaker. Nothing like the character the media paints. 10/19/2009

Here is a look at Springfield MO homes sales over the past 4 years.  I wanted to see how much the Springfield, Missouri, real estate market has truly declined since the last boom year of 2005.  This chart is reflective only of the total number of home sales, regardless of price, since 2005.   Overall, you can see that our market is down an average of 45% as it relates to the number of homes sold.  I wanted to see how the average sales price has fared over the past 4 years.  I was surprised to see there has been very little fluctuation in the average sales price.   While at the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors office the other day, I was speaking with the member coordinator.  I mentioned that when I obtained my real estate license in 2000, there were approximately 1,800 members of t... 10/18/2009

I had a lot of work to do but I made time to attend the Get Motivated Seminar yesterday at the JQH Arena in Springfield Missouri.  The parking was crazy and nudging my way through the crowd of more than 8,000 people was challenging but I finally found a seat and I was there!  I was amazed to see how many people needed to be motivated!  I was also amazed at how excited people were to be at a Zig Ziglar seminar!  He is a great motivational speaker and has many years of knowledge and experiences that makes him one of the most sought after speakers in the country.  Gen. Colin Powell was rather comical in his speech regarding Take Charge Leadership.  He discussed his age and the challenges he faces with facebook, twitter and texting.  This was a side of him I hadn’t seen before.  He spoke s... 10/16/2009

The Rutledge-Wilson Farm, 3825 W. Farm Road 146 Springfield Missouri, kicks-off the fall season with unique events and activities, including a 10-acre corn maze shaped into a scarecrow.             This is the Farm’s second year for a corn maze, which also will open the same weekend and runs through Saturday, Oct. 31. The 10-acre corn maze was designed into the shape of a scarecrow and offers two levels of difficulty, youth/adult and toddler/parent, both with separate non-connecting entrances and exits.         After Harvest Fest weekend, the corn maze will then be open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through October. Hours are: Fridays, 5 – 10 p.m.; Saturdays & Sundays, Noon – 10 p.m. (last entrances at 9 p.m. each night). Admission to the maze is $5, 12 years and older; $3.50, 5 – ... 10/15/2009

October 22-31 • 6:30-9 p.m. visit the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield Missouri for the Spooktacular! This annual event is great for kids of all ages. Hundreds of jack-o-lanterns, hand-carved by Springfield-area school children, will light part of the path of the 26th annual event. Children age 12 and younger can trick or treat at 10 treat stations throughout the zoo. They can find their way through "The Maze," enjoy the carnival game tent, inflatable bounce, bone dig and carnival ride. After dark train rides are also available. 10/14/2009

The 3rd Annual Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Fitness Festival in Springfield Missouri is Oct 17th through Nov 1.  This three weekend event includes competitive and fun running/walking events, trail runs, canoe/kayak races, fitness and health fair, a corporate wellness conference, youth and kid’s activities, outdoor education classes, and celebrity appearances. See you there! 10/14/2009