The Ozark Mountain Barnstormers RC club held their annual Fall picnic and fly-in last weekend. There was a good turn out of people and a variety of planes to watch. The radio control airplane flying club holds various events every year and visitors are welcome. The best time to see someone flying is weekends and evenings. The club is located on Cheyenne Road between Ozark and Nixa. Members are from Ozark, Nixa, Springfield, and surrounding communities. 09/27/2009

The Federal Reserve kept interest rates near zero on Wednesday and said the economy is improving. But the Fed also pointed out ongoing job losses could dampen a recovery. As a result, the Fed kept its federal funds rate, an overnight lending rate that guides rates on various consumer and business loans, in a range of 0% to 0.25%. Rates have been at that level since December.The Federal Reserve also said it is slowing the pace of a program to lower mortgage rates and prop up the housing market. It will stretch out its goal of buying $1.45 trillion in mortgage-backed securities and debt issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae until the end of the first quarter of 2010.As you may or may not know, Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) dictate long term home loan interest rates. When the... 09/23/2009

Who is more likely to default on their home loan, someone with a high credit score or a low credit score? Research has found that homeowners with high scores when they apply for a loan are 50% more likely to "strategically default" -- abruptly and intentionally pull the plug and abandon the mortgage -- compared with lower-scoring borrowers. Check out findings from the report from this article from the Los Angeles Times. High U.S. unemployment keeps pushing up the rate of mortgage delinquencies for both good and marginal credit borrowers alike. Even though the housing market and economy are still tentative, homebuilder Lennar Corp feels the housing market feels materially better than the hopelessness that had existed over the past few years. Many experts point to low interest rates as on... 09/22/2009

The government is spending tens of billions to incent consumers to spend their money purchasing homes, cars and even energy-efficient improvements to their houses. Certainly we are seeing the results of these programs. Last month the "cash for clunkers" program contributed to a 2.7% gain in retail sales. Existing and new home sales have also been strong for several months now. However, there is a debate as to the long-term efficacy of these programs. There is no doubt that the results are encouraging but will these results help us move out of the recession? The answer we believe is yes. However, these programs will contribute to the "stop and start" recovery we are expecting to occur. When incentives end, there will be a noticeable drop in demand. We must understand the fact that the go... 09/22/2009

Some days you wake up and it feels like not only did someone move your cheese; they ate it and didn’t leave any crumbs! Did the buyer you’ve worked with for six months and driven all over the place suddenly disappear into thin air? Did your last listing appointment turn into a disaster? Are those newspaper ads and postcards not working anymore? Hmmm, looks like somebody moved your cheese! I just finished re-reading the book Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life.  This is a simple but powerful little book written by Spencer Johnson in the form of a parable or fable. The main characters are two mice called Sniff and Scurry and two "little people" called Hem and Haw. Its a cute story but it makes you think. The book deals with how to handle ... 09/21/2009

Are you wondering how safe Springfield Public Schools and Nixa Public School District schools are?  I have found a great resource!  News-Leader.com has a database that publishes school incidents involving drugs, weapons and assaults.  The database dates back to the 2007-2009 school year.  Because the incidents involve minors, the names are redacted.  The database includes all junior high and high schools in the Springfield Public School District, as well as Nixa Public Schools. Click the link below to access the database: School Incident Reports 09/21/2009

Do you want to sell your home in Springfield Missouri? Here are some good reasons to choose TeamKnowles to sell your property! Some agents charge you unnecessary upfront fees for advertising, MLS fees, or paperwork. You don't owe us a dime until We Get Results and your home sells! We are a team so you get leverage in your transaction! Spouses Selling Houses! We market like crazy on the internet since that's where the buyers are! We represent you and negotiate on your behalf! Ask our current and previous clients! We specialize in real estate in Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, & surrounding areas of SW Missouri! www.teamknowles.com   09/20/2009

Keller Williams Realty Recently Received Distinction as the Highest Ranked in Customer Satisfaction! According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Home Buyer/Seller StudySM, Keller Williams Realty, Inc., the third largest real estate company in NorthAmerica, received the highest overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full service real estate firms for the second year in a row. If you are looking for homes for sale in Springfield Missouri, contact TeamKnowles with Keller Williams Realty today! 09/18/2009

Housing Starts for August rose better than expected and the highest level since last November - while Building Permits came in a bit shy of expected. All in all, a decent report, suggesting that while we are not out of the woods just yet, the worst in the housing market may have passed. Builders may be reluctant to further increase the supply of homes amid uncertainty over whether the Obama administration's $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers will be extended beyond November, economists have said. Homebuyers continue to have a good opportunity here. Historically low interest rates, the first-time homebuyer credit, and affordable home prices definitely make it an attractive time to buy a home. There's considerable uncertainty beyond the fall because the Federal Reserve at some point ... 09/18/2009

What do China, tires & chickens have in common? Sounds like the leadup to the hilarious punchline of joke right? Well, in this case it is not close to being funny. And how does any of this relate the mortgage industry? You will have to read on to find out... You may have seen the headlines in past few days regarding President Obama ruling to impose a special tariff on Chinese tires, because many US tire workers have lost their jobs over the past few years due to Chinese tires gaining marketshare in the US. The new tariff is intended to slow the pace of sales of Chinese tires in the US, while shoring up the decline in union jobs. China has since responded by filing a complaint against the US with the World Trade Organization (WTO), citing protectionism. China is also now launching an inv... 09/15/2009

Check out the NEWEST and NICEST on-line real estate search engine designed specifically for the Springfield metropolitan area. Available to the public for their private use absolutely FREE. Keep tabs on preferred listing using the Premium Service also FREE. Ammenities include GOOGLE Maps and "Bird's Eye Views" perspective. This website is for anyone interested in looking for home in the Springfield area that doesn't have access to a Realtor's MLS. For questions on how to become a Preferred Agent, feel free to call my contact information anytome.   Click for more info: http://www.marketingsplash1.com/RequestHBSR.asp?ID=KICMHDCCFACF 09/11/2009

09/11/2009

Past Three Month Comparison     Past 3 Year Comparison     Inventory Report     Homes for Sale in Springfield, MO: Active Listings: 1620 homes Under Contract:  319 pending sales Sold Listings: 253 sales Springfield MO Sales Price Information Average Sales Price: $133,114 Sale Price to List Price Ratio: 98.55% Days on Market (for Sold homes) Average Days on Market: 75 days   09/09/2009

Prepared by TeamKnowles with Keller Williams Realty based on information from GSBOR.   If you are thinking about selling a home in Greene County Missouri, we are here to help! We can prepare a detailed market comparison to show you what your home is worth. Ask us about our comprehensive marketing plan! We specialize in homes for sale in Ozark, Nixa, Springfield, and surrounding areas of the Ozarks. 08/31/2009

08/16/2009

Homes for Sale in Springfield, MO: Active Listings: 1,717 homes Under Contract:  396 pending sales Sold Listings: 270 sales Springfield MO Sales Price Information Average Sales Price: $144,709 Sale Price to List Price Ratio: 95.64% Days on Market (for Sold homes) Average Days on Market: 54 days 08/15/2009

There has been a lot of excitement lately about the Cash for Clunkers Program and the $8,000 tax credit for first time homeowners. The big question is, which program makes the most sense and has the most bang for the buck for buyers? Here are some important points to consider: Do the math. $8,000 that you don't have to pay back is almost twice as much as the $4500 benefit. If you haven't owned a home in the last three years you should qualify. If you keep the home at least 3 years you don't have to pay it back!  Cars depreciate the minute you drive them off the lot. I don't care how "green" they are, in a few years they will be junk. That new car smell is awfully expensive!  Real Estate, under normal economic conditions, holds its value and usually appreciates in value.  If you buy a ho... 08/12/2009

If you are considering selling your home; especially in today's real estate market, there are several key things to consider. No two homes are exactly the same, even if they are the same floor plan. So what are buyers looking for? Price is king.  With all things considered, people are looking for a good deal. Period, end of sentence! The worst home in town will sell if its priced accordingly. You need to look at who you are competing against. This includes foreclosures and short sales. Sq. Footage. Buyers need enough sq. footage for their family. How does your home stack up? Location. The old adage location, location, location is still important. This includes where your home is, what's near it, distance to shopping, schools, workplaces, etc... Condition. With a lot of competition out t... 07/24/2009

We just want to take a minute to say thank you to all of our clients who have bought and sold homes  and real estate in Springfield, Ozark, and Nixa so far this year! We really appreciate you choosing TeamKnowles be your REALTORS in the Ozarks. We are grateful for all the kind testimonials and the opportunity to help you with your real estate needs. If you know any friends or relatives thinking about making a move, please send them our way and we'll be happy to help them too. Our business depends on referrals from you!   Best Regards, TeamKnowles 07/10/2009

Do you want to get the $8,000 tax credit? Better Hurry. Time is running out on cashing in on the $8,000 tax credit for buying a home. With short sales averaging 90-120 days to close and normal closings taking 30-45 days that doesn’t leave much time to look at homes, negotiate offers, do inspections, appraisals, loan approvals, and get your home closed. To qualify for the $8,000 tax credit, you must be a 1st time homeowner or have not owned a home in the last three years. The big deadline is you are required to meet is you must  be closed on your home by Dec 1 2009.While this sounds like a long time away, if you are like most buyers, you don’t want to spend every day looking at houses so this means weekends.  Since there are only a few weekends left to meet the closing process timeline,... 07/09/2009