It's a new year and the buyers are out, searching for homes to purchase!  Inventory across the city was at a record low last month--less than two months' supply!  I expect Waldo will be another hot spot for buyers in 2020.   Below  are the stats for January 2020, and a comparison to last year. I'm using the Waldo boundaries of State Line to Holmes and Gregory to 85th Street.  Year-to-date comparisons will resume next month. January 2020                                                             January 2019Median list price:     $205,000                                  $219,900Median sales price:     $197,500                              $206,100No. of homes sold:        17                                             21Days on market:           35                                      ... 02/27/2020

As we are so early into the year, not many stats to report regarding home sales...the home buying season is just getting started!  So, here is the short report for the Armour Hills subdivision of Brookside: January 2020                                                               January 2019 Median list price:      $433,000                                     $289,975Median sales price:   $433,000                                    $275,500No. of homes sold:            1                                                 2Days on market:              44                                                55 Just one home closed last month, on the upper end of the price point for Armour Hills.  As is typical, it takes longer for homes to sell during the winter months. Currently there are four ... 02/23/2020

This is going to be a quick blog, as I start 2020 reporting home stats.  I will just be posting January numbers with comparisons to 2019--as there is no YTD figures until next month. So, here are the figures for single family home sales in Brookside, using the zip code of 64113: January 2020                                                               January 2019Median list price:     $415,000                                       $350,000Median sales price:  $400,000                                       $339,000No. of homes sold:        7                                                  10Days on market:          44                                                  31 Prices took a significant jump but with so few homes selling, I think the more expensive homes went under contract la... 02/18/2020

San Francisco 49er's or Kansas City Chiefs? So who's excited about Super Bowl Sunday tomorrow?Two months ago Vegas Bob put some money down in Las Vegas for the 49er's to win Super Bowl. Working in the Bay Area in NorCal everyone is pumped up about the 49er's going to Super Bowl.One of the guys I am working with is from Kansas and gave me this KC sticker to put on my hard hat. I put it on and 90% of the other men I am working with went crazy, trying to grab my hat so they could tear it off. In fact if you look real close someone drew a X mark through the KC sicker but I whipped most it off. I personally think it going to be a great Super Bowl and it's going to be very tough for the 49er's to beat KC.What's your opinion on tomorrows game? Who do you thinks going to win? "Inquiring Minds W... 02/01/2020

Waldo home values have really shot up over the past five years..I remember when a buyer could purchase a cute, updated home north of 75th St for under $200K!  First let's take a look at December stats, and then YTD comparisons.  I'm using the boundaries of State Line to Holmes; Gregory to 85th St. December 2019                                         December 2018Median list price:     $222,500                 Median list price:     $222.500Median sales price:   $215,725                Median sales price:    $220,000No. of homes sold:    32                            No. of homes sold:    16Days on market:       21                              Days on market:      16Sold prices fell just under 2% compared to last December.  Almost twice as many homes closed, and the days on market was a... 01/20/2020

Happy 2020 everyone!  What will the Brookside housing market be like this year??  I really like to track these stats because I think it does offer some perspective on the sales and demand.  Let's examine the December stats first, then the YTD comparisons. I'm using the main Brookside zip code of 64113 for sales:December 2019                                                     December 2018Median list price:     $422,500                             Median list price:     $457,475Median sales price:    $420,000                           Median sales price:    $437,000No. of homes sold:      22                                      No. of homes sold:       20Days on market:        25                                        Days on market:           37 These numbers show us that sellers are g... 01/15/2020

  There is a new retirement community for seniors on the east side of Brookside:  St. Anthony’s, located at 1000 E 68th St, just off Troost.  Many years in the making, the Catholic community finally opened in November, welcoming new residents of all faiths. I recently stopped by to take a look at this new community for seniors 62 years of age or older.      Nancy Majors, seated in a St Anthony's apartment. St Anthony’s Senior Living is a dream come true for owner/developer Mark Ledom.  It is important to Mr. Ledom that people of faith have a place where they can worship and call home.   I recently toured the property with Director of Sales and Marketing, Nancy Majors.  This place is beautiful!  As Nancy explained, they stress a “certain type of lifestyle; a vacation type lifestyle” with... 01/06/2020

Ho ho ho, Santa brings Armour Hills higher home values this year!  Here are the numbers for November, with comparisons to last year: November 2019                                              November 2018Median list price:    $325,000                       Median list price:      $304,475Median sales price:   $323,000                     Median sales price:    $309,100No. of homes sold:   3                                    No. of homes sold:      4Days on market:       31                                 Days on market:         7 About the same number of homes sold, but the homes sat on the market a bit longer. Now let's look at year-to-date: Jan-Nov 2019                                                   Jan-Nov 2018Median list price:      $339,900                     Median list pric... 12/23/2019

 It's a snow day!  Hope everyone is staying warm and extra careful if driving in the Kansas City metro area.  It's time to check the November home sales stats for Brookside--which are showing an increase over last year. I'm taking the numbers from single family home sales in the main Brookside zip code of 64113: November 2019                                                       November 2018Median list price:     $425,000                               Median list price:     $418,000Median sales price:   $413,000                              Median sales price:    $415,000No. of homes sold:     23                                       No. of homes sold:     14Days on market:       49                                         Days on market:       17 The median sales price is consistent wi... 12/16/2019

This is the weekend for the annual Kristkindl Market at the KC United Church of Christ in Brookside.  Such a family fun event--and no charge to get in! Events start Friday Dec 6, 2019 at 5 and run till 9pm; or stop in Saturday from 10am-7pm.  Enjoy live music, German food, crafts and gifts for sale and every kids' favorite part: the gingerbread house making area! My two girls loved making their little houses--such a fond memory for the family.   Location is at the church, 205 W 65th St., at 65th St at Brookside Road.  Note this church is in a residential area, with narrow streets.  Walking to the site is best or if you must drive, plan on parking a few streets away.  Happy holidays to all--celebrate in Brookside!!   12/06/2019

I've already report October home sales stats for Brookside and Waldo--both areas down a bit from Oct 2018. But not Armour Hills--my neighborhood going up up up this year!  It is a much smaller sample of homes than Waldo and Brookside (and of course, Armour Hills included in the Brookside numbers) but still an indication of how desirable this area is for home buyers.  Here are the stats: October 2019                                                October 2018Median list price:     $349,950                   Median list price:     $317,000Median sales price    $340,000                 Median sales price:   $310,750No. of homes sold:        7                             No. of homes sold:     12Days on market:          42                             Days on market:         3 The reason the... 11/26/2019

Hello neighbors!  Waldo home sales have been on a steep incline this year...October figures show a decline in value compared to last year!  But it's a fluke--overall, numbers are up year to date.  Here are the details, using the Waldo street boundaries of State Line to Holmes, Gregory to 85th St: October 2019                                                     October 2018Median list price:     $179,900                        Median list price:     $225,000Median sales price:   $176,500                       Median sales price:  $216,750No. of homes sold:     30                                   No. of homes sold:      32Days on market:        15                                    Days on market:        25 The lowest closed price last month was $130,000 and the highest was $427,000.   B... 11/20/2019

Home sales are slowing down as the holidays get closer--very typical trend for the housing market.  Right now in Brookside, more than half the homes for sale are priced over $500,000--several over one million dollars.  Let's check the numbers for single family home sales, using the main Brookside zip code of 64113: October 2019                                                      October 2018Median list price:     $357,450                         Median list price:     $429,000Median sales price:   $346,500                        Median sales price:   $430,000No. of homes sold:       20                                  No. of homes sold:     26Days on market:          24                                   Days on market:          3 That's quite a drop in the median sales price but rememb... 11/18/2019

Shop local!  It's one of the best parts of living in Brookside and Waldo...so many locally owned shops and services, supported by the nearby residents and neighbors.  This weekend is the annual Brookside Holiday Season Opener--a chance for you to start shopping early while taking advantage of special discounts! To get you in the spirit, festivities start today, Thursday Nov 14, 2019 at 5pm.  Stop by the Bank Midwest Plaza (63rd and Brookside) and pick up some refreshments while enjoying the Border Star Elementary School Choir and the tree lighting at 6:30.  Shops will be open late till 8pm. Special deals continue through the weekend with many merchants offering discounts on food and gifts.  Check out the Brookside website for details.  Shopping hours during the Brookside Holiday Season ... 11/14/2019

 This home was lovingly remodeled from the studs out. They even put in some new studs! New furnace, new air conditioning, new poured concrete deck on the front porch, new bathroom, new kitchen, new plumbing, new electric, new roof, new everything!   Is this not gorgeous? Located along the Troost Corridor, east of Martini Corner, and south of the old Disney studio, this home is literally right next to the community orchard and a block from the community garden.         There are several schools within a 1 and 1/2 mile radius of the home. CA Franklin (Public District K-6) @1320 E 32nd is 0.17 miles away, Longellow Elementary (Magnet K-6) @2830 Holmes is 0.75 miles, Le A Tolbert Community Academy (Public Charter KG-8) @3400 Paseo is 0.15 miles away, the Foreign Language Academy (Public Mag... 11/07/2019

 Is it time to get your hair cut?  Perhaps a fresh style for the holiday parties ahead or “just the usual” in a relaxed environment, surrounded by local artwork?  If you’d like a new experience, check out Waldo’s new salon Moonshot Hair Company, located at 7108 Wornall.  Owner Brooke Smith has over twenty years of experience working with men and women’s hair.  After working at other local salons for ten years, she decided to open her own shop.  “It was a natural progression” she explained when I stopped by recently.  “I wanted to run my own place, and I wanted a gender neutral shop—where everyone feels welcome.  And I love my Brookside/Waldo clientele—it’s a family oriented area that supports local businesses”.  Brooke is an expert working with all kinds of men’s hair, including facial ... 11/07/2019

Armour Hills continues to be one of the strongest Brookside subdivisions in terms of desirability for buyers and homo appreciation.  It will be interesting to see how Armour Hills finishes out the year--with single digit or double digit percent increase over last year.  Here are the stats for last month: Sept. 2019                                                    Sept 2018Median list price:      $342,500                 Median list price:      $307,497Median sales price:   $342,500                 Median sales price:   $300,000No. of homes sold:      8                             No. of homes sold:       6Days on market:         3                              Days on market:         22 Not only were prices up compared to last year, four of the homes sold were at or over asking price--... 10/21/2019

Home sales are slowing down across the metro area compared to the earlier in the year; a slowdown when the weather cools is typical.  Here are the stats for single family home sales in Brookside (using zip code 64113) for last month and a YTD comparison: Sept 2019                                                             Sept 2018Median list price:     $347,500                       Median list price:    $400,000Median sales price:  $350,000                       Median sales price:   $390,000No. of homes sold:     18                                  No. of homes sold:       23Days on market:         4                                    Days on market:         32 Brookside had it's highest closed sales price so far this year last month:  $2.6 million.  The lowest closed price was $239... 10/15/2019

Slipping in this Waldo home sales report on the last day of September!  In two weeks, it will be time to check this month's stats!  Waldo home prices continue to climb--and homes are selling fast. Here's the info for Aug 2019, using the Waldo street borders of State Line to Holmes and Gregory to 85th: Aug 2019                                                                     Aug 2018Median list price:     $222,400                                 Median list price:    $198,975Median sales price:  $217,750                                 Median sales price:  $198,500No. of homes sold:      36                                           No. of homes sold:     38Days on market:         5                                              Days on market:      25 About the same number of homes sold... 09/30/2019

Whew, the Armour Hills subdivision in Brookside continues to rise in value compared to the Brookside zip of 64113 as a whole.  I think this is primarily due to location, the park amenity, the range of home pricing, a strong homes association and the charm of the neighborhood.  Sales are steady, prices are up. Here's the stats:Aug 2019                                                       Aug 2018Median list price:     $377,500                  Median list price:     $327,450Median sales price:   $374,250                 Median sales price:   $322,500No. of homes sold:     6                               No. of homes sold:     10Days on market:        5                                Days on market:        22  Fewer homes closed last month compared to a year ago--and look at the days on ... 09/26/2019