Below are home sales stats for Armour Hills in 2011, and stats for 2010 for comparison:

In 2011, 58 homes sold in Armour Hills. The average list price was $220,044; average sales price was $211,611. Average days on market:  119.  Lowest sales price was $98,000; highest was $350,000.

In 2010, 57 homes sold in Armour Hills.  The average list price was $218,418; average sales price was $213,517.  Average days on market:  88.  Lowest sales price was $90,000; highest was $350,000.

(All figures taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Commentary: short sales and foreclosures bring average sales prices down; also homes that have a sales price too high for the current market–they take too long to sell and bring up the average days on market.  Many Armour Hills homes have quirky floor plans, they aren’t updated or well maintained–these are the homes that just sit on the market as buyers are very choosy these days. Also keep in mind that in 2010, there was an $8000 tax incentive for buyers–that incentive not available in 2011. 

As we head into the busy Spring buying and selling season, we may see sales prices on the rise.  Hopefully as the economy gets better, more buyers will enter the market.  In our office, we’ve seen a big  jump in sales since the first of the year–positive news!

*All board members were re-elected to their postions.

*President David Pucci reported that many goals we set for 2011 were accomplished; one of the major goals was bidding out the upkeep and landscaping work for the park and islands, one of our largest expenses.  With the new contracts in place, we are saving money over previous years.

*One important goal for 2012 is requesting proposals for upgraded communication with homeowners.  This included management of the Clarion newsletter, Facebook page and website.

*Several homeowners from E 69th St were present to discuss what can be done about increasing crime in Armour Hills.  They plan to form a separate group to study the issue and offer suggestions to residents.  They would like to have homeowner dues raised to pay for regular securityy patrol of the neighborhood.

*We need an activites chairperson for 2012–no volunteers have stepped up so we divided  up the major social events and board members will organize accordingly.

*Our PIAC funds request are still under consideration, a decision is expected this Spring.

This is not all of the topics that were discussed, but the highlights.  Armour Hills residents are welcome to come to any board meeting.  The next one is at 7pm on Feb 21, same location.

2011

210 single family homes sold. Average list price was $322,188; average sales price was $303,602. Average days on market: 140. Lowest sales price in the area was $78,000; highest was $1.6 million.

2010

215 single family homes sold. Average list price was $317,672; average sales price was $301,727. Average days on market: 122. Lowest sales price in the area was $90,000; highest was $1.5 million.

(All figures taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Overall, good news for Brookside! Average list and sales prices were up, although average days on market was up by several days. This higher pricing trend should continue into the busy Spring buying season, as interest rates are still low and the economy has been slowly improving. Brookside is still a desirable area for buyers, especially if the home has been well-maintained and updated.  Check back for my monthly blog post about Brookside home sales in 2012..they are usually posted mid-month.

If you would like sales statistics for your neighborhood, email me for the details.

Looking at single family home sales stats for zip code 64113 in Brookside, December 2011:

14 homes sold.  Average list price:  $245,904.  Average sales price:  $231,032.  Average days on market:  111.

Compare those figures to December 2010:

22 homes sold.  Average list price:  $335,930.  Average sales price:  $307,853.  Average days on market:  106.

Why the much higher average sales price in 2010?  Part of the reason is a $1.5 million dollar home sold in 2010.  In 2011, the highest price home sold was $515,000.  The drop in the number of units sold in 2011 can be attributed to the $8000 tax credit for buyers that was in effect for 2010…this tax credit encouraged buyers to make purchases that year.   Days on market were virtually the same.

In the next blog entry I will compare Armour Hills sales stats for December 2010 to 2011, plus will do a year end comparison before the end of the month. Thank you for reading my blog!

(Note:  all stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed)

Being a real estate agent, at the end of the year I always look back and reflect on each deal completed.  It’s especially fun to think about all the new people I meet through this business, many who become friends.  For example, I had dinner this week with  clients: the husband was the Sargent at Arms for the Senate and the wife is working on a new initiative with Michelle Obama on post-tramatic stress syndrome that will be announced later this month.  Fascinating stories to share!  How lucky I am that real estate brought me these wonderful new friends!

This past twelve months  I enjoyed getting to know Stephen and Tamara, Anna and Dave, Lisa and Keith, Diann and Jeff, Ron and his family..Bryant and Ruth welcomed their first baby and Brad bought another fixer-upper to work on.  Christina is at the UMKC dental school and Chris saved his first life as an ER doctor.  Think for a moment about the new people you met in 2011–some join your regular circle of friends, some are more acquaintances.  Everyone different, everyone contributes somehow to your daily life. It reminds me of the lyrics to “Seasons of Love” from the musical Rent:

“Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes, how do you measure, measure a year?  In daylight, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee…”

I measure my year by the fun times with family and friends, the quirky cultural events everyone talks about, holidays spent in overcoats and shorts, vacation days and Facebook updates, memorable books and movies,  new music heard and meals shared… and the new friendships I’ve made.  I know 2012 will be just as memorable…a surprise of some sort every day, and thankful for it!

Original Art Deco light fixture

Just had to write a quick blog about this Brookside area listing in Brownwood Park!  What a fantastic example of the way we were…this home built during the Art Deco craze of the 1930s…

Brookside area Art Deco home

There is original tilework, so well preserved, in the kitchen and bath of this home.  Brillant colors, original cabinets, the built in cutting board…

Brookside area Art Deco home

Also, check out the crown molding at the ceiling…

The living room features the original fireplace as well.

Brookside area Art Deco fireplace

Now for many buyers, all this deco would be a turn-off.  They would see this house as ‘too much work’–ripping out the tile and replacing it, updating the kitchen and bath cabinets, the sinks, the flooring.  But there is someone out there who will buy this house specificically for the original art deco charm. 

Brookside area Art Deco bath

The craftsmanship that built this home…gone forever, I’m afraid.  Still, after decades of various owners and home style changes, the deco decor is still so easy to appreciate. What is the classic home style decor today that will still look so cool 80 years from now??

For Mom:  A night off from cooking!  Pick up a gift card from Carmen’s Cafe , Bella Napoli or Cosentino’s.

Jewelry  — or just about anything–from Stuff

Christmas decor from The Fiddly Fig

For Dad:   A massage from Massage Point, haircut from Brookside Barber Shop, services from Rydell Tailor.

For Grandma:  Scarf, jewelry or scented soaps from Worlds Window

Glass dishes from Shop Beautful

Scented candles from 5B Candlemaker

For Gen X and Y:  Gift card to Julian or The Roasterie

For kids:            Books from Reading Reptile

Card Games from Brookside Toy and Science

Bunch of hair ribbons from The New Dime Store

Gift card from Baskin Robbins/Topsy’s

I hope you find these suggestions helpful.  Shopping in Brookside isn’t a dreaded chore–you’ll find just about everything you need right here, with your dollars staying in the local economy.  Happy holidays and I hope your stocking is stuffed with a splurge gift for you!

Naturally I started to think about all the holiday memories with the girls when they were small.   As we would drive through Brookside at night, Erin would shout out from her car seat “the lights, the lights!” all the way home.  We would make little gingerbread houses from graham crackers, frosting and candies.  I still have written Christmas lists, dictated to their babysitter, asking for ‘clicky-clacky shoes’ and a Barbie dreamhouse.  Erin cried for the first few years visiting the Crown Center Santa; I remember Siena stepping right up to plop on his lap. They would fight over who would put the angel on the top of the tree, and we would  leave out food for the reindeer as well as the Big Man.  On Christmas morning, they would carefully read each gift tag, stacking up the presents, so anxious to see what’s inside while Dad and I tortured them by saying ‘no gift opening until the coffee is ready!’.  We would drive for miles and miles over two days, visiting relatives and coming home late, both kids blissfully asleep in their car seats, holiday music on the radio. They were two normal kids, so excited about everything Christmas brings–not just the gifts but the music, the neighborhood decorations, the visits from friends, watching the holiday TV specials and….the annual tradition of making and decorating cookies with Mom. 

Well,  the kids are still here…not for long…and I’m still making Christmas cookies.  It’s mostly  a solo project now.  But the tradition will continue, as I know they will always enjoy eating them!  And although they aren’t around to help out,  it’s wistfully  sentimental to think about the memories of when they were kids at Christmastime. Those memories will out last the cookies…

Mic Johnson, Social Media Coach at Blue Gurus

If you are already using social media to market your business, this blog is not for you.  For those of you who are not using it…you know you should be.  How to get started?  Why get started?  That’s what this blog is about.

I’m addressing the boomer generation and older here…those who just don’t see why they should spend time on various social media platforms.  Their business has succeeded without using these tools, why start now? They see social media as a chore, a time waster that may or may not bring measurable results. But using these tools is now a fundamental and permanent change in the way that companies do business.  Do you want people to know what is happening with your business…or don’t you?

If you know you need help getting on the social media rocket, Mic Johnson at Blue Gurus can help you. Plan  a consultation with them.   Blue Gurus is a young company, dedicated to helping small businesses implement a cohesive and comprehensive social media strategy that emphasizes a consistent message.  Yes, this is an obvious plug for Blue Gurus.  But they are different:  because of the way they work with their customers.  They don’t just sit down with the boss, take a few notes and come back later with everything up and running.  They take the time to show you how to work social media, step by step.  Talking with you and your employees, you learn how to create a LinkedIn profile, how to manipulate your WordPress website (which they will set up for you—see what they did for DowntownKC), how to manage your Twitter account and Facebook page, how to create a blog and tips for writing one.  Blue Gurus knows you have to work at social media to get it to work for you…and they will get you started.

Remember,  you have to keep up with your social media message… I think that’s the hardest part. It will pay off.  It has for me, and I’m nowhere near an expert at it.  I think the biggest benefit from using social media is that others can get a sense for your personality and get to know you before they contact you.  They will get ‘a feel’ for you and your services.  People will do business with people they like—social media can make that happen. And it can be an enjoyable, rewarding experience with the help of Mic at Blue Gurus.

I also talked to office John Trainor, who runs the Residential Surveys program for the department. This is a complimentary service, where John comes to your home and spends thirty minutes or so surveying your property from a security perspective. He will offer suggestions on ways to discourage burglars from making your house a target.  Usually these appointments are scheduled Monday through Friday, 11am-2pm, contact John via email to schedule a visit:  john.trainor@kcpd.org.

Another interesting fact I learned last night about break-ins:  50% of burglars go through the front door!  First they knock to see if anyone is home–if no answer, they will kick in the front door.  I asked about these thick, old Brookside doors–John said they are relatively easy to kick in, especially if the deadbolt is less than one inch long.  Also, most burglaries occur during the day rather than at night–I thought just the opposite.  Finally, approximately twenty cars per day are broken into in Kansas City MO.  Lock your car and don’t leave anything inside of value!

I hope this information is helpful to you–I’m going to schedule a visit with John at my own home.  Be proactive about protecting the contents of your home and vehicles–it just takes a little extra effort!