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Springfield, MO Real Estate News

By Jami Van Den Bogaert
(RE/MAX House of Brokers)
My clients and friends know I specialize in finding the best deals out there. Not only in real estate but in every aspect of my life. I got this way because before getting into real estate I really hated my job and I would think "how many hours do I have to work to get this item and is it worth it?". Now I love my career but the mindset just stuck with me. I thought I would start sharing some of the ways my husband and I make our money go further to get us closer to our goal of early retirement and financial freedom.  One of the ways we save money is by going to the Palace Theater. It is located in Chesterfield Village in southwest Springfield. They are usually a month or two behind the release dates of the regular theaters but if you get in the habit of not going to the regular theater...
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
First Time Homeowners Tips - Springfield Missouri Real EstateWhether you have spent years saving and preparing to buy a home or you still aren’t sure if it is something you can even dream of, the questions surrounding a first-time home purchase can feel endless. Here are some tips to help you with the process of becoming a homeowner:1. Pre-qualify for a loanBeing pre-qualified for a loan determines how much house you can afford. It also allows you to move more swiftly when you find the right house, especially when you aren’t the only interested buyer.2. Shop for mortgage rates and termsA difference of even half a percentage point can make a huge difference in how much you pay over the life of a loan. For example, the difference in the monthly payment on a $100,000 mortgage at 5.5 perce...
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
Everything you need to know about Internet lead generation I learned while fishing! There are a lot of great places to fish here in SW Missouri. There is Bull Shoals Lake, Norfork Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Stockton Lake, Table Rock Lake, and several others. There's the Norfork River, Eleven Point River, Finley River, James River, and many creeks and ponds. With all these lakes and rivers, great fishing is everywhere.  I started thinking, there are a lot of similarities between fishing and Internet lead generation. If you're going to fish, you have to know where the fish are. You have to do your market research and see where the buyers are. Are they buying in some price ranges and not others? Which parts of town have the most activity? What is the absorption rate by price range? You nee...
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
Fellows Lake Springfield Missouri Fellows Lake is located north of Springfield near Highways 65 and AA and is Springfield's source of drinking water. Its a great place to have a picnic, take a walk, or do a little fishing. Boating is permitted for boats with a maximum of forty horsepower motors and within restricted areas. For more information on services offered by the marina, call 833-2058 March through October. Fishing is permitted within restricted areas and the park is open from sunrise to sunset. Marina Picnic Areas
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
Are you selling a home in Springfield Missouri? Avoid the risks of overpricing a listing. It's tempting to price your home a little higher to see what happens and then lower the price later if it doesn't sell. Don't! This is a risky tactic. What happens if you overprice your home? Here are the cold hard facts:  1. QUALIFIED BUYER EXPOSUREOverpriced houses fail to attract qualified buyers, or attract "wrong" buyers. When people search on the Internet for homes, they search in price ranges. If your home is priced too high, people who see it will be comparing it against other homes that are really worth the higher price. People who can actually afford your home won't see it because they are searching in the next lower price range. 2. MINIMIZES OFFERSAn overpriced house discourages prospect...
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
Springfield Missouri Real Estate Market Statistics Dec, 2009 Absorption rates give a good idea of the supply and demand of homes by price range and neighborhood. The best selling price range for December was $50,000 to $99,000. This is also the price range with the most current listings. Real estate absorption rates in Springfield continue to vary widely by price range.  Values above 26 weeks supply indicate a buyers market while below 26 weeks indicate a sellers market. 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
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
Springfield Missouri Home Buyers, you’ve found that perfect home! It has those beautiful hardwood floors, ceramic tile in the kitchen, nice living area, and a great floor plan. Ready to buy? Don’t forget to check out the neighborhood!Scout out the Neighborhood!It is important that you scout the neighborhood in person. Talk to people who live there. Drive through the entire area at different times of the day, during the week, and on weekends. Look carefully at how well other homes in the area are being maintained—are they painted; are the yards well cared for; are parked cars in good condition? There are many factors to consider when selecting a neighborhood that is right for you. Think about the location in terms of commute time to work, distance from leisure-time activities, and proxi...
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
The Lakes at Wild Horse Springfield Missouri. These  wonderful neighborhoods are located just East of hwy 65 in Springfield Missouri. Homeowners take great pride in their homes and keep the neighborhood looking very beautiful. Its a great place to live and call home. Features of the neighborhood recreation area are swimming pool, tennis courts, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, and playground. Homes for sale at Wild Horse Springfield Missouri If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in Wild Horse in Springfield Missouri, please give TeamKnowles a call today. We look forward to helping you! Entrance Entrance 2 Playground Basketball Court Vollyball Court Swimming Pool Beautiful Homes in the neighborhood Aerial View
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
1. Define the reasons why you are selling your home in Springfield MO, and keep those reasons private. Telling a prospective buyer that you are selling your house because you can no longer afford the payments, or because you need to move quickly, puts them at a bargaining advantage. Once you have decided that it is the right time to sell your home, keep the reasons why to yourself. Those reasons will dictate most of your other selling decisions, such as how much you want to invest in fixing up your home before you sell, how to set your asking price, how long you are willing to keep your house on the market to get the price you want, and how much money you want to walk away with after all is said and done. Keeping this information to yourself will put you at an advantage during the nego...
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
Top questions you need to ask your Springfield Missouri real estate agent before hiring them. Finding the right real estate agent for you is an essential step in selling your home. A good real estate agent needs to communicate effec­tively with their clients at all times, answer all of their questions, and always keep their client's best interests in mind. Choosing the right real estate agent can reduce the stress of buying and selling your house and can save you thousands of dollars. It's important to remember that the real estate agent is working for you, and that you should use the same approach in choosing an agent that you would in hiring an employee. Why should I pick you over other agents? Ask the agent what sets them apart from the others. Find out how the agent has adapted to ...
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
Stone Meadow Community Springfield Missouri is a wonderful gated community located in beautiful wooded rolling hills.  Homeowners take great pride in their homes and keep the neighborhood looking very beautiful. Features of the neighborhood recreation area are swimming pool that also includes a wading pool and hot tub, tennis courts, open-air pavilion, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court and a kids' baseball field, and walking trails around the recreational areas and woods. Market Snapshot: There are currently seven homes for sale in Stone Meadow priced from $249,900 to $679,000 and one home currently under contract. Fifteen homes have sold in this neighborhood this year. If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in Stone Meadow in Springfield Missouri, please give Tea...
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
Last weekend we were driving to my mother's house in SE Missouri for Christmas when all of a sudden we saw something just ahead of us. I said "look at that big bird" and then we all realized it was a bald eagle! It flew in front of us and then landed in a tree.We pulled the car over just as it perched in the tree. Fortunately it stayed there long enough for us to grab the camera and get a picture before it flew away. It was breathtaking. These birds are so big and beautiful! Are you setting your goals high for 2010? We are setting ours high to soar with the eagles!
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
Cherry Hills is a wonderful neighborhood in suburban Springfield Missouri. It is conveniently located on the East side of town with easy access to Hwy 65. This is a great neighborhood just a few miles away from shopping, schools, and entertainment. Homeowners take pride in their homes and keep the neighborhood looking very beautiful. Market Snapshot: There are currently six homes for sale in Cherry Hills priced from $119,995 to $294,000. Twelve homes have sold in this neighborhood this year. If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in Cherry Hills in Springfield Missouri, please give TeamKnowles a call today. We look forward to helping you!
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
Thinking about selling your home in Springfield Missouri? Here are some costly mistakes to make sure you avoid! 1. Putting the home on the marketing before it’s readyMost of the time this happens because the seller gets impatient or is a procrastinator and has pushed himself up against a moving deadline before getting the pre-sale work done. When it comes on the market, they are still painting and the carpet still needs to be replaced. Get the work done before you advertise the property. Presentation is everything.2. Over Improving the home for the neighborhoodThis happens when additions and upgrades make the home stick out from its competitors so much that it seems abnormal instead of a nice addition to the neighborhood.3. Pricing the home based on what the seller wants to netThis pri...
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
We're looking forward to going to the 20th annual First Night Springfield again this year for New Year's Eve! If you aren't familiar with this event, here's the scoop. You get to attend all these events for one low price for the night! First Night is a family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year’s Eve event held in 10 different venues in downtown Springfield. Performances include the Wingtips, FORBIDDEN OPERA, Nick, Ruell & Ned the Band, the Skinny Improv and  of course a fireworks finale with Kim Crosby. There will also be hands-on activities for kids, including face-painting and finger puppets. There will be something for everyone in your family to enjoy! First Night Springfield 2010 will feature the following venues: 1984 Abundant Life Covenant Church Discovery Center Gillioz Theater Jor...
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
We want to take a moment and wish all our our friends and clients in Springfield Missouri and our Active Rain friends a  Very Merry Christmas! We hope you spend time with your families and remember why we celebrate the season - the birth of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. 2009 has been a difficult year for many people losing their jobs and homes this year. We pray that 2010 will be a year of growth and recovery for our nation. Watch our short video and get a laugh! It wasn't meant to be funny but it turned out that way!  
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
“If you don’t know where you’re going … you’ll have a hard time getting there!” In other words, to achieve an objective, create a plan! If you plan to buy a home in Springfield MO, you will need to know “where you are going.” For a most enjoyable home-buying experience, first build a road map to your new home, a list of priorities that will lead you to your objective—a new home! The first priority is your time frame. Write down the date by which you would like to move in to your new home: ________________ Keep in mind that it may take 30-90 days (or more) to locate the right home, secure financing, and complete the home-buying process. The next priority is to develop a detailed description of the home you hope to find. Below is a list of Home Search Criteria to help you distinguish bet...
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PRESS RELEASE Keller Williams Realty Ranked as Top Real Estate Franchise by Industry Leader and Entrepreneur Magazine AUSTIN, TEXAS (December 21, 2009) - Keller Williams Realty joined the ranks of the top franchises in the world last week, when the company was ranked as the No. 1 real estate franchise on the 31st Annual Franchise 500 list by Entrepreneur magazine. During the same week, the company was also voted the Most Recognizable Brand of Real Estate Franchises for 2009 in an industry-wide survey for the Swanepoel TRENDS Report.  "The Swanepoel TRENDS Report is a respected source for the real estate industry and beyond, as is Entrepreneur magazine, and we are excited to see our agents honored in this way for all of their hard work," said Mark Willis, CEO, Keller Williams Realty. "We...
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
Christmas is almost here! Its time to trim the tree and exchange gifts with friends and loved ones. Remember that "special" gift you received last year that was the wrong size, wrong color, or just plain wrong! The question is, what do you do with it? Do you keep it or return it? Is it okay to re-gift it someone else or is that a big no no?  
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By Betty Knowles, Ready to sell? Call Betty!
(Southwest Missouri Realty )
As REALTORS® in Springfield Missouri, we do a LOT of driving. One useful tool to make it easier to get around is the handy GPS. Ever wonder how it works? High above your head are 24 satellites in orbit to allow your device to do its thing. Your GPS receives signals from these satellites that tell them their location and measures the distance between any three satellites to triangulate your exact location. It's kind of like big brother on steroids except that your GPS doesn't transmit; it only receives signals.      The big question is, is it useful to you? Personally I don't miss the days of trying to decipher driving directions on the MLS to homes for sale. Yes I still use the written directions but it's very nice to have the GPS to get me in the ballpark, and usually right in front o...
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