About Boone County, MO

I am so excited about the great year 2009 is going to be for buyers. Loan interest is at its lowest, great deals on homes, WOW! I am looking for people who want to get in on the best home buying time ever!

Thanks,

I received an e-mail the other day about a program through the University of Missouri-Columbia. The University YMCA will arrange for handwritten letters from Santa be mailed directly from the North Pool for that special someone. The $5.00 fee per letter goes directly to support University YMCA youth programs in our community.

For more information and to order your Santa letter to be sent anywhere in the United States, go to the University YMCA website at:
www.students.missouri.edu/~uymca

or call the YMCA office at 882-1550 or email Julie Alexander
mailto:alexanderju@missouri.edu .

Enjoy the season!!

I was visiting with one of my sellers the other day about our local market. She had been talking to another person in her neighborhood who also has their home listed. Her neighbor had gone into detail about a conversation they'd had with their agent. A conversation on how in the same month in 2007, 800 houses closed and this month only 140 houses had closed in Columbia.

I said, "Ms. Seller, that information isn't correct. Let me pull up the true stats for listings with a Columbia address and then we can talk about it. During the same month in 2007, 125 houses closed. This month in 2008, 95 houses sold. That is a pretty different story!"

I'm sure there was a misunderstanding somewhere but I'm not sure it made my seller feel any better. !

Following is the market history of listings in Columbia, Missouri. Statistics comparing the past month and week. We currently have 1220 active listings in the city of Columbia.

Municipality Statistics
For 10/19/2008 To 10/26/2008
Residential

For 10/21/2007 To 10/28/2007
Residential

For 9/27/2007 To 10/28/2007
Residential

For 9/28/2008 To 10/26/2008
Residential

Friday, October 31 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.

A fun night for the kids this Halloween. All activities are free and designed for kids in grade 6 and under. Bring your pirates, princesses and teddy bears for kid's games and goblin treats. Don't forget those trick or treat bags! My kids love this local event. They get to play games to win their prizes (treats) and it is very interactive!

Park and enter on the east side of the Hearnes Center. Plan to be there early if you have little ones and plan on waiting in line for a little bit for the doors to open. The decorations are fabulous and there are some great photo opportunities. Don't forget your camera!

The event is sponsored by the Columbia Parks & Rec, the ARC, Boone Hospital Center, ABC 17, Wal Mart, the Hearnes Center and Soft Rock 101.5 KPLA.

25th Annual Fall Arts and Crafts Show
Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Hearnes Center Fieldhouse

With over 300 artists, the largest craft show in Central Missouri is held each year at the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Missouri- Columbia. It sneaks up on me every year but is well worth the visit. Many unique and handcrafted items start the holiday shopping season! There is always a line at "opening" time so you may want to arrive early and get near the front.

My advice, arrive early and make your way from the front to the back.

Strollers are hard to maneuver because there can be so many people. You may consider using a backpack carrier or sling for your child.

An admission fee is charged at $3.00 per adult, $1.00 for kids ages 6-12 and under 6 are free.

Enjoy!