Have you ever wondered how healthy your bank is? Here in Springfield, MO, we have not yet experienced the massive bank failures that other parts of the country have experienced, but that does not mean we are immune. Having specialized in new construction homes and land development, many of my clients have been victims of the banks frantically attempting to increase their capital, while decreasing their troubled assets, with the results usually being the builder/developer has his loan called, and the bank ends up with troubled assets anyway.

As of the end of October, there have been 123 bank failures in 2009. The number is rapidly increasing. Here is a link to view the banks which have failed this year: FDIC failed bank list.

Many of the troubled banks in the Springfield, MO, area were banks with a substantial amount of construction and/or development loans. With the new construction industry basically at a standstill, it is no surprise the banks are proportionately troubled as evidenced by the chart below I found on Calculated Risk Blog (the author, Bill, was very kind to let me use his charts). To reach his full article, click here.

To put this in perspective, Bill at the Calculated Risk Blog compared the history of the number of bank failures through 2009 since the inception of the FDIC in 1934.

So now, are you wondering how healthy your bank is? I have found a wonderful website to look up your bank based on its quarterly reportings to the FDIC. The Investigative Reporting Workshop has created a website that you can search for your own bank based on the location of its headquarters. It will tell you how healthy your bank is, and what banks received TARP monies. It may surprise you to know, that Great Southern Bank is actually headquartered out of Reeds Spring, MO.

Here are links to some of the banks around Springfield, MO:

How does your bank fare?

Greene County MO Real Estate Market Report for October 2009

Three Year Comparison of Home Sales

Three Month Comparison of Home Sales

Looking for information regarding Springfield Public Schools? I often have clients who are searching Springfield MO homes for sale, ask, "What is the best school district?" Unfortunately, I can't answer that question. The answer is very subjective. What may be important to one client is not necessarily important to another client.

When relocating, it's wise to research the area schools yourself and make your decisions based on what criteria in a school is MOST important to YOU. I have provided some helpful links to help you in your analysis of the high schools in the Springfield Public School District.

Springfield Public Schools, consists of five high schools:

Central High School - Home of the Bulldogs!

Glendale High School

Hillcrest High School

Kickapoo High School

Parkview High School

For information regarding safety, the Springfield Newsleader has a database you can search for Springfield Public Schools Safety Incident Reports.

SEARCH HERE FOR SPRINGFIELD MO HOMES FOR SALE