About Kansas City's Brookside

My seventeen year old daughter recently started her first 'real' job. She's been babysitting for years, but now has a job in a locally owned shop called The Dime Store. It's operated in Brookside for decades and it's one of those places everyone loves to browse in: creaky hardwood floors, lots of inventory, stocks just about everything you need, like the old five and dime stores of the 50s. You always see someone you know in The Dime Store.

Erin recently told me she has a big goal for her new job: to make enough money to go to Spain next summer. A year ago she went with several fellow high school students and stayed with a family who had a daughter the same age. Macarena and Erin got along very well, and Erin has been invited back. Erin loved Spain and the seductive 'european lifestyle', hence her desire to return. She knows it will take a lot of money for the plane ticket, food costs and spending cash. She is determined to work all the shifts she can at The Dime Store, as well as keeping up with babysitting and homework, to achieve her goal. But she has other expenses: car insurance and gas, monthly phone bill, and fun money when she goes out with friends. She actually told me she was 'stressing out' about the cash she needs to cover all of her expenses and goals! (And I'm stressing out about how the money we have saved since her birth for college isn't going to cover the costs).

But on this Labor Day, I'm blogging to say how proud I am of Erin, and her determination to work hard to reach her goals. She's learning an important lesson very early about budgeting, expenses, and how income doesn't maintain pace with ever-increasing expenses. I think she will reach her goal, because she knows that she herself has to make it happen.

I've received numerous requests about homes in the 64113 zip code over the weekend so here is a quick breakdown of the Kansas City Real Estate Market in this hot area known as Brookside.

There are currently 136 Single Family Homes For Sale in 64113. + 4 condominium homes.

Prices for Active Listings range from $140,000 up through $4,300,000.

6 of these homes were listed within the last week. The one on Dartmouth that came on today is the cutest tudor with remarkable architectural details.

2 homes have Contingent Contracts;

12 have Pending Contracts;

11 have Contracts but are accepting Back Up Offers

37 homes SOLD in the last 60 days. Price ranges $135,000 - 812,500. The AVERAGE Price for homes sold in the 64113 zip code was $290,431.

Here is a chart depicting the Median Price of homes sold in 64113 over the last 10 YEARS:

Realtor Maria Morton -816-560-3758- Leading Edge Society 2010...♪♫ ..........Westport Neighborhood.......Morningside Park....More Kansas City Neighborhoods ....

.. Condos for sale around Crown Center .. KC Irish Fest 2011 ..

...*Information obtained from Heartland MLS is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. **This is an eclectic blog combining a little business with pleasure; please consult a licensed professional before making life altering decisions. Maria Morton, Realtor©, SRES is a Kansas City Real Estate Agent licensed in MO & KS and affiliated with Prudential Kansas City Realty 816.410.5499.o Maria Morton Copyright © 2011 *Kansas City Real Estate Market Report 64113*

Fellow SPS families:

Here are several important dates to note from the SPS school calendar through September:

Week of August 22: Food Pantry Collection

August 24: Back to School night, 7ppm

September 9: 8th Grade Retreat

September 13: 8th Grade Parent Meeting 6:30pm

September 14: School out 2:20pm

September 24: School Fiesta

September 27 and 28: School Pictures

Let's all have a safe and happy 2011-2012 school year!

You drive the same route every day...but the next couple of weeks will be different! The school calendar is showing start dates for area grade and high schools. In the Brookside area of Kansas City, MO, please note the dates below when children will be heading back to school that first day:

Monday, August 15: Southwest Charter School, 6512 Wornall

University Academy, 6801 Holmes

Tuesday, August 16: St Peter's School, 6415 Holmes

Thursday, August 18: St Teresa's Academy, 5600 Main

Wednesday, August 24: Academie Layfayette, 6903 Oak

As you drive to your destination in the morning, please be aware of kids walking and riding bikes to school, and crossing the streets. Be aware of increased auto and bus traffic for drop offs near these addresses.

Thank you!

Today I am comparing home sales statistics for the first six months of 2011 with the first six months of 2010 in two of the larger area subdivsions here in Brookside, Kansas City MO:

Rockhill Gardens:

2010: 18 homes sold. Lowest sales price was $65,000; highest sales price was $251,250. Average sales price was $177,151 with an average of 103 days on market.

2011: 12 homes sold. Lowest sales price was $65,000; highest sales price was $256,000. Average sales price was $179,343 with an average of 118 days on market.

Armour Hills:

2010: 27 homes sold. Lowest sales price was $90,000; highest sales price was $326,000. Average sales price was $213,308 with an average of 94 days on market.

2011: 25 homes sold. Lowest sales price was $98,000; highest sales price was $272,000. Average sales price was $207,287 with an average of 148 days on market.

Keep in mind that in the first six months of 2010, buyers were taking advantage of the $8000 tax credit which is not available this year. Foreclosed homes drag the average sales price down.

If you would like sales stats for your subdivision--send me an email with your address and I'll do the research! Thanks for reading my blog.