Joan Snodgrass Tri-Lakes Realtors, Shell Knob, MO

HOME SHOW TIME IN SHELL KNOB

Another sign of spring is the Annual Home and Business Show, presented by the Shell Knob Chamber of Commerce on April 17-18, 2009

This popular event offers businesses of all types a great opportunity to present products and services to the Shell Knob - Table Rock Lake market.

Held in the gym of Shell Knob School, on Highway 39 this allows easy access to the show. Admission is free.

The Shell Knob Home and Business Show attracts hundreds of people from Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas.

People interesting in purchasing homes and land; remodeling; new furniture and appliances, landscaping and gardening.

Contact the Shell Knob Chamber for information on booth spaces. Call 417-858-3300.

Call Joan for all your real estate questions and needs. 417-846-7128

If it's March, can Fishing Tournaments be far behind?

My Missouri Conservation calendar shows White Bass beginning their spawn March 21, and that is the date Galena's Park Board will be hosting its 2nd Annual White Bass Tournament. Local word of mouth has muskies spawning and on the move. That may be why I noticed so many boats on the Kings River near Golden.

Fireworks for the 4th of July will be the recipient of funds raised by a $30 entry fee for a two person team. There will be a 1st place prize of $300. - 2nd place prize of $200. The Tourney starts at the Y-Bridge in Galena at 7 a.m., with weigh-in at the Galena Country Corner Store at 5 p.m.

STONE COUNTY BASS MASTERS

The Friday night tournaments held by the Stone County Bass Masters will start April 24t5h. Take-off at 7 p.m. at the Cape Fair Boat Dock area, with an entry fee of $35.00 per team and a $10 one time member fee per team member.

Call Joan for all your real estate and local information on Table Rock Lake 417-846-7128

Bail-outs, Layoffs, Store Closings, Unemployment, Bankruptcy, Recession, Depression - Gloom and Doom are everywhere. TV, Radio, Newspapers and Magazines are all harking the bad news.

What would happen if we decide not to participate? Unemployment is close to 8%, but that means 92% of the population IS employed, right?

Real estate is still the best investment out there. God isn't making anymore - last time I checked.

In the Ozarks (SW Missouri) we had inflated prices, but not to the degree other parts of the country had. In 2008 properties sold at 94% list to sell ratio here. That is not bad.

I am frequently talking to people who are thinking that 1.4% interest on their Money Markets or CD's is not enough and are determining to invest that money in land and property.

So call me a Cockeyed Optomist (South Pacific), but our phones are starting to ring more, we had three walk-in's this week, and I have two offers working. If people are looking at lake property, spring can't be far away and springtime in the Ozarks is a wonderful thing!

I've got 'THAT' feeling again. Charged up and ready for the fun of selling some Table Rock Lake property in Shell Knob, Missouri. FORECAST: Sunny Sales

Call Joan for all your Real Estate needs. 417-846-7128

Tri-Lakes REALTORS 417-858-3344

SIGN VIGILANTES - OR - I KNOW I PUT A SIGN THERE YESTERDAY

Part of getting a new listing is sign placement to advertise the property is for sale. Signage is used heavily here in the Ozarks.

Unlike developments in large cities, properties around Shell Knob's hills take many a twist and turn. We provide maps to clients at Tri-Lakes Realtors, but even then it can be a challenge if road signs are missing.

If an agent doesn't put up enough directional signs, it is easy to get lost.

Two new listings I have are good examples. They are both about six or seven miles outside Shell Knob. To properly direct potential buyers to find them requires 4 directionals, as it takes four left turns to get to the house.

I place my signs out of the way of any mowing or maintenance by the county. In most cases, this land is rural with no homes near the corners. Our first challenge here is to even get the sign to stay in the ground and stand stable. This land is so rocky it takes a heavy mallet to drive the sign in, and often takes moving it around several times to locate a spot that doesn't hit rocks.

My first directional off the main road didn't last a week before it disappeared. The next directional was several feet back from the road, and it lasted one day. These signs were not laid down. They just disappeared.

Who took them? Why take them? I have no idea. We don't have any laws prohibiting signs. I've got to wonder how these vigilantes would feel if their property was for sale, and no prospective buyer driving by would know it because there were no signs?

NEW BOAT SHOW SCHEDULED

Winter Boat Shows are normally the signal to start thinking of summer lake fun - be it fishing, boating, wake boards, etc. This year, many, if not most of the shows,have been canceled due to the trickle-down economics of recession.

Boat Shows cost the exhibitors money, and in a time when many potential boat buyers have lost a good portion of their retirement savings, or even lost their jobs, money is scarce.

The summer of 2008 was not kind to boat dealers in the tri-lakes area. Table Rock and Beaver lakes were flooded the entire summer, making it difficult to get to many of the boat docks.

Gas prices reached unheard of highs, so all in all, the recreation dealers suffered.

Boat shows are normally a good money maker for the exhibitors and a way to expose their product line to the public, but not this year.

Shell Knob's newest boat dealer is Central Crossing Marine. They opened in 2008, on Hwy 39 right across from the Shell Knob shopping plaza. It is owned by Chris and Amy Maher, who need to get their fledgeling

enterprise into the public's awareness.

Lack of the normal shows led the Mahers to create a new local boat show. This Boat Show will be in Branson's new Hilton Convention Center the March 27 - 29. It will be the 1st Branson Boat Show, with hopes for many more to follow.

Call Joan for all your real estate needs or information - 417-846-7128

Tri-Lakes REALTORS 417-858-3344