Edwardsville and Glen Carbon Real Estate Chat: April 2009

Speechless Sunday - Spring In Bloom

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About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a Realtor with the Just Ducky Homes team at Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.JustDuckyHomes.com or e-mail Kristina@JustDuckyHomes.com

About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com

13 comments • Kristina Pratt, REALTOR® - GoshenRealtyGroup.com • April 26 2009 09:24PM

Wordless Wednesday

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About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a Realtor with the Just Ducky Homes team at Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.JustDuckyHomes.com or e-mail Kristina@JustDuckyHomes.com

About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com

6 comments • Kristina Pratt, REALTOR® - GoshenRealtyGroup.com • April 22 2009 05:19PM

Weekends Around Edwardsville - Leclaire Park

If you know me, or you've read my posts about Edwardsville, it's no secret that I am a big fan of the Leclaire Historical District in Edwardsville.

Leclaire tells a story, has great architecture, is great for people of all ages and it even has a baseball field. (Stick around for a future entry about Leclaire field).

One of the hidden gems in Edwardsville is Leclaire Park.  This park is about 6 acres and features a large fishing lake.  Bring a sack of bread to feed the abundant ducks and geese.  The little ones will enjoy three play areas.  You'll also find a great spot for a lakeside picnic in one of the covered areas.  At night, the park lights up with a beautiful lighted fountain.

The best thing about Leclaire Park?  You can own a home of your own within walking distance.  There are some wonderful homes currently on the market in Leclaire.  If you're ready to make one your own, I'd be happy to help.

Enjoy some photos taken this weekend of Leclaire Park.

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About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a Realtor with the Just Ducky Homes team at Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.JustDuckyHomes.com or e-mail Kristina@JustDuckyHomes.com

About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com

0 comments • Kristina Pratt, REALTOR® - GoshenRealtyGroup.com • April 18 2009 12:51PM

Taste Of Summer - Edwardsville Style - Northside Dairy Haven

Nothing says summer like outdoor dining in a park like setting at the Northside Dairy Haven.

This place is a summer favorite of folks all over central Madison County.  It's only open during the spring, summer and early fall.  You know spring is just around the corner when Northside Dairy Haven opens it's doors and the smell of BBQ and charcoal broiled burgers are in the air.

So what's so special about it?  Glad you asked.

Not only does the Dairy Haven have ice cream as the name suggests, but they are a veritable smorgasbord of culinary delights.  I highly recommend the 1/4 charo-cheeseburger with everything.  Don't bother with the plain burger - make sure to get a charco-burger.  Why? A charco-burger is a juicy burger with the taste of char-broiled goodness.  It sits on top of a soft bun covered with cheese, ripe tomato, lettuce, ketchup, tangy mustard, onions and pickles.  On the side I usually opt for fried mushrooms with ranch dipping sauce (it's a Midwest thing) and a large Pepsi.

My husband loves the pork steak platter.  A juicy yet crisp BBQ pork-steak served with coleslaw and baked beans.  To top it off for dessert his favorite shake flavor is blueberry.  Other menu items of note are the delicious chili, pulled pork sandwich, various sundaes and my favorite - the crazy monkey.  A frozen banana dipped in chocolate and covered with nuts.  It's awesome.

Did I mention that we can eat there for under $13 total?  It's cheap and good.  Now that's a combination you don't find often enough.

Northside Dairy Haven
1902 N Main St, Edwardsville, IL 62025
(618) 656-9233

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About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a Realtor with the Just Ducky Homes team at Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.JustDuckyHomes.com or e-mail Kristina@JustDuckyHomes.com

About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com

0 comments • Kristina Pratt, REALTOR® - GoshenRealtyGroup.com • April 17 2009 06:15PM

Market Trend Report for St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs

Via Nancy Milton, REALTOR/GRI, JustDuckyHomes.com (Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs):

How's the market, Nancy?  Like all Realtors, I get that question everywhere I go. 

Our region, primarily in Madison and St. Clair counties in Southwestern Illinois, didn't experience the extreme rise in home prices that affected so many places across the country.

That means the market drop in our part of the nation has not been as precipitous. Remember that all real estate is local. If you're listening to CNN's anchors talk about Florida or California, it has no bearing on Edwardsville, Glen Carbon or Maryville, Illinois. So don't let them scare you.

From January 1 through the end of March 2009, 1,107 resale homes have closed in our area, down 16 percent from the number sold during the same three month period in 2008.

About 29 percent of those sales have been priced at $49,999 and under and more than 53 percent of the homes sold in January, February and March were priced at less than $100,000.

New construction is a different story. Year to date through the end of March 2009, 94 new construction homes have sold, down 44 percent from 2008.

Three-bedroom homes were still king (or queen) in our region, outpacing the sale of both smaller and larger homes by more than two to one in the first quarter of 2009.

Forty-six percent of homebuyers here in Southwestern Illinois are closing with conventional loans. FHA loans account for 24.4 percent of home loans and cash sales accounted for 18 percent of home sales in January, February and March.

What does this research tell our customers who need to buy or sell in Madison and St. Clair counties?

Homes are selling. They may not sell as quickly as they did in boom years, but they are selling. More telling will be sales figures for the traditionally busier time of year from May through August. I will continue to update the figures on this blog.

Investors appear to have come back into the market, picking off homes priced at less than $50,000. Anecdotally, I have noticed that my investor clients who don't act quickly on the properties they identify are losing them to other buyers.

For sellers, correct pricing the day your home comes on the market is critical. Your property needs to be the best value in its price category or you need to drop the price into a range where it is the best value. Know your competition and take a hard look at what your home offers in a head-to-head comparison. Check the net sheet your Realtor has provided you and think about your bottom line. If you didn't get a net sheet calculating your expected proceeds from the sale, ask for one right now.

Buyers, the market is screaming at you. It's yelling, "What are you waiting for?"  I've covered this in more detail in other posts, but the combo of low mortgage interest rates, choice of available homes, and lower prices should be all the incentive you need. And, if you're a first-time homebuyer, don't forget the $8000 federal tax credit. Call a Realtor, talk to her about your home ownership goals, get your loan pre-approval and then pick out your new place. It really is almost that easy if you have a good real estate consultant by your side.

About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com

0 comments • Kristina Pratt, REALTOR® - GoshenRealtyGroup.com • April 17 2009 05:57PM

Edwardsville, IL School Report Card

Via Nancy Milton, REALTOR/GRI, JustDuckyHomes.com (Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs):

If you're thinking about relocating your family to St. Louis' Illinois suburbs in Madison County, you may be interested in learning more about the area's public school districts.

This is the first in a series of posts that will link you to the Illinois school report cards for the county's districts. Today's topic: Edwardsville District 7.

The Edwardsville school district is large at approximately 185 square miles, encompassing the city of Edwardsville, the village of Glen Carbon, and more rural areas including Prairietown, Dorsey, Hamel, Worden, the Holiday Shores lakeside community and Midway.

In addition to Edwardsville High School and two middle schools -- Lincoln and Liberty -- the district includes 10 elementary schools, three of which were opened in fall 2008. The elementary schools are divided into Pre-K/K through 2nd grade and 3rd grade through 5th grade. Grades 6, 7 and 8 attend Middle School. 

An impressive sports complex offers fields for football, baseball, softball, track and more, plus tennis courts and a soon-to-open wrestling center. A swimming and diving facility is on the books for future development.

The district's theater, music and fine arts programs also are highly regarded with band, orchestra, AP art studio and portfolio courses and a publicly acclaimed series of student plays and musicals performed in the high school's theater.

According to District 7, their schools consistently score well above the state average in all subject areas. Click here to link to the Edwardsville School District's profile.

Click here to see the Illinois State School Report Card for the Edwardsville District 7 schools.

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About the Author: Nancy Milton, GRI, is a Realtor with the Just Ducky Homes team at Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Kristina Pratt help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on real estate in the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.JustDuckyHomes.com or e-mail Nancy@JustDuckyHomes.com.

 

About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com

0 comments • Kristina Pratt, REALTOR® - GoshenRealtyGroup.com • April 16 2009 11:25AM

These Are A Few Of My Favorite (Edwardsville) Things

There are so many things that make the vibrant city of Edwardsville one of the best places to live and work in Madison County.

Here are my top ten things I love about Edwardsville:

1. Pantera's Pizza.  When I grew up, my sister worked at the Pantera's in Alton while completing her education at SIUE.  I was raised on the stuff.  Unfortunately, there is only one Pantera's left in the area - fortunately it is in Edwardsville.

My favorite?  Sausage, cheddar cheese, bacon bits and pepperoni on thick crust.

Pantera's Pizza
1522 Troy Rd
Edwardsville, IL 62025
618-692-6000

2. Leclaire Park.  When I was in high school, I worked at the old Edwardsville K-Mart.  It's now Kohl's department store.  My friends and I used to grab a burger at one of the fast food joints and head over to Leclaire Park on our lunch hour.  I still love the lake view and the tranquil feeling you get even though you're in the middle of an active neighborhood. Great memories.

3. Shopping.  A few short years ago a great day of shopping meant making a trek to Fairview Heights.  Lately though, Edwardsville has become a great option.  In just one shopping center Edwardsville is now home to Borders, Old Navy, Ashley Furniture, Shoe Carnival, PetCo, Michael's, Starbucks, Best Buy, 54th Street Grill, St. Louis Bread Co, Dierbergs, Buffalo Wild Wings, Red Robin - I know I've missed more stores than I've listed.  This area is coupled with great shopping across the street at Kohl's, Target, Hallmark and Fashion Bug. 

4.  Location.  Edwardsville is close to downtown St. Louis, and a quick drive to Collinsville, Maryville, Troy, Glen Carbon, Wood River and Bethalto.

5.  Historic Homes.  From the St. Louis Street Historical district to Leclaire and the side streets in-between... if you love historic homes, you'll love Edwardsville.

6. Speciality Shops.  I love shopping at locally owned places.  I know shopping has already been on the list, but I'm a woman and I love it.  ;)  I like Joe's Market Basket, a small family-owned store featuring fresh groceries and all your outdoor needs.  Avon on Main, 222 Artisan Bakery, Sacred Grounds Cafe and various boutiques on Main Street are also a great treat.

7. Nature.  Even though Edwardsville is a large town, there are still plenty of places to escape.  With over 10 parks including the Watershed Nature Center and too many bike trails to count, Edwardsville was made for nature lovers.

8.  The downtown vibe.  Laurie's Place is a great place to catch live music.  Erato, Bigelo's Bistro, The Stagger Inn... if you like nightlife, downtown is the place to be.

9.  Fine dining.  You don't have to go to St. Louis to experience fine dining.  Fond is the newest addition to the scene, but you can also find tasty treats at Neruda and Bella Milano.

10.  Sense of community.  The residents of Edwardsville take great pride in their parks, schools, SIUE, bike trails, shopping and entertainment.  If you choose to make Edwardsville your next home, you'll find that you can have all of the big city amenities with a small town feel.

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About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a Realtor with the Just Ducky Homes team at Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.JustDuckyHomes.com or e-mail Kristina@JustDuckyHomes.com

 

About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com

0 comments • Kristina Pratt, REALTOR® - GoshenRealtyGroup.com • April 15 2009 11:03PM

SIUE Party In The Park - Edwardsville, IL

With spring all around us in Madison County, it's time for outdoor festivities.  There is no better time of year to enjoy a family friendly night of entertainment in the Edwardsville City Park.

The city park is over 2 acres and is bordered by Kansas, Park, Buchanan and Vandalia streets.  The park is home to the Edwardsville Public Library,  the Cleaon Etzkorn bandstand, a fountain donated by a local family and the Madison County Centennial Monument.

This installment of SIUE Party In The Park features carnival games, arts and crafts, attractions, inflatables, food and drink along with 80's cover band The Brat Pack.

Party In The Park starts at 6:00 on Saturday April 25th and runs until midnight. 

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About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a Realtor with the Just Ducky Homes team at Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.JustDuckyHomes.com or e-mail Kristina@JustDuckyHomes.com

About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com

0 comments • Kristina Pratt, REALTOR® - GoshenRealtyGroup.com • April 15 2009 08:35PM

Wordless Wednesday

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About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a Realtor with the Just Ducky Homes team at Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.JustDuckyHomes.com or e-mail Kristina@JustDuckyHomes.com.

 

About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com

16 comments • Kristina Pratt, REALTOR® - GoshenRealtyGroup.com • April 15 2009 08:33PM

Steps Most Buyers Will Take To Buy Their Home.......

This is a great post outlining how the buying process works.  Big thanks to my friend Don Rogers for the post.  If you're buying or selling in St. Charles and surrounding areas, be sure to give Don a call.

Via Don Rogers REALTOR®, CRS O'Fallon MO & St Charles County MO homes (RE/MAX Gold):

Steps Most Buyers Will Take To Buy Their Home.......

Chocolate CakeBuying a home can be made less stressful if we follow a few simple steps.  It is a little like baking a cake, if you don't follow the recipe or steps the cake will not be a tasty treat.  While I am thinking about it, remember what they say about too many cooks in the kitchen!!

 

So to keep you on track in the home buying process here are some helpful steps for you.

  1. Look for an agent to help you through the home buying maze.  Remember you are about to spend a whole lot of money so find a REALTOR® to help you.  Get to know the agent first; don't get in a rush....
  2. Interview the REALTOR®....set an appointment with an agent to find out if they have the skills, services and professional attitude you're looking for.  Meet the REALTOR® at their office.  I know you really want to see the home that you are in front of....
  3. Discover if the REALTOR® is working "FOR" you OR "WITH" you.  Are you a client or a customer?  Remember you want an agent that is going to be loyal to you and will be your advocate.
  4. Clarify your wants and needs to your agent...let them know your objectives and timetable.
  5. Have the agent help you establish your purchasing power...this may include getting pre-approved.  I would suggest that you find out how much home you can afford before looking at homes.
  6. Once you start looking for a new home you will want to use the process of elimination.  After looking at two homes discard the lesser home and continue to follow the process while looking at properties.  Only keep the best home in front of you.
  7. View each property objectively.
  8. Once you have found the best home for you, write the offer to purchase.  With the large selection of homes available you may be able to find one quickly. Don't forget to bring your checkbook, you will need it to write the earnest money check.
  9. Once the contract has been signed by you, your agent will sent it or take it to the listing agent.  Remember time is of the essence.
  10. Handle all counter offers and negotiations with a win/win attitude....Keep a big picture mentality.
  11. Avoid "Second Guessing Syndrome"...also known as "Buyers Remorse".  Almost EVERYONE gets it at some point in time. 
  12. Finalize any loan details to get final approval.  If you haven't been pre-approved, you need to get the ball rolling NOW! 
  13. Your agent will order title work from the company of your choice.
  14. Any inspections or predications that need to be addressed should be done in a timely fashion.
  15. Address snags and problems as part of life.  Keep focused on YOUR goals...getting into the home of your dreams.  Stuff can happen.
  16. Do a "walk-thru" prior to closing to see all items were completed from your inspection or requested in your contract.
  17. Show up early to closing with all necessary items needed.  Your agent will call you the day before closing with a list of needed items.  This is a happy day don't forget to bring a smile.  Congratulations on the purchase of your new home.

Whether you are buying a home in O Fallon Missouri or Fairbanks Alaska the process is very similar if not the same.  If you call an agent to meet you in front of one of their listings don't be surprised if they want you to come to the office first.  They want to get to know you and let you get to know them.  It is not good to start at #6 first and then try to play catch-up.  Bake the cake by the recipe and you will be amazed at how good it will turn out.

Helping you achieve your next level of the American Dream.  Ready?

If you are looking for a new home and a REALTOR® that knows the St. Charles County MO marketplace and one that has call O Fallon MO home for over 15 years give me a call.  Call Don Rogers at 314-954-6775 or email me at Don@DRogersHomes.com and we can start you home buying experience today.  By the way I am never too busy for your referral, so if you know of someone that is looking to buy or sell have them give me a call, too.

Search for homes on the market in our area by visiting my new website!  Click the link below and register to get full access to unlimited listings!

About the Author:  Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com

0 comments • Kristina Pratt, REALTOR® - GoshenRealtyGroup.com • April 14 2009 09:55PM