Edwardsville and Glen Carbon Real Estate Chat

3 +/- Acres - Edwardsville Home For Sale

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:23:02 -0600

Perfect setting.

3 +/- acres of stunning land surround this beautifully remodeled home less than a mile outside city limits.

Extensive 2007/2008 remodel added new kitchen with custom cabinets and all-stainless appliances;new living room with fireplace; hardwood floors in kitchen, dining room and hall and carpet in bedrooms; tile floor and shower in upstairs bath; decks & 27-foot above-ground pool; siding, roof; furnace, AC and water heater.

30x20 pole barn with two garage doors offers flexibility. 1 +/- acre electric dog fence. Near I-55, SIUE and bike trails.

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All information regardless of source, including price, square footage and lot sizes are not guaranteed and should be verified by personal inspection and/or with the appropriate professional(s).

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

It's Not Too Early For Holiday Shopping - Come Out And Support ARRF

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:02:54 -0600

The Animal Rescue and Relief Foundation of Southwest Illinois is holding a Holiday "Browse About" Event this month in Collinsville.

On November 14th and 15th from 11:00 - 5:00 p.m. you can browse various holiday gifts ranging from one-of-a-kind vintage and collectible items. Premier Jewelry will donate 25% of the retail purchase price to ARRF. The event will be held at 10 Lavadna Court in Collinsville.

Stop by and help ARRF continue to care for sick and injured stray animals. ARRF also offers help for families that are unable to afford to spay or neuter their pets.

To find out more about ARRF, take a look at animals that are available for adoption, or to donate to this wonderful cause visit them on-line at http://www.arrf-il.org

RE/MAX Preferred Partners is a proud advisor of ARRF.

Collinsville Yard Waste Collection

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:55:06 -0600

This Saturday, November 7th and again on November 21 from 9:00 to 4:00, the city of Collinsville will be collecting yard waste from residents.

The waste bins will be located in at the street department on South Morrison.

Be sure to bring a picture ID, as only Collinsville residents will be allowed to use the bins. Also, no commercial waste will be accepted for disposal.

Also, if you bring waste in bags make sure they are paper yard waste bags, as no plastic will be allowed at the drop-off site.

Edwardsville Halloween Parade 2009 - Times and Info

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:49:05 -0500

For over 90 years, the city of Edwardsville has been host to a spook-tacular Halloween parade. The parade is one of the biggest in Madison County and features marching bands and more than 100 floats this year.

The parade starts at 6:30 in downtown Edwardsville. For the first time in weeks, the weather forecast does not call for rain - so be sure to arrive early to find a parking and a great spot to watch. The parade will begin at Lincoln Middle School and run north to St. Louis street and then onto Vandalia and Main.

According to the Ed-Glen Chamber, this year's theme is "Celebrate The Season".

You can find out more information about the Halloween parade by visiting EdGlenHalloween.com Here you'll find a parade program and parade line-up.

From all of us at Goshen Realty Group and RE/MAX Preferred Partners we wish you a safe and happy Halloween. (Try not to eat too much candy. :) )

Top 10 Scary Homebuying Mistakes

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:20:44 -0500

Great advice for buyers just in time for Halloween. Thanks to fellow RE/MAX Realtor Tracy Lee Parker for the list.

Via Tracy Lee Parker, Broker (RE/MAX by The Lakes ):

Top 10 Scary Homebuying Mistakes

1) Not Getting Pre-Approved by a Lender-Don't get your heart set on a certain neighborhood or type home until you have talked to a lender. Have you ever seen Property Virgins on HGTV? The host starts the show walking the homebuyers down a street in their favorite neighborhood. She asks them how much they think homes in the area cost and they are usually WAY more expensive than they thought! We all have Champagne taste right? A lender will look at your income, assets, debts and credit to determine a monthly payment you can afford.

2) Not thinking Long Term-If you fall in love with a home but it sits next to the electrical plant or has a major road next to it you might want to think again. This is a huge investment, you want to make sure future buyers will want to buy this home too.

3)Deciding Not to Buy-If you are waiting on the market to improve you could wait forever! If you have the finances and are ready to quit renting, now is the time to buy. Home ownership builds equity, gives you tax deductions and so many other benefits!

4)Not Getting a Home Inspection-Even if it is a new home or looks perfect, get a home inspection. It is better to know before closing that something is wrong or if not corrected could go wrong in the future. An inspection is well worth the money!

5) Not Checking Out the Neighborhood-Before you buy drive the neighborhood at different times of the day, drive to work and back to check out the commute. See where the nearest grocery store or dry cleaners is. Nothing is worse than moving in a home and finding out your favorite store is miles away.

6) Buying the First Home You See-You can always come back to it after you have looked at 3 or 4 more in the area you like. Shop, compare and make sure the home is not overpriced.

7) Buying a Foreclosure Without Completely Checking It Out-Lenders and government owned properties don't have to have a sellers disclosure as most states require. Just because it is a great price does not mean it won't have problems. Get an inspection and an estimate on any repairs. Just because you got a good deal on price doesn't mean you will make a fortune if the home has issues that cost you money!

8) Picking the Wrong Real Estate Agent-If you are with an agent who is not answering the phone or seems reluctant to take you out to see homes chances are they aren't the professional you want. Pick an agent whom is knowledgeable about the area you want to move to. If you have to drive over 20 miles from the agents office to see a home ,the agent probably does not know that area very well.

9) Not Agreeing With Your Significant Other-Sit down with the person you will be buying with, look through magazines or at homes online. Find out what each other likes and doesn't like before you go out. Most important agree on a price range you want to stay in to make your payment affordable. This saves time for everyone involved.

10) Not Neogiating To Make the Deal Work-Don't walk away from a home over a couple thousand dollar difference. Usually the seller and buyer can meet in the middle. Each party wants to think they are getting something from the pot. Your agent can help negotiate the best deal for you!

Compliments of

~Russell & Tracy Lee Parker~

~RE/MAX By The Lakes~

(214)477-5609 Russell (972)365-7198 Tracy Lee

~ residential sales, short sales, land purchases, commercial sales, leasing & property management~

Let someone local manage your property!

Eau De Dog - The New Fall Fragrance?

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:56:32 -0500

Here at Goshen Realty Group, we love our four-legged mascots. We've got the bases covered when it comes to pets of both the feline and canine variety. (Our resident dachshund, Missy, is pictured below.) In fact, our brokerage RE/MAX Preferred Partners does a lot of work on behalf of ARRF in Southern Illinois. Check out their website for more info.

There is an old saying in the real estate business that goes "If you can smell it, you can't sell it." Now this doesn't just mean pet odors - but odors of any kind. Everything from smoke to air fresheners, mildew, must, scented candles and even food smells (pleeeaase don't cook fish or garlic the day before a showing) can turn off a buyer. Believe it or not, smells are a reason for a buyer to offer you a lower price for your home.

The problem is, not everyone that is looking to buy a house loves our pets as much as we do. Many buyers that don't have pets of their own notice the slightest "eau de dog" odor the minute they walk in the door, and for some it's a turn-off.

But don't fret! Your dog or cat can co-exist with the for sale sign in your front yard. Just follow a few of these simple tips...

Don't use too much air freshener. Please don't use a plug-in scent in every room in your house. If you feel the need to use a plug-in type air freshener try a scent like clean linen. Stay away from cinnamon or other scents that are too flowery. To be perfectly honest, you're not fooling anyone - in fact, most buyers wonder what bad smell you're really hiding.

Febreze is your friend. Offensive odors live on soft surfaces, and odds are you can't smell it. Before your home is shown, take a bottle of Febreze and spray everything down. Make sure to spray carpets, couches, chairs, bedding, curtains - anything that is fabric. Unlike air fresheners, Febreze has a clean laundry type of smell to it, and it's pleasing. It makes your home smell fresh and crisp.

If you take Fido or Frisky with you for showings, take all of their stuff too. I had a buyer really digging on a house one time only to spot a litter box in the corner of the dining room. Suddenly the whole house smelled like a cat to her. Take toys, litter boxes, food dishes, beds and crates with you when you leave. I know it's a pain, but your house will sell faster because of it.

Have your carpets, area rugs and window treatments professionally cleaned. Ask your service provider if they can use a solution specifically designed to eliminate odors.

Do the doo-doo. Take some time to go outside and pick up after your pooch. No one likes to step in a landmine while checking out your backyard.

Ask your REALTOR. Don't be afraid to ask your agent if they think there is an odor in your home that might turn off buyers. Constructive criticism of any type can help you sell your home.

If you follow a few of these tips, you're sure to eliminate any unpleasant odor a buyer might object to. It's a lot of work for each and every showing, but once you and your best friend are enjoying your new home it will have been worth it. (Plus, you can take some of that extra money you made and buy your pet a sparkly new collar.)

Edwardsville Market Update

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:17:15 -0500

Here is a quick look at the market stats for Edwardsville from January '09 until today (October 28)

Price by Bedrooms

-2 3 4+ Total

Sell Price Volume $5,236,951 $22,948,347 $24,104,378 $52,289,676

List Price Volume $5,497,500 $24,045,337 $25,151,925 $54,694,762

AVG List Price $119,511 $180,792 $285,817 $204,849

AVG Sell Price $113,847 $172,544 $273,913 $195,841

List/Sell Ratio 95% 95% 96% 96%

Median List/Sell Ratio 94% 97% 96% 97%

Median List Price $119,900 $169,900 $264,450 $185,000

Median Sell Price $113,250 $165,000 $254,000 $180,000

Thinking of selling and curious to see how your home fits into the equation? Give me a call or send me an e-mail so we can discuss your specific needs.

10 Commandments Home Buyers Must Follow

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:10:23 -0500

Fellow agent Chantal gives buyers a great reminder, while adding a dash of humor.

If you're buying a home in Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville, Troy or the Metro-East area give us a shout. We'll be happy to help you find your new home.

Via Dr. Chantal Saucier (Keller Williams Realty Acadiana):

These 10 Commandments home buyers must follow may seem like common sense to many. Buyers, however, can sometimes forget with all the excitement surrounding the buying of their new home. In the past couple of weeks, I have heard of two separate buyers who saw their home loan turned down, and their dream shattered, a few days before closing because they had bought furniture for their new home before it actually became their home. Both of them now have beautiful furniture with no home to put them in.

These two buyers were not my clients but it always hurts when I hear of transactions falling apart for reasons that could have been avoided. These 10 commandments are part of the buyer packet I give all my clients when we first meet and I always stress that once they get pre-approved and the process is started, they can't do anything that might affect their credit.

1. Thou shalt not change jobs, become self-employed or quit your job.

2. Thou shalt not buy a car, truck or van (or you may be living in it)!

3. Thou shalt not use credit cards excessively or let your accounts fall behind.

4. Thou shalt not spend money you have set aside for closing.

5. Thou shalt not omit debts or liabilities from your loan application.

6. Thou shalt not buy furniture.

7. Thou shalt not originate any inquiries into your credit.

8. Thou shalt not make large deposits without first checking with your loan officer.

9. Thou shalt not change bank accounts.

10. Thou shalt not co-sign a loan for anyone.

If you are in the process of buying a home, remember that your credit must not change or be affected in any way until you actually sign the paperwork and get possession of your new home. Lenders will not only look into your credit when you first get pre-approved, they will check it again (and sometimes again and again) before they let you sign the mortgage. If you want to buy new furniture for your home or change jobs, just be patient. There will always be time to do it after the closing.

Call Us About ConocoPhillips Wood River Refinery Relocation Homes

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 11:29:24 -0500

The massive ConocoPhillips EnCana Wood River refinery in Roxana, Illinois is expanding, bringing great new jobs to our area for skilled craftsmen and contractors. That's excellent news for Madison County, Illinois in the midst of the ongoing national recession.

According to the companies, the $2 billion project is expected to be completed for production to begin in the early months of 2011. The expansion will upgrade capacity and will increase the production of clean fuels for the Midwest.

The refinery, located on approximately 2,200 acres at the intersection of IL Highway 111 and Madison, is operated by ConocoPhillips in cooperation with EnCana Corp., a Canadian oil producer.

If you're relocating to the area for jobs associated with the Wood River oil refinery expansion in the Roxana area, there are great home deals waiting for you across the communities of Madison County.

Contact the Just Ducky Homes team at Refinery@JustDuckyHomes.com or 618-791-8007 for more information on the top deals in Roxana and Wood River and throughout the River Bend area. Or click on our web site at http://www.JustDuckyHomes.com to look for properties that match your needs within just a 30 minute commute or closer to your new job. Communities such as Edwardsville, Bethalto, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Alton and many others provide a wide variety of housing options.

The Just Ducky Homes team specializes in helping people who are buying their first homes in our region. If you're unfamiliar with our area, we have information on schools, community life, recreation and much more to help you and your family find the right home during your relocation.

(FYI, CP employees: Our friends at the Crown Plaza St. Louis Downtown are offering a ConocoPhillips rate of $89 for an oversized guest room. The rate includes a free, hot breakfast; free happy hour; free Internet and free parking. They also have one-bedroom kitchen suites for long-term stays for $59 to $79 per night based on the length of stay. Call the hotel at 314-621-8200 to book. Then call me to start looking for your new home. I can be reached at 618-791-8007.)

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About the Author: Nancy Milton, GRI, is a Realtor with the Just Ducky Homes team at RE/MAX Preferred Partners 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. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.JustDuckyHomes.com or e-mail Nancy@JustDuckyHomes.com, 618-791-8007.

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About the Author: Nancy Milton, GRI, is a REALTOR with the GoshenRealtyGroup at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Kristina Pratt help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs with special emphasis on homes for sale in Madison County and the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville, Troy, Bethalto and surrounding areas.

Goshen Realty Group takes its name from the earliest nickname for Madison County, Illinois -- the Land of Goshen -- coined when the region's first settlers compared their new home east of the Mississippi River to the biblical land of peace and plenty.

For more information, visit GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Nancy at Nancy@GoshenRealtyGroup.com. Text or call Nancy at 618-791-8007.

Please note that individual listings periodically mentioned in this blog are accurately described in terms of availability and price at the time of the posting. Because properties are constantly coming on and off the market, please contact Nancy for the latest information on those that are of particular interest to you.

Sell Your Edwardsville Home With Goshen Realty Group

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:26:09 -0500

We'll get to the house selling thing I mentioned in the headline in a minute, but here's something that's just for fun. I took a Facebook quiz the other day titled, "How Edwardsville are you?"

The result came back as, "Mayor Neibur." It judged me with this statement: "You are Mayor Niebur. You are a lifelong resident of Edwardsville and have served 5 terms as mayor and have done a great deal of good for the city. Unfortunately, you are not as Edwardsville as Preach..."

That made me laugh and made me think about my own list of things that make you truly an Edwardsvillian. It's really a lot more than being born here...or moving here as a toddler...or coming here for college and never leaving as I did. Note that some of the items on this just-for-fun list will only make sense if you're an Edwardsville person "of a certain age." The rest of you are forgiven for being too young.

NANCY'S LIST OF THINGS THAT MAKE YOU AN EDWARDSVILLE PERSON

You know how to let pedestrians proceed into a crosswalk without running them down (thanks to on-campus training at SIUE)
You understand that trick-or-treating takes place on the night before Halloween so you can go to the Halloween parade on October 31
You adore Preach and worry if you don't see him around for a while.
You took your first legal drink at The Granery -- at age 19, I might add. (I'll allow Vanzo's as a substitute.)
You remember when the LeClaire water tower was actually the Jimi Hendrix water tower.
You know that LeClaire was a company town before it was just a neighborhood
You're still longing for the long-gone lunch counter at Schwartz Drugs.
You met your future spouse by literally stepping on him at the MRF (okay, maybe that was just me)
You remember that the Historic Col. Benjamin Stephenson House was previously the TKE frat house
You "attended class" at Stagger Inn (or maybe that was just the Mass Comm majors. My husband tells me that the math/comp sci folks hung out at Vanzo's)
You're guilty of buying dented, label-less cans for cheap at the old National grocery store during college, thus ensuring that dinner would be a yummy surprise. Sometimes it was ravioli. Sometimes it was dog food, so you had to look for a stray dog
You still grab a kid and run to Miner Park when it snows to sled down the amazing hill
You held kiddie birthday parties at Cottonwood Bowl, Montclaire Bowl, Pantera's, Cottonwood Cinema or Skate Corral
You shopped at the Bargain Barn
You and Chimega were on a first name basis
You drive through the Bank of Edwardsville on Christmas Eve just to get the huge apples.
You remember Peter Station and Whistle Stop
You inadvertently stampeded cows in a relative's Edwardsville pasture (again, maybe that was just me)

Feel free to add to the list with your comments. I'm sure there are a lot of things I'm forgetting.

Now back to the important house-selling stuff. If you're looking for a Realtor who really knows the Edwardsville area (and the rest of Madison County, for that matter)...send me a message. It will be fun to recall the good old days together while I fill you in on what's happening in the local real estate market. Or, if you're newer to E'ville or SIUE, I can tell you about some of the history and quirks you may be finding here while we talk about your real estate needs.

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For more information, visit GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Nancy at Nancy@GoshenRealtyGroup.com. Text or call Nancy at 618-791-8007.

RE/MAX Poll Asks: What Would Help the Real Estate Market Most Right Now

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:25:58 -0500

In an on-line poll of it agents and brokers, RE/MAX has asked real estate professionals to weigh in on what would make the most positive difference in the market right now.

The answer that rose very clearly to the top was the creation of a tax credit for all homebuyers. The streamlining of short sales and a renewed tax credit for first-time homebuyers followed as the number two and three suggestions.

Here's the way the poll responses look to date:

Tax credit for all homebuyers 63.37%

Streamlined short sales 17.23%

Renew first-time homebuyer tax credit 12.28%

Foreclosure moratorium 1.19%

Lower interest rates 2.77%

Jumbo loan availability 2.97%

Higher conforming loan limits 0.20%

Keeping in mind that all real estate is local, what would you say about the area in which you live and work? Here in Edwardsville and the rest of St. Louis' Illinois suburbs, foreclosures have not overwhelmed the market. And I have seen a rush in first-time buyers dashing to the November 30 finish line to get the tax credit.

Do you agree with more government intervention in the market? Or, is it time to let market forces act independently? Have you seen an upsurge in buyers over the past couple of months because of the first-time buyer tax credit? Maybe you have a solution that isn't on the list. Let's talk.

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For more information, visit GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Nancy at Nancy@GoshenRealtyGroup.com. Text or call Nancy at 618-791-8007.

The Goshen Gourmet Welcomes The Cupcakery to Edwardsville IL

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:17:36 -0500

Can you smell the luscious cloud of sweet buttercream blanketing Edwardsville, IL? It's likely coming from the newest specialty shop in town -- The Cupcakery.

Located at 1057 Century Drive off 157 near Quiznos, the newly opened gourmet cupcake bakery is offering sinful selections today, including Confetti (Vanilla Buttercream on French Vanilla cake); Tuxedo (Vanilla Buttercream on Dark Chocolate cake); Peanut Butter Cup (Peanut Butter Buttercream on Dark Chocolate cake); and Red Velvet (Cream Cheese Icing on Red Velvet cake).

During my lunchtime visit I chose a Tuxedo and a Red Velvet for myself and my husband and complemented the two with a Pumpkin -- one of the bakery's changing seasonal offerings.

The taste? Magnificent -- deep and rich. Everything the beautifully decorated little cakes promise to the eye, they deliver to the mouth.

(However, in the spirit of full disclosure, a car pulled out in front of me as I was leaving the parking lot. My accident-avoidance maneuver knocked the Cupcakery box on the car's floor, merging the three flavors into something I am going to have to call "Con-Tux-Velvet" or "Red-Tux-Fetti." Delicious nontheless.)

You can mitigate a cupcake disaster like mine by eating your treat inside the lovely lounge area of the bakery. It's decorated with calming colors, hip modern fabrics and clean-lined furnishings. There's also a Party Room for larger groups. It would be a perfect dessert stop for the LWL (Ladies Who Lunch) crowd.

The Cupcakery in Edwardsville also serves a few additional sweet treats such as Frosted Sugar Cookies, a Cakewich filled with buttercream, and a Double Decker which is two oatmeal chocolate chip cookies filled with buttercream. Are you getting the "buttercream" theme?

Hot drinks on the menu give the bakery a coffee house feel with espresso, cappuccino, mocha, chai latte and hot cocoa available along with regular coffee, latte and hot tea. Cold drinks designed to complement a tasty cupcake include milk, organic chocolate milk, iced chai latte and, of course, juice, soda, tea and water.

If you'd like to place a large order, just give them 48 hours notice. The bakers can create up to 24 cupcakes in a same-day order if necessary. Individual cupcakes are $2,75 each, but well worth it when you compare the taste to the usual made-from-a-cardboard-box version found at my house.

The Cupcakery is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.; and it is closed on Sundays.

You can learn more on The Cupcakery's web site at www.CraveTheCup.com. The phone number is 618-656-2287.

Stop by and welcome The Cupcakery to Edwardsville. And don't forget to tell them that the Goshen Gourmet sent you.

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For more information, visit GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Nancy at Nancy@GoshenRealtyGroup.com. Text or call Nancy at 618-791-8007.

Never, Never, Never Give Up on Buying a Home

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:29:58 -0500

Hey, Buyers, Pull up a chair and let's have a heart-to-heart chat for just a couple of minutes.

Face it. Sometimes buying a house is hard. Especially if you're out there on your own.

But that's why your professional Realtor -- your buyer's agent -- is here. If you listen to your Realtor, you can get into a new home with the least amount of hassle possible at the best price possible.

All you need to do is follow a few simple rules and you'll be getting those house keys before you know it.

1.) Choose Your Realtor -- As a buyer, you deserve to have an agent who is looking out for your interests in a home purchase transaction. Did you know that the person whose name is on the sign outside of that cute house you just drove by is working for the seller -- trying to get the best deal for the seller? Think about that. If the seller has an agent, shouldn't you? This is a professional relationship built on mutual respect and loyalty between the buyer and the agent. You owe each other honesty and integrity to form a great team with one goal -- to get you into a new home.

2.) Get Pre-Approved -- There is no point in looking at homes before you know how much you can afford and in many areas you can't even submit an offer without an attached pre-approval. Go to your lender. They will ask you a variety of questions and -- if you're qualified -- will issue a pre-approval letter. Get a copy for yourself and a copy for your Realtor. Don't know a lender? Ask your Realtor to give you two or three names of lenders who have successfully closed buyers for her this year. Your agent also can tell you if there are city and county grant programs that can help with your purchase. Don't expect your Realtor to show you homes until the pre-approval letter is in hand.

3.) Make a List and Check it Twice -- Decide in what part of the region you'd like to live, how many bedrooms you need and what other "must-haves" are on your list for the home you'd like to find. Make sure you understand the difference between "needs" and "wants." You might "need" three bedrooms, but you might "want" four. Do you "need" a two-car garage, or do you "want" one. Do you want a large yard or a small one? It's easiest to develop this list in a consultation with your Realtor.

4.) Now Look at Houses -- I like to play "Bracketology" with my buyers. We'll look at four or five possibilities and the buyer will choose the one that best fits his needs. When we go out again, he'll choose the best from that lot. Then we'll pit the two top candidates from each outing against each other to get a "winner." We'll repeat if necessary, continuing to compare and contrast the top houses from each round.

5.) Make an Offer -- Your Realtor will research the home you've chosen to see what recent comparable sales tell you about its listing price. Is it overpriced based on recent sales? Is it already underpriced to elicit a quick sale? She also will check the seller's disclosures to make sure there are no red flags about the property's condition. She'll prepare the offer to purchase and will contact the seller's agent to begin negotiations.

6.) Get to Closing -- Inspections, appraisal, loan commitments, contract timelines and deadlines are just a few of the many pitfalls that must be navigated between getting an accepted offer and achieving a successful closing. Your Realtor will understand what needs to be done to protect your interests and help you hold the deal together along the way.

It can be done, my friends. Just follow the steps in order and enjoy your new home. Questions? Call, text or e-mail me.

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For more information, visit GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Nancy at Nancy@GoshenRealtyGroup.com. Text or call Nancy at 618-791-8007.

Goshen Getaway: The Missouri Botanical Garden

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:53:21 -0500

One of the great things about living in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs is the proximity to the world-class attractions our region has to offer. For this Goshen Getaway post, we'll check out the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Getting to the Missouri Botanical Garden from most points in Madison County is a quick and easy 30-minute trip.

The 79-acre Garden has been celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Founded by an English immigrant named Henry Shaw, the attraction is recognized as one of the top three gardens in the world.

Shaw came to St. Louis on the edge of the frontier to sell his family's knives and other hardware. He quickly built a thriving business trading with the explorers, pioneers, mountain men and settlers who were passing through the the city on their way to open the American west.

Still a young man, Shaw was able to travel the world and then retire to the countryside (now south St. Louis) to indulge in his passion for horticulture. You can take a virtual tour of his Victorian home, Tower Grove House, or explore the house in person during your next visit to the Garden.

Today the place the locals still call Shaw's Garden is known around the world not just for its beauty, but for its scientists' work to catalog plants in the world's rainforests. As their slogan says, the Missouri Botanical Garden has been green for 150 years.

While the season changes, you'll find that fall is the perfect time to head out from Edwardsville, Glen Carbon or Collinsville for a visit to the Garden.

Be sure to see the whimsical Walla Walla "Onions" (pictured left) which dot the ponds near the Climatron greenhouse. They are a reminder of the popular Dale Chihuly glass exhibit that graced the Garden a few years ago.

If it's chilly outside, dip into the Climatron to warm up. Inside the geodesic greenhouse is a re-created rainforest populated with plants that may look oddly familiar. Many of them are considered houseplants here in the St. Louis region, but in the rainforest they grow to enormous sizes and reach to the top of the dome.

If you have little ones, note that the children's garden -- called A Missouri Adventure -- will be closing for the season on November 1. The working Floral Clock, opened for the 150th anniversary, will operate through October 31. Have a favorite plant? The Kemper Center for Home Gardening offers an updated list of plants in bloom.

The Missouri Botanical Garden -- located at 4344 Shaw Ave. -- is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. seven days a week. Wednesdays and Saturdays the grounds are open for walkers from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. It is closed only on Christmas Day. Admission for adults is $8 and parking is free.

Here's a map to the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Happy travels!

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For more information, visit GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Nancy at Nancy@GoshenRealtyGroup.com. Text or call Nancy at 618-791-8007.

How To Give $69,500 Away When You Sell Your Edwardsville Home

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:26:59 -0500

I really enjoyed my cousin's wedding last Friday night. The bride was beautiful, the groom couldn't be happier, there was fabulous food and great music. There was also a lot of new people to meet.

While taking a break from the festivities on the outdoor patio, I overheard the following conversation take place...

New Home Owner turns to his buddy and says, "Yeah, we just got a heck of a deal on our new house. I looked around with an agent for awhile, but then I got this great idea. We passed a house with a For Sale By Owner sign in the yard and it dawned on me... they aren't paying a commission!"

New Home Owner's buddy, "That's a great idea. Dude, I bet you got a good deal."

New Home Owner replies, "Did I ever. Get this... since I knew they weren't paying an agent I figured that was at least $25,000 of the asking price right there. When I called, the chick gave me waaay too much information. Turns out that her husband was in the middle of a job transfer. He was already all the way out in Oregon and she couldn't wait to get out there to be with him. She told me they had already bought a house out there and they were making two house payments. She acted like the fact that they were the original owners was a selling point, but that told me they had wiggle room. They were asking $365,000 and most houses in that neighborhood listed with agents were closer to $385,000."

New Home Owner's Buddy, "No way. She didn't keep her mouth shut?"

New Home Owner, "Nope. I bet her husband was ticked. Now I knew I had a live one on the other end. We went to look at the house, and even though it was a ranch and we wanted a two-story we bought it anyway. They had no idea how to negotiate, so I got them down to $318,500. Can you believe that? I told them I knew they weren't paying a commission, so they should have lots of wiggle room."

New Home Owner's Buddy, "You got them down like $45,000??"

New Home Owner laughs and says, "Then I asked for the sun moon and stars when the inspection had issues. They gave me more money off the price of the house instead of making repairs. All in all I bought it for $315,500!"

I stopped listening at this point. It was almost too painful. To hear someone sit there and brag to his friend about ripping someone off made my stomach churn. The thing that really made me sick was that this whole thing could have been avoided. I'd like to take a second to point out some things that sellers with a For Sale By Owner sign in their yard need to remember...

1. NEVER, and I mean NEVER tell ANYONE your motivation for selling. You are guaranteed to lose your shirt on the deal.

2. NEVER let someone come look at your house if you are there alone. Don't tell anyone that your husband is thousands of miles away. These buyers are not working with agents, and it could be a ruse to come in and commit a crime.

3. Buyers are very savvy in today's market. Educate yourself on how to become a good negotiator. You have to emotionally detach, and that's very hard to do with your own home.

The moral of the story is this:

You're going to pay the commission one way or the other, so why not hire a professional? Between the listing price being too low, revealing their motivation and not being an expert negotiator this buyer just walked off with $69,500 of this owner's money. That's almost three times more than any agent I've ever known charges in commission.