Edwardsville and Glen Carbon Real Estate Chat

Connect with the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:43:22 -0600

The poet T.S Eliot, who was born in St. Louis, called the Mississippi River, "a strong, brown god." The river, he said, had a more profound influence on his life and his work than anything else in his past.

Here in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs we don't always embrace the "strong brown god," which is the overwhelming geographic feature of our region, as closely as we should.

Sure we drive across the bridges to and from the neighboring state of Missouri, but aside from remarking that the river looks high or low, we don't pay much attention to the amazing big river that has inspired poets like Eliot, writers like Mark Twain, musicians like W.C. Handy and artists like John James Audubon down through the centuries.

Let's change that, shall we? Next beautiful day this fall, take a drive out to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and the Low Water Dam.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has created a terrific parking area at the Low Water Dam on the Illinois banks. To get there, just take I-270 west to the Route 3 exit. Head south on Route 3 and turn west on Old Chain of Rocks Road. You'll cross over a canal onto Chouteau Island and from there will enter the Low Water Dam site. (My husband's family once owned farms on the river island before it was federalized for construction of the canal, so the spot is very special to us.)

You'll see people enjoying themselves fishing or --as I did -- just watching the swirls and ebbs of the swift currents passing by. This portion of the Mississippi is closed to navigation. Barges and boats bypass the area in the Chain of Rocks Canal.

We saw large fish jumping around the shore and a red fox dashing off through the woods. The Mississippi hosts resident and migrating birds all through the year and the bird watching is great here and at the conservation areas near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers just a bit north.

Looming over the Low Water Dam is the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. This structure was the original Old Route 66 span across the Mississippi River. It opened in 1929 as a toll bridge and became part of Route 66 in 1936 to carry cars traveling the Mother Road from its origin in Chicago to the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California.

Today the National Historic Landmark bridge is open as one of the largest pedestrian and biking bridges in the world. It is owned by the city of Madison and operated by Trailnet, the non-profit organization that promotes active living, maintains and develops trails and anchors projects along the confluence of America's great rivers. You can learn more on Trailnet's site at www.trailnet.org.

Annual events on the bridge include the St. Louis Route 66 Festival on the first Saturday in October, Eagle days in January and a wide variety of bike rides that make use of the bridge. Individuals are welcome to use the bridge for recreation.

Park at the entrance to the bridge on the Illinois side for easiest access. Parking is open on the Missouri side for special events.

You can spot two of St. Louis' most interesting architectural features from the brige deck or from the parking lot at the Low Water Dam -- castles in the middle of the Mississippi.

Built to look like Roman fortress and a Roman villa, the "castles" are actually water intake towers for the City of St. Louis' municipal water system which is located on the Missouri side of the river.

The green-roofed tower was built in 1894 and the other followed in 1915. Originally crews lived in the quarters inside the towers and reached them via a dyke from the shore.Today the unstaffed towers provide water to the waterworks via a pipe system.

(A couple of years ago, St. Louis was voted as having the best tasting municipal water in the nation, so the river castles must be doing something right!)

Enjoy our natural heritage along the Mississippi River. And come back to the blog to let me know what you find along the shores and trails.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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. REMAX Preferred Partners is located at One 157 Center, Edwardsville, IL 62025.

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.

Connect with the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:11:18 -0600

Via Nancy Milton REALTOR/GRI GoshenRealtyGroup.com (RE/MAX Preferred Partners in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs):

The poet T.S Eliot, who was born in St. Louis, called the Mississippi River, "a strong, brown god." The river, he said, had a more profound influence on his life and his work than anything else in his past.

Here in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs we don't always embrace the "strong brown god," which is the overwhelming geographic feature of our region, as closely as we should.

Sure we drive across the bridges to and from the neighboring state of Missouri, but aside from remarking that the river looks high or low, we don't pay much attention to the amazing big river that has inspired poets like Eliot, writers like Mark Twain, musicians like W.C. Handy and artists like John James Audubon down through the centuries.

Let's change that, shall we? Next beautiful day this fall, take a drive out to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and the Low Water Dam.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has created a terrific parking area at the Low Water Dam on the Illinois banks. To get there, just take I-270 west to the Route 3 exit. Head south on Route 3 and turn west on Old Chain of Rocks Road. You'll cross over a canal onto Chouteau Island and from there will enter the Low Water Dam site. (My husband's family once owned farms on the river island before it was federalized for construction of the canal, so the spot is very special to us.)

You'll see people enjoying themselves fishing or --as I did -- just watching the swirls and ebbs of the swift currents passing by. This portion of the Mississippi is closed to navigation. Barges and boats bypass the area in the Chain of Rocks Canal.

We saw large fish jumping around the shore and a red fox dashing off through the woods. The Mississippi hosts resident and migrating birds all through the year and the bird watching is great here and at the conservation areas near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers just a bit north.

Looming over the Low Water Dam is the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. This structure was the original Old Route 66 span across the Mississippi River. It opened in 1929 as a toll bridge and became part of Route 66 in 1936 to carry cars traveling the Mother Road from its origin in Chicago to the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California.

Today the National Historic Landmark bridge is open as one of the largest pedestrian and biking bridges in the world. It is owned by the city of Madison and operated by Trailnet, the non-profit organization that promotes active living, maintains and develops trails and anchors projects along the confluence of America's great rivers. You can learn more on Trailnet's site at www.trailnet.org.

Annual events on the bridge include the St. Louis Route 66 Festival on the first Saturday in October, Eagle days in January and a wide variety of bike rides that make use of the bridge. Individuals are welcome to use the bridge for recreation.

Park at the entrance to the bridge on the Illinois side for easiest access. Parking is open on the Missouri side for special events.

You can spot two of St. Louis' most interesting architectural features from the brige deck or from the parking lot at the Low Water Dam -- castles in the middle of the Mississippi.

Built to look like Roman fortress and a Roman villa, the "castles" are actually water intake towers for the City of St. Louis' municipal water system which is located on the Missouri side of the river.

The green-roofed tower was built in 1894 and the other followed in 1915. Originally crews lived in the quarters inside the towers and reached them via a dyke from the shore.Today the unstaffed towers provide water to the waterworks via a pipe system.

(A couple of years ago, St. Louis was voted as having the best tasting municipal water in the nation, so the river castles must be doing something right!)

Enjoy our natural heritage along the Mississippi River. And come back to the blog to let me know what you find along the shores and trails.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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. REMAX Preferred Partners is located at One 157 Center, Edwardsville, IL 62025.

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.

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

Homes for Sale in the Historic Leclaire Area of Edwardsville Illinois

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:26:12 -0600

What started as an innovative company town is now one of the most popular residential neighborhoods in Edwardsville, Illinois.

The Leclaire neighborhood exemplifies the "look" of Edwardsville with its frame or brick homes, many of which were built in the Craftsman style.

The area is always on the radar of potential buyers who ask us to let them know as soon as the neighborhood's properties hit the market.

Here is a list of homes for sale in the historic Leclaire area of Edwardsville.

Founded in 1890 by industrialist N.O. Nelson, the Leclaire area was named for the Frenchman who developed profit sharing and inspired Nelson to create a place where his workers could experience the best possible living and working conditions.

The model town he built provided easy-to-afford housing, a park for recreation and schools for the workers at Nelson's plant which manufactured plumbing materials. Nelson's vision also encompassed his factory's architecture which was designed to provide natural light and fresh air for the workers -- amenities unheard of at a time when sweatshops were more the norm.

The streets in Leclaire were named for the presidents, writers, social reformers and other famous people who had inspired Nelson's new village. The streets maintain their names and their historic homes today.

Leclaire was incorporated into the city of Edwardsville in the 1930s and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

If you would like to know about Edwardsville's Leclaire homes as they come on the market, just sign up for a property manager account on our web site at www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com.

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Homes for Sale in the Historic Leclaire Area of Edwardsville Illinois

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:10:24 -0600

Via Nancy Milton REALTOR/GRI GoshenRealtyGroup.com (RE/MAX Preferred Partners in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs):

What started as an innovative company town is now one of the most popular residential neighborhoods in Edwardsville, Illinois.

The Leclaire neighborhood exemplifies the "look" of Edwardsville with its frame or brick homes, many of which were built in the Craftsman style.

The area is always on the radar of potential buyers who ask us to let them know as soon as the neighborhood's properties hit the market.

Here is a list of homes for sale in the historic Leclaire area of Edwardsville.

Founded in 1890 by industrialist N.O. Nelson, the Leclaire area was named for the Frenchman who developed profit sharing and inspired Nelson to create a place where his workers could experience the best possible living and working conditions.

The model town he built provided easy-to-afford housing, a park for recreation and schools for the workers at Nelson's plant which manufactured plumbing materials. Nelson's vision also encompassed his factory's architecture which was designed to provide natural light and fresh air for the workers -- amenities unheard of at a time when sweatshops were more the norm.

The streets in Leclaire were named for the presidents, writers, social reformers and other famous people who had inspired Nelson's new village. The streets maintain their names and their historic homes today.

Leclaire was incorporated into the city of Edwardsville in the 1930s and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

If you would like to know about Edwardsville's Leclaire homes as they come on the market, just sign up for a property manager account on our web site at www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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. REMAX Preferred Partners is located at One 157 Center, Edwardsville, IL 62025.

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.

Homes for Sale On and Around Historic St. Louis Street in Edwardsville

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:06:41 -0600

Wide, tree-lined and dotted with lovely homes, St. Louis Street marches through the heart of Edwardsville, Illinois and into the hearts of most residents of the Land of Goshen.

Buyers often ask us to keep an eye out for properties as they become available on or near this lovely neighborhood.

Here's a link to properties that are currently for sale on or near historic St. Louis Street.

Originally a farm road, the street was renamed Fairgrounds Road when a long-forgotten agricultural fair site was built on the outskirts of town. Later the thoroughfare became known as St. Louis Street.

Edwardsville began seeing the construction of stately homes along the route as early as the 1850s.

Today, the homes along the street reflect popular architectural styles from the Victorian period through more modern times. You'll see Federal, Queen Anne, Dutch Colonial, Greek Revival and Italianate sharing the neighborhood with a Prairie-style home built just after the turn of the 20th century and more contemporary offerings from Tudor Revival to classic suburban ranches.

Just off St. Louis street, buyers will find a wide range of affordable homes on both the north and south sides of the historic street. Those areas are reflected on the above link as well.

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Homes for Sale On and Around Historic St. Louis Street in Edwardsville

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:10:08 -0600

Via Nancy Milton REALTOR/GRI GoshenRealtyGroup.com (RE/MAX Preferred Partners in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs):

Wide, tree-lined and dotted with lovely homes, St. Louis Street marches through the heart of Edwardsville, Illinois and into the hearts of most residents of the Land of Goshen.

Buyers often ask us to keep an eye out for properties as they become available on or near this lovely neighborhood.

Here's a link to properties that are currently for sale on or near historic St. Louis Street.

Originally a farm road, the street was renamed Fairgrounds Road when a long-forgotten agricultural fair site was built on the outskirts of town. Later the thoroughfare became known as St. Louis Street.

Edwardsville began seeing the construction of stately homes along the route as early as the 1850s.

Today, the homes along the street reflect popular architectural styles from the Victorian period through more modern times. You'll see Federal, Queen Anne, Dutch Colonial, Greek Revival and Italianate sharing the neighborhood with a Prairie-style home built just after the turn of the 20th century and more contemporary offerings from Tudor Revival to classic suburban ranches.

Just off St. Louis street, buyers will find a wide range of affordable homes on both the north and south sides of the historic street. Those areas are reflected on the above link as well.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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. REMAX Preferred Partners is located at One 157 Center, Edwardsville, IL 62025.

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.

First-time Sellers - You Are Ignored No More

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:37:59 -0600

First-time buyers get all of the attention, don't they? They get tax credits, have special programs designed especially for them and they have agents market directly to them. That doesn't seem fair, does it?

Well, first-time sellers rejoice! You are no longer being ignored. I get it. First-time buyers eventually turn into first-time sellers. What happens when you're ready to move-up or you outgrow your current digs?

An agent was there to help you through the buying process, but what now? Do you stick a For Sale By Owner sign in the yard? Do you call the agent that helped you buy the house? Maybe you'll check out Zillow to get an idea about what your house is worth. Should you talk to more than one agent? How on Earth do you manage the details in getting your house sold while at the same time finding a new one?

It's confusing, overwhelming and frustrating, isn't it? That's why hiring an agent is your first step. But not just any agent... an agent that understands the specific needs of first-time sellers.

Agents that have experience with your particular situation are an invaluable ally to have on your side. When helping first-time sellers, I realize that you have lots of questions and need me to devote more of my time to you. I won't just list your house, stick a sign in the yard and never speak to you again. I'll return your e-mails, texts and calls. I love connecting with you on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. And when your house goes under contract, I'll be there with you step by step through financing, inspections, appraisals and closing.

By the way, I didn't mention that you might be eligible for the expanded home buyers tax credit. You could qualify for a $6,500 tax credit to purchase your next home. Cool, huh? Want details? Text, e-mail or call me anytime.

FHA 203K Streamline Renovation/Purchase

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:08:43 -0600

Ken Cook, a lender in Georgia explains the FHA 203K loan in a way that makes sense. Thanks so much for allowing me to share this information on my blog, Ken!

Via Ken Cook, FHA Home Loans 678-439-8683:

So you or your client have found a home in a great area in the client's price range. Only one problem: it's in bad shape. The HVAC system is 50 years old, the roof is 40 years old and the windows may as well not even be closed. Plus the kitchen has vinyl floors in 3 different patterns and the counters are all laminate with burns and holes and scars.

Not to fear! Meet the FHA 203K Streamlined renovation loan.

Eligible Improvements Virtually any kind of improvement is eligible provided it becomes a permanent part of the real property and adds value.

Additions to the structure

Kitchen or bath remodels

Finished basement or attic

Patios, decks or terraces

Roofing and landscaping

Safety, energy efficiency and electrical upgrades

Handicapped accessibility improvements

Luxuryitems are not eligible

Swimming pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, gazebos, barbecue pits, saunas or alterations to support commercial use

The maximum loan amount must be within the FHA loan amount maximum for the MSA where the home is located and must include the purchase price and the renovation amount. The maximum renovation amount is $35,000 and the minimum is $5,000. Under $5,000 we can do with an escrow of repair funds. A minimum of 10% contingency reserve is required and must also fit into the FHA loan maximums for the area where the property is located. (Any balance remaining on the contingency will be applied to the principal balance and may not be used for additional repairs.)

Yes, it takes a little longer to close an FHA203k Streamline loan than it does to close a standard FHA loan. If you are an agent and you are concerned about that extra couple of weeks just think of it this way: You may make a sale you would not have otherwise made. You may help a buyer get into a home in the area where they wanted to live instead of where they "had" to live. You can be a real hero for someone.

If you are in Georgia I can help you with the necessary paperwork and give you a short class in how to use the FHA 203K Streamline Rehab loan to purchase, sell or represent homes in today's economy. Never hesitate to call me at any time and I'll be happy to answer your questions.

Ken Cook - Georgia - FHA, USDA, VA and Conventional Home Loans (678) 439-8683

Whooooo Are You? Who-Who-Who-Who...? I Really Wanna Know

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:32:35 -0600

As we zoom toward the end of the year, my Goshen Realty Group partner, Kristina, and I have been looking over our closed transactions to spot our business patterns and figure out how to build on successes for even better years in 2010 and 2011.

We want to know who are buyers are and where our next buyers are coming from.

In recent months, we've seen a surge of buyers in our territory -- St. Louis' southwestern Illinois suburbs -- coming from a specific group: young, single men buying their first homes.

These savvy buyers with good jobs were under 30 years of age and all of them understood that -- given their incomes -- throwing money away on monthly rent for any longer than necessary was foolish. They have made up 25 percent of our buyer business.

Married couples have made up 33 percent of our buyer business. They've been a mix of first-time and move-up buyers, with first-timers taking the lead. Another 33 percent of our buyer business has come from non-traditional households. Those transactions included parents buying homes for their college students attending Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, unmarried couples sharing a household, and adult children buying homes for their aging parents' use.

Surprising us was the fact that only eight percent of our business has come from single women. (Come on, ladies! We'll talk to you about this issue in a separate post. We might have to channel Beyonce's "Single Ladies" tune to get you revved up about home ownership!) The numbers of single women buyers are much higher nationally.

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) surveys home buyers every year to help us thnderstand the big picture in American homebuying. The latest report was released this week.

According to NAR, "One of the most important changes in this year's survey was shaped by record home affordability and the availability of the first-time home buyer tax credit-the share of first-time buyers."

In 2009, NAR's survey found that 47 percent of all home purchases between July 2008 and June 2009 were first timers. (Compare that to 40-41 percent in an average prior year). This is the biggest number of first-time buyers in more than 18 years.

Nationally, the figures continued -- mostly -- to mirror our local findings. NAR says the typical first-time home buyer was 30 years old with a median income just over $60,000. NAR also found that repeat buyers were 48 years old with a median income of just over $88,000.

Here's where our Goshen Realty Group figures veered off from NAR. The NAR survey found that 25 percent of first-time buyers are single females, and 12 percent are single males. Married couples were 49 percent of first-timers. The rest of the national pie is made up of buyers in a variety of living and joint ownership arrangements.

Two-thirds of first-time buyers told NAR that they purchased simply because of their desire to own a home of their own. Repeat buyers said they purchased their home for a large variety of reasons, including a job-related relocation or a personal move, desire for bigger home, or a change in their family needs.

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Questions about the home buying tax credit? Video from RE/MAX

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:47:34 -0600

As if the first round of tax credits for first time buyers wasn't confusing enough, now the credit has been expanded to include some move-up buyers. (Also, great news for our military currently serving overseas - you have a longer time frame to use the tax credit).

If you have questions about how the tax credit works, check out this video from RE/MAX. Then, give me a call or shoot me an e-mail to talk about your next place.

What's in a Room? That Which We Call a Room By Any Other Name Would Count as Much

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:15:24 -0600

OK, I apologize to Wm. Shakespeare for twisting his lovely words -- "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by another other name would smell as sweet." from Romeo and Juliet for the headline on this post, but I couldn't resist a little literary fun this morning.

What did Shakespeare mean? Scholars will tell you that he may have been poking fun at the rival Rose Theatre, but his point in the context of the play was that it mattered what something IS, not what it is CALLED.

So what is a room? Often my sellers will ask me why one portion of their home "counts" as living space on the MLS listing for their property and another does not. After all, they live in the whole house, don't they?

The vagueries of room count notwithstanding, there is an accepted method to the madness. A room, according to the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard, is a finished and enclosed space that is suitable for year-round use. It will have walls, floors and a ceiling similar to the rest of the house.

These common rooms ARE included in a home's room count:

Living Room
Dining Room
Great Room
Media Room
Kitchen
Bedroom
Sitting Room
Breakfast Nook (if separate from the kitchen)
Game Room
Sun Room (if it is heated)
Finished Basement Rooms

These common rooms ARE NOT included in a home's room count:

Bathroom
Laundry Room
Mud Room
Utility Room
Foyers
Hallways
Unfinished Basement Rooms
Unheated Sun Rooms
Garage
Walk-in Closets (even if it is bigger than my college apartment)

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of the possible rooms in any home. I've been in Victorian homes that have Card Rooms and Parlors and in new homes that have Craft Rooms and other redefined and renamed living spaces.

Realtor readers: I'd love it if you would weigh in on whether your association uses a different standard or has interesting issues with room counts.

And now, "a thousand time, good night!"

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How to Turn a Bad Fridge into Cold Cash

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:17:55 -0600

I find a lot of our buyers are excited about seeing an older refrigerator in a house they're considering purchasing. Their first reaction is, "Let's get the appliance we want for the kitchen after we move in and move this bad boy to the garage/laundry room/wherever as the "Beer Fridge!"

Maybe it's because we're from the metro area where "The King of Beers" has been brewed since the 1800s, but the feeling about a secondary refrigerator is almost universal here in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs. Even people who don't, uh, "indulge," see the appeal of an ugly duckling fridge in an unseen part of the house for party trays, soda, the Thanksgiving turkey, etc.

But, from time to time there is a refrigeration unit so unsavory or unneeded in a newly acquired home that there is no place of refuge, no corner dark enough to hide it from sight. That's when you're faced with a new question, "What do I do with this old fridge?"

Believe it or not, Ameren, the Illinois utility company, has a solution. Their Act On Energy Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Program will haul it away for FREE and will pay you $35 for getting rid of it. This works for old freezers too.

Who doesn't want something back from Ameren? Call 866-899-9088 or click on the Act On Energy web site to schedule your free pick up.

Why are they doing this? It seems for every old appliance you turn off in your household, Ameren figures you can save up to $100 in annual energy costs. This could be the gift that keeps on giving.

What are the rules? You have to be an Ameren Illinois Utilities residential electric customer and the refrigerator or freezer must be in working (cooling) condition. The unit has to have been made before 1993 and be from 10 to 27 cubic feet in size.

So if that Harvest Gold, Avocado or Coppertone appliance has no place in your new stainless-steel kitchen, call Ameren and turn a bad fridge into cold cash.

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Goshen Gourmet Welcomes Dippin' Dots to Edwardsville

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:42:59 -0600

Yes, I know little flash-frozen ice cream pellets might not be everyone's idea of a gourmet food experience, but I found the idea of a free-standing Dippin' Dots store that just recently opened in Edwardsville too interesting to resist.

Dippin' Dots is typically found served from a cart at stadium events. Here in the St. Louis region, the Edward Jones Dome, Busch Stadium and Scottrade Center (or as my husband -- who has refused to follow its many name changes -- calls it, "that place they play hockey") all have a DD vendor cart. It also is ubiquitous at attractions such as Six Flags theme parks, zoos (including our own Saint Louis Zoo) and any place you see families gathered for a day of fun.

For those of you who haven't experienced a Dippin' Dot, here's a litle background on the company and its claim to fame:

Back in 1988, a microbiologist named Curt Jones used his scientific knowhow to create these teensy, round bits of ice cream, sherbet and yogurt. (We have to assume it was a slow day at the lab.)

Jones' "high-tech, cryogenic freezing process" takes place at the company's Paducah, KY facilities not too many hours from our home in Southweestern Illinois. (He actually started the company in his parents' Grand Chain, Illinois garage in Pulaski County.)

The ice cream flavors are flash frozen with liquid nitrogen, then packaged and shipped to retail locations.

Dippin' Dots is a privately owned company, so -- sadly -- there is no opportunity for dot lovers to buy stock in the operation.That's probably for the best, as the company can grow while keeping quality and customers in mind, not just stockholders.

Which leads us back to the franchised DD store that opened recently in Edwardsville. In addition to getting a clear, plastic cup filled with dots in the traditional manner, customers can enjoy the following types of treats: dot cakes, dotwiches (ice cream sandwiches), milkshakes, floats, sundaes and a big variety of toppings. You also can get Dots 'n Cream which is traditional ice cream blended with DD.

Dot flavors vary by location and by visit, but some of the favorites include Banana Split, Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla, Cookies n Cream, Birthday Cake, Bubble Gum, Cotton Candy, Rainbow Ice, Strawberry Cheesecake, Orange Sherbet, S'mores and Peanut Butter Chip. Fudge and Vanilla also come in no-sugar-added versions. If someone in your family has allergy issues, just ask the staff. They have information on the treats' contents. Note that DD is also Kosher-Dairy.

I had a cup of S'mores -- chocolate with graham cracker pieces and marshmallows -- and my Goshen Realty Group partner, Kristina, had Strawberry Cheesecake yogurt. As we finished our treats, we watched a group of moms and kids who had just gotten out of school come in and press their faces against the glass cases. Most of the younger customers ended up with Bubble Gum or Cotton Candy. A couple dove into Birthday Cake. The kids seemed to enjoy eating blue food.

What does it taste like? Your first spoonful of Dippin' Dots is going to present your mouth with a crunchy-yet-smooth texture and a tingly burst of fresh flavor. They do melt as time passes so be sure to actually eat the little beads while you're playing with them in the cup.

Here's a link to a $1 off coupon to try Dippin' Dots for yourself. When you visit the Edwardsville store, tell them the Goshen Gourmet sent you.

PS --With Christmas, Hanukah and other gift-giving holidays approaching, you also might want to consider getting your little gourmet his or her own dot maker. Here's a link to the Dippin' Dots machine available at Toys R Us.

The Edwardsville Dippin' Dots is located in Edwardsville Crossing at 215 Harvard Drive. (That's the new plaza behind Dierberg's.)

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Affordable Homes for Sale in Edwardsville IL

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:25:03 -0600

As the seat of Madison County, the home of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and the site of an acclaimed school district, Edwardsville can give the impression of being out of reach to some home buyers.

Not so! There are a number of affordable homes on the market right now in Edwardsville.

Click here to see a list of homes currently for sale in Edwardsville, Illinois priced at under $100,000.

Click here to see a list of homes for sale in Edwardsville priced between $100,000 and $150,000.

Some homes in the very lowest price ranges in any community may be listed as needing some "TLC," or "tender loving care." That's generally a kindly shorthand for "fixer-upper home." Many will require mostly cosmetic changes and some need more extensive repairs. Only you can decide how much effort you are able to afford -- in both time and cash -- to put into making an ugly ducking home look like a swan.

If one of these homes touches your buying button, we also can discuss a HUD 203K loan with your good, local lender. The 203K will allow you to rehabilitate the property and roll the money you need to restore the home right in to your home loan. Hud provides this extra money -- up to a $35,000 cap -- to help with neighborhood revitalization. Or, if you go outside of Edwardsville just a bit, you may qualify for a Rual Development Loan which allows 100 percent financing.

Don't forget that right now you also have an opportunity to take advantage of the up to $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers if you are in contract on your first home by April 30, 2010. And if you're an existing owner, you may be able to claim a $6,500 tax credit if you make a move. Always ask your tax advisor for information specific to your circumstances.

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Glen Carbon Home Prices - Closings for Sept/Oct '09

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:53:44 -0600

32 homes sold in Glen Carbon in September and October of '09. 4 of these homes were new construction with an average sales price of $194,317 and average days on the market of 152. 28 resale homes had an average sales price of $187,729 with 142 days on the market.

Address/List Price/Sell Price

7028 AUGUSTA DR $205,000 $203,000

110 BAYHILL BLVD $165,000 $163,000

212 BAYHILL BLVD $170,000 $165,000

107 BAYRIDGE $179,000 $168,000

134 BIRGER $109,900 $108,500

2809 BRISTOL WAY $294,900 $250,000

78 DEPOT DR $157,000 $152,000

6 DUNSTON TR $224,900 $165,000

7027 GABLE $239,900 $235,000

110 GINGER CREEK PKWY 9 $126,900 $123,000

6 GINGER WOOD ESTATES $600,000 $592,500

731 GLEN CROSSING RD $209,900 $179,500

182 HILLCREST DR $159,900 $155,000

14 JENNIFER DR $189,900 $186,000

6 JULIE DR $184,900 $182,500

195 S MAIN ST $99,900 $101,000

100 MARK TRAIL DR $129,000 $125,500

924 MARK TRAIL DR $179,500 $179,500

17 MATTERHORN DR $199,999 $185,000

157 MUNZERT $144,900 $141,500

35 NORSPUR $133,150 $133,150

110 OAK RIDGE ESTATES $199,500 $195,000

9 OAKDALE LAKE $169,900 $168,000

26 W OAKSHIRE DR $243,000 $232,500

51 RED BUD LN $179,900 $177,000

31 SUNSET DR $54,900 $50,000

47 WATERFORD LN $210,000 $200,000

128 WILLOW BEND DR $249,900 $238,000

45 WOLFE CREEK CT $310,000 $290,000

308 ABERDEEN DR $219,900 $209,000

7 CAROLYN $179,900 $176,000

109 WALDEN $409,900 $389,000